Kyrie Irving Says Warriors Offense Can't Be Simulated, Cavaliers Must Have Pride

The Golden State Warriors ran circles around the Cleveland Cavaliers in Thursday's Game 1 of the NBA Finals en route to a 113-91 victory.

Cleveland point guard Kyrie Irving seemed to feel somewhat helpless when he said, "There is no way to simulate the Warriors offense," per Kurt Helin of Pro Basketball Talk. Irving also stressed the need to limit turnovers after the Cavaliers coughed it up 20 times, calling it "a pride thing," per Helin.

Irving did what he could with 24 points as Cleveland's second-leading scorer behind only LeBron James (28 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists).

However, the Cavaliers were far too sloppy against a dominant Warriors squad that is yet to lose through 13 postseason games. It is a daunting task to face Golden State in Oracle Arena even when teams play their best basketball, but Cleveland made it infinitely more difficult with those 20 turnovers, eight of which came from James.

Golden State's offense made it pay on the other side with 113 points.

Despite the high point total, the scariest thing for Irving and the Cavaliers may be the fact only Kevin Durant (38 points) and Stephen Curry (28 points) scored in double figures. Draymond Green and Klay Thompson combined to shoot a measly 6-of-28 from the field, and the Warriors as a whole shot a pedestrian 36.4 percent from three-point range.

If Green and Thompson in particular play to their capabilities on the offensive end and Durant and Curry remain hot, the Warriors will be even better than they were in Thursday's blowout.

The likely result then would be a quick Cleveland exit, even if it is the defending champion.