Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry scored 37 points and dominated the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James in Game 5, are looking to close out and win the championship tonigt in Game 6. The Warriors depth is seeming to wear down the Cavaliers. The Cavs also don’t have as much playoff experience and so the bulk of the pressure is being put on James’ shoulders. Including have some of their offensive players out, and that was just too much for one man to bear in Game 5.
A key moment in that game was when Stephen Curry stepped off a screen, dribbled behind his back and crossed over Matthew Dellavedova. He leaned back and swished a 3-pointer, then heroically pounded his chest and pointed to the roof, making the the sellout crowd of 19,596 explode in a roar by the flick of his fingertips.
They are one more win away from the MVP really having a reason to celebrate and that could come tonight as they corner the Cavs with elimination. Curry made seven 3-pointers and scored 37 points, holding back another brilliant performance from LeBron James, and outlasting the Cleveland Cavaliers Sunday night by a score of 104-91.
“It was a fun moment, but it will only mean something — and I’ll probably have a better answer for that question after we win that championship — but signature moments only come for players who are holding the trophy,” said Curry to media postgame. Him and his teammates took control of the game, and most probably the series, in the final minutes of the match. Curry worked his magic to help the Warriors pull away fast and get into a position they haven’t been in 40 years. The Warriors tonight will try to win their first title since 1975 in Cleveland. If they can’t seal the deal and James has a huge comeback, Game 7 will be in Oakland on Friday night.
“We didn’t let the moment slip,” – Stephen Curry
“I feel confident because I’m the best player in the world,” claimed James postgame, who carried Cleveland for most of the series. The four-time MVP had 40 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists in Game 5. He slowed down Golden State’s pace the way only he can. It was his second triple-double of this series. But without injured starters Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, the Cavs got tired again late in the game, it’s a skeletal team whose rotation is just seven or eight deep.
“He has the ball in his hands a lot. Stick with the program. Don’t get discouraged if he makes shots. He’s going to,” Curry said of James. “Over the course of 48 minutes, we hope we wear him down to make it very tough on him.”
Plays that James can make will be game changersm like his 34-footer with the shot clock about to expire midway through the fourth to cut the Warriors’ lead to 80-79. With no back up, Curry was able to answer a crisp 3-pointer and Klay Thompson followed with another. “Not a lot you can do, honestly. He made some terrific shots,” Cavs coach David Blatt said of Curry.
James said the Cavs are content with the way they defended Curry. “Was any of them not contested?” James said. “Falling, step-backs off the dribble. I’m OK with that. We’re OK with that. You tip your hat to the best shooter in the league.”
Both teams though lacking size, neither lacked fight. If Game 5 was any indication, with 20 lead changes and 10 ties in a match that featured nearly as many bruises as baskets, the pace set by the league’s two biggest players trading thrilling scores and shots; then Game 6 should be a thriller.
As Warriors’ Klay Thompson put it: “We didn’t turn it over, we were patient. And two words: Stephen Curry.”
And that’s exactly the reason they will win. No matter how great King James can be, it’s time for the new heir to take the throne.
Our Pick: Warriors over Cavaliers to win the NBA Championship
