DETROIT — The Cavaliers had an opportunity to bounce back against the Detroit Pistons in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Thursday, May 7, but the Cavs failed to capitalize.
The Cavs lost 107-97 to the Pistons at Little Caesars Arena, falling behind 2-0 in the best-of-seven second-round playoff series. Game 3 is set for 3 p.m. Saturday, May 9, in Cleveland.
Here are Cavs-Pistons Game 2 instant reactions from Beacon Journal writers Ryan Lewis and Nate Ulrich:
Cavs vs Pistons Game 2: Ryan Lewis’ instant reaction
The Cavs are 0-5 on the road in these playoffs. That’s not just a poor record, it’s a real problem moving forward.
It seems like Donovan Mitchell is gonna have to take over a game eventually for the Cavs to come back in this series. He had 30-plus-point game in Game 2, but he also struggled from 3-point range, and Cleveland couldn’t quite close the gap well enough without some heroics.
James Harden, though, is just having a brutal series, and in Game 2 committed the most ill-timed turnover. Harden was 3-for-13 shooting from the field, 0 for 4 from 3-point range, and committed four turnovers. The offense seems to slow when he’s on the floor, and he just hasn’t gotten it going in the playoffs. The Cavs need more from their star guards, and that’s one of the biggest reasons why they’re down 0-2 in the series.
Mitchell must remain on the floor as much as possible. But with both him and Harden on the court, Tobias Harris repeatedly found opportunities to post up on them, which helped to keep the Cavs at bay. And if the scoring production isn’t there on the other side, it’s a real problem.
Cavs vs Pistons Game 2: Nate Ulrich’s instant reaction
In the early stages of Game 2, the Cavs played with less aggression and operated with inferior hustle compared with the Pistons.
At times, the Cavs looked as if they were wearing ankle weights while the Pistons performed at full speed. It’s difficult to fathom how the Cavs could exhibit less energy and intensity than their opponents for long stretches of crucial games, especially after conditioning became an organizational focus for Cleveland after its 4-1 loss to the Indiana Pacers in last year’s Eastern Conference semifinals.
One particular sequence in the first half perfectly illustrated the obstacles the Cavs have faced this postseason.
With 3:10 left in the second quarter, guard Donovan Mitchell’s bounce pass intended for center Jarrett Allen in the paint transformed into a Cavs turnover when Pistons forward Tobias Harris intercepted the ball.
Then, on the other end of the court, the Pistons secured two offensive rebounds, one by guard Daniss Jenkins and the other by center Jalen Duren. The Pistons finished the possession with Harris making a shot in the paint over Allen to give Detroit a 47-36 lead with 2:46 remaining in the first half. The Cavs trailed 54-43 at halftime.
Then Cleveland failed to do enough in the second half to tie the series as Detroit seized a 2-0 advantage.
Ryan Lewis and Nate Ulrich cover the Cavaliers for the Akron Beacon Journal. The Beacon Journal sports department can be reached at bjsports@thebeaconjournal.com.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavaliers vs Pistons Game 2 instant reactions. Detroit in command
Reporting by Ryan Lewis and Nate Ulrich, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
