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Golden State Warriors vs Cleveland Cavaliers: NBA Finals Game 5 live scores, blog

13th June, 2016
Tip-off: 11am (AEST)
Venue: Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA
TV: Live on ESPN (Foxtel)
Betting: Golden State Warriors $1.40, Cleveland Cavaliers $3.00
Last meeting: 11/06/16 Golden State Warriors 108 – 97 Cleveland Cavaliers @ Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH
LeBron James. Skip Bayless hates him. (Source: Wiki Commons)
Roar Guru
13th June, 2016
116
2981 Reads

Can the Cleveland Cavaliers become the first team in NBA history to overcome a 3-1 deficit in the Finals? To do so, they will need to start by defeating the Golden State Warriors away from home. Join The Roar from 11am (AEST) for live scores and coverage.

The biggest news heading into Game 5 is that Draymond Green will not be playing, after the NBA suspended him for one game.

The suspension stems from an altercation between Green and LeBron James in Game 4.

The pair became entangled on an attempted screen by Green, which resulted in Green being thrown/flopping to the ground.

LeBron then walked over Green and some contact was made with James’ groin region.

Some fans (and Steven Adams) will be thinking ‘about time’ after Green’s antics throughout the playoffs. Others will be outraged that the league has gone ‘soft’.

Either way, Green is an enormous loss for Golden State and it could make things easier for Cleveland.

Not only has Green averaged 14.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 5.8 assists so far in this series, he is also the Warrirors’ spiritual leader. Whenever the team requires a pep-talk or an opponent needs a minor assault, Green is their man.

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Not helping the Warriors case is that since the suspension was announced their players decided to begin publicly questioning James’ toughness.

Hint: it is not beneficial to have a fired-up LeBron James attacking you with one of your best defenders out.

Andre Iguodala, who is an excellent defender, will almost certainly start in Green’s place, but missing the depth that having both brought will be tough to manage.

Golden State can almost certainly score enough to cover the loss of Green offensively, whether they can defensively will be another matter.

James was far too passive in Game 4 and as much as it is admirable to include teammates, Cleveland has proven that their best basketball comes when LeBron looks to score aggressively.

With his main threat defensively missing he needs to do this early. Once that tone is set, kicking the ball out to JR Smith, Kevin Love or Channing Frye for open looks becomes that much easier.

I have a suspicion that this game will be decided by the two MVPs out on the floor.

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If James follows the above plan and attacks early and often, Cleveland might be able to steal this one.

However, if Stephen Curry continues his form from Game 4 and scores 40 (or close to it) then there just might be too much Californian firepower for the Cavaliers to overcome.

Prediction
The Warriors really looked like they had sewn this series up, and then the league drops the Green bombshell on them. I honestly have not been this conflicted on a game in a long time, but I think Cleveland might have an upset in them.

Cavaliers by 4

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