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2016 NBA Playoffs: The Deciding Factor In Each First Round Series

By Gerald Bourguet

May 27, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles the basketball against Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) during the fourth quarter in game five of the Western Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Rockets 104-90 to advance to the NBA Finals. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
May 27, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles the basketball against Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) during the fourth quarter in game five of the Western Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Rockets 104-90 to advance to the NBA Finals. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA Playoffs
Feb 22, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) defends a shot by Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) in the fourth quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 8 Detroit Pistons

Drummond vs. LeBron in the Paint

It’s ironic: In a league where going small has become the next step in the evolution of the game, and against a Cleveland Cavaliers team that’s already jumping through mental hoops trying to figure out how to beat with a small-ball Warriors team in a potential Finals matchup, no less, the Detroit Pistons‘ only chance of dethroning the King is big man Andre Drummond.

All season long, one of the big problems people have had with Cleveland’s title hopes revolves around their lack of a mobile big man who can not only stretch the floor on offense, but defend the perimeter  on the defensive end when the Warriors (or Spurs) go small.

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King James Gospel

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    • In this series, the Cavs won’t have to worry about stepping out to contest the shots of a stretch-5, but the Pistons are probably relieved that neither Tristan Thompson nor Timofey Mozgov can shoot outside of the paint, since it allows their seven-foot, 279-pound behemoth to serve as a mountain-sized obstacle for LeBron James‘ drives to the basket.

    This season, King James has averaged 25.3 points per game and shot a regal 52 percent from the floor. But the VAST majority of those made shots have come in the painted area, with LeBron going 487-for-705 (69.1 percent) on shots from inside of five feet…and 250-for-711 (35.2) on everything outside that range. Yeesh.

    The key, then, is to keep James out of the paint — a task FAR easier said than done. Drummond isn’t an elite defender or rim protector, but he’s still a mammoth human being. Drummond HAS to play physical, especially since the Pistons gave up the ninth most points in the paint this season.

    That being said, that could be a good thing if Cleveland’s perimeter shooters can’t make Detroit pay from long range. Give them two points instead of three, be as physical with LeBron as possible when he attacks the basket, hope the Cavs’ shooters go cold. Cleveland will probably advance no matter what Drummond does on either of the floor; LeBron is just that good. But if Drummond can make King James think twice about getting to the basket, this series gets a little more interesting.

    Prediction: Cleveland Cavaliers in 5 games

    Next: Spurs vs. Grizzlies