Time for Camakazee’s neat-o stats of the night.
Stand on Your Own Two.
For the third straight season the Cleveland Cavaliers started their postseason with two wins. This, however, marks the only time they’ve done it against a team that doesn’t rhyme with Gizzards. Furthermore, in their last two matchups with the Detroit Pistons, they started the series on the other side–falling behind 0-2 in each series. Here is a look at their start this postseason contrasted with other playoff series:
First two games of 2007 Playoffs (2-0):
- Cavaliers: 103.0 points per game on 72-156 (46.2%) shooting.
- Wizards: 92.0 points per game on 67-169 (39.6%) shooting.
- LeBron James (2 games): 25.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 7.0 assists on 15-36 (41.7%) shooting.
First two games of 2008 Playoffs (2-0):
- Cavaliers: 104.5 points per game on 72-157 (45.9%) shooting.
- Wizards: 86.0 points per game on 60-154 (39.0%) shooting.
- LeBron James (2 games): 31.0 points, 8.0 assists, and 7.5 rebounds on 21-38 (55.3%) shooting.
First two games of 2009 Playoffs (2-0):
- Cavaliers: 98.0 points per game on 65-136 (47.8%) shooting.
- Pistons: 83.0 points per game on 68-159 (42.8%) shooting.
- LeBron James (2 games): 33.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 6.5 assists on 20-34 (58.8%) shooting.
It should be noted that against a Detroit Pistons defense, that would once draw laughter from everyone if it were to be compared to the Wizards, the Cavaliers are shooting a higher percentage from the field than either of the two series against Washington. Furthermore, LeBron is averaging more points per game, rebounds per game, and shooting a better percentage from the floor in the first two games this series than the first two of either of the series against the Wizards. The scariest thing of all may be how LeBron has approached the very first two games of the postseason the last two years, averaging 32.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game on 56.9% shooting in those four home games.
Also noteworthy are LeBron’s numbers versus the Pistons in these two home games, contrasted with his past postseason home numbers versus Detroit (which are also very impressive):
- LeBron James in 2009 (2 games): 33.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 6.5 assists on 20-34 (58.8%) shooting.
- LeBron vs. Det at home (6 gms): 25.3 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 8.7 assists on 48-112 (42.9%) shooting.
Ultimately, after last night, LeBron improved to 7-1 in postseason games versus the Pistons in Cleveland.
Above the Rest.
Once considered one of the least well-rounded teams in the NBA, the Cleveland Cavaliers, thanks to Danny Ferry, have retooled since they were swept in the 2007 Finals and have an arsenal of weapons at their disposal. Here is a look at some Cavalier notables:
- The Cleveland Cavaliers became only the second team last night to have three players with 20 or more points in a game so far this post season. The other team was the Los Angeles Lakers in their Game 1. Here is a look at how the two match-up:
Kobe, Gasol, Ariza (4/19): 65 points, 17 rebounds, and 11 assists on a combined 24-38 (63.2%) shooting.
LeBron, Mo, West (4/21): 70 points, 18 rebounds, and 17 assists on a combined 22-39 (56.4%) shooting.
- Aside from being only one of two trios to accomplish such a feat, the 1-2-3 punch of Mo, Delonte, and LeBron have been very impressive so far in the postseason. Here is a look at their combined stats so far, as all three players have scored in double-figures in the first two games:
LeBron, Mo, West (2 games): 66.0 points, 16.5 rebounds, and 16.5 assists on a combined 45-81 (55.6%) shooting.
- Also, despite the fact this will be the third time I’ve plugged LeBron’s stats through the first two games, they cannot be overemphasized. Here are his numbers and how they stack up to other two major MVP candidates so far:
LeBron James (2 games): 31.0 points, 8.0 assists, and 7.5 rebounds on 21-38 (55.3%) shooting in 39.5 minutes.
Kobe Bryant (2 games): 25.0 points, 8.5 assists, and 5.0 rebounds on 17-34 (50.0%) shooting in 39.0 minutes.
Dwyane Wade (1 game): 19 points, 5 assists, and 5 rebounds on 8-21 (38.1%) shooting in 40 minutes.
Ultimately, LeBron has paced himself well among the other two potential NBA MVP candidates. He tops Bryant and Wade in points per game, rebounds per game, and shooting percentage, and is second to Kobe in assists per game.
View from the other side:
- LeBron managed to outscore Detroit’s 3-5 starters (Prince, McDyess, and Wallace) 29-18 last night. So far in the series he is averaging 31.0 points per game compared to their combined 22.5 points per game.
