Warriors: 'It would be perfect' if Cavaliers upped tempo in Game 2
If Tyronn Lue is serious about wanting his Cleveland Cavaliers to push the tempo and play faster basketball in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, the Golden State Warriors are all for it.
"If they want to pick up the pace, that's great," Warriors guard Klay Thompson told Cleveland.com's Chris Haynes on Saturday. "I think we're the best transition team in the league. So I think it would be perfect for us."
Thompson also mentioned he was surprised the Cavaliers were looking to go that route for Game 2, and he can't recall a team ever saying they wanted to run with the Warriors.
"I think (Oklahoma City Thunder) might have said (they would run) too," forward Harrison Barnes added, "but we feel comfortable running the ball and we feel we can do that with anybody in the league. If they want to run up and down and shoot threes, we can do that too."
The defending NBA champions rank second in the playoffs in fast-break points (16.4) behind the Thunder (16.7), while the Cavaliers sit sixth with 12.6. The regular season doesn't paint much of a different picture, as the Warriors were the only team to average more than 20 (20.9). Cleveland ranked in the NBA's bottom half with 11.8 (19th).
Lue said Friday he was looking for LeBron James to play faster and help dictate the tempo of the game early for Cleveland. He also credited Golden State's wings for their defense on the perimeter, although he believes they can be rendered ineffective should his players move the ball and compete with a little more urgency.
"They make you stagnant and make you play one-on-one basketball because that's all you can get," Lue said. "So if we pick up the pace and play with a faster tempo offensively, I think we'll be fine."
Cleveland actually ended Game 1 with twice as many fast-break points as the Warriors (18-9). It was the team's transition defense which didn't do them any favors. The Cavs struggled to get back down the floor, they continuously lost their man, and gave up too many open looks at inopportune times.
Game 2 goes down Sunday at Oracle Arena. The series will then shift to Cleveland for Games 3 and 4 on Wednesday and Friday, respectively.