Recap: Los Angeles Lakers 109, Cleveland 105 (or, Return of the King, Return of the Cedi)

The Cavs led most of the way through the King’s return to the Q, and then lost in the waning moments when their offense mostly abandoned them. They couldn’t hit key shots, and couldn’t overcome a couple calls that didn’t go their way. Cleveland played inspired basketball from start to finish, and L.A. imported some south beach chill mode for three quarters before out-executing Cleveland down the stretch.

Now when I say “inspired,” I don’t necessarily mean exciting. The Cavs played at a glacial pace, walked the ball up, and refused to run any kind of risky offense, with mixed results. While the Cavs’ mere three turnovers in the game were near record-breaking, they shot just 38% from the field, posting the exact same percentage from three as they did from two. Still, Cleveland led by as much as 11 at one point, and were in it till the end. They just couldn’t sustain the scoring.

John Kuntz, cleveland.com

If there’s any silver lining to this one, it’s that Cedi Osman got back on the horse in a major way with 21/7/2 (points/rebounds/assists). Cedi was positively Korver-esque from three, going 5-7 mostly as the ball-handler out of the pick-and-roll. He punished the Lakers every time they went under and hit some absolutely clutch shots, first tying the game at 102 with 90 seconds left. Osman gave the Cavs a ray of hope rainmaker off a crushing Larry Nance screen to cut the Laker lead to two with just 12 seconds left. Credit Osman for knowing LeBron wasn’t going to close out on both shots.

Osman had a couple blazing drives in transition, and looked to attack at the rim or at the three point line throughout his 42 minutes. Osman’s D was haphazard at times, and it contributed to him being -12 on the night. Cedi more than once closed out on the wrong shoulder and got blown by or got too upright in the one-on-one. And sometimes he just drew the short straw of guarding LeBron in transition. More egregiously, Osman sagged way too far off LBJ at the perimeter when James “had that look in his eye,” and got burned for a pair of triples. Still, it was infectious to see Cedi’s joy at his mentor’s return.

Speaking Kyle Korver. I got to use some Kenny Powers picks as Threezus had a good night. Kyle put his shooting form on display for any interested trade suitors as he went 3-6 from downtown for nine points. Korver has some of the biggest open three point misses in team history though, and it happened again when La Flama Blanca got wide open on an out of bounds play with 17 seconds left. With Cleveland down three, Korver rushed his look for no reason and clanked a shot we’d all expect him to make if not for his history of clutch failures. This heartbreaker made any chance at a comeback extremely unlikely.

It’s impossible to tell the story of Collin Sexton this game without mentioning Javale McGee. Sexton played under control throughout, and chose his spots, but had his worst shooting night of the season, 5-17. Sexton’s mid-range game failed him as we all knew it eventually would, and Sexton was far too hesitant and lacked confidence from outside the arc (0-2). Teams went under the pick and roll and dared him to shoot. He usually passed out of those situations and looked unconfident when he did let it fly. Collin has to stop protecting his shooting percentages and let those shots rip when defenses go under. Shoot with confidence, Youngbull.

Sexton didn’t turn it over, it’s true. At times he did a nice job of Nashing, and keeping his handle under control, but often his “offense” consisted of dribbling the ball down and handing it to someone else to start the action. While I appreciate Collin’s dedication to keeping the ball safe, the game hasn’t slowed down for him, he’s still often too late on making his reads and makes the “safe” play because the “right” play dawns on him too late. In response, the Cavs have just slowed him down.

Sexton still had a couple solid passes, and a breakout layup from Larry Nance was electric. But unfortunately, Javale McGee owned him in the paint. Javale owned everyone, to be honest. Only credited with three blocks, McGee intimidated Sexton and the rest of the wine and gold around the bucket, swatting away looks easily or forcing goofy double clutches or odd angle finishes that had no chance. Sexton didn’t do himself any favors, either, taking off way too early, showing the ball too soon, and refusing to use the glass on numerous layup misses. When he avoided those bugaboos, Collin was solid, but he at times does baffling things with the ball as a finisher. I’ve never seen a guy who can finish with the left hand on the right side but refuses to use the left hand on the left side. What is that?

Sexton had some nice moments, especially late with a crucial play to force a turnover on a loose ball, and a heady lob to Jordan Clarkson out of a jump ball, and the “son” backcourt was not a complete disaster. Going 6-18 on the night for 20/2/5 JC kept the Cavs lead going in the mid fourth when he got hot for eight points in two minutes, but Clarkson was a disaster in crunch time. In the waning minutes, Clarkson was 0-3, drove into traffic, threw up prayers, missed open teammates, argued with officials instead of getting back on defense, and just sucked. This garbage attempt was crucial to the Lakers run as James scored immediately after.

Yeah, that’s Tristan Thompson you see setting the screen for Clarkson there. Despite 15 boards (10 offensive!) rebounds and 14 points, Thompson was -13 for a reason. The Lakers absolutely did not respect him. Thompson was left all alone at the elbow over and over, and had to attempt a couple late in the shot clock jumpers. (Yeah, I’m cringing too as I write this – but he actually made one). Posting Thompson or finish in traffic against Javale or Tyson Chandler. There is absolutely no reason for Thompson to go 7-17 or for the Cavs to go to him in the post against those guys. Why did TT have 10 o-boards? Because Javale didn’t even bother guarding him, and preferred to patrol the paint for blocks on the Cavs’ guards. Cleveland could use a stretch five in the worst way.

Fortunately, Thompson got replaced by Larry Nance, who was a spark plug tonight. Nance ceded his recent starting spot to David Nwaba but came off the bench to drop 7/9/5 and a game high +10 in 18 minutes. He owned Tyson Chandler. Why Nance only played 18, I couldn’t tell you. Perhaps it was his woes finishing. But if you’re playing Nance instead of Thompson because you’re worried about finishing, then you’re probably in the wrong profession. Larry missed an oop from Sexton, flubbed the ball up on layups he should have made, and clanged an “I guess I have to” right wing trey with no one within 10 feet of him. Shoot with confidence big man. Junior was the Cavs’ best passer again with five dimes including this beauty to Sexton and Cleveland’s play of the night, a thunderous slam.

David Nwaba started because someone had to guard LeBron. Nwaba did well at times, and is far and away Cleveland’s best defender. Nwaba used five fouls in 24 minutes to guard the king, but had a couple nice stops late. I’m cutting Nwaba some slack for this, because, this was undoubtedly the biggest game of his pro career, but he had some yips. David’s 1-6 from three were crippling. He was as open as a bar on New Years most of the night. Still, there is no one on this team better at finishing with someone on his hip. I hope Nwaba starts going forward.

Rounding out the Cavs’ nine-man rotation, Rodney Hood was his meh self, contributing a couple herky jerky mid-rangers off the bounce, and gator-arming four boards for 9/4/1 in 34 minutes. Andrew Harrison looked as stiff as ever, and I wish he’d just stop shooting threes (3-10 as a Cav), but he had a Eurostep deuce that was gorgeous. Honestly, He’s listed at six-foot-six, 213, and that looks to be 20 pounds light. Honestly, Cleveland could do worse than giving him some run at the four cause he’s the most straight line point guard I’ve ever watched.

For the Lakers, it was the same thing we watched the previous three seasons: screw around for three quarters, and then let LeBron be unguardable down the stretch. James was a mere 32/14/7 in 35 minutes and despite trailing, Walton was disciplined in getting the King his breaks. When the Lakers run, they’re deadly, as no one can stop James in transition (and the Cavs seemed terrified to try), and Lonzo and Ingram are both vastly better at a faster pace. Jordan Clarkson’s clankers fed too many of their late breaks.

Lonzo Ball was really solid as well, and showed what a good all-around player he can be with 15/7/6 and a game high +16. He passed, shot, drove, and defended well, but the Cavs also played some terrible defense on him, closing out on the wrong side and playing him for the shot instead of the drive and making him prove he can shoot. Ball joined McGee, Ingram, Kuzma, and KCP in double figures. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hilariously got hot from three early then clanked late, but hit two crucial freebies late to seal the deal.

Those two freebies were part of the Cavs’ many clutch failures, as the Cavs’ and their entire coaching staff failed to realize that Kentavious was 30-32 from the line this year and failed to deny him the ball in a forced foul situation. Thompson committed an obvious lane violation that let James make up a missed free throw at 2:19. Cleveland was unable to run a coherent offense late, that also helped the Lakers attack, and failed to get back and match up on defense consistently. Also, Cleveland got in the bonus way too early in the fourth which contributed to a 28-15 free throw disparity. Cleveland also missed Javale and the Lakers bigs on the back end of the p/r and in transition numerous times, as McGee was 6-6 on point blankers. That’s how you lose ball games.

What was really galling were three ridiculous officiating flubs late. A possession call with 5:30 left should’ve given Cleveland the ball instead of L.A. A ticky tack, “oh my god, you’re calling that!?” foul incensed me when LeBron did the lame-a** “swing through” with his arms at the 1:45 mark to get two charity shots, and it wasn’t even clear Nwaba’s hands were still there (and if it’s close, you absolutely cannot make that call in crunch time). Finally at the 0:19 mark L.A. was given possession after they missed, and replay determined that the ball was off TT. The officials never set the shot clock to 14 seconds with the Cavs down two, and instead turned it off, forcing Cleveland to foul. It was maddening, and part of the blame is on Drew and Co. for missing it too.

Still, it was an entertaining night, and the Cavs played much better free from the aroma Hennessey wafting through the Q. Cleveland acquitted itself well, and give James his due without giving him too much. It was a strange vibe early, and it was deathly quiet at times, but ultimately turned into a fun game. I can take that kind of loss over the slow march of being toward death that some of these games have been. Check out the highlights up top for old time’s sake, and HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Have a great time with your families, CtBers!