Cleveland Cavaliers: What Must Change Under Tyronn Lue?

2. Points in the Paint

The Cleveland Cavaliers have the tools to dominate the offensive interior with just four players. Kyrie Irving and LeBron James are elite scorers off the drive, and both Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson are dominant offensive rebounders.

Thus, one can’t help but wonder how in the world Cleveland checks in at No. 21 in the NBA in points in the paint per game.

That unfathomable number is a very accurate illustration of why the Cavaliers have been unable to defeat the Golden State Warriors. Golden State specializes in 3-point shooting, which is where defense inevitably comes into play.

It’s also where pounding the ball inside factors in.

Cleveland is trying to outshoot the opposition, ranking No. 5 in the NBA in 3-point field goal attempts per game. It needs to be attacking the interior, drawing fouls, and creating easy scoring opportunities, which thus collapses the defense and prevents transition scoring opportunities.

Attempting to go shot-for-shot with the Warriors while boasting inferior shooters won’t work; Tyronn Lue must get Cleveland to attack the rim without relent.

Settling for long jump shots is essentially admitting defeat against the Warriors.

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