The Cleveland Cavaliers might have lost this game in the first six minutes. Let’s talk about it.
LOSER – The First Quarter
The Cavs had 10 turnovers in the first six minutes of the game. Oklahoma City had 17 points off turnovers during that run on their way to a 20+ point lead. That’s a catastrophic opening that will result in a loss 99% of the time.
So what went wrong?
Cleveland entered this game with the wrong approach. They treated this like a regular-season matinee rather than the potential NBA Finals preview that the OKC
Thunder were prepared for. The Cavaliers were blitzed from the jump as a result.
Hesitation is a death sentence against this Thunder defense. They pounce on the first sign of indecision. That’s what led to 10 turnovers in the opening quarter as the Cavs frantically searched for their footing. It wasn’t until the offense became more purposeful and decisive that the turnovers finally subsided.
The Cavs eventually fought back into this game and made it a good one. But the opening six minutes are what ultimately cost them.
WINNER – Sam Merrill
A handful of Cavs players stepped up to make this competitive after the first quarter. None was more impactful than Sam Merrill.
Merill jump-started this offense and got them back into gear with his three-point shooting. He nailed consecutive deep balls to cut into the deficit early in the first half. As the game went on, Cleveland continued to rely on Merrill’s outside shooting to bail them out.
It’s not always easy for a player like Merrill to get free against a team such as OKC. They defend off-ball actions better than anyone in the league. That’s why it’s so impressive that Merrill was able to find openings and release the ball before this scrambly Thunder defense could catch up.
Merrill finished with 20 points on 6-10 three-point shooting.
LOSER – Screen Navigation
Turnovers were a problem in the first quarter. That was addressed as Clevleand’s offense settled into the game.
One thing that wasn’t solved, however, was their screen navigation.
I’ll give credit to the Thunder. Isaiah Hartenstein sets some of the widest screens in the association. He was crushing Cleveland’s backcourt all game long. Combine that with an efficient shooting night from the Thunder backcourt, and this was too much to overcome.
Donovan Mitchell and James Harden both got hung up on numerous screens that led to three-point jumpers. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley were also torched for playing below the level of the screen. We understand why those bigs would be in drop coverage, but the opponent shooting 21-41 (51%) from deep should probably warrant an adjustment.
WINNER – Schroder and Ellis
Let’s hand out one more pair of winners to a bench squad that’s made a difference.
Schroder and Ellis are giving this second unit new life. They’re able to enter the game and initiate a new style that, at worst, changes the dynamic of a game, and at best, swings things back into Cleveland’s favor.
Their scrappy style lends itself to generating chaos. The Thunder had a taste of their own medicine when this duo was on the floor. Their defensive activity made life more difficult for OKC. And, they each bring their own value on offense.
The Cavs have leaned on Schroder to operate in the pick-and-roll when Mitchell or Harden aren’t on the floor. He isn’t as elite as the starting gaurds but he’s more than capable of running this two-man action.
As for Ellis, he shot just 1-4 from deep, but cut into the lane for a handful of easy buckets. He’s a better shooter than this on most nights and should mesh well with whatever lineups the Cavs put him in moving forward.
