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Cleveland Cavaliers: One Game Away From Sweep Of Pistons

By Jamyson Frierson

Apr 22, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) high fives forward LeBron James (23) during the third quarter against the Detroit Pistons in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 22, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) high fives forward LeBron James (23) during the third quarter against the Detroit Pistons in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Cleveland Cavaliers won an exciting Game 3 in Detroit, defeating the Pistons 101-91 to take a 3-0 series lead.

It might be about that time for Cleveland Cavaliers fans to bring out the brooms.

The Detroit Pistons put up a fight all game against the Cavaliers in Game 3, but fell short after a late fourth quarter surge. After a Kyrie Irving three-point shot on the weakside corner with 0.7 seconds left on the shot clock, the energy from the crowd and Pistons was completely gone.

The game couldn’t have ended any better for the Cavaliers as LeBron James blocked Reggie Jackson as he went for a layup. Jackson had previously beat James on the same play on a fastbreak. With as hard as the Pistons played all game, I look for a letdown in Game 4. Obviously the players are going to say the right things and believe that they can get back into the series, but they just do not have the talent to match the Cavaliers.

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Tobias Harris, who was supposed to put the team over the top, has been a disappointment. He’s only averaging 11.7 points per game in three games and is shooting 41 percent from the field. A lot of it can be attributed to James’ defense, but he’s struggling to capitalize on the opportunities he’s had. Stanley Johnson, who is the backup to Harris, is more worried about “getting into the head” of James instead of studying him, which is potentially why he is only averaging 9.0 points per game.

That only leaves Andre Drummond, Marcus Morris and Jackson to carry the load. While that trio is talented, they just aren’t consistent enough to compete with James, Irving and Kevin Love. During the regular season, that trio of the Pistons averaged 49 PPG; this postseason it’s dropped to 47 PPG.

The Cavaliers averaged 61 PPG with their Big Three and this postseason, with just James and Irving alone, they are averaging 49 PPG. With Love included, it’s 71 PPG.

That’s a 22-point difference, which is magnified even more in the playoffs. The Cavaliers didn’t go 20-of-38 from three-point range again on Friday, only going 12-for-29, but they won by clutch baskets, ball movement and consistent execution of the pick-and-roll. Besides the Big Three playing the best basketball as a unit all year, Matthew Dellavedova made his presence felt as well.

Apr 22, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) and forward Kevin Love (0) celebrate during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 22, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) and forward Kevin Love (0) celebrate during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /

He finished with 12 points and five assists, but as usual, his toughness and hustle helped the Cavaliers down the stretch as the Pistons were trying to make their last run.

Iman Shumpert played his best game in the series going 2-for-3 from three-point range and finishing with six points. He’s struggled all season with his shot so this could be the game where he turns it around.

However, the biggest improvement came from Tristan Thompson. After only having two points and seven rebounds combined in his first two games, he came back in game three with eight points and 10 rebounds.

He finally matched aggressiveness with Drummond and was a force on the offensive boards. That is the kind of production the Cavaliers will need from him and more throughout the postseason. It was the most complete game they have played in this series.

The Cavaliers will have a chance to close out the Pistons on Sunday and sweep them for the second time in seven years. If that happens, they will await their opponent against the Boston Celtics or Atlanta Hawks.

Even though the Pistons might be down, they still aren’t out. The Cavaliers can’t come into the game thinking Detroit will be lackadaisical and have one of their slow starts.

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They still have to play their game, but ultimately, I dont’t see a scenario in which the Pistons will be motivated enough to play at a high level in Game 4. The brooms are being made, but they aren’t being used just yet.

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