AUBURN HILLS, Mich.: This is what we thought the Big Three would look like.
This is the kind of basketball we envisioned when the Cavaliers traded for Kevin Love in August 2014. It’s what we expected from a pairing of now three-time All-Stars Love and Kyrie Irving and perennial All-Star and four-time league MVP LeBron James.
I didn’t expect it to take this long for it to come together, even though James did. The start was nearly as rocky as Irving trying to coexist with ex-Cav Dion Waiters. The trio’s off-the-court personalities didn’t mesh and seemed to be interfering with their on-court dynamics.
But in the first-round playoff series against the Detroit Pistons, which ended with the Cavs’ 100-98 victory in Game 4 Sunday night at the Palace of Auburn Hills, the Big Three seemed like a perfect fit.
Their roles now appear defined. Irving is being aggressive on pick-and-rolls and shooting fearlessly. Love is getting the ball more in the post, using his power to draw fouls and rebounding with a vengeance. James is playing off them and doing a little bit of everything.
“All three of them know what each other expects from one another,” Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said Saturday.
“Right now we’re in a great flow as far as us three,” James said after Friday’s Game 3. “We understand what we want individually and what will help the team.”
That continued Sunday night, even when Love struggled shooting from the field, just as James had in Game 3.
In the first quarter, Love played the most impassioned basketball of his Cleveland career. Despite absorbing a blow to his left elbow on a missed jump hook at the 3:48 mark, he gutted it out and remained in the game. He went to the court hard after a missed rebound tip to end the period. Love finished the first 12 minutes with nine rebounds and six points, despite going 1-for-8 from the field. He finished with 11 points and 13 rebounds, shooting just 3-of-15.
James was also active in the first half with 16 points, four rebounds and four assists. He totaled 22 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.
Irving, the Game 3 hero, got going in the final six minutes of the second quarter and turned in what could have been the best non-dunk of the night, a one-handed touch layup with 9:04 remaining in the third quarter. That was part of an Irving run of 10 points in the first four minutes of that period.
But Irving kept one-upping himself, firing in a 47-footer at the buzzer to end the third quarter to give the Cavs a three-point lead. Then with 43 seconds to play and the shot clock winding down, he hit a 3-pointer to put the Cavs up four. He contributed 31 points and five assists.
In Games 1-4, the Big Three combined for 81, 65, 66 and 64 points, respectively.
Against the Pistons, James’ burden to carry the team was lifted, which could serve the Cavs well if they reach their second consecutive NBA Finals.
But there’s no guarantee the Cavs will continue to click this way the rest of the postseason. Love was effective at center when Cavs coach Tyronn Lue went to his small lineup. Irving shot dramatically better from 3-point range than he did during the regular season. James was content being the jack-of-all-trades. The odds of the latter continuing is great, the other two not as likely against a stronger defensive opponent.
But intangibles and better communication bode well for the Big Three’s continuing dominance. Irving said all have accepted their roles as leaders and coped with the high expectations that brings.
“Now we may have some mishaps, but we look each other in the eye and we communicate and move onto the next play,” Irving said after Game 3. “That’s just what it’s about. Being professionals and being the three leaders on the team, we have to continue to play at a high level every game.”
Even if they do, they can’t carry the Cavs to a title without help from J.R. Smith, Tristan Thompson and Matthew Dellavedova. Someone needs to emerge from the group of Iman Shumpert, Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye.
But this is how we thought the Big Three would do it. Thus far it’s been a beautiful sight.
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.