Brian Windhorst: Cavs don’t intend to slow the pace in Game 3 of the NBA Finals
The Cleveland Cavaliers have to play desperate in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, but it doesn’t look as if they’ll be slowing down the pace, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.
The Cavs gave up a 132 points in Game 2…and they’re not going to slow down the pace in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.
Say what?
That’s right, Cleveland intends to try and match the frantic pace of the Golden State Warriors as the series shifts to Cleveland for Games 3 and 4.
The Cavs can be great offensively. Cleveland’s been held to below 100 points just one this postseason, and that happened in Game 1 of the Finals.
But the Warriors are a different beast. The Cavs just don’t have 132 points in them.
A better blue print on how to beat the Warriors comes from the Cavs’ clincher in Game 7 of last season’s Finals. Slow the game down, keep the contest close, and then go for the kill at the end.
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Granted, everything’s easier said than done, especially when you factor in Kevin Durant.
It seems like a no brainer. Perhaps slowing down the pace is something the Cavs–at the very least–should entertain.
But I’m just a blogger. Don’t take it from me, take it from scouts and executives who actually collect NBA checks, via Brian Windhorst, who recently appeared on The Lowe Post podcast.
"“The scouts that I talk to and the executives that I talk who are watching this series say the Cavs have no choice, they have to slow it down. They they need to go the other direction. Even thought it may not be their primary mode of operation, that playing faster plays into the Warriors’ hands, that that is what they they want. That it is a trap…and what the Warriors want.”"
The Cavs don’t appear to be interested in the strategy, though, according to Windhorst.
"“The Cavs, unless they are putting up a smokescreen, which they could be, I suppose, disagree. The Cavs do not intend to slow down. They say this team is built to play fast. This team is built to play with pace. We can’t win a half-court game because we’re not a great half-court defensive team. We don’t have bigs we can use, we’re going to play that style of basketball and if we are going to go down playing our style of basketball.”"
ESPN scribe Ramona Shelbourne also appeared on the podcast, and asked the question if the Cavs’ pace problems came down to making 3-pointers.
After all, Cleveland had its worst 3-point shooting game of the playoffs in Game 2, going 8-of-29 from the field.
Windhorst pointed out, however, that even if the Cavs would’ve went 14-of-29, Cleveland still would of lost.
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They don’t have 132 in them, which is why Cavs’ country should be praying all of the talk about keeping up the pace is just that–talk.