How The Cleveland Cavaliers Are Shocking The World
Winning The Frontcourt
Cleveland’s new starting point guard isn’t the only one who’s shocked the world by winning his matchup, however. Draymond Green has been Golden State’s two-way X-factor all season long, and it wasn’t long ago that Bay Area fans were all holding their breath hoping that Andrew Bogut would make it all the way through a playoff run without getting hurt.
In a series where it’s hard to tell who the most disappointing Warrior has been, Green and Bogut have both made pretty strong cases. Some of that is due to Green’s horrific three-point shooting in the postseason (25 percent), which has segued into a sudden reluctance to even attempt that shot any more. Some of that is Bogut getting foul trouble and getting frustrated early.
But the rest of the credit lies with Tristan “Gimme The Max” Thompson and Timofey Mozgov.
Bogut just can’t keep up with the young legs of Mozgov and Thompson
— Marcus Thompson II (@ThompsonScribe) June 10, 2015
Thompson is only averaging 4.7 points per game, but he’s also hauling in 14 rebounds per game — with 5.7 of them coming on the offensive glass. Green, by comparison, is averaging an ineffective 9.7 points and 7.7 rebounds per game on 26.7 percent shooting.
As for the matchup at center, it’s impossible to examine this interior battle without thinking of the time Timofey Mozgov demanded a picture with some random dude’s girlfriend on the street…and got it. That’s what he’s done to Bogut in this series. He found Bogut’s girlfriend, he told Bogut he wanted a picture and he made Bogut take the picture himself to add to his shame.
You want specifics? Mozzy is averaging 13.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting 54.2 percent from the floor in this series, making the Warriors pay every night until Steve Kerr rolls out the small-ball lineups. Bogut, on the other hand, is posting 3.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game while making four of his nine shots in the series (44.4 percent).
Mozgov and Thompson really just ate Bogut and Green alive. It was uncanny and I didn't expect those guys to be overwhelmed.
— mhonkasalo (@mhonkasalo) June 5, 2015
Add it all up and Cleveland’s frontcourt duo is owning the Warriors’ highly vaunted big men. Even after watching Thompson inhale offensive rebounds during the Eastern Conference playoffs the way sharks inhale blood in the water, nobody saw this coming. Nobody saw Draymond becoming visibly rattled, and nobody predicted Andrew Bogut going softer than Charmin Plus.
The way this unpredictable series has gone has a lot to do with the Warriors s**tting the bed. But Thompson and Mozgov have been the monsters in the closet prompting said bed-shat by Golden State’s frontcourt duo.
Next: Le-High Volume