Kevin Durant‘s game-high 38 points in Game 1 was largely aided by the many uncontested dunks he was able to get early in the first half, rocking the rim continuously getting through the Cleveland Cavaliers‘ matador defense.
But after a convincing 22-point win, the Golden State Warriors‘ prized free agent signing is convinced those same opportunities won't present themselves again during Game 2 on Sunday.
“I'm pretty sure that won't happen tomorrow,” Durant told reporters according to Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com.
Durant managed to get around the likes of LeBron James, Kevin Love, and Tristan Thompson for easy swoops to the rim, but the most deflating part was his wide-open dunks in transition, which kept the Cavs from narrowing the gap.
“I think it would be deflating for anybody if someone was getting tomahawk dunks like that,” Klay Thompson said.
Yet the Warriors expect the Cavs to make adjustments defensively, something Cleveland has already made a focal point.
“We have to stop the ball,” head coach Tyronn Lue said. “That's the most important thing. We can't let Durant get easy baskets like that. With him being probably one of the best scorers in the NBA, you can't give guys like that easy opportunities at the basket.
“That's what stuck out in film the past two days was that we have to be able to stop the ball,” forward Kevin Love added.
While both teams shot the ball poorly, getting open shots in close is as sure of a momentum-killer as it gets — and emphatic dunks in front of a home crowd will only make matters worse for a team trying to make a statement in this year's NBA Finals.
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