3 best things the Cleveland Cavaliers did against the New York Knicks
By Chad Porto
Changed up the rotation
Even though Isaac Okoro started the game, he only played for three minutes. An odd move, as the team’s defense is what propelled them past the New York Knicks, but Cleveland Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff felt that Cedi Osman was the better defensive option, and in a lot of ways, she was. He was a high-energy guy, reminding folks of Anderson Varejao, just shorter, and with less volume to his hair.
The Cavs also gave Danny Green serious reps, playing him 20 minutes in the game, and doing much in the way as Osman defensively; just suffocating whoever had the ball, and between the two of them, amassed three steals, with Osman having a beautiful, NFL-level interception at one point.
Caris LeVert’s 40 minutes were a surprise, especially after his poor Game 1 outing, but he had a hot hand and did a lot of damage in the first half of the game. The Cavs are going to need someone, be it LeVert, Green, or Osman to step up like this in Game 3 offensively, while all three are going to need to continue to push the action defensively and play that swarming defense.
Rotating Evan Mobley in for Jarrett Allen and vice versa was a great idea as well, one that should work again.