Cleveland Cavaliers: 3 adjustments for Game 2 vs. Warriors
By Simon Smith
3. Get George Hill more involved offensively
By now, everyone is well aware Hill had the chance with 4.7 seconds remaining to put the Cavaliers ahead by one, and thus the chance to possibly steal back home-court advantage from the Warriors. However, Hill’s miss, and J.R. Smith’s subsequent brain fart eventually resulted in the brutal Game 1 loss.
George Hill said he stayed up most of the night rewatching the free throw. 'I didn't come through...this is one of the worst feelings ever'
— Joe Vardon (@joevardon) June 1, 2018
However, Hill’s role for the night on the offensive end was largely negligible, shooting just 2-of-6 from the field for seven points, with those two attempts being his only trip to the charity stripe. While James and Love are clearly the lead act offensively, this doesn’t mean Hill is incapable of making more of an impact.
George Hill said the Cavs need to “bottle up our frustration” and let it out on the court for Game 2: “It shouldn’t be a prom dance; it needs to be a fight”
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) June 1, 2018
Last season as a member of the Utah Jazz, in eight postseason games, Hill averaged 15.6 points in 35.1 minutes per game, hitting at a 38.9 percent clip from 3-point range. This postseason, Hill has played 16 games, with just eight of these games featuring Hill attempting at least seven field goals. Over this span, the Cavaliers are 7-1, with Hill averaging 11.8 points per game while shooting at a 52.2 percent clip overall.
Considering the attention James and Love are going to attract, Game 2 represents the perfect chance for Hill to not only atone for his Game 1 missed free throw, but to establish a greater role within the Cavaliers’ offense.