Major Takeaways from NBA Finals Game 1 by Chris Filios

Written by Coach Peterman

I have coached at the NCAA Division 2 (Southwestern Oklahoma State University), NAIA (USAO), and JUCO Levels (Blinn College and Carl Albert State College) as well as high school. I just felt that fellow coaches especially young coaches need to constantly work on their “game”. Just like the basketball players that we coach. We as coaches need to improve ourselves. That is my story and why I do this blog.



Basketball Plays



0 Comments(s)



June 3, 2017

Check out these NBA Finals Game 1 adjustments that have to be made!

The Golden State Warriors dominated en route to an 113-91 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals Game 1 on Thursday night in Oakland.

Kevin Durant and Steph Curry had monster games for the Warriors. Durant finished with 38 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, and 0 turnovers- having one of the most efficient games in NBA Finals history. Steph Curry delivered on 28 points with six 3-pointers and ten assists.

While these two performances highlighted the night, what stood out for me were three things that the Cleveland Cavs did (poorly):

1. 2nd chance points. Cleveland was out-toughed and out-hustled the by the Warriors, and it was no more evident than on the glass in the first half of the game. In the first half, the Warriors had 14 2nd chance points off of 11 offensive rebounds.

2. Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers…20 of them to be exact…compare that to 4 by the Warriors. The Warriors took full advantage of those 20 turnovers by turning them into 21 points (compared to only 6 points for the Cavs off 4 Warrior turnovers). It is extremely dangerous to commit live ball turnovers against the Warriors as they thrive on big runs during the flow of the game. The have four guys who can push the ball up the floor (most teams have 2), they have three sharpshooters on the arc, and they pass/move the ball better than anyone in the NBA. Winning the TO battle is critical.

3. Transition defense. The Cavs were abysmal. The Warriors had 27 fast break points in the game. The majority of these points come from live ball turnovers (Cavs committed 20 TO) and poor shot selection- quick shots, contested shots, shots taken wrong personnel. Additionally, other factors can lead to poor transition defense and easy points for the offense:

-Poor shot balance
-Disappointment/frustration
-Arguing with an official
-Celebrating a great play
-Lack of effort and communication

The Cavs were all around poor. They had poor effort is several key areas:

-Sprinting back
-Stopping the ball…this was their biggest problem as they allowed warrior players to either drive to rim uncontested for dunks or allowed them to drive the ball so deep that it collapsed the defense and led to open looks
-Communicating and getting matched
-Aggressive rotation