With Cavs shooting as well as anyone, expect ‘Cavalanches' in the forecast

New York Times

24-04-2025

CLEVELAND — The snow 'flurries' began fluttering down from the ceiling with 9:29 left to play in the first half Wednesday night. Four straight possessions with 3-pointers triggered the new gimmick the Cleveland Cavaliers have been eagerly waiting to unveil in these playoffs.
The 'Cavalanche,' as it has affectionately come to be known in Cleveland, occurs when the Cavaliers bury an inferior opponent with a flurry of 3-pointers. It's witty and quite creative and has gained popularity throughout the season. Cavs owner Dan Gilbert loves such gimmicks and catchphrases, so now the Cavs' outbursts on the court are accompanied by fake snow in the arena and a snowball fight among cheerleaders.
Advertisement
But to appreciate how we got here is to understand how far the Cavaliers have traveled. Two years ago, they were outmuscled by a New York Knicks team that embarrassed them in five games. The Cavs had no response in large part because they lacked the necessary shooting to compete in today's pace-and-space league. They made just 50 3-pointers for the series.
When the Orlando Magic took this team to seven games in the opening round last year, the Cavs managed 60 3s.
They've already made 40 3-pointers through the first two games of this opening-round series against the Miami Heat. Their 22 3s in a 121-112 Game 2 victory Wednesday marked the sixth time in franchise history they made at least 20 3s in a playoff game.
Adapt or die, right? Given where the Cavs were two years ago, and particularly last year with largely this same roster, they have adapted astonishingly well. They made more 3s in the second quarter Wednesday (11) than they did in five of their seven games against the Magic last year.
PLAYOFF HISTORY FOR THE CAVS ‼️
This Spida 3 gives them 11 in the 2nd quarter…
That's the MOST by any team in any postseason quarter in the play-by-play era (1997-98) 🤯 pic.twitter.com/X6NJCNv5AX
— NBA (@NBA) April 24, 2025
The Cavs can shoot it as well as any team in the league now for a variety of reasons: The development of Evan Mobley, Darius Garland's return to the elite, Ty Jerome's incredible transformation and, of course, Kenny Atkinson's offensive schemes.
How much does matching the right coach to the talent matter? Draymond Green said in November that the Cavs are much harder to guard this year than they were last year. The last five months have proved him correct.
When the Cavs are making 3s and closing out possessions defensively, they are nearly unbeatable. While defenses have to account for Donovan Mitchell, Garland and now Mobley on the offensive end, it's crippling when role players like Jerome and Sam Merrill are the ones bringing the snow.
Jerome's 28 points in Game 1 were an unexpected surprise. Merrill's 3-pointer in the second quarter triggered the gimmick 'Cavalanche' during the timeout. Through two games, he has played more minutes in this series than DeAndre Hunter.
OUR FIRST IN HOUSE CAVALANCHE! ☃️
YES IT SNOWS IN APRIL HERE IN CLEVELAND. #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/H1bk8g0oNj
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) April 24, 2025
Yet for all that has gone right, the Cavs still managed to squander most of a 19-point lead over the game's final 15 minutes. It was a one-possession game with three minutes to play because that's what the Heat excel at doing. Miami has provided small glimpses into ways to attack the Cavs, but the Heat don't have the necessary pieces to beat them four times in seven games.
Advertisement
Teams can hang around and beat Cleveland when the Cavs aren't making shots or they're not closing out possessions on the defensive end with rebounds. Mental and physical lapses are inevitable, even in the postseason. Shrinking the lapses is what separates good teams from championship contenders.
Elite teams might stray for 3 or 4 minutes before pulling it back together. Young teams still trying to figure it out will fumble around a bit longer. The Heat do not boast much size, yet still managed to grab 18 of 21 rebounds during a 10-minute stretch that allowed them to climb back into the game.
With players like Mobley and Jarrett Allen on the court for Cleveland, that should never happen. It's a coaching point Atkinson can use to keep their attention as this series shifts to South Beach.
It's premature to declare that this Cavs team is all grown up, at least not until they do this on the road. The Cavs were up 2-0 on Orlando last year when the series shifted to Florida, and it still went seven games. Cleveland had to rally from 18 down in Game 7 to survive. Miami can still make this a series, but it's hard to find a path to four wins in the next 10 days.
Adapt or die? The Cavs adapted both their scheme and personnel. The snow fluttering through the rafters was proof. The Cavalanche is headed to the beach.
(Photo of Donovan Mitchell reacting after a 3-pointer: David Richard / Imagn Images)