Recap: Cavs 115, Bulls 112 (or, It Don’t Matter… It Don’t Matter!)

LeBron was feelin' himself. (🔊⬆️)

"IT DON'T MATTER!" pic.twitter.com/3LThYdA4Q4

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 22, 2017

Hot opponent on a seven game win streak? It don’t matter. Starting shooting guard a late scratch? It don’t matter. Head coach too sick to be on the sidelines? It don’t matter. Twenty-six lead changes? Giving up a 10 point lead in the fourth quarter? One point lead with 14 seconds left? It don’t matter… it don’t matter… IT DON’T MATTER!

Lucky for us… LeBron James was mic-ed up tonight during Cleveland’s victory over the Chicago… otherwise, how would we have known the moment it was all over for the Bulls… or to what lengths the King would go to find some candy for his little princess Zhuri…

A leader on and off the court.

LeBron looks out for his daughter! #ThisIsWhyWePlay pic.twitter.com/P0ZjGSU2l4

— NBA (@NBA) December 22, 2017

And, though the game didn’t seem as easy as finding candy for a baby… LeBron made sure that nothing the stampeding Bulls did ultimately mattered with a game high 34 points, nine assists, six boards and three steals. He punctuated his performance with 11 of those points in the fourth quarter, including the above referenced fadeaway jumper with Kris Dunn guarding him like a second shirt.

Still, you had to wonder going into this one if it was a game that mattered much to the Cavs. Sure, the Bulls were on a roll, having won their last seven in a row and looking nothing like a previously 3-20 team while doing it, while the Cavs were possibly already looking ahead to their Christmas Day rematch with the Golden State Warriors. It could have easily been a game where the wine & gold had already checked out for the holidays and mailed in a clunker to the young Bulls. To add to the potential for what Nate likes to call a “sandwich game” was the late scratch of JR Smith due to knee soreness, and Ty Lue being unable to coach due to illness. But, that’s not what happened…

Assistant coach Larry Drew took over for Ty who was down with the Lue Flu, and decided to insert Channing Frye into the starting lineup for the ailing JR. That meant a super-sized starting five with no true shooting guard on the floor (LeBron or Jae Crowder would be the closest thing I guess). It worked for a little while… at least until Robin Lopez and Lauri Markkanen started to get going. However, you can’t blame Drew for playing the percentages. See, the most interesting stat of the night (which I heard post-game) is that the Cavs are 16-1 when Channing plays 11+ minutes… and just 8-8 when he doesn’t.

The first three quarters were essentially a see-saw battle of two hot-shooting teams (both were up over 50% for the game) who seemed to think that defense… well, it don’t matter. The aforementioned 26 lead changes were the second most in an NBA game this season apparently, and neither team could get much separation. The Cavs briefly had an eight point lead in the second quarter, and the Bulls led by as much as five in the third, but both teams always seemed to shoot their way back to even. Markkanen (25 points) and Denzel Valentine (18 points) paced a balanced Bulls attack, which was countered by the firepower of LeBron and Kevin Love (27 points on 9-15 shooting). The benches also mostly canceled each other out (40-37 in favor of the Cavs), with Nikola Mirotic and Kyle Korver sporting matching 15 point efforts… although the three point disparity was ironically the final margin.

The game really came down to the fourth quarter… although, technically both teams deadlocked at 33 points a piece for the period. So, actually, you have to go back to the end of the third and Jeff Green’s heroics. With the Cavs trailing 80-79, Uncle Jeff grabbed a rebound, drove down the court and got fouled by Mirotic. He sank both free throws, then helped force a shot clock turnover by the Bulls with :04 left in the quarter. That was all the Green Machine needed to catch the inbounds pass and calmly drain a 21 footer to beat the buzzer to put the Cavs up 82-79 (providing the ultimate final margin).

STEP BACK, BABY!@unclejeffgreen's buzzer-beater gives the @cavs an 82-79 lead heading into the 4th.

STREAM: https://t.co/NalDLgXiWu pic.twitter.com/qIXd3FcdA9

— Bally Sports Cincinnati (@BallySportsCIN) December 22, 2017

That four point run by Green spurred a 7-0 start to the final quarter by the Cavs, and it looked like they’d be able to dispatch the Bulls fairly quickly and get onto their holiday season… especially with Dwayne Wade playing some vintage defense (three steals, two blocks) and Kyle Korver channeling his inner Kenny Powers. However, Mirotic and Markkanen led the charge as the Bulls closed the gap and even took the lead back. That’s when Coach Drew did what Coach Lue didn’t the previous game, and re-inserted Kevin Love who scored seven points in the fourth, including five in a row to give the Cavs a seven point lead. The Bulls kept firing away though, with Markkanen draining a banana in the tailpipe four point play to keep it close. LeBron’s insane turnaround should have shown the Bulls that it didn’t don’t matter, but a Mirotic three and a defensive breakdown by Tristan Thompson to allow a wide open Valentine layup, pulled Chicago within one at 113-112. It truly didn’t matter though after LBJ cooly sank two clutch free throws, and Wade led one final defensive stop.

The Evil

The Cavs toyed around with the Bulls for most of this game, rarely exerting much energy on defense. The exception was a burst at the end of the third and early fourth quarters when DWade, Jeff Green and Kyle Korver brought some hustle and flow (there was also a solid Cedi Osman steal in the second quarter). Overall, the Cavs allowed the Bulls to shoot 55% from the field and 39% from deep. They also didn’t exactly make Chicago “feel” them with only eight free throws, and they didn’t have much of an answer for the M&M (Markkanen and Mirotic) boys for much of the night.

Wade got a little three happy following his 4-6 foray against the Bucks in the previous game. He was 0-3 and just 5-12 for the game from the field… although, to be fair, with JR out he was often the only other shooter on the floor besides Korver.

JR Smith was a very late scratch with a sore knee. Hopefully, it’s nothing serious. Ty Lue sounded like he was feeling better after the game, so it doesn’t sound like the coach will miss any further time.

The Bulls had their seven game win streak halted, which on one hand is a good thing since the Cavs get the win, but on the other hand… it’s a small step back for the value of the Nets pick.

Oh, and I’m just going to leave this here for any NBA officials who might be reading…

The Genius

Another efficient night from LeBron. He shot 12-23, was 2-5 from downtown and a perfect 8-8 from the line. If you think the MVP don’t matter to him… think again. Oh yeah, he also played in his 800th game for the franchise tonight.

Kevin Love was equally awesome, scoring his 27 points in just 29 minutes on just 15 shots. The big man also grabbed seven boards and gave the team a big lift in the fourth quarter (see what he can do when he plays late?).

The bench was terrific again, topping 40 points for the 22nd game this year already. Korver bounced back from his rough outing against the Bucks to shoot 5-7 (4-6 from deep) for 15 points. Jeff Green also was key with 10 points, four boards and some solid defense. And, Wade despite a sub-par shooting night, had his hands everywhere in the late third/early fourth, tipping and stripping the ball away from the Bulls. He also pulled this awesome move early in the game against Robin Lopez…

Dwayne Wade faked Robin Lopez and both laugh after about it. pic.twitter.com/GF2qxDbHHk

— Daniel Greenberg (@ChiSportUpdates) December 22, 2017

Jose Calderon had another good game with eight points and five assists with no turnovers. He hit two threes and also threw a sick alley oop to LeBron.

Kudos to Assistant Coach Drew for not only stepping in for an ailing Coach Lue, but also for starting Frye and playing Kev in the fourth quarter.

Parting Shot

It don’t matter (but it kind of does).

Though he’s not supposed to be available for the Christmas Day tilt against the Warriors, Isaiah Thomas had an eventful day. First, he went through a 5-on-5 practice with a little help from the Canton Charge, who were brought up to the practice courts in Independence. Then, the Cavs “recalled” him to the team in time for him to suit up for the first time this year and go through pre-game warmups. So, what time is it? Almost time for IT…

Great to see @isaiahthomas take the floor with his @cavs teammates! #ThatSLOWgrind pic.twitter.com/UOPXBaP20f

— NBA (@NBA) December 22, 2017

https://twitter.com/isaiahthomas/status/943930875024166912

Sure you can IT… but it don’t matter… as long as you’re ready to go come April.

Merry Christmas… and GO CAVS!