Isaiah Thomas Example of Long Term Cavs Concern
The Cleveland Cavaliers took care of business against the Boston Celtics Sunday but Isaiah Thomas‘ performance is an example of a long term concern. The Cavs took Game 1 of the Cavs Vs Celtics NBA Playoffs series. The 113 – 100 win was an example of how the Cavs can win even without everyone playing the best.
The Cavs gave up 31 points in the 1st Quarter to a Celtics team that were 2 games under .500, Kevin Love struggled shooting and had to deal with some foul trouble throughout the game. In the end, a win and a quick series is all the Cavs really need.
Yet Isaiah Thomas, all 5’9″ and 185 pounds, gave the Cavs all kinds of fits and could be a pre-cursor to concerns throughout this NBA Playoff run for Cleveland. Thomas, who averaged 19 points off the bench after being traded to the Celtics, finished with 22 points, 10 assists and 5 rebounds.
Thomas found his way into the paint, creating openings for his teammates, getting to the foul line (8 for 8 from the free throw line) and generally causing havoc. Thomas was part of the reason the Cavs struggled with fouls as well. While Thomas wasn’t efficient, 6 for 14 from the field and 2 for 5 from deep, he kept the Celtics in the game.
Thomas could catch fire in a game and keep the Cavs from a clean sweep but beyond that he doesn’t have enough help to be a risk to actually beat the Cavs in the series. Instead what Thomas accentuates is a problem the Cavs have had all season and one that could derail their title aspirations.
The Cavs have been torched by instant offense guards most of the season. Even with Kyrie Irving drastically improving his defense, stopping drives into the paint has been a struggle. Players like Lou Williams, Aaron Brooks, Nate Robinson, Randy Foye and Shelvin Mack have come off benches to give the Cavs struggles. Nate Rob has done so since Irving came in the league while the rest have been problems this season:
- Robinson had 14 points and 5 assists while Randy Foye had 28 and 9 early in November versus Cleveland.
- Williams went off for 36 points in 29 minutes against the Cavs in late November.
- Mack had 24 points in 23 minutes off the bench in Mid-December in a 29 point route by the Hawks over the Cavs.
- In the 2nd game of the season, Brooks had 10 points in 20 minutes while Kirk Hinrich also scored 20 against the Cavs.
Even after the Cavs big trades and LeBron James coming back healthy, the Cavs still struggled against scoring point guards:
- Brooks went off for 16 on January 19th and 17 in early April while Derrick Rose had 30 in February.
- Williams had another 26 in 29 minutes in early March.
- Generally low scoring George Hill had 20, on 15 foul shot attempts, as he penetrated the Cavs defense in only 26 minutes of February action.
- James Harden pushed, prodded and poked his way through the Cavs defense for 33 points, 18 FT attempts, on national TV on March 1st.
Needless to say, the Cavs have had their struggles. The defensive presence of Timofey Mozgov is very helpful in the defensive cause, but the constant forays into the paint can quickly create foul trouble. That could spell doom for the Cavs. Besides Mozgov, Tristan Thompson provides the only low post rim protection and he averaged less than a block a game.
Here is a quick list of possible penetrating guards the Cavs could see in the rest of the NBA Playoffs:
- Derrick Rose
- John Wall
- Kyle Lowry
- Jeff Teague
- Steph Curry
- Rajon Rondo
- James Harden
- Damian Lillard
- Tony Parker
- Chris Paul
More from King James Gospel
- 3 possible starting lineups for Cleveland Cavaliers in 2023-24
- The Cavaliers may have snagged a hidden gem in Craig Porter Jr.
- 4 players the Cavaliers should pursue in 2024 free agency
- 6 players Cavaliers might replace Jarrett Allen with by the trade deadline
- This stat is one to keep an eye on for Cavaliers’ Max Strus in years ahead
And those are just the starters, it doesn’t include Williams, Brooks, Jamal Crawford and the rest of the “microwave” offensive guards coming off the bench.
While the Cavs are likely to dominate the series, how they learn to contain Isaiah Thomas so he isn’t scoring, facilitating, getting to the free throw line and causing foul trouble will be vital. Can the Cavs figure things out in order to contain him? Will Iman Shumpert get more time on the court? Will J.R. Smith bristle at decreased floor time?
The defensive problem will not likely impact this series but looking at that list of possible penetrating point guards, not to mention the shooting guards and backups also on those teams, the Cavs could have some trouble as the NBA Playoffs role down the tracks.
How do you think the Cavs will try to deal with Isaiah Thomas and does their history this season create some concern for you?