...some days we just have those lackadaisical days, and that’s where we have to grow at. We have to act like a playoff team as we talk about it. We just have to keep making two steps forward instead of making one step back every day. - Darius Garland
Lackadaisical. That pretty much describes it. I think they got overconfident in the first half.
I noted in the preview that the Blazers rank 4th in steals per possession; it's the only thing they do well defensively. The key for the Cavs was to avoid turnovers and take it to the rim. They shot 73% on 2's in Portland two weeks ago. Instead they jacked up 32 three-pointers.
They’re a pretty long team, pretty athletic. They had me dribbling to tight spaces, trying to make passes that I couldn’t - Darius Garland
Yep, long, quick, and they play the passing lanes. The Cavs played them just two weeks ago and should have known that. But Garland played into their hands. At least he admitted it and took responsibility.
In the game in Portland Shaedon Sharpe was 2-for-12 with 11 points and a -27. Last night he was 11-for-15 and 4-for-7 on 3's. I don't know where that came from.
In summary the Cavs played "lackadaisical" and not very smart, according to Garland. Their 3-point shooting was way off and they ran into a guy having his best game of the year. But I also think the Blazers are coming on now that they are mostly healthy. In the previous game they beat Indiana, which had won six of their last nine, on the road. I think that after the Cavs had about 10 dunks or layups in the first quarter the Blazers adjusted and forced the Cavs to shoot 3's, which they just couldn't hit for some reason.