A scuffle in the waning seconds of Thursday night’s contest may leave some key players suspended for Game 2, writes Chris Haynes of ESPN.
Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson is expected to receive some form of penalty for shoving the ball in Draymond Green‘s face after being tossed out of Game 1 for committing a Flagrant 2 foul. Kevin Love may also face a suspension for leaving the bench during the incident. Love, who was quickly pulled off the court by an assistant coach, said he doesn’t believe any disciplinary action is warranted.
“I was already on the court trying to get the refs’ attention before the scuffle,” he explained.
The altercation started when Golden State’s Shaun Livingston attempted a jumper with the shot clock expiring in the final seconds of overtime. Thompson hit Livingston in the chest with his elbow as he tried to block the shot and later expressed anger that the Warriors didn’t accept the clock violation.
“I contested a shot that shouldn’t have been taken,” Thompson said. “I mean, it’s like the unspoken rule in the NBA: If you’re up 10 or 11 with about 20 seconds left, you don’t take that shot. I make the contest, and next thing I know, I was being kicked out for making a contest that we learn in training camp. I don’t know why I got thrown out.”
“I say that we don’t take the turnover. I don’t take the turnover,” he said. “Kevin [Durant] threw me the ball, and he threw it to me like we were still playing. J.R. [Smith] was still guarding him, you know. No disrespect. We just play the game. So, that’s what it was. … It’s the Finals. It’s all love. … It was like a YMCA pickup game in the last 30 seconds.”
If Iguodala is out for the series I like the Cavs in 6.
Game 1- Warriors
Game 2- Cavs
Game 3- Cavs
Game 4- Warriors
Game 5- Cavs
Game 6- Cavs
Please give me whatever you’re smoking man….did you not watch last night at all? LeBron had 51 and the Cavs STILL lost. Yet you think they take two in golden state?
Dude….they lost due to a bunch of random circumstances that probably wouldn’t occur again. LBJ and team figured them out. LBJ probably shouldn’t be expected to drop 51 again but a 40 point performances matched with better 3pt shooting should have them within range to win the game late in the 4th.
Throwing away a game 1 win will cost them big time
Apparently GS will only shoot 36% from three the entire series also then.
No way they win 2 away games, they missed their best opportunity to steal one last night. If the Cavs win they have to defend home court 3 times and steal 1 in Oakland. Warriors not losing twice in the 3 home games left.
They lost 3 straight in 2016…….
Pretty sure the Cavs had a guy by the name of Irving and the Warriors didn’t have a guy by the name of KD….2016 is irrelevant.
So, you’re saying the Cavs will have an easier time against GS than Boston?
Yup, it’s cause they have Lebron. The Celtics had a better coach than the Warriors do.
Seriously?
Yes the Celtics were harder to beat. Kerr won’t outcoach Lue and Lebron this time around.
Cavs take game 3 and that’s it. Warriors in 5
Cleveland in 7 with superman Lebron.
Let’s see. Cavs played the best possible basketball they could and lost. The warriors struggled and won.
Happens sometimes.
Warriors lack more and more class by the second. Livingston said it best: “it was (played) like a YMCA pickup game.” Shot was classless and the Draymond Green and the permissiveness shown toward his behavior by the org reflects badly on Steve Kerr and Co.
GSW D is not the same. Cavs’ isos find the weak spot… it’s a legit offense now, not just “Lebron holding”, become expert at forcing the right switches.
It may not even be the “pace ‘n space” era anymore!
Once the Cavs get over a frustrating loss they have reason to be confident for gm2.