The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Cavs stay perfect when leading after three
If you have something to do early the morning after the Cavaliers play and worry about getting enough shuteye, you can turn off the television when they lead after three quarters and sleep contentedly.
The Cavaliers, 48-30 with four games left in the regular season, are a perfect 38-0 when they take a lead into the fourth quarter and 3-0 when the score is tied with 12 minutes left.
That bodes well for the future with the start of the playoffs just around the corner.
The Cavaliers led the Raptors, 86-78, after three quarters April 3 at Quicken Loans Arena and, after getting a little lackadaisical late in the final minutes, regained control and won, 112-106, for their ninth victory in the last 10 games.
“It’s something we talk about a lot,” interim coach Larry Drew said. “From a defensive standpoint, we have to buckle down. Offensively, we have to be the better team as far as execution.
“It’s money time. You have to come up with the loose balls. You have to come up with the long rebounds. You have to make that last play. You can have the rockiest first couple quarters. We put a lot of pride in the fourth quarter. We talk about that goal we want to get to (a championship) — you have to be good in the fourth quarter.”
The game between the Cavaliers and Raptors on March 21 at The Q is a great example of what Drew was talking about. The Raptors led, 79-64, at halftime, yet the Cavaliers prevailed, 132-129, by outscoring Toronto, 68-50, in the second half.
That stat about the Cavaliers being 38-0 when leading after three quarters begs the question, what is their record when trailing after three quarters?
The answer is 7-30. One of those victories was the comeback win over the Raptors two weeks ago.
The Cavs cut the 79-64 halftime deficit to 99-98 after three quarters and then won the fourth quarter, 34-30.
The Cavaliers eliminated the Raptors in the Eastern Conference playoffs each of the past two years. They could easily meet again this year; currently the Raptors are first in the East. The Cavaliers are third in the East. If the standings don’t change and all the favorites win the first round, they would meet in the conference finals.
The Raptors must feel like they are in danger of extinction whenever they face the Cavs in a pressure situation.
“If (our players) let that bother (them), there’s something wrong,” Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. “
We scored 79 points in the first half last time. That’s a positive. That could have been Boston, San Antonio, Houston — anyone. It’s one of those things that happen in a game.”
Yes, but it was the Cavaliers — again.
“You can’t live that way,
to allow them to get in your head,” Casey said. “You have to continue to coach and play to your identity, no matter what the past series has said.”
Two weeks ago, we referred to the Cavaliers as the Monster under the bed that keeps Toronto awake at night.
Sleep isn’t coming any easier for the Raptors knowing they might have to deal with the Cavaliers for a full series a few weeks into the future.