No matter how you slice it, the Cleveland Cavaliers are having a historic season.
Unfortunately for them, their biggest obstacle is the remaining 2%.
We see it time and time again from a wide variety of teams who also share these same issues.
Brad Stevens built a scheme proof roster.
You want to play fast?
They can do that.
You want to take a bunch of 3s?
You want to go double bigs?
They can match your size and neutralize your big men.
You want to go small?
You’re about to learn about Jayson Tatum at the 5 buddy.
So right away, the Cavs advantage against the majority of the NBA takes a hit.
Their whole appeal is that they can overwhelm you with their double big lineup and high powered offense.
In this matchup specifically, that presents a new set of problems that you now have to fix.
They have too many areas to attack.
There’s no solution for it.
If you don’t, Garland is going to have a tough time consistently winning that matchup.
On the wing, things are no better.
Too small and too slow.
This is where not having Okoro/Wade hurt the Cavs, but it helps illustrate the overall point.
The problem is there’s really no answer.
Again, the Cavs are awesome and absolutely are a team that should be taken seriously as a contender.
Their body of work tells you as much.
But in the playoffs, things boil down to matchups.
Can you solve the problems your opponent presents to the tune of winning 4 out of 7.
As Derrick White goes, so do the Celtics.
You had people declaring Joe Mazzulla couldn’t coach.
That his offense (which is the 5th best in NBA history) was #actuallybad.
That there was all this internal drama and guys not knowing their roles and blah blah blah blah.
All very embarrassing theories when in reality it was pretty simple.
Guys were missing open looks.
The Celtics haven’t lost.
All 4 of his 3s in the 4th were gigantic, and they were pure.
To me, that’s how you could tell Derrick is feeling good.
It deflates the defense, takes the crowd out of it and you now have to adjust.
When I need Al, Al will come through for me.
He singlehandedly has the ability to limit two of the Cavs most important pieces.
With Mobley, it’s the same thing.
But when it’s clear he does have it?
Al is still every bit the difference maker this roster needs him to be on both ends.
His development has been crazy, and the versatility he provides is a huge part of their success.
In fact, the way the Celts handled the double bigs from CLE all night was massive.
That group averages a 122 ORTG.
Possession after possession in isolation and Luke continuously came out on top.
Great defense without fouling, moved his feet well, what a value for a guy on the minimum.
Not only that, they are now 19-9 vs teams .500 or better.
They are road warriors and it’s why it doesn’t really matter where they play.
if that doesn’t give you confidence, I’m not sure what can.
The final box score is whatever, just 22/4/7 on 7-23 (3-11), but the impact?
Is the idea that you just pray everyone else misses every shot they take?
The effort was there, the jumper wasn’t.
- Make no mistake, Jaylen Brown carried this team early.
He was the hunted, and it worked.
Again, explain to me how the Cavs solve that problem in a playoff series?
To do it all on the road is even better.
How many KP jumpers did he miss from like 5ft?
Jrue was battling CTE all night.
In my opinion, the Celts got extremely lucky here.
There’s of course another way to look at it.
That they were this bad andstillhad a double digit lead on the road is somewhat encouraging.
That’s fine, but also, stop missing every shot you take.
That can be an option too ya know.
You knew it was coming with Scott Foster involved and my biggest thing is the lack of consistency.
It was very obvious that one team was playing with a certain whistle and the other wasn’t.
All I ask is for consistency.
Because he fell and yelled?
Every single offensive possession for the Cavs as they were cutting the lead was a foul.
They removed Jaylen from the game because of bait.
Does Adam Silver care?
- Celts really need to practice wide open layups.
The rate at which they miss point blank 2pt FGA is starting to get alarming.
Even the completely wide open uncontested layups somehow cannot be made.
Jrue, Jaylen, White, I mean what are we doing here.
I don’t get it.
These are smart players, these are veterans, how can nobody understand how to close out a game?
