Game 1 Plays That Will Shape the Rest of the 2015 NBA Finals

If Game 1 of the NBA Finals is a harbinger of things to come, this series may well emerge as one of the most tightly contested in recent memory. This contest, in particular, was anyone's game—a back-and-forth affair that pitted the game's greatest player against its very best backcourt.

A play or two decided the contest, and as LeBron James noted to ESPN.com's Dave McMenamin afterward, the Cavaliers were well within reach of stealing this one:

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We had a lot of breakdowns, a couple of transition 3s they made that we kind of pinpointed on saying we don't want to give those up. But at the end of the day, we gave ourselves a chance, man. I missed a tough one. But we had so many opportunities to win this game, and we didn't. It's up to us now to look at the film, watch and make some adjustments, what you need to do to be ready for Sunday.

"

Both clubs have had plenty of time to game-plan for one another, but that will be an ongoing process as the coaching staffs' strategies evolve. Generally speaking, those strategies will likely look to build upon what went right in Game 1. That's true for the Cavaliers, too.

As McMenamin put it, "The trick for Cleveland over the next 72 hours until Game 2 is convincing themselves that all the good things it did in the first 48 minutes against Golden State were more important than all that went wrong in the five-minute OT."

There were good and bad things alike for both clubs—things that can be epitomized by a few quick snapshots of Game 1.

The J.R. Factor

Regardless of Kyrie Irving's status for Game 2 (and the rest of the series), the Cavaliers could probably use a little more activity from shooting guard J.R. Smith. The 29-year-old scored all nine of his Game 1 points in the first half, including this step-back three-pointer that stretched the lead during the first quarter.

Smith is one of the few Cavs who can create his own shot on a fairly consistent basis, and he often does so with the slightest of room. For a team that relies so heavily on isolation, Smith's aggressiveness remains all but indispensable. His ability to take a couple of dribbles and shoot from anywhere gives Cleveland a fall-back option—a threat of last resort when LeBron James' playmaking doesn't pan out.

Smith's range also keeps Golden State's defense a little more honest and a little less likely to collapse on James' penetration. From that perspective, these kinds of shot attempts are integral to the game plan—as are Iman Shumpert's looks from the corner.

Unfortunately, Smith went cold over the course of Game 1, finishing 3-of-13 from the field and just 3-of-10 from beyond the arc. One could certainly accuse him of settling for long looks after a successful first half, and that raises another consideration: Perhaps Smith should look to be more than a three-point marksman.

If Irving misses any significant time, Cleveland needs another playmaker, and Smith's resume suggests he's at least somewhat suited for the task. He's shown flashes of an in-between game and dribble-drive capability throughout his three-point-dominated career. Now would be a good time to display the fuller, less utilized bag of tricks.

Transition

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Warriors are 72-3 when leading or tied after 3 quarters this season. It's even heading into 4th quarter in Oakland. http://t.co/nLIHZNpmak

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 5, 2015"

Golden State's assortment of long arms and quick legs has assured it plenty of transition opportunities all season long. This bucket at the end of the third quarter tied the game and capped off the Warriors' successful attempt to crawl out of a nagging deficit that had persisted through the first half.

It also accounted for two of Andre Iguodala's 15 points, the most scored by a second-unit contributor on either team in Game 1.

The Warriors ranked fourth league-wide with 9.3 steals per game this season, a testament to the club's defensive awareness and commitment to turning defense into offense. As reliable as those Splash Brothers have been from the perimeter all season long, there's no substitute for easy buckets. 

Look for Golden State to play the passing lanes and occasionally blitz pick-and-roll situations, especially if James ramps up his share of the ball-handling. It won't translate into a transition opportunity every time, but a few run-outs may be all it takes to sustain the kind of pace in which the Warriors thrive. 

LBJ Unleashed

Klay Thompson actually did a fairly nice job of bodying up to James and forcing him to his left in this instance. Had his help defenders—Andrew Bogut and Draymond Green—arrived a split second earlier, James' shot might have been even more difficult.

But this play encapsulates the decision head coach Steve Kerr and Co. are making with respect to the "poison-picking" that James invariably necessitates. They held the four-time MVP to six assists while allowing 44 points on 38 field-goal attempts.

At times, James settled for well-contested fall-away jumpers. At others, however, he forced his way into the paint as only he can—sometimes driving from the perimeter, sometimes working out of the post. Once in the painted area, however, James was virtually unstoppable. And when he finishes with floaters like this one, you can see why. 

But James will need help. He had an opportunity to win the game at the end of regulation, but it was a more difficult attempt this time.

"I got to where I wanted to get, step back, made them before," James told the Associated Press (h/t ESPN.com) after the game. "It's a make-or-miss league, and we had our chances."

And reliable as James has been throughout these playoffs and his entire career, he's at his best when making plays for others. Perhaps it's those others who must now step up.

"We got to do more around him," head coach David Blatt confessed to the AP after the contest.

That said, the series could remain interesting if James continues to score at virtual will in the lane. Even without significant help in Game 1, it was almost enough to get the win.

The Pick-and-Roll

James may have only finished with a relatively modest six assists, but he certainly made them count. This one came as Cleveland fought to retain the lead with just over four minutes remaining in the contest. 

Note that Golden State keeps two defenders glued to the corners, where the Cavaliers have positioned three-point threats ready to strike. Had the Warriors committed to stopping James or center Timofey Mozgov, we might have seen that three-point attempt after all.

Instead, Bogut was left to handle two tasks simultaneously, which explains why he sort of looks like he's in no man's land. After the pick-and-roll develops, his job is to deny James access to the paint while also keeping tabs on Mozgov. Given that James typically takes priority in such calculations, Bogut affords Mozgov just enough room for the unfettered dunk.

It didn't hurt that James threw him an instant bullet after receiving the pass from Irving.

Again, all of this works because the Warriors don't want to get burned from the beyond the arc. They learned that lesson in a first half that almost got away from them. 

These kinds of choices have consequences, however, and Cleveland knows it. That should mean plenty of opportunities for Mozgov, fellow big man Tristan Thompson and James himself. So long as the Warriors stay glued to perimeter threats, the interior defense could be stretched thin enough for the occasional easy bucket.

Curry Off the Dribble

Steph Curry was fouled twice on jumpers early in overtime, demonstrating some veteran savvy and—as usual—an incredible ability to pull up off the dribble and create offense. He finished the game with just two three-pointers but consistently found other ways to contribute—several times showing off his forgotten mid-range game.

The clutch overtime fouls are symptoms of Cleveland's inability to simultaneously contain and contest Curry. His ability to get where he wants and effortlessly launch jumpers makes him a nightmare for defenses—all the more so if Irving is out or hampered for the remainder of the series. The Cavaliers relied on Shumpert to guard Curry much of the night, but real success will require a collective effort. 

And even that offers few promises. Curry isn't scared by crowds of defenders, and he forces those defenders into difficult decisions without a moment's notice. One can't give him an inch of space, but playing him too closely runs the risk of costly free throws—the overtime lesson.

These are the kinds of moments that made Curry this season's MVP. He's not just a great shooter; he's a smart one.

Small Ball

While Curry is a special talent individually, the Warriors aren't driven by hero ball. Kerr's variety of weapons really shines when deployed in smaller lineups, generally with Harrison Barnes and Iguodala manning the forward positions and Green sliding over as a significantly undersized center.

The lineup maximizes Golden State's offensive potential, assuring a floor spaced with shooters who are more than happy to move the ball. 

This particular play was simple enough. The mere threat of Iguodala's penetration forces the defense to sag, and Green keeps J.R. Smith pinned on the baseline. Barnes does the rest, as he's done several times during these playoffs.

Having Curry around certainly helps plays like this develop, even if indirectly. He touches the ball initially and draws the attention of two defenders (James and James Jones), which left the weak-side defense scrambling to recover as the ball moved horizontally. This bucket was about simple, quick decision-making and ball movement—an especially dangerous combination when all five players are capable of converting on a long-range attempt.

Bogut's presence is too important defensively for this small-ball thing to really catch on, but it's proven effective for quick stretches—and important ones, at that. Kerr deployed this small lineup for the second half of overtime.

Irving Going Down

The most impactful play of all may have been the one that sent Irving to the locker room. Following an MRI that revealed a fractured left kneecap, the Cavs announced Friday that the star point guard is out for the series and will need three to fourth months to recover. 

More than any X's and O's adjustment, the real question may be how the Cavaliers come to terms with Irving's situation. With him out for the remainder of season, James and Co. once again need to make up the difference.

Backup point guard Matthew Dellavedova has shown renewed promise throughout the postseason, but this will be different. Playing in the Finals is different, and defending an MVP like Curry is different. 

Without Irving, Cleveland will need a collective—and heroic—response from the entire rotation.