Recap: Cleveland 107, New York 93 (or, Droppin’ Vines, Droppin’ Vines…)

AP Photo/Julie Jacobson

Saturday night at the Garden saw the Cavs go up big on the Knicks in the first half: posting a 56-32 advantage. In Kyrie Irving’s absence due to rest, the team made a concerted effort to get Kevin Love the ball in his “spots” and Kevin was aggressive as he posted a 28 point, 12 rebound night with zero turnovers. But the Carmelo Anthony led Kicks clawed back with a 40 point third quarter, and remained within striking distance for much of the fourth, necessitating King James to return from the bench and put down the Knickerbocker insurrection.

LeBron rarely plays poorly in the Garden, and tonight was no exception. Aside from holding the ball for too long during some ponderous mid-fourth quarter possessions, James was brilliant and engaged on both ends of the court as he continued rounding into “playoff mode” form. LBJ posted a triple double with 27 points, 10, boards, 11 assists, with two blocks and steal and only two turnovers.

Cleveland played stifling defense in the first half, holding the Knicks to just 29% shooting: contesting everything, getting physical, and not giving the Knicks’ space. And apparently, Lue has taken over the defense again, But as James would later say…

“In first half we took 5 steps forward & in the third we took 2 steps back…” More from LBJ now on @FOXSportsOH #Cavs ?

— Allie Clifton (@FSOAllieOop) March 27, 2016

Carmelo Anthony overcame a putrid 2-10 shooting start to record 28 points, and led the Knicks’ uprising in the second half, with an array of vintage ‘Melo threes, which helped NY cut the Cavs lead to just 10 with five minutes remaining. Fortunately, the Cavs’ defense returned from their hiatus and locked down the Knicks to just four points over the final four minutes and fifty seconds.

Kristaps Porzingis looked sharp offensively, but settled for a few too many long jumpers as he went 7-16 from the field and 1-5 from three for 19 points. The Zinger added six boards and three dimes, but Kevin Love did a nice job of contesting shots and taking away his space and cutting angles. As was noted many times in the broadcast, Kristaps moves incredibly fluidly for a man of his size. When he starts to fill out those skinny arms and shoulders, he’s going to be a Latvian terror.

Porzingis had a hard time dealing with Kevin Love‘s footwork and activity around the basket, and several times K-Love got into the body on hooks and up-and-under moves to negate the Zinger’s shotblocking. Kevin also looked to worked to get open on the perimeter, and KP was reluctant to chase Love out to the threee-point line, where Kevin finished 4-9 on the night. Kevin flashed solid board work, too – getting physical for rebounds and pitching outlet passes that ignited the offense. Love even got busy on the offensive board, picking up three, including this tip to close the first half, which left Kev’s hand with 1/10th of a second left on the game clock.

https://vine.co/v/iDWe3a39Ypb

Matthew Dellavedova filled in admirably for Kyrie Irving. He did a nice job of getting the team into their sets, or just getting the ball to Love and LeBron in spots to drive the offense. Delly was pretty cold in the first half, and his ability to finish inside the arc seems to be dissapearing again, but he went 3-6 from downtown including a back-to-back pair of treys in the third which really helped keep the Knicks at bay. His defense was solid, if unspectacular. No Knick guard scored over double digits  and they didn’t press the Cavs’ main defensive issue, the high pick-and-roll. Delly set wicked screens all night, especially for LeBron. Check out this chip screen on Afflalo, which helped LBJ get an and-1. James probably didn’t need it, but I appreciated the edge to Delly’s game.

https://vine.co/v/iDWxFb0Ivuw

J.R. Smith was third scorer safety valve and he played much bigger than his 13 points, as brought the energy throughout. His mere presence helps spread the floor for the Cavs offensively, and on defense, he just competes. He still can’t buy any respect from the officials, though. He breathed on ‘Melo wrong a couple times to send him to the line. Smith did a nice job on catch-and-shoots, and did just enough of creating his own offense to keep the defense honest, including beautiful spin move from the top of the key which led to a no-glass finger roll..

Timofey Mozgov continued to delight and frustrate. The big man finished with five points and six rebounds in 24 minutes, but was 1-4 from the field. One miss was a bunny  right under the left side of the basket, that had Austin Carr screaming, “you have to dunk that!” Timo did get to the line for four shots based on his aggressive finishing. He also picked up zero fouls in those 24 minutes, which, frankly, means he’s not playing physically enough.

Tristan Thompson tied Jim Chones for the Cavs’ consecutive games played record, tonight. TT hasn’t missed a game in his entire five year Cavalier career. That’s damned impressive. TT wasn’t called on to do too much tonight, but he did have good chemistry with Delly on the second unit, which helped net Tristan eight free throw tries. he canned a respectable six of those to finish with six points and seven rebounds on zero shot attempts…. Weird line, but a workmanlike night, and two of those freebies were instrumental in keeping the Knicks at bay when the Cavs were struggling to score in the fourth.

Channing Frye did his best TT impersonation in the first half, as he tipped in two buckets. Frye finished with six points, and four rebounds in just 14 minutes, and challenged shots around the basket. Frye continues to be a very pleasant surprise. He must have really needed to get out of Orlando.

Iman Shumpert was one of the main culprits for letting the Kicks back in the game in the third and fourth quarters. His defense still isn’t up to snuff, and he definitely had a hard time checking Melo. Shump is also frighteningly ineffective as the third point.

Speaking of point guards, Mo Williams returned to the fold, and looked solid: 8-2-2 in 13 minutes on 3-6 shooting. Once again, the Knicks’ guards aren’t a wild offensive threat, and they didn’t really go after Cleveland in the p/r, so it’s tough to tell. It was nice that he didn’t jack up the first look he got, and that he spent a lot of time Nashing around the baseline. He could be a boon when Delly struggles offensively. He also had the luckiest shot of the night in the whole NBA.

https://vine.co/v/iDWueB9XzMw

LeBron James, was too much for anyone on the Knicks to handle, and it looks like the sit-down the other day with Lue and Griff has helped him realize that he is the tone setter for the entire team. He was all business and had thrilling play after thrilling play. Also, he was 2-3 from downtown. He seems to be shooting them almost exclusively from the left wing now. James spread the ball around and guys hit J’s and layups off his passes, to give the king his triple double. James used screens well to get going to the basket, and attacked attacked attacked. I believe he finished with four and-1s oh, and this nasty dunk and stare-down on former teammate Lou “Chaka,” Amundson (who sadly cut his flowing locks). Amundson lamented, “Why you dunk on Chaka?”

https://vine.co/v/iDWjleOVJF5

I titled this dunk, “Chaka, when the walls fell. LeBron on the ocean.” Yep LeBron inspired a Land of the Lost/Star Trek: TNG reference from me, and a tech from the refs. As many many noted, the technical foul fine was totally worth it. Heck, the King could probably pay for ten technicals with one sponsored tweet. He was droppin’ vines and dimes all night. Anyway, LeBron: badass.

Speaking of techs, did you know that Carmelo Anthony has 122 in his career? That’s gotta be six figures worth of fines. God, I hope we never see him in a Cavs uni. Until Tuesday, folks.