Stats Don’t Lie: Why the NBA Finals Game 6 Was One for the Ages

Stats Don’t Lie: Why the NBA Finals Game 6 Was One for the Ages is a blog post that looks at the thrilling game 6 of the 2020 NBA Finals

The NBA Finals Game 6: A Recap

On June 16, 2016, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors met for Game 6 of the NBA Finals It was a game for the ages, with both teams playing their best and the lead changing multiple times. Ultimately, the Cavaliers came out on top, winning 115-101 and forcing a Game 7.

Why was this particular game so special? Let’s take a look at the numbers.

First, there were a total of 216 points scored which is the second-highest point total in an NBA Finals game (the record is 217 points, set in 2015). Second, there were 33 lead changes, which is also the second-most in an NBA Finals game (the record is 36 lead changes, set in 1988).

Third, there were 15 ties, which is the most in any NBA game since at least 1950. And fourth, there was only one double-digit lead throughout the entire game – when the Cavaliers went up 10-0 at the start of the first quarter. That means that neither team ever had more than a 9-point lead at any point during the entire 48 minutes of play.

In other words, this was a close game from start to finish – and one that will be remembered for years to come.

Why the NBA Finals Game 6 Was One for the Ages

There are a lot of stats that show why the just-completed NBA Finals Game 6 was one for the ages.

For starters, it was the fifth-longest game in NBA Finals history, clocking in at just over three hours. It also featured 22 lead changes, the second-most in an NBA Finals game since 1970.

The game also had some impressive individual performances. Lebron James became the first player ever to score 40 points, grab 10 rebounds and dish out 10 assists in an NBA Finals game. Kyrie Irving scored 30 points, while Kevin Love had 20 points and 12 rebounds.

For the Warriors, Stephen Curry scored 34 points, while Klay Thompson had 24. Draymond Green had a triple double with 16 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

The game was close throughout, with neither team leading by more than six points at any point in the contest. In the end, it came down to a clutch 3-pointer by Irving with 53 seconds remaining to give the Cavaliers a lead they would not relinquish.

It was a historic game in many ways, and one that will be remembered for years to come.

The Stats that Prove Why the NBA Finals Game 6 Was One for the Ages

Sure, the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers put on an offensive show in Game 6 of the NBA Finals But it was the defense that ultimately decided the game.

The Warriors held the Cavaliers to just 33.3 percent shooting from the field, including a measly 25 percent from three-point range That defensive effort helped Golden State overcome a 12-point halftime deficit and win 112-97, forcing a seventh and final game in the series.

“It was an amazing defensive performance,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said after the game. “We were just physical, we were into them, we contested everything.”

And the stats back up Kerr’s assessment. Here are six numbers that show just how impressive the Warriors’ defensive effort was in Game 6:

1. The Cavaliers shot 33.3 percent from the field, their second-worst mark of the series.
2. The Cavaliers made just 25 percent of their three-pointers, also their second-worst mark of the series.
3. The Cavaliers scored 97 points, their second-lowest total of the series.
4. The Cavaliers’ Effective field goal Percentage (eFG%), which adjusts for the fact that three-pointers are worth more than two-pointers, was an abysmal 42.4 percent, their worst mark of the series by far.
5*. Opponents have shot just 34 percent against Golden State in this year’s playoffs when Stephen Curry is on the court (per NBAwowy), and that number drops to an unbelievable 31 percent when both Curry and Draymond Green are on court together (per Cleaningtheglass).
6*. Green himself has been a big reason for Golden State’s defensive success this postseason; opponents have shot just 34 percent against him in one-on-one situations (per Synergy Sports).

The Unbelievable Comeback of the Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers made history in Game 6 of the NBA Finals when they came back from being down 3-1 to win the championship. This was the first time in NBA Finals history that a team had come back from this deficit, and it was an incredible display of basketball. The Cavs were led by their superstar, Lebron James who put up a triple-double in the game. HisHer heroic performance inspired his teammates, and they fought hard to get the victory. It was an amazing game, and it will be remembered for years to come.

LeBron James: A True Champion

Lebron James is one of the most successful basketball players of all time. He has played in ten NBA Finals winning three of them. In the 2016-2017 season, he led the Cleveland Cavaliers to their fourth consecutive Finals appearance This was an incredible feat, as no team had ever done this before in NBA history In the 2017 Finals, the Cavs were unfortunately defeated by the Golden State Warriors in five games.

However, in Game 6 of that series, LeBron put up one of the most impressive individual performances ever seen in an NBA Finals game. He scored 41 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and dished out 11 assists. He also became the first player in NBA history to score 40+ points in a Finals game while also shooting over 50% from the field and 40% from three-point range. His fantastic all-around performance helped lead the Cavs to a 112-97 victory and forced a Game 7 back in Oakland.

Although the Cavs ultimately lost that series in Game 7, LeBron’s individual performance in Game 6 showed why he is considered one of the greatest players of all time. He is a True Champion who always seems to rise to the occasion when his team needs him most.

Kyrie Irving: A Star in the Making

Kyrie Irving put on one of the finest performances in NBA Finals history last night, scoring a game-high 41 points to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a victory in Game 6. The Cavs star point guard was simply unstoppable, hitting big shot after big shot en route to the win.

It was a coming-out party of sorts for Irving, who has been overshadowed by Lebron James throughout his career. But last night, he proved that he is one of the best players in the league and that he can carry a team when it matters most.

The Cavs will now face the Golden State Warriors in a winner-takes-all Game 7 on Sunday, and with Irving leading the way, they have a chance to pull off one of the biggest upsets in NBA Finals history.

The Golden State Warriors A Team to Be Reckoned With

With a finals win against the Cleveland Cavaliers the 2016-2017 season has been one for the ages for the Golden State Warriors The Warriors set the record for the most regular-season wins in an NBA season with 73, and they did it in style. They also became the first team in NBA history to start the playoffs 12-0.

But it wasn’t just their regular-season success that was impressive — it was their playoff run as well. In the playoffs, the Warriors went 16-1, with their only loss coming in Game 4 of the Finals. And in that series-clinching Game 6, they became the first team in NBA history to come back from a 3-1 deficit in the Finals.

So what makes this Warriors team so special? Let’s take a look at some of their key stats:

They have three of the league’s top 10 scorers (Kevin Durant Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson)
They have two of the league’s top 3 shot blockers (Draymond Green and Durant)
They have two of the league’s top 5 rebounders (Green and Durant)
They have four All-Stars (Curry, Durant, Green, and Thompson)
They have won five straight Western Conference titles

Draymond Green: The Heart and Soul of the Warriors

In the sport of basketball, there are players that put up eye-popping stats night in and night out. These types of players are often referred to as “stats machines.” However, there is another type of player in the NBA that doesn’t always fill up the Stat Sheet but who is just as important to his team’s success. This type of player is referred to as a “glue guy.”

One could make the argument that Draymond Green is the greatest glue guy in NBA history Green is the heart and soul of the Golden State Warriors He does a little bit of everything for them on both ends of the court. He is their defensive stopper, their primary playmaker, and their emotional leader.

On Wednesday night, Green put up a triple-double in Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors It was an impressive statistical achievement, but it was far from the only reason why he was so important to the Warriors’ victory.

Green’s defense on Kawhi Leonard was phenomenal. Leonard is one of the best players in the world, but Green made him work for every basket. On offense, Green took over when Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson were struggling from three-point range. He attacked the basket and got to the Free Throw Line early and often. And finally, it was Green’s emotions that kept his team fired up throughout the game.

The Warriors would not have won Game 6 without Draymond Green. He may not always stuff the stat sheet, but he is one of the most important players in the NBA because of everything he does for his team on and off the court

Andre Iguodala: The X-Factor

The 2015 NBA Finals played out like a classic Hollywood script. The underdog Golden State Warriors led by MVP Stephen Curry took on the well-oiled machine that was the Cleveland Cavaliers led by Lebron James After six hard-fought games, the Warriors emerged victorious, dethroning the Cavs and winning their first NBA Championship in 40 years.

But what made this particular Finals so special? Was it the fact that the Warriors came back from a 3-1 deficit to win? That Curry set a new record for most three-pointers made in an NBA Finals series? Or that James finally ran out of gas aftercarrying his team on his back for the entire playoffs?

In our opinion, the true X-factor of the series was Andre Iguodala Iguodala was thrust into the starting lineup for Game 4 after Head Coach Steve Kerr made the bold decision to bench struggling superstar forward Harrison Barnes From that point on, Iguodala was a revelation, shutting down Cavs forward Lebron James on defense and providing a much-needed scoring punch on offense. He would go on to be named Finals MVP becoming only the third player in NBA history to win the award without starting a single game in the series.

Iguodala’s impact on the series cannot be overstated. His performance was crucial in helping the Warriors complete their historic comeback, and his importance to the team going forward cannot be understated. If Andre Iguodala can continue to play at this high level, then the Golden State Warriors may just be poised to dominate the NBA for years to come.

The NBA Finals A Rematch for the Ages

The NBA Finals are always a highly anticipated event, but this year’s matchup between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers was especially eagerly awaited. The two teams had met in the Finals for the past three years, with the Warriors winning in 2015 and 2017 and the Cavaliers taking the title in 2016.

This year’s series went to a seventh and final game, which was an instant classic. The Warriors won by a score of 108-85, but the game was much closer than that. The Cavaliers kept it close for most of the first half, and even took a brief lead in the third quarter. But in the end, the Warriors were too strong and won their third championship in four years.

The game was notable for several reasons. First, it was one of only eight times in NBA history that a team has come back from a 3-1 deficit to win a seven-game series. Second, it was LeBron James’s eighth consecutive NBA Finals appearance, tying him with legends like Bill Russell and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most ever. And finally, it cemented the Warriors’ status as one of the greatest teams ever assembled, with four All-Stars in their starting lineup (Stephen Curry Kevin Durant Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson) and two more (Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston) coming off the bench.

It’s sure to be a long off-season for Cavaliers fans, but they can take solace in knowing that they witnessed one of the greatest basketball games of all time.