Live Thread: Cavs @ Bulls, Game 6

Every Cavs fan is ready for this game.

If the Cavs win tonight, they will see the conference Finals for the first time since the 2008-2009 season. If they lose, the Wine & Gold will play their first game seven in the playoffs since the 2007-2008 season, a game they lost. Either way, this game is going to lead to some flashbacks of sorts for most Cavalier fans.

This game comes down to guys playing the positions they are assigned to on the floor and the positions their physical gifts dictate. And, I mean playing those positions like they were played before guys other than point guards and shooting guards dribbled the ball up the court.

Kyrie Irving needs to dribble up the court because he is a point guard, and LeBron James needs to work in the post, set screens, and cut to the rim because he’s a small forward with the strength of a power forward or center. That game plan works for the Cavaliers. They won game five because the King returned to his rightful throne down by the hoop.

John Krolik summed it up perfectly in his recap when discussing LeBron’s first-half foray to the block:

I’ll do the math for you: That’s 16 points out of the post (I’m counting his fake-post drive as a post-up), 4 on the break, 2 working off the ball, and just two off the dribble-drive, with exactly none many of his points coming on ISO drives to the basket or deep pull-up jumpers. It’s beautiful. It’s just a beautiful thing to watch LeBron perform at his peak, and it came when the Cavs needed it most.

Just look at these game five LeBron highlights:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=51&v=UJE6P9jgkNw

Now, go back to the 49 second mark where LeBron is backing down Jimmy Butler. LeBron’s first dribble on his backdowns is among the most powerful in the league. Butler is send reeling backwards from the brunt force of it and has to foul. If the Bulls throw a larger player onto the King, well, their chests better be made of steel because LeBron’s shoulder is gonna leave a mark.

Irving also did stuff elite point guards do like dishing out five assists and scoring 25 points while shooting 50% from 3-point land. He also made all three of his basket attempts at the rim. In his previous two games combined, Irving registered just two assists and 23 points. He is still powering through some left knee tendinitis and a right foot strain, but he’s dealing with it quite well:

“This is the most I’ve done just to prepare for one game in my whole entire career,” Irving said, referring to every game in this series. “But I feel pretty good. A lot of icing, a lot of treatment, doing what I need to do. I woke up feeling all right.” [Jason Lloyd]

If the Cavs can play positional ball again tonight for sustained stretches, they will get the win. David Blatt and the rest of the team most likely realizes this fact. They spent Wednesday doing film review instead of practicing. If the team doesn’t realize where the King is most effective, then something is very wrong. I’m predicting the Cavs pull off a close one, 103-97.

Pau Gasol returns tonight for the Bulls, but Bulls writer Sam Smith is reporting Gasol took part in only a light practice on Wednesday and didn’t attempt to jump during that time.