NBA Playoffs: 3 keys to victory for the Cavaliers’ series against the Knicks
By Elaine Blum
2. Cavaliers: Involve everyone offensively
Mitchell has been an offensive force all season long and has bailed the Cavaliers out of several games, but in the playoffs, they cannot rely on that. Especially in a long series, it is important not to put too much pressure on a single player and wear them out. While it is fair to say that Mitchell might have to be the best scorer on the floor to win this series, everyone needs to be involved.
The Knicks are deeper than the Cavaliers, and the New York bench scores around two points more per game. That is a small number, but it might very well make a big difference. Cedi Osman, Ricky Rubio, Dean Wade, Lamar Stevens, and the rest of the bench have to stay ready and produce when their names are called. We all know what Caris LeVert brings off the bench, but he alone cannot outscore Immanuel Quickley, Obi Toppin, Josh Hart, and the rest of the Knicks’ reserves.
New York also has some top defenders in Quentin Grimes and James Quickley, for example, so moving the ball will be crucial for the Cavaliers to open up good shots. Especially the starting lineup has some spacing issues with only Garland and Mitchell as real shooting threats. That means that everyone will have to be involved to move the defense, and Isaac Okoro has to be confident enough to punish defenders for leaving him open. The Knicks will surely try to hide one of their weaker defenders on Okoro (or Wade, Stevens, and Osman in the second unit), and if he can make them pay for it, it would give the Cavaliers an edge offensively.
Okoro’s growth this season has not been as notable as Mobley’s, but he has come a long way as their starting small forward and a corner three-point shooter. For Mobley, Okoro, and Garland, this will be the biggest test yet, and that is precisely why it is so important for everyone to be offensively involved others. For Mobley, Okoro, and Garland, this will be the biggest test yet, and that is precisely why it is so important for everyone to be offensively involved. The Cavaliers are so young and inexperienced that any one of their young core players, particularly Mobley and Garland, could have a surprising breakout in the playoffs.