Cleveland Cavaliers: 5 Takeaways From Game 1 vs. Pistons
1. Cleveland Is Almost Ready
The Cleveland Cavaliers won this game by clamping down on defense during the second half and riding its Big Three. It was an impressive showing from a team that received no help from its bench, and faced an opposition that lit it up from beyond the arc.
Cleveland isn’t there yet, but it showed how close it is to being ready to compete with the Western Conference’s elite.
The Cavaliers were No. 8 in the NBA in 3-point field goals allowed per game in 2015-16. They ranked outside of the Top 10 in opponent 3-point field goal percentage, however, which was a major factor during Game 1.
Simply put, if Cleveland allowed Detroit to hit 15 3-point field goals, heaven only knows what would happen against the Golden State Warriors.
The good news is that the Cavaliers have found an offensive strategy that works with Kevin Love at the 5. Furthermore, Kyrie Irving proved primed and ready to hit the big shots in late-game situations, as he’s done since entering the NBA, and LeBron James is trusting his teammates.
In order to be ideally prepared for an encounter with the Warriors—or any other Western Conference contender—the defense must do a better job of closing out on shooters. Just as importantly, the supporting cast must provide a stronger push offensively.
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It wasn’t a perfect showing in Game 1, but with all of the stars on the same page, Cleveland looked like a legitimate contender.