What Changed from Game 5 onwards?

[bdonovan]

Would love to hear observations as to how the Cavs turned it around in Game 5 onwards. Game 5/6/7 of the Finals were totally different than: Game 1-4 of the Finals (especially games 1 2 and 4), as well as different than the regular season between GSW and Cavs (GSW beat the Cavs in one game AT Cleveland by 34 points).

Of course LeBron took it to another level but what else in terms of dynamics, plays, etc.? I have some observations but curious what people observed.

[insidehoops]

Worth pondering Andrew Bogut's defensive contributions, even if he plays limited minutes and is sometimes better than other times

Just saying, worth thinking about as a factor.

[plowking]

I wasn't paying a whole lot of attention to the schemes and tactics going on, but it seemed the Cavs started playing more 1 on 1, iso ball after game 4. And it worked...

Something I didn't notice in the first couple of games as much, is the continual pick up the top of the key to get a mismatch. At game 5 and onwards, they almost started spamming it. I can't remember if it was game 7 or game 6, but there was a point where JR just kept rescreening for Bron who had Iggy on him, until Curry finally switched on the possession.

They seemed relentless to get mismatches. Love or TT on Klay and Steph, Bron on anyone apart from Iggy, Irving on just about anyone. They were relentlessly screening and getting mismatches, and then proceeding to go 1 on 1.

[NBAGOAT]

some things I've heard and saw. Cleveland started spamming the pnr not really to run a play but to get a good switch for an isolation play. Lebron just to get off Iggy or Draymond, Kyrie to get on a big or Steph. Tim Legler said Kerr went into this series pretty determined not to give up open 3's like the other East teams did and Cavs finally took advantage of that defensive strategy. On defense, Cleveland switched the pnr almost every time and since they weren't playing Love, every guy they had could do a decent job on Curry but then again that was mostly the whole series. Tristan started impacting the game more with his rebounding but that really started in game 3. Simple things too like Golden State role players playing poorly(we forget they won game 1 by themselves). Barnes was the obvious one who stood out and couldn't make an open 3 which he had to take advantage off.

[Micku]

1. The Warriors sag off of Lebron, and his jumper finally started falling. With this, he is almost unstoppable.

2. Kyrie became mini black mamba

3. Injures or Warriors players getting out. Bogut got hurt in game 5, which allowed LBJ and Kyrie to attack the rim much harder. Also Bogut is a good screener and passer from the high post. Big lost. Green also didn't play due to suspension. Iggy got hurt. Curry was hurt.

4. LeBron was still hot from game 5, killed it in game 6.

5. Curry couldn't find his shot most of the series. He also had more turnovers than assists, which kind'a expose him a little bit on the offensive side when his shot isn't falling.

6. The 3pt shot just weren't falling for the Warriors like they used to. Barnes became ice cold. Couldn't make a shot, even if it was open. Klay shot wasn't as good. Iggy wasn't a good. Give credit to the Cavs for closing hard on the 3pt line and getting key rebounds.

7. Curry was too careless with the ball.

8. The pick and roll game weren't working in game 7. Tristan Thompson was defending it pretty well and the Cavs had guys ready for it.

9. Tristan Thompson had amazing footwork to keep in front of Curry on the switch.

[FKAri]

Bogut and Iggy. But mostly Bogut. Tho tbh Bogut was struggling with foul trouble anyway. And then splash brothers lost all confidence with their shot.

Also, Lebron hit some jumpshots and Kyrie started playing better.

[theaussieguy]

Worth pondering Andrew Bogut's defensive contributions, even if he plays limited minutes and is sometimes better than other times

Just saying, worth thinking about as a factor.

yep, i believe his presence in the early minutes put some kind of hesitation into the cavs players that might have made them think twice going to the rack whether he was on the floor or not.

[ClipperRevival]

LeBron and Kyrie happened. People talking about Bogut forget that he barely played last year's finals. He would've been a liability once he switched on the picks. When your two superstars play up to their near peak, optimal level, this is the result. Not to mention, Curry laying an egg.

[Cleverness]

1. The Warriors sag off of Lebron, and his jumper finally started falling. With this, he is almost unstoppable.

2. Kyrie became mini black mamba

3. Injures or Warriors players getting out. Bogut got hurt in game 5, which allowed LBJ and Kyrie to attack the rim much harder. Also Bogut is a good screener and passer from the high post. Big lost. Green also didn't play due to suspension. Iggy got hurt. Curry was hurt.

4. LeBron was still hot from game 5, killed it in game 6.

5. Curry couldn't find his shot most of the series. He also had more turnovers than assists, which kind'a expose him a little bit on the offensive side when his shot isn't falling.

6. The 3pt shot just weren't falling for the Warriors like they used to. Barnes became ice cold. Couldn't make a shot, even if it was open. Klay shot wasn't as good. Iggy wasn't a good. Give credit to the Cavs for closing hard on the 3pt line and getting key rebounds.

7. Curry was too careless with the ball.

8. The pick and roll game weren't working in game 7. Tristan Thompson was defending it pretty well and the Cavs had guys ready for it.

9. Tristan Thompson had amazing footwork to keep in front of Curry on the switch.

This:applause:

[2swift4u]

There were a lot of small things that changed throughout the series but maybe it was mostly a momentum thing. Once the momentum switches to the other team it's really really hard to get it back. Even for a team like the Warriors. Don't know why but that's the way it is in sports.