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The Cleveland Cavaliers tip off Sunday at 3:30 p.m. on ABC against the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons and Cavs have had many memorable matchups in the postseason. They last met in 2009 in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals where Cleveland swept Detroit and ended the modern day Bad Boys’ era.
This current Pistons team is much younger and is just happy to be in the postseason after a seven-year drought watching from home. However, this series will be no cakewalk for the Cavs as the Pistons have beaten them three out of four times during the regular season. Here are five keys the Cavs will need to focus on in order to beat the Pistons.
Contain Reggie Jackson
Ever since coming over to the Pistons at last season’s trade deadline, Reggie Jackson has been one of the Eastern Conference’s top point guards. Coach Stan Van Gundy has given Jackson the keys to the offense and Jackson responded with a career year. Jackson’s per game stats are All-Star worthy, averaging 18.8 points and 6.2 assists, all while shooting 43% from floor, 35% from three, and 86% from the line. According to basketball-reference.com, Jackson ranks 16th in the league in usage percentage. He ignites the Motor City offense with his ability to get into the paint and find the open man. He also played very well against Cleveland in the regular season with numbers of 20.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 7.3 assists in three contests. It is essential the Cavalier point guards make him work on the defensive end.
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Keep the Leads
It’s no secret that the Cavs have been known to blow many leads. If they are fortunate enough to gain a big lead on the Pistons, it is imperative they maintain it. In the playoffs, rest is key. If the Cavs have an opportunity to go deep into their bench late in games and give their starters and key reserves a break at the end of these matches then they have to take advantage of it. The less LeBron James, Kevin Love, and Kyrie Irving have to play in this series, the better off the Cavs will be for the rest of the playoffs.
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Get Kevin Love the Ball
Love must have been the happiest player in the locker room when the Pistons clinched the eighth seed. The sweet-shooting power forward averaged the most points this season against the Pistons at 24 per game. He should be a major factor in the offense as Detroit’s starting power forward is Tobias Harris, a player who is slender and really doesn’t have the muscle to compete with Love on the block. Get Love going in the post, and it opens up the perimeter for the various shooters waiting behind the arc. This is a matchup the Cavs should go to early and often.
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Keep the Pistons off the Offensive Glass
Easier said than done, but it doesn’t take away from its importance. Not only were the Pistons the second best rebounding team in the league, they ranked second in total offensive rebounds. Again, Andre Drummond’s presence on the offensive glass will be a major component for the Cavs as he averages a shade under five a game which is easily the best mark in the league. Back up center Aron Baynes, has also made a living on the offensive glass ranking in the top 50 in total offensive rebounds. They must be able to finish off a defensive possession with a rebound.
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Utilize Hack-A-Drummond When Needed
It’s not the prettiest type of basketball, and admittedly can be boring, but the hack-a-poor free throw shooter play is definitely in the Cavs’ favor for this series. Drummond is the definition of an awful free throw shooter. He makes 35.5% of his shots at the charity stripe, which is the worst in the league. When the Pistons get hot, it will be important to stop their flow of the game by putting Drummond at the line. Furthermore, if the Cavs see themselves down by a big margin, they can use this strategy to get themselves back in the game. If the Cavs find themselves giving up offensive rebounds to him, they should put him on the line.