Live Thread: Cavs @ Pacers, Game 4
2018-04-22
The Cavs are back in Indiana again tonight. After giving up an 17 point lead in the 2nd Half of game 3, the Cavs are down 2-1 to the Pacers. This game isn’t a must win, but having to play a must win game in Indiana would be a poor position to be in for game five.
One has to hope the Cavs can right their play. They are making just 9.7 3s a night (12-16) at a 30.9% rate, which is second worse in the playoffs. During the regular season, the Cavs made 12 3s per game (3-30) at a 37.2% rate, which was sixth in the league. The shooting will hopefully return to normal. No one on the team is getting buckets outside of the King.
LeBron James has scored 98 points this series, he’s averaging 32.7 per game. The Cavs have scored just 270 points in three games. James has essentially score 37% of all those points. There’s not much more to say. Cleveland simply needs more guys to make shots.
Defensively, the Cavs haven’t allowed the Pacers to score over 100 and are second in defensive rating for the post season. The struggles haven’t gone away and the their trapping scheme hasn’t been the most effective, but the defense isn’t to blame for the losses.
Tyronn Lue has mentioned Tristan Thompson will probably see minutes this game because of “toughness.” George Hill will miss the game because of his back. This means the Cavs will have to figure out some way to slow Victor Oladipo. Jose Calderon is probably not the answer to that. He’s starting anyways though.
Right now, I’m not confident the team can figure the offense out. At least with Jose starting, LeBron will be have some help creating shots, but it may not be enough.
Another pathetic start to the quarter. Need energy….. Nance, Cedi….
AC and Fred sound defeated.
Here we go again. Freaking unbelievable. And Love should be on the bench.
Going as expected so far. Wonder if Cavs will make another bucket this qtr…
Is this Game Three all over again? I didn’t see that one…
kevin love, giant pen fifteen
And Calderon is trash so far.
Another BS call!!!!! WHERE’S THE FOUL?!?!?!?!?!
Kev’s head not in the game. Get him out. He’s forcing dumb stuff.
he almost signal handely triggered Indiana’s come back last game
Frustration foul on Love. Dumb.
Pacers get way way easier shots than us. Turner hasn’t had anyone bear him all night. Our threes are always rushed. You can’t keep people in front of you, you will always leave a a guy with 15 feet of space. Wish our offense could generate looks that are so open the defense doesn’t even contest.
That last k love corner three is a typical example of the type of three we generate half the time. Rushed and contested.
KLOVE just loses the ball…. couldn’t tell if he was fouled.
Kev got fouled. Then takes a frustration foul. Dumb.
MAN UP AND PLAY KEVIN. STOP COMPLAINING
Nice D Korver!
Turner is killing us.
For a reason. Pacers generating looks that give him 15 feet of space by the time he releases. So so so so wide open.
here comes typical 3rd qtr
Calderon sloppy pass…. sucks cuz Korver looked open.
Argh. Jose. Just shoot the ball. Turnovers and bad shots by the cavs so far.
Turner too hot to leave.
Nice drive Calderon! KLOVE with the putback!
man love with the weak defense on turner
Wide open J for KLOVE misses… at least he pump faked.
I would be so disappointed if the Cavs do the same thing they did last game and let the Pacers comeback. They got to keep attacking.
I’m surprised that the Cavs don’t take advantage of all the over playing defense from the Pacers, the Cavs should be able to get some backdoor cuts easily.
Run the pindown with Kyle and Kev.
Roll with the same starting 5 for the third.
Try some stuff for Love at the elbow. Try to get 4 on Turner.
what’s up w/ Green.. he still hasn’t broken out of funk.. at least Clarkson and Nance have to some degree.. at least respectable. Korver and Green – two guys we really need are horrendous…
Liked what I saw from TT in his minutes. At least he is playable.
More a function of the Pacer’s scheme. Nance did a lot more. But yes. TT can keep giving them what he’s giving them.
Disagree he had 2 really lame attempts at finishing at the rim
Right. But he gave them d and rebounding.
Oladipo and Collison flopping…not sure why they aren’t called for that…didn’t league crack down? neither of those two doing much outside of luck shots….Cavs have to keep energy going…Lue needs to extend depth a bit…get Cedi to annoy dipo or Collison…Indys offense goes to crap when those two both are ghosts
No way Cavs come out flat in the third. Right?
Hahahahahahahahahaha…*whew*
They will make zero adjustments… they are that confident…
I would run the same lineup and keep attacking. Shots will fall if they get open.
Calderon’s in…. the ball will move I hope and that should create some energy on offense.
How many shots does Love get in the 2nd half?
Now we know why JR missed the game winner last game…it was too easy. Should have shot it falling away from 70
Nice half. I’m getting sick of the star treatment for Oladipo. He got sooo Many calls that half. Cavs stay loose and keep their heads they should win this. If Korver can get his shot working that would be huge. I’d go to him early in second to see if he can get hot. Run that pindown with he and love.
He wasnt just getting star calls on questionable plays…twice he was not touched
Korver just has to contribute. He plays solid defense but we need them to respect him
He doesn’t look right healthwise…his shot looks more like TT’s…
Ouch
Looks like Lue is going to live or die on Green hill…we’ll see how that works out…
Cavs up 10 with no pts from Love in 9 mins. Maybe he shocks us and gets the 16 first half from game 3 in the second half
solid half….refs have zero control of this game so Cavs have to be careful starting 2nd half..Pacers are going to get more aggressive…surprised Cedi isn’t getting run and hounding Oladipo….also feel Pacers getting some lucky 3s from guys who can’t hit anything but are making those shots…if Cavs keep average play up 2nd half they can escape with win….average or better play will blow this game open…nice to see Clarkson step up….Hood and Korver are next.
Has LeBron finally found his 80% FT stroke?
AC is on it. That little step forward on the FT is working. You can shoot it a bit softer if your weight is going forward.
And LeBron’s tendency is to fade to the left and overshoot.
https://twitter.com/NBA/status/988233425567002624
Need more from Hood, Korver, and Calderon in the 2nd half.
Don’t feel as if LeBron was intentionally trying to get his and carry the load on offense tonight like he did in Game 2… look at the stat sheet and he still has 23 in the first half. Crazy.
Cedi can do everything Green can do (almost) without the stupid.
Honestly I’d rather be up 10 than 17 at the half. There’s less chance the Cavs will come out flat in the second half.
Well, 15 down to 10. I will take it.
KK & Love need to scratch.
Solid half. JR and Green gave away 4 pts of the lead with sloppy play. After the last game maybe ir’s better Cavs are just up 10
Dammit… Calderon gets back-doored while trying to double and recover. Then LBJ snaps at him for not going to the right spot for the final shot.
Halftime…time for Lue to get schooled…
LOL. Clarkson yolo-ed his way into 12 points. Hope he stays hot.
Up ten. Nice half. LeBron should’ve heaved it.
LeBron actually getting calls tonight
Oladipo complaining about calls. That’s rich.
Finally…. a star call for LBJ!
Bron lets Lance steal it. Green overdribbling.
2 TOs. 15 & the ball down to 10.
That turnover was on JR.
Gotta be kidding me with that bank shot.
CMON JR!!! LAZY OUTLET!
CMON GREEN don’t go behind the back in traffic!!!
GREEN, JUST FREAKING ROLL! Argh.
Jeff Green being stupid again
Argh. Value the ball, guys.
Two terrible TOs in a row.
GREAT PASS GREEEN!!!!! LBJ WITH THE FINISH!
LeGronk!
Good job from Bron attacking the hoop. Must be all rested up. :)
https://twitter.com/NBA/status/988232107989356544
No rim protection LBJ goes straight to the rim…. draws the foul.
Let’s close this quarter strong!
Calderon back in.
3 on Turner.
Great stretch, Clarkson.
3 fouls on Turner!!!
Nice roll, Turner. I’m annoyed that Fox reported that he wasn’t rolling. Then he rolled.
Kevin love gets raked across the arms so dang often with no call