The Rotation: For the Cavs, there’s definitely an “I” in playoff win

Welcome to The Rotation, our daily playoff wrap-up of our favorite stories, large and small, from last night’s NBA action.

There’s an “I” in “playoff win”

By Aaron Fischman (@byAaronFisch)

Death, taxes and another Warriors-Cavaliers NBA Finals? While the prospect of a third-straight matchup may have appeared inevitable for much of the season and, then again, increasingly so as each Conference Finals progressed, the Cavaliers needed a double-digit second-half comeback to regain control of the series and convince “fate” to cooperate. At the half, they trailed by 10, with their best player contributing an underwhelming 10 points in large part due to foul trouble. Kyrie Irving’s 18 first-half points kept his team within striking distance, but, nursing a suspect defense, it likely needed to get its offensive act together in order to win.

Irving erupted in the third, pouring in 21 points that frame, much of those coming from a series of stunning crossovers leading to high-percentage layups. Impressively, Irving continued to fearlessly attack the basket despite going down with an apparent ankle injury late in the third. Following the injury, his aforementioned aggressiveness, dribbling creativity and a unique ability to finish in traffic delivered the Cavaliers seven more points before he fittingly capped off his epic third quarter by drilling a buzzer-beating 3.

Not known for its team passing, the Cavaliers’ offense in the third quarter was indeed largely powered by Irving isolations. After Irving would invariably cross over his man, Celtics defenders would try to help, but the help always came too late. Then, in the fourth quarter while Irving rested and LeBron James did LeBron things, the trend continued. James, who was limited (by his lofty standards) to 19 points through three quarters, came alive in the fourth, often taking his defender one-on-one. Whether he was content to drain an outside jumper or use his physical strength at the rim, he took the figurative baton from Irving and excelled in isos in the fourth, allowing Irving to chill. Because of James’ brilliance, Irving, who finished with a playoff career-high 42 points, only attempted two fourth-quarter field goals. There was no need to shoot any more.

Fittingly, the team that ranked 29th in post-All-Star break defensive efficiency didn’t take over the game with its defense. Certainly, the Cavaliers made adjustments that noticeably slowed down Boston’s offense, but their second-half scoring outburst led by a pair of rotating superstars was the more significant catalyst. Thanks to all those high-percentage shots, the Cavaliers hit an otherworldly 71.1 percent of their shots in a second half their fans won’t soon forget.

Offensively, Boston played much more like a team. Boston assisted on upwards of 74 percent of its field goals. Cleveland assisted on 52 percent, including 11 of 27 (less than 41 percent) in its 65-point second half. Cleveland’s two stars shone the brightest. Thus, Cleveland won.

We’ll always have Jaylen Brown

By Ian Levy (@HickoryHigh)

I thought the Boston Celtics choked when they took Jaylen Brown in last year’s draft. Set aside the rumored Jimmy Butler deals, it was taking Brown more than keeping the pick. Kris Dunn was there. Dragan Bender was there. They took the kid with athletic upside and a painfully bad statistical projection.

Consider this Exhibit Z in the case of “NBA teams know more than Ian Levy.”

Brown was and is a project, but he’s looked incredibly good at times this season. A project that is much further along than I thought. And, he’s been fun to watch. Sometimes when you see a young player struggling against their limitations it can be depressing, a reminder of how far away they are from what they could be. Watching Brown stumble around this season was inspiring, a hint that a surge of cascading developments was just over the horizon.

Then we have the playoffs.

Brown has already played 76 minutes in the Conference Finals. Only four players his age or younger have ever played that many Conference Finals minutes, and one of them is Dejounte Murray for the Spurs this season. Brown has spent plenty of time matched up with LeBron and while “holding his own” is probably an overstatement, he hasn’t been a disaster. Most importantly, he hasn’t looked like a rookie. He’s looked like he belongs (as much as anyone belongs on a court with LeBron), not letting the moment get the best of him.

Next: 30 worst NBA playoff teams of all time

I’m thrilled to be wrong about Brown, the NBA needs as many unique, interesting young players as it can get. It may be that this season and these playoffs is a prelude to something much grander. Or maybe not. But, as the possibilities for the Celtics dwindle in this series, the future possibilities for Brown seem splendid.