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NBA Finals: Golden State Warriors' Stars Return to Form in Game 2

So Game 2 of the NBA Finals ended up as another Golden State Warriors blowout over the Cleveland Cavaliers.  But if the Warriors won Game 1 with a team effort, then this time it was their stars which led them to victory in Game 2 of what is a tantalizing Finals rematch.  That’s not to say that the Warriors bench didn’t contribute to the win, but the return to form of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson has certainly helped Golden State on their way to a dominant 2-0 series lead.

Golden State Warriors’ Star Comeback

While Green had a relatively quiet first game scoring only 16 points, Curry and Thompson were even worse with a combined 20 points from 8-27 shooting.  Usually their teams most potent scoring weapons, Thompson and Curry made a good comeback in Game 2, combining for 35 points from 13-24 shooting, and with less court-time.   But it was Draymond Green who really stepped up to the plate, scoring 28 points and draining 5 three-point attempts, helping his team record a plus-48 point differential over the first 2 games – yet another another NBA Finals record for the Golden State Warriors.

Warriors’ Bench Still on Fire

The Warriors’ bench looked to continue their good form after outscoring their opponent’s bench 45-10 in Game 1.  Shaun Livingston led his team in scoring for the first time as a Warrior in Game 1 and continued his high shooting percentage for the series with 7 points on 3-4 shooting.  Leandro Barbosa also continued his hot hand into Game 2 and almost ended up 100% shooting from the floor, before missing 2 shots to end up 5-7.  Barbosa scored 10 points and Andre Igoudala also helped his team dominate the Cavs with 7 points and 5 assists off the bench.

LeBron James Had Quieter 19-point Game

LeBron James had a quiet 23-point Game 1 against the Warriors, but had an even quieter Game 2.  Although he was limited to 33 minutes instead of 40, James only managed 19 points on 17 shots. Five of those shots were taken from long-range.  But what was most disappointing for Cleveland fans were James’ 7 turnovers and the overall poor performance of Kyrie Irving.  Irving, who has led the Cavaliers in scoring for most of these playoffs, only managed 10 points and just a single assist for the game.  The Cavaliers couldn’t hide him on defense either and his minus-26 plus-minus for the game highlights the fact that he has become a liability guarding the basket.

Kevin Love Questionable for Game 3

During the post-game conference Tyronn Lue admitted that Kevin Love is undergoing standard concussion tests after being elbowed in the back of the head and is in day-to-day recovery.  Love had a good first game, scoring 17 points and grabbing 12 boards, but couldn’t capitalize in Game 2 after being limited to only 20 minutes on the court. James said after the game that Game 2 came down to turnovers, but Kevin Love’s absence could prove even more costly for the rest of the series.  But the series doesn’t start until you lose the first game at home, so it’s up to Cleveland to show up in Game 3 if they want a good chance of becoming champions.

Which team could surprise in the NBA playoffs? in LastWordOnSports’s Hangs on LockerDome

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