Warriors go With Smaller Lineup, Beat Cavaliers in Game 4 of the NBA Finals

Despite his proclamation that he would go with his usual starting lineup in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr changed things up, going with a three guard offense and starting Andre Iguodala instead of center Andrew Bogut. The smaller, faster lineup worked. In his first start all season, the veteran Iguodala scored 22 points as the Warriors won 103-82 to even the series at 2-2.

Timofey Mozgov led the Cavaliers with 28 points. LeBron James had 20 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists. For most, those would be very good numbers but LeBron’s scoring production was down; he averaged 41 points in the first three games of the series and illustrates how the Cavaliers’ fortunes are tied to James.

It just wasn’t his day. Prior to tip off, a TV camera caught LeBron adjusting his, um, personal equipment, and exposed a part of him that we haven’t seen before, if you catch our drift. And during the game, he crashed into a photographer on the baseline, and got a cut on his head that required stitches.

The series goes back to Oakland for Game 5 on Sunday night June 14th. If Kerr decides to go with Game 4’s smaller, faster lineup again (and judging by its success, why wouldn’t he) the Cavaliers will have to come up with an answer to it real quick.