Cleveland Cavaliers: 3 takeaways from Game 3 vs. Celtics
By Ryan Piers
1. The 3-point shot must drop
It’s not that simple, but it is that simple. When the Cavaliers are hitting from deep, its prospects change. The team plays with a different glow, a swagger that is unparalleled in the Eastern Conference.
LeBron passes with more flair. Kevin Love rebounds with more aggression. The offense is like a machine, and deep balls are the oil.
Cleveland doesn’t use pick-and-rolls as often as other teams. Even though he is one of the best isolation players of all time (yes, he does a million other things great as well) LeBron is the only player that consistently creates his own shot.
The Cavs offense is predicated on wing screens, drive-and-kicks, along with the occasional put-back. So the outside shots must fall, because that’s what where most of Cleveland’s plays end.
Cleveland is 6-0 when it hits more 3s than its opponents in the playoffs. The Cavs were 32-6 in the regular season when they sank more 3-pointers during opponents.
What about Game 3 made Cleveland’s outside game so effective? Take a look at these highlights.
On almost every deep ball attempt, there is little hesitation. There is little dribbling and the shot attempt is often set up by a pick and is wide open.
Cleveland went away from “hero ball” in Game 3; players chucking shots after wasted dribbles with hands in faces. They used picks and crisp ball movement to create openings.
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