Game 2 of the 2017 NBA Finals will kick off tonight at 8:00 p.m. Eastern on ABC. The Golden State Warriors are looking to take a 2-0 lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Kevin Durant led the Warriors in game one as expected with 38 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists. Stephen Curry added 28 points and 10 dimes to assist with the win.
Game 2 adjustments
The Cleveland Cavaliers came out competitive in game one of the NBA Finals but could not keep up with the fast-paced scoring of the Golden State Warriors offense. If the Cavaliers are gonna have a chance at tieing the series at a game apiece before the series shifts back home to Cleveland, they are gonna have to make some huge adjustments on both sides of the ball.
Lebron James and Kyrie Irving came out and played great basketball as expected. Kevin Love chipped in with 15 points and 21 rebounds. However, the rest of the team did not match the energy of the "Big Three." The Cavaliers bench scored a total of 24 points. Guys like Kyle Korver and JR Smith will have to be on their "A" game from outside to match the strength of the Warriors.
Staying ahead
The Warriors are in a familiar place in the NBA Finals by holding a 1-0 series lead. In game two the Warriors may have to play their best game of the season if they want to put the Cavs in a 2-0 hole. In last year's NBA Finals the Warriors held a commanding 3-1 lead against the Cavs but still managed to lose the series behind the stellar play of Lebron James and Kyrie Irving.
The Warriors do not want to see a repeat of last season when they came up short after posting an NBA record of 73 wins. Kevin Durant, who is still seeking his first NBA Finals championship will have to bring the same intensity and energy against rival Lebron James who seems to play better with his back against the wall.
Flashback to 2012 NBA Finals
In the 2012 NBA Finals, Lebron James and the Miami Heat allowed Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder to take a 1-0 series lead. Kevin Durant scored 36 points in that game which was his NBA Finals debut. However, game one would be the only win in the series for KD and the Thunder.
The next four games Lebron James went on to deliver an all-out assault to the Thunder to win his first NBA championship.
"King James" clamped down on Durant defensively and he was never able to perform with the same energy he brought in game one.
Fast-forward five years later to game two of the 2017 NBA Finals and Kevin Durant finds himself in the same position. However, this time around he plays for a team that includes three other all-stars. If Lebron James wants to write the same story as he did in 2012, he will have to play the best basketball of his entire career to defeat such a high-powered offense.
