Written by Carlos Murillo at Blue Man Hoop.com
The Golden State Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers by 35 points on MLK Day. They split the season series, but what did this game mean?
Almost a year after the Golden State Warriors traveled to Cleveland to hand them a 34 point loss, they did it again. The Dubs hosted the Cavaliers for the first time since that heartbreaking Game 7 last June and they made sure they left with a victory. And it was a big one, blowing their rivals out of the gym by 35 points.
It was a masterful performance as Golden State dominated on both ends. They didn’t allow the Cavs’ stars to have any breathing room offensively and they attacked every weak link defensively. Steph Curry redeemed himself after his poor Christmas Day performance.
The Warriors evened the season series up, with both home teams protecting their court. Kyrie Irving lifted the Cavaliers to victory with his game-winning turnaround jumpshot. The MLK Day rematch wasn’t as close.
Kevin Durant’s Warriors gave us what we expected when he announced his decision to join Golden State. It was a blowout from the opening tip. So what does this game mean?
Somehow, nothing and everything. It’s always good to get a win, especially against a top team. With the San Antonio Spurs right behind them, the Warriors can’t just assume they have the first seed locked up.
The Warriors hope to be playing in June and, if they are, they’ll most likely be going up against the Cavaliers. In the NBA Finals, the result in a January game doesn’t mean much. Neither does a game in December.
So, in that sense, this game meant nothing. Golden State defeated Cleveland two times during the 2015-16 regular season and dropped three games in a row, including a Game 7 at home. The regular season results mean nothing.
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