So what has changed for the Cavs?

[Rosco917]

What besides, Golden State loosing Draymond Green for game 5, has changed with the Cavs?

What has Lebron asked of them, that has changed them enough to possibly win the NBA championship. Because I'll tell ya, after game 4 that team look beaten, so what changed?

The thing I noticed was a total commitment good hard defense. Tristan Thompson and LBJ are really controlling the offensive, and defensive boards. I fact... you go into the paint at your own risk. Picks are now fought over, passing lanes are being over played. The defense has really tightened up starting in game 5. Players that simply don't defend well, are at least playing hard, and physical, and working at it. Irving has forced Curry to have to defend him, and he's not liking it. While at the other end, Cleveland guards, including even Irving, are playing tough, honest, physical D. The entire Cavs team is making it hard on Curry and Klay. (like the C's did in ending the Golden State home winning streak)

The Warriors with all that scoring and 3 point shooting, are having trouble with aggressive, tough Defense. I know many think todays NBA is all about shooting and scoring, and to a certain degree you're right, you need a few players that can score well.

But aggressive tough D can be darn effective, especially in the playoffs. The problem is, if your a poor defender, you can't just turn it on, nothing to turn on, if it's simply not there.

A team also needs talented tough minded defenders. 

 

[Thruthelookingglass]

Here's what I see:
It's a lot of things--
Tristan Thompson going hog wild.
JR Smith playing better than he usually does.
LeBron taking outside shots again and making them.
Yes, better defense by all concerned.
Curry can't guard LeBron, but they keep switching.
Warriors with lots of early fouls on their main guys, so they are less aggressive.

and:
Cavs hitting, bumping Warriors every chance they get--on the ball, off the ball.  I will give it to the Cavs, it's working.  The Warriors are getting looks, they just rush them or hear steps.  The Cavs seem to get into their heads with their early blitz.  It's happened a couple times now.

[Ogaju]

they finally decided to watch tape of Boston Celtics taking out GSW twice.

[droopdog7]

Well, apparently the Cavs are now the Celtics because this is a Celtic board.  So I guess there's that.

[CelticsBR]

The Cavs were lucky Love was unable to play a lot. Their defense clicked against a team of GSW that has been below their shooting average level.

Kerr was also a bit conservative during the two last games. Barbosa, for example, provided some good scoring and released the pressure of Klay and Steph carrying the load for small stretches. Couldn't he stay in game longer?

[guava_wrench]

Game 5 = no Green.
Game 6 = @ home and no Bogut.

Game 7 will be tougher for the Cavs since they will be in @ Oracle and Green will be playing. They also can't count on so many questionable foul calls on Curry.

[alldaboston]

Thompson got that max for his ability to exploit GS. He's still pretty trash otherwise. But in this series he's been great and it can be argued he's played a huge role in the Cavs coming back.

[biggs]

Ummmm the league wanted ratings? 

[Ogaju]

Game 7 ? I will not bet against the best player in the world. All he has to be is in a zone for 48 minutes.

CLEVELAND IN SEVEN !!!!!!

[Alleyoopster]

Game 5 = no Green.
Game 6 = @ home and no Bogut.

Game 7 will be tougher for the Cavs since they will be in @ Oracle and Green will be playing. They also can't count on so many questionable foul calls on Curry.

Granted Curry got screwed in the last game. However, in the rest of the series he's been getting away with numerous holds. My guess Cleveland must have complained to the league. So, they clamped down on him. 

[Celtics4ever]

They fouled out Curry last game with five minutes left  and the previous game they didn't play against Green.   NBA is Scamtastic.  This series seems extended, I hoped Silver would be different but nope.

[Alleyoopster]

They fouled out Curry last game with five minutes left  and the previous game they didn't play against Green.   NBA is Scamtastic.  This series seems extended, I hoped Silver would be different but nope.

I'll buy the Curry scam. Green is another story. How does one accumulate 4 flagrants in a playoffs? Don't blame the NBA....Green needs to look in the mirror. 

[passesofftodj]

Two R's....rim protection and refs.

[Bobshot]

The Cavs got a lucky break with Green's questionable suspension (there was no foul called on the early contact in question, and I didn't see anything on the video replay). If it was a ploy to extend the series to 7 games, it worked.

The Cavs now have the momentum. But the Warriors have home court and Green. I doubt Bogut is a factor. He never plays big minutes in smallball anyways.  But Iguodala's back could be.

Green needs to come up big in this one. And Curry has to make 3s with his eyes closed, which he is capable of doing.

Can James repeat his g.6 performance? Hard to see he and Irving repeating their home performance in Oakland. But anything can happen.

I think the League will stay out of this one.

[hpantazo]

They fouled out Curry last game with five minutes left  and the previous game they didn't play against Green.   NBA is Scamtastic.  This series seems extended, I hoped Silver would be different but nope.

That's basically it. In games 1-3, when the NBA let the teams play, GS was crushing Cleveland. NBA stepped in and decided to make it a 7 game series. Let's hope they let the two teams decide it on the court themselves on Sunday.

People can come up with explanations like Lebron has stepped up his game, Curry is struggling, etc., but that stuff is all manipulated by officiating. When you suspend the top defender on GS, and call tacky tack fouls on GS players when Lebron has the ball, but don't call those fouls when GS has the ball and Cleveland defenders are mugging them, you easily decide the game. When you call tacky tack fouls on Curry and get him on the bench and out of his rhythm, you easily decide the game.