The Cleveland Cavaliers are looking to even the series against the Golden State Warriors in Game 2 of the NBA Finals. Here are three things to watch for the Cavs that will determine if they can win the first Finals game in franchise history or not:
1) Can LeBron carry the Cavs?
Kyrie Irving looked fantastic in his on-court return on Thursday, posting 23 points and six assists in just under 44 minutes of play. However, when Irving drove right late and crumpled to the floor in pain, the spotlight got that much brighted on the once and future King of Cleveland.
It’s going to take a Herculean individual effort from LeBron James just to keep his team level with the Dubs for the rest of this series, let alone win it all. It helps that he’s the best passing big man we’ve seen in decades, but the weaponry around him will need to play above their heads while James juggles the roles of scorer, facilitator and defender.
2) Who steps up in Kyrie's absence?
With both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love now out for the remainder of the season, someone else is going to have to help carry the scoring load. J.R. Smith is the most likely person to step up, but it's often expected players who have great games in similar scenarios. Either way, someone is going to need to seize the opportunity for Cleveland to win this game.
3) Can Cleveland limit Golden State's three-point shooting?
One of the biggest reasons the Cavs nearly won Game 1 was because of their ability to limit the Warriors' effectiveness from beyond the arc. Golden State shot just 37 percent from long range, though they made a majority of their three's late in regulation and in overtime during their comeback. If Cleveland can hold them to less than 40 percent shooting from three-point land, they'll give themselves a chance to win
Follow our Cleveland Cavaliers team page for all the latest Cavs news and rumors!
Back to the Cleveland Cavaliers Newsfeed