King James Gospel
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Cleveland Cavaliers vs Indiana Pacers Game 3: What We Learned

By Jackson Flickinger

Apr 20, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) watches the Indiana Pacers shoot free throws in game three of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 20, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) watches the Indiana Pacers shoot free throws in game three of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 20, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers bench reacts to coming back from a 26 point deficit to take the lead against the Indiana Pacers in game three of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Cleveland defeats Indiana 119-114. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 20, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers bench reacts to coming back from a 26 point deficit to take the lead against the Indiana Pacers in game three of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Cleveland defeats Indiana 119-114. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

2. The Cavs can flip the switch.

Throughout this season we’ve all made reference to this mystical, metaphorical switch that LeBron and company can flip whenever they want to. Generally speaking, you can’t correct bad habits and poor effort displayed on a continual basis. That isn’t how sports, or life for that matter, work.

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However if we know anything it’s that the normal laws of nature seemingly don’t apply to LeBron and his teams.

The Cavs looked unstoppable in the playoffs last year for the first 10 games. Then they were blown out in Games 3 and 4 in the Eastern Conference Finals. Those two games made them look like a team that had no business being in the playoffs. During the first two games of the 2016 Finals they didn’t even appear to be playing the same game the Warriors were. But in both of those instances, the Cavs were able to quickly “flip the switch” and play championship caliber basketball.

After a terrible ending to the season, mediocre start to the playoffs, and terrible first half of Game 3, the Cavs have apparently flipped the switch once again.

Cleveland gave up 74 points in the first half. Part of that is due to the Pacers hitting seemingly every shot they took. Part of that was also due to a lack of effort.

That changed in the second half, and more specifically the fourth quarter. The Pacers scored only 40 points in the second half.

The Cavs’ second half unit with LeBron, Iman Shumpert, Deron Williams, Kyle Korver, and Channing Frye competed the second half with an impressive 76.1 defensive rating. The Cavaliers were clearly a different team in the second half than they were in the first.

To act like the Cavs can win playoff games after first halves like this is ridiculous. You can’t win games like that. With that said, it is comforting to know that this team can turn around their energy, effort, and overall game that quickly.