Golden State Warriors: 10 Keys To Winning Game 7

Jun 16, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts after he was ejected from the game in the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in game six of the NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena. Cleveland won 115-101. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

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Jun 13, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) drives to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) during the fourth quarter in game five of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

7. Transition Opportunities

During the regular season, the Warriors were the NBA’s best fast break team, averaging 20.9 transition points per game. That number was bound to come down in the playoffs, where the tempo slows down and possessions become grind-it-out affairs, but Golden State has been massacred on the break over the last few games.

Through the first six games of the Finals, the Dubs have actually been outscored in transition by the Cavs, a team that ranked 27th in pace during the regular season and 14th among all playoff teams heading into the series. Golden State is only averaging 9.8 fast break points per game in the Finals, while the Cavs are at 16.2 points per game.

Fast break points over the last two games...
Cavs 47, Warriors 19.
— John Schuhmann (@johnschuhmann) June 17, 2016

The Dubs’ transition defense has been abhorrent, but it all starts with the Warriors missing so many of the wide open looks they made all season long (looking at you, Harrison Barnes). Stopping LeBron James in transition is like trying to slow down a runaway freight train — it’s just not happening.

Knocking down good looks is step one to stopping Cleveland in transition, but collecting the Cavs’ misses and pushing the tempo is key to turning Game 7 into the kind of high-octane contest that Golden State has thrived in all season long.

Next: No. 6

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