Down 0-2 the pressure is squarely on the Cavs to figure out a way to win the next two games at home and make it a best-of-three series. The pressure is greatest on Kenny Atkinson who stated that he will do whatever he deems necessary.
Everything’s on the table. Everything. We got to look at it all. - KA
Does “everything” include benching James Harden?
Unable to get past tenacious Detroit defenders, a clearly frustrated Harden resorted to foul-baiting…Harden finished with more miscues than made field goals for the fourth time in nine playoff games. - Fedor
Take away the first two games against the Raptors and Harden is shooting 38%. And his defense has been lacking, and that is the polite term.
The Pistons were 7/7 in G2 on drives when James Harden was the primary defender...He's the first player to allow an opponent to be 7/7 or better on drives in a playoff game since player tracking began in the 2014/15 season. - Mike Lucas
So Harden has been historically bad defensively and his turnovers outnumber his field goals. He's apparently the worst defensive player in the last 12 years of playoff basketball.
Evan Mobley also needs to get going. Mobley has a max contract. 9 points and 1 rebound won’t cut it.
Fedor described multiple possessions where Mobley received the ball with an opportunity to create an advantage and simply couldn’t deliver. He tried to back down Cade Cunningham and couldn’t move him. He tried to drive on Tobias Harris and found the same wall. On another fourth-quarter possession, facing Isaiah Stewart, he spun away from the basket and threw the ball softly off the backboard - podcast summary
He can’t consistently create an advantage on his own. That’s where we’re at with Evan. - Fedor
That’s where we’ve always been at with Evan, Chris.
Donovan Mitchell scored 31 in game 2, but he needs to be more involved, especially in the 4th quarter.
Cunningham played 42 minutes in Game 2, which is five more than Harden and Mitchell. Cunningham also played the entire fourth quarter, which neither of Cleveland’s guards can say. And he still outscored them both by himself [in the 4th]. - Watkins
Cleveland ranks last in clutch net rating in the playoffs, being outscored by 56.1 points per 100 possessions, with an offensive rating of 63.9 in those minutes. - Fedor
Those are shocking numbers. The Cavs have been awful in the last five minutes with the score close. Having playoff tested stars like Mitchell, Harden, Allen, Mobley, and Schroder was supposed to give the Cavs the advantage in those tight games over the inexperienced Pistons. It’s not working out that way.
However, it’s not all bleak.
The Cavs made some smart stylistic changes in the second half that helped them surge back.
They picked up the pace. Limited mistakes. Started winning the possession game — a message Atkinson constantly delivers to his team before tipoff. Switched defensive coverages. Put the offense in Mitchell’s hands more frequently. Got Allen involved around the rim. - Fedor
Jason Lloyd pointed out that the Cavs scored 32 points in the 3rd quarter of game 2 which is the most they’ve scored in a quarter this series. They had Mitchell and Schroder handle the ball most of the time instead of Harden.
Brian Windhorst pointed out that the Pistons, a bad 3-point team, went 14-for-28 while the Cavs went 10-for-41. If the Pistons just have a normal shooting night and the Cavs are slightly better the series is tied 1-1. Windy said the Pistons were a "horror show" shooting 3’s against the Magic.
In the regular season the Pistons shot 36.2% from deep. Against the Magic it dropped to 32.7%. After two games against the Cavs they’re shooting 44.4%.
According to Windy, the Pistons are “running hot.” Cade looks like the best player in the series and he gives Detroit an edge in the last five minutes. Donovan Mitchell “can’t be outplayed by Cade Cunningham at the end of the game.”
In the 4th quarter yesterday Cade “took the game by the throat” while Donovan and James were “nowhere to be found.”
I would say the keys to game are whether Donovan and Harden can take over and play well themselves while setting up their teammates, whether the Pistons continue to shoot way, way over their norm on 3-point shots, and whether the Cavs can keep the turnovers down and make open shots.
Kenny needs to make adjustments and he said we “found some things” in game 2. Despite the Pistons hitting 50% of their 3’s when 34% is their norm and despite the Cavs shooting 22% from deep, it was anybody’s game right down to the last minute.
Sam Merrill is questionable and it's really unfortunate if he can't play because he provides much needed 3-point shooting and stout defense.
The same 9 keys I listed in the game 2 preview on page 88 still apply. Avoid excessive turnovers, avoid silly fouls, come out with focus and intensity and don’t be down 16 points after the first quarter. Don’t give up excessive offensive rebounds. Donovan and Harden need to step up.
I think we still need to do better at contesting 3's. Too many of Detroit's 3-point attempts are uncontested. We're still overhelping. We're focused on Cade too much - ball watching while the man you're supposed to be guarding back doors you for a dunk or positions himself for an open 3.
Kenny lamented the fact that we allowed 7-8 offensive rebounds in the 4th quarter but if he’s going to sit Wade and Allen in crunch time what does he expect?
Injury Report
CLEVELAND
Sam Merrill - QUESTIONABLE (hamstring)
DETROIT
Kevin Huerter - QUESTIONABLE (thigh)