Dario Saric, a Croatian 2014 lottery draft pick, who came over to the 76ers this past season. Dario had a remarkable second half of the season. When Joel Embiid went down with another injury, everyone thought the 76ers would just lie down and quit for the rest of the season. But, Dario Saric showed he wasn't going to quit. After All-Star break, Dario Saric averaged 19.5 points per game, 7.9 rebounds per game, and 4.2 assists per game.
There is no way he shouldn't have won the Rookie of the Year award by a landslide.
For the 2016-17 season, Dario Saric averaged 12.8 points per game, 6.3 rebounds per game, and 2.2 assists a game in just 26.3 minutes a game.
Not to knock Malcolm Brogdon, but he only averaged 10.2 points per game, 4.2 assists per game, and 2.8 rebounds per game in 26.4 minutes per game.
Brogdon's numbers was only better than Dario's in the assists category. So, I'm kind of perplexed how he won Rookie of the Year award.
Yesterday, the Cavaliers played with a desperation that they should have been playing like at the start of game one.
The Cavaliers jumped out to a 26-11 lead. Kevin Durant & the Warriors, however, cut into the lead to 31-25. But, Kyrie, LeBron, and Kevin Love refused to give up the lead. The Cavs ended the first quarter leading 49-33. The Cavs set an NBA Finals record for the most points in a quarter.
The second quarter wasn't any different; the Cavs continued to keep their foot on the gas. The Warriors had no answers for them. At the end of half the Cavs lead 86-68.
In the third quarter, the Cavs continued to cruise through the game. Everything was clicking for the Cavaliers; even Deron Williams was making shots. At the end of the third quarter, the Cavs lead 115-96.
In the fourth quarter, the Cavaliers and the Warriors emptied their benches. The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Golden State Warriors 137-116 and forced a game five on Monday, at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Ca.
LeBron James finished with 31 points, 11 assists, and ten rebounds. Kyrie Irving finished with 40 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Kevin Love finished with 23 points and five rebounds. JR finished with 15 points. Tristan Thompson was back to his old self finishing with ten rebounds.
Kevin Durant finished with 35 points and four assists. Draymond Green finished with 16 points and 14 rebounds. Klay Thompson finished with 13 points, even with his shooting struggles last night.
Will see if the Cavs come out playing with that fire in game five, or if they used all their energy in game four.
Last night game one of the NBA Finals was everything we expected and then some.
The first quarter was a dunk fest. One of the most impressive dunks of the game, was when LeBron James dunked on JaVale McGee. At the end of the first quarter, the Golden State Warriors led 35-30. You would think it was going to be a close game.
In the second quarter, the Warriors slowly started to pull away. The tandem of Steph Curry & Kevin Durant continued to torment the Cleveland Cavaliers. Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, & Kevin Love did all they could to counter the Warriors dominance.
In the third quarter, the Warriors stopped throwing jabs to the Cavs. The Warriors started throwing haymakers that were connecting. Steph Curry & Kevin Durant made three-point shot after three-point shot. Even Draymond Green chimed in with a three-point shot of his own. At the end of third quarter, the Warriors lead the Cavaliers 93-72.
In the fourth quarter, both teams knew this game was over and had their bench players in the game. The Warriors went on to win game one of the NBA Finals 113-91.
The Golden Warriors had a lot of positive spots in game one. Kevin Durant finished with 38 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists. Steph Curry finished with 28 points, ten assists, six rebounds, and three steals. Even through foul trouble, Draymond Green finished with nine points and 11 rebounds. Even Zaza Pachulia finished with eight points and six rebounds. Anytime Klay Thompson struggles shooting the ball and only finishes with six points and the Warriors still win by 22. The Cavaliers are in deep trouble.
Although the Cavs played horrible last night, they did have a few bright spots. LeBron James finished with 28 points, 15 rebounds, eight assists, and two blocks. Kyrie Irving finished with 24 points. Kevin Love finished with 15 points, 21 rebounds, and three blocks. Tristan Thompson was nonexistent finishing with zero points and four rebounds. Tristan must play better if the Cavs want to have a shot of beating the Warriors.
The Cleveland Cavaliers finished with 20 turnovers, whereas the Golden State Warriors finished with only four turnovers. Turnovers were a key to Golden State's rout of the Cavs.
Game two will take place on Sunday, June 4, at 8 PM ET on ESPN at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif.
For more updated sports news follow my twitter page @blogacccess1on1.
Today starts the 2017 NBA Finals, a rematch between the Cleveland
Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors. Last year the Warriors blew a
3-1 lead to the Cavaliers.
This past off season
the Warriors signed, superstar small forward, Kevin Durant to replace
the horrific shooting of Harrison Barnes in last year's NBA Finals. The
signing of Kevin Durant turned the Warriors team from a great team to a
juggernaut.
The Cavs and
Warriors played twice against each other this season. The Cavs won the
first game on Christmas Day, in Cleveland, on a game-winner jumper by
Kyrie Irving 109-108. In the second game, the Warriors gave the
Cavaliers a reality check beating them 126-91 at Oracle Arena in
Oakland, Ca.
The key to the Cavaliers winning
the NBA Finals is winning game one tonight to set the tone. Also,
LeBron can't be passive at all this whole series he needs to be
aggressive at all times. Kyrie just needs to continue to be Kyrie. The
wildcard for the Cavaliers, if they want to upset the Warriors in the
series, is which Kevin Love will show up the Minnesota Kevin Love, or
the stand around and watch Kyrie and LeBron do all the work, Kevin Love.
Iman Shumpert must find a way to at least slowdown Klay Thompson. Last
but not least, the Cavaliers need their shooters, JR Smith, Kyle Korver
& Channing Frye to knock down their three-point shots.
The
keys to the Golden State Warriors winning this NBA Finals is, Kevin
Durant just needs to play better than Harrison Barnes did last year.
Steph Curry just needs to be Steph Curry. Draymond Green needs to
continue to be the energy guy, do the dirty work on the rebounds, score,
and pile up assists. Klay Thompson needs to play every game this NBA
Finals like he played game five of last year's NBA Finals. The last key for the Golden State Warriors to win the NBA Finals is their bench must give them production. Everyone else
just needs to just needs to play their role and play it well.
The 2017 NBA Finals starts tonight 9 PM ET on ABC. Saying this series will be exciting is an understatement.
For more updated sports news follow my twitter page @blogacccess1on1.
