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The series shifts to Indiana with the Pacers up 2-0 after two shocking wins in Cleveland. The first loss was a combination of extremely bad 3-point shooting by the Cavs (24%) and the best 3-point shooting of the year by the Pacers (53%). The second was the combination of a massive choke job by the Cavs, non-calls by the referees in the final minute on lane violations that led to 5 points for the Pacers, and injuries to three key Cavs players that forced them to miss the game entirely.
Not to mention Ty Jerome going 1-for-14 when 2-for-14 would have won the game. Yeah, I’m pointing fingers. Jerome has had an amazing season but that performance was inexcusable. To be fair, the Pacers were extremely well-prepared for his tricks.
In the final minute of Game 2 the Cavs gave up two rebounds on missed free throws and committed two turnovers, one off an inbound pass. Getting the ball in has been a problem for them all year. It’s incredible this issue has not been fixed because we’ve been seeing it all season.
Since 1997-98, teams leading by seven points or more in the final minute of the fourth quarter or overtime were 1,640-2. Now it’s 1,640-3.
Just embarrassing. Can’t throw that game away. Gotta grow up. - Tristan Thompson
Three-point shooting has been a huge problem. The Cavs are shooting 26% from deep compared to 38.3% during the regular season.
Donovan Mitchell is 2-for-18 on 3’s. It’s forcing him to attack the rim, expend a ton of energy, and absorb tremendous punishment. By the end of game 2 he was cramping and exhausted.
We outplayed them, but we ran out of gas. My only regret is not playing more guys. We shortened the rotation ... That’s my sole regret. - Atkinson
With fatigue comes decision-making. We had some poor decision-making plays at the rim, turnovers..that was part of the collapse. - Atkinson
Right now, we’re deeper than them. Even when we weren’t playing well, we were playing fresh guys. We’ve gotta stay with what got us here, which is depth and togetherness and as much full-court pressure as we can. We gotta make them work. We gotta make it hard. - Rick Carlisle
“We [wore] on them for 48 minutes. They came out and pressed us full court. They played more our style and by the end of the game everybody was tired, but they were tired, and I feel like that’s part of the wear-down effect of 48 minutes. - Tyrese Haliburton
The injuries to Mobley and Hunter in Game 1 plus the lingering Darius Garland injury meant the Cavs were short-handed in Game 2. Having fewer players along with pressing full court and playing “more our style” as Haliburton put it wore out the Cavs and resulted in mistakes in the final minute.
Atkinson complained that on the inbounds passes the Pacers were grabbing and holding the Cavs but no fouls were called. Hopefully the refs will be more attentive to the Pacers holding on inbounds plays and also the lane violations the rest of the way. This is the playoffs and players are going to be as physical as the refs let them.
86 of the Cavs’ 119 points came in the paint or at the free throw line in Game 2. The 3-point shot that was the staple of their offense all season has practically disappeared.
Part of that is due to Indiana’s length and athleticism on the perimeter that allows them to contest those shots. Mitchell and Merrill had 3-pointers blocked. Not having Garland and Hunter also affected the Cavs’ ability to hit 3’s.
The Cavs injury situation is unclear. Joe Vardon reported that all three injured players could be available on Friday although all are listed as questionable.
A league source with knowledge of the Cavs’ workout Thursday said the swelling on Hunter’s injured thumb has subsided, whereas Mobley and Garland were moving as though they’re trying to play through lower leg injuries.
Whether or not any or all of these guys can play the situation looks dire but there is one ray of hope.
The one-big lineup — a byproduct of Mobley’s absence — allowed the Cavs to play faster and more spaced out, stretching Indiana’s defense and causing it to scramble. It’s a better stylistic choice that must be considered, especially given the Cavs got obliterated in 18 opening-game minutes with Mobley and Jarrett Allen on the floor together — a net rating of -51. - Chris Fedor
I feel like we outplayed them for the majority of the game and then every place toward the end we had a mental lapse or a mental mistake…But we found a system that works. We found a style of play for us that is able to win against a team like that. So now it’s just, will we be able to replicate it in Indy? - Jarrett Allen
That is the big question. The other question is how Atkinson will distribute the minutes. Kenny said his “sole regret” was shortening the rotation and “not playing more guys.” Will he play more guys in Game 3?
In 4 minutes in Game 2 Craig Porter, Jr had 2 points, a steal, and a blocked shot with no turnovers. Will Porter get a few more minutes so Donovan can get more rest?
Can Donovan find his 3-point shot? I think he will have to because he can’t keep getting the crap beat out of him while shooting 21 free throws per game. He’s 2-for-18 in the series on 3’s. He made 46% against Miami.
Mitchell may have no choice but to go back to shooting 3’s and hope they start falling. He can’t continue to take this pounding. The Cavs have been getting some offensive rebounds off missed 3’s. I think Donovan has to go back to shooting them and live or die with the results.
Even without Garland, Mobley, and Hunter and with Jerome going 1-for-14 the Cavs only lost by a point, and that was with the refs ignoring the Pacers’ lane violations and their holding on inbounds plays. Allen says the Cavs have figured out how to beat them. OK, let’s see it. It's now or never. The two days off should help everybody, even the guys who aren't injured and especially Mitchell.
Not to mention Ty Jerome going 1-for-14 when 2-for-14 would have won the game. Yeah, I’m pointing fingers. Jerome has had an amazing season but that performance was inexcusable. To be fair, the Pacers were extremely well-prepared for his tricks.
In the final minute of Game 2 the Cavs gave up two rebounds on missed free throws and committed two turnovers, one off an inbound pass. Getting the ball in has been a problem for them all year. It’s incredible this issue has not been fixed because we’ve been seeing it all season.
Since 1997-98, teams leading by seven points or more in the final minute of the fourth quarter or overtime were 1,640-2. Now it’s 1,640-3.
Just embarrassing. Can’t throw that game away. Gotta grow up. - Tristan Thompson
Three-point shooting has been a huge problem. The Cavs are shooting 26% from deep compared to 38.3% during the regular season.
Donovan Mitchell is 2-for-18 on 3’s. It’s forcing him to attack the rim, expend a ton of energy, and absorb tremendous punishment. By the end of game 2 he was cramping and exhausted.
We outplayed them, but we ran out of gas. My only regret is not playing more guys. We shortened the rotation ... That’s my sole regret. - Atkinson
With fatigue comes decision-making. We had some poor decision-making plays at the rim, turnovers..that was part of the collapse. - Atkinson
Right now, we’re deeper than them. Even when we weren’t playing well, we were playing fresh guys. We’ve gotta stay with what got us here, which is depth and togetherness and as much full-court pressure as we can. We gotta make them work. We gotta make it hard. - Rick Carlisle
“We [wore] on them for 48 minutes. They came out and pressed us full court. They played more our style and by the end of the game everybody was tired, but they were tired, and I feel like that’s part of the wear-down effect of 48 minutes. - Tyrese Haliburton
The injuries to Mobley and Hunter in Game 1 plus the lingering Darius Garland injury meant the Cavs were short-handed in Game 2. Having fewer players along with pressing full court and playing “more our style” as Haliburton put it wore out the Cavs and resulted in mistakes in the final minute.
Atkinson complained that on the inbounds passes the Pacers were grabbing and holding the Cavs but no fouls were called. Hopefully the refs will be more attentive to the Pacers holding on inbounds plays and also the lane violations the rest of the way. This is the playoffs and players are going to be as physical as the refs let them.
86 of the Cavs’ 119 points came in the paint or at the free throw line in Game 2. The 3-point shot that was the staple of their offense all season has practically disappeared.
Part of that is due to Indiana’s length and athleticism on the perimeter that allows them to contest those shots. Mitchell and Merrill had 3-pointers blocked. Not having Garland and Hunter also affected the Cavs’ ability to hit 3’s.
The Cavs injury situation is unclear. Joe Vardon reported that all three injured players could be available on Friday although all are listed as questionable.
A league source with knowledge of the Cavs’ workout Thursday said the swelling on Hunter’s injured thumb has subsided, whereas Mobley and Garland were moving as though they’re trying to play through lower leg injuries.
Whether or not any or all of these guys can play the situation looks dire but there is one ray of hope.
The one-big lineup — a byproduct of Mobley’s absence — allowed the Cavs to play faster and more spaced out, stretching Indiana’s defense and causing it to scramble. It’s a better stylistic choice that must be considered, especially given the Cavs got obliterated in 18 opening-game minutes with Mobley and Jarrett Allen on the floor together — a net rating of -51. - Chris Fedor
I feel like we outplayed them for the majority of the game and then every place toward the end we had a mental lapse or a mental mistake…But we found a system that works. We found a style of play for us that is able to win against a team like that. So now it’s just, will we be able to replicate it in Indy? - Jarrett Allen
That is the big question. The other question is how Atkinson will distribute the minutes. Kenny said his “sole regret” was shortening the rotation and “not playing more guys.” Will he play more guys in Game 3?
In 4 minutes in Game 2 Craig Porter, Jr had 2 points, a steal, and a blocked shot with no turnovers. Will Porter get a few more minutes so Donovan can get more rest?
Can Donovan find his 3-point shot? I think he will have to because he can’t keep getting the crap beat out of him while shooting 21 free throws per game. He’s 2-for-18 in the series on 3’s. He made 46% against Miami.
Mitchell may have no choice but to go back to shooting 3’s and hope they start falling. He can’t continue to take this pounding. The Cavs have been getting some offensive rebounds off missed 3’s. I think Donovan has to go back to shooting them and live or die with the results.
Even without Garland, Mobley, and Hunter and with Jerome going 1-for-14 the Cavs only lost by a point, and that was with the refs ignoring the Pacers’ lane violations and their holding on inbounds plays. Allen says the Cavs have figured out how to beat them. OK, let’s see it. It's now or never. The two days off should help everybody, even the guys who aren't injured and especially Mitchell.
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