Cleveland Cavaliers: A guide to coming back from a 3-1 deficit
By Zac Robin
Making it rain all the way from Ohio
The Cavs shot terribly as a team from 3-point land in game 3. James was 4-9, Smith was 5-10, but Irving was 0-7 and Love was 1-7. The team overall shot just 25.7%. That is a major statistic blemishing their game 3 loss, but one they completely turned around. They shot 53.3% for a finals record of 24 total 3-pointers made in game 4. If they can outshoot the Warriors again, anything is possible. Regardless of what they will tell the media, these are two teams that live and die by the 3.
They shot 53.3% for a finals record of 24 total 3-pointers made in game 4. If they can outshoot the Warriors again, anything is possible. Regardless of what they will tell the media, these are two teams that live and die by the 3.
And no one is more critical in that category than Smith. He had a much better game 3 and 4, shooting 5-10 and 5-9 on 3-point attempts. He only had 3 points in games 1 and 2 combined and was uncharacteristically hesitant to shoot.
After all, he did miss most of the season after surgically repairing a broken thumb in his shooting hand. One has to remember the lack of shooting practice during that recovery takes a confidence toll on someone used to shooting every day. Couple that with the fact he recently fathered a very premature-born baby daughter who recently made her way home from months of intensive care at the hospital, and it excuses some poor play.
And of course, you have to remember the ridiculous personality of who we are talking about, on top of all that. 3-point shooting for the Cavaliers all starts with the hot hand of Mr. Smith.