Following their sweep of the Miami Heat, Cleveland set a new record for the largest margin of victory in a playoff series.
Let’s see how they pulled it off.
GAME ONE
Three names were consistently echoed throughout Game 1.
Two usual suspects, Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, combined for 57 points. Then, in his playoff debut, Ty Jerome totaled 28 points, including 16 in the fourth quarter. The strategy quickly became clear: let the Cleveland guards operate in a pick-and-roll offense.
Head Coach Erik Spoelstra elected to defend Jerome’s pick-and-rolls in drop coverage. This allowed him to attack as he had all season long, whether pulling up from three or using his body and decelerating to get where he is comfortable. Miami did not have anybody to slow down the pick-and-roll onslaught.
Sam Merrill was a pleasantly surprising hero off the bench as well. In 24 minutes, Merrill shot 2/4 from three, tallied four assists, and two blocks. In his five-year career, Merrill has only recorded 19 blocks.
It’s worth noting that the Cavs shot 43 threes in this contest, making 18, for a percentage of 41.9%.
A key component of Head Coach Kenny Atkinson’s attack was ruthlessly ensuring that Tyler Herro had to guard. Cleveland frequently involved him in screening actions, forcing Herro to execute. Whoever he guarded would cut to the basket if he weren’t in the primary action. This strategy would not end in Game 1.
GAME TWO
Game 2 would end up as the tightest game of the series.
At 4:26 in the fourth quarter, Miami had cut the lead to only two points. This would be the closest they got, as Cleveland won 121-112. Davion Mitchell shined in the fourth, scoring 14 of Miami’s 32 points.
After going scoreless in the previous game, De’Andre Hunter stepped up and provided 12 points and a steal off the bench. He provided a spark to start the second quarter. After stopping Bam Adebayo in the post with late help from Mitchell, he would go on to score eight points in two minutes and 11 seconds.
However, the story of Game 2 was Donovan Mitchell’s fourth-quarter spectacle. He was 6-for-9 from the field, including 4-for-4 from deep.
In these clips, there’s a similar pattern to the meticulous attack from the Cavs. Find a way to involve Tyler Herro and get to your spots. Spoelstra has him show and recover, which ended with a Mitchell deep ball.
Even after Herro’s 33-point night plus Davion’s clutch play, Miami just could not string together enough stops to keep them within striking distance. This shouldn’t surprise anyone who was watching the Cavs. Cleveland led the NBA in offensive rating all season.
GAME THREE
As the series shifted to Miami, Garland and Herro made some comments about each other to the media that went viral.
Garland would miss Games 3 and 4, forcing Atkinson to make some decisions about the rotation. Merrill was announced as the starter.
Game 3 was an off night for Donovan, who shot 28.6% from the field. Last season, this would cripple the team who struggled to find consistent offensive flow on his best nights.
Six Cavs would go on to score in double digits. This was the game where you saw Koby Altman and Kenny Atkinson’s vision for the season. Evan Mobley, who had a slow start to the series, scored 19 points with two threes. Max Strus filled the stat sheet with 18 points, nine rebounds and five assists.
Jarrett Allen was fantastic in all four games, but in Game 3, he dominated the opening quarter. He was 4-for-4 with four rebounds. He concluded the game with a double-double while making eight of his nine shots.
Most notably, Cleveland dominated the paint in this one. Miami only scored 30 points in the paint while the Cavs scored 60.
GAME FOUR
It became evident early on that Miami could not match Cleveland’s talent and execution. After a 43-17 first quarter, it was as if the energy was sucked out of the entire Heat roster. Kenny expanded the rotation in the second half to allow rest and prevent any injuries.
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De’Andre Hunter showed out in the first half with 18 points. Cleveland’s newest addition improved as the series went on, which brings optimism for the next round.
While the majority of this game was not remotely close, it did present the Cavs’ defense in a light that may have shocked people. Can they continue this level of play into the semi-finals? Miami did not eclipse 90 points in either of the last two games.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Allen and Mobley were terrific in the first round. They made Bam’s job difficult and walled off the rim to everybody else. Will Mobley be relied on more frequently in the next series?
Donovan Mitchell’s defense stepped up in the playoffs. He averaged 1.5 steals and consistently outplayed his matchup.
Through four games, the Cavs possess an otherworldly 136.2 offensive rating in the playoffs. The Indiana Pacers are the next closest team, with a 120.2 offensive rating.
Isaac Okoro and Dean Wade both saw their minutes decrease from the regular season. Will this trend continue into the next round?
Cleveland will play Indiana in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
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