CLEVELAND, Ohio – You can second-guess the coaching, substitution patterns and other nuances of the game.
But the reason the Cavs are behind 0-3 in best-of-seven Eastern Conference Finals is very basic – the New York Knicks are the better team.
That was evident in New York’s 121-108 victory over the Cavs at Rocket Arena Saturday night.
The Knicks have now won 10 in a row in the playoffs, their average margin of victory is 20 points.
As for the Cavs, they know history says no NBA team has ever come back from an 0-3 deficit to win a playoff series.
This was the 13th game in the last 26 days for the Cavs. That’s what happens when you have to go through a pair of seven-game playoff series as Cleveland did in the first two rounds.
Fatigue has been an issue for the Cavs in this series. New York coach Mike Brown knows this. He kept waving his hands on the sidelines, pushing his Knicks to run and run and run some more.
The Knicks scored 17 fast-break points compared to four for the Cavs.
“They came out of the game running us,” said Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson. “Mike (Brown) said we have played 50% more minutes than they have. It’s not a secret.”
Indeed they did as New York opened with a 9-1 run and the Cavs never led in the game.
This is one of six turnovers that James Harden had. He also did not take a shot in the fourth quarter. John Kuntz, cleveland.com
They can’t shoot
Before the game, Brown said, “We’ve been a little lucky, they (Cleveland) have missed some open shots.”
He’s right. The Cavs missed a lot of open shots – especially from 3-point range – in the first two games, and they did it again Saturday.
Nothing lucky about it. The Cavs are simply stuck in a shooting rut, the Cavs were 12-for-41 behind the arc. For the series, the Cavs are shooting 29% on 3-pointers.
Saturday, star guards Donovan Mitchell and James Harden were a combined 4-for-17.
Strange stat of the night: Harden had 19 points (8-for-15 shooting) and didn’t take a single shot in the fourth period.
That’s right, NOT … ONE … SHOT for Harden, who is supposed to help the Cavs in big games like this.
Mitchell finished with 23 points. He was 9-for-21 shooting. Granted, he was only 1-for-6 in the fourth quarter, but at least he went down firing.
The Knicks celebrated their 10th consecutive playoff victory. John Kuntz, cleveland.com
No energy
“Their physicality and energy level was much higher than us,” said Atkinson. “They turned us over early. They grab and hold thing, that’s part of it … I lament the turnovers.”
The Cavs had 18 turnovers that turned into 19 New York points. Harden had six, Evan Mobley and Mitchell each had five.
Between missing shots and throwing the ball way, it was like jet fuel for the New York offense. They just kept running and running the Cavs.
“They were the more physical team,” said Atkinson. “We couldn’t get to their level to combat it. They were the much better team tonight.”
Bottom line, the Knicks are just the better team, period.
