The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Indiana Pacers once again, 117-111, on Monday, April 17 (Tuesday, Manila time). Now up 2-0, the defending champions have established a commanding lead over their first round opponents, or have they?
Here are just a few takeaways on why the champs still look like chumps after a 2-0 lead:
1. Defense, Defense, Defense
At this point, their #DefendTheLand slogan is nothing but false advertising, because there is just no defense played in Cleveland.
While it may look like the champs have finally clamped down on Indiana after leading 96-78 after the third quarter, it was simply the by-product of an exceptional offense by their “Big 3” of LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love. Oh, and we’ll get to them later.
Looking past the smoke and mirrors, Cleveland allowed Indiana to shoot 52% from the field and 40% from the three-point line – numbers expected from the league’s ninth-worst defense. It was their matador-like defenders that allowed the Pacers to charge ahead with a late 8-0 run and close the gap to just 7 points, 109-102. They led by as many as 19 points but led by just 4 with 15 seconds left. Ole!
2. Big Three, Small Bench
Twenty-one bench points. That was all the 10-man reserve squad of Cleveland could muster after the starters combined for 96. What’s even more telling of their rotation problem is that the Big 3 combined for 89 of those 96 starter points.
In two playoff games so far, only Channing Frye has eclipsed double-digit points from the bench. Deron Williams has yet to get adjusted to their system, Kyle Korver’s shot is nowhere to be found and JR Smith is once again injured with a hamstring strain.
If they continue to play like this and one of the Big 3 has a bad game, the Pacers may soon get those wins that barely escaped their fingers twice in a row. Tyronn Lue should adjust his rotations and remember that Derrick Williams actually exists.
3. LeBron “The Answer” James (and that’s not a compliment)
LeBron James is great. LeBron James is a living legend. And LeBron James is being abused.
In two playoff games, he has played in 85 of 96 possible game minutes, for an absurd average of 42.5 minutes a game. Sure, he played out of his mind (25 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 steals, 4 blocks) but that doesn’t mean Coach Lue shouldn’t let him sit. He is not Allen Iverson in the 2001 finals. He is supposed to have help.
James is already fourth in career playoff minutes played, just behind legends Tim Duncan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Kobe Bryant. He is already hours ahead of playoff stalwarts such as 11-time champion Bill Russell, 6-time champion Michael Jordan and 5-time champion Magic Johnson.
Maybe if Cleveland actually stands by the #DefendTheLand slogan, James wouldn’t have to play nearly the entire game.
The series will now shift back to Indiana for Game 3, as Cleveland carries along the same problems that plagued them all season long. – Rappler.com
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