Cleveland Cavaliers: 5 takeaways from Game 4 in 2017 NBA Finals

2. Three-pointers are pretty helpful

In a Game 1 loss for Cleveland, the Cavs shot 11-for-31 from three-point range (35.5 percent), but the Warriors were slightly better, going 12-for-33 (36.4 percent). In a Game 2 loss for Cleveland, the Dubs set an NBA Finals record for made threes, going 18-for-43 (41.9 percent), while the Cavs shot a dismal 8-for-29 from deep (27.6 percent).

In a Game 3 loss for Cleveland, the Cavs only made 12 of their 44 threes (27.3 percent), while the Dubs were a blistering 16-for-33 from deep (48.5 percent). Are you sensing a trend?

Through the first three games, the Warriors were a +45 in points from three-pointers, and they outshot Cleveland by a Grand Canyon-sized gap in efficiency of 42.2 percent to 29.8 percent. It’s probably not a coincidence the defending champs finally got in the win column when they made a Finals record 24 three-pointers in Game 4.

Going 24-for-45 from deep (53.3 percent), it was the first time Cleveland’s potent three-point attack showed up in this series. Golden State’s defense wasn’t locked in from the start, and the Cavaliers did well to get in an early rhythm they could sustain the rest of the way.

The Warriors’ defense should clamp down again in Game 5, but it’s worth noting that their two competitive games at Quicken Loans, the Cavaliers averaged 44.5 three-point attempts per game…compared to 30 per game in the first two.

The Cavs were a three-point shooting team in the regular season. That needs to continue in Game 5 on the road.