OAKLAND — It’s easy to throw dirt on the Cavs after a putrid performance in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. But Grant Hill thinks you’d be foolish to count out LeBron James and company. As long as they show more fight than they did Thursday.
“It just didn’t feel like they played hard against Golden State,” Hill said. “Sometimes it’s as simple as more effort.”
A few hours before Game 2 tipped, we caught up with the NBA TV analyst (who’d like to remind you to check out the NBA Awards on TNT June 26th that Drake’s hosting) to ask him what adjustments Cleveland needs to make in order to even the series and whether he’s still standing behind his original prediction of Golden State in six.
Game 1 didn’t play out the way we thought it would, or at least we hoped it would, so give me your impressions of what we saw and what stood out to you?
Obviously [Kevin] Durant and his impact on both sides of the floor. The way he attacked the basket. He just came out aggressive and was pushing the issue. But very much under control. He set the tone offensively. Then defensively, he spent the majority of the night on LeBron and giving him different looks. He can really give him problems in the paint here he can dominate. The turnovers were obviously something that’s been talked about these last few days, but I think collectively the defense of Golden State sustained them because Golden State didn’t shoot the ball that well. LeBron and Kyrie are great players, but they didn’t let anyone else get going. Those complimentary guys had been playing so well in the playoffs up until now. This was the first time in these playoffs were Cleveland looked befuddled. Particularly in the second half.
Are people still sleeping on the Warriors as being this great defensive team because they’re up there analytically with the best of them.
Yeah, because they have so much star power and so much offensive firepower. But you naturally gravitate to that. You look at the matchup with Durant and LeBron, LeBron’s probably the only one on Cleveland who can guard Durant. Golden State has a lot of bodies they can throw at LeBron. Go back and look at the tape and Draymond Green was on him. [Andre] Iguodala, even Klay Thompson. They have a lot of guys that are capable defenders and it just tires him down. Cleveland is one of the best teams at identifying mismatches and exposing them. We used to call them “Bastard Screens.” But Golden State can shrink the court and still have the speed and length to get out and contest shooters. Defensively, I was really impressed because they did not shoot well. Their defense maintained which is dangerous because they’re due to breakout. They had good looks, but they missed a lot of layups.
"After Game 1, Cleveland can play better. I don’t know if they can win Game 2. But Golden State can play better."
If you’re in the Cavs’ shoes and you’re game-planning, what’s the big adjustment you’re making for Game 2?
Defensively you have to make them a little more uncomfortable. In Games 6 and 7 of last year’s Finals, they made Golden State look uncomfortable. I thought [Cleveland] was more on its heels in Game 1 defensively. I think also they have to do a better job of controlling the tempo. Part of that is turnovers which lead to easy baskets. You don’t want to get into a track meet and only run opportunistically. We know LeBron and Kyrie are going to have the ball in their hands, but they have to run their stuff which moves the ball, shifts the defense, and then gets the ball into their hands at some point and then they can make plays for their teammates. I think they also have to protect the paint better. Make Golden State take contested jump shots.
Are you part of the camp that says it’s more conducive for Cleveland to slow things down?
I think it’s better.
I asked Richard Jefferson that yesterday and he said we’re better when we’re running and we have the best downhill player in the NBA.
That’s why I said opportunistically. If you want to run up and down, particularly in this building, with this team, you want to have a controlled fast break at times. If you don’t have opportunities then play with pace in the half court, pace meaning ball movement, player movement. It just didn’t feel like they played hard against Golden State. Sometimes it’s as simple as more effort. I think the complimentary guys have to have an impact of some fashion because they were pretty much nonexistent in Game 1.
What was your prediction for the series?
I had Golden State in six.
You still think we’re headed for six?
I think so. LeBron is 1-7 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. They are good enough to make the necessary adjustments. They’ve been here before, which can be good and bad because you can be complacent and think we can flip that switch. But I think [Golden State] is a different team than they faced last year. After Game 1, Cleveland can play better. I don’t know if they can win Game 2. But Golden State can play better.
