Lesson learned? Who’s to blame? Being real about the Cavs’ loss to Orlando – Terry Pluto

CLEVELAND, Ohio – “It’s one game, lesson learned.”

That’s what coach J.B. Bickerstaff said after the Cavs lost 121-83 in Orlando on Thursday.

It was the most lopsided playoff loss in franchise history. It came after the Cavs won the opening two games in Cleveland, as the best-of-seven series is still 2-1 in their favor.

But I have a question: Why did the Cavs have to “learn” any lesson about Game 3?

It was a surprise a young Orlando team would be inspired on its home court? It was a surprise the crowd was loud? It was a surprise …

I’ll stop right there.

No surprise, period.

Not for the Cavs, who have far more playoff experience than the Magic. I’m not simply criticizing Bickerstaff. The coach said Orlando would be a different team at home and stressed that to his players.

Veterans such as Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, Georges Niang, Caris LeVert and others know that. Evan Mobley, Darius Garland and Isaac Okoro had their first painful playoff experience last season when the Cavs were overwhelmed by New York in five games.

As bad as that team was in Madison Square Garden in 2023, this performance was worse.

IT WAS MORE THAN THE FIRST QUARTER

“It was the first quarter,” said Bickerstaff. “They set the tone. They came out and played with a sense of urgency … They set the tone, and we were chasing them.”

This was true, but only to an extent.

A nervous and hyped-up Orlando team missed its first nine shots. That’s right NINE misses to open the game. The Cavs had a 10-3 lead in the middle of the first quarter.

Then … nothing.

At the end of the first quarter, Orlando had a 31-21 lead.

I repeat, the score was 31-21 … not 131 to 21. There are lots of 10-point swings in most NBA games.

That is not game over. It’s more like “game on,” as in Orlando was not about to fall behind and stay behind as it did in the first two games in Cleveland.

PLAYOFF PSYCHOLOGY

What often happens on the road is something like this: The home team trailing in a series comes out strong. It grabs an early lead as it is fueled by the crowd and a sense of desperation.

The Magic knew that if they lost, the series was over. The record of teams down 3-0 in a series and then winning it … 0-191.

For Orlando, it was now or never.

For the Cavs, it was almost like, “Hey, we’ll get them next game.”

That was the wrong attitude.

There often is an emotional drop when the home team takes an early big lead – especially a team with so little playoff experience. Then they become vulnerable.

That’s also a lesson most of the Cavs should have already known. If they did, they refused to act on it.

WHO IS TO BLAME?

I fault the players as much as Bickerstaff.

In the first two games, Mitchell led the first-quarter charge. He did bang his cranky knee early in the game. Perhaps that was behind his generally passive play.

Orlando also put premier defender Jalen Suggs on Mitchell, and often double-teamed the Cavs star. That should not be a shock. In fact, Orlando should have tried that earlier in the series.

So Mitchell was struggling. Where was everyone else?

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Darius Garland shot 2 of 10 for five points. Evan Mobley had only two more rebounds than you did last night. That’s right, the 7-footer had a pair of rebounds in 22 minutes.

By the middle of the first quarter, it was obvious Orlando was sending everyone to the boards for rebounds. The Cavs owned this area in the first two games.

Cleveland’s response?

Jarrett Allen had eight rebounds. Mitchell had five. No one else had more than three as the Cavs were embarrassed 51-32 on the boards.

The Cavs were a soft team, especially from a mental standpoint.

IT IS ONE GAME

The Cavs are back on that same court Saturday at 1 p.m.

A concern is Mitchell’s physical condition. Other than a few drives to the rim late in the first half, he displayed little quickness and leaping ability. He finished with 13 points.

Mobley needs to get back on the boards. Orlando kept putting bodies on Allen, who had 38 rebounds in the first two games. He needs help.

Anytime Strus and Niang can make a few 3-point shots would be helpful. They are a combined 3 of 24 from behind the arc.

Mitchell is only 6 of 24 on 3-pointers.

Sam Merrill played in the second half and was 3 of 4 for nine points in 22 minutes.

Hint … hint. Maybe he needs more than the four total minutes he played in the first two games.

But for the Cavs, the real story is their mental toughness. I’m stressing that part of the story. Physically, the Cavs showed they can compete on the boards and defensively with the athletic Magic.

The Cavs also are more equipped in terms of experience and emotional maturity to win this series. That needs to be on display Saturday. There are no secrets in terms of effort required to at least be competitive.