Golden State Cleveland Game 7: What Most People Get Wrong About the Greatest Game Ever

June 19, 2016. Oracle Arena is vibrating. You can feel the anxiety through the TV screen. Honestly, if you were a Cavs fan back then, you were probably pacing your living room, convinced the universe wouldn't let Cleveland win a title.

Basically, the 73-win Warriors weren't supposed to lose. They had the first-ever unanimous MVP in Stephen Curry. They had a 3-1 series lead. Teams didn't come back from 3-1 in the Finals. Ever. Until it happened.

The Golden State Cleveland Game 7 was more than just a basketball game; it was a psychological war. It’s the game that defined legacies and birthed the most famous defensive highlight in the history of the sport. But when we look back, we tend to simplify it down to just "The Block" and "The Shot."

There is so much more to the story.

The Ghost of 73-9 and the Draymond Factor

People forget how dominant the Warriors were that year. 73-9. It’s a record that might actually never be broken. But by the time they hit the floor for Game 7, that juggernaut looked... human. Sorta tired, maybe.

The turning point wasn't even in Game 7. It was Game 5. Draymond Green gets suspended for a swipe at LeBron James' groin. Andrew Bogut goes down with a knee injury. Suddenly, the interior defense that the Warriors relied on is gone.

By Game 7, Draymond was back and playing the game of his life. He was incredible. He put up 32 points, 15 rebounds, and 9 assists. He went 6-of-8 from deep. If the Warriors win that game, Draymond is likely the Finals MVP.

Instead, he’s the guy who watched LeBron cry on the floor.

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The Warriors’ offense, usually a beautiful motion machine, turned into a stagnant mess of missed threes. Curry and Klay Thompson combined for just 6-of-24 from three-point range. In a four-point game, that’s the whole season right there.

The Block: 1:50 Remaining

We have to talk about it. 89-89. The score hadn't changed in what felt like a decade. Both teams were exhausted. Andre Iguodala gets the ball on a fast break. He goes up for the layup.

LeBron James comes out of nowhere.

ESPN Sports Science actually clocked him at over 20 mph during that chase-down. He jumped so high his hand was 11 feet 5 inches off the ground. It wasn't just a block; it was a statement. It told every person in that arena that the Cavaliers were not going to let this slip away.

J.R. Smith deserves more credit here, too. He stayed in front of Iguodala just long enough to force a slight double-pump. That tiny hesitation gave LeBron the window he needed.

Why the Warriors went cold

It’s easy to blame Curry or Klay. But the Cavs' defensive strategy was brutal and effective. They switched everything. They physically hammered Curry off the ball. They forced the Warriors to play "iso" ball, which is exactly what Steve Kerr didn't want.

The Warriors didn't score a single point in the final 4:39 of the game. Not one.

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The Kyrie Shot and the Stop You Forgot

With 53 seconds left, Kyrie Irving is iso-ed on Steph Curry. Everyone knew what was coming. Kyrie dancing. The side-step. The release.

Splash.

That three-pointer put Cleveland up 92-89. It is one of the coldest shots in NBA history. But even after that, the Warriors had a chance.

This is the part most people forget: "The Stop."

The Warriors get the ball back. They want a three to tie. They get the switch they want: Steph Curry on Kevin Love. Normally, Curry cooks big men on the perimeter. It’s a mismatch.

But Love played the best 10 seconds of defense in his life. He stayed on Curry’s hip, didn't bite on the fakes, and forced a contested, fading prayer of a shot that missed.

Kevin Love, a guy known for his offense and often criticized for his feet, saved the championship on the defensive end.

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The Reality of the Stats

When you look at the box score, the game was ugly. It was a 93-89 slog.

• LeBron James: 27 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists (Triple-double)
• Kyrie Irving: 26 points, including the dagger
• Draymond Green: 32 points (The best player for GSW that night)
• Steph Curry: 17 points on 6-of-19 shooting

The most telling stat? The Warriors took 41 three-pointers and made only 15. They lived by the sword all year, and in the final five minutes of the season, they died by it.

What This Game Changed Forever

If Golden State wins this game, Kevin Durant probably never signs with them. The "Hamptons Five" never happens. LeBron's legacy is viewed through the lens of another Finals loss.

Instead, Cleveland got its first major sports championship in 52 years.

The Golden State Cleveland Game 7 wasn't just a game; it was the end of one era and the start of a dynasty that eventually became the KD Warriors. But for that one night, the 73-9 record didn't mean anything.

Actionable Insights for Fans and Historians

If you want to truly appreciate the nuance of this game, watch the full fourth quarter again rather than just the highlights. Look for these specific things:

• The Fatigue: Notice how many short-rimmed shots both teams took. The altitude of the moment was real.
• Tyronn Lue’s Rotations: He rode his stars. LeBron played nearly 47 minutes.
• The Harrison Barnes Factor: He went 3-of-10. The Cavs were literally leaving him open to double-team Curry. His struggles in this game were a massive reason the Warriors felt they needed an upgrade at the small forward position that summer.

Re-watching the game with the knowledge of what came after—the Durant signing, the Cavs' eventual breakup, and LeBron’s move to the Lakers—makes the tension of those final minutes even more incredible. It was the peak of the greatest rivalry of the 2010s.

Next Steps for Deep Diving:

1. Compare the Game 7 shot charts of Curry vs. Irving to see how Cleveland forced Steph into lower-percentage areas.
2. Research the "Gravity" statistics from that series to understand how LeBron used his presence to open up the floor for Kyrie.
3. Check out the post-game interviews from Draymond Green, where he takes full accountability for the loss, providing a rare look at the psychology of a champion in defeat.