Golden State Warriors: 5 X-Factors In The 2015 NBA Finals
2. Three-Point Shooting
In the playoffs, the Warriors (30.3 attempts per game, 38 percent) and Cavaliers (29.1 attempts per game, 35.9 percent) rank first and second in both three-point attempts and makes per game. In the regular season, the Dubs ranked second in three-point makes, fourth in attempts and first in percentage while the Cavs were fourth, second and fifth, respectively.
It’s no secret that if either of these two teams goes cold from downtown at the worst possible time, it could easily decide the series.
The Warriors should feel good about that given the fact that they have the greatest shooter in NBA history on their side. But the rest of the Dubs haven’t shot the ball well from downtown in these playoffs.
RECORD: Stephen Curry SHATTERS the Playoff 3-point record (58 in 22 games) with 64 3s in 13 games. #3PointKing #MVP pic.twitter.com/wQ0aak8Nv8
— Warriors Nation (@WarriorNationCP) May 24, 2015
In the playoffs, the Warriors have gone 173-for-455 from downtown (38 percent), which is pretty excellent. But Stephen Curry has gone 73-for-167 from deep (43.7 percent) and Klay Thompson is right behind him at 45-for-106 (42.5 percent); all non-Splash Brothers have gone 55-for-182 from beyond the arc (30.2 percent).
No matter how you slice it, that’s not great. Curry and Thompson have made more than two-thirds of all three-pointers made by the Warriors in these playoffs. What happens if one of them goes cold at the wrong time? I don’t see that happening, but Golden State would really benefit from guys like Barnes, Green or Iggy getting hot from downtown.
The Cavaliers are a good three-point shooting team, but if the Warriors’ top-ranked defense can just hold them in check, they’ll run away with this series if they can find their shooting stroke at the perfect time.
Next: No. 1