Chapter 685: Chapter 685
The Warriors are experiencing a honeymoon phase.
After defeating the Lakers in the opener, they lost 2 of the next 4 games, finishing the first ten games with only a 6-4 record, which caused serious doubts about the team, dubbed the "Universe Warriors" by fans before the season started.
However, it was later proven to be just the usual growing pains of James’ team’s integration period.
After all, James is not a player like Durant who can be "a tactical supplement"; he needs the team to revolve around his strategies, testing the new team’s adaptability and adjustment capabilities.
In reality, the Warriors have shown they are worthy of being a 73-win team; they seamlessly integrated into James’ tactical system, creating a new Warriors team.
They have remained undefeated in December, achieving a 12-game winning streak.
The Splash Brothers have seamlessly integrated into this tactical system, and the Curry-James pick-and-roll has become a lethal weapon for the Warriors.
This season, James is averaging 25.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 10.2 assists, reaching a career-first average double-double.
Curry’s average of 27.3 points per game has slightly decreased from last season, but his scoring efficiency is almost unchanged. Considering the team has added a new primary ball-handler, this performance is already outstanding.
Thompson, on the other hand, has reached a career peak, with a 44% three-point shooting rate, averaging 23.5 points, a career best.
During the "history" when James played hometown basketball with the Cavaliers, James fans longed for Thompson, at one point wanting to trade Irving, but the Warriors were not interested.
Now, if you can’t come to my city, then I’ll go to your city, perfectly fulfilling James fans’ long-held wish.
In James fans’ eyes now, Thompson is the best shooter in history (with Curry being the best point guard in history).
Of course, when a mature team suddenly incorporates a primary ball-handler, someone is bound to be affected.
Green is the one affected.
After losing his ball-handling duties, he is more like a 3D interior player, responsible for sweeping on defense and spacing on offense.
He is averaging 10.2 points and 7.9 rebounds, the lowest since becoming a starter for the team, and his average assists have dropped drastically from 7.4 last season to 3.8, almost the same as in his third year as a rookie.
However, Green has yet to complain about his changed role on the team.
According to reports from Bay Area media, under James’ leadership, Green is pioneering an unprecedented commercial territory in the Bay Area.
It’s uncertain if Curry is James’ brother, but James truly treats Green like a younger brother.
So this game won’t be easy for the Cavaliers.
Yet, it’s a game they must give their all to win.
During the pre-game warm-up, the cameras frequently switched back and forth between players from both sides.
Among them was Warriors rookie Zhou Qi.
Besides being a Christmas showdown, this game is also another Eastern Conference derby.
Both live and TV audiences are eagerly anticipating it.
The Cavaliers Warriors showdown 2.0 is star-studded, and who knows how many fans’ youth will be marked by it. Get full chapters from 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹✶𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲✶𝗻𝗲𝘁
During the opening ceremony, James received the highest visitor treatment, even more significant than at the Staples Center.
This is Cleveland’s "love" for James.
From James’ furrowed brows, it was clear that scenes from last season’s finals were automatically unfolding in his mind.
After the opening ceremony, the starting lineups for both teams were announced.
Warriors: Curry, Thompson, James, Green, Pachulia
Cavaliers: Irving, Hansen, Tucker, TT, Jokic
To alleviate luxury tax pressure, the Warriors traded away the veteran Bogut, who has been frequently injured in recent seasons, and signed Georgian center Pachulia from the Bucks to serve as the starting center.
However, whether it’s Bogut or Pachulia, given the Warriors’ heavy usage of a small-ball lineup, they won’t get many opportunities.
Amidst the fans’ cheers, Jokic tipped the ball back to the Cavaliers’ half, officially unfurling the curtain on the Christmas battle.
The Cavaliers opened with Irving handling the ball against Curry.
Malone used the same strategy against the Warriors’ regular lineup that he did against the Celtics.
Curry indeed couldn’t defend Irving.
Curry’s defense is certainly better than Little Thomas’, but it’s like comparing someone scoring 58 to someone scoring 68; it doesn’t mean much.
In fact, it was only after Curry significantly increased his muscle mass and improved his positional play that he avoided being singled out on defense.
However, once Irving broke through, he quickly encountered James’ help defense.
James didn’t idle away this summer either; he slimmed down, now weighing about the same as during his late Cavaliers years when Hansen was a teammate.
He did this to adapt better to the Warriors’ fast-paced system; to excel in fast breaks, you need to run fast.
But this also brought back his help defense sweeping ability.
Seeing James, Irving instinctively went bloodthirst, using a swift crossover to successfully bypass him.
However, when Irving was maneuvering around Green’s help defense, James caught up from behind and seized the moment to block Irving’s shot out of bounds.
After the block, James flexed his biceps in a "strong" celebratory gesture, causing a stir in the venue.
The Warriors’ defensive efficiency this season has returned to being the best in the league; the defensive system built by Mark Jackson is now part of their bloodstream.
Cavaliers’ baseline ball.