Living By The Three
Rafer Alston, Dime #34
Headed into this series, the majority of the TNT crew said that the Orlando Magic would die because of the three. I think Sir Charles was the only one who believed that the Magic could beat the Cavs. But Charles’s reasoning wasn’t even based on Orlando’s three-point shooting. He thought that Dwight‘s ability to protect the rim would really throw off Cleveland’s offense. He’s been right about that. But ultimately, Orlando has controlled this series because of the way they shoot it from deep.
It was Rashard Lewis in games 1 and 2, sinking seven three’s in those two games. But in Game 4 Rafer Alston and Mickael Pietrus murdered Cleveland from deep. The Cavs baited Skip to take the J. And before Cleveland knew it, he dropped in six treys from behind the arc. Plus, Pietrus whapped five of his own.
The Cavs defense struggles enough rotating to open shooters when Anderson Varejao is in the game. When he fouled out in the extra frame of Game 4 and Big Z checked in, it only got worse. In fact, as soon as Ilgauskus checked in, Reggie Miller said that Cleveland wouldn’t be able to close out on open shooters. That was prophetic. Right away, Rafer exposed the mismatches by knocking down an open three.
Orlando lived by the three in Game 4. That’s what they’ve done all series long. Unless Mike Brown figures out how to rotate to get a hand in shooters’ faces, this series could end tonight.
So what should Brown do to kill Orlando’s three-point barrage? Analysts everywhere are clamoring for the Cavs to go with a smaller lineup. But even if Brown sends Mo Williams, Boobie Gibson, Delonte West, LeBron, Joe Smith and Anderson Varejao, his small guards are going to give up size to Orlando’s taller shooters. It’s a catch twenty-two.
What about this: instead of switching on screens on the perimeter, should Brown force his guys to fight through everything? That way, Orlando’s pick-and-pop opportunities will be limited. It would funnel everything towards the middle of the floor. If Brown wasn’t asking enough of LeBron already, maybe he should see if LBJ can come weakside to block shots. It’s what Sam Dalembert did for the Sixers, who had a bunch of success keeping Orlando’s offense in check. If Brown makes that change and LeBron can change the game with his shot-blocking, he should just hang his Coach of the Year award over to No. 23. Otherwise, Cleveland could very well be dead in the water.
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May 28th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
knock knock says:
More like the cavs can beat any other team in the nba EXCEPT the elite teams. They showed that in the reg season they can beat mediocre teams and in the playoffs. so cavs fans, stop saying your team is different in the playoffs.
2-6 cavs record vs elite teams in reg season
1-4 cavs record vs elite teams in playoffs.
- nobody should be confused by the obvious.
May 28th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
The Question says:
knock knock
We beat Boston twice, Orlando once. That’s three. I guess you don’t count Denver as elite either, cause we beat them twice. Get some facts.
May 28th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
doc says:
I say they stop switching.Switching on picks is a bitch move anyway and it says we cant guard yall and we have no fight.Get through the fucking pick and there wont be any scrambling or open shooters.@knockKnock-do u say anything about b-ball besides Lebron aint shit?
May 28th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
boomtho says:
boston didnt even have kg
May 28th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Dan Dickau says:
Yeah, I’ve never seen a team have so many wide open threes before in my life. I understand the match ups are tough but seriously, they had about 25 WIDE OPEN three pointers the other night, and have had them all series. For such a defensive minded coach Brown really has his head up his ass. We’re lucky they only made 17 of em.
Cavs on the comeback though. Wouldn’t be surprised if we see a 53 point blowout.
May 28th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
doc says:
@boom-they had KG for that 30 point ass whipping in November.
May 28th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
David_Brandon says:
cavs will win this game tonight. but orlando will close them out in florida. the playoffs are about matchups. ppl forget that. they get caught up in the names and you can’t do that in the playoffs. this is gonna sound crazy, but in some cases its like fantasy hoop. dont look at the names all the time. all about how youre matched up w/ the other team. in this case, the cavs are just not ok w/ every spot except for the 3. and remember. jameer nelson is hurt…all star, ballin his ass off jameer nelson. this series woulda been over had he been healthy.
May 28th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
the truth says:
Well who cares about if the Cavs beat Foston in the regular season? Boston didn’t have a shot this year, with or without KG.
Playoffs are another monster and I got it right, come a big-time opponent, Bron’s lackeys are gonna choke their way out of the series. They pretty much destroyed the Pistons and Hawks, but are falling way short to the Magic.
1-3 are the only numbers that matter right now.
Cavs are gonna win game 5 and will lose game 6.
Mo Williams isn’t a playoff performer, and LeBron will go to a bigger market in ’10.
Sorry Cleveland.
May 28th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
Dagomar says:
Bottom line: the problem isn’t the Cavs offense, it’s the Cavs defense. Which is the shocking thing about this whole series: sure, the Cavs have bad matchups, but it’s insane that defense is the problem right now. They’re scoring enough points, but you can’t give up the three to a team like Orlando. It’s insanity.
May 28th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Justin Solomon says:
Is Devin Davis another new Dime intern?
May 28th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
blah says:
lebron should guard dwight.
May 28th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
quest??? says:
yo wtf, bitch , stealing my name and shit, get another one
May 29th, 2009 at 12:16 am
Moneybags says:
@the truth-
Boston didn’t have a shot this year? Don’t forget they took the magic to seven without half their frontline. Imagine if Orlando didn’t have dwight or gortat…I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t have made it past the sixers. Though I do think Orlando matches up better against Cleveland than Boston does, either way none of these teams are going to beat the lakers/nuggets.
May 29th, 2009 at 12:51 am
the truth says:
@moneybags
Yup they didn’t have a shot. Meaning whatever they do, they will not win the chip.
“Though I do think Orlando matches up better against Cleveland than Boston does, either way none of these teams are going to beat the lakers/nuggets.”
You just contradicted yourself homeboy.
They can’t beat the big guns of the west and therefore not have a shot at winning a championship even if they make it to the finals.
Do not pass go, do not collect 200 dollars.
May 29th, 2009 at 10:20 am
Dukesman2000 says:
I have to give it to Orlando. They always shoot themselves out of huge deficits. Just imagine if they did not have to climb out of holes all the time; they’d be crushing teams by 20
May 29th, 2009 at 11:06 am
DOC-U-PUNK says:
@DOC….MAN DO YOU LIVE TO POST ON DIME? OR DO YOU SECRETLY WORK FOR THEM OR LEBRON? GET A LIFE MAN…
May 29th, 2009 at 11:17 am
Devin Davis says:
@quest- I had the name 1st my man…
May 29th, 2009 at 11:21 am
Devin Davis says:
Justin Solomon says:
Is Devin Davis another new Dime intern?
Justin, whats up?
yes I am a new intern and will be contributing to the Dime team for the next couple of months… Keep a look out for ya boi