Cavs still have determinator
LeBron will be as motivated as ever after tough loss
OAKLAND, Calif. — All the chatter is that the underdog Cavaliers could be completely deflated from the way they flopped in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Determined and as motivated as ever might be more appropriate and fitting whenever LeBron James is in the mix.
“It’s one of the toughest losses I’ve had in my career,” James acknowledged Saturday, “because of everything that went on and the way we played. Obviously, we all know what happened in the game.”
There were miscues aplenty, most notably J. R. Smith’s offensive rebound in the final seconds of regulation that he dribbled back toward halfcourt in a tie game rather than shooting for a chance to win it — later insisting he knew the score, though that remains a huge mystery. The decision baffled a frustrated and stunned James, who signaled at his teammate with arms pointed toward the basket.
“The game’s over; there’s nothing we can do about it,” Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said. “We’ve got to move on, move forward.”
James has done so all postseason with an edge, intensity and ability to carry the Cavs — will them to win after win, if you wish.
Yes, with James on the other side in this familiar June rivalry, the Warriors know much better than to fall into such a trap that the Cavs might be down and out, even if the defending champions have some momentum going into Game 2 on Sunday night at Oracle Arena.
The Warriors learned that lasting lesson two years ago, when James led the Cavs back from the brink — a daunting 3- 1 series deficit — to capture a title in Game 7 on the road.
“I know it’s not the exact same team,’’ Warriors coach Steve Kerr said, ‘‘ but we had them down 3- 1 a couple of years ago. They might have been deflated, and they came back and won, so we’re expecting another great effort from them. We’ve been through this too many times. We beat Houston on the road in Game 1, and the narrative was, you know, the series is over. It seems to always be that way. There is just overreaction after a game.”
Draymond Green didn’t sugarcoat it: The Warriors got a little lucky to win Game 1 on a night when James scored 51 points, and they caught some big breaks.
The Warriors hope to be far better with a chance to take a 2- 0 lead before the series shifts to Cleveland.
“Sometimes you need a little luck,’’ Green said. ‘‘ It’s good to be lucky sometimes. I’ll take it.”
Kevin Durant wants the Warriors to remove the luck factor going for- ward. He even nitpicked that board that Smith secured as something he should have done.
“As you try to lock in on the details as much as possible, that luck factor — good luck, bad luck — you don’t have it creep in if you figure out the detail parts,” Durant said.
Golden State gave up 19 offensive boards in all while getting only four.
The Warriors know James is going to score his share of points. They just want to make it harder for him to get good looks. James shot 19- for- 32 in the opener.
“We’ve got to make them work harder in general,” Kerr said. “I thought our defense was subpar.”
James said he is taking antibiotics and using eye drops after getting poked in the eye by Green in the first half. The outer area of James’ eye was still red Saturday.
Klay Thompson expects to play but is listed as questionable with a sprained left ankle, and Andre Iguodala remained doubtful as he works back from a bone bruise in his left knee suffered in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals.
Smith slid into Thompson’s left leg in the first quarter Thursday. Thompson was dealing with stiffness, swelling and more pain.
“It is a Finals game, and I’m going to do everything I possibly can to play,” Thompson said. “It’s something you definitely don’t want to have in the NBA championship.”
Nor does James want blood in his eye to affect his vision or alter his view of the basket. So, did he go off for 51 with only one good eye?
“No, I had some points before that already,” James said, chuckling.