Cavs Vs Bulls: 5 Standout Stats from Game 1

I was right. But I wish I was wrong. I predicted that Cleveland Cavaliers Coach David Blatt would start Mike Miller and Iman Shumpert to replace Kevin Love and J.R. Smith respectively. Miller was a dud and I now wish Blatt didn’t do as I suggested he would as the Cleveland Cavaliers lost to the Chicago Bulls 99-92 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Semifinals series.

Chicago won the game against Cleveland on their home floor, something that rarely happens. The Cavs were tentative and looked out of sorts during the first few minutes of the game leading to an insurmountable 16-point lead by the road team. The Cavs were able to close the gap several times only to see the Bulls pull away for the victory in the end. But despite the fact that the Bulls thoroughly outplayed the Cavs with LeBron struggling, the game was still close for much of the second half. Chicago cannot be too confident.

Let’s find out what the stats tell us about how Game 1 of the Cavs Vs Bulls match-up went in favor of the visiting team.

1. Derrick Rose: 25 Points, 5 Rebounds, 5 Assists

Rose was sensational especially in the first half as he kept taking and making one perimeter jumper after another while shooting 3 for 6 from three-point land.

(Rose) looked like the MVP of old instead of an old MVP

D-Rose was the X-factor that the Bulls needed if they were to steal homecourt advantage from the Cavs and he played incredible. He looked like the MVP of old instead of an old MVP as he kept the Cavs from tying the game or taking the lead with clutch baskets.

2. Pau Gasol: 21 Points, 10 Rebounds, 4 Assists, 4 Blocks

Gasol was too much for the Cavs as he was 8-for-8 from the floor when left unguarded from the perimeter.

The Spaniard’s jumpshot was red-hot from the start en route to an all-around game reminiscent of his best days with the Vancouver/Memphis Grizzlies. If Rose was the x-factor then Gasol was the MVP as he anchored the Bulls’ offense and defense. He had 4 blocks with only 1 personal foul, rejecting the Cavaliers’ big men time and time again. He also recorded his 55^th double-double, second-most to Tim Duncan’s 61 since 2007-08.

3. Bulls’ Big Three: Rose 25 Points, Gasol 21 Points, Butler 20 Points

All three of Chicago’s version of the Big Three scored 20 or more points, highlighting the Bulls’ balanced offense.

Butler, the team’s leading scoring in the regular season, knew that defending LeBron was his primary assignment but he scored more than enough points to keep the Cavs from focusing their defense on Rose or Gasol only. According to ESPN, when Butler defended James, he shot 7-of-18 from the field despite scoring 15 of his 19 points against him, while committing five of his six turnovers vs. the Bulls’ All-Star as well. The guy is one of the best two-way players in the game along with James and the San Antonio Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard.

4. Cavs 17-19 Free Throws (85.9%), Bulls 9-16 (56.2%)

Despite shooting a lowly 34-81 (42%) from the field and a measly 7-26 (27%) from three-point land, the Cavs were able to keep it close by shooting well from the line.

The Cavaliers managed to stay close by making their free-throws whenever they got fouled. The Bulls could have blown the game away if they had they made their free-throws, or if the Cavs missed theirs, or a combination of the two. Free-throw shooting spelled a big difference in this game more than one might think.

5. Kyrie Irving: 30 Points, 6 Assists, Iman Shumpert: 22 Points 4-10 3-Point FG%

Kyrie was spectacular in Game 1 as he proved that he belonged in the postseason ever since he set foot on the NBA. Shumpert more than made up for Smith’s absence by having the game of his life.

With James struggling in the second half despite a near-triple-double (19 points 15 rebounds, 8 assists), Irving and Shumpert provided offensive firepower that the Cavs needed to stay close to the Bulls and prevent a blow out on their homecourt. Both players needed to step up their game with two of their teammates out and their leader failing to get any traction offensively. It may be too much to ask, especially of Shumpert, but they may need to duplicate this performance for the Cavs to have any chance of winning Game 2.

LeBron has now moved ahead of Scottie Pippen (1,048) on the all-time career postseason assists list.

Honorable mention:

James 1,054 Assists for Playoffs Career (7^th All-time)

More from King James Gospel

LeBron has now moved ahead of Scottie Pippen (1,048) on the all-time career postseason assists list. He had previously passed Tony Parker (1,059) in Game 4 of the Celtics series but the Spurs’ point guard played more games in the first round than James to retake the lead in the category. James only needs six assists in his next games to move into sixth place all-time. He will most likely pass Steve Nash (1,061) and Larry Bird (1,062) along the way, too.

What stat stands out most to you from Cavs Vs Bulls?

Next: Series Roundtable Preview from KJG