So far, Cavaliers’ best shot not enough
Before Game 2 of the NBA Finals, Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue insisted his team is “in a good place right now.”
Let’s go to the tape for an official review, often a scary place for the Cavaliers.
After Sunday’s 122-103 loss to the Golden State Warriors, the Cavaliers are down 0-2 in the best-of-seven NBA Finals.
I know, the Cavs came back from deficits of 0-2 and 1-3 to win the 2016 NBA title on this same Oracle Arena floor.
And, I know, the Cavs were down 0-2 to Boston and came back to beat the Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals. That gave them the opportunity to face the Warriors this season.
But down 0-2 to the Warriors?
Down 0-2 with Stephen Curry making outrageous long jumpers? He was lofting threepointers from every bridge, from the Golden Gate in San Francisco to the Lorain Avenue in Cleveland.
Curry finished with 33 points on 9-for-17 from threepoint range. Nine three-pointers is an NBA Finals record.
Kevin Durant was in an 8-for-22 shooting funk in the opener, but the Warriors’ forward came back with 26 points on 10-for-14 shooting. He also had nine rebounds and seven assists “and set a good tone for us with his defense,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr.
Golden State center JaVale McGee kept rolling to the basket for dunks. And the Cavs were confused. He was 6-for-6, all the shots within a few inches. The Cavs’ defense seemed utterly confused when it came to covering him.
Overall, the Cavs played a very good game in the opener ... and they weren’t overwhelmed until the fourth quarter of Game 2. But they are still down 0-2.
That’s why I’m worried. The Cavs can’t seem to stop the Warriors when it really matters. It is a question of talent and depth, the Warriors having the advantage in both.
I could be wrong, but I think these two games are going to be emotionally draining for the Cavs — and especially LeBron James.
James came into the game trying to become the first player in NBA Finals history to score 50 points in consecutive games. Maybe James didn’t set out to score 50, but he knew he needed another epic performance for the Cavs to pull an upset.
I don’t think James had “epic” in him.
He was simply superb with 29 points, 13 assists and nine rebounds. He played the first 44 minutes before being sent to the bench once the Warriors had an 18-point lead.
But it wasn’t enough. Just as scoring 51 points in the 124-114 overtime loss in the opener wasn’t enough.
James has to wonder, what will be enough? He’s playing with a nasty-looking red eye after being raked in the face by Golden State’s Draymond Green.
This was the 102nd consecutive game this season for James. It’s the most he’s ever played in any season in his 15-year career.
Kerr said his goal in Game 2 was for his team to “pressure LeBron, making him uncomfortable ... even if he ends up with 30 points and a tripledouble.”
The Warriors usually ran two defenders at James, and the beads of sweat popped up on his forehead and poured into his face.
The man has to be exhausted.
He did get some help. Kevin Love had 22 points and 10 rebounds. It was a solid game. George Hill came back from missing a key free throw in Game 1 to score 15 points on 5-for-11 shooting.
But that wasn’t enough, either.
As far as returning home, maybe the Cleveland crowd can help. The Cavs have lost only one playoff game at home this season, the first-round opener to Indiana. They have won their next eight playoff games at Quicken Loans Arena.
J.R. Smith was tormented by the Golden State crowd, which chanted “M-V-P” when he went to the foul line. The fans were mocking Smith for his failure to remember the score at the end of Game 1.
Smith had a rough night, scoring five points on 2-for-9 shooting in 31 generally dismal minutes.
The Cavs face a must-win appointment with the Warriors on Wednesday night. No NBA team has come back from an 0-3 deficit to win any bestof-seven series.
We’ll see what the Cavs have left.