Live Thread: Knicks @ Cavs, NBA Playoffs Game 2

Good evening CtB!

The Cavs welcome again the New York Knicks to the shores of Lake Erie as they finish up their two home games to open the first round of this playoff series. The Knicks took a battering ram to the Cavs to steal Game 101-97 that saw the Cavs struggle on offense and get totally dominated on the defensive boards. Literally nobody but Tower City and Spida were interested in fighting for boards, and if that continues the Cavs will flame out of these playoffs in devastating fashion. Cavs media has tried to spin this story as a season-long struggle, but as it has been proven here by yours truly, the Cavs were one of the best defensive rebounding teams in the NBA with NBA Champion Kevin Love on the roster. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s mismanagement of Love has come back to haunt the Cavs immediately, and it will take a miraculous effort by someone not named Tower City to reverse the Cavs’ fortunes.

So what adjustments do the Cavs make in Game 2? No question there’s a higher probability that fans will see the likes of Lamar Stevens, Raul Neto, or Danny Green on the court tonight. They all bring experience to the table, Neto and Stevens bring physicality to the table, and Green brings elite spot up shooting. But as Cavs’ fans have seen throughout the season, there’s zero chance Stevens or Neto will be guarded on defense, so the same conundrum of a crowded paint will makes things difficult for Spida and DG. Personally I would’ve rather seen a return of big boy ball with Dean Wade at the three with the starters, but it’s hard to justify that move given how shell shocked Wade was in his first taste of playoff basketball. At the end of the day, the Cavs are in trouble without Kevin Love, there’s no way around it. If the Cavs get swept out of these playoffs, Bickerstaff will have justified the slander directed his way about his “teacher’s pet” rotations that drove Love to request a buyout to get back his playing time elsewhere.

Bottom line: If Caris LeVert, Isaac Okoro, Cedi Osman, and Darius Garland don’t rebound, the Cavs aren’t winning.

Tip off is scheduled for 7:30PM and will be broadcasted nationally on TNT, Go Cavs!