CLEVELAND, Ohio – Now it begins …
The real playoffs for the Cavs …
I know, the Cavs lost the opener of the best-of-seven second-round series to Indiana, 121-112.
Until this point, nearly everything has been almost intoxicatingly easy for the Cavs and new coach Kenny Atkinson. They opened the season with a 15-game winning streak. They ended the regular season with a 64-18 record.
Then they wiped out Miami in four games in the first round. They trailed for only 17 total minutes in those four games.
Along came Indiana, and the real playoffs.
Along came a Pacers team that should be called the Sprinters — a team that went to the Eastern Conference Finals last season. They came into Cleveland’s Rocket Arena and set the pace and personality of the game.
Atkinson was hired for moments such as this – making the right adjustments in the playoffs. He was almost magical during the regular season when it came to turning those X’s and O’s on the coach’s whiteboard into flesh-and-blood winning strategies on the court.
Time to do it again.
The Cavs can’t rely on Donovan Mitchell to take 30 shots a game.
John Kuntz, cleveland.com
What went wrong?
We’ll hear a lot about the Cavs not making 3-point shots. It’s true. The Cavs were 9 for 38 on 3-pointers. This was the first time all season the Cavs have made fewer than 10 shots from 3-point range.
Meanwhile, the Pacers were 19 for 35 on 3-pointers.
“Their shot-making was otherworldly,” said Atkinson.
But there’s more going on here besides, “The Cavs’ shots weren’t falling and Indiana was making shots.”
The Cavs never could fully match the Pacers frenetic pace. It wasn’t necessary to run with the Pacers. Few teams can. But there was more wrong with the Cavs offense than long shots banging off the rim.
“I didn’t think we adjusted to the rhythm of the game,” said Atkinson. “The ball was sticking … there will be a lot of (video) clips where there will be (a need) for one more pass.”
The Cavs took 98 shots … 50 by Donovan Mitchell (13 for 30) and 20 by Ty Jerome (8 for 20).
That’s a sign of a lack of ball movement and poor patience.
Cavs fans rightly love Ty Jerome, but he forced more than a few shots. Mitchell (1 for 11 on 3-pointers) was frustrated with his own poor shooting and the general lack of Cavs-style offense. The Cavs can possibly win a game if they need Mitchell to shoot 30 times a game – but not the series.
Darius Garland has missed the last three playoffs games with a toe injury. John Kuntz, cleveland.com
Can’t wait for Garland
At this point, someone is probably screaming, “The Cavs win this game with Darius Garland.”
Guess what? That’s true. Their All-Star’s speed and shooting ability would be a huge advantage for the Cavs against the fast Pacers. Garland can run with any team.
But Garland is out with a toe injury. He may be back for Game 2 on Tuesday … or may not.
That’s why I say the playoffs start now … for real … for the Cavs.
Injuries are part of the playoff journey. The change from plodding, swept-away Miami in the first round to a confident pell-mell Pacers in this round also is the story of the playoffs.
It takes different things (and styles) to win in different rounds.
Evan Mobley had 20 points and 10 rebounds. John Kuntz, cleveland.com
What about the big men?
We’ll hear how the Cavs can’t keep playing Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley together. They’re too big, not quick enough to keep up with the Pacers.
Maybe …
But Mobley and Allen were punishing Indiana near the rim. They shot a combined 15 for 20 (32 points). Those who say the NBA is all about who makes more 3-point shots will point out how the Cavs outscored Indiana 70-38 in the paint. That means they had only 42 points outside the paint area.
But guess who took more 3-point shots Sunday: The Cavs, 38-35.
I’ll offer a theory that fits with Atikinson’s comment about the Cavs not being into “the rhythm of the game.” The Pacers bolting the ball up the court often led to the Cavs doing the same – and then rushing when taking some of those open 3-pointers.
The Cavs fell behind early in the game and not only were chasing Indiana on the court – but also in their basketball mindset.
As Atkinson said, “Our offense let us down.”
And he was right. Now, he has to fix it.