Cleveland Cavaliers: 3 takeaways from Game 1 vs. Warriors

3. Cleveland controls the glass in Game 1

Despite the deflating loss, there were still positive for the Cavaliers to take away from Game 1, most notably their advantage in the rebounding department.

Cleveland outrebounded the Warriors by a margin of 53-38, including a 19-to-4 edge on the offensive glass.

Those 19 offensive rebounds were crucial for the Cavs, as they led to nine extra shots that allowed them to stay in the game. Their dominance on the defensive glass allowed them to control the tempo in their favor, not allowing Golden State to ignite fast breaks.

It’s this type of play that will give Cleveland a chance in this series, as nobody can really hang with Golden State on the perimeter.

The way to compete with the Warriors is to dominate the restricted area, controlling the speed of the game and getting extra possessions that can lead to more points.

If the Cavs can continue their attack on the boards, they’ll give themselves a great shot of replicating so much of what made them successful in Game 1.