2. Clutch Crowder
With Kevin Love out, Jae Crowder had the tough task of managing Ben Simmons defensively while also needing to pick up some offensive slack. He ended the evening with 12 points, five rebounds and two steals.
His biggest moment of the game came with just 40 seconds left in regulation and the Cavs leading Philly, 101-98. After a missed three from JJ Redick, James got the defensive rebound and eventually found Crowder on the right wing. He nailed the shot in crunch time to give the Cavs a six-point lead.
Crowder is the first person to admit that he’s been struggling offensively this year. Part of the problem has been adjusting out of the Boston system, and he says he’s still trying to get comfortable. Regardless, tonight’s performance is something he hopes he’ll be able to build upon.
“What a relief,” Crowder said. “Y’all know I’ve been struggling. It feels good to finally see one go down, especially late in the game. I’ve made quite a few in my career, but I haven’t made them like I wanted to here. Hopefully it amounts to something now, I just want to build off it.”
“I thought he was playing well,” Lue said of the decision to use Crowder so much in the final frame. “I thought he did a good job on Ben. Short-handed with Kevin, I thought we needed another bigger guy in the game. That was great to see him make that big shot for us.”
Ty on Crowder’s 4Q performance and his big 3 pic.twitter.com/f9g87jrCeL
— Ashley Bastock (@AshleyBastock42) December 10, 2017
Another fun stat that shows just how important it is for Cleveland to find a way to get Crowder going: When Crowder scores in double figures, the Cavaliers are 11-0.
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