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2015 NBA Finals: Coaches Perspective From Game 2 Between The Cavs-Warriors

By Ryan McNeill

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LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers evened the NBA Finals at one game apiece after uglying up Game 2, here are some takeaway’s from the Cavs win

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Game 2 of the 2015 NBA Finals will be forever remembered as the game LeBron James put the Cleveland cavaliers on his back and willed his team to victory. James played a staggering 50 minutes while posting a triple-double of 39 points, 16 rebounds and 11 dimes.

It was the kind of game that cemented James’ place in the argument of who the G.O.A.T. is.

It will also be the game where Stephen Curry set a record for missed three-pointers (13) in an NBA Finals game and Matthew Dellavedova continued to be a pest on the defensive end.

Here are a few takeaways from Game 2 of the 2015 NBA Finals:

  • One of the big stories heading into this game was how Matthew Dellavedova would rise to the challenge with Kyrie Irving out for the remainder of the NBA Finals. His biggest impact was on the defensive end where he held Steph Curry to 0-8 from the field and 0-5 from beyond the arc.
  • Curry also passed John Starks record for most missed three-pointers (11) in an NBA Finals game. He started the game 1-8 from beyond the arc. He wasn’t able to warm up and finished an ice-cold 2-15 from deep.
  • All nine of Dellavedova’s points came in the fourth quarter and overtime. None bigger than the two free throws to ice the game in overtime.
  • A big story in this game — that sadly won’t be talked about enough — is the fact Cleveland won the hustle and heart battle against Golden State. Tristan Thompson grabbed 17.5 percent of all available offensive rebounds while on the court which is Dennis Rodman-esque. Cleveland combined as a team to corral 28.6 of available offensive rebounds and they also drew five loose-ball fouls on Golden State.
  • Cleveland nearly blew the game (again) late in the fourth quarter. They had a nine point lead with three minutes left and Golden State went on a late run to force the game into overtime. Cleveland had a similar mental letdown in Game 1 that bumped that game into overtime, too.
  • Klay Thompson picked his his second foul in less than five minutes of burn. After a quick trip to the bench, he returned with a flurry to score 16 points in his first 19 minutes of burn (7-9 from the field). Thompson had 20 points in the first half while the rest of Golden State’s starters combined to score 14 points (3-17 from the field). Thompson finished the game with a team-high 34 points and stuffed the stat sheet with five boards, two dimes, two steals and a block.
  • Draymond Green blocked LeBron James three times in Game 2.
  • It was interesting and bizarre late in the game to see LeBron James clearly get fouled, yet nothing was called. One was during a jump ball when Green clearly grabbed his shoulder and the other time was the previous play which should have resulted in two free throws for James.
  • According to ESPN Stats: “Cavaliers shot 32.6% from the field, LOWEST by any team in an NBA Finals road win in the shot-clock era (1954-55) (via @eliassports)”

Next: Has Cleveland found a blue print to beat the Warriors?