Cavs hope home provides relief

OAKLAND, Calif. — So the Cavaliers, having been beaten in every way by a combined 48 points in the first two games of the NBA Finals by the Warriors, are psyched about playing at home. Yup, the Cavs figure they’ll get a lift from their fans.

But only if those 20,562 capacity fans can play. Figure after watching Games 1 and 2, the Cavs might have a chance if it’s 20,567on-5 for Game 3 Wednesday.

Even those odds might not help. But the Cavs must hope.

“It’s going to help a lot. We’ve been a team that’s played well at home all year,” said reserve Richard Jefferson, who scored 12 points in the 110-77 Game 2 wipeout Sunday. “We’ve got some things we need to do better.”

Like scoring, passing, defending and rebounding.

“They’re a unique team,” Jefferson said, insisting there is no frustrated desperation among the Cavs. “We’re professionals. This is what we do for a living.”

What, get roasted? Give up 51 points off 35 turnovers in two games?

There was virtually nothing encouraging for the Cavs in Games 1 and 2. They shot 36.8 percent (60-of-163) combined while the Warriors shot 51.8 (87of-168). In Game 2 they lost Kevin Love (day-to-day) to the concussion protocol after he was elbowed in the head.

Yeah, changing venues will help all that.

But the Cavs simply can’t think otherwise. It still remains “first team to four” — although only three teams, out of 31 previously, have ever rallied from an 0-2 deficit to win the Finals.

“What we’ve done these last two games doesn’t put a damper or a cloud over how we got to this point,” said LeBron James, who scored 19 points in Game 2 (he sat the fourth quarter), ending a run of 25 straight postseason games with 20 or more points. “We’re still here and we have a chance to turn this series around if we come in and do what we need to do both offensively and defensively.

“Internally we have to figure out how we can be better. We definitely have to figure out how we can get more guys involved.”

Getting people involved is key. Rumor has it guys like Kyrie Irving (5-of-14, 10 points, one assist in Game 2) and J.R. Smith (3- of-9, eight points total in two games) have been part of Cleveland’s offense.

“They just played harder, more physical. Whenever we make a run, they stay the course, and whenever they make a run we get erratic. They’re just a better team right now,” said Smith, who insisted, “I’m not down, just frustrated.”

The Cavs, virtually to a man, insist the Warriors played not only with more talent in Game 2 but more desire.

“We didn’t play hard,” said Tristan Thompson.

“They were tougher than us, more aggressive,” said coach Tyronn Lue.

“We know we’re going home. We have to play better. The guys are not discouraged. More pissed than anything.”

So the Cavs stress they must play harder, smarter, more aggressively.

“When we have opportunities in transition and in the paint, finishing them better,” Irving said. “Also attacking early, willing ourselves to understand it will take a full 48 minutes to beat these guys. We have to keep consistency on both ends of the court and up our physicality.”