From Distance: Fantasy Lands

four point play….

1. Last week, I challenged Ty Lue to prove his basketball acumen to be something other than that of a common fan. I introduced him to a talented young player who, to that point, had been rotting on the Cavs’ bench.

Much to our delight, Lue finally got my memo and started both Cedi Osman and Kyle Korver. The move has helped to lead the Cavs to three straight victories as the duo’s floor game and intensity set the tone for the rest of the team.

By starting Korver, the Kevin Love/Korver two man dance has left Brad Stevens no opportunity to play Aron Baynes, thus forcing the Celtic coach to give more minutes to the talented but unproven, Semi Ojeleye.

The Cavs were able to dominate the boards with Osman and Korver properly boxing out. The Celtics couldn’t afford to give Baynes minutes for fear of giving up countless open threes to Love and Korver.

LeBron has done an admirable job on Al Horford. Without Jeff Green and Jordan Clarkson to destroy defensive rotations, Bron has been more able to focus on a singular assignment knowing his teammates have his back.

Oh wait, what’s that you say? That’s not how it went down at all?

You are telling me that instead of dictating the rotation of the other team, Ty Lue was left too confused by a Brad Stevens Game 5 rotation tweak that he didn’t play Korver at all in the first quarter? You are joking, right?

Well folks, Coach Lue did it. He proved that he is not a common fan. He somehow lowered the bar. I extend this pleasant message to the rest of the coaching staff as well. You guys are collectively defecating in your places of slumber.

Yes, the Cavs won games three and four convincingly. Guys hit shots and the Celtics played scared. Still, other than playing Larry Nance, Lue has done nothing to instill confidence in the fan base.

People pile on J.R. Smith when he isn’t scoring, but one must remember that an opposing defense can’t just ignore him. Smith can turn into Swish at any moment. While his defense hasn’t been wonderful, he has generally made the right rotations and closed out to the correct side of the shooter depending on the floor geometry. I don’t have a problem with Smith getting minutes.

Jeff Green and Jordan Clarkson however? Those dudes shouldn’t see any playoff minutes. Clarkson played about as well as one could expect in Game 5. He still blew defensive angles and didn’t swing the ball with pace.

Jeff Green got a rebound at one point and I said aloud to myself. “Woah!!!” Green actually set a playoff high with his five rebounds in both games four and five. That’s how bad of a rebounder Green is.

What is Green’s assist total in these last two games in which he has “dominated” the glass? Zero. He has a total of three in the series.

Before you talk to me about how those numbers don’t matter, I’d like to proactively say you are mostly correct. If a guy has a dominating floor game, traditional counting stats aren’t so important.

The problem is that Green has a laughably bad floor game. Clarkson’s is even worse. You just can’t win with two guys playing low IQ ball unless the team is shooting the lights out.

Enough already, Ty. I already gave you the rotation last week. If you want to start Tristan instead of Cedi so you can match him against Horford, I can accept that. But by not playing Korver with Love together as much as possible, you are shortening your coaching career, and our lives.

2. The Western Conference Finals is playing out perfectly for the Cavs. If the Rockets can somehow win one of the next two games against the Warriors and still be without a healthy Chris Paul entering the Finals, the Cavs could be in a position to steal a somewhat unlikely championship.

Just the fact that the Rockets lead the series is already enough to help the Cavaliers win the next two games. I’d be shocked if the young Celtics aren’t already fantasizing about winning the chip against a weakened Rockets team.

That little diversion of attention might be enough for the Cavs to take an easy Game 6 at home. Cleveland needs LeBron James to be fresh for a Game 7 in Boston. If Game 6 is anything other than a blowout Cavs victory, things might get even more dicey than they already are.

3. I’m equal parts impressed by the Rockets’ play and underwhelmed by the Warriors. P.J. Tucker might be the most underrated player in the series. He gives the Rockets and guy who has the strength to push Draymond Green around a little. His similar approach to competition helps Rockets match the Green’s energy.

Houston has also been beautifully consistent in their obliteration of Steph Curry’s defense. D’Antoni has the Rockets following the gameplan to a T. There are very few possessions that don’t put Curry through a gauntlet. (You might want to mute this next video).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w271u15qsRQ

That strategy won the Cavs the 2016 championship. It is one win away from allowing the Rockets to advance.

Smart teams will not let the Warriors and Curry off the hook. Once again, people confuse fatigue for injury. Curry’s knee is fine. His whole body is just getting drilled by guys like P.J. Tucker and Clint Capela. He’s forced to check bull strength drives by James Harden and the too often overlooked, Eric Gordon.

Teams don’t hunt Curry like that in the regular season. Dumb teams, like the 2017 Cavs, forget to follow the hunting plan in the playoffs. For teams that follow the recipe and stick to it, the Warriors aren’t invincible.

4. If the Cavs can finally use a reasonable rotation, they still have a chance to grab the 2018 championship. Instead, we will likely see more Jeff Green and Jordan Clarkson. Or perhaps Lue will toss a hapless Rodney Hood back in there after a garbage time jump shot found twine.

It’s ridiculous that that is legitimately on the table.

I still don’t think LeBron will leave Cleveland, but if he does, and somehow Lue keeps his job, I might need a year off.

Get it together, Coach. I’m tired of your fantasy land. These dudes can’t ball. Can we try mine?