The Cavaliers didn’t get much out of their supporting cast through the first two games of their first-round playoff matchup. That couldn’t come at a worse time, Brian Windhorst of ESPN writes, given that LeBron James could leave for greener pastures via free agency this summer.
In those first two contests, which the Cavaliers split, James accounted for 62% of the team’s baskets either directly of via assist. That’s the highest total of his playoff career by a considerable margin. Notably, the next highest on that list came back in the 2009 postseason months prior to his infamous Decision to leave Cleveland.
Another concern that could linger for the Cavaliers if not rectified in Game 3 (underway as of publishing) is on the defensive end of the ball. While James carrying the offense could be justifiable if the team was a vaunted defensive force as they were back during his first stint with the franchise, this rendition ranked 29th in the NBA in defensive efficiency.
There’s more out of the Central Division:
- After seeing just two minutes of action in the first two games of the Cavaliers‘ first-round matchup, Tristan Thompson is expected to see more action, Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com writes.
- The Pistons don’t have financial flexibility heading into the offseason but head coach Stan Van Gundy doesn’t view that as an impediment to improving the roster. Van Gundy tells Keith Langlois of the team’s official site that there are benefits to returning so many key rotation players and that they’ll always have options in terms of trades when the time comes.
- The Bucks haven’t made it out of the first round in 17 seasons. Down in their 2018 first-round tilt with Boston, they have plenty of work to do, but Genaro C. Armas of The Associate Press writes it would do wonders for business as the franchise prepares to move into a new arena.
Wouldn’t be surprised at all if the pistons work a trade from Kemba in the offseason
I think the Hornets would do it if its Kemba & Batum for Jackson, Ish, Johnson, Kennard, and Bullock. Only 8.5M expiring but they get out from under Batums contract. I’d see them using Johnson to get rid of Williams/MKG midseason.
Are you kidding me? Why the hell would Detroit trade away all that young inexpensive talent for Kemba who is a solid star but not franchise changing and washed up Batum? When Jackson returned to the lineup late in the season, the pistons were dangerous. No way would they trade all those guys away
Tired of this narrative about Lebron not having enough help. He made big shots down the stretch of that game but did not run up the floor which resulted in Bogdanovic hitting that 3 from the corner. You don’t do that in a playoff series period, how do you not get back on defense? Lebron is not playing defense.
My Dude,
You can be tired of it, as I think most of us are! However it doesn’t make it any less true. LBJ should have gotten back on that play and I don’t think anyone who has played the game will argue that. Just as I don’t think anyone who’s played the game would argue he’s carrying to much of the load on offense for a 33 year old. Jr’s horrible shot with a wide open Clarkston in front of him and LBJ posted, took their chance at stealing that win. However they deserved to loose that game and you will see the more aggressive LBJ that you saw in game 2, in game 4. If the Cavs want to win, Hill and Hood have to step up. I say those two guys because they are capable of creating their own shots, shits for others, as well as defend better than they are doing! If not, LBJ is gone and his body language looks like it did the first time he left. Magic is smili
He had help and all the help got traded away so he wouldn’t throw a tantrum. If Cavs just stopped listening to Lebron they’d have like 5 rings by now.
Yeah man, just think about all the winning the Cavs did when LeBron was in Miami. LBJ is the problem #overrated #clevelanddoesntneedyou
That’s not what I said man. Lebron is the best player in the world. But he’s a terrible GM. The Cavs should keep him but they should stop letting him dictate the roster. Every roster decision he’s pushed for has worked out horribly.
James does NOT make roster decisions. None of the players the Cavs have gotten are James-endorsed players. Meanwhile Carmello, George, Bledsoe & Napier are not Cavs and all but George were easily available.
Reflect, @reflect
Lol…..
That’s hilarious
That others think James made the roster decisions. If he did PG3 and Bledso would be Cavs!
But she is Lebrun, she can do no wrong,
Lebron sucks,
That’s sexist, not funny and innacurate
The best move the Pistons could make to fire SVG. He’s been a train wreck. I liked the move when they hired him, but its hasn’t worked. Bring in a different voice
Shows you what Joe Vardon knows. Absolutely nothing.
GO CAVS! LeBron is the MVP King.
Says the person whose picture is what toddlers do for fun. Grow up, LeBron is not and was never the king of anything. League produced wannabe superstar.
No but he’s the best over almost 15 years.
Yeah, it’s hard, you’re tired of him. Why won’t he age like everyone else or just go away. Darnit!
No supporting cast?
George Hill has better career averages in the playoffs than regular season during is solid career. Love, Thompson, Smith and Korver have been there and done that for the Cavs. Hoid, Green, Calderon, all players that have been or are good role players off a playoff bench.
Look at how many minutes GSW has had to give McGee, Cook and Looney.
How many minutes are the Raptors giving to young guys. Nadar, Larkin and Ojeleye are all double digits for Boston.
I’m tired of hearing LeBron doesn’t have help. Maybe they haven’t played well to this point, but they’re not lacking for talent.
C’mon bro…. Thompson has been Kardashianed. He has been un-playable. Google him, 1st page only 1 link is related to basketball, its sad.
George Hill is over the hill.
You can’t compare Cavs role players to McGee, Cook, and Looney when you have 4 ALL STARS and 2 of them MVP Candidates. I could get minutes on that team and they’d still win games at a high clip.
Fact of the matter is, Cavs have 2 starters on their entire roster. K-Love & LBJ. The rest are bench players.
Take the Top-5 VORP for GSW (14.4) and CLE (12.0) GSW beats CLE by 2.4 and outside of LBJ the highest VORP is 1.4 (Love). Right now they’re 3rd behind TOR and PHL b/c Kyrie is out, otherwise they’d be 4th and that’s b/c LBJ VORP is 8.9 of the 12.0.
No one is touching Houston – 18.4 though. Still looking at Houston – Cleveland even tho they are down 2-1.
The Kardashian take. Sizzling!
LBJ has the team he wanted…TT…that is the center he wanted…JR Smith and that stupid contract. The coach won’t play TT….they have no stop in the middle…kevin love is not a center and he doesn’t play as hard when forced. The match is about to strike in the Cleveland dumpster….but the owner doesn’t need a GM to put the fire out!!! He is starting to compete with Dolan for worst owner.
Cavs are playing like a team that just got slapped together and have not developed teamwork. Lue is not a good fit, preferring a small rotation; Love is injured; Clarkson is teed off; same problem as before– nobody is sure what Lue’s doing, no D.
JR Smith is not the fulltime answer, though the national commentators know his name at least. Seems like it was him flailing at Bogdanovich.