James’ tactics confirm Cavs’ weaknesses
Injuries force star to revert to old shooting game
On Sunday evening, LeBron James missed his final seven fieldgoal attempts, and a staggering 24 of his 35 shots, overall. This, from the same guy who reinvented what it meant to be a high-usage, perimeter-based superstar just a few seasons ago. In 2012-13, James took a massive leap, becoming uncompromisingly merciless about where he took his shots from, and how he dictated the game offensively. He was always incredible when it came to finishing near the rim, but he developed a wonderful understanding about where else he could dominate — on the left block — and he improved his three-point shooting.
In his final two seasons in Miami, he averaged 16.9 and 16.8 field-goal attempts per 36 minutes, the lowest marks of his career. (That number is up to 22.7 in these playoffs.) Not coincidentally, his true shooting percentages were the highest of his career, and the Heat had the highest offensive efficiency in the Eastern Conference both seasons.
James had figured out how to marry his unparalleled physical gifts with his unparalleled real-time understanding of the game.
Accordingly, watching James revert — regress, some would argue — to an isolation-heavy, brute approach against the Warriors has been slightly disappointing to those invested in the evolution of the game. Yet, there has been precious little snark regarding James’ play.
When Kobe Bryant shot 6-for-24 in Game 7 of the Lakers’ Finals victory over the Celtics, the phrase “in spite of ” was used a lot. With James “because of” is in heavy rotation.
The most obvious reason for the difference is James’ supporting cast. With Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving, two legitimate offensive stars, out for the playoffs, James is the Cavaliers’ only source for creativity, save the occasional J.R. Smith dalliance with shotmaking savant status. The rest of the Cavaliers’ roster consists of a crop of average players with one above-average NBA skill: Tristan Thompson (grabbing offensive rebounds), Iman Shumpert (defending on the perimeter), Timofey Mozgov (protecting the rim), James Jones (hitting three-pointers), J.R. Smith (doing inexplicable things) and Sunday evening’s co-hero, Matthew Dellavedova (trying really hard). James is not working with Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom in their primes here.
That James managed 11 assists with that lineup is perhaps the ultimate testament to his greatness. There has to be more to it than that, though.
There is James’ reputation as a star who gets more out of an assistant than a canned jumper, and it is deserved — a cross-court pass to Smith near the end of the third quarter, with not so much as a glance, was unfair. The accuracy of some of his other dishes on simpler plays was the difference between a shooter being able to rise up right away and having to try to put the ball on the floor and create for himself — likely to the Cavaliers’ detriment.
Beyond that, there was at least a little bit of discretion to those 35 attempts. In the second quarter, James sprinted down the court several times, either to get deep post position or isolate a matchup before the Warriors’ help defence was ready. In the third quarter, James saw Warriors big man Festus Ezeli tap dancing in and out of the paint, re-setting the clock for his defensive eligibility. When Ezeli moved away from the action to avoid a violation, James went right at, and by, Draymond Green for a layup. His timing was that of a master.
Still, if Sunday was a confirmation of James’ greatness, it was also a reminder of his mortality. The Warriors blocked four of James’ attempts, including two on the same possession. On one play, Green met James at the top of the mountain, only the peak is no longer of Everestian proportions.
Inevitably, James will not be capable of these caloric performances. He will have to opt for a more meticulous approach with the ball — by necessity, not choice, this time. And the Cavaliers will have to provide James better, or at least healthier, teammates.
The way that the Cavaliers won Game 2 just does not feel sustainable. It is not something that can be repeated three times in the next five games. Credit to the Cavaliers’ defence, legitimately stymying the Warriors’ beautiful attack on occasion, but Stephen Curry is not going to repeat his wretched shooting night again. It is doubtful that Cleveland can successfully muck up this series enough to win, at least without the offence taking at least a miniature leap.
There is beauty in James’ attempt to dismantle Golden State’s machinery. It might not be the finest version of the star, but it is the one his team needs. That he has still clung to some of his South Beach self is the real accomplishment. Savour it, because it won’t be here forever.
The way the Cavaliers won Game 2 does not feel sustainable