2018 NBA Finals – Game 1

We’ve made it to the final stage of the playoff journey. Teams have fought, and fallen, some nobly, and some with horrible, horrible shame. There’s been memorable performances, and disappointing ones. Young players have stepped up, veterans have come through once again, and new chapters have been written in NBA history…

…only to have the same two fucking teams battle in the Finals. It’s Round Four between the Warriors and Cavaliers, and I don’t blame you if you’re not super jazzed. I’m not super jazzed, but hey, it’s the Finals, and LeBron James has been unholy in these playoffs, and the Warriors are just unholy in general.

Kevin Love will start for the Cavs tonight, making it through the concussion protocol, while Andre Iguodala remains out for the Warriors. With that bit of housekeeping, there’s nothing left to do but tune into WMUR, Channel 9 in Manchester, New Hampshire, and see how Game 1 of the 2018 Finals shakes out.

8:59 pm – We’re welcomed to The Oracle out in Oakland by, unfortunately, Mike Breen, who will be joined by Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson throughout the Finals, which is too hallowed a ground to be tainted by the likes of these three.

Oof, people are not excited about this series.

For me, it’s not that these two are meeting for the fourth straight time, it’s that there’s just about no doubt in anybody’s mind that the Warriors will romp. It isn’t like we’re watching the 1980s Celtics and Lakers here. If it were a worthy battle, that’d be one thing, but this is shaping up to be such a one sided rivalry. On top of that, these are the two most unlikable, irritating teams in the league these days. Ugh.

Most people are picking Warriors in five. I am going with Warriors in four. Maybe we’ll all be wrong and we’ll get a good series, otherwise let’s get this Finals over with and move on to the World Cup.

9:11 – Mike Breen describes this as a raucous sellout crowd, but those tweets we saw say otherwise! Anyway, the Cavs win the opening tip, and the 2018 NBA Finals are underway.

9:12 – After a steal, LeBron James drives to the hoop for a layup, and the Cavs score the first points of the Finals and take an opening 2-0 lead.

9:13 – Steph Curry knocks down a long three, and the Warriors are on the board, trailing 4-3.

9:18 – The Cavs ruin a Warriors fast break by intentionally fouling someone, leading to a rare moment where I agree with Jeff Van Gundy, who says that cowardly move should result in two free throws and the ball for the team on the break. Anyway, it leads to our first time out with the score Cleveland 15, Golden State 12 with 6:50 left in the first quarter, as both teams have started the game well.

9:23 – Oh dear, JR Smith slips into Klay Thompson, taking him out and hurting his leg. The Warriors fans are upset, but it wasn’t a dirty play. Klay heads to the bench, and then limps to the locker room.

9:24 – Jordan Bell is found all alone under the basket for an easy score, and we’ll have a time out with the scoreboard reading Cleveland 20, Golden State 19 with 5:27 left in the first quarter. Obviously, everyone’s on Klay Watch at the moment.

9:28 – Warriors fans are now loudly booing JR Smith every chance they get.

9:31 – Doris Burke chimes in to tell us that Klay Thompson has a left leg contusion, and that he is expected to return.

9:36 – Klay Thompson is returning to the Warriors bench to a huge ovation from the Oracle crowd.

9:38 – We’ve reached the end of the first quarter with score of Cleveland 30, Golden State 29.

Steph Curry has 11 points on 4-5 shooting for the Warriors, while LeBron James has 12 on 4-4 shooting for the Cavs.

Cleveland’s off to a good start offensively, shooting 11-20, but defensively, they’ve been horrendous, allowing Golden State to shoot 12-20. I feel like this is unsustainable for the Cavs. They’re not going to win unless they can shore up their defense.

9:42 – LeBron James storms through the paint for a two hand slam, and the Cavs score first in the second quarter to extend their lead up to 32-29. James is now 5-5 to start this one off. In other news, Klay Thompson is back on the floor for the Warriors.

9:46 – LeBron misses his first shot, falling to 6-7 on the night, but Larry Nance tips it in, and the Cavs go up, 38-33.

9:48 – LeBron gets to the hoop for a nice layup, and we’ll have a time out with the score Cleveland 42, Golden State 35 with 7:48 until halftime.

9:53 – After Jordan Clarkson misses a three, Larry Nance gets an offensive rebound, and sends it back out to Clarkson, who misses another three, and the Warriors take advantage, finding Steph Curry all the way down the court for an easy layup, and we’ll have a time out with the score Cleveland 44, Golden State 40 with 6:25 left until halftime. Clarkson is a horrendous 1-6 in ten minutes off the bench.

9:57 – We’re back and LeBron is on the bench taking his first rest. Let’s see if the Cavs can hang in there without him.

10:00 – LeBron comes back into the game with the Cavs up, 51-45, improving their lead by two points while he was on the bench. Can’t complain about that if you’re rooting for Cleveland.

10:05 – Draymond Green earns a technical foul for arguing against what was clearly a foul on LeBron James. He caught him in the face when James went up for a layup, and LeBron immediately reacted as if he had been shot in the eye. Anyway, Kevin Love hits the technical, and then LeBron, who’s fine, by the way, hits his free throws, and the Cavs lead, 56-53 as we head under a minute left in the first half.

10:07 – Steph Curry hits a super deep three pointer to beat the buzzer at the end of the second quarter, earning the first “BAAAANNNNNNG” of the Finals from Mike Breen. It’ll send us into halftime with the score Golden State 56, Cleveland 56.

Hey, we’ve got a good one going here! Steph Curry has 18 points and 6 assists on 7-12 shooting, and Kevin Durant struggled through most of the first half, but hit his last two shots to get himself at 11 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists. LeBron has 24 on 9-11 shooting for the Cavs, and Kevin Love has 12 points and 6 rebounds. Both teams are 22-44 from the floor.

The Cavs led by as many as 11, but the Warriors ended the half on a nice run, punctuated by that Curry three at the buzzer. Nevertheless, the Cavs have literally matched the Warriors shot for shot, but the dreaded third quarter Warriors explosion is looming. At times, Golden State played like they couldn’t be bothered, as if they know they’re just going to go berserk when we return to action after the break.

10:23 – We’re about to start the second half with a lineup change from the Warriors…

10:24 – Kevin Durant hits a one-legged fallaway to provide the first points of the third quarter, giving the Warriors a 58-56 edge.

10:25 – After some great defense from JaVale McGee against LeBron, Draymond Green swirls in a layup on the other end.

George Hill answers with a three, and McGee comes up with a dunk on the other end to give the Warriors a 62-59 lead.

Good grief, as action continues, McGee is found for a layup, as he’s made an immediate impact on both ends of the court to help the Warriors up to a 64-59 lead.

10:27 – The Warriors finish off a fast break with Steph Curry finding Klay Thompson for an easy layup, and they’ve come out of halftime with a 10-3 run to make the score Golden State 66, Cleveland 59 with 9:02 left in the third quarter, sending us into a time out with help from none other than JaVale McGee.

10:32 – JaVale reverts to his usual self by getting blocked by the rim on a funky, off balance dunk attempt. This is amazing.

10:34 – LeBron pulls up and hits a long two with his foot on the line, and we’re back to a one possession game with the Cavs trailing, 68-65.

10:36 – Another LeBron three sends us into a time out after seven straight Cavalier points makes the score Golden State 68, Cleveland 68 with 5:26 left in the third. James has all seven of those consecutive Cavs points to get himself up to 31 points on 11-13 shooting.

10:40 – Kevin Durant misses a jumper, but Kevon Looney tips it in to put the Warriors up, 70-68.

10:41 – LeBron gets his shot blocked, but wrestles control of the rebound away from three Warriors and puts in a shot. On his next trip down the court, he knocks down a long three, to put the Cavs back ahead…

…but Steph Curry answers with his own three, and we’re tied at 73 when the dust settles.

10:44 – Two free throws from Kevin Durant puts the Warriors back ahead at 75-73. Kevin Love comes back with a hook shot to tie us right back up at 75. Back on the other end, Durant puts in a jumper, and the Warriors inch back ahead, 77-75.

10:45 – Klay Thompson cans a three, and the Warriors lead is up to 80-75 as we near the end of the quarter.

10:46 – Shaun Livingston finds Kevon Looney at the end of a fast break for an easy dunk, and we’ll have a time out with the score now Golden State 82, Cleveland 75 with 1:15 left in the third.

10:48 – We’re back underway with LeBron James resting on the bench to close out the third.

10:50 – We’re here at the end of the third with the score Golden State 84, Cleveland 78.

Kevin Durant has 21 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists on 8-18 shooting, and Steph Curry’s also at 21 points with 7 assists on 8-14 shooting. LeBron’s all the way up to 36 points and 5 assists on 13-21 shooting.

The Cavs withstood and survived the Warriors third quarter onslaught, but Golden State still built up their lead a bit at the end of the quarter. Do the Cavs have one last run in them, or is this fourth quarter going to slip away?

Clarkson’s down to 1-7 shooting after a particularly horrible miss on a baseline shot right near the end of the quarter.

10:55 – Jeff Green gets himself a dunk for the first points of the fourth quarter as the Cavs trail, 84-80. LeBron is also back into the ballgame after spending the first few moments of the fourth on the bench.

10:56 – LeBron’s eye is looking red as a result of that foul Draymond hit him with earlier. Green really earned a technical foul arguing against it. Just look at his eye!

10:59 – Kyle Korver knocks down a three, and the Cavs refuse to go away as we head into a time out with the score Golden State 89, Cleveland 88 with 8:52 remaining. Maybe we were all wrong about this series.

11:03 – Klay Thompson flips up a pass to Kevon Looney who banks it in to put the Warriors ahead, 91-88.

11:04 – Hey, Jordan Clarkson contributed! His runner in the paint cuts the Cavs deficit down to 91-90.

On the Cavs next trip down the court, LeBron gets to the hoop for a layup, putting him at 40 points, and putting the Cavs ahead, 92-91.

11:06 – Kevin Durant splits a pair of free throws, missing the second one, but Kevon Looney tips in the miss to give the Warriors a 94-92 lead.

11:08 – LeBron James bats an offensive board out to JR Smith, who misses a three, but Kevin Love is there to clean up the mess and score a basket to tie us up at 94.

11:09 – Draymond Green, who has been so bad from downtown that teams have been blatantly leaving him open, nails a three, giving the Warriors a 97-94 advantage.

On their next trip down the court, Steph Curry of course follows it up with a three of his own, sending us into a time out with the score Golden State 100, Cleveland 94 with 4:37 remaining.

(My bad)

11:15 – LeBron drives by Steph Curry and throws down a jam to make this a one possession game again, but Curry answers back by driving to the hoop for a layup, and the Warriors have a 102-98 lead.

11:16 – Kevin Love corrals an offensive rebound and knocks down a three. He’s up to 21 points, and the Cavs trail, 102-101.

11:17 – LeBron drives into the paint, draws contact, and gets the shot to go down! He’ll head to the line looking for a three point play, but first, we’ll have a time out with the score Cleveland 103, Golden State 102 with 50.8 seconds to go.

11:19 – We’re back and LeBron hits the free throw to put the Cavs ahead, 104-102.

11:20 – Kevin Durant drives into the paint, but LeBron is there to head him off at the pass and draw an offensive foul! At least, that’s how it’s called initially, but we’re going to have a nice, big long review on this one.

11:22 – After the review, they’ve changed their minds and called the foul on LeBron.

11:23 – Durant puts in both of the free throws, and we’ll have a time out with the score Golden State 104, Cleveland 104 with 36.4 seconds remaining.

11:25 – LeBron drives into the paint and gets the layup! He’s up to 49 points now, tying his career high.

On the other end, Steph Curry gets his own layup, but he’s fouled as well! We’re tied at 106 as he steps to the line looking for a lead.

Curry hits his free throw, and the Cavs go down the court with the shot clock off…

11:26 – LeBron throws a pass to George Hill, and he’s knocked over by Klay Thompson. George Hill goes to the line with 4.7 seconds left, and the Cavs down, 107-106.

11:27 – Hill hits the first free throw…and misses the second! JR Smith grabs the offensive rebound, and runs away! He must have thought the Cavs had the lead, but they did not! LeBron tries calling a time out, but it goes unnoticed and time expires with this game tied at 107. We’re going to overtime here in Game 1! WHAT IN THE FUCK IS HAPPENING!?

I am sorry I bitched and moaned about this series.

Real quick, Steph Curry has 29 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists for Golden State, and LeBron has 49, 7 and 8.

11:30 – The Cavs win the jump ball, and overtime is underway. I wonder what sort of wacky adventures we’re about to get into…

11:32 – Kevin Durant puts in a pair of free throws for the first points of overtime, giving the Warriors a 109-107 lead.

11:33 – Draymond Green finds Klay Thompson in the corner for a three, and the Warriors quickly get their lead up to 112-107.

On their next trip down the court, Steph Curry wings a ridiculous pass over his shoulder to Shaun Livingston who gets control of the ball and puts in a little hook shot as the Warriors have opened overtime with a 7-0 run to make the score Golden State 114, Cleveland 107 with 3:01 on the clock.

11:36 – Shaun Livingston is found in the paint for an uncontested dunk, and it’s nine straight points to begin overtime for the Warriors.

11:37 – LeBron James misses a shot, but Jeff Green tips in the miss, but the Cavs are down 116-109.

Back down the court, Draymond Green hits another three, and it’s now a ten point game with the Warriors up, 119-109.

11:38 – LeBron James puts in a pair of free throws, and he’s up to 51 points, the sixth 50 pointer in Finals history, and even that’s not going to be enough with the Warriors up 119-111.

11:39 – Klay Thompson puts in a three, getting the Warriors lead up to 122-111.

11:40 – JR Smith knocks down a three, and LeBron is having a less than friendly discussion with Steph Curry and Klay Thompson on the other end of the court.

11:40 – FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!

After Tristan Thompson committed a foul, immediately earning an ejection, he and Draymond Green engage in some pushing and shoving. Draymond then prances about the court to rile up the crowd. It’s unclear to me why Thompson was immediately thrown out, but maybe it had something to do with LeBron and Steph and Klay’s unfriendly discussion. Anyway, Draymond came up and was antagonizing Thompson a little bit once he got tossed, so Thompson shoved the ball in his face, and pushing and shoving ensued.

By the way, the Warriors lead is 122-114 with 2.6 seconds left.

11:45 – Ah, Tristan Thompson was called for a Flagrant 2 when he fouled Shaun Livingston, who was shooting a jumper as the shot clock was about to expire. The replay shows that to be a ridiculously lame call. Anyway, Livingston hits his free throws to put the Warriors up, 124-114. What a mess.

11:46 – This one comes to an end with a final score of Golden State 124, Cleveland 114 in overtime. There’s quite a bit to unpack after this one.

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Steph Curry finished the night with 29 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists, Kevin Durant went for 26-9-6, Klay Thompson added 24, and Draymond Green stuffed the box score with 13 points, 11 rebounds, 9 assists, 5 steals, 3 blocks and one ruckus.

As mentioned in the above tweets, LeBron James finished with 51 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists on 19-32 shooting in a historic performance that was all for naught. Kevin Love contributed 21 points and 13 boards.

Never mind all of that. Obviously, if George Hill makes that second free throw, there’s no telling what might have happened. The Warriors would have had a time out and then 4.7 seconds to get off a good shot. But he did miss that free throw, which led to an all time gaffe by JR Smith, who thought the Cavs had the lead (the cameras caught him saying as much to a flabbergasted LeBron James after the buzzer sounded). That HORRIBLE ERROR ensured an overtime in which the Warriors ran away with the game.

And then there was the crazy-ass ruckus at the end of the game. There was absolutely no reason to hit Thompson with a flagrant-two foul. Then, as he so often does, Draymond Green showed up and exacerbated the situation by being obnoxious, and Thompson couldn’t keep his cool, shoving the basketball into Draymond’s face and inciting a brief ruckus before he finally left the court. Now, Thompson may face a suspension for Game 2 for failing to leave the court in a timely manner.

All of this wastes an epic performance from LeBron James, who continued remarkable run through this year’s playoffs with, once again, 51 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists. The Cavs really should have won this game. A missed free throw happens to the best of us, but not knowing the goddamn score in that situation. Christ, the score is on full display all over the arena. What the hell, JR? There’s no coming back from that.

That was one of the wildest games I’ve ever seen, and the ramifications of it could ring out. It could plunge the Cavs into a tailspin for the rest of the series, which is important because LeBron can leave Cleveland again this summer.

Game 2 is going to be fascinating. It feels like the Cavs just put forth their premium effort, and still lost, and in awe inspiring, totally deflating fashion. Will they be able to bounce back, or is this series just over now? We’ll find out Sunday at 8:00 pm.

12:35 am – I’m still awake for some reason! I just had to come back to include this…

Now we have the Cavs coach and JR Smith giving conflicting reports on the now infamous final play of regulation! Holy fuck, I love the NBA so much.

Author: tomeagher

Watching too much basketball.

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