Kevin Love getting a concussion in Game 3 of the NBA Finals was a blessing in disguise for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Already playing aggressive and with the home crowd on their side, the team was forced to come out with a different lineup and adapt to the small ball playing of the Golden State Warriors offense. All they had to do was execute the same gameplan in Game 4 and they’d end up with the same result.
Until Kevin Love was cleared to play right before the game and Coach Lue had to make a decision on whether to start him or not. He didn’t and Love pledge to take on whatever role the coach needed him to take for the sake of the team.
Game 4 was actually closer to the previous three blowouts we witnessed. The Cavs didn’t come out with as much as that killer instinct that we saw in Game 3, but they still remained aggressive. LeBron James kept driving to the basket. Kyrie Irving continued putting up points.
But the Splash Brothers found their groove as well.
Steph Curry and Klay Thompson actually made 17 three-pointers total in the game and combined for 63 points on the night. The game we had been waiting for from the two finally came.
Things remained competitive all the way up until the fourth quarter, with both teams fighting for every inch they could get, with the war of words turning physical on a number of occasions. King James stepped over Draymond Green and got a cheap shot to the balls. Steph and LeBron went at it after a loose ball went out of bounds. It was intense playoff basketball and we loved it.
With the game in the bag, the Warriors now have the chance to close out the series on Monday night in Oracle Arena and seal a back-to-back championship run.
FINAL: GS 108 | CLE 97