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While many expected the Cavaliers to struggle against the Pistons without their star backcourt. Instead, the Cavaliers went toe to toe with the relentless Pistons, eventually falling to the number one seed in the East 122-119 in overtime.
Winners
The Cavalier Bigs
Many would think that without James Harden and Donovan Mitchell on the floor, it would be difficult for the bigs to generate the quality looks they’ve enjoyed throughout February. However, this game was decided by Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, and Thomas Bryant. The trio combined for 61 of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 122 points against a stout Detroit Pistons frontcourt defense.
Whether it was Allen leading the team with 25 points, Mobley knocking down 4 of 8 from beyond the arc, or Bryant providing a spark off the bench with 13 points and eight rebounds, Cleveland received outstanding contributions across the board. This is exactly what you hope to see from your All-Stars when your All-NBA-caliber stars are sidelined for the night.
Sam Merrill’s dependability
In the absence of other primary offensive weapons, Sam Merrill continues to prove just how elite a shooter he is in this league. The constant motion he plays with within the offense creates quality looks regardless of who shares the floor with him. Tonight, Merrill went 6-for-12 from the field, and nearly every attempt came off movement that generated clean windows to fire away.
We even saw Merrill leverage his perimeter gravity to create quality opportunities inside the three-point line. That’s what separates high-level shooters from situational ones — the ability to bend a defense simply by relocating. It’s reassuring to know that Merrill isn’t solely dependent on others to manufacture his looks; he has the skill set and awareness to operate autonomously within virtually any system.
The Cavaliers Energy
The Cavaliers used to be where the Pistons are, a team that hangs its hat on its heart and hustles every night. Nowadays, it looks like that level of effort can come and go in place of nuclear offensive levels. On Friday night, this was an effort reminiscent of the Cavaliers’ JB Bickerstaff era. Ironically enough, it was against JB, but the Cavaliers matched the Pistons’ grit and grind mentality.
The Cavaliers were fighting for loose balls, getting dirty on the glass, and were not playing complacently. This was a pleasant surprise for a team that at times was sleepwalking during stretches of the season. Hopefully, this is a real sign that the Cavaliers’ mentality has shifted. Whether it is the new players in the locker room or this team has turned the page, the Cavaliers look like they are getting locked in for the postseason.
Losers
Late game execution
The Cavaliers had this game in the bag up four late in the fourth quarter. Cade Cunningham had fouled out for Detroit, the Pistons made up for the lack of offensive direction by creating havoc for the Cavaliers. The Cavalier generated little to no offense in the final two minutes; they turned the ball over multiple times due to the pressure Detroit exhibited.
The nail in the coffin was Jaylon Tyson fouling up three with 4 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Daniss Jenkins proceeded to knock down all three free throws. By the time overtime hit, the Cavaliers did what they could to stay afloat; however, without Allen, the offense did not look the same. This was a sour end to what was shaping up to be one of the most impressive wins of the season.
Everyone in attendance for 12 minutes
For those who didn’t watch the game in real time, there was about a 12 minute stretch in the third quarter where the horn was relentlessly blaring. The ESPN broadcast was having a field day capturing the looks of coaches, players, and fans looking miserable. As they should, by the way, that horn was BLASTING.
The icing on the cake was this was when ESPN decided to conduct their interview with Donovan Mitchell, and it went as one would expect. Mitchell tried his best, but imagine talking with anyone with that blasting your eardrums, and having to conduct an interview. Eventually, they resolved the issue, but I am sure that the arena operator will be having a heavy beverage tonight after looking like he was in hell for those 12 minutes.