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5 Keys To A Game 5 Victory For The Golden State Warriors

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5 Keys To A Game 5 Victory For The Golden State Warriors

2015 NBA Finals - Game Four
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With the 2015 NBA Finals now even at two games apiece, the series will once again shift back to Oakland for a pivotal Game 5 between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers. In order to avoid heading back to Cleveland for a potential championship-clinching game, the Warriors will look to win Game 5 on their home floor where they are 47-4 on the season. With that being said, here are the five keys for a Warriors win.

5. Find David Lee Minutes

David Lee
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5. Find David Lee Minutes

David Lee
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After having played very little throughout the 2015 NBA Playoffs, David Lee gave the Warriors a spark in both Game 3 and Game 4. Unlike the other bigs on the team’s roster, Lee is someone the Warriors can run their offense through -- especially in the pick-and-roll. If they hope to take a 3-2 series lead, the Warriors will need to continue to find Lee minutes, even if they come at the expense of the team’s starting center Andrew Bogut.

4. Perimeter Defense

Golden State Warriors v Cleveland Cavaliers
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4. Perimeter Defense

Golden State Warriors v Cleveland Cavaliers
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Although they haven't done so far throughout this series, it seems like only a matter of time before the Cavaliers’ shooters begin to find their stroke. With the Warriors defense heavily focused on LeBron James, shooters such as James Jones, Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith will continue to get plenty of looks from the outside. In order to leave Game 5 with a win, the Warriors will have to make sure that most of these looks do not come wide open.

3. Gang Rebounding

Golden State Warriors v Cleveland Cavaliers
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3. Gang Rebounding

Golden State Warriors v Cleveland Cavaliers
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As a result of head coach Steve Kerr deciding to go with a small lineup in Game 4, the Warriors found themselves with a distinct disadvantage in the rebounding department. However, in order to compensate, gang rebounding became something the Warriors had to rely upon. With the small lineup likely to continue in Game 5, the Warriors must once again gang rebound in order to limit the number of the Cavaliers' extra possessions.

2. Dictate Pace

Golden State Warriors v Cleveland Cavaliers
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2. Dictate Pace

Golden State Warriors v Cleveland Cavaliers
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After Game 2 and Game 3 were played at the Cavaliers' slow and methodical pace, the Warriors were able to get out and run for stretches of Game 4, scoring a total of 103 points. In 19 playoff games this season, the Warriors have found success when they play their style of basketball. When they have scored 97 points or more, the Warriors are 14-1. When they score 96 points or less they are 0-4.

1. Stephen Curry Must Play Like An MVP

Stephen Curry
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1. Stephen Curry Must Play Like An MVP

Stephen Curry
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Following a nice outing in game one that saw him score 26 points and hand out eight assists, Stephen Curry struggled mightily for most of Games 2 and Game 3. However, in Game 4 Curry rebounded as he was able to score 22 points on 8-17 shooting. If the Warriors hope to walk away from Game 5 with a victory, then the regular season MVP must play like one and not disappear for long stretches of time.

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