Recap: (15) Dominance is a state of mind, and a point differential.
2009-04-18
Overview: In the first game of their playoff run, the Cavaliers beat the Pistons handily behind 38/8/7 from LeBron James. While the Pistons hung around until the fourth quarter, their last lead of the game was when the score was 2-0.
Cavs-Related Bullets: It’s no secret that our offense has utterly failed us in playoff exits past, when defenses with the talent and drive have been able to put “walls” up on LeBron James and expose his lack of a perimeter game and supporting cast. THE question of this post-season run is whether or not the Cavaliers can carry over their offensive improvement from the regular season into these playoffs.
Speaking to that goal, I’m not sure how I feel about tonight’s game. The final score says blowout. But if you take out the leading scorers (LeBron and Stuckey), then the Cavs scored 64 points on 56 attempts while the Pistons scored 64 points on 60 attempts. That’s not a great sign; at some point, the supporting cast WILL have to step up, so when they essentially play dead even with the no. 8 seed, it’s troubling.
A lot of this comes down to Mo Williams, who played passively much of the game and finished shooting only 5-14 from the floor and 2-7 from three. A lot of that is the breaks of the game; he missed two wide-open threes just off the top of my head, which would have given him 16 points on 14 shots and everyone’s happy. Besides, as we’ll get to later, this wasn’t Mo’s night to be aggressive and be setting the tone, as he usually does in the first half, and he was making the dagger jumpers late. Although the question now must be asked: what is with the double sleeves? That’s a lot of sleeve.
Delonte went 5-8 from the floor for a 12/5/5 line and defended well the whole game. You go to war with Brother Redbush.
Also continuing to be a rock in the playoffs: Joe Smith, spacing the floor with 13 points on 11 shots (and a three!)
Z wasn’t hitting the midrange shots or getting many post-ups run for him, but he got his 10 boards and made 4 assists from the high-post.
But I’m just getting the bad stuff out of the way early because these playoffs terrify me constantly. Tonight was about LeBron James.
There are two possibilities for how LeBron will keep from hitting his scoring efficiency “wall” in tough playoff series; his supporting cast steps up and makes it impossible to constantly double James and put a wall between him and the paint, or LeBron steps his game up to a level we weren’t aware existed and just trancends all that is rational and powers directly through any mortals who would dare oppose him. Tonight was an argument for the latter scenario.
From the opening whistle to when he sat down, LeBron was absolutely relentless. He was looking to get to the basket at every possible opportunity in the half-court and blowing right by his man. He was looking to get out in transition at every opportunity. He was firing laser-beam passes with either hand when they doubled him. He was forcing contact and getting himself to the line. He was making hard cuts off the ball and finishing at the basket. He was in full on loot, pillage, and destroy mode, and sending a clear message to anyone watching that he fully intends to take the championship by force this season.
Most frigteningly of all for the rest of the league, LeBron flashed a midrange and a post game tonight, going 6-9 from midrange (although a few of those were unorthodox floaters and runners) and posting Aaron Affalo whenever he got the opportunity, getting easy looks from about 8 feet and flashing an absolutely ILLEGAL spin move to beat him at one point, although he couldn’t finish. LeBron went 8-10 in the first half, and I was most excited about one of his two misses. We’re used to LeBron scrapping and MacGuyvering in the playoffs, or feeling out the game and pouncing when he feels the time is right. Tonight, he made the game his, and never gave the Pistons hope.
Bullets of Randomness:
Feldman was all over this in our preview chat yesterday: Tayshaun Prince is not the same player anymore, especially on defense. LeBron was blowing by him absolutely every time with nothing resembling resistance.
Not feeling Rodney Stuckey as a future all-star. He’s not a playmaker, and isn’t a good enough all-around scorer to justify choking off the offense.
LeBron was nice, but I would like to mention that today is Derrick Rose day. Holy Jesus. Not even LeBron was making a playoff impact at that age. Against the best defensive guard in the league. 7-8 from midrange. Got to the line 14 times. Holy living, breathing Jesus. And he might not be one of the top 10 young stars in this league right now. It’s just a great time to be a basketball fan. As for Paul Pierce, I hope this shows that even though he was clutch as it gets on the biggest stage last year and got his ring, he didn’t fundamentally change as a human being. These things even out more often than not. Can we please stop spouting the Calvinistic ideal of “clutch” play, where you’re either born clutch or you’re not? The breaks of the game are the breaks of the game.
Just 15 more of these.
[…] "Recap: (15) Dominance is a state of mind, and a point differential.," by John Krolik From the opening whistle to when he sat down, LeBron was absolutely relentless. He was looking to get to the basket at every possible opportunity in the half-court and blowing right by his man. He was looking to get out in transition at every opportunity. He was firing laser-beam passes with either hand when they doubled him. He was forcing contact and getting himself to the line. He was making hard cuts off the ball and finishing at the basket. He was in full… Read more »
Can’t belive how much i love this blog! I must have commented on nearly all your articles now?
HOW WAS COACHELLA?! Heard McCartney went for 2.5 hours, M.I.A called people onto the stage, and Buraka Som Sistema played. And the weather was supposedly manageable.
Just got back from Coachella so this is a little late. But… VIVA LA CAVS!!!! Rose was in the zone. But how much you wanna bet he comes down to earth next game? He made some “LeBron when he’s feeling like draining 30 footers” shots. Though they were closer in. Especially that sick toss over his shoulder from behind the backboard while getting fouled. Egads that was good. Detroit’s done. Stuckey is not even close to being all-star. At least two years away, and that’s if he works on his game like LeBron and Kobe. And you have to think… Read more »
If you didn’t realize that LeBron James was the difference between the Cavs being a championship contender and the 8 seed, you haven’t been watching closely enough. That’s why he’s the MVP: he’s added 25 wins to an otherwise mediocre basketball team.
I can’t say I fear this year’s playoffs. I remember the last time a Cleveland team went into the post-season as a clear favorite; 1995 Indians. Despite the WS loss I still look back at that season with a lot of enjoyment.
I think the Cavs leave it all out on the floor and if we fall to the Lakers so be it. But I don’t think that is happening. Who knows, maybe Yao will take out the Lakers like China threatens to do to the US in the coming few decades . . . naaaaah
Don’t worry Krolik, you aren’t the only Cavs fan afraid he might not survive these playoffs, especially when the games get close
hey kj, who’s the professional. no criticism allowed. even the constructive kind
before ya go crazy about rose, who admittedly had a very great game, keep in mind LBJ had 31 points AND a triple double in his 1st playoff game. one of 3 in nba history. rose was great but LBJ is right there.
and i like your blog quite a bit but please retire this “terrified” talk. it’s tiresome and unbecoming a mind like yours…
I totally love the Calvin ref. Bring it!
I also wished I’d seen that Bulls game.
EAS
Never thought I’d see a Calvin reference reading a basketball blog. Great coverage, thanks for the breakdown. As John Calvin would see it, if the Cavs were ordained to win, they will win. The Pistons aren’t even as good as the the ’07 or ’08 Wizards.
Come on, Kal, Paul Pierce is a terrific basketball player with some of the best footwork I’ve ever seen. Also, he clearly looks like a catfish.
I totally feel you about the playoff terror. When you’re expected to win, there’s so much more that can go wrong. There’s no overachieving. You can only meet expectations or fail. But it does feel good to be in contention. Sometimes I wonder how other fans manage to hold onto the sense that their team is important.
Nice analysis… And Paul Pierce doesn’t look like he has any business being a professional athlete. This isn’t a knock against his basketball playing ability or anything. He just looks like a guy who spends his evenings sitting on his couch, watching TV and eating sausages.
Oh… And I am certain the supporting cast will step up. Lebron had 82 games of great support. At least one player is going to step up most games from here on out.