Going small

For longtime hoops fans and casual observers alike, the 2015 National Basketball Association Finals just can’t seem to stop producing twists. Yesterday, it was once more the Cavaliers’ turn to shock and awe, going small from the outset in an attempt to forge a winning formula, conventional wisdom be damned.

To note that the Cavaliers’ strategy was a risky one would be to understate the obvious. After all, they looked handicapped in a pace-and-space environment. On paper, their competitive advantage lay in their sheer size. Yet, they dared push the envelope, greeting the Warriors with a First Five that boasted of quickness and athleticism at the expense of height and heft. And, to their credit, they stuck with the plan until the final buzzer.

Needless to say, the Cavaliers’ success was predicated on their ability to drain open jumpers created through isolation- heavy sets and on the strength of top dog LeBron James’ court vision. Meanwhile, they figured that their defense would be strong enough to withstand the Warriors’ supposed superiority in speedy- lineup situations. In other words, they believed in themselves, never mind their evident meltdown due to fatigue and lack of depth at the end of Game Four.

As things turned out, the Cavaliers did manage to stand toe to toe against the Warriors — for three and a half quarters, that is. In the crunch, they proved just a tad slower with their pressure, a tad less accurate with their shots, a tad less sharp with their snap decisions. Again, they were let down by their short rotation.

As the series shifts to the Q anew, the Cavaliers would do well to stay self-assured. Sure, they’re down two to three. And, sure, they’ve got a difficult task at hand. Then again, there’s nothing to lose at this point. They’ve already overachieved, and what they do from here on should serve to establish their

status as co-stars in a Finals to remember.

As the series shifts to the Q anew, the Cavaliers would do well to stay self-assured. Sure, they’re down two to three. And, sure, they’ve got a difficult task at hand. Then again, there’s nothing to lose at this point. They’ve already overachieved, and what they do from here on should serve to establish their status as co-stars in a Finals to remember.