Game 4 preview: Can Warriors complete Finals sweep of Cavs?
Can Warriors complete Finals sweep of Cavs? Game 4, NBA Finals Mike Brown (interim), 1st season with Warriors (0-0 with Warriors and 347-216 overall); Tyronn Lue, 2nd season with Cavaliers (78-45 with Cavaliers and overall) On air: TV on ABC; Radio on ESPN and 95.7 The Game Cavaliers: PG Kyrie Irving (25.0 ppg, 5.3 apg), SG J.R. Smith (6.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg), SF LeBron James (32.4 ppg, 8.8 rpg), PF Kevin Love (17.1 ppg, 11.0 rpg), C Tristan Thompson (8.0 ppg, 8.3 rpg) Cavaliers injury report: C Edy Tavares (right hand fracture) is out. Motivation is always a question when a team is down 3-0 in a best-of-seven series. Because even if it tops the Warriors on Friday, Cleveland recognizes how long its odds are of rattling off four straight victories against a team as loaded as Golden State. Teams that have been up 3-0 in the Finals are 12-0 in NBA history in eventually closing out the series. [...] it’s worth noting that the Warriors need to beat Cleveland by 25 points in Game 4 to edge out the 2013-14 Spurs, who beat the Heat by a combined 70 points over five games, for the most lopsided finals in history. James has been phenomenal this series, averaging 32 points, 12.3 rebounds and 10.3 assists per game. Irving bounced back from a rough Game 2 with 38 points, six rebounds and three assists in Game 3. Backup point guard Deron Williams has zero points on 0-for-11 shooting in a combined 37 minutes. Tristan Thompson, one of the league’s best role players this season, is averaging 2.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists in the Finals. What makes the Warriors such a tricky matchup is their unrivaled ability to rip off a game-changing run. Because we played well in Game 3, and they were able to get that one as well. —