Is It Time to Hit That Big, Red Panic Button
The Cavs lost to the Pacers in Indiana by a score of 92-90 in Game 3 of the first round of the playoffs. JR Smith had a chance at a long three to win it but came up well short. Here is my instant reaction on Twitter:
This team doesn’t have it. They may comeback and win this series against Indiana, but there is no help for LeBron.
— Zach Shafron (@ZachOnCST) April 21, 2018
Let’s talk about that last play. So the Cavs should’ve had a plan for if a foul shot was missed. They didn’t. LeBon should not have been camping on the other side of the Earth. We have the GOAT on our team and let JR take a 40 footer? Garbage.
— Zach Shafron (@ZachOnCST) April 21, 2018
Even if JR hit that crazy three, it would only mask the horrific problems this franchise has.
— Zach Shafron (@ZachOnCST) April 21, 2018
Final thought of the game: the new guys have had their moments, they’re better than what we had, but we didn’t give LeBron enough to compete for a championship. Just a shame.
— Zach Shafron (@ZachOnCST) April 21, 2018
I was heated about the lost, along with many other Cavs fans. This team blew a 17-point lead at halftime and now trail in a series to a team they were heavily favorited to win. I was happy with the trades the Cavs made at this year’s past deadline, but none of those guys seem to be doing enough to help LeBron.
Rodney Hood, Larry Nance and Jordan Clarkson combined for 16 while George Hill added a respectable 13. That’s just not enough. To add to it, JR only had eight, Jeff Green with six. LeBron and Kevin Love were the only two who did anything.
It really feels like we are back to LeBron’s first go-round in Cleveland where he doesn’t have anyone to take some of the load off of him.
However, the Cavs certainly are not out of this series, down 2-1. But I’d like to look at the broader picture here.
Sure, in any round, playoff games are close. It’s the top-tier of the league playing against each other and even a 1-8 series can have some exciting moments, despite the fact that the eight seed rarely wins the series.
With these Cavs, it’s different. Sure, they could spin off three in a row and beat Indiana. But then what? Is the team really going to get past Toronto and Philly with the current roster of mediocrity? And if so, will the Cavs even win a game in the finals?
I’m tired of getting smashed by the Warriors in the finals.
JR Smith hits that three and everyone goes crazy thinking the problems on this team have suddenly vanished. LeBron is the GOAT, but he is not God. Other players on the roster have to step up and I’m just not seeing that happen now or in the future. Maybe losing was a blessing in disguise because it serves as a wake-up call to a team that desperately needs it.
For the first time, I really think LeBron could leave Cleveland again. And I actually don’t blame him. He deserves a better supporting cast around him at this point in his career and it’s just not happening in the playoffs this year.
But who knows, I counted the Cavs out in 2016 and they won the championship. Maybe I’ll be wrong again. One more loss and I’m hitting the panic button….
…Okay, I just hit it.
Image: ESPN
