Warriors vs. Cavaliers: Game 3 Date, Live Stream Schedule, Start Time and Pick
We couldn't have asked for a better start to the NBA Finals.
The duo of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson were too much for the Cleveland Cavaliers to handle in Game 1, as the Golden State Warriors went on to secure a 108-100 overtime victory despite 44 points from LeBron James. Unfortunately for Cleveland, coming up short in the game wasn't the team's biggest loss.
Kyrie Irving suffered a fractured kneecap, which forced the star point guard into surgery. Without Irving in the mix for the remainder of the series, many pundits began to write off the Cavaliers. Although, coach David Blatt, James and Co. had a different idea.
The team switched tactics in Game 2, slowing down the pace and taking high-percentage shots while allowing less time on offense for Golden State. The strategy worked to perfection, as Cleveland gutted out a 95-93 overtime win.
Now, with the series tied at one game apiece, we enter a pivotal Game 3 in Cleveland. Can the Cavaliers keep momentum on their side, or will the Warriors figure out a way around Cleveland's new identity? Before we attempt to predict an answer to that question, let's take a look at the game's essential viewing information to ensure you don't miss a moment of the action.
NBA Finals Game 3
Series: Tied at 1-1
When: Tuesday, June 9
Where: Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio
Time: 9 p.m. ET
Channel: ABC
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Preview and Prediction
Predicting what may unfold in the ensuing games of the NBA Finals will require a look back to Game 2, what Cleveland did right and what Golden State must do to combat the Cavaliers' new approach.
As expected, the Cavaliers leaned heavily on James upon the absence of Irving. However, we saw a far different LeBron in Game 2 as opposed to Game 1 of the Finals. In the first game, James put up 44 points in the team's high-octane offense but accumulated just six assists. Conversely, in Game 2, he notched 39 points but added 16 rebounds and 11 assists for a triple-double.
The Game 2 version of James was far scarier than the Game 1 version—even if he bucketed just 11 of 35 attempts from the floor. This is because he's no longer just a shooter. James is now acting in the best interests of his team by facilitating, defending and rebounding with more authority.
The King's efforts appeared to inspire his teammates, as Timofey Mozgov took control of the interior on the offensive end of the court, and Tristan Thompson served as a force down low on defense, accumulating 14 rebounds and helping the Cavaliers hold a 55-45 advantage in that department.
After the game, James put it best during a press conference, via J.A. Adande of ESPN.com:
"If you're looking for us to play sexy, cute basketball, that's not us right now. Everything is tough. We're going to come in with an aggressive mindset defensively and offensively.
It has to be that for the rest of the series, no matter how many games it takes.
"
The slower pace of the game had an obvious effect on Golden State's offense. Used to running the length of the court and winning shootouts, Cleveland's change of pace threw the Warriors off their rhythm. This led to the Dubs shooting just 39.8 percent from the floor, as Curry hit just five of 23 attempts for 19 points.
Golden State's biggest issue going forward will be relying too heavily on three-pointers. Yes, the team has a bevy of playmakers with great range; however, while the team is struggling to find its rhythm, attempting to win with a barrage of shots from downtown just won't cut it. That was evident in Game 2, as the Warriors attempted 35 shots from behind the arc, connecting on just eight.
If the Warriors can move the ball inside and create more high-percentage opportunities, there's no reason why they shouldn't be able to stick with the Cavaliers in a slower game. Golden State is a better shooting team than Cleveland, but it must make the most of its chances.
Defensively, there's work to be done—specifically, film study. The Warriors are playing a far different team at this point, and it's time to do some homework. In fact, Curry acknowledged that notion even before Game 2 during a press conference, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com:
"We have to stay disciplined on the other guys around him knowing that they're talented, knowing that they can make plays, make shots, and we have to be as focused on them as we are on LeBron. But they play a different way without Kyrie. We've seen some footage of that in the last series that they played against Atlanta. So we've just got to be ready and stay locked in and focused on guarding everybody on the floor and stick to our game plan.
"
Despite looking at previous footage, Golden State couldn't quite figure it out. Now, the series moves to Cleveland where the Cavaliers lost 10 times during the regular season and have done so just twice during the playoffs. Expect Golden State to come into the game more prepared, but it's tough to pick Curry and Co. on the road while they're struggling to get into a groove.
Prediction: Cavaliers 98, Warriors 96
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