NIT from bust: Buckeyes get clobbered by Michigan State in B1G Quarterfinals
March 13, 2016When the Internet wins Selection Sunday: While We’re Waiting…
March 14, 2016Cleveland Cavaliers (47-18) 114
Los Angeles Clippers (42-23) 90
Box Score
To finish off a mini, four-day vacation in Los Angeles, California Sunday afternoon, the Cleveland Cavaliers looked as though they enjoyed themselves in L.A. a little too much in the opening minutes against the Los Angeles Clippers, in front of a national television audience. With a 12:30 tip local time and the clocks going forward an hour Sunday morning, Sunday’s game was by far the earliest game of the season for the Cavs.
After beating the Lakers in a high-scoring game that featured the final game between two of the greatest to very play the game, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, the Cavaliers kept their hot shooting alive once again in the Staples Center, in a route over one of the best teams in the Western Conference. Against the Spurs, Thunder, and Clippers this season, the wine and gold finished 5-1, with their only loss coming January 14 against the Spurs by four points.
In case you forgot, the last time the Cavaliers and Clippers faced off, the wine and gold came out on top, 115-102, and then fired David Blatt the very next day.
17-5 and 15-6– Trailing 14-4 five minutes into the Sunday matinee, the Cavaliers (finally) woke up and finished the quarter on a 17-5 run to take the lead and never looked back. Early in the game, J.R. Smith was having a hard time covering sharpshooter J.J. Redick, who scored nine of his team’s first 14 points, but that changed quickly leading to a big run by the Cavs to answer the Clippers run to start the game.
To end the second quarter, Cleveland went on a 15-3 run—answering a 15-6 spurt by the Clippers—that cut the lead to just 43-38. The second-straight run to end a quarter for the wine and gold put them ahead 58-41 heading into the locker room at halftime.
37-22 – After ending the first quarter on a 17-to-5, the red-hot Cavaliers’ offense was just that in the second stanza, outscoring Los Angeles 37-to-22 in the second quarter and held a 58-41 lead, all but putting the game away before halftime.
5-of-8 – Well, in case anyone missed it, J.R. Smith was red-hot Sunday afternoon. Making 5-of-8 shots from beyond the arc with some excellent ball movement that led to open looks for Smith, The Pipe hit four of his five threes in the third quarter. He finished with 17 points in only 23 minutes.
Whether they were open looks or contested fadeaways right in the defensive player’s eye, No. 5 was hot Sunday afternoon, especially in the third quarter.
5-of-7 – Yes, trading fan-favorite Anderson Varejao was rough, but what Channing Frye has already brought to the Cavaliers in his short time in Cleveland is nothing short of impressive. Against the Clippers, he made 5-of-7 shots from distance for the second consecutive game, bringing his total to with the wine and gold to an impressive 17-of-36 (47.2 percent). Frye was the spark that the Cavs needed and was part of the reason why they finished the first and second quarter on such a dominating runs.
Whether he’s leading the second unit or being another piece of the starting unit, Frye’s presence on the court not only spreads the floor, but also brings another knockdown shooter into the lineup.
18-of-37 – Who said the Cavs shoot too many threes? Sunday afternoon, Cleveland made 18 of their 37 shots from behind the three-point line. Shooting 48.6 percent from distance, the Cavs just 0.2 percent lower than what they shot from the field. What started as a team moving the ball and converting on open looks just got silly after a while. Check out this Kyrie Irving three-ball from Anaheim.
https://vine.co/v/iwA9E0wTAYh
27, six, and five – In just three quarters (and 31 minutes), LeBron James’ 27 points led the team. He also had six rebounds and five assists (which tied for the team-lead along with Kyrie Irving). With his first assist in the first quarter, James passed Kevin Johnson (6,711 assists) and took sole possession of 19th place in NBA history in assists.
Two of his 27 points were on a fastbreak dunk that not only silenced the crowd in the Staples Center but also drew a technical from Clippers head coach Doc Rivers.
https://vine.co/v/iwm0KThzFr7
No. 23 also earned three points the hard way, with a layup, where he got fouled by his best friend, Chris Paul and a put-back following his own miss.
https://vine.co/v/iwmwAjlUwLM
https://vine.co/v/iwm2dBLF9nX
10 and 11 – He may not have gotten the start, but Tristan Thompson played much better than Timofey Mozgov on Sunday. Whether it was his double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds or the fact that the offense and defense played much better with him in the game, Thompson brought a different dimension to the Cavaliers in their demolition of the Clippers. Six of his 11 rebounds came on the offensive end as well.
Plus-25, 23, and 22 – Cleveland’s bench mob completely outplayed the Clippers’ bench. Matthew Dellavedova (plus-25), Tristan Thompson (plus-23), and Channing Frye (plus-22) not only led the Cavaliers in plus-minus, but also brought a spark to the offense that was much needed early in the game. The three main players off the bench were three of the main reasons why the Cavs clobbered Los Angeles Sunday afternoon.
Six in double figures – Whether it was their familiarity with the Staples Center after being in L.A. since Thursday or not, the Cavaliers lit up the scoreboard (again) on Sunday, with many of the starters only playing three quarters. LeBron James (27 points), Kyrie Irving (17), J.R. Smith (17), Channing Frye (15), Kevin Love (12), and Tristan Thompson (10) led the way.
With a devastating loss to an under-manned Memphis Grizzles squad Monday night, before their four-game West Coast trip, many believed that the current roadtrip would show a lot about who the Cavaliers are. Well, three games in (and the final game of the West Coast trip Monday at Utah), the wine and gold are not only a perfect 3-0, but have scored 120 points twice and 114 in those three wins. Whether it’s Frye’s official arrival into the rotation or just the fact that the Cavaliers’ entire offense is on a hot streak, LeBron James and company have been on another level on this current roadtrip.
By clobbering the Clippers on Sunday, head coach Tyrron Lue was able to sit James for the entire fourth quarter, along with not playing a single player more than 31 minutes. On the first night of a back-to-back, being able to do that can only be a positive heading down the stretch.
5 Comments
Just a great effort. When the Cavs started the game front-rimming every shot, really worried that they had left their games in the clubs Saturday night. But within a few minutes they moved the needle on the Give-a-Crap Meter all the way to the right and kept it right there. Committed defense, chasing the 50/50 balls and dagger 3s stopping every Clippers run.
Pretty impressive.
Pipe!
I am getting a salary of 5800 dollars each week…op Over a year ago I was in a horrible condition , jobless and no bank credit . Thanks to one of my friends who showed me a way where I was able to gather myself and making average of 56 d/h. So it can change your life as it has changed mine.
Look here for details
uyt….
Welcome to your new regular rotation minutes Channing Frye.
Start: Kyrie, JR, LeBron, Kevin, TT
Bench: Delly, Shump, Frye
In case of emergency break glass on: RJ, JJ, Mo, Moz
I am getting a salary of 6800 dollars each week…vb Over a year ago I was in a horrible condition , jobless and no bank credit . Thanks to one of my friends who showed me a way where I was able to gather myself and making average of 57 d/h. So it can change your life as it has changed mine.
Look here for details
kim…