The score is criminally deceptive. Indiana led by 44 points, a more accurate of the death by filmed torture and humiliation that Cleveland deservedly suffered. Cle. never led in the game. Both coaches emotied their benches, literally: no player who was ambulatory missed playing time. Somebody named B. Sheppard, the last "Pacer" inserted, having won a round-robin coin toss with the ball boy and a cheerleader, played starters minutes, 29, more than four of Indy's five starters. Another reserve, Opi Tobbin, played as many as starter Pascal Siakam. The DPOY, Cle.'s Evan Mobley had 10 points, 5 rebs, 1 steal, no blocks, 2 turnovers and 2 fouls.
Cleveland, along with OKC, is subject to the Arsenal Rule, which holds that you only get a finite number of chances to prove that you're a contender and not a weak-minded bridesmaid who is viewed only with contempt. OKC forestall application today, impressively. Cleveland is one game away from the full merciless, crushing by stone weight of the Arsenal Rule. It is not impossible for a team to dig out of a 3-1 hole but the chalk is that the Cadavers are digging their graves.
I sid not see either OKC's nor Cleveland's struggles coming, for I am an idiot blogger. But neither did the Las Vegas investment houses. Cle.'s predicament is exactly what it was a year ago when the hungrier, more physical "Knicks" took them out at this same stage. Now with Mitchell out. maybe, maybe not for the close-out G5, the Cle. org led by Dead Dan Gilbert and Drunk Toby Altman is going into a flaming hell. They can escape mathematically, statistically but not reasonably. It is their due for being Cleveland.