How do you orchestrate the greatest comeback in the history of the NBA Playoffs? Give up 74 points in the 1st half on the road.
The Cavs completed the greatest comeback I ever saw on Thursday night in Indy, down 74-49 at half the Cavs turned up the defense in the 2nd half and overcame the deficit for a 119-114 win and basically ending their 1st round series with the Pacers.
As Basketball fans we are lucky to be able to have the best player since Michael Jordan on the team we root for. LeBron James scored 28 points in the 2nd half and finished the game with 41 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists. Best performance I have seen since he scored 25 straight points against a superior Detroit Pistons team in 2007. Fellow big 3 cohorts did not play one second in the 4th quarter. In fact most of the quarter was played with 4 bench players and LBJ. The legend grows.
With all that said the Cavs won last night because they decided to play defense in the second half. You have been criticized all season for a weak defense, and you give up 74 points on the road in a playoff game so you come out with bench players and your star and win a game where you had no right to even think you could do just that.
Now my daughter Cecelia is an extremely talented athlete. Where it came from I have no idea, but in my eyes she doesn't always go all out or just try and be the best person on the court or field. The funny thing is she can and has done just that in the past, but only some of the time which is the worst thing she could do because I know she can do it!
Sorry, had to get that off my chest and it does pertain to the blog.
What changed? the Cavs tried harder on defense than they did in the 1st half. Yeah that's it, effort. You give up 39 points the half after you gave up 74 points. Did Ty Lue change his defense dramatically at half? I don't think so. Coaches coach and player's play and the Cavs decide to play defense in the 2nd half.
Now the question for both the Cavs and Cecelia is not if they can play defense going forward, but will they?