Both of the teams competing in this year’s Eastern Conference Finals have had unconventional paths to the top.
The New York Knicks have been on a dominant run, their ECF Game 1 victory marking their eighth straight win. In seven of the Knicks’ nine total wins, the Knicks have managed to hold their opponents below 110 points.
The Cleveland Cavaliers, on the other hand, have had to win two consecutive seven-game series to reach the ECF. The Cavs found themselves on the wrong end of the Knicks’ miraculous comeback, the second-largest in NBA playoff history.
So, with the Knicks looking to win their ninth straight playoff game, what are some key takeaways for the Cavs heading into Game 2?
What Can the Cavaliers Do to Win Game 2 vs. Knicks?
Deploying Help Defense
With Game 1 heading into the fourth quarter, the Knicks developed an effective offensive strategy: let Jalen Brunson play in isolation, and attack James Harden.
“It was no secret we were attacking Harden,” Knicks head coach Mike Brown said postgame.
Harden was a trade deadline acquisition for the Cavs, who parted ways with Darius Garland in the process. Despite being a decade older than Garland and neither of them being good defenders, the Cavs viewed Harden’s size and experience as upgrades.
However, Harden’s presence on the floor was thoroughly exploited by the Knicks. Brunson attacked Harden relentlessly on his way to 17 points in the fourth quarter and overtime combined.
Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson discussed Harden’s defense postgame:
“We adjusted to that. We started sending two at [Brunson] to get the ball out of his hands. … [Harden has] been one of our best defenders in the playoffs. I trust him. Smart, great hands. I didn’t think about [taking him out].”
Harden’s impact in playoff games is effectively a dice roll. On one hand, he can perform really well on offense and kickstart runs that can help the Cavs capture the lead. On the other hand, he is known for having offensive meltdowns in big games.
While it will be a difficult decision to make, replacing Harden in the starting lineup with a player such as Sam Merrill can solve many of the Cavs’ defensive woes. And while the Cavs defense will be less effective with Harden on the floor, more assertive help defense — which slides, stunts and recovers with the movement of the ball — can help slow down the Knicks. This way, the Cavs could take advantage of Harden’s isolation scoring talents best when he comes off the bench to ignite the offense.
Improving Their Defensive Effort
Harden was not the only defensive liability for the Cavs in Game 1. In general, the team showed a lack of effort on that end of the floor. This may have been in part due to the fatigue of consecutive seven-game series catching up with the team’s starters.
Cavs star Donovan Mitchell, however, did not seek any excuses, calling the game a “bad loss.”
“Even if there was complacency, we’re up 22 with God knows how much time. Eight minutes? Gotta win the game.”
The Cavs players frequently found themselves out of position, struggling particularly to guard pick-and-roll situations.
While the Knicks have reduced the use of the pick-and-roll since Brown’s arrival, they do use it to good effect against teams that opt to play drop coverage. This includes teams such as the Philadelphia 76ers and Joel Embiid, and in the Cavs’ case, Jarrett Allen.
Miscommunication caused many of the defensive blunders that the Cavs committed in Game 1. It was clear that the players were not on the same page when it came to who had to switch and who had to guard the ball.
Allen and Dean Wade were unable to communicate their defensive intentions well enough, which led to the Cavs scrambling and the Knicks being rewarded with easy buckets.
The Cavs need to focus on their defensive effort, as well as their defensive awareness. Many Cavs players seemed to be unaware of where their men were on the floor. Additionally, drifting too far away from their assignments — yet not helping the on-ball defender — created four-on-five opportunities in the half-court, which also led to easy baskets for the Knicks. Those issues could cost the Cavs Game 2 and potentially the series.
Maintaining Aggressiveness Throughout the Game
Both Harden and Mitchell deserve a fair share of the blame for why the Cavs lost Game 1. While Mitchell had 29 points on decent efficiency (12-23 FG), along with five rebounds, three assists, and six steals. Harden, on the other hand, had 15 points on poor efficiency (5-16 FG) and six turnovers.
The Cavs’ offense really stagnated in the fourth quarter, with Harden being trusted to do most of the ball handling. Mitchell was notably passive in the period, attempting just four shots.
Neither of the Cavs’ leading scorers managed to do a lot on offense in the final frame, with their aggressiveness waning noticeably. On the other end, the Cavs did little defensively to deter the Knicks’ scorers. Aside from Brunson, OG Anunoby, Landry Shamet, and Mikal Bridges had big buckets for the Knicks late in the game. This lack of aggressiveness likely aided New York’s comeback.
Neither Mitchell nor Harden was able to effectively involve the big men (Allen, Wade, and Evan Mobley) in situations that would allow them to score easily around the basket. This was in part because neither of them managed to get downhill effectively.
However, Atkinson has a part to play in this collapse as well. Rather than subbing out Harden, Atkinson kept him in for most of the game. Additionally, Atkinson did not call crucial timeouts that would have potentially benefitted the Cavs and slowed down the Knicks’ momentum late in the game.
Despite Mitchell’s comments, the Cavs’ lack of fourth-quarter aggressiveness in Game 1 was likely a manifestation of their fatigue. Making it to the conference finals after back-to-back seven-game series likely took a toll on the Cavs both mentally and physically. Aside from the Knicks themselves and their fans, the biggest hurdle the team must overcome will be the mental game.
While there are quite a few factors to blame for this, the Cavs must accept that things will not get easier. The conference finals schedule allows for just a one-day break between games. And late into those contests, the Cavaliers need to be more assertive, trusting the game to come to them when the time is right.
The Last Word On Cavs vs. Knicks Game 2
Game 1 was back and forth for both teams. Brunson’s late-game heroics, combined with the Cleveland’s foggy decision-making, ultimately led to a New York victory. Defensive communication and a steady offense will be key for the Cavs to keep their hopes of winning games alive, let alone advancing. There is much to see in tonight’s contest, as both teams adjust to make up for their Game 1 flaws.
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