The Golden State Warriors had plenty of questions heading into Game 4, and answered just about all of it with the most convincing win of the NBA Finals, defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 103-82 to tie the series at 2-2.
With LeBron James utterly dominating the first three games, Steve Kerr decided to throw a healthy dose of double teams this time. With James being all about making the right play and playing for his teammates, he naturally passed out of most of those double teams. The problem was that the Cavaliers were ice cold from beyond the arc, shooting a woeful 4-of-27. James was close to a triple-double once again with 20 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists. However, he shot just 7-of-22 from the field and 5-of-10 from the strip.
Meanwhile, Kerr also decided to make a drastic change in the starting lineup, inserting Andre Iguodala and benching center Andrew Bogut in the process. The plan worked, as Iguodala went off for 22 points and eight rebounds while continuing to do a masterful job against James on the defensive end of the floor. Small ball also caused some headaches for the Warriors, though, as they struggled to rebound time after time, and let Timofey Mozgov go off for 28 points and 10 rebounds.
Still, you’d rather let Mozgov beat you than James, and the end result was a resounding win that put all the pressure back on the Cavaliers.
Along the way, James suffered a serious laceration on his head after falling into a cameraman and hitting his head on the camera. Players around the league reacted to this play and plenty of other events from throughout the game on twitter:
I’m at the game & the atmosphere is AWESOME!!! The NBA is FANTASTIC!!! WOW!!!
— Bill Walton (@BillWalton) June 12, 2015
Love that @Dlee042 is checking in! — Landry Fields (@landryfields) June 12, 2015
David LEE and AI.
— BRANDON JENNINGS (@BrandonJennings) June 12, 2015
Finally, now maybe they will do something about the camera people under the hoop. — The Needle (@spencerhawes00) June 12, 2015
That’s taking your job too literal… Move the camera!!!
— Ryan Hollins (@TheRyanHollins) June 12, 2015
They pushing away the cameras like there aren’t 40 more that can’t zoom in from different angles lol — John Henson (@_John_Henson_) June 12, 2015
Definitely hope LBJ is ok but the silver lining from this is we FINALLY might get those damn cameras OFF THE BASELINE!!! #NBAFinals2015
— Malik Rose (@MalikRose) June 12, 2015
No knock to them at all. It just needs to be changed somehow. Bad for players crashing into each other around the baseline/under the basket — Meyers Leonard (@MeyersLeonard11) June 12, 2015
Get those damn camera men out the way
— JARRETT JACK (@Jarrettjack03) June 12, 2015
I know one thing you can’t say nothing to this dude about a call! pic.twitter.com/esibNg4oW0 — Kenny Anderson (@chibbs_1) June 12, 2015
My bad. I forgot how many of Yall have ran into a cameraman during a game lol. Continue
— Lou Williams (@TeamLou23) June 12, 2015
I wonder what the NBA’s concussion protocol is? — Skylar Diggins (@SkyDigg4) June 12, 2015
Ok Timo keep being tough
— Kenneth Faried (@KennethFaried35) June 12, 2015
Joey just told Mozgov to shut up lol. That dude really thinks hes the man haha. He doesn’t allow ANY back talk! — Anthony Tolliver (@ATolliver44) June 12, 2015
Dellavedova should have had his coffee like he do before every game this the finals stick to what got you there!!
— Kenneth Faried (@KennethFaried35) June 12, 2015
That was a nice sneak diss from Iggy towards LeBron lol — Anthony Tolliver (@ATolliver44) June 12, 2015
Am I the only one who hears that one person screaming at the top of their lungs every time Curry shoots?!?
— Tobias Harris (@tobias31) June 12, 2015
The Warriors have been playing better since David Lee’s been playing… — Tracy Murray (@RealTracyMurray) June 12, 2015
Cavs going thru Mozgov the whole 4th. I like him but thats not a good look for Cavs
— nick vanexel (@vanexel31) June 12, 2015
Lol that’s wassup clown RT @MicDavid4real: @dionwaiters3 decide to troll Cleveland as you sit your ass at home watching the playoffs — Dionwaiters3 (@dionwaiters3) June 12, 2015
I’m chilling wit my Fam watching the finals I’m not mad at all RT @Johnny__Red: @dionwaiters3 how’s sitting at home during the finals?
— Dionwaiters3 (@dionwaiters3) June 12, 2015
Safe 2 say LBJ was gassed tonite. Never had that pop. 2 days off should get him back. If he’s not aggressive they have no chance #nbafinals — al harrington (@cheddahcheese7) June 12, 2015
Iggy is nice been nice but playing big in these finals
— Kenny Anderson (@chibbs_1) June 12, 2015
What a series! Can’t wait to see game 6! — Ryan Anderson (@ryananderson33) June 12, 2015
That looked more like the Warriors. They’re adjustments couldn’t work any better.
— Kelenna Azubuike (@KAzubuike7) June 12, 2015
Honestly I can care less it’s been a great finals so far RT @cabbott86: @dionwaiters3 pretend you are not happy about the cavs loss — Dionwaiters3 (@dionwaiters3) June 12, 2015
I love Stephen A Smith on first take, but please @espn he is not a basketball analyst Doug Collins is. He is a prisoner of the last game.
— Eddie A Johnson (@Jumpshot8) June 12, 2015
It’s Over For Cleveland. This was a must win game. No way they winning in Oakland. #GSin6 — BRANDON JENNINGS (@BrandonJennings) June 12, 2015
Yes! Go Dubs! Impressive win playing less then two good quarters.
— Rick Barry (@Rick24Barry) June 12, 2015
I repeat Cavs have 0 chance winning in Golden State.
— BRANDON JENNINGS (@BrandonJennings) June 12, 2015
Jim Park is a blogger and editor of Sheridan Hoops. Follow him on twitter @SheridanBlog.