Last night’s Game 2 of the NBA Finals was one of those games that was not as close as the final score indicates. The margin of victory for the Spurs wound up being 11 points, but San Antonio dominated the game in every way until the final six minutes. Once again, the Cavs had no answer for the Spurs’ big three of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili, as the trio combined for 78 of their team’s 103 points in the 103-92 victory, putting San Antonio up 2-0 in the best of seven series.
Mike Brown simply has to find some way to slow at least one of these guys if the Cavaliers have any hope of winning one game in the series, let alone four. It must start with stopping Parker, who is on his way to the Finals MVP trophy, with another incredible performance. His penetration at will is causing breakdowns all over the place in the wine and gold defense, as they resemble the boy sticking fingers in the dyke to stop the flooding. Brown put LeBron James on Parker to start the game, since Larry Hughes cannot stop the lightning quick guard, especially with his foot injury. The best hope might rest in a combination of Eric Snow and Daniel Gibson, with Snow using his brain and Gibson his quickness to stop Parker.
Although I never liked the thug tactics of the "Bad Boy" Pistons, or Pat Riley’s Knicks, one thing the Cavs have not tried against Parker is a hard foul. The point guard waltzes through the paint like he’s on a Sunday stroll down the boulevard, with no fear of getting mugged. Perhaps Parker is too quick to catch for a hard foul, but none of the Cavs’ big men have dared to knock him on his butt on one of his forays to the hole. The wine and gold have to send a message that this will no longer be allowed, and also to give Parker a second thought as he goes to the basket.
Offensively, the Cavs’ lack of a set offense is killing them against an excellent defensive team. One way to combat good defense is running crisp sets, but the wine and gold doesn’t have that option. San Antonio is doubling and tripling James, and recovering quickly enough to contest shots when LeBron finds open people. Gibson is the only consistent shooter when left open, and he continues to impress. It makes you wonder why he didn’t play more in the regular season (Brown’s love of veterans). Many are calling for Hughes to lose more and more time, but how about Donyell Marshall, who outside of Game 6 against New Jersey has contributed nothing in this playoff run.
Eric Snow is challenging his teammates to match the Spurs intensity, but so far only a handful have listened. The Cavaliers have the look of an intimidated team. It doesn’t help that the Spurs execute offensively and defensively with the precision of a surgeon. At least the next three games are in the friendly confines of the "Q", which should help some guys play with more confidence. The Spurs have the look of a team wanting to get a ring, many of the Cavs look like they are dazed by the bright lights.
It would help if Mike Brown treated the games more seriously. This is not a regular season game. Holding the King out for nine minutes in the first quarter while he had two fouls is an inexperienced coach’s mistake. As soon as the Spurs started building a lead, James should have been put back in. Cleveland has no chance unless LBJ is best player on the court. That’s impossible if he’s seated next to the coach.
San Antonio is the better team, one of the league’s best. However, the Cavs are not the worst team ever to get to The Finals, the Allen Iverson Sixer team and the Knicks who had the 8th seed in the strike season are worse. They just need to play stronger and harder on defense. Down 0-2, it would be okay for Mike Brown to make some changes. Give Gibson more time, and perhaps some minutes should be given to Ira Newble as well.
Most of all, the Cavaliers need to realize this is for the championship. Without smarter and harder play, this series will never go back to the Alamo City.
JK
Cleveland Sports Perspective 