Golden State Warriors: 3 keys for Game 3 vs. Cavaliers

3. Improve effectiveness on the glass

For the second straight game, the Warriors lost the battle on the boards. After being out rebounded 53-38 in Game 1, the Cavaliers narrowly edged them in this department, 42-41. However, it’s the Cavaliers’ proficiency of the offensive glass that remains a concern for Golden State.

Following a whopping 19-4 disparity on the offensive boards in the opening game, the Cavaliers again dominated in this department with a convincing 16-7 margin. Not surprisingly, this leads to a number of opportunities for second chance points, with the Cavaliers taking advantage in outscoring the Warriors 19-9 in this area in Game 2.

Through the first two games, the primary contributors in this area for the Cavaliers have been the starting frontcourt of Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson, with backup Larry Nance Jr. also contributing significantly while on the court. In Game 2, Nance Jr. managed to rip down three offensive rebounds in just 12 minutes of playing time.

Naturally, boxing out is the first thing that comes to mind when attempting to thwart this potentially damaging area of the game. In Game 1, Draymond Green certainly played his part, recording a game-high 17 box outs, while also leading the team with nine in Game 2. However, aside from JaVale McGee, who boxed out on eight occasions in just 18 minutes of court time, Green had little help from his teammates, with forward Kevin Durant recording zero box outs in his 38 minutes of play.

With the series now being played on the road for the next two games, it’s even more imperative that the Warriors address this area of play leading into Game 3.