The good for the Cavs:
- Mozgov and Thompson, again. Eating all the rebounds, getting easy baskets over the Warriors' small ball team. Together with James, they gave the Cavs so many second and third chances in the second half, keeping the Cavs competitive in the 3rd. And Mozgov makes his free throws.
The bad for the Cavs:
- Everything else. James and Delladevola were running on fumes by the 4th.
- Delladevola, Shrumpert and JR Smith: 7/35 FG. Ouch.
- Thompson's handicap on the line makes him an easy target when the Cavs need baskets and are in the bonus. The Warriors have a bench deep enough that they can throw fouls at Thompson and still make trading 2-for-1 work - if their outside shots are falling, of course. Result: Thompson doesn't play, and the rebounding drops off because James is also worn out by then.
The good for the Warriors:
- About time they finally made their open shots and easy layups in this series. They did a much better job in this game with their aggression in taking the ball to the basket and finishing or drawing contact.
- Iguodala = the MVP for the Warriors in this series so far.
- David Lee. Blew a couple of easy shots under the basket, but the Cavs can't disrespect Lee on the high pick and roll, as opposed to Green. Curry gets a mismatch off the pick and off he goes.
The bad for the Warriors:
- Small ball team = killed on boards in defence. If the outside shots are not falling and Mozgov goes to town in the middle, it's a long night for them.
- Bogut. Still bad in this series.
The roles have reversed and the Warriors look in better shape again entering Game 5. Good series so far, though I thought Game 2 was rather meh and marred by poor officiating, while this game actually was much closer than the final scoreline suggested - well, at least up till the first couple of minutes of the 4th.
- Mozgov and Thompson, again. Eating all the rebounds, getting easy baskets over the Warriors' small ball team. Together with James, they gave the Cavs so many second and third chances in the second half, keeping the Cavs competitive in the 3rd. And Mozgov makes his free throws.
The bad for the Cavs:
- Everything else. James and Delladevola were running on fumes by the 4th.
- Delladevola, Shrumpert and JR Smith: 7/35 FG. Ouch.
- Thompson's handicap on the line makes him an easy target when the Cavs need baskets and are in the bonus. The Warriors have a bench deep enough that they can throw fouls at Thompson and still make trading 2-for-1 work - if their outside shots are falling, of course. Result: Thompson doesn't play, and the rebounding drops off because James is also worn out by then.
The good for the Warriors:
- About time they finally made their open shots and easy layups in this series. They did a much better job in this game with their aggression in taking the ball to the basket and finishing or drawing contact.
- Iguodala = the MVP for the Warriors in this series so far.
- David Lee. Blew a couple of easy shots under the basket, but the Cavs can't disrespect Lee on the high pick and roll, as opposed to Green. Curry gets a mismatch off the pick and off he goes.
The bad for the Warriors:
- Small ball team = killed on boards in defence. If the outside shots are not falling and Mozgov goes to town in the middle, it's a long night for them.
- Bogut. Still bad in this series.
The roles have reversed and the Warriors look in better shape again entering Game 5. Good series so far, though I thought Game 2 was rather meh and marred by poor officiating, while this game actually was much closer than the final scoreline suggested - well, at least up till the first couple of minutes of the 4th.
