Can the Cavaliers beat the Pistons without better performances from Donovan Mitchell & James Harden?

Can the Cavaliers beat the Pistons without better performances from Donovan Mitchell & James Harden?



Can the Cavaliers beat the Pistons without better performances from Donovan Mitchell & James Harden?

Detroit’s Cade Cunningham and Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell didn’t have much time to revel in reaching the Eastern Conference semifinals after surviving grueling first-round matchups.

The Central Division rivals must quickly prepare for their series, which starts Tuesday night in Detroit.

“I think we’ve already moved on (to focusing on Detroit). I will enjoy watching the games for sure as I get treatment, but waiting on Tuesday, simple as that,” Mitchell said after Sunday night’s 114-102 victory over the Toronto Raptors.

Both teams feel battle-tested after being taken to the limit in the first round. The two series, though, were different.

The top-seeded Pistons reached the second round for the first time since 2008 after becoming the 15th team to rally from a 3-1 series deficit to defeat the Orlando Magic. | https://www.espn.com/nba/preview/_/gameId/401871333

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View Comments (28)
  1. If they limit the turnovers they'll turn DET into a half court team and that's just cade pick and roll this series is doable defensively but without Mitchell and harden playing well it'll be similar to that of Orlando/Detroit we need SPIDA and James to step it up

  2. This is a dream matchup for Cavs. 2 elite guards and only one defender with the ability to guard them. They only have one true scorer and we have 3 defenders that match up perfect with him. We might not sweep them but it won’t go more than 6.

  3. No they’re not Jason. I watched every game of both series. Detroit is NOT a better defensive version of the Raptors. They didn’t play as hard, they didn’t contest and disrupt as effectively. They don’t even have the personnel to do it. Cavs in 6.

  4. Jarett Allen is our key to winning. We gotta feed JA. There have been plenty of games where Don, Harden or Evan have great nights and we still lose. But when JA has a great night, we win every time – often in a dominating fashion. FEED JA!!!

  5. J.B. Bickerstaff knows the Cavs players habits since he coached majority of them, that is an advantage Pistons has which the Raptors did not have. Raptors was younger, faster, and their defense was more guard leaning.

  6. Donovan needs to pass when he gets double teamed. Every team in the playoffs are going to come with this strategy. Donovan isn't going to overcome 2x defenders with size. He needs to learn to adjust. This analyzation is sorely lacking on this channel. I do not want to see Donovan running more than 2-3 misses in a row with his iso ball stepback or blocked drive with our other 4 standing still at the arc

  7. Pistons Defense will smother the Cavs if they don’t play intense at all times. Cavs really need to take game 1 or 2 because if the Pistons smell blood it’s over.

  8. Not “even possible to play better defense over the course of 7 games”??? I think Ausar, Stu, Duren, Ron Holland and the best 2-way guard in the league will prove otherwise. Must of not seen the second half of game 6. Better offense in Cle than Orlando granted but who is gonna stop the Motor Cade. Who is taking that match up? Harden??? 😂

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