1. Do we even have to say it?
On Halloween weekend the Cavs’ defense was hauntingly bad. Where to even begin with this one?
The Cavs allowed the Knicks to shoot 47.2 percent from the field. While the Knicks only made 13 three-pointers, they were incredibly efficient knocking down 46.4 percent of their shots from deep. The Cavs also weren’t getting in passing lanes, as evidenced by the fact that the Knicks had 27 assists.
And then you have the individual performances. As pointed out by Noah Coslov, coming into today, Tim Hardaway Jr. had just 39 points and six assists through five games this season. Against the Cavs he put on a clinic, scoring a game-high 34 points and dishing out eight assists. J.R. Smith, who was his primary defender, had the worst plus-minus differential of the entire game at minus-24.
Kristaps Porzingis also had quite the night, dropping 32 points and grabbing 12 boards. Enes Kanter had a double-double as well, adding 18 points and 12 boards. Tristan Thompson spent a large portion of the time defending both, but ended the night with just one point and zero rebounds himself.
“Defensively we can’t sustain, and that’s the number one thing,” said LeBron James after the game.
Once again, the Cavs looked to be a step behind at nearly every point in the contest, other than when they went on a short 13-2 run to open the fourth quarter.
“I don’t know if it’s in shape wise or what, but right now teams just look faster than us at every position,” Lue said. “So they’re running fast, they’re sprinting, they’re pushing the ball up the floor, and it’s like we can’t keep up.”
Lue: Teams just look faster than we do at every position pic.twitter.com/IuA0tOoFwG
— Ashley Bastock (@AshleyBastock42) October 30, 2017
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