The Cleveland Cavaliers came into the third game of the NBA Finals in a dispiriting but familiar position after two Golden State blowouts. Then the defending champions, the Warriors won the series opener by 15, and then followed it up with a 33-point beating of the Cavs in Game 2.
Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue agreed that he doesn't see a reason his team should go away from its style, especially considering they overcame a 2-0 and 3-1 hole in the Finals previous year.
Pierce's statement automatically provoked a spirited debate that centered on the obvious omission of Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star LeBron James.
Last year, Golden State had someone like Harrison Barnes making only 5 of 32 shots from the field in Games 5 to 7. They are facing a historically great Golden State Warriors offense stacked high with weaponry.
"You have to prepare for anything", Golden State's Andre Iguodala said. "He's been an wonderful player in this league for a long time, and he senses this is his time, his moment, his team". The Warriors are 14-0 and some observers are starting to discuss the previously unthinkable: a ideal postseason.
When the Warriors added Durant, JaVale McGee, Zaza Pachulia and David West to a roster that blew a 3-1 Finals lead to James and fell short of a repeat past year, many wondered if they would have enough in the middle to defend the rim. No team has ever recovered from an 0-3 deficit in the National Basketball Association playoffs.
Still, Durant isn't looking too far ahead. "Understanding that not just me and KD, but Klay (Thompson), Draymond (Green), we all can just be ourselves and just play our game and have to over-think or over-complicate anything, really". It's not over. This is a insane game. "She told me every time I touch it, shoot it". They got better. They haven't lost a playoff game. Last week James was asked about the difference with this Warriors group compared to past year, and he responded, "KD". "But now that we're in this situation, why not take care of business and finish the job?"
James and Kyrie Irving lived up to their superstar billing with outings of 39 and 38 points respectively, but Smith proved the best of the supporting cast.
That's mostly because of Durant, the former NBA MVP who signed with the Warriors in July.
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"If we're locked in on the defensive end, we'll score enough points", Green said. I've been working on that shot my whole life.
"They made shots and we didn't", LeBron said afterwards. "You give him the ball, he can burrow his way through and get to the rim, basically at will".
But the biggest factor in these Finals has been Kevin Durant.
Game 1: Warriors 113, Cavaliers 91.
"I thought for the most part with the game plan that we had we tried to execute it as close as possible", James said. "We get a chance to go home now to our home crowd where we play well, also".
James and Irving were relentless in the second half and it appeared they had done enough to get Cleveland over the top and perhaps back in the series.
"So you get down in the fourth quarter, it's a five-point game with six minutes left, you don't say, oh, man, we're down five, you just say there's a ton of time left and let's execute". And, the first quarter in which the Warriors outscored the Cavs 40-34 and the teams combined for 130 possessions, was the fastest James' career - regular or postseason - spanning 5,100 quarters.
Smith drained a 3-pointer for the series' first basket, but hasn't scored since.
Game 3 is set to start at 9 p.m. EDT Wednesday night at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. Broke the record of 14 straight postseason wins held by the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins, who did it twice. Two games down, and two blowout victories scored by the guys who call Oracle Arena home.
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