NBA Playoffs: Cavs Defense Top Notch As Well
The obvious story from the NBA Playoffs last night was the Cleveland Cavaliers shooting. Don’t miss their great defense!
The Cavs’ shooting night was historic, impressive and fun. They rained down three-point shots like they were layups. In relation to their shooting, it was great to see the shots come in the flow of the game, at least until late when they were really trying for the record.
What could be missed is the great defense that was played by the Cavs for most of the game. At the end of the 3rd Quarter the Cavs led 106 – 70. At that point, Tyronn Lue pulled his starters and most of his primary backups. The Hawks did similar a little later in the game.
In the first 3 quarters, the Cavs held the Hawks to 39% shooting from the field, compared to their electric 49%. They had also only allowed 6 offensive rebounds, the same number Tristan Thompson had himself. The Cavs had also forced 14 turnovers during the time that really mattered.
If those numbers are impressive, the first half defense was historic. While the Cavs were bombing from deep and almost doubling the Hawks up with 74 points, the Hawks had put together quarters of 20 and 18 points. Often, when teams are having great offensive nights, the other team is also putting up huge numbers.
In the first half, the Cavs held the Hawks to 34% shooting from the field and a measly 18% from deep. They also forced 12 turnovers.
The key for the Cavs was limiting both Kent Bazemore and Dennis Schroder, who had very good games against the Cavs in Game 1. They combined for 10 points on 3 of 12 shooting. The two combined for 43 points on 16 of 34 shooting.
Schroder, in particular, seemed to have lost all of the confidence he gained in Game 1.
While Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love are assumed poor defenders, their effort and relentlessness has been impressive so far in the NBA Playoffs. Add in good to great defenders in LeBron James, J.R. Smith and Tristan Thompson starting and Matthew Dellavedova and Iman Shumpert off the bench, and the Cavs can hold their own against almost anyone.
Seeing “offensive players” like Irving, Love and Smith locked in on both ends of the court says a lot about the leadership of the Cavs and the value of last year’s experience. Whether it is Lue and his staff or LeBron’s veteran moxie, the Cavs are bought in defensively. Often when teams are scoring at will, their defense suffers.
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Not last night for the Cavs.
While the 3 pointers were fun, the defensive effort was even more encouraging. The Cavs will always be able to score points. Even when their shooting lets them down, they have enough playmakers to make things happen. It is on the defensive end that the Cavs NBA Title hopes rest.
We won’t know how improved their defense is until the NBA Finals but so far in the NBA Playoffs, the Cavs have shown to be a very good defensive team. A shocking statement for such an offensively powered, star-laden team.
Last year, especially after Love went down, and even more when Irving was out, the Cavs were the best defensive team in the NBA Playoffs. They are off to a good start so far this year on that end of the floor.
Can the Cavs keep up the defensive effort throughout the NBA Playoffs?