Written by Andrew Lynch at FoxSports.com
Congratulations to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
After 50 games of coasting through the regular season, LeBron James’ squad decided to show up to work in its playoff opener.
Cleveland let the Indiana Pacers hang around for the first half of Game 1 on Saturday, as neither team showed any interesting in stopping the other. But in the third quarter, the Cavs scrapped like Matthew Dellavedova was still in town and turned a couple defensive stands into a double-digit lead and an eventual 109-108 win.
You can see it with your own eyes. The Cavs finally — finally — made an effort on defense. They recognized all that disrespectful nonsense they pulled in the regular season is in the past. They buckled down and played like champions when it mattered most.
Yet they didn’t flip the switch.
Deciding you care about the outcome of a game is a step in the right direction. Giving your all on every possession is even better.
Contrary to what you might have heard, though, NBA defense isn’t just about trying hard.
Kevin Garnett wasn’t one of the all-time greats because he yelled the loudest and wanted to fight everyone on every possession. He combined heart with intelligence, communication and a hard-earned understanding of what every opponent wanted to do on offense.
Intensity alone gets you only halfway there. An elite defense has to scheme well, then execute that scheme consistently. How do you want to handle the pick-and-roll? Do you send a ball-handler toward the baseline on the strong side, or do you need to account for the shooter sliding to the 3-point line? Who helps when the ball gets into the paint — and who helps the helper?
No amount of elbow grease can solve those questions, but if you want to win a title, you’d better have answers. Engaged or not, the Cavaliers are still a long way away from that kind of cohesion.
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