Playoff Live Thread: Cavs vs Pacers, Game 2, #HeroBall
2017-04-17
After surviving game 1, the Cavs look to clean up some of the unforced errors that prevented them from cruising to a comfortable victory. Coach Lue mentioned that the initial half-court defense was fairly stout (in the second half, perhaps) but that the 50/50 balls were all going to Indiana. While not a must-win for either team, the Cavs as a franchise have apparently (per NBA.com) never lost a playoff series when they started 2-0 (I couldn’t find an example to disprove it).
The best thing for the Cavs is if Paul George really believes in alpha-dog hero ball. I say it a few times in game one, where he killed the Pacers rhythm by hunting for his own shot. The Cavs proven to be a very good team at cutting off the head of the snake in years past. The problem is if Lance Stephenson, Jeff Teague, and Myles Turner get going. I expect someone like Turner to play very well at home, so the Cavs don’t want to mess around to much tonight despite the 1-0 cushion. The Pacers were a much better home team than road team in the regular season.
We’ll see if Shump gets some minutes tonight and the Cavs draw up a few more plays for Kyle Korver in the half court. Follow along with us here!
SHUMP! Making me sorry I doubted him…
Shump got a some pep in his step for a guy who got benched
Shump! For three!
HOLY SHUMP! MVP! I’m so sorry
Kyrie with two gorgeous layups to start the half.
Hope Shump just focuses on trying to shut down PG and not dribbling…
Shump in for JR who was limping…
This complete apathy for defense has a lot to do with coaching failing to get the message across.
But at this point, I have no what coaching staff would be able to get that message across to this team.
Wooden, Dean Smith, Russell, Auerbach, Pop, Coach K? Who would it take?
LeBron.
WELL IF SWISH CAN’T GO —WHO WILL PICK UP HIS MINUTES SHUMP OR ENCHILAD OR THREEZUS ——AND YES EVIL NO MORE CTB LENTEN SACRIFICES —-WILL DO CHOCOLATE ( OR EVEN POSSIBLY BEER ) BEFORE THAT EVER HAPPENS AGAIN —-BUT MAN DO I FEEL MY ” ANGELIC WINGS GROWING “
Yeah, you were a brave man to do that…
Cavs can definitely get what they want offensively, turnovers are hurting them, but for most part they can shoot wherever…..the defense is just abysmal and no one really rebounds outside TT and Lebron and Love
AND YES I SEE NOTHING BUT POSITIVE MINUTES IF YOU LET ” BIG EDY ” PLAY A FEW MINUTES —–CHANGE THE DEFENSIVE LOOK ( AND ALSO THE OFFENSE )——-STILL WAITING FOR LUE’S DEFENSIVE SCHEMES HE MENTIONED A FEW WEEKS BACK THAT HE SAVED FOR THE PLAYOFFS—-MIGHT WANT TO START ” PULLING A FEW OUT OF THE HAT “
Chuck says Cavs have zero respect for EC opponents………………….
He appears to be right. And they also appear to have no respect for anyone.
I believe that, hubris can bite you in the butt.
I think that’s a convenient excuse for terrible defense.
JUST GOT IN FROM ” WORKING ON THE HOPS ” AND BEING “PAPA “—–SOUNDS LIKE A REPEAT OF THE ENTIRE SEASON —-MOMENTS OF BRILLIANCE FOLLOWED BY NON-ENERGIZED SLOPPINESS—-STILL NO SHUMP OR ENCHILADA SIGHTING —LUE STICKING TO HIS 8 MAN ROTATION —NOT SURE I AM ” ALL IN ” WITH THAT —–” IN THE LAND…..DEFEND THE LAND “—GO CAVS !!
Well, this isn’t good…
https://twitter.com/RuiterWrongFAN/status/854126430086680576
11 TOs for Cavs…that’ll get you beat.
We have a lot of improving to do. Lue needs to find a way to get some defense on the floor (Tavares, Shump) for a minute here & there.
Tavares yes… Shump, I’m happy to do without
I’d be happy to see Shump if he actually brought ‘some defense’…
how about neither and other guys just step up…if we are banking on an inconsistent guard and D-leaguer we aren’t expecting to make finals
We would be down if Shump got minutes
I’m not feeling great about the flow of this game. Pacers getting whatever they want in the half court without a whole lot of interesting action. Cavs making a lot of dangerous passes to set up their offense.
possible Cavs could hold off Pacers but flow of this series makes this a 6 game series…can’t see Cavs beating Pacers at Indy twice unless they drastically fix defense which won’t happen
On the good side, there are two off days before each of the next two games in Indy, so the senior citizens on the Cavs will be well rested — and might even get in a little practice time.
Hard to get into this series, Cavs showing glimpses of brilliance, then moments of horrible play. Hopefully they figure it out.
They cannot beat the West playing like they are, but the tools are all there.
might have been ‘worst’ 60 point half Ive seen…cavs so sloppy and just horrendous on defense….think anyone of us could score on this team…almost think they just want to outscore everyone…dangerous
James going into TO mode. We finished like crap. Too many TOs.
one more turnover to end the half. absolutely pathetic focus.
He talks about focus. He doesn’t actually focus
Six turnovers by LBJ… not great
Kind of a copy of the first half of game 1. But better Ft shooting from the Cavs.
Obscene amount of sloppy turnovers for Cavs…
Some of them were just us trying to play with pace but most were just butter fingers
Cavs…seriously…totally screwed up the last two minutes
Seems like a repeat of Game 1…
Man, I just don’t get it. How can our defense be so porous?
Jr just take the damn 3!
Yeah. His head isnt right.
JR shoulda just shot that three…
https://twitter.com/cavs/status/854123955346591744
Lol at the sophistication of coach speak on the sidelines
hate how easily they’re getting dunks…but it’s nice to see Kyrie not chucking from 30ft and going to the rack instead
this appears to be going same way as Game 1
Lets close the quarter well. Try for +13 at half.
It was a nice thought…
Cavs going hard at Teague just like the Pacers were going hard at Kyrie earlier…
Cavs defense is hard to watch….only up 9 despite shooting 65% on offense
Just imagine how Pacer fans feel about their defense…
LOL great point
Pacer fans don’t have championship aspirations but I see your point
9 TOs only thing keeping IND in the game.
At least Kyrie is making up for his mistakes with some sick offensive moves…
how many turnovers.
Really glad George isn’t on the Celtics…they might be as good as the Celtic fanboys think they are…
PG13 is a top 10 player. LeBron. Kawhi. Durant. Steph. Russ. Harden. CP3. PG13. Butler. Draymond.
What is Kyrie doing?
Ugh we do not need to see close ups of Larry Bird thank you.
+1
https://twitter.com/RuiterWrongFAN/status/854122151682691072
How is that not a charge?
He was totally out of bounds. On the gather.
No on George… Love was outside restricted area and planted
Wow, that was a charge!
This is a bad defensive unit out here for Cavs. Let’s see what happens
DWill heat check?
Feels like the Cavs should be up a lot more – but they just got in bucket trading mode
soooo many turnovers
Could see that steal coming.
DWill is 3-3 on threes…
https://twitter.com/cavs/status/854120982243442688
Dammit, JR. You gotta foul there. Thad’s shooting 52% from line. Other than that, very nice stretch.
Did that ball actually bounce off the top of Channing’s head?
9-15 from 3 without Korver joining the party
Hes had two go in and out. Both on the move. Lets get him spotted.
Cleveland’s offense is unstoppable.
This is ridiculous
I like it when Cavs push the tempo… they just play better
Lance Stephenson screaming on an uncontested rebound and violently fist pumping after a pull up 12 footer
He was trying to get them going. I respect that.
Lance being Lance
Lance playing well.
Need to get JR out there on Stephenson
Lance keeping the Pacers in it right now…
OMG those passes on that play. High degree of difficulty!
Wow, great play!
Late whistle there.
https://twitter.com/NBAonTNT/status/854119494540709889
I swear these refs wait to see if the ball goes in before they blow the whistle… garbage
That isnt news.
16-2 run now…
Nice D, Frye