Golden State Warriors: 5 Takeaways From Game 5 vs. Cavaliers
4. The Warriors Missed Draymond
I mean…duh. Before Monday night, the Warriors had only lost three games in 53 tries at Oracle Arena this season. Without their most important two-way player, the Cavaliers enjoyed advantages on both ends of the floor.
On the defensive end, not having Draymond’s playmaking ability and the threat of his three-point shot helped the Cavs close off driving lanes. The Warriors still got plenty of great looks on the perimeter, but there’s no question that Green was missed on that end, particularly with Golden State failing to attack the basket.
Going small didn’t help the Warriors without Green’s versatility at the 5 either, and the numbers below dropped to -39 in 159 minutes for all lineups in this series not featuring Draymond at center.
GSW in Finals: With Draymond at C: 81 minutes, +53. All other lineups: 111 minutes, -24.
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) June 11, 2016
On the other end, Green’s absence was a huge factor in the Warriors’ paltry defense that surrendered 112 points, 53 percent shooting from the field and 41.7 percent shooting from three-point range.
Without Green’s underrated rim protection (especially after Bogut went down), the Cavaliers enjoyed 62.2 percent shooting on shots less than 10 feet from the basket. LeBron’s jumper was falling, but seven of his 16 field goals came right around the rim, where Green had been a pesky presence.
The Warriors actually managed on the glass without their leading rebounder, but it’s hard for rebounding to be a major factor in a game when the other team’s shots keep dropping through the net.
You could see the defensive breakdowns in communication from something as simple as LeBron’s three-point play on Marreese Speights to something as under-the-radar as losing Kyrie Irving on the three-point line twice in transition.
Nothing should be taken away from LeBron James or from Kyrie Irving; they came out on a mission in Game 5 and turned in all-time NBA Finals performances. But there’s no question that without their best rebounder, defender, assist man and heart and soul for Game 5, the Warriors were not the same team.
Next: No. 3