How do the Warriors slow down Lebron?
OAKLAND (TNS) – The Warriors have experienced island fever, and the reasons do not have anything to do with living close to the ocean or feeling disconnected from the outside world.
Instead, the Warriors have felt helpless defending on isolation plays in the postseason first against Houston guard James Harden and currently against Cleveland forward Lebron James.
The Warriors might have a 1-0 Finals lead and superior depth over the Cavaliers entering Game 2 today at Oracle Arena. They have problems, though, with limiting James, who left the Warriors feeling dizzy and nauseous in Game 1. Then, James posted a franchise playoff record and postseason career-high 51 points while shooting 19-of32 from the field and 3-of-7 from 3-point range. He also added eight rebounds and eight assists in 48 out of a possible 53 minutes.
“The island is the island. It’s tough both ways,” Warriors forward Kevon Looney said, shaking his head to illustrate the motion sickness he felt with his defensive assignments.
Bay Area News Group/tns The Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry defends against the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Lebron James during Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night in Oakland. Game 2 is today at 5 p.m.
“Harden is going to score and will try to score on you. Harden is small, so it’s harder for me to stay in front of him. And you don’t want to foul Harden. But Lebron is so physical and he’s so fast. It’s a different type of player. It’s hard both ways. I don’t know which one I would prefer.”
Few would prefer to guard James, who became the sixth player in NBA history to score at least 50 points in a Finals game and the first since Michael Jordan when he scored 55 points against Phoenix on June, 16. 1993. In his 15th
season, the 32-year-old James has averaged an Nba-high 34.9 points on 54.6 percent shooting, 9.2 rebounds and 8.7 assists and has posted a playoffleading 13 double doubles and three triple doubles.
“It’s all him,” Warriors forward Kevin Durant said. “It’s tough to stop him.”
That’s because James has become nearly impossible to defend for reasons beyond possessing his bruising 6-foot-250 pound frame that can shoot and facilitate against any defenders of all sizes. James has also become nearly impossible to stop because he has anticipated facing either a different defender, a double team or a switch on every possession.
Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue joked for Game 2 “that means he has to score 60 now, right?” That might actually happen. As James boasted, “there were parts of my game you could disrespect early in my career. You can’t do that now.”
Therefore, the Warriors sense they cannot afford to force James to choose between either scoring or passing. He can master both.
“Everything about him is a concern because he completely controls the game. He sees the game well. He’s extremely bright,” said Warriors assistant coach Ron Adams, who oversees the team’s defense. “In the past, that may have been true [to force him into strictly a scorer or passer]. But like with everything else, every year is different. He’s a different offensive player right now.”
So it seems inevitable the Warriors have no answer on defending James. The Warriors want a better answer, though, than what they provided in Game 1.