When Kevin Durant joined a team with 73 wins, many knew the following season would be one the Dubs would dominate. Seeing it play out has surpassed even the most optimistic of Bay Area dreamers. Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, and Klay Thompson displayed the type of shooting never seen before on one team in NBA history. A combined 87pts on an incredible 54.9% shooting and 46% for three. The Warriors didn’t break much of a sweat after halftime in game 2.
The Cavaliers put up a decent fight for 24 minutes. Behind only three points at halftime, it appeared the Cavs would actually have a chance against the Dubs. However, Kevin Durant and Steph Curry had other ideas. Durant smothering on defense and unstoppable on offense. His stat line of 33 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, and 5 blocks on 59.1% is one of the best ever recorded in the NBA Finals. Add that to a Steph Curry 30 point triple double and you’d be hard pressed to win many games against these Warriors.
There is not many positives for the Cavaliers. One the can take away is the play of their power forward. Kevin Love continues to play his best basketball in the playoffs. Defending on pick and rolls well, shooting great behind the line, and snagging boards like he never has, he has given Cleveland everything they could have asked for and more. Kyrie Irving can also be better, struggling against the length of the Warriors. Scoring just 19 points on 23 shots while dying on pick and rolls and struggling on 1-on-1 defense. He needs to be better in game 3 or else the Cleveland may be fishing somewhere in the Bay Area real soon.
Meanwhile, the Warriors have won 14 straight playoff games, have three of the best shooters of all time, and a smothering defense that has sniffed out many of the Cavs go to plays. We may be witnessing the best team ever assembled. This fact may not have shocked anyone when Durant joined the Warriors just months ago but their greatness still deserves to be appreciated. This type of dominance is unprecedented in this sport’s storied history.
