Playoff Live Thread: Cavs vs Pacers, Game 2, #HeroBall
2017-04-17
After surviving game 1, the Cavs look to clean up some of the unforced errors that prevented them from cruising to a comfortable victory. Coach Lue mentioned that the initial half-court defense was fairly stout (in the second half, perhaps) but that the 50/50 balls were all going to Indiana. While not a must-win for either team, the Cavs as a franchise have apparently (per NBA.com) never lost a playoff series when they started 2-0 (I couldn’t find an example to disprove it).
The best thing for the Cavs is if Paul George really believes in alpha-dog hero ball. I say it a few times in game one, where he killed the Pacers rhythm by hunting for his own shot. The Cavs proven to be a very good team at cutting off the head of the snake in years past. The problem is if Lance Stephenson, Jeff Teague, and Myles Turner get going. I expect someone like Turner to play very well at home, so the Cavs don’t want to mess around to much tonight despite the 1-0 cushion. The Pacers were a much better home team than road team in the regular season.
We’ll see if Shump gets some minutes tonight and the Cavs draw up a few more plays for Kyle Korver in the half court. Follow along with us here!
Ha…
Sounds like JR will try to be back for Game 3…
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/19181643/cleveland-cavaliers-jr-smith-exits-game-2-hamstring-injury
Just worry about the hammy bothering him defensively, which is where Cavs really need him.
Grizz can’t buy a shot…
Spurs/Rockets should be a good series…
I still don’t trust the rockets not to implode. I think the Spurs would win handily
I expect there will be a CJ Miles game in Indy… but I also think there will be a Kyle Korver game coming soon…
Different sport, but…
Joe Buck must be salivating…
Just get awestruck by those Kawhi turnaround jumpers.
Ty blaming the offense for letting the lead dwindle in the fourth…
He is right.
Seems mostly accurate to me…lotta bad shots…
The Cavs played a bit better tonight but they have to find a way to run better offense in the 4th quarter. Too much hero ball and settling for long jumpers.
LeBron has now won 19 straight first round games…
Watching a Spurs defense immediately after a Cavs game is such a tremendous contrast…
When Myles Turner was off floor Pacers were horrific in post and not getting rebounds…Cavs have to get him in foul trouble and they should drive to basket every time….Thad young isn’t that great defender (just good rebounder)….also liked Cavs trapping of George and forcing others to beat them….I would also watch for the 15-18 footers from Pacer guards (Teague/Ellis/Stephenson)
He had a bad shooting night also…
Any update on JR?
Not yet… just said that he wouldn’t return for this game… They have two days off now. Hopefully, he’ll be okay for Thursday…
Brent Barry should apply for a coaching job with the Pacers. He always expressed an injustice whenever things go against Indiana.
where does anyone think PG would go if series ends this week? would he go another EC team or to WC
Says he wants to play in Indy or LA, so….
The west is crazy difficult but he should consider OKC. On the east, he should go to the bucks.
All depends on the All NBA vote… I would expect the Lakers to make a big push for him with Magic running things…
Lakers have okay young core with Russell and Clarkson and Randle….that wouldn’t be bad move for him
Plus they still have a good shot at keeping their number one pick…
Young talent takes time to develop into championship contenders. PG is 26yo and should consider going to an already established team or one is the cusp of it, like the Bucks or OKC(Houston too).
There he can team up with MVP candidates (soon to be in Giannis) and form a great 1-2 punch combo. Unless Melo and or Westbrook (doubt it), end up in LA, that’s a dumb move.
Lakers will be making moves this summer… and PG has said he wants to play in LA
The Lakers need so much work…
I get wanting to play there but if I’m him I’m looking at teams that need that one piece to get them over the hump. I would love to see him with the Bucks.
I wouldn’t… PG on a Bucks team probably supplants the Cavs in the EC…
Well yeah, that would not be good for I Cavs fans but it would make some sweet basketball.
*Us
Brogdon, Middleton, PG13, Giannis + Monroe, Snell, Parker, Delly, Maker, Henson. That is scary good. PG13 in Boston is pretty scary.
Yeah, that’s scary.
It’s crowded now with DMC. Which I think is really dumb btw, just dumb. But I would of liked to see PG play with Anthony Davis.
The good news is that I can’t imagine PG playing better than he has the first two games… I’m sure Indy will come out strong in Game 3, but if Cavs can build on what they discovered tonight with KLove in the post and Shump on PG, then they should be able to take care of these guys in four or five…
if Pacers don’t win Thursday series is over this weekend…Im prepping this is the game they win….but who knows….Cavs are weird team and could pull a ‘Celtics’ game where they stomp them out
So where is PG going next season?
If he gets voted All NBA, then nowhere… Pacers will offer him the $200M Max and that will be that…
What would the pay/salary difference be if not?
I think it’s around 45 million dollars for the length of the contract…
Paul George deserves to be in the ECF every year. Such a pleasure to watch. #1 pick for me to build a future team around.