by The Cleveland Cavaliers needed a win in the worst way tonight and got one at home over Toronto. The 125-120 win handed Cleveland a 3-2 lead in the best of seven opening round series. This also moved the Cavaliers to 9-0 lifetime at home in the playoffs versus Toronto. There were several factors that came into play in the big win, with the following factors perhaps the largest.
Making Adjustments
We’ve talked all year about halftime adjustments, tonight, the Cavaliers made them as they trailed 74-67 at the half. They were outscored by 11 in the second quarter and seemingly had the win taken out of their sales. That changed at the tail end of the third quarter as the Cavaliers finished the frame on a 5-0 run and brought that energy into the fourth were they took off from there.
The Bench Bunch
We’ve talked about it all year how our bench is one of the strongest in the NBA after the trades were made and tonight proved that once again. Dennis Schroder lit it up with 19, including 14 in the second half. Schroder, time and time again has shown he can provide a quick spark of the bench and did tonight when they needed him the most.
Playoff Harden stayed home and midseason Harden arrived
James Harden is known to disappear in the playoffs and Cleveland has no chance if he does it again. Tonight, he was in midseason form and showed no fatigue as he scored 23 points and shot 50% from deep while also creating points with 5 dimes, 2 steals and 9 boards. This is the Harden they need if they even hope to sniff the Eastern Conference Finals.
In Mobley the Cavaliers go
I’ve been saying it for years, when Mobley steps up and gets a double double, Cleveland can count on winning. Mobley needs to be physical and compete on each play, he cannot be muscled out of the paint. Tonight he did so with 23 points and 9 rebounds while 16 huge points in the second half. Mobley is the X Factor, I’ll say it again!
Coach Kenny Pulls the Trigger
Dean Wade has been off and Coach Kenny Attikson finally made the swap in the starting lineup, replacing him for Max Strus who helped space the floor while chipping in with 8. Mix that 8 in with Merrill coming off the bench with 9 more. That was a huge 17 points tonight and the two of them provide that scoring punch that opens up when Mobley, Mitchell and Harden are cooking. Those two will get open shots and more then likely sink them!
The Sixth Man
As mentioned before, the Cavaliers are now 9-0 lifetime at home in the playoffs versus Toronto. The crowd tonight at RMF was rocking all game, off their phones and involved, good job!
