Analytics and odds are still on the Cavs’ side despite injuries, suspensions
May 4, 2015Disappointing Cavs, troublesome social media, and so much good music, While We’re Waiting
May 5, 2015Chicago Bulls – 99
Cleveland Cavaliers – 92
Bulls lead series 1-0
I’m lying alone with my head on the phone
Thinking of you till it hurts
I know you hurt too, but what else can we do?
Tormented and torn apart
I wish I could carry your smile in my heart
For times when my life seems so low
It would make me believe what tomorrow could bring
When today doesn’t really know, doesn’t really know
I’m all out of Love, I’m so lost without you
I know you were right, believing for so long
I’m all out of Love, what am I without you?
I can’t be too late to say that I was so wrong
Not only are those words profoundly deep lyrics from Air Supply’s 80s power rock ballad “All Out of Love,” but a timely metaphor for how the Cleveland Cavaliers and their fans are feeling about their basketball team without one Kevin Wesley Love. The Cavaliers never led in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the rival Chicago Bulls, ultimately falling 99-92 in Cleveland.
After sweeping the Boston Celtics and losing Kevin Love for the remainder of the season and JR Smith for the first two games of the series, what should Cavs fans have expected? How freaked out should we be? Should we sprint down to the nearest supermarket and push old ladies out of the way in our haste to grab cartons of bottled water, flashlights, and other post-apocalyptic accessories. Should we start screaming and running in circles, fanning imaginary flames as we pray for Oprah Winfrey to save us? Let’s put the game under the knife and have a look behind the box score to find out.
23.0 – It’s only logical that the Cavs would struggle early in Monday’s game. With the loss of Love and Smith, the team was attempting to replace two-fifths of its starting lineup and 23.0 percent of its total scoring. They hadn’t started the engine in eight days, and were shaking the rust off the offense as they tried to rebuild it on the fly — there were bound to be some struggles. Preferably, it wouldn’t have been this bad though. The Cavaliers made only a quarter of their shots in the opening frame, a blueprint for disaster. They scored only 15 points (their lowest scoring first quarter of the season), while the Bulls opened at 52.4 percent from the field to amass 27 points. Without the luxury of a warmup quarter, the Cavs ended up digging themselves a hole from which they couldn’t climb.
30 – Kyrie Irving scored 30 points in Monday night’s series opener, saving the Cavaliers during a crucial stretch in the second quarter when they were on the verge of irreparable harm. Irving scored 10 points during an 86-second stretch in the second quarter that allowed the Cavaliers to cut the Bulls lead from 14 points to six. Even though it won’t be remembered as the salvation it could have been due to the end result, the Cavs easily could have collapsed without Irving’s scoring burst. He was mostly spectacular on Monday, scoring in inconceivable ways in traffic with either hand — proving once again that he’s probably the best impossible-layup-maker in basketball. The only problems? Irving was uncharacteristically mortal from three-point range (1-of-5) and made only two of his seven fourth quarter field goal attempts, when a dynamite quarter from either him or James could have snatched a victory away from the determined Bulls.
22 – Although it’s boring to highlight another player’s boring point total in addition to Irving’s, Iman Shumpert’s 22 points were desperately needed. Shumpert’s 22 points were good for his best marks in a playoff game or in a Cavalier uniform. He shot 4-of-10 on three-pointers, but also attacked aggressively off the dribble. The Cavs need another guy who can create his own shot, and that Shumpert was able to produce both on his own and in catch-and-shoot situations bodes well for the offense once JR Smith returns. Although he didn’t stuff the stat sheet in other categories, he was indispensable for the Cavs at the defensive end, even successfully matching up against the much bigger Joakim Noah at times and defending everyone on the Chicago offense at some point. On Monday night, Shumpert showed off every gadget in his utility belt, and it was a shame that it had to come in a loss. But he looked every bit the type of guy that can be counted on in close games.
1-of-4 – The squad tasked with replacing the bulk of Love’s production is composed of Mike Miller, James Jones, and Shawn Marion. Coach David Blatt experimented with Mike Miller in the starting lineup on Monday, and it appeared to blow up in his face. Miller, Jones, and Marion combined to shoot 1-of-4 from the field in 30 minutes between them. Their combined effort resulted in three points and seven rebounds, and three points and seven rebounds a Kevin Love does not make. Is it fair to count on past-their-prime veterans to fill roles that — in a world less harsh to the City of Cleveland — they never would have been asked to fill? No. Is it fair to ask them to come off the bench and thrive in small sample sizes? No. But that’s what they need to do. They need to find ways to impact the game in appreciable ways, and Mike Miller’s lone three-pointer doesn’t amount to that. Shawn Marion was one personal foul away from a coveted six trillion. Their lack of reliability was evident when Coach Blatt declined to give Miller, Jones, or Marion a single second of playing time in the fourth quarter. It will be interesting to see what approach Coach Blatt takes with this impotent triumvirate moving forward: whether he’ll continue to start one of them and rotate them as placeholders for guys he’s more comfortable playing in the fourth, or do his best to circumvent playing them altogether.
55.2 – Derrick Rose and Pau Gasol shot 55.2 percent on their jump shots outside the paint in Game 1. Alhough Gasol is a great jump shooter outside the paint (44.0 percent this season on two-point field goal attempts), he’s not going to hit 61.5 percent of them throughout the series. Rose, on the other hand, is a terrible jump shooter. Rose made 35.3 percent of his midrange two-point field goal attempts this season, and 28.1 percent of his above-the-break threes. It’s not sustainable for Gasol and Rose to shoot like that for four-to-seven games. The entire Bulls team made 61.0 percent of their uncontested field goals, which compares favorably with the Cavs’ unusually low 33.3 percent. The Cavs need to contest more field goals, as they did after the first quarter, but the Bulls will not continue to shoot at the clip (unless we have another 2008-09 Orlando Magic situation on our hands). But how Coach Blatt decides to defend the Gasol/Rose high pick-and-roll that destroyed the Cavs in Game 1 may be the difference in this series; and if Rose and Gasol continue to hit jumpers like that, the Cavs may be doomed whatever route he chooses. I vote for having Rose’s defender go under the screen like the Cavs did to start the game, daring Rose to hit 18-footers consistently — something he hasn’t done since his MVP season.
19, 15, & 9 – LeBron James added 19 points, 15 rebounds, and nine assists in Game 1 while moving into seventh all-time in career playoff assists like it was just another Monday at the office. It’s a shame that we’ve become so accustomed to such games from James that we can just shrug them away. It’s also astounding that he attempted only two free throws despite shooting 13 field goals in the paint, but I’ll save my complaints for his absurd burden of proof to have a foul called. I don’t expect James to be this ineffective in the fourth quarter (only four points) again in the series.
The Cavaliers have a messy one on their hands. They have an unfair and unique challenge to try and reinvent how they play without Love in the lineup. Coach Blatt has a difficult task to figure out how to make this roster work and maximize James and Irving’s abilities, and the unconventional moves he makes or doesn’t make could swing this series. The Cavs have a must-win in the Q on Wednesday night.
I’m all out of Love, I’m so lost without you
I know you were right, believing for so long
Edit: The post was updated to correctly identify which season’s Orlando Magic team destroyed the Cavs potential dynasty.
37 Comments
…and other post-apocalyptic accessories.
We haven’t won a championship yet, why would the Apocalypse be here?
Felt better after reading this.
The Cavs outscored the Bulls from the free throw line 17 – 9. I think that was the only statistical category that the Cavs won. You take away 2 starters from any playoff team and they will struggle. The Bulls aren’t that great of a team, but they are big, have excellent depth, and play great defense. If the Cavs can steal the next game, they’ll have a chance when J.R. comes back.
From my view in the last row last night
1. Pathetic production from the Miller/Jones/Marion troika. Marion did D up a little. Miller was a pathetic liability on defense.
2. Kyrie and Shumpert played charmin soft on defense for most the game. They did not even fight through screens at all. This resulted in Mozzy and Tristan giving too much help which allowed the Pau pick and pop jumpers from the top. I don’t know the defensive strategy but they need to handle some of this without help, especially when Pau is out there.
3. Tristan outhustled by CHI PFs. No impact, and perhaps he was giving too much help on high picks.
4. Cavs had a hard time identifying where the Bulls help was coming from. CHI was clearly trying to avoid baseline drives from the wings. Cavs didn’t know who the help guy was so didnt make the right kick.
5. Shumpert seemed to be very inefficient first 3 quarters.
6. Kyrie passed up a lot of clean looks early in the clock, maybe needs to let a few fly.
7. Very good crowd, probably best since vs. DET in 05 or 06.
Probably would have been a different game if Dunleavy was suspended as he should have been. His 1st quarter killed them.
I feel surprisingly optimistic (reflective Cleveland sports fan view). With a split, then getting Smith back, they are winning the series. Would have preferred they pull this one out so I could breath easy in game two. Guess this is just how things go…
As I was watching mid way thru the 4th I told my wife if LeBron can just let Kyrie score and he focuses on defense and shutting down thier scorers we can win this. Didnt happen and maybe it would have made no difference but from what I saw the Cavs defense lost this game
My immediate game 2 adjustment is the starting lineup of Kyrie, Shumpert, Jones, LeBron and Tristan. Moz comes in when Pau sits.
Blatt needs to force the Bulls to adjust to him and play his strengths up front.
Also, I don’t expect Rose to play as well on Wednesday with only a day rest and I don’t expect LeBron to play as bad.
Also also, hey corporate crowd… how you were in the last 6 or 7 minutes of that game…you need to be that way the entire game. It’s the playoffs.
Take OFF the button down shirt you wore to your office and then put on your game shirt. You look like a fool putting the t-shirt over the button down.
I didn’t actually see the play in question so I can’t judge, but when I saw the headline “Dunleavy avoids suspension,” I couldn’t help but mutter “figures…”
Like Swig, I’m fine with this. Feel like we took the Bulls’ best shot and still had a chance to beat them if LeBron doesn’t miss the bunny in the 4th quarter. Speaking of whom, I understand he was outstanding defensively and guarding 4 different positions, but on offense he looked as earthbound as he did before his December mini-vacation. Like he was using the first game to analyze the Bulls rather than attack, and then couldn’t activate his turbo mode at the end. I’ll bet Wednesday’s lunch that from the opening tap of next game he’s heading straight to the lane with evil intent.
Here’s why I’m fine:
– They’ll adjust to the Bulls offense and just putting a defender within arms length of Pau will bring him sufficiently to earth. He’s scared of Mozgov inside.
– Noah is a shell of himself. It was Butler beating the Cavs to loose balls – totally unacceptable, by the way.
– Shumpert is playing with playoff gravitas, and you never know until you see him do it. No stage fright at all.
– They had the game within reach without good 3-point shooring.
No team gets the ring without some adversity, and going down 0-1 at home will probably not be the worst that happens. The series feels like it’s going 7. J.R. Smith’s jack-in-the-box idiocy cost them home court, but if he comes back aggressive while somehow keeping his alter ego “Idiot J.R.” stuffed in the box under pressure, they’ll get home court back and they’ll be fine.
I’m emotionally torn today. All last week, I was crushed by our personnel losses. Then I read how a lot of “experts” still thought we would win the series, and that (unfortunately) raised my optimism levels. Prior to tipoff I was so nervous I felt like I had indigestion. Then the game starts and I feel like my heart got ripped out during the first quarter. Decided the second quarter would be a good time to go bathe my daughter and put her to bed. Right as we’re finishing up, I see the game is tied! But by the time I got downstairs back in front of the TV we were down 10…and then 15. So then I go for one of those “they’re playing better when I’m not watching,” so I started watching something else while following on my phone. I didn’t see Butler’s last bank shot, but reading “bank shot” on my phone made me assume it was a tough shot that of course fell.
Now here we are today and I don’t know how to feel going forward. Lebron absolutely did not take over like I hoped he would. Sure, a near trip dub is nice. But I wanted him to be the one dropping 30+. I wanted him to come out fired up like he did against Boston when he was going after every loose ball and the whole team followed suit. But the exact opposite happened. So if Lebron plays like vintage Lebron, I think we can win. (Which begs the question: have we seen the last of vintage Lebron?) But if he doesn’t, too much else has to go right. Mike Miller cannot start, or cannot guard Dunleavy. Noah didn’t put up much of a fight offensively that I saw, so start James Jones and put him on JoNo and Lebron on Dunleavy. Shump finished with a nice total, but he needs to hit early on. JoNo was daring him to shoot, and I like the confidence Shump had to do so, but he missed a couple open shots he needs to hit. (I realize he’s not JR) The PnR defense needs to change.
I’m babbling at this point, but I think it all comes back to Lebron. We win or lose behind him. Kyrie is special and I love what he can do, but at this stage, it starts and ends with Lebron.
I think this is classic LeBron. At this stage he’s no longer the bouncy kid going at it from the start but kind of the Jurrasic Park predator that watches your moves first and then next strikes according to what he’s learned. The good thing is he’s fine physically, very rested and doesn’t look the slightest bit concerned. At age 30 he’s one of the most experienced (and successful) playoff performers in league history. Just watch what he does Wednesday.
To me Shumpert was fine. He’s not J.R., so we can’t just expect him to replace his game. He’s playing as well or better than in the regular season, as is Tristan, as is Kyrie. It’s just one game, and it wasn’t a stinker like two the Bulls had against the Bucks. Everything is fine.
I just need to keep repeating that to myself: “Everything is fine. Everything is fine. WOOSAAHH.”
Seriously though, if we got those kinds of games out of Kyrie and Shump and TT, we absolutely CAN win. (And I didn’t expect Shump to replace JR’s game – JR will shoot even if he’s not wide open. But if Shump is – and JoNo was letting him have what he wanted – he just needs to knock more down) But Lebron needs to impose his will and drop 27. Yes that’s simple math for this game, but a 19-point trip dub will not cut it at this stage of the playoffs. I agree with your assessment and analogy, just wish he didn’t take this first game for granted.
To ask Shumpert to knock more down is to demand something he doesn’t do. He had lots of wide open 3-pointers this season. He shot .342 from that range. He hit 4 of 10 last night. He’s doing about he does, maybe a tad better, and under game-long pressure. If LeBron makes a bucket in the last 5 minutes, if he gets fouled in the act more than once for the entire game, that’s matching needs with reasonable expectations.
This is on the fly so apologies
I know the fans will whisper
I know their gonna cry
I know we need some answers
I know we need another big guy
I know its a short rotation
And I know Blatts gonna have to scheme
But I know just when to face the truth
I know we’re just not as good of a team
And I know JR might punch you
And I know we’ve got a lot to prove
I know to play Gasol closer
And I know to play Rose loose
And I know the shot clocks fading
And I know the quarters gonna fly
And I know we’ll never get back home for game 7
But I know we’ve got to give it a try
But I don’t know how you do it
Making (up for) Love out of nothing at all
I can make Jimmy Butler stumble
I can post Gasol on the block
I can make every shot at the sound of the buzzer,
I can make Quicken Loans Arena Rock
I can step up big like Shumpert
Or I can disappear like Mike and Shawn
And I can make every three that’s ever been made
And I can make your game seven demons be gone
But we’re never gonna make it without you
Do you really want to see the offense stall
And we’re never gonna stretch the floor without you
And I don’t know how you do it
Making (up for) Love, out of nothing at all
A few things I took away from the game:
1. Lebron’s 6 turnovers were bad. The no look passes when you are down 10 aren’t going to do much especially when they go to the other team.
2. Gasol was open at the free throw line all night…and he hit every shot he took from there. The Cavs didn’t get through screens or switch on D and that killed them.
3. Lebron is a beast in the paint. I know he doesn’t like to post up but nobody could stop him when he did. He should be planted there and just keep feeding the beast as it were…
4. I’m not panicking after game 1. They came back from 15 and 10 to tie it and the Bulls were just hitting everything.
“It’s not sustainable for Gasol and Rose to shoot like that for four-to-seven games.”
Sincerely, the 2008-2009 ECF Orlando Magic
Lord, remember not only the barrage of 3s but how from the free throw line Dwight morphed from Chris Dudley to almost Mark Price, with zero warning? Good times.
This is the playoffs. In Cleveland. I’m allowed to have unreasonable expectations. 🙂
I honestly had a feeling that the Cavs would drop this game. Rose on 2+ days rest, no J.R. Smith for the Cavs, and the Bulls are a much better road team than home team. I’m not the least bit worried, but if the Cavs drop the next game at home, I’m going to start to panic.
http://giant.gfycat.com/RaggedFlimsyKite.gif
He was never heard from again in the NBA to my knowledge, but I still curse Mickael Pietrus to this day. I don’t remember that guy missing a shot the entire series, especially those corner 3’s.
This is the WFNY commentariat. I’m allowed to shamelessly vacillate between rose-colored playoff losses and Chicken Little dropping excrement everywhere.
retrieved his soul from the pawn shop, swam back to Guadalupe where he now bothers tourists on the beach selling filthy coconut drinks.
Actually, a little suspicious how so many of those muscled up dudes were careering simultaneously. But SVG saw nothing, knows nothing.
I was flipping out watching Dunleavy in the first quarter I called it in yesterdays pre-game coverage. Meanwhile Mike Miller showed he should retire. I’m hoping coach changes up that starting lineup for game two. Try James Jones instead of Miller.
I made the mistake of going on Twitter right after the game. So many experts with their opinions. Of course everything was put on LeBron, everything. Sure he could have shot better and he could have turned the ball over a couple times less but he did just about everything else. 19 pts, 15 reb and 9 ast is very impressive to me the problem is this was a playoff game and we are talking about LBJ. Suddenly that wasn’t good enough. BS! The problem is simple without Love and JR the Cavs lack the depth to match the Bulls. Heck even with these two the Bulls were still deeper but the overall talent was closer.
Still aside the Cavaliers never gave up repeatedly battling back time after time they just didn’t have enough once they got to even. Shumpert had a great game. Honestly other then Tristan he was the only guy who showed up. I was disappointed with Mozgov. If the Cavs are going to win this series Timo needs to do better.
It’s amazing to me how most of us had this series going 6 or 7 but everyone’s panic button got pressed after the first loss.
Like somehow everyone forgot if the series goes six or seven you kinda have to lose a few games.
I thought they had a legitimate shot in the opener I thought they’d drop game two. Hopefully they get in the lab and make some adjustments. Staying with their man especially Dunleavy for starters. Every time they scrambled the Bulls moved the ball found the open guy and he hit the shot. The other huge adjustment I’d make is Mike Miller not starting. His lack of defense cost way more then his making one three pointer. I’m not sure what my starting five would be but I’m thinking sub Miller with James Jones.
The tnt gang said start Perkins
I disagree. Regardless of our poor play, we had a chance to pull this one out in the last few minutes. Is there any doubt that Jordan would have completely taken over the game at that point? If Lebron wants to be considered in Jordan’s class, then he needed to take over. Instead, he turned it over twice and missed a 3 as well as a layup. Since his shot was not falling in the second half, I expected him to get down in the post at the end and take over from there. He did take responsibility for his failure, which is good. I expect him to attack Wednesday. Also, our 3 washed up buddies of Lebron – Jones, Miller and Marion – looked slow and could not make a shot. Might as well start Delly, at least he has young legs and can chase their shooters.
Quit with the Jordan stuff already there’s a reason he was one of the best if not the best there are no modern day Michael Jordan, period. Of course he took responsibility would you expect anything less? This series will only be won if LBJ puts his Superman cape on and does just about everything.
I love how people condemn him for “not stepping up” by mentioning his poor shooting night, the two late turnovers and a layup that was contested by larger individuals yet he’s 1 assist from a triple double and defended almost every position of the Bulls but that’s not enough. Welcome home LBJ!
I heard Barkley and that makes no sense.
He always kills the Cavs that first quarter was unacceptable but predictable.
[Standing and beginning a slow clap which rapidly quickens into full-blown applause.]
I don’t think we disagree all that much. My point is that he will have to rise to “Jordanesque” levels for us to win. My critique is only against this high standard.
Unfortunately I agree he’ll have to carry this current team.
Totally agree