Festus Ezeli’s tough and-one putback dunk aids big Warriors run (Ball Don’t Lie)

The Golden State Warriors decision to go very, very small in Game 4 of the NBA Finals changed their fortunes against the Cleveland Cavaliers, allowing the best team of the 2014-15 season to find its form after a slow start to the series. Starting center Andrew Bogut, an All-Defensive Second Team selection, is now out of the rotation entirely. Somehow, the terms of the finals dictate that the Warriors are better for it. [ Follow Dunks Don't Lie on Tumblr: The best slams from all of basketball] Yet reserve center Festus Ezeli does continue to have a role as a more athletic big man. With 3:03 remaining in the third quarter of Tuesday's Game 6 at Quicken Loans Arena, Ezeli proved his value by following a missed Stephen Curry three with a very tough putback jam, drawing a foul on Timofey Mozgov in the process. Take a look: Ezeli knocked down the free throw to give the Warriors a 69-55 lead in the midst of a 17-7 run that included eight points for the center. That stretch allowed Golden State to end the third up 12, a tough situation for Cleveland given their opponents' excellence in fourth quarters this series. - - - - - - - Eric Freeman is a writer for Ball Don't Lie on Yahoo Sports....