During this playoff year, the Cavaliers have done a good job of defending the opponents’ star players to gain victories. For the most part, if one big gun was scoring, the defense held the other two in check. However, last night San Antonio’s big three of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili scored 67 of the Spurs’ 85 points as the wine and gold lost Game 1 of the NBA Finals, 85-76.
The biggest night was by Parker, who scored 27 points, mostly in the paint. The lightning quick guard broke down the Cavs’ defense repeatedly and if he wasn’t scoring, he was finding the open man, leading to easy buckets by Duncan. As we said in a previous blog, if Cleveland cannot control Eva Longoria’s husband to be, it will be a short series for the Cavs. They simply must make Parker beat them with outside shots. Yes, Bruce Bowen and Robert Horry hit a couple of threes, but if 80% of the opponents’ points are coming from their three best players, a defensive adjustment must be made for Game 2.
Offensively, LeBron James had a bad shooting night, hitting just 4 of 16 shots, scoring only 14 points. Mike Brown has to feel that the King will play better the rest of the series. Daniel Gibson continued to stay hot, leading the wine and gold with 16 points. Sasha Pavlovic was agressive going to the basket, something that has to continue if the Spurs are going to concentrate on stopping James. The big men have to be stronger inside, powering the ball to the basket and drawing more fouls. Zydrunas Ilgauskas went 1 for 8, missing from outside and inside. These guys have to make Duncan work harder on defense, which may take a little steam off of his offense.
The Cavs lost the first two games to Detroit, but the Spurs are most definitely a better team. Mike Brown has to make adjustments to try and stop the penetration that killed the Cavs last night, and make Parker shoot from outside. The Frenchman is too quick for Larry Hughes, so Gibson may get more time because he is quicker on defense, than his hot shooting. Brown has shown he can make those changes, so it will be interesting to see what happens on Sunday night.
Cleveland was missing shots when they were open, so you have to have to think at least some more will fall in the next game. If they do, the Cavs can stay in the game longer and make it come down to the final possessions. That’s where having LeBron gives the Cavaliers the advantage. Brown also has to get James running off of some screens, because if you can rub Bruce Bowen off some picks, it will free him up. I would also post up James and see if Bowen can handle him in the post (I don’t think he can), but it will cause the Spurs to bring some help.
The Cavaliers now know what the Finals is all about. They need to be better offensively and defensively in Game 2. If they don’t show that improvement, the Spurs will cruise to their 4th title in nine years.
JK
Cleveland Sports Perspective 