Warriors vs. Cavaliers: Game 4 Live Stream, ABC TV Schedule, Odds and Prediction
Through three games, the Cleveland Cavaliers hold a 2-1 advantage over the Golden State Warriors in the 2015 NBA Finals. But if the chaos of the first three games is any indication, this series is far from over.
Game 3 was a perfect microcosm of the unpredictability of the series. First, there was the Warriors' complete ineptitude offensively. The team that led the league in effective field-goal percentage throughout the playoffs was held to just 34 percent shooting in the first half, including 18.8 percent from three-point range.
Then, in the fourth quarter, the switch flipped. Stephen Curry came out of his dormant state to put up 17 fourth-quarter points on 6-of-9 shooting. The Warriors nearly matched their 37 first-half points with 36 in the game's final frame, eventually cutting a 20-point deficit to just one.
Yet it wasn't enough to keep James and Co. down. The unlikely duo of The King and Matthew Dellavedova did just enough to keep the Warriors at bay and pick up the emotional 96-91 win.
But the Cavs don't have much time to celebrate. The home schedule requires a quick turnaround for Game 4. Here's a look at the schedule as the Warriors look to even up the series.
| 4 | June 11 | Warriors at Cavaliers | 9 p.m. | ABC |
| 5 | June 14 | Cavaliers at Warriors | 8 p.m. | ABC |
| 6* | June 16 | Warriors at Cavaliers | 9 p.m. | ABC |
| 7* | June 19 | Cavaliers at Warriors | 9 p.m. | ABC |
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Game 4 and Series Odds
| Warriors | -2.5 | 20-37 |
| Cavaliers | +2.5 | 8-5 |
The Cavaliers may have taken a 2-1 series advantage, but the Warriors' fourth-quarter explosion is cause for concern for Cleveland's long-term chances. As of the time of this writing, Odds Shark has pegged Golden State as a slight favorite to win Game 4. According to Vegas Insider, the Dubs are still the favorite to hold the Larry O'Brien Trophy when it's all said and done.
Preview and Prediction
Really there are two burning questions that will dictate how Game 4 will go:
- Have the Warriors finally figured out their offensive woes?
- Just how long can James carry this supporting cast?
The first question might have been answered as Game 4 came to a conclusion. Curry—the catalyst for the entire Dubs offense—enjoyed one of his best halves of the season, per GSWStats:
The Warriors also got an unexpected boost from an unlikely source in Game 3. Power forward David Lee made his first appearance in the series and quickly scored 11 points in 13 minutes. With ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne reporting that Draymond Green is suffering from back issues, it probably won't be the last we've seen from Lee in this series:
Lee is an unlikely hero. The two-time All-Star has made people forget he ever played at a high level this season. He's averaged just eight minutes and 2.9 points per game in 10 appearances this postseason. Still, this is a series in which Cleveland point guard Matthew Dellavedova has scored 29 points in two games after averaging 4.8 points during the season.
Lee's contributions—in addition to Curry finally figuring things out—could mean a much better offensive output in Game 4.
The second question—whether LeBron James can keep up his torrid pace—is a difficult one, because it's almost uncharted territory. James' involvement in the offense is nothing short of legendary. Synergy Sports Tech highlighted just how much impact he's had on the Cleveland offense:
The problem is that kind of output might not be sustainable—even for someone as great as James. The four-time MVP has logged 142 minutes in the first three games of the series. Considering he's expected to initiate and drive the offense on almost every possession, it isn't as though he's spending many of those minutes coasting.
James has shown that he's willing to go to extreme lengths to guide this team to a title. However, Neil Paine of advanced stats website FiveThirtyEight says that this Cavaliers team "ranks as the third-worst team carried by its best player."
"I'm just trying to do whatever it takes to help our team win." James said after the game, per Joe Vardon of the Northeast Ohio Media Group. "If it's high-volume shooting, if it's high rebounding, if it's high assists, whatever it takes to help our team."
The problem is that James' already shrunken support system is logging extra minutes, too. The Cavs' unlikely hero Dellavedova had to be hospitalized after Game 3 due to severe cramping, according to SportsCenter:
The Cavs played a grand total of seven players for 10 minutes or more. Thirty-five-year-old Mike Miller was the only other Cavalier to see the floor.
Now, in the most physically demanding part of the series yet, those seven players get one day of rest before turning around and attempting to do it all over again.
With the Warriors offense showing some life and Cleveland pushing what few players they have left to the brink, it's going to be awfully difficult for them to put the Warriors two games down.
Prediction: Warriors 102, Cavaliers 95
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