Golden State Warriors Can't Let Up with Second Straight NBA Title in Sight

With the finish line in sight and their only remaining competition barely able to stand, the Golden State Warriors must resist the urge to strut these final few paces.

That's harder for them than you'd think.

The Warriors crammed the Cleveland Cavaliers into a 3-1 hole Friday with a 108-97 victory, fueled by a proprietary blend of three-point shooting and smothering defense. Golden State's 17 made threes set a new NBA Finals record, and the victory gave them 88 wins in the regular season and playoffs combined.

Nobody's ever done that before, per ESPN Stats & Info:

Even if the series feels decided now (or, perhaps because it feels decided), the Warriors can't let up.

That's partly because they know better than anyone how a 3-1 lead can evaporate into a choking haze of disappointment for the team with the advantage. They just finished erasing that exact deficit against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Based on their immediate postgame reactions, per David Aldridge of Turner Sports, Golden State is at least aware of the still-present danger:

But the call for focus is about more than the lessons of recent experience.

Among the many trends defining this Warriors season, one of the more troubling was a decided lack of urgency. That sounds like an insane hallmark for a 73-win outfit, but Golden State engineered many of its victories by putting on inspired bursts that overshadowed much longer periods of malaise. They'd defend brilliantly for five or six minutes, turning the tide. Or Stephen Curry would drain six threes in a quarter, morphing a close contest into a laugher.

Part of the champs' greatness is tied to this unique ability. You've got to be truly great (and wildly confident) to excel so consistently while putting forth maximum effort only when absolutely necessary.

Even Game 4 played out that way to some extent: The Warriors trailed at halftime Friday, buried beneath the deluge of Cleveland's second-chance points. And after an abysmal Game 3, Curry started out looking similarly sloppy with his passes.

He also failed to stay attached to both J.R. Smith and Kyrie Irving, surrendering a pair of open first-quarter looks from three, both of which went down.

Cleveland's defense wasn't as stout from the outset, and as LeBron James and Irving grew visibly fatigued in the second half, the Warriors pounced. Curry scored 11 points during the third quarter and followed it up with 13 more in the fourth. He finished with 38 points, six assists and five rebounds on 11-of-25 shooting. Klay Thompson tossed in an efficient 25 points on just 14 shots.

James and Irving got their numbers—25 and 34 points, respectively—and they got them while shooting a combined 25-of-49. But neither rested at all after halftime, and their waning stamina was the key reason Cleveland's offense stagnated and its defense slipped back into the inattentive state it reached during Games 1 and 2.

Cavs head coach Tyronn Lue doesn't sound like he regrets his decision to push his two best players, per Ben Golliver of Sports Illustrated, but the negative effects were obvious:

Andre Iguodala took full advantage of the Cavs' weary stars, darting everywhere defensively and preying on his step-slow opponents.

Draymond Green followed suit, but he may have taken the intensity too far. Expect this play to be scrutinized, and remember: He's only two technical fouls or one flagrant foul away from a suspension.

Whatever happens with Green, the Warriors must approach Game 5 with the clarity of purpose that so often escapes them in situations like this. Comfortably ahead, going home, perhaps even believing they've broken the Cavs—Golden State has to avoid the pitfall of coasting.

Because why chance it?

The Warriors dodged death once against the Thunder (or three times, if you want to tally up all of the elimination games they survived individually), so it's probably difficult for them to feel threatened with a 3-1 lead no opponent has ever overcome in the Finals.

Maybe it'll help if they consider this a new challenge, one in which they prove they can become their best selves when their survival doesn't depend on it.

That'll mean making some off-brand moves. Head coach Steve Kerr has skated by all year placing bizarre trust in the depth of his bench. For example, both Anderson Varejao and James Michael McAdoo (who hadn't played in more than a month) saw time in Game 4, and it didn't kill the Warriors.

Tony Dejak/Associated Press

Now, with just one more game to play and no more all-for-one vibes to preserve, Kerr should let it all go in one glorious finale.

Unchain the Death Lineup for 30 minutes.

Let the space, speed and defense—which conjured the blend of cocky playmaking and pinpoint execution that buried so many foes all season—throw dirt on the Cavs for good.

Turn it all loose.

Unleash hell.

Play like there's no tomorrow.

Because if the Dubs find the urgency necessary to finish this thing in Oakland, there really won't be another game.

There'll be a parade.

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