Live Thread: Cavs @ Pistons

Take the advice of a Detroiter. Steady as she goes for Cleveland this primetime. One more night of what we saw the last three games, and the Cavs should be able to take a few days off. I’m not even changing up the intro format, a collection of things Cleveland needs to focus on. Here’s your bullet points

• Avoid getting sucked into dirty the play. Adam Silver has apparently ordered a “boys will be boys” edict this playoffs. There have been a conspicuous lack of flagrant fouls called on some really rough play so far, and an unwillingness to fine, let alone suspend players for cheap shots. So far we’ve seen Isaiah Thomas (the Younger) slap a guy without a suspension, Kevin Durant elbow Salah Mejri, Andrew Bogut try the Kelly Olynyk arm bar on Dwight Howard, and Detroit level a bevy of cheapies, including this one.

  Things really reached ridiculous last night when all-NBA nice guy, Kevin Durant picked up a garbage time flagrant two against Justin Anderson. Funny enough, it looked far worse than Drummond’s. Of course, the Flagrant two came in-game for Durant, so he won’t get suspended. This won’t end until someone gets knocked out of the playoffs. Be on your guard, Cavs.

• Keep containing Andre Drummond. Everything for the Pistons begins and ends with him offensively and defensively. He’s either going to shut down under SVG’s withering criticism, or he’s going to bring it. If the Cavs play it right, Andre will try the first and then revert to the second.
• Make Reggie Jackson a jump-shooter. He was 1-8 last game, and despite shooting 35% this season, he’s 31% on his career. Don’t give Reg wide open looks, but don’t run him off the line, either. Controlled closeouts will be key.
• Don’t be afraid to go to the bench. Cleveland has been playing its starters heavy minutes, and guys like Reggie Bullock and Stanley Johnson have YOLO shooting. So, if’s Stan’s smart, he’ll release the young guns and tell them to run. Cleveland will have to avoid the turnovers, and go to the bench if the guys on the floor start start sucking wind.
• Avoid the “Disease of more.” Kyrie, Delly, LeBron, Love, TT, and J.R. are all playing great right now. Don’t eff it up. Keep doin’ what you’re doing, Cavs. We’ve spent a lot of time this year discussing who “fits” on this team and whether a guy like Delly might make the Cavs their most effective when he plays with LeBron. But the way the Cavs are playing right now, who cares? Just keep defendin’, passin’, shootin’, runnin’, and, you know, ballin’. The discussions of who starts doen’t matter when everyone’s playing well. In the words of Crash Davis, respect the streak.  In the words of Jack White, Steady as She Goes.