Steve Kerr was hailed as a mentor by the former assistant coach of the Golden State Warriors before to the game. Given the outcome of this one, Kerr may have divulged too many secrets. The Cleveland Cavaliers swept to a 136-117 victory, showing that they were the superior club in every way.

Against the Warriors, Atkinson deployed his understanding of them. He started Isaac Okoro instead of Dean Wade, despite Wade’s availability. It was the standard option. When facing Steph Curry, you should always start your best perimeter defender. Unfortunately, that wasn’t his deployment. Instead of Darius Garland shielding Curry, Okoro was tasked with protecting Draymond Green.

Green usually starts the ball or screens, and Curry spends most of his time away from the action. Both activities are limited when Okoro is on Green.

As a first effect, Green has a harder time controlling the ball. Okoro is able to apply aggressive ball pressure thanks to the support he receives from the backline, which hinders Green’s performance. Secondly, protecting Curry with your best perimeter defender is an automatic win when you use the green screen.

In the first minutes, this thwarted the offensive of Golden State, giving Cleveland the opportunity to capitalize on transition plays. Before the entire crowd had a chance to settle in, the Cavaliers took advantage of this to go up 20-2. One important factor was Evan Mobley.

When comparing Mobley to Green, Atkinson frequently brings up Green. Not because their skill sets are so complementary, but because Green’s playmaking can make a huge lineup with only two players who don’t shoot the ball work.

“Evan is up there more now,” Atkinson stated before the game. “Like Draymond, he’s getting more comfortable with the ball and making better use of his passing abilities.”

That materialized throughout the initial three months. He was more effective at starting his own offense and than at finishing plays with his passes. His energetic play throughout the game was on full display in the first half, when he scored 11 points in only 14 minutes.

One of the reasons Cleveland has been so successful this season is because of their depth. That reappeared tonight. Both Okoro’s defense and offense were top-notch. In the first half, he was at his comfortable best attacking off the ball and from deep. That, along with the 13 points scored by Ty Jerome in the second quarter, helped the Cavaliers maintain and even expand upon their early lead. They took a 41-point lead into halftime after outscoring the Warriors 44-20 in the second quarter.

Following that, the Cavaliers maintained a high level of play throughout.

Mobley kept up his excellent performance all game long. He was given permission by Atkinson to use the time remaining in the third quarter and the start of the fourth to gain more experience with the ball when the game was already well-clinched. Although he had a few clumsy possessions, he also had some brilliant moments, such as the play below.