Written by

Jude Thaddeus L. Bautista

Theoretically Cleveland’s strategy was sound: make anyone else but Steph Curry and Klay Thompson score. Kyrie Irving played great defense against Steph, LeBron drew early fouls from Klay. The Cavs let ‘everyone else’ beat them except for Golden State’s two record-breaking superstars. The problem is they did. The Warriors’ ended Game 1 of the NBA Finals with 7 players in double figures defeating the Cavs 104-89 (June 3, 2016-Mla Time).

LBJ has Kyrie Irving & Kevin Love healthy for the 2016 NBA Finals. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W913tynF_S4

The win embodies the Strength in Numbers banner at the Oracle Arena and on the t-shirts. Courtside seats have been sold as high as $29,000 especially since the exciting game 6 against OKC.

John Legend sings National Anthem for NBA Finals Game 1

Leading the way for the Warriors is a season high for Shaun Livingston at 20 pts. He took advantage of his 6’7” height and made mid range jumpers over 6’1” Kyrie Irving. Livingston has played for a total of 9 NBA squads and could still recall when 20 win teams would cut him from their line-up.

Shaun Livingston wallpaper by Jude Bautista

Coach Steve Kerr has the unusual strategy of using as many players on his roster as he possibly can. Ball movement, extra passing is something that every player does. If you know that everyone will get to play and everyone passes the ball, everyone is motivated to share. Assists totals bear this out with 29-17.

Klay Thompson had limited playing time because of foul trouble and was not a factor in Game 1.

Another factor for bench production was Klay Thompson’s early foul trouble. LeBron was able to draw a 3rd foul on Klay as early as 2Q, which limited his playing time. Livingston and Leandro Barbosa had started scoring from the first quarter.

Leandro Barbosa wallpaper- https://www.pinterest.com/NBAPrayers/warriors-nba-players-nbaprayers/

The team defense of the Warriors was stifling early on forcing two 24-second violations in the 1Q. Andre Iguodala even had back-to-back steals on Kyrie Irving, which resulted in fast break points.

Andre Iguodala strips both LBJ & Kyrie Irving without fouling them. Wallpaper by Jude Bautista.

The Warriors lead until an 11-0 run by the Cavs in the 3Q. Coach Steve Kerr was so angered he karate chopped a clipboard and split in two. Fans were shocked, as Kerr is usually unemotional during the games. Later on he said, “Destruction tends to ease some of the anger. So I try to take it out on a clipboard instead of a player. So it’s better that way.”

Coach Steve Kerr breaks a clipboard in half out of frustration. Below right: Trey Kirby of THE STARTERS fail to duplicate the feat w their own clipboard. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Za3uhZLRwo4

GSW Bench Game 1 High lights

The game had back and forth lead changes but the Warriors maintained the lead 76-68 going into the 4Q. Then came the burst of scoring from Shaun Livingston, Leandro Barbosa and Andre Iguodala. Steph Curry and Klay Thompson each had a three pointer to keep the lead permanently. But was an otherwise forgettable scoring night for the Splash brothers for a combined 20 points. Barbosa had 11 points while Iguodala had 12 pts 7 rebs and 6 assists. Andre’s defense was key on both LeBron and Kyrie the same way his defended both Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant in the previous series.

Andre Iguodala strips LBJ

Kevin Love is now healthy in the 2016 Finals unlike last year. http://cavaliersnation.com/2015/07/23/kevin-love-isolation-wallpaper/

Cavs Possible Solution

If the Warriors could beat the Cavs without Steph and Klay’s normal shooting, what else could they do?The Cavs may take comfort in the fact they contained Steph and Klay. The problem now is finding out they still have to stop 4 or more ‘other’ scorers.

LeBron was one assist away from a triple double: 23pts, 12 reb and 9 assts. LBJ is a natural passer and someone who WANTS to get his teammates involved. Kyrie Irving was the CAVS leading scorer with 26 points. Kevin Love had 17 points and 13 boards.

What they need to do is actually involve their bench even more. They have the personnel to do this. Channing Fye was added to their line up to shoot more treys. And yet only managed 2pts in his paltry 7 minutes.

Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith are proven scorers both in the 3point area and drives to the basket. Matthew Dellavedova is also a consistent shooter. LeBron isn’t the only 6-straight finals guy: James Jones is there. Timofey Mozgov played well in last year’s finals but hardly got playing time in this year’s playoffs. In game 1 Mozgov, Dahntay Jones, James Jones and Mo Williams only got to play during garbage time in the last 2 minutes.

J.E. Skeets of THE STARTERS believes that Richard Jefferson could be an X-Factor for the CAVS. Jefferson antagonized Raptors center Valanciunas in the previous series. If Jefferson can get Draymond Green to commit a flagrant or 2 technicals it will merit a one game suspension. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Za3uhZLRwo4

Via J.E. Skeets from THE STARTERS, the Cavs could also use veteran Richard Jefferson to antagonize Draymond Green. Just one flagrant foul or 2 technicals would merit a suspension for green who ‘accidentally’ kicked Steven Adams in the groin.

The Golden State Warriors had a record setting 73-9 game regular season http://www.basketwallpapers.com/USA/Golden-State-Warriors/

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IF the Cavs wanted to they could use all these players more both on the defensive and offensive end. The main difference is that the Warriors have been doing this all season long. Their starters are used to playing with their 2^nd and 3^rd units, vice versa. But the Cavs certainly have the personnel; they just need to give them minutes. If they don’t they’ll be overwhelmed by strength in numbers.

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Stephen Curry did NOT score his normal 30+pts in the Finals Gm1. But he still drew defenders that left his teammates open.

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GSW Bench numbers overwhelm the CAVS by 4Q

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Andre Iguodala wallpaper by Jude Bautista

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GSW Bench numbers overwhelm the CAVS by 4Q

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Laker side, Kobe Bryant, On top Derek Fisher, Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, Celtic side Rajon Rondo on top Kendrick Perkins, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen

Written by

Jude Thaddeus L. Bautista

Boston fought and played gallantly through three quarters where they kept the lead. They really had a chance even without starting center Kendrick Perkins. Then Pau Gasol and Ron Artest shut down KG and Pierce in the fourth quarter, at the same time  scoring on 3pt plays. In the end they secured the win in spite of 3pointers from Rondo and Allen: 83-79 in the dying seconds.

I can’t say enough about how the Celts have overcome adversity. After a heart rending 22 point loss in game six and a knee injury on Kendrick Perkins, any other team would have given up. They actually played better and even contained the unstoppable Kobe Bryant who had a 5 for 21 field goal percentage until the beginning of the 4^th. Ron Artest came alive scoring on treys and jumpers. He hadn’t really produced in the playoffs until he made that last second put back against Phoenix to end that series. In the finals sports writers were wondering where his scoring and defense had gone, not really showing up til tonight

Rasheed Wallace had been getting his way with Pau Gasol in the post area since the first quarter and so was KG. By the fourth quarter it was like a switch had been turned on, like Pau got mad and decided he wouldn’t let anyone score on him. Pau was blocking KG’s lay ups and dominated on the boards.

The interior defense of the Lakers shut down the Celts. The 57-53 lead at the end of the 3^rd quarter vanished. Lamar Odom started driving to the hoop aggressively while the Celts couldn’t buy a basket. After a 3point play by Artest the momentum had begun to swing to L.A. Fisher went to the locker room in the last 2:37 of the third with some injury that wasn’t mentioned. But Fish came back in the fourth and was another X factor. He nailed a 3ptr at 6:10 that tied the game at 64 and L.A never lost the lead after Kobe made Free throws the following play.

Jeremy Piven of HBO’s Entourage was watching the game, Courtney Cox Arquette, Andy Garcia were there too.  Crisitna Aguilera sang the Star Spangled Banner.

Laker coach Phil Jackson may be retiring and fans are awaiting the announcement if he’ll be back next season. As impressive as Jackson’s record is for this series and his career, I feel Doc Rivers did an even better job. Doc was able to motivate his team, even when they didn’t believe in themselves. Lakers Hall of Famer (and co owner) Magic Johnson said it in the awarding ceremony “We have the Greatest Coach, the greatest player in the whole world in Kobe Bryant, We have the Greatest Owner…” The Lakers are supposed to win; it would’ve been a huge upset and disappointment for them if they didn’t especially when the Celtics lost Perkins in game six. Quinito Henson during his coverage of a PBA (Phil. Basketball Association) game said that L.A. would win game 7 even with Perkins in the line up.

And yet Boston led through three quarters. Rivers was able to make use of an inferior and depleted line up and nearly pulled it off. No one gave the Cletics a chance against Cleveland, no one gave them a chance against Orlando. They beat the odds just by getting to the finals. When they won two games against L.A., I wrote in a previous blog that there was already a certain amount of satisfaction on my part. And then they won game 3, everyone was thinking they have a chance here. And they proved a lot of people wrong especially by dominating L.A. even through 3 quarters of game 7. I’m proud of the Celtics for getting where they are, they have nothing to be ashamed of. Rasheed Wallace stepped up, he was acquired from the Detroit Pistons which is my favorite team. This was a historic, exciting Finals series, the most exhilarating in recent years.

Paul Pierce lead his team with 27. But It was his hustle that impressed me the most.

Written by

Jude Thaddeus L. Bautista

Photos from web

Nate Robinson and Big Baby Davis is Shrek and Donkey

Shrek and Donkey didn’t get as much playing time but the Big Three came out to play in Game five as the Celtics take a 3-2 series lead  with a final score of 92-86. After their big game four victory, Nate Robinson called Big Baby Davis Shrek and himself as Donkey. The press couldn’t help but laugh. Paul Pierce led the Celtics in game 5 with 27 pts but it was a true team effort. By the 3^rd quarter, Kobe was unstoppable. He had 3 consecutive 3pointers, while being defended well by Ray Allen. They weren’t open looks. Kobe had a total of 19 points in the third quarter alone. There was a two minute stretch where he scored 10 points.

Dwyane Wade was shaking his head sitting on the 3^rd row with his son, as if in disbelief at how Kobe was sinking those seemingly impossible shots. I appreciate the fact that Wade was there, it shows he’s a true student of the game and he really wants to be a champion again. His son however was busy playing with a PSP unit. I understand the feeling from the kid, if you’ve ever played NBA Live or 2K10, the games allow you to experience being a GM, coach and a player. There’s even Street basketball challenge for the cell phone from zed. I’m wary of being addicted to it myself.

In the fourth quarter, the Celtic offense slowed down and yet they were still able to eke out a win. It became a grind out affair. Not everyone was able to score for the Celtics but everyone was hustling, playing defense, going for loose balls, saving the ball from out of bounds. The whole team was working so hard and showing a lot of effort. As in my previous blog about the UFC, the Celtics showed heart. That to me was the difference which gave them the win. No one could stop Kobe but everyone else in the Lakers seemed to fade. Jeff Van Gundy noticed that Andrew Bynum had 31 minutes playing time but came out zip in defensive rebounds.

Pau Gasol may have gotten tired from the gang defense the Celts were playing on him. KG got a couple of blocks. Early in the 4^th quarter, Tony Allen came flying out of nowhere to block Pau’s lay up. Allen is almost a foot shorter than Gasol. Rondo on the other hand came from behind jumping over the 7 ft Spaniard to tip in a missed shot. Rondo hadn’t scored more than a few points the whole game. The tip in however, pushed the lead to 12 with 4 minutes remaining.

What really impressed me from Pierce’ performance was not the consistent jumpers that he made. He had to save the ball from going out of bounds from mid court in the last 43 seconds and made a picture perfect pass. Rondo caught it in mid air as he was cutting to the basket and made the lay up. Krypto-Nate or Donkey gave up a three and found Allen underneath the basket for a lay up. It is this selflessness that makes the Celtics a team that works together. Coach Doc Rivers also has to do a lot with the team work and success. he believed in them when everyone else said they were too old and not a good enough team to win the championship.

the legends from left, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Paul Pierce, Kobe Bryant, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson

The Celts have the momentum, but the L.A. Lakers are a very strong home court team. They’ve only lost twice at the Staples arena from the playoffs and, once was to the Celts in this series. As I’ve written before, Boston has already overachieved just by getting to the Finals. Now all they need to do is one more game to win it all. They’ve already proven a lot of critics (including myself) wrong.

Mike Breen gave a wonderful trivia about the “Beat L.A.” phrase that has become so popular in the league. In the 1982 series the Boston fans saw the eventual elimination of their team by the Philadelphia 76ers. Since they didn’t want to cheer on L.A. in the finals they chanted “Beat L.A.” to the Sixers. That was the team with Julius ‘The Dr.’ Erving, Moses Malone, Andrew Toney and Mo Cheeks. The Lakers had Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Jamaal Wilkes and Bob McAdoo. And they DID beat L.A. to win the championship.