Recap: Cavs 107, Nets 87 (Or, The Correct Outcome)
2016-04-01
(Thomas Ondrey/The Plain Dealer)
The Cavs hosted a depleted Nets team, and they played quality basketball for almost four full quarters to win by 20 points. Brooklyn looked hopeless without leading scorer Brook Lopez and up and coming wing Rondae Hollis Jefferson.
Without those two, the Cavs were able to penetrate deep into the paint and pass out for great looks. The Cavs had 29 assists on 38 made baskets. Defensively, they managed to hold the Nets to just 37.2% from the floor. After three quarters, the Cavs led by 26 points and were able to play their bench for the final twelve minutes of action.
LeBron James set the tone for the Cavs on the offensive end getting 24 points using just 11 shots. He also passed his way to 11 assists. Kevin Love wasn’t far behind. He scored 19, hit four of his eight 3-pointers, and grabbed ten rebounds. Shane Larkin helped Brooklyn out with eight assists and 13 points on 4-7 shooting.
The Cavs started the first quarter out colder than a Cleveland winter. They were getting decent looks and passing the ball well, but nobody was cutting to the rim, which contributed to six of Cleveland’s first ten shots being 3s,  and only three of those 10 shots going in.
Timofey Mozgov made the first basket of the night for Cleveland when LeBron drove baseline and found him diving to the rim. He slammed it home with ease.
https://vine.co/v/ijAbWDK91Ew
Mozgov was feeling it the whole quarter. He was moving with precision around the rim to contest anyone that got into the paint, and that’s largely why the Cavs weren’t getting killed. He picked up two quick fouls though and had to sit early.
Aside from LeBron and Kyrie, the Cavs played textbook defense. The King allowed Bojan Bogdanovic to get out in transition on him twice, fouling him once and blocking him the other time. James also let him get a wide open three, which he missed. Kyrie let Larkin cut to the rim without the ball for a layup and just drive past him for one too. Thad Young seemed like he was going off a little bit, but he was taking contested shots that he fought hard to make.
As the quarter went on the Cavs found their rhythm offensively. With 5:28 left, the King ran the floor with the ball, cut into the paint, and hit Love in the right corner for a 3-pointer to put the Cavs up 12-11. After a Cavalier timeout a minute later, Love grabbed an offensive board to earn two freebies.
Once Delly and Channing Frye checked in, the Cavs were off to the races. Delly quickly found James cutting to the rim for an And-1 opportunity and then hit J.R. Smith for a three. Frye worked his own magic hitting back to back 3-pointers to give the Wine & Gold an 11 point lead. Despite two turnovers in the final minute of the quarter, the Cavs entered the second ahead, 29-22.
Frye’s quality play continued in the second quarter. After Delly missed a 3-pointer, Frye got a tip-in for two. Then, things turned Brooklyn’s way a little bit. They scored six quick points, including a Thomas Robinson uninhibited saunter to the rim for a layup. Shump ended the run with a drive for an And-1 bank shot, which he completed.
The Cavs matched baskets with Brooklyn for the first half of the quarter. Cleveland kept forgetting to box out, giving up three offensive boards, and they were sloppy with the ball, which led to three turnovers and four easy Brooklyn points. Kyrie also let Donald Sloan drive baseline on him for a reverse layup And-1. Donald head faked towards mid-court and Kyrie turned his head too, giving Sloan the easy driving lane.
Up eight halfway through the quarter, the Cavs decided that they needed a larger lead and clamped down on defense. They held Brooklyn to just six points the final six minutes, while scoring 22 of their own. Offensively, they just started to get out in transition and really focus on getting Brooklyn’s defense to react before passing the ball. The King started the scoring barrage by cutting off ball, getting the ball from Kyrie, and then hitting Love for a triple from the right corner.
https://vine.co/v/ijAH1D1BXIT
A minute later, Love returned the favor and hit LeBron in the same spot, except LeBron decided to drive by Bojan and show him how men get layups. For the uninitiated, men get layups that are accompanied by a foul shot. Mozgov even helped out during the run. He stopped a Henry Sims post up, swatted Sims on a fast break, caused a Thad Young traveling call, got an offensive board, set a screen for the King, and dove to the rim to earn two free throws. He even hit a turnaround jumper and earned an And-1 after Shump found him ducking in from the baseline. That And-1 play was especially exciting because it was the end result of a Love touchdown outlet pass.
https://vine.co/v/ijAp9BBWAVQ
Love also helped out by spreading the floor and hitting a turnaround jumper. The Cavs finished the quarter with four LBJ free throws to go into the locker room up big, 63-39.
In the third quarter, Brooklyn played the Cavs to a draw. The King started the quarter off blowing a fast break dunk, but he made up for it a little later getting a slam on a fast break that J.R. Smith sparked with a steal. The King made sure he got to rest in the fourth by consistently cutting to the rim and finding buckets within the team’s offense. Four of his five shots were assisted and all of them were at the rim. Other Cavaliers benefited from Brooklyn eyeing LeBron for the drive. As they watched him, he dished out three assists.
https://vine.co/v/ijA0bP20Ugt
Brooklyn didn’t do much offensively. The Cavs actually held them to just 37.5% shooting and kept them scoreless the final two minutes of the quarter. However, Bojan Bogdanovic went off for seven straight points around the five minute mark to help match the Cavs’ scoring. He hit a 3-pointer, got fouled for two free throws, and made a layup. If there’s someone you want going off against your team, it’s gotta be the player who looks like a middle aged dad. The Cavs entered the final frame up, 89-63.
The fourth quarter the Cavs’ used their bench. Mo Williams, Richard Jefferson, and James Jones saw floor time. Both teams’ defenses relaxed a little bit, but the Cavs played their same offense for the most part. They moved the ball and hunted for 3-pointers. They just didn’t penetrate as much as they did earlier in the game. Brooklyn took advantage of the old timers the Cavs had in. Donald Sloan drove to the rack four times and Brooklyn ended the quarter hitting 47.6% of their shots.
Gripes
1. Kyrie is stinking up the court lately. He had ten points and was 4-14. He had just three assists. Defensively, it was more of the same. Shane Larkin and Donald Sloan treated him and his fourth quarter replacements (Mo Williams and Co.) like turnstiles, combining for 24 point and 13 assists on close to 50% shooting.
Irving put up no resistance whatsoever. He gave up at least seven points because he allowed them to just waltz straight to the basket. What was scary about today is that Irving wasn’t even getting hung up on screens. He just couldn’t keep up.
2. Delly is having trouble hitting his shots right now. He was 0-6. That doesn’t matter too much though when you dish out five assists and have zero turnovers.
3. Speaking of turnovers, the Cavs had 17 of them and Brooklyn got 24 fast break points.
4.Through three quarters, the Cavs were 8-28 from 3-point land. That’s just 28%. At times, especially early on, they settled too much for the long-ball. They need to remember to keep going to the rack if they aren’t scoring. Tonight, it didn’t harm them, but it will at some point in the playoffs.
Hypes
1.Timo’s back. He had ten points on 4-6 shooting along with seven boards and two blocks in just 17 minutes. Mozgov actually protected the rim like it was his child tonight. I was amazed. He kept establishing the correct position to make Brooklyn guys fear going to the rack. I’m not sure if this performance was because Lue switched the Cavs’ defensive scheme or because Mozgov is rounding back into form.
2.LeBron was amazing, once again. He forgot to play defense on Bojan at times during the game, but I’ll give him a pass. He had 11 assists and he took zero three pointers. His shot chart looked fake. Look at this thing. He is in robot mode again. All his shots are coming at the rim.
3. Channing Frye is on fire again. He was 3-6 from deep, and he even had a tip in bucket.
https://vine.co/v/ijAneLwzEjI
4. The Cavs played awesome defense for the most part. They managed to hold Brooklyn to 37%, despite Larkin and Sloan abusing Irving. Brooklyn hit just four 3s the whole night and attempted just 21.
5. LeBron passed Dominique Wilkins for 12th on the all time scoring list.
6.The Cavs travel to Atlanta tomorrow to face the Hawks.
Awesome. Missed the game to see Springsteen (also awesome). I like that Frye is getting a lot of minutes and that Mozgov actually looked like last year’s version. Good to see.
Sounds like Delly is back on the doughnuts.
If Delly is on the doughnuts, KI must be slurping straight beef gravy.
So 11 of Larkin and Sloan’s 24 points came in the fourth quarter. When Kyrie didn’t play. Not saying Kyrie’s defense was good, but claiming those two scored 24 points on Kyrie is misleading.
Quite right. I edited to clarify.
When Love plays stress free, he’s amazing. I think it’s all mental for him. In a game like this, with no pressure (the outcome was decided before the game started), against a bad team missing its best player, Love hit open shots and looked great offensively. He just needs to play confidently and our team will elevate its play big time.
Could be. But his by quarter splits indicate he may get tired. And his stats improve greatly the more rest he gets between games.
I think you are right. I also think that it applies to Kyrie in reverse. I think Kyrie is so great in the Fourth quarter because the other team is starting to get tired on D, and he can use his incredible ISO skills to destroy them. When they aren’t tired in the first three quarters, they can keep up with him better.
The quarter splits may also reflect that the team usually looks for him more in the first quarter than the rest of the game. Or at least it sure seems like they do.
Bodes well for the playoffs
Well, we will just have to hope that there are no stressful games in the playoffs. /s
Tomorrow is the last back2back of the season finally. After that I expect diminishing minutes for LBJ, KI, KLove, TT, Delly, and JR.
Kyrie has had a helluva week, so I can’t look into this game too much.. plus we’re forgetting his 31 and 8 against Houston? Relax, he will be fine come playoff time. One person who I think needs a rest is Delly, he looks gassed right now and we know he goes all out, all the time. maybe find a game or 2 to get his wind back… TT’s minutes seem to have gone down lately, is this our way of “resting” him before the playoffs while still continuing his games played streak? All in all, Cavs needed this type… Read more »
I think you answered your own question re: TT. Lue has said he wants to get rest for everyone, so I imagine he’s been going lighter on TT. Someone else mentioned recently (last night’s game thread, maybe?) that TT seems winded in games. It might do the team some good to sit him for a game or two, despite his personal games played streak.
Totally agree on Delly. The mechanics of his shot are goofy enough that fatigue probably really throws him off. Wanna see McRae get a lot of run going forward. Also baffled why Kyrie played at all last night. Rest him against the crappy team so he can be effective against the Hawks.
Kyrie was complete crap. Not much time left now for him to get his head straight and get into rhythm with the offense. Without Lebron, this team would have the same record as the Nets. I know every year people discuss what the MVP award really signifies. Is it the player who is having the best statistical season? Is it the best player on the best team? Is it the player who’s value is greatest to his team? Or something else. I don’t think there is any doubt that there is any player more valuable to his team than Lebron.… Read more »
I agree with all of this.
I like watching Love & LeBron play (esp with Delly as a real PG). Irving just messes up the mojo
Kyrie was crap but he was battling an illness. I’m not worried about tonight’s game at all. And to answer your question, the MVP award usually goes to the best player on the best team. If two players are having equivalent seasons, it’ll go to the player on the better team. This year, I don’t think there’s any argument that it should go to anyone other than Curry. You say he’s not the most important player on his own team, but that’s just the recent media “Draymond is the heart and true leader of GS.” Without Curry, that team is… Read more »
Totally Agree it goes to Curry, with Kawhi in 2nd place, Draymond 3rd, and LeBron 4th. It’s interesting to argue Draymond and Steph, but it’s so clear they amplify each other and those around them. Still hope they miss the record though.
Nope. LBJ is 2nd. Zach Lowe made this point on his podcast the other day.
Oh, then it must be true, if Zack Lowe said it.
At this point, I can’t see them not getting the record. They needed to lose at least one of those tight games they pulled out in the last couple of weeks. They’re going to go hell bent for leather now, with the goal within reach.
I agree with MikeO. The Warriors are like Secretariat coming down the stretch at the Belmont. Unless Pop decides to play them straight up twice without resting anyone, they’ll win as many games as they want to. They’ll hit 74 or 75 wins unless Kerr gives everybody the last game or two off.
Good job on the recap. Lloyd had some interesting insight on Delly that we didn’t pay attention to. He is getting scouted more to disrupt his passes as it does affect his shooting. This explains alot… I wasn’t aware how much his fg% drops in regards to dribbles. They do.. Take a read “they changed their defense in the second half and wanted Delly to beat them off the bounce rather than facilitating. Dellavedova is at his best when he’s throwing lobs and making catch-and-shoot 3s, which is why he is so effective in this system. 10. Dellavedova trying to… Read more »
Idk if it’s me but Delly seems tired at times.
That’s the other side of the coin of ALWAYS going 100%. Especially because the season is so long.
those are nice stats by Lloyd.
Delly’s big offseason task will be to become a better shooter off the dribble. Hope Cleveland locks him up early so he can play with the Australian team and improve like last summer.
Nice recap, DW! Missed the game as I continue my Spring Break sojourn through the American Southwest (today was Carlsbad Caverns and Roswell, NM). Good to see the Cavs get some measure of revenge on the Nets (even without contributions from BroLo and RHJefferson who were thorns in the side in Brooklyn last week). I kinda wish players would just take games off if they’re sick, especially this time of year (cough, cough… Kyrie and J.R.) rather than try and gut it out. Judging by the recap, neither one had a particularly stellar game… Here’s hoping the boys can handle… Read more »
Cool trip. I’ve not been to Roswell, but a friend of mine went years ago, he was really looking forward to it, but he said “it was just…*dirty*”, with a disgusted look on his face when he got back.
I use to live in Arizona. Beautiful place. I will warn you that you maybe disappointed in Petrified Forest. Just my opinion but it’s not anything special. Some dirt, rocks, vastness and that’s about it. The rest of your stops will be very nice. If you can, make sure you see Sedona!!
Kyrie was sick this game… felt he did look a little sluggish.
Yeah. I posted recently about player rest being a priority for Lue right now but suspect this game they really needed a win. Lost to the Nets recently, Raptors breathing down their necks, hey Kyrie guess what, you’re playing.