Golden State Warriors: 5 keys to beating Cavaliers in 2018 NBA Finals

2. Don’t let James save energy

On one hand, the Cavaliers seemed to barely escape from two of their three playoff series’ so far this year. On the other, their doing so felt calculated. By surviving despite sporadic effort, they were able to unleash a relatively rested version of the best player in the world whenever it counted.

More from Hoops Habit

• 7 Players the Miami Heat might replace Herro with by the trade deadline
• Meet Cooper Flagg: The best American prospect since LeBron James
• Are the Miami Heat laying the groundwork for their next super team?
• Sophomore Jump: 5 second-year NBA players bound to breakout
• NBA Trades: The Lakers bolster their frontcourt in this deal with the Pacers

Golden State cannot let that happen. It needs to target James defensively and make everything he gets offensively a product of effort.

The former should be relatively easy. If James guards Green (as expected, since doing so allows him to play rover and to rest), the Warriors must use Green as a constant screener for their three elite shooters, both in pick-and-roll and off the ball. Even if this results in a favorable matchup for Cleveland (James can guard Curry, Thompson or Durant better than any other Cav), it will force him to work, while taking away the Cavs’ only real rim protector.

Forcing James to work on offense will be harder, but there are some things the Warriors can do. Making him back his way into the paint or attack the rim from 23 feet out rather than 17. Encouraging him to waste energy with the dribble as he hunts the mismatch. Picking up full court rather than letting him walk it up.

James is going to score and he’s going to set others up to score. The harder Golden State makes it, the less he’ll have in reserve for the off-chance that this thing gets to a Game 6 or 7. Speaking of which…