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00:00Courtesy of Peacock, because clearly that's where you go for playoff sports in America.
00:05Ladies and gentlemen, your Cavs are up 2-0 in this series.
00:09Yeah, relegated to the online-only feed last night.
00:13Well, we'll talk about that coming up here in a bit, because it's got a lot of tweets about it
00:17throughout the game,
00:18and I sympathize with those who were sending me some of the tweets, but either way, the Cavs are up
00:232-0 in this series.
00:24I'm fighting the urge to say it. I'm not going to say it, because I think Thursday's going to get
00:28chippy.
00:28So I'm going to fight the year. I'm going to be responsible, and I'm not going to say it, even
00:33though I want to,
00:34about this series and the fate of this series, but when the Raptors get out and they try to do
00:39everything they can to get out and run,
00:41they try to do everything they can to try to beat you to the spot, and it still doesn't work.
00:47I mean, they out-rebounded you in the first half. There were so many things that could have said,
00:52hey, this is going to be a different game, and it just seemed that you were up 7-10-12
00:59-10-9-12-10-8-6 in the fourth.
01:05Yeah, they got down to two possessions.
01:0712 immediately. Like, it just seemed to be that you were always going to be ahead.
01:10Like, the only time there was ever a chance in this game last night, and maybe you see it differently.
01:16I'm going to let you get into it because you're the ball-knower here.
01:20I pride myself on knowing some ball, but not as much ball as you do. Let's be serious here.
01:23You had a tweet yesterday that I went back and I forgot I was going to retweet it.
01:28Ooh, doggies.
01:28You had a tweet yesterday that I was like, oh, man, Ken, I'm proud of him. He's a ball-knower
01:33now.
01:33Ball-knower, ball-knower, ball-knower, ball-knower, ball-knower, ball-knower, ball-knower, ball-knower.
01:37Lots of knowledge.
01:38You had a tweet.
01:38I have to toot my own horn here, so you go right on ahead.
01:41And I'll just come in and let everybody know because you said it. It's 100% true.
01:49You got right to the point.
01:52You couldn't think of a Cavalier that James Harden hasn't made better.
01:55And then immediately people got in and told me, Jalen Tyson, I want you guys to relax right damn now.
02:03Tyson, pretty clear that he was told, he was instructed, go in, bear hug Brandon Ingram.
02:10Use up some fouls and make him frustrated.
02:13And it worked.
02:14We'll get to that.
02:14We'll get to that in a second because you've seen the clear difference in talent and who they have to
02:21rely on compared to who you can rely on.
02:23And it's a big difference maker.
02:24But Kenny, the part of this Donovan Mitchell, absolute superstar performance as he continues to do.
02:31I think people forget when he, in the regular season, is just kind of, oh, where's Donovan been for a
02:38half?
02:38Oh, Donovan's just really shooting threes and then that's it.
02:43Oh, Donovan's not really playing any defense.
02:45Well, it's been a year long of kind of load management, but on the floor for Donovan.
02:51Some guys do load management by just not showing up to the building, not going on trips.
02:58I'm going to get my tendinitis.
03:00I'm going to get treatment.
03:02Where is he?
03:03Is he coming out for the second half?
03:05That's not what Donovan does.
03:06Donovan has just been through this.
03:08Donovan doesn't really care about his stats anymore.
03:10And he had some clunkers in a regular season.
03:13Funny thing is he's still going to be all NBA, probably second team when all is said and done.
03:17That's how amazing he is.
03:20But have we talked a lot about Donovan as a superstar this year?
03:23I feel like we haven't.
03:24No, we haven't talked about any of them being superstars this year.
03:27Let's be honest.
03:27I mean, there's been a malaise with the fan base for a while.
03:30And I don't want to get into the fan-on-fan stuff because I saw a lot of that.
03:33And we'll get to that coming up here in a bit.
03:34All right, I got to go over this team and I got to go over this win and it's 2
03:37-0.
03:37But no, I don't think that we've talked a lot in that sense about Donovan being a superstar,
03:42about Donovan being one percenter.
03:44I think it's more the challenge that's laid to Donovan to take this team
03:48and raise the standard of what their greatness is going to be.
03:52And really, you know, second round isn't greatness.
03:54You get to one of the final four teams in the NBA, that means you're a great team.
03:57I mean, good God, there's 30 of them in the league.
03:59I think you're pretty special if you get to the Eastern Conference Finals.
04:02You're off to a hell of a good start so far because, you know, again, yesterday,
04:06I didn't think it was going to be a 20-plus point lead like it was at times on Saturday.
04:12But it just seemed to me, and Thursday I think is going to be a different story,
04:16and I'll tell you why later.
04:19But it just seemed to be like you're just a better team.
04:23It's just what there was.
04:24I mean, the turnovers at the beginning of the game didn't help Toronto.
04:27You're just a better team.
04:29The only time Toronto, I felt, could really get close to you
04:31is when you had Dennis Schroeder in and Jalen Tyson in.
04:35I mean, just –
04:36And Keon Ellis was missing the threes he normally makes in the corner.
04:40Yeah, when your starters weren't in and they were getting a breather,
04:42that's like the only chance they got to really get back within shouting distance at you.
04:46So yesterday was a game where normally at home they always say traditionally
04:50in the NBA playoffs, things have kind of changed, by the way,
04:52but it's always my whole life been the role players play well at home,
04:56and on the road they disappear.
04:58A lot of that's changed because of three-point shooting in the NBA
05:01because they can all shoot it at any point.
05:03It doesn't really matter if they're home or away.
05:05But yesterday, the role players offensively –
05:10defensively, they all were doing what they needed to do,
05:12and we'll get into that later.
05:14Offensively, you were a three-man show yesterday,
05:17but your three guys are so much better than what Toronto has,
05:23and this is kind of part of a larger point.
05:26When I said to you moments ago, do people understand how good Donovan Mitchell is?
05:32Because in the malaise of the regular season, and that's really what it was, a malaise.
05:36It was, hey, I don't know who's going to be in the lineup tonight.
05:38I'm sorry for those that paid for tickets, but I don't know who's going to show up.
05:42We've had staggered injuries all year, and if Donovan goes,
05:46I don't even know how balls to the wall he's going to be.
05:49But do you guys understand having a guy like Donovan Mitchell,
05:53how different that is in the postseason?
05:56Because he – it was so dispiriting for Toronto that any time the Cavaliers needed a bucket,
06:04it was Donovan Mitchell would see who was on him and go,
06:08oh, I can take him to the basket.
06:10Oh, he can't come out and guard me at the three-point line.
06:14Oh, I can do my Wheeling Dervish spin move.
06:17Oh, I can bring the ball over on that gather step, which he does.
06:22The old Magic Johnson, but he does it on a gather step.
06:25It's incredible.
06:26Like, oh, I have the million-dollar move.
06:29I have the hesitation.
06:30I have the D-cell.
06:32I've got this entire box of moves,
06:34and I get to pick which one I want to use on every possession
06:37because Toronto has nothing for me.
06:39Oh, and you know what?
06:40When I go to the bench or I feel like I don't want to exert any more energy on this
06:45possession,
06:46James Harden is going to milk the clock to the end of the shot clock,
06:50and Toronto fans will be like, great defensive possession.
06:52We have locked in.
06:53We didn't let Donovan get going.
06:55We didn't let it be on the roll to Jared Allen.
06:58We didn't – no alley-oop to Evan Mobley.
06:59Like, we've clamped him down.
07:01Oh, Max Struzoff is staggered.
07:03No, no, we defended it well.
07:05Oh, James is going to shoot a step-back three.
07:07We're going to contest.
07:08We're either going to foul or he's going to make it.
07:09How do we beat this team?
07:11Do you guys understand how that sucks the energy and the hope away from every single one of those Raptors?
07:19And that is the difference.
07:20You've got those guys.
07:22They don't have them.
07:23So that's exactly it.
07:27And I knew that this was – this is a great performance because I wasn't sitting there watching 45
07:32hoping he would pull rabbits out of his hat.
07:34I didn't realize until the end of the game that he was the leading scorer, to be honest with you.
07:37I was so focused on what Evan did last night.
07:42I mean, 6-6 from the field in the first half, finished with 25.
07:47I was so focused on what James Harden was doing yesterday, creating shots, hitting shots.
07:52He even did the classic Harden move where he was about four rows up in the stands,
07:57and he forced a three free throw shot on a foul, which is something that people have hated his entire
08:0417-year career.
08:05But it's when it's your team, it's the Jack Parkman – it's crazy how a change of jersey can do
08:11something to you.
08:12And that's exactly what it was.
08:13I couldn't believe he was able to get a – he was able to get a shooting foul on that
08:18up there in the upper corner.
08:19So there were – the two guys that I was paying attention to the most was Evan Mobley and James
08:24Harden.
08:24I didn't realize that Donovan was your leading scorer last night.
08:27I didn't.
08:27And it's – I assume it's a good thing.
08:30I hope it's a good thing.
08:31Maybe I just wasn't watching Donovan close enough.
08:33I just assume he's going to take care of his business.
08:35But I feel differently.
08:36I'm going to explain why coming up at 6-23.
08:38I know I'm talking about a lot of things in the future here.
08:40But I just want to savor it here because I was just so impressed by what Evan did last night
08:45offensively.
08:46I was so impressed by what James Harden did for everybody else and himself, obviously,
08:50that I didn't have to notice Donovan Mitchell.
08:52And I think it's a very good thing where I don't have to sit there and just beg Donovan Mitchell
08:56to get a bucket to keep us ahead by six
08:58or keep us ahead by three or bring us back.
09:02Like, I didn't have to do that the way I have in previous years.
09:05I just think we are – I hope to God we are seeing the difference in this basketball team post
09:12the trade for James Harden here.
09:13I hope that anybody who's just jumping in or maybe just jumped in for the first time even Saturday because
09:19a lot of people have –
09:20I know not a lot of people have peacocks, so maybe I'm telling you stories that you just read about
09:24and you're hearing about for the first time.
09:26But this is just – it's such a comforting difference.
09:30And it ain't always going to be this way.
09:31All right?
09:32Atlanta beat the Knicks last night.
09:33We're getting some topsy-turvy stuff going on here.
09:36We saw Orlando beat Detroit on Sunday.
09:39So it's not always going to be this way, but I'm going to join it.
09:41If Donovan would have been off yesterday, they might have lost.
09:44It's absolutely in the realm of possibilities that on Thursday night they struggle on the road.
09:50You're going to get Toronto's – although I think – I really, truly believe watching Toronto defensively yesterday,
09:55I think you've gotten the best out of Toronto defensively.
09:58Like, they are making it hard to even – there's so many possessions yesterday that got started with seven or
10:05six seconds left in the shot clock
10:07because they were wrestling off the ball.
10:10Like, they would have – there was a play where Keon Ellis was supposed to come up and set the
10:14screen for Harden,
10:15and they were going to go guard on guard screen, which they can unlock a whole bunch of things the
10:20way they have their spacing when they go small.
10:22And he couldn't get over to set the screen because he was getting tackled.
10:28And it's playoff basketball, and they are allowing it.
10:31And by the way, I think that's fine for the Cavs.
10:33I think they are just fine, especially when they are starting Dean Wade.
10:36I think they've played a little bit more physically, and I'm glad you brought up Dean Wade.
10:39It was so physical, Kenny.
10:41It was so physical, and that's why I said after the game, what a perfect playoff game.
10:46Not that the Cavs played great.
10:47If the Cavs played great, they would have just won by 20.
10:50It would have been over.
10:51But the Cavs have had so few minutes playing together this year since the Harden trade.
10:58They've had so few practices.
10:59And I'm not saying that for excuses.
11:02That was a voluntary move the Cavs made.
11:04They knew that they were not going to have a lot of time to build continuity.
11:08But they've had so few chances on the floor with all their healthy guys to figure out their identity and
11:14figure out who they are
11:15that it's awesome to see against a formidable team, not as talented as the Cavs, certainly.
11:22They don't have the superstars that you have.
11:23But a formidable team that is doing everything they can to mess up your sets.
11:29They are doing everything they can to disrupt your rhythm.
11:33They've made huge adjustments already in this series because they know they're up against it.
11:37They're basically a change of starting lineup.
11:39They threw one of their starters out of the rotation yesterday.
11:43Pirtle was basically gone.
11:44I don't know if we're going to see them again in this series.
11:46But they're doing everything they can within their powers to try to mess with you.
11:52And the Cavs were able to hold them at bay throughout.
11:56And it's huge because the Cavs have to prove that they can play all these different ways.
12:00They can handle physicality.
12:01Guys, Toronto is as physical as it gets.
12:03They come straight out of the Orlando playbook.
12:06And you won.
12:07You won.
12:08And you didn't get good games out of your role players.
12:11You didn't.
12:12So, I do think it's important to note that the Cavs are showing they have a curveball.
12:17They have an off-speed pitch.
12:19They have different ways that they can negotiate.
12:21Having to start 40 different starting lineups might have been a good thing altogether.
12:25I understand that a lot of that was just because they had to because of the injuries that happened during
12:29the year.
12:29But, I mean, 40 different lineups, I would hope that it teaches you some things.
12:33And I think, obviously, Kenny Atkinson has learned something.
12:35You know, I don't want to bog it down too much.
12:36You mentioned Dean Wade.
12:38I'd have to go back and look at the shot charts for him historically.
12:41I know that you would know better than me.
12:43So, I kind of had to ask you.
12:44I mean, it looked like he passed up a dozen open looks.
12:46But if I don't know his spots on the floor, like, you could be standing there.
12:49But if that ain't your shot, that ain't your shot.
12:51So, I will openly admit I don't know Dean Wade's spots on the floor.
12:55But defensively, I mean, you just said it.
12:58Brandon Ingram was frustrated.
13:00Scotty Barnes was frustrated.
13:02Anybody they put him on in switches or anything ended up being frustrated.
13:05He was remarkable defensively last night.
13:07Dean Wade was.
13:08Huge.
13:08And this is why when their defense went south, ever since I saw national guys like Bill Simmons,
13:15oh, since they got Harden, they're 18th in defense.
13:17And that team with a profile of 18th on defense can't win the championship.
13:20It's like, well, no, they haven't had any of their best defensive players.
13:23Not having Wade, Mobley was in and out.
13:26Jared Allen missed nine games.
13:27Tyson was out for a month.
13:29Like, yeah, when the Cavs don't have your best defensive players
13:32and they're in mail-it-in mode in the regular season,
13:35you're going to see some issues with the defense.
13:37Well, the sheriff loved Dean Wade, and he brought it up last night.
13:40He did.
13:40Dean Wade, I mean, he's been doing great.
13:44That's really it.
13:47It's great.
13:51It's good to see Evan doing what he was doing.
13:53Which, even though he was 6-6 from the field in the first half,
13:56I did get some complaints about his rebounding.
13:58I'm like, well, it ain't going to always be perfect, guys.
14:00Yeah, they were getting pounded on the offensive glass.
14:03I feel like they made the adjustment in the second half.
14:06They were better.
14:07Well, you had the one where, God, they had four different looks at it,
14:09and they finally were able to put it in.
14:11I mean, good God, that was a little bit of luck, obviously, with the ball bouncing,
14:14but that was effort there.
14:15So, I mean, I'll take that when James Harden finally finished it.
14:18Yeah, they had some amazing sequences.
14:20And, yeah, listen, you don't want every game to be a Donovan Mitchell
14:25and James Harden bail them out situation, because eventually you'll lose those games.
14:29It's going to be tough over the gauntlet of a playoffs.
14:32You're going to need your other role players to step up.
14:35But I think I know enough about a lot of these guys that I do have confidence
14:39that they are fully capable in doing it.
14:43They have flaws.
14:44Like, they have some flaws.
14:45They're, as I've said, for the last four years, they just don't have the wings.
14:50And they got away with it.
14:52Like, having Dean Wade back, it makes them way more versatile,
14:55because I've seen them guard Jalen Brunson, and I've seen them guard Brandon Ingram.
14:59Those are two totally different players, but it shows you how important somebody like Dean Wade is.
15:04He was the running theme through postgame last night.
15:07An hour of press conferences, everybody went to Dean Wade.
15:11It was Dean Wade.
15:11It was him on Brandon Ingram that was the big through line.
15:15Well, and my overarching thought the entire last month, month and a half of the year,
15:20is just got to get healthy, because I know it's hard to rely on that.
15:25Dean Wade has always been injured.
15:26So you're relying on Darius Garland had always been injured.
15:30So it was hard to rely on those types of guys.
15:32I think that's a big part of the reason they dealt Darius Garland, because James Harden plays.
15:36That's one thing we know about him.
15:37You might not like the way he plays in the final game of the year,
15:39but in a lot of the other games, in 90% of the other games, he is so effective.
15:44I think people are realizing that.
15:46Even some national people, I've heard Marcus Spears was on yesterday talking about,
15:50you know, Harden could change his legacy.
15:52Like, one deep run to the finals here could change his legacy forever.
15:56That's true.
15:56All it takes is one.
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