Going into Wednesday night’s contest, the Cleveland Cavaliers are down 3-1 in their first round series versus the New York Knicks. Cleveland is at home in Game 5, which is a plus, and the Cavaliers were one of the best home teams in the NBA in the regular season.
As they’ve found out, though, the playoffs are different, and Cleveland dropped Game 1 at home to New York, and the Cavs had two largely disappointing outings at New York in Games 3 and 4. For the Cavaliers, it’s not the position they wanted to be in at this juncture.
It’s not over for the Wine and Gold yet, but it’s going to be an uphill battle, to say the least, to work their way back in this series and have a chance at a rare comeback of that magnitude. If Cleveland is going to do so, the Core Four guys have to clearly be more consistent, and Cleveland is going to have to receive contributions elsewhere on both ends to have a chance here, starting tonight.
Of course, the likes of Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell are the primary offensive engines, and Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen have to be better in the frontcourt. That said, with the bench inconsistencies for Cleveland, what could potentially give the team a spark could be giving others spurts on the floor that haven’t been given much, if any, time thus far.
It seems unlikely, but the Cavs may want to sprinkle in alternative options here and there.
For the Cavaliers, with Caris LeVert starting again in the last two games, he’ll likely do so again there. Regardless of my thoughts on that, he’s a player that can be a X-factor for the team if he’s on, and/or making plays for teammates.
Others in the fold on the perimeter seemingly are Cedi Osman and Danny Green, who can theoretically give Cleveland a shooting lift in bench minutes. Both have some nice meaningful hustle plays as well in stretches.
However, with the Cavaliers not having nearly the perimeter rebounding contributions and open floor production the Knicks have had, maybe in Game 5 for a few spurts, Lamar Stevens could be an option a bit, with either LeVert or Osman out there as well. In that case, perhaps Stevens playing defensive/energy minutes at the 4 could be viable with Mobley at the 5.
Stevens is not a player Cleveland should probably be trotting out there in stretches with Mobley and Allen in this instance, but occasionally for defensive help, and as a heady cutter and transition player, he could provide a spark. He can make some plays as a tertiary driver through gaps, too, and can finish through contact and get to the foul line.
Even with strides made from deep, he’s not a floor spacer, though (31.6 percent from three in the regular season), which is the hesitation there. That’s likely why he hasn’t played aside from garbage time in Game 3.
Beyond Stevens, maybe the Cavaliers will consider throwing in Dean Wade again at the 4. Wade’s shot has looked the same since his return from an AC joint sprain, and his non-garbage time minutes off the bench in Game 1 were not effective. He was a minus-14 in seven minutes.
If Wade has chances this go-round, maybe things go differently, provided he’s on the floor with Garland and Mitchell, and not a completely bench-heavy lineup, such as in that Game 1. Wade is still a highly capable defensive forward, makes sound decisions as a ball-mover and he can aid the group on the glass.
Nonetheless, with the offensive questions currently with Wade, that might be more of a longshot for Game 5 or in other potential ensuing games against the Knicks.
All things considered, it’s probably also a longshot for the Cavs to come back from this 3-1 deficit. But to generate some momentum, maybe other bench options could give the Cavaliers a jolt in spurts here.
That seems unlikely they’ll go to those players, and realistically, it’s apparent the Cavs are going to have to revamp their bench in terms of offense this coming offseason if possible, and adding wing shooting via free agency/trade would help. We’re seeing in this series that’s needed.
For now, though, the Cavaliers have to play with more urgency and win the 50-50 battles to give themselves more bites at the apple and limit those for the Knicks.