Nervous Cavs Playoff Scribbles: Rebounding? Danny Green? Kevin Love? Evan Mobley? – Terry Pluto
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CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cavs lost Saturday’s opener of the best-of-seven series to the Knicks, 101-97. Game 2 is Tuesday. If you’re a Cavs fans, there are reasons to be nervous … and for hope.
The Cavs knew there could be trouble rebounding … but they didn’t think it would be this bad. The surface is New York’s 51-38 advantage on the boards. The Knicks turned 17 offensive rebounds into a 23-12 advantage in “second-chance points.” As Donovan Mitchell admitted, “It’s deflating.”
The Knicks had a surprising secret on the boards … it was their guards. There was 6-foot-4 Josh Hart with 10 rebounds. Here are the other New York guards and their rebound totals: Quentin Grimes (five), Jalen Brunson (four) and Immanuel Quickley (three).
You know what is “deflating” … New York’s guards combined for 22 rebounds. Cavs guards? Other than Mitchell (five), it was a embarrassment. Darius Garland was on the court for 43 minutes and had zero! That seems like a statistical impossibility. Caris LeVert had one in 18 minutes. Cedi Osman had one in 19 minutes at small forward. Ricky Rubio had two in six minutes. Add up Mitchell, Osman, Garland, LeVert and Rubio and that’s nine rebounds in the 140 minutes on court!
If the Cavs are going to rebound better … then it has to be a team approach. That’s what New York does. The Cavs can’t expect Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley to do everything. The two big men had 27 of the team’s 38 rebounds.
I hate to say it … but Mobley was given a chance to score inside and he was only 4 of 13. He often went up soft, falling away from the defenders. Know how many free throws Mobley shot? As many as you did watching the game – zero. The Knicks are physical. They will foul you. Time for the 21-year-old to go to the rim strong. He can do it.
More should be expected from ... Garland. He had a strange game. Along with those zero rebounds in 43 minutes, he had only one assist. He committed five turnovers. Garland and the Cavs seemed surprised when the Knicks jumped out and double-teamed him. He made five turnovers, looking rattled at times by the trapping defense.
Yes, first-playoff-game jitters are real … Garland and Mobley proved it. Garland can score more. Mid-range shots and floaters are open for him, assuming New York defends him the same way. Garland was 7 of 13 from the field. Also, Garland faded from the offense when Mitchell tried to win the game in the fourth quarter. The Cavs star nearly did, scoring a dozen points. But Garland can help. He was being left open at times. As for Mobley, just be tougher. He can do it.
Don’t be afraid to … double-team Jalen Brunson. The guy is a star. As former Cavs coach Mike Fratello told me for my scribbles setting up the playoffs: “Brunson has been sensational, exactly what every team wants. He’s a true floor general, but he can go and get 48 points as he did against Cleveland – the best defensive team in the NBA.” Brunson had 27 points, but only two assists. He’s looking to score in this series. Get the ball out of his hands! Let’s see what RJ Barrett or Quentin Grimes can do with it.
Why not give … Danny Green a shot … to shoot. Green is still not totally healed from his offseason ACL surgery. Rubio is going through the same process. The Cavs are worried about both veterans on defense. Rubio looked rough in his six minutes, making two turnovers and missing an easy driving shot. The Cavs gave Dean Wade seven minutes, and were outscored by 14 points with him on the court. It certainly wasn’t all Wade’s fault. But why not give those minutes to Green, see if he can make a few 3-pointers?
A tough one for Cavs fans … was Kevin Love scoring 18 points with eight rebounds as his Miami Heat dumped Milwaukee 130-117 in the opening game of that series. Love is a favorite of many Cavs fans, who weren’t thrilled when he was bought out of the rest of his contract. He signed with the Heat, and struggled most of March and April – shooting only 25% on 3-pointers. He played only three minutes in the first play-in game. But Love delivered Sunday.
What was his problem … as in Caris LeVert shooting 1 of 7 in 18 minutes with a rebound and an assist. On one play, he drove to the rim from the right side. He had a wide open layup. LaVert is right-handed, but he banged the ball off the backboard with the left hand. He is 28 years old. He previously played in nine postseason games, averaging 20 points. He can change Tuesday’s game with a veteran performance instead of looking like a rattled rookie.
And my prediction is … Cavs beat the Knicks, 96-94, in Game 2. Low scoring. Tough defense. Garland bouncing back with a big game.
Then there was this … the crowd for Game 1 was sensational. If only the Cavs had rebounded with the same energy that the fans brought to the game.
– You can find more Terry Pluto columns here.
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Cleveland Browns defensive End Myles Garrett has from row seat to watch the Cleveland Cavaliers battle the New York Knicks in the first half of round one, game one in NBA playoffs, April 15, 2023, at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
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