The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Cavaliers exhale and regroup
After surviving last-second miss by the Pacers, Game 2 of first-round series beckons April 17
That loud sigh that might have been heard from the direction of Independence on April 16 was a collective exhale from the Cavaliers after viewing the film of their great escape in their first game of the playoffs.
The Cavaliers beat the Pacers, 109-108, on April 15 at Quicken Loans Arena because a shot by Indiana guard C.J. Miles clanked off the left front side of the rim at the final horn.
Game 2 in the Eastern Conference first-round series is 7 p.m. April 17 at The Q. One close call is enough. The Cavaliers, seeded second in the East, are confident they will play better in the rematch before the series shifts to Indiana on April 20.
“We think we can get a lot better,” Cavs forward Kevin Love said after Game 1. “Our execution— turning the ball over, rebounding the ball, free throws— there are a lot of things that we’ll be able to look at on the film. There are some things that we feel we can get better at.”
“You always go into Game 2 even more prepared because you see what kind of game plan they have.” – LeBron James
Practice April 16 was not open to the media.
The Cavaliers made just 14 of 27 free throws in Game 1. Cavs center Tristan Thompson led all players with 13 boards. But as a team the Cavs were out-rebounded, 41-34.
No one in the Cavaliers’ locker room seems worried. LeBron James, who met reporters in the media center, wasn’t surprised the Cavs hit some rough patches.
”Game 1 has always been a feeling out game for myself – seeing what you can do, seeing ways to get better,” James said. “You always go into Game 2 even more prepared because you see what kind of game plan they have. As the series goes on you start to learn more about your opponent. We’ve got to be better the next game.”
The Pacers are thinking the same thing. The Cavaliers won the season series, 3-1, but it wasn’t easy.
The Cavs had to go double overtime on April 2 to beat Indiana, 135-130, at The Q. Paul George scored 43 points for the Pacers in that game.
George led Indiana in Game 1 with 29 points, but he did not have the ball in his hands for the final shot. He believes he should have. If the same circumstance arises in Game 2 or at another juncture of the series, the Cavs should expect him to take the last shot no matter how tightly they defend him.
The defense the Cavs used in the final seconds of Game 1 left George no choice but to pass the ball to Miles with 4.9 seconds to play. George expected Miles to pass it right back to him. George put his hands out, waiting for the ball as he ran from the double-team defense of James and J.R. Smith. Miles did not look at him.
“I’m confident with all my guys taking shots,” George said. “That’s not the issue. In that situation, I need the ball.”
Game 2 will not come down to a last-second shot if the Cavaliers listen to Coach Tyronn Lue. He wants his team to be more aggressive on the offensive boards. Thompson had six offensive rebounds, but no other Cavalier had more than one.
“We can play better and we will play better,” Lue said. “We missed 13 free throws, turned the ball over and they got 19 points.
“Just clean up a few things. The playoffs are about adjustments and what you can do better.”
The Cavaliers made fewer turnovers than Indiana did in game 1, but the Pacers got 19 points from the Cavs 11 errors.