Mike Brown called his team's offense in the second half of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals "stagnant."
That's putting it politely. The Cavs lost Game 1 to Orlando because they quit doing the things they had done all season, things that won them 66 games. That meant ball movement and player movement. But in Game 1, too often the Cavs stood around and went one-on-five and relied solely on their MVP.
LeBron James did all he could, scoring 49 points and playing through what appeared to be some serious cramps in his right leg in the fourth quarter to time and again provide his team points.
But the problem was James didn't start taking the ball to the basket until less than four minutes were left, and by that time the Cavs were down 93-90. He was successful in those drives, either scoring, getting to the line or setting up a teammate — including setting up Delonte West for a three with 40.8 seconds left that gave the Cavs a 103-102 lead. After Rashard Lewis gave the Magic a one-point lead, James made a more conventional three-point play to put the Cavs up two, which set up Lewis' game-winning three.
The Cavs could not answer in the final seconds, and Orlando won. But the game was not lost in the final seconds, it was lost in the third quarter and early fourth when the Cavs allowed a 15-point halftime lead to fritter away.
"I don't think it's what they did," West said. "I think it's what we didn't do. I'm not taking any credit away from them, but we didn't come out with the same intensity that we have normally done in the third quarter thus far in the postseason."
The Cavs started the game with enough effort and energy for three games. And it showed. James had four assists before he scored a point, and by halftime he had 26 points.
Dwight Howard said Magic coach Stan Van Gundy told the team at halftime that the Magic "were all witnesses, and we couldn't have that." Meaning they were all standing around, admiring James.
In the second half, the Cavs offense was stagnant and Orlando's was fluid. Orlando relied on its superstar –Howard scored 30 points and was near unstoppable in the paint when he did not commit an offensive foul — but still had ball movement and plays, as shown by Hedo Turkoglu's 14 assists.
James had an amazing night, with 49 points, eight assists and six rebounds. But until those final four minutes, he was taking a lot of jumpshots. Eventually it caught up with the Cavs.
This loss does not end the series. The Cavs almost certainly will win Game 2 (they better). They'll need to win one on the Magic's home court. It's not time to panic.
But anyone who doubted the Magic should be taken seriously can now re-think. The Cavs are in a series.
Random thoughts …
—James set Cavs team records for points in a half (26 in the first), points in a game (49) and field goals made (20, in 30 shots). He had six rebounds, eight assists, two steals and three blocks.
—The only criticism is that it would be better if those points came off more set plays, as opposed to the one-on-five approach the Cavs used so much. Too much.
—In the playoffs James is averaging 34.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 2 steals per game.
—Van Gundy continually told his team that it had been in tough games in the playoffs and Cleveland had not. The looks on the Cavs faces late in the game seemed to indicate they were shocked to be losing at that point of the game.
—The way they started they should have been shocked. The Magic players all candidly admitted they played just one half.
—Howard's first dunk was a monster that brought down the shot clock attached to the top of the backboard. "I thought it was a regular dunk," Howard said.
Stating it clearly:
Mike Brown: "That's why this is a series. A series is not won nor lost after one game. I have confidence in our guys. I trust our guys. We'll be ready for Game 2 when it comes around."
West on his last shot that didn't go in: "I got a good look at it and that's all you can ask for. You practice that shot and you step up and take it confidently and it's either going to go in or it's not. It just didn't go in for me."
Van Gundy on guarding James: "The one thing I don't leave this game with is any idea whatsoever to do with him. As a coach, you are supposed to have some idea. I don't have a clue, OK? I don't."
James: "My statistics don't mean anything when it ends in a loss. Tonight my individual performance means nothing."
James: "If we think the world is coming down on our head, we'll get beat pretty bad in Game 2."
Van Gundy on the teams' last possessions: "There was no big genius thing there. Rashard just made a hell of a shot and we came up with a stop on the last possession."
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Yes, I believe I was earlier ridiculed by other posters for saying that in order to beat Orlando, the Cavs would have to play near-perfect basketball, while the Magic would have to be a bit "off their game." This is precisely what I was speaking of.
When the Magic shoot 62%, and are nailing 3-pointers left and right….while our supporting cast (Wally, Boobie, Mo, Delonte—just like I said) is misfiring at a 30% clip, the odds are against us. No matter how many points LBJ scores. We all know the Cavs are much better when he doesn't HAVE to score 40 or more points.
Scary thing is, Dwight Howard can play even better than he did last night.
what are you talking about jason? near perfect? the cavs played like garbage yesterday and almost beat the magic. sure, if the cavs continue to play like the 2007 version they will lose but if they get back to playing defense and moving the ball on offense they should win.
Jason, don't you think that this is one of those times when being right is not right. I mostly post about the Indians, and the tone is a little negative, right now. I would just so much love to be wrong about the inept management, the team-wide slumps, and the New Bullpen From Hell. Let's hope, for the sake of the City of Cleveland, that we can all celebrate how wrong you turned out to be. I'm sure you won't mind.
Don't shoot the messenger. I just voiced what you all were thinking. By "near perfect," I mean "perfectly execute their normal game," shooting around 50% with ball-movement and lockdown defense. And by Orlando having to be "slightly off" their game, I mean shooting NOWHERE NEAR 62%.
This series will be a real test of Mike Brown's coaching abilities, because Van Gundy ain't no dummy. And the Magic have lots of weapons. Take their top three shooters and match them against OUR top three shooters. Who's more consistent…?
Congratulations Jason. Now, what the hell are you doing here on a small town blog? Please do yourself a favor and go out there and get yourself an analyst gig on network tv! You go girl!!
Hey, two-timer. You're supposed to stalk me. I feel cheap and used.
Jason, I've said it before, I'll say it again. You could put this version of James on the 2003-2004 team, find a few good long-range shooting role-players to make wide-open shots for less than what they're overpaying assorted stiffs like Gibson and Pavlovic (for example, Trajan Langdon would do extremely well), teach and stress team defense to compensate for terrible defensive liabilities like Ilgauskas, and they'd likely do just as well. Give Ira Newble his well-deserved ring.
I still can't see how they are going to lose the series. Never mind around the perimeter, James can drive and shoot free throws all night long if he wants to. I don't see how Howard is going to avoid getting into early foul trouble every game, and those Orlando guys can't keep shooting outside like that.
alan, i agree 90% with your assessment of this version of Lebron with the 2003-04 season. except that jeff mcinnis' game was in the process of complete collapse that year. if mo williams continues to fall apart i'll accept the other 10%.
my bad, that was the following year mcinnis esentially killed his career.
If Mo, Delonte, Boobie, Sasha and Wally—our so-called outside "shooting" threats—would work on their shot skills as much as LeBron does in the off season, we wouldn't even be having this ugly discussion. LBJ has not always had the deadly shooting range he now has, but he recognized it and worked to make himself better.
Our guards are PAID well to make shots, not go 4-for-16….something that happens FAR too often, and at the most inopportune times. We don't need any Larry Hughes clones here. Jordan was successful and won titles because B.J. Armstrong, Steve Kerr and John Paxon consistently knocked down shots. Without them, Jordan would never have his rings. Likewise, OUR supporting cast needs to step it up when they have wide-open looks.