He is aiming for a fourth consecutive first round playoff sweep.
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Reggie Jackson #1 of the Detroit Pistons tries to get around the defense of Iman Shumpert #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second quarter during game three of the NBA Eastern Conference quarterfinals at the Palace of Auburn Hills on April 22, 2016 in Auburn Hills, Michigan.
The Detroit Pistons average 97.8 possessions per game and 1.040 points per possession, while the Cleveland Cavaliers earn fewer possessions (95.5) but more points per possession (1.092).
Instead, the Pistons’ ability to keep games close, combined with their off-court chatter, has made this an intense series. If Detroit falls behind in Game 3 then things could get chippy out of frustration. “We want to win the game, obviously, and we need to come in composed and prepared to win the series”.
Those are the floor leaders for Detroit. Even though if a big part of that is because of the lack of experience the Detroit Pistons possess – it was well evident down the stretch, whether that be in the way of an ill-advised three-point attempt or crucial turnovers.
Cleveland methodically built a 79-73 lead after three quarters, and after a three-point play and a 3-pointer by James early in the fourth, the Cavaliers were up by nine.
“This has been the best I’ve seen them play, all three together”, Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said. “We’ve been doing a great job the last two games of stepping in and knocking those shots down”.
“You want to work on your execution when the pressure is on”, Leonard said. “When you’re in games like we’ve been in Game 1 and Game 3, a game comes down to four, five, six plays and we haven’t been able to make those and they have, whether it’s an open three they make and we miss”.
Detroit rookie Stanley Johnson, who seemed eager to get into a verbal battle with James and the Cavs after Game 2, scored nine points in a fearless first half Friday, but James had the final word before halftime, making a jumper with less than a second left in the second quarter to give Cleveland a 54-53 lead. He finished with 20.8 points per game in his third season, a 14-point increase. In Game 3, Stan Van Gundy had to take Drummond out late and that meant they can’t run the very effective Drummond/Reggie Jackson pick-and-roll they rely on heavily. “Rebounding’s been one of strengths all year, it’s been bad this series”.
Boston won despite blowing a 19-point third quarter lead, giving coach Brad Stevens his first career National Basketball Association postseason victory.
There were simply too many weapons and too many consistent options for the Cavaliers and the Pistons, who made it interesting at time, simply could not enough adjustments to pull out a win.
In a game that featured multiple lead changes, the Pistons cut a 10-point deficit to 92-90 with 3:56 on a Kentavious Caldwell-Pope dunk over James.
Smith continued: “Whenever I play well, there’s a sense of relief”, Smith said. “We’re a young team and with a veteran team like that in these situations when we make mistakes they capitalize on them and it came back to bite us”. It’s tough for us.
Two years into his rebuilding of the franchise, Van Gundy has got pieces to work in the future. He’s taking a defensive challenge.
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The Spurs so dominated the first two games in San Antonio that Memphis led only once, by a point and for 25 seconds.
