LeBron James from the Cleveland Cavaliers came in full pelt aggressive on the Indiana Pacers to start off Game 2 of their Eastern Conference series Wednesday evening. His snide, critical reaction was to praise team Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue as a game-to-game postseason modifications wizard for his changes.
NBA’s number one player exploded for his teams first 16 points. He obtained 29 points within the first half of the game and had accumulated 46 by the end of the night. With the Cavaliers beating the Pacers the best-of-seven series has resulted even at 1-1.
Coach Lue made the decision to adjust his starting lineup, swapping out his players J.R. Smith and Kyle Korver for Jeff Green and Rodney Hood. His decisions could not have panned out any better for his team and self, with both elite shooters contributing at the Quicken Loans Arena.
Korver scored 12 points in total, playing his heavily underrated defensive role for his team, taking 2 charges like a champ diving to the hard ground in such ways that would normally break the bone structure of most 37-year-olds without question. Smith, who for so long in his career has been known for being an unrepentant chucker, had got by with just five shots only but he’d taken on the responsibility of blocking Indiana’s leading scorer, Victor Oladipo. Smith went home the night with two steals in the bag, this included a pivotal steal with just three minutes left on the clock where he tied up Victor Oladipo on the backcourt setting up a 93-86 lead for his team.
“Every moment is big in the playoffs,” Korver explained post game. “Moments can change games, moments can create a run. So I think that’s on all our minds. If there’s a loose ball, dive on the floor. If you can take a charge, do that. The playoffs are all about scratching. Whatever it takes.” Korver felt pride in that last comment, quoting the Cav’s brand new slogan.
Lue had pushed for James both publicly and in private to come out more aggressive this time rather than facilitating for his teammates in contrast to his playing behaviour on Sunday. It’s not easy to credit the Cavs coach for James’s more barbaric approach for he is his own person who normally only answers to himself, however, Lue demonstrated that he knew what was right for Cleveland. “This was the most aggressive I’ve seen James at the start of a game, as far as trying to make a conscious effort attacking,” Smith commented. “Bron is at best when he’s just comfortable being him. Not when he’s trying to be too locked in or trying to be, just being quiet. That’s not who he is. He’s best when he’s laughing, joking, having a good time. It just seems like he plays better, in my opinion.”
Smith gave credit to Korver for keeping the opposition’s defenders clear of LeBron’s path, although Kevin Love and Smith both had the same impact, with George Hill guarding a little less feared from range.
“We roll how he rolls,” Korver said of James. “There are moments when he has to get us all going and get us shots, but a lot of our shots are predicated off him putting his head down and driving to the basket. Kind of creating things for us. That’s how we play.
“We don’t run a motion offence or anything. We give LeBron the ball and say, ‘Go to work.’
The Pacers forced themselves busy after their initial stagger outscoring Cleveland 79-67 over the final three quarters and got within four points multiple times. With not even more than half a minute left, the Cavaliers’ pushed themselves into the lead.
