The Point Four-ward: One and (Not) Done

Four points I’m thinking about the Cleveland Cavaliers…

1.) Well, that sure wasn’t fun.

Cavs fans knew their team had some things to overcome in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Semi-Finals matchup with the Chicago Bulls. Besides missing two starters in Kevin Love (shoulder) and J.R. Smith (poor decisions), the Cavs had accumulated the rust of the eight days that had passed since they last laced up for a game.

The Bulls, meanwhile, were coming off an historic 54-point demolition of the Milwaukee Bucks, finally finishing off that series in six games after leading it 3-0. While many have touted the Bulls as “finally clicking” or “getting healthy at the right time,” that might be a bit of an overstatement. Joakim Noah has battled knee and hamstring issues all year and was clearly limited in Game 1, failing to score on 0-4 shooting, though he was able to tally nine boards and four assists. Nikola Mirotic saw only two minutes of action, after being bothered by quad and knee issues during the Milwaukee series. And Derrick Rose isn’t exactly back if his shooting drops off from 56.1% from the floor when he gets two or more days rest to 42% when he plays with only one day off.

Still, the Bulls were the more fully lubricated machine on this night. The Cavs seemed completely out of sorts following the insertion of Mike Miller and Iman Shumpert into the starting lineup, and the Bulls rode a hot shooting streak that punished the Cavs for every defensive breakdown.

The Cavaliers gave up huge runs in the first, when Mike Dunleavy scored 13 of his 14 points, and then in the third, when Pau Gasol fed on a steady diet of uncontested jumpers from the elbow. In the end, it was those two spurts that proved the difference in the game. The Bulls were able to push their lead when they needed to. The Cavs, meanwhile, were never able to even take one.

2.) Rose scored 25 points on 11-26 shooting (42%) having had three full days off following the Bulls win Thursday night win in Milwaukee. But he shot an uncharacteristic 50% (3-6) from beyond the arc and those type of shots are the ones the Cavs have to hope stop falling when they meet on Wednesday night for Game 2 and Rose will be playing on only one day off.

In fact, “the Bulls can’t possibly play this well again” refrain sounded loudly through the corridors of the Hall of Cavs Fandom. While probability suggests that this reasoning/rationalization may very well be the case, it’s also not dissimilar to the way Cavs fans reacted when the Orlando Magic nailed 45% of their three point attempts in Game 1 of the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals. “They won’t shoot that well all series long,” the rational Cavs fan protested (too much?).

Technically, that was true. They never shot 45% again. But, the Magic were able to manage games that came very close to that — game of 43.5%, 44.7% and 41.4% shooting from deep — on their way to bouncing the Cavs in six games.

This is the playoffs. Cavs fans can’t pray for probability to come in and be the great leveler. They already have a Great Leveler who they pray to — he wears number 23 — and he’ll have to play much better if the Cavs are going to survive this series.

3.) It was good to hear James being accountable for not playing the type of game the Cavs needed him to play in order to win. According to ESPN, this was the first time in 85 home playoff games that a LeBron James-led team failed to hold a lead at any point in the game.

“I have to be better,” James said, following a 19 point, 15 rebound, 9 assist performance that, at times, seemed unfocused and somewhat… well, chill. “I wasn’t that good.”

Early in the game, there were even a couple of times when James never even made it into frame on the offensive end before the Cavs chucked up their latest in a quarter’s worth of never-had-a-chance shots.

I thought it had to be a mistake. Clearly, there was something wrong with the television. James couldn’t possibly be hanging so far back on offense that he wasn’t even on screen, let alone included in the action before some other Cav (not named Kyrie Irving) decided, “Um, how about I try this?” Stupid television, I thought.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t the television. James played a passive game and came up with a missed shot and two big turnovers late in the fourth quarter when what the Cavs needed was for their best player to push them over the top. In what could be the understatement of the year: how James responds in Game 2 will be huge for the Cavs.

4.) Game 1 wasn’t completely without its silver linings, though. Matthew Dellavedova was active defensively and looked like he could give the Cavs some good minutes in this series. Of the new starters, Shumpert’s play, at least on offense, was encouraging. He finished with 22 points on 8-17 from the floor (4-10 from three) and made a handful of plays off the dribble that dove right into the heart of the Bulls defense. While his offensive focus looked like it took a bit of his edge away on the defensive end, it was encouraging to see Shump give the Cavs a third viable option after Irving and James. If he can keep some of this mojo going when Smith returns from suspension, the Cavs will be that much more difficult to guard.