Golden State Warriors: 5 Lessons From NBA Finals Game 1

June 4, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates a scoring play during a time out against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the overtime period in game one of the NBA Finals. at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

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Jun 4, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) shoots the ball against Cleveland Cavaliers center Timofey Mozgov (20) in game one of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ezra Shaw-Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports /

5. Pushing The Tempo Will Help

During the regular season, the Warriors averaged 20.9 fast break points per game, the best mark in the NBA. In the first three rounds of the playoffs, the Dubs averaged 21.1 fast break points per game, the second best mark among playoff teams. In Game 1 of the Finals, the Warriors only scored 14 fast break points.

The Cavs may not have won the game, but they succeeded when it came to slowing the tempo down into a half-court game. When Golden State got out and ran, it felt like they were on the cusp of blowing the game open.

But the Cavaliers prevented that from happening very often, either with an offensive rebound or a timely bucket from LeBron James.

Technically speaking, the Warriors weren’t as obliterated on the offensive glass as many suggested. In fact, they out-rebounded Cleveland 48-45 overall. But they gave up 13 offensive rebounds, and even though those boards only led to six second chance points for the Cavs, they hindered the Dubs’ ability to push the tempo.

The Warriors are still a very good half-court team because of their league-leading defense, but they’re unstoppable when they get out in transition. Closing out defensive stops with rebounds and pushing the tempo in Game 2 would help the Warriors create a little more distance on the scoreboard.

Next: No. 4

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