The Cleveland Cavaliers came back from an 18-point deficit to tie the Detroit Pistons midway through the fourth, but an inability to get stops and scores when they needed them wound up in Detroit escaping with a 111-101 Game 1 victory.
All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents that player performing to our expectations for them.
James Harden
22 points, 7 assists, 8 rebounds
Harden was brought in to help with games like this. They needed someone who could provide consistent
ball-handling, playmaking, and relieve some of the pressure off Donovan Mitchell. Throughout the regular season and parts of the first-round series against the Toronto Raptors, he did that. However, there’s also been too many times he seems a step slow and isn’t able to take care of the ball. We saw that latter version far too much in Game 1.
Turnovers are painful in any context, but they hurt so much more against a team that struggles with its half-court offense. The amount of giveaways allowed Detroit to get out in transition and pick up easy baskets. To be clear, turnovers were a team-wide issue. Harden isn’t the only one to blame. At the same time, there’s no excuse for your starting point guard to have seven turnovers.
Harden turned things around in the fourth quarter. Seven-straight points allowed the Cavs to tie the game. However, if he takes care of the ball like he should’ve they don’t find themselves in the hole they were in.
Grade: D
Donovan Mitchell
23 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists
Mitchell hasn’t been himself since Game 2 of the first round. He’s registered fewer than 25 points in his last six games and hasn’t been forceful in getting to the basket. This game was no different, as he took just one shot in the restricted area and had only two free-throw attempts.
There isn’t much else to Mitchell’s game if he isn’t a premier scoring threat. And this whole team falls apart if he’s not scoring at an elite level. Twenty-three points on 9-19 shooting just isn’t going to cut it in a road playoff game.
Grade: D+
Evan Mobley
14 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks
The Cavs needed a big game from one of the members of the core four to steal this one. There were times in the first half where it felt like it was going to come from Mobley, but that didn’t pan out.
Cleveland needed Mobley to step up with Allen in foul trouble, and he didn’t. Detroit’s offensive rebounding helped win them this game. And even though it’s unfair to pin that all on one person, Mobley could’ve done a better job of keeping Detroit’s bigs, particularly Jalen Duren, off the glass.
There were some positive signs from Mobley. I thought the passing was quite good. But this is a game they needed their big man to set the tone in the paint, and he couldn’t.
Grade: D+
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Max Strus
19 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists
Strus’s 10-point third quarter got the Cavs back into a game. His shooting and grit helped turn the momentum and were much needed on a night that Cleveland struggled to get any offensive consistency.
Sometimes Strus’s impact isn’t felt on the box score. It was tonight with his efficient 19 points on 13 shots.
Grade: A+
Keon Ellis
3 points, 3 rebounds, 0 assists
Ellis got his first real minutes of the postseason since he was benched after Game 4 against the Raptors, after Sam Merrill left the game in the first half with a hamstring injury. He performed adequately in his role. Ellis picked up Cade Cunningham full court and showed his active hands, registering two steals. That’s exactly what you want to see from Ellis if he’s forced into minutes.
Grade: B-
Jarrett Allen
2 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist
Allen picked up three fouls in the first quarter, which limited his minutes the rest of the game. Head coach Kenny Atkinson should’ve given him more than just 16 minutes after the first quarter, but Allen also can’t put himself in that position in the first place.
The Cavs needed Allen’s ability on the offensive glass and the rim pressure he provides. Neither was possible due to foul trouble.
Grade: D
Dennis Schroder
9 points, 3 assists, 1 rebound
Schroder provided some scoring punch and energy off the bench. That was needed. What wasn’t was the four turnovers he also committed.
Giveaways were what cost them this game. Schroder was the team’s second biggest offender. That’s going to knock his grade significantly.
Grade: D+
Dean Wade
5 points, 1 assist, 3 rebounds
The Cavs needed Wade’s defense on Cade Cunningham. Conversely, they also struggled offensively whenever he was on the floor due to Detroit cheating off him and his inability to make them pay with either his outside shot or attacking off-the-dribble.
Grade: C-
Thomas Bryant
4 points, 0 rebounds, 0 assists
I’m not sure why Bryant got meaningful minutes in the second half of this game. He hasn’t made a positive impact in the previous postseason games he’s played in, and didn’t do so again tonight. Once again, Bryant was a step slow defensively, wasn’t able to clean the glass, and didn’t provide anything on offense.
I get that they needed some additional minutes at center with Allen in foul trouble. But there wasn’t room in this game to give him 10 minutes of run.
Grade: D
Sam Merrill
0 points, 0 rebounds, 1 assist
Merrill left the game in the first half with a hamstring injury. He was limited to under seven minutes in Game 1.
Grade: Incomplete
Jaylon Tyson
0 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist
Tyson didn’t make an impact as a scorer, but he did a good job of staying with Detroit’s wings — including Cunningham — defensively. That, combined with being a reliable rebounder, made him a useful player even though he wasn’t making an impact as a scorer.
Grade: C+
