BOSTON: The battle for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference didn’t have to be this close.
If the Cavaliers consistently summoned the kind of concentration, energy and attention to detail they displayed in Wednesday night’s romp over the Boston Celtics at TD Garden, they wouldn’t have a mere one-game lead over the Celtics with four games to go.
If they had, LeBron James would be resting for the rest of the regular season, getting treatment and drinking expensive wine at his mansion in Bath. Or sitting in a loge at Progressive Field with his teammates at the Indians’ home opener Tuesday, which he is considering anyway, and wondering why Richard Jefferson is roaming the park, watching from different vantage points so he can be with “my people.”
This East race is self-inflicted, as is everything about the defending champions’ season thus far except for the uncannily timed injuries. As soon as the Cavs close the door on one serious medical issue, another knocks. It happened again Tuesday against the Magic as shooting guard Kyle Korver returned from a sore tendon in his left foot and three quarters in, center Tristan Thompson suffered a significant right thumb sprain.
But the most striking takeaway from the supposed showdown against the Celtics was how good the Cavs can be when they want to be.
This season, and for the better part of two seasons, they have expended effort when they felt like it. They have focused when they felt like it. They have gotten back on defense, picked up the pace, and executed the game plan when they felt like it.
And it starts with James. The Cavs are following their leader. On nights James doesn’t feel like playing, when he decides to save himself for the postseason, when there are strains, bumps and bruises that he doesn’t feel pushing through at age 32, the rest of the Cavs hit cruise control with him.
James was at his dominant best in the second quarter Wednesday, scoring 15 of the Cavs’ 38 points with a display of monstrous dunks and two memorable blocked shots. The Cavs shot 64 percent from the field and James made 7-of-9. They claimed a 14-8 edge on the glass. They committed no turnovers. The game was virtually decided by halftime.
“Focus” was the difference, Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said.
“I think it was in everybody’s mindset that we needed this win,” J.R. Smith said. “We know where we belong, we know what we want for us as a team. Every game you don’t approach like it’s the Eastern Conference finals possibility. You’re not going to play a Western Conference team like you’re going to play them. It’s just a different mindset.”
It’s a mindset that will be needed every night when the playoffs open April 15.
But that’s not the Cavs’ only issue as the postseason approaches.
Kyrie Irving has been speaking out for two weeks about the team’s chemistry issues, about the fact that the Cavs have gone in different directions after winning the title. Perhaps he has seen selfishness creep in, he has seen their bond from the championship season erode. Maybe team dinners don’t draw the full team anymore. Maybe the Cavs don’t like each other as much as they did a year ago.
“It’s not easy to demonstrate any sort of confidence, especially when things aren’t going well,” Irving said. “But it just really comes with just demanding more and really just waiting on those results … but also understanding the steps that it takes to get to where you envision.
“It’s never going to be perfect. But as long as you bond from moment to moment, whether it be mistakes or whether it be the perfect thing and still have the same mindset, I feel like that’s where we’re heading. We’re able to communicate honestly and go out there and execute and know what to expect from each other. When you have that, you can have performances like this. …”
A trip to the ballpark might be the perfect bonding experience. The Cavs need Smith to rip off his shirt as the crowd goes wild. They need to reconnect over hot dogs and beers (or burgers and cabernet). They need to cheer together, to enjoy each other.
That will rekindle memories of June 2016, more than a back-breaking 43-point third quarter against the Magic or a 38-point second quarter against the Celtics can.
Irving knows the Cavs are still title contenders, even while the rest of the basketball world doubted as they held team meetings and aired their grievances behind closed doors.
But with their performance Wednesday, the Cavs showed that a third consecutive trip to The Finals is within their control — their mental control.
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her blog at www.ohio.com/marla. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MRidenourABJ.