Durant is a match-up nightmare
It was a close one after the first quarter but slowly but surely the Golden State Warriors started to pull away, thanks to their potent hybrid of offensive firepower and defensive tenacity.
The result was a painful 113-91 rout in game 1 of the NBA 2017 Finals for Lebron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers.
Cavs. James was a monster on the court, tallying 28 points, 15 rebounds and 8 assists. But he committed 8 turnovers, 7 of those in the first half, which probably hurt them more as it translated into offensive opportunities for GSW. Kyrie Irving added 24 points and Kevin Love added 21 rebounds, but aside from the big three there was little else from the rest.
DUBS. Kevin Durant’s star shone brightest on the Dubs side as he torched the Cavs for 38 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists.
He also went 14 of 26 from the floor and shot an impressive 50 percent from rainbow territory, making 3 of 6. Steph Curry wasn’t too shabby either, as he matched Lebron’s output of 28 pts and going 6-11 from three point range.
MISSING. MIA for the Cavs was Tristan Thompson who had zero points, with only 4 rebounds as he made only three field goal attempts, missing all. Kyle Korver was also a letdown as he missed all three 3-pt shot attempts.
For GSW, Klay Thompson is still in a shooting slump as he went 3-16 from the floor and went 0-5 from three point range.
DURANT. There was so much fuss accompanying his decision to join the Warriors.
But the jury was still out on how he would fare again in basketball’s biggest stage- the NBA Finals and with new teammates, given that he fell short back in 2012 against Lebon James and the Miami Heat.
Turns out that Durant seems to bask in the limelight and is eager for redemption.
Of course he is an obvious matchup nightmare for the Cavs, - a 7 foot scoring machine who can play small ball.
But his biggest value on this matchup may be more than just filling up the stat sheets.
The rest of his teammates have yet to exorcise the demons that torment them when they blowed that 3-1 lead in last year’s finals.
Durant isn’t psychologically burdened with that memory and is enjoying himself in these finals.
How to contain him will be the Cavaliers’ primary concern.
VERBATIM. Can you cyberbully fighters? Can you cyberbully a fighter?..There’s nothing, there’s nowhere, nobody, I don’t care what kind of star you are, male, female whatever it is. It’s a place where freaks who can hide behind, most of them are on private, they can have that kind of stuff.” —UFC President Dana White (MMAFIGHTING.COM)
LAST ROUND. It’s on little cherub Ryle Bercide who recently turned one year old. Cheers!
MIA for the Cavs was Tristan Thompson who had zero points, with only 4 rebounds as he made only three field goal attempts, missing all.
All I can do is try to not concede goals, but he is able to determine the outcome of a match much more. I’m pleased the media tend to see tomorrow’s game as a battle between me and Cristiano, but it’s not the reality GIANLUIGI BUFFON