Factory Of Sadness
FanSided

3 reasons why the Cleveland Cavaliers fell apart against the New York Knicks

By Chad Porto

Apr 26, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers mascot Moondog walks on the court during a timeout in the third quarter during game five of the 2023 NBA playoffs between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 26, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers mascot Moondog walks on the court during a timeout in the third quarter during game five of the 2023 NBA playoffs between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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CLEVELAND, OH – APRIL 26: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and J.B. Bickerstaff check on Darius Garland #10 after he fell to the floor while fouling out of the game during the fourth quarter of Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the New York Knicks at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 26, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. New York defeated Cleveland 106-95 to win the series 4-1. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – APRIL 26: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and J.B. Bickerstaff check on Darius Garland #10 after he fell to the floor while fouling out of the game during the fourth quarter of Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the New York Knicks at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 26, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. New York defeated Cleveland 106-95 to win the series 4-1. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /

Over-reliance on hero ball

The number of junk shots I saw, especially in the second half of Game 5 was atrocious. There was no sense of an offensive system. Especially from Donovan Mitchell. Mitchell would sit at the top of the key, play a game of pick-and-pop with whoever the up-big was, usually Jarrett Allen, and then take a hand-off and jack up a terrible shot.

There was no emphasis on trying to get the ball moving. No one was working to try and get open, they were sitting on their hands waiting for Mitchell, or to a lesser extent Darius Garland, to decide to either shoot or pass. The offense slammed shut when they were in the half-court for this very reason.

The Cavs’ offense thrived off of points off of turnovers, especially in transition, during the regular season. This was something the Knicks minimized to great effect across the entire series. The team lacked any real three-point shooting presence (24th in the league in attempts) and coupled with the worst pace of play in the league, led the Cavs to have a putrid offense.

The Miami Heat, who are moving onto the second round, was the 29th team in the league in pace of play, but they were 10th in the league in three-pointers attempted. You can’t be slow and unwilling to try to shoot threes.

The over-emphasis on Mitchell and Garland stunted this team’s offensive production.

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