Perhaps it was fitting.
LeBron James found himself with the ball — all alone — at the top of the key. So the Cavaliers star paused, took a preparatory dribble and a launched a wide-open 3-pointer. The Hawks watched as the non-contested shot gave the Cavaliers a one-point lead as they erased an eight-point deficit in less than three minutes of the fourth quarter.
The Cavaliers never trailed again en route to a 121-108 victory over the Hawks in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference semifinals series Friday night. The Cavaliers lead the best-of-seven series 3-0 and can sweep the Hawks from the playoffs for a second consecutive year with a win Sunday in Game 4.
The Cavaliers are 61-of-115 from 3-point range in the series, a staggering .530 success rate. They made 15 in Game 1, an NBA-record 25 in Game 2 and 21 in Game 3. They became the first team in NBA history to have consecutive games, regular or postseason, with 20 or more 3-pointers. They lead all teams in total 3-pointers (118), 3-point percentage (.466) and 3-pointers per game (16.9) in this postseason.
“I can’t remember three games at this rate, at this clip,” Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said Saturday. “… I do think they are getting a decent number of open ones, but they’ve also made an inordinate number of tough ones.”
In the series, the Hawks are giving up a large number of open 3-pointers. The Cavaliers have the shooters to knock them down.
According to the NBA’s Shot Tracker, 53.5 percent of the Cavaliers’ 3-point attempts in the three games are either open or wide open, with the nearest defender 4-6 feet away or 6 or more feet away, respectively. They have a .421 success rate of shots where the defense is considered tight (2-4 feet) or very tight (0-2 feet).
The 3-point numbers for the series are:
- Wide open: 26-of-55 (.473)
- Open: 27-of-41 (.659)
- Tight: 8-of-17 (.471)
- Very tight: 0-of-2 (.000)
In the Cavaliers’ Game 3 win, they were 21-of-39 from 3-point range, 20-of-34 on shots described as wide open or open by the NBA statistics.
“There are times when in transition, particularly in the first two games and a little bit last night, was a major problem,” Budenholzer said. “I think that’s when they are getting their most open looks. Then at times, you have to pick some poison. …
“Transition is a must, and it’s the hardest thing to do. We practice it. We talk about it. We have principles. There is a reason why it’s hard. But that’s no reason not to continue to strive to be better. As far as picking your poison and changing (focus) to the 3-point line, there is some of that, but there is also that we’ll continue to do.”
In last season’s Eastern Conference finals against the Hawks, the Cavaliers were 49-of-123 (.398) from 3-point range in the sweep.
Kris Humphries, who made his first non-garbage time appearance during this postseason in Game 3, said the ability of Kyrie Irving and James to break down a defense has been a major issue. When the Hawks commit defenders to stop them in their no-middle philosophy, there are shooters awaiting the pass.
“It comes down, at some point, to individual defense,” Humphries said. “No matter what scheme we implement, stay in front of guys and accept that challenge and try to thrive in that. Because there is no scheme to cover up for the fact that you have to win some of the matchups. Obviously, the LeBron matchup is a tough one and not many teams have guys who win that matchup, but you’ve got to look at in terms of the challenge that I’ve got to stop this guy. I have to stay in front of them. Some of the shots that Kyrie hit and plays that he made were big for them, and we have to try to take that away.”
Here’s how the Cavaliers have fared individually from the 3-point line in the series:
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