Playoff Update: Round 2, Game 3
Clutch. Nonchalant.
These are two words you don't hear together very often. When people talk about clutch basketball players, the first few names to spring up are Michael and Kobe, followed by some variation of "killer-instinct". A look. An intensity.
LeBron James just threw that cliche out the window. With his effortless running, off-glass, game-winning floater at the buzzer, he put another nail in the coffin of the dazed and confused Toronto Raptors, and the Cleveland Cavaliers took a 3-0 lead in the series. He looked like he was in a pre-game layup line. Coach Lue has been criticized recently for some stubbornness and unusual lineups, but his decision to take the inbound from under the Raptor's hoop instead of advancing the ball was some kind of mad genius.
When you have a player as skilled as LeBron, you try to get him the ball with as much space as possible, and that's what this did. Instead of James having a defender on his him as soon as the ball came in, he had a running start towards the hoop. The shooters spread the floor enough for James to have a clear view at the hoop, and the rest is history. This is definitely one that is going to be remembered for a long time.
Cleveland was up big again, thanks to another strong game from Kevin Love, who ended with 21 points and 16 rebounds. Kyle Korver also put in good work and some heady veteran plays to chip in 18 points. That lead didn't last, though as an unusual lineup gave Cleveland some problems, with Kyle Lowry carrying the load and rookie Anunoby chipping in 18 points. Notably absent from the attempted comeback was All-Star DeMar DeRozen, who sat the entire fourth quarter after starting 3-12 in the game.
The Raptors had a chance to win it, when Cleveland, up by three with under 20 seconds left, was waiting for the second Jeff Green free throw attempt. Green missed the shot, and then completely forgot to cover his man during the transition. OG Anunoby pump faked Green to send him flying by, then calmly drained a three to tie it up.
Toronto had the momentum. What they didn't have was the King. With his game winner last night, that makes two buzzer beaters in the 2018 Playoffs alone, and five playoff buzzer-beaters in his career. Some continue to say he's not "clutch". They must not be paying attention. His five are more than MJ and Kobe combined. While these types of shots aren't the be-all-end-all, they do tell a story.
One of the disappointing things about this game is the need for these heroics at all. Cleveland was up 14 and let the Raptors back in the game again. LeBron had to play over 40 minutes again. The rotation has shrunk dramatically, and Jordan Clarkson and Rod Hood continue to disappoint. They along with Larry Nance, Jr., are going to need to contribute at some point if the Cavs hope to make it back to the Finals.
Game 4 Preview
Game 4 will be played in Cleveland at 8:30 PM EST, Monday on TNT. The Raptors gave it everything they had last night and still came up short. It's possible the Cavs have an off night and let Toronto sneak away with one tomorrow, but I don't see it happening. LeBron and Co. want to get a nice rest after having a grueling first round against the Pacers. Although if the Celtics, who are by far the best coached team in the league, sweep the 76ers, the rest might not be as long as expected. The story-lines would be a lot more intriguing if Kyrie Irving was healthy, coming back to face the team he demanded a trade from in the Eastern Conference Finals. As is, though this young Celtics team is playing lights out, getting contributions from everywhere.
As fun as this Raptors series has been to watch, I'm looking forward to the slug-fest with Boston.
Cover photo credits: By Erik Drost (Cleveland Cavaliers) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Author: @jaymesbawned
Editor: @ats-david
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