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- Donovan Mitchell says NBA ‘script’ has been crazy lately in light of fights and Kyrie Irving trade drama
- Paul Pierce backs notion that LeBron James wouldn’t beat fake Celtics superteam as he ‘ran him outta Cleveland’
- Donovan Mitchell rips Dillon Brooks: ‘It’s tough when you can’t guard somebody…you gotta resort to that’
- Report: Cavs and Mavericks interested in Cam Reddish
- Isaac Okoro declares he’s never played with someone ‘as tall or as dependable’ as Evan Mobley
- Report: Cavs believed to be targeting shooting help as deadline approaches
- Report: Cavs dangling Cedi Osman more than Caris LeVert in trade talks as they search for wing help
- Dean Wade sends stern warning to rest of NBA if Darius Garland isn’t named to All-Star Game
- Report: Kawhi Leonard and Paul George among several Clippers missing game vs. Cavs
LeBron James Explains How Much Better Cavs Have to Play in Game 5
- Updated: June 12, 2017
The struggles faced by the Cleveland Cavaliers in playing at Oracle Arena this season are evident from the fact that they’ve suffered double-digit losses in each contest, including two in the Finals against the Golden State Warriors. LeBron James acknowledged during Sunday’s media session that the Cavs have little to no margin for error in Monday night’s Game 5.
LeBron James: "We have to be 20 times better in this building (Oracle) and we understand that." #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/TxAxxgNuOA
— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) June 11, 2017
One area that improved markedly for the Cavaliers during Friday night’s Game 4 win was their ability to connect on 3-pointers. In the three losses that began the series, they only managed a total of 31 long-range bombs, but in their victory, they set a new NBA Finals record with 24 on the night.
Other factors also need to be addressed, including the slow starts by the Cavs to the second half in each of the first two games. Those turned relatively tight contests into easy victories for the Warriors. By the same token, playing better defense in the first quarter would offer the Cavaliers their best shot at getting off to the good start they had in Game 4.
Still, a victory in Game 5 would mean that they would need to win two more games to capture their second consecutive NBA title. They also have to try and make history again, like they did last year when they became the first team ever to come back from a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals. In this case, they have to try and become the first team ever to come back from a 3-0 deficit in any NBA postseason series.
Tipoff for Game 5 will be just after 9 p.m. ET
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