NBA Playoffs: LeBron, Kyrie Dominated Game 2 and 3 4th Quarters
The Cleveland Cavaliers, like most favorites in the NBA Playoffs, are up 3-0. The Cavs have weathered storms from the Boston Celtics and have figured out how to make things work for them. The Cavs playoff neophytes have shown well for themselves and the team looks like they are ready for the real test coming in the next round: the Chicago Bulls.
The Cavs have won or tied every 3rd quarter in the series, vital part of winning basketball is coming out of the locker room strong. That has been an important improvement that Cavs fans should overlook after years of Byron Scott and Mike Brown teams looking like they took naps at halftime.
Yet in the 4th quarter is where things are even more impressive. In the last two games, the two games that were actually tight in the series, the Cavs have been able to withstand pushes put on by the Celtics for wins. The 4th quarters of all 3 games have a difference of 2, 1 and 0 points. Tightly contested contests indeed.
The Cavs blew out the Celtics in Game 1, 13 point win, but have needed everything they could get from LeBron James and Kyrie Irving in the next two games to pull out the victories. How have they delivered? By delivering literally everything on the offensive side of the ball:
Crazy Stat of Day: LeBron and Kyrie Irving have scored or assisted on EVERY 4th quarter Cavs basket the last 2 games. (via @ESPNStatsInfo)
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 24, 2015
If that seems like a an amazing stat, that is because it is. To have two players do that for even one game during the regular season is impressive. To have two players do it for two straight games in the NBA Playoffs is unworldly.
What is even more impressive is that, though they were involved in EVERY 4th quarter score, Irving and LeBron weren’t playing loads of hero ball the entire time. While there were glimpses of old school “4 flat” with LeBron up top dribbling, the Cavs still moved players and the ball during these quarters. Kevin Love was involved, Tristan Thompson was involved, J.R. Smith was involved. The team was engaged.
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It tells us what we already know about the Cavs two biggest stars: They are playmakers. In different ways, with different skillsets, both LeBron and Kyrie can take over games offensively. Yet their offensive capabilities are not Allen Iverson in his prime, dribbling the air out of the ball. Their skills allow them to drive to the basket, hit open jumpers AND get their teammates involved.
LeBron and Kyrie have dominated the Celtics in the last two 4th quarters. Sunday is the Cavs chance to put an end to their 1st NBA Playoffs series with a clean sweep. It will be interesting if we see a similar performance from the pair.
Are you surprised by this stat and the two-some’s ability to take over games in the NBA Playoffs?