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Brian Windhorst
multiple authors
In March 2000, Lebron James Played the biggest game of his life up to that point: the state championship game at Ohio State.
The lanky freshman made 10 of 12 shots, grabbed nine rebounds and scored 25 points, more than hinting that he could be on his way to big things. However, the decisive player of the game was a freshman named Drew Joyce, who made seven 3-pointers. His shooting performance broke down the opposition’s backfield defense, which was the first of many ideas in trying to stop James.
Luke Kennard Was 3 years old then. Fifteen years later, he broke James’ Ohio high school career scoring mark. Kennard hit five 3-pointers and scored 27 points in the Lakers game. Houston Rockets On Saturday, it was a reminder that even after 26 years, not much has changed in the story.
Over the decades, the faces have changed, but destructive tactics can still work wonders. When the stakes are high, give James the ball, spread the floor and win with James directing the offense and cutting sharpshooters around him.
It’s a playoff lesson that spans nearly two decades of James’ illustrious career.
The list of players who overtook James and changed playoff games with a volley of 3-pointers: Damon Jones, Daniel Gibson, Wally Szczerbiak, Shane Battier, Mike Miller, Matthew Dellavedova, JR Smith, Kyle Korver, Danny Green, Kentavius Caldwell-Pope.
Check out the box scores and highlights – even that game from 2000 is on YouTube. Most of these shots were generated by James’ assists, or his hockey assists, or screens, or simply drawing multiple defenders.
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Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Game Highlights
Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Game Highlights
That’s similar to what happened in Game 1 on Saturday, when James once again became the ultimate facilitator and dished out eight of his 13 assists in the first quarter.
Lakers coach JJ Redick said of James, “He showed great leadership the whole time.” “We talked all week about staying connected offensively and trusting the pass. He led us.”
The biggest lesson from the NBA’s opening playoff weekend dates back a quarter-century. Give James a shooter (or three) and the ball, and his team can still win big games the old-fashioned way.
Here’s a look at some other lessons we learned as the eight playoff series began:
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Toronto Raptors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers: Game Highlights
Toronto Raptors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers: Game Highlights
The Cavs unveiled a new defensive strategy – and it worked
The Cleveland Cavaliers struggled on defense for most of the second half of the season. In addition to their injuries, which prevented them from building momentum – coach Kenny Atkinson used 24 different players and 41 starting lineups – their 15th-ranked defense was a concern entering the playoffs.
Win in their game against 1 Toronto RaptorsHowever, the Cavs unveiled a disciplined and sound game plan that targeted the Raptors’ leading scorer, brandon ingram.
During the regular season, Ingram averaged 20 shots per game against the Cavs, his third most against any former team, as he was clearly the Raptors’ preferred option when they played Cleveland.
On Saturday, the Cavs started with their primary point guard dean wadeShady Ingram from the beginning of the property. he finished with the bus nine shots and One In the second part. He got to the free throw line 10 times, but the Cavaliers not only prevented him from scoring, but also made it difficult for him to score.
This didn’t help Toronto’s starting point guard. Emmanuel Quickly Was out with a right hamstring injury, and the Cavs lightly covered the replacement. jamal sheedWho made five 3s. But the Cavs were happy that he took two more shots than Ingram.
“Every time I went down, they tried to keep me from getting the ball,” Ingram said. “Obviously, they knew most of the things we’ve been running all year. … We’ve got to figure out how to make adjustments in the next game, and not let it be too dominant.”
The Cavs also slowed down the pace, something that will be part of their game plan during their playoff run. Cleveland is already one of the slowest teams in the league — james harden That’s a big factor – and Toronto managed only three fast-break points.
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The ease of thunder across the sun in game 1
After a spectacular win over the Suns, the Thunder have taken a 1-0 lead in the series.
Lose the turnover game in OKC, and it’s over
The Thunder had to win two Game 7s on the way to the title last year, but that doesn’t explain how dominant they were at home last spring.
Their average home margin of victory during last year’s Western Conference playoffs was 29 points. Despite significant injuries, he is 149-40 over the last two seasons, including in the playoffs and the NBA Cup.
And after beating the Suns by 35 points in Sunday’s Game 1, the Thunder’s average margin of victory in first-round home games over the past two years is…35 points.
Oklahoma City Sunday was scary. The Suns were tired after playing their third game in three cities in six days against the rested Thunder, but the efficiency of their performance showed what it takes to beat them four times in a series.
The most important under-the-radar stat of the weekend may have been that the Thunder outscored the Suns 34-2 in turnovers. It may seem like it’s a byproduct of a routine explosion, but it’s a measuring stick of the Thunder’s level of play.
they are built around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander And his half-court dominance. But his philosophy is packed into those turnover points. The Thunder are built and programmed to win possession games. That’s why they jump passing lanes, obsessively try to take care of the ball and recruit athletes with long arms.
catch the ball. Whether it’s a rebound, steal, loose ball or deflection, it doesn’t matter.
Watching the Thunder cycle through 11 players in the first half, all of them falling into mostly perfect defensive rotations, generate eight steals and a handful more deflections, and score 21 points off turnovers in just 24 minutes was sobering — for the Suns and for anyone who dared to check out the competition.
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Jalen Suggs picks off the pocket of Cade Cunningham and throws down a transition jam
Jalen Suggs stole the ball from Cade Cunningham and dunked it for the Magic.
Piston’s weaknesses exposed
The Pistons continued to hear deserved praise throughout the regular season.
They are very tough physically and mentally, But They are limited in their ability to generate offense. Cade Cunningham And Jalen Duren After his stellar two-way play throughout the season, he should earn a spot on the NBA awards ballot, But It’s hard to get big wins with weak 3-point shooting.
Detroit was the only team of the eight home teams to lose its Game 1 over the weekend, with the Magic carrying the momentum of their impressive play-in win into Sunday’s win. Cunningham looked every bit the first-team All-NBA player likely to be named as he scored 39 points and valiantly led his team to victory.
Cunningham took 27 shots and only one of his teammates managed double-digit attempts – Tobias Harris, who was 5-of-15. Duren, who had been aggressive all season, could only make four shots and was outmatched by Magic center Wendell Carter.
The Pistons made only 4 of 16 shots on Cunningham passes, and their bench also made a combined 4 of 16. The Pistons went just 10 of 32 on 3-pointers, one less than their season average of 11 per game, which ranked 28th in the league.
The Pistons, a 60-win team, are good enough to make the adjustment for Game 2, but on a day when the Thunder, Spurs and Celtics were all looking for their seed, the traits that have shown them vulnerable for months were evident.
1:54
Wembley downs 35 in playoff start as Spurs win Game 1
Victor Wembanyama dropped 35 points as the Spurs won Game 1 over the Trail Blazers.
Victor Vembanyama is not afraid of this moment – or any other
The 22-year-old burst out of the gates with 12 points in the first quarter of his first playoff game and had 21 of his 35 points in the first half of the Spurs’ Game 1 win over the Blazers. His overall stat line was more pedestrian than his ridiculous standards; He only had five rebounds, one assist and two blocks.
How does this compare to the first playoff games of some of the recent greats? In short: absolutely fine.
James’ first playoff game was also very impressive, with a 32-point, 11-rebound, 11-assist triple double in an 11-point win. But that type of output, and leading your team to victory, is not ideal.
Kevin Durant Scored 24 points in his debut, but made only 7 of 24 in the loss. Stephen Curry Scored 19 runs with 9 assists even in a loss. luka doncic Had a standout performance in his first playoff game in Dallas, scoring 42 points with 7 rebounds and nine assists, but the Mavs also lost. Kobe Bryant played only 46 seconds in his first playoff game as a light rookie. In Bryant’s first playoff start, in his third season as Wembanyama, he had 17 points and made the game-winning free throw.
Shaquille O’Neal, to whom some have compared Wembanyama for his early dominance at the center position, had 24 points and 19 rebounds in his first playoff game. Also a loss.
