Monday night, the Cleveland Cavaliers treated fans to basketball at the highest level. They shot the ball well, handled the ball exceptionally, played excellent defense, and rebounded very well in a 30 point win. Last night was the total opposite of that game. The wine and gold hit the road, and as it has been for the last two months, the result was dismal, as the Cavs got waxed by the Wizards 108-72 in Game 3 of the best of seven series. Cleveland still leads the series, 2-1.
The combination of shooting less than 40% from the floor, including going 2 for 16 from behind the three point line, and having more turnovers (23) than assists (17), will generally lead to a blowout loss. And if you include the fact that the Cleveland defense repeatedly allowed Washington players to make foray into the paint, you have the makings of a very, very ugly game. Game 3 will give Mike Brown a lot of videotape to use to make corrections. Use this one as a learning experience; it’s what happens when one teams plays very well and the other plays poorly.
What is disturbing is the team’s play on the road over the last eight weeks. Any team that can’t win on the road in the playoffs is in for a short stay in the post-season. And if the wine and gold can’t win away from the friendly confines of Quicken Loans Arena, this series is going to go seven games, that is, if the Cavs can continue their home success. You can also forget about advancing past the first round in 2008, because Cleveland will not have home court advantage after this series.
The backcourt of the Cavaliers could not contend with the pressure put on by Antonio Daniels and DeShawn Stevenson. That caused turnovers, which resulted in easy baskets for the Wizards. Delonte West and Daniel Gibson simply have to do a better job getting into an offensive set (if, of course, the Cavs have one), or this is the time that LeBron James should handle the ball on top, so he can see over the top of the double team. The King can start the offense, and once he gets the ball to the wing, he can cut to the basket.
The other thing that stood out about the game was the reaction of Washington’s players in the second half. They behaved as if they were ahead in the series and were heading to a commanding 3-0 lead. Caron Butler is an all-star, but he showed a lack of class. And someone should tell Stevenson that he is an average player in the league, so basically he should be seen, and not heard. Also, the “overrated’ chant in the fourth quarter by the Verizon Center fans, will no doubt give extra motivation to #23. Doesn’t anybody there know the Wizards are 3-10 in the playoffs against Cleveland the last three years?
Regardless of the taunting and idiotic behavior by the Wizards, the Cavaliers have to have a better road performance on Sunday. A victory would mean they can close out the series in five games, a defeat suggests a seven game series which would leave probable second round opponent, Boston, very rested. But, the most important thing is getting rid of the road malaise that has been characteristic of the wine and gold for two months. Title contenders have to win away from home.
JK
Cleveland Sports Perspective 