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NBA Playoffs -- Team effort propels Cavs past Bulls By Adeline Deladisma PhilBoxing.com Sat, 16 May 2015  CHICAGO -- There is no "I" in team. As cliche as it may sound, it was this attitude that led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a series-clinching Game 6 win Thursday night night (Friday morning Manila time) over the Chicago Bulls, 94-73. With ample scoring off the bench, the Cavs bested the Bulls, 4-2, in their best-of-7 Eastern Conference semifinals in front of a sold-out crowd of 22, 695 at the United Center in Chicago. Head coach David Blatt had nothing but praise for his team. "I just think the power of team trumps all. We behaved as a team in every respect. We a lot of adversity, but as a team we believed in ourselves." Beyond "belief," the Cavs put in work on Friday night, out-rebounding the Bulls 53-32 and holding the home team to 37.5 percent shooting. Matthew Dellevedova led Cleveland with his postseason high of 19 points. Tristan Thompson notched a double-double with 13 points and 17 rebounds. LeBron James was one rebound shy of a triple double with 15 points, 11 assists and 9 boards. After the game, James was quick to recognize the play of the bench. "We got 40 points off our bench. Dellevedova and Tristan Thompson came in under extreme circumstances and led our team in scoring. He made a big impact with the scoring and his defense. We don't get this win tonight without their scoring and rebounding and how in tune they were." On this night, it was Dellevedova and Thompson who shone. But the contributions from others off the bench have made an impact during the playoffs as well. Guard Iman Shumpert, who usually comes off of the bench, started in all six games of this series, a move that was made when usual starter J.R. Smith was suspended for two games after the series with the Boston Celtics. The other striking blow to the Cavs starting line up just before the Bulls series began was the season-ending shoulder injury of Kevin Love. Still, the Cavaliers as a whole, responded with grit and drive, facing a Bulls team also known for its tenacity. While he would never consider himself or his team an underdog, James has been somewhat surprised with how this team has dealt with the challenges they have faced in the postseason. The playoffs are untested waters for this current version of the Cavaliers. Cleveland last made the postseason in 2010, their first season without James after he migrated to Miami. When he decided to return to Cleveland, LeBron made it known that his goal was to win championships for his hometown. But he was careful not to raise expectations too quickly, saying it would take time and work for that to happen. And he has embraced the role as the captain of this ship. According to James, "When you are the leader of a group, you can't show them any weakness. These guys work hard everyday when none of you are around. I am a little bit surprised with how we handled the postseason so far. These guys want to be good, they want to be great. They prepare the right way and they go out and play with their instincts. I have to be out there for my guys?. I have to make them believe they are supernatural." Blatt praised his leadership as well. "Throughout the playoffs, I have never seen a shadow of doubt, fear, or focus on anyone's face. I have to give LeBron a lot of credit. He is a true leader here. He is vocal, willful, and committed to helping this team succeed. He is really leading these guys to believe in what they can do." With the win, the Cavaliers close out the series against the Bulls, 4-2. Up next for the Cleveland in the Eastern Conference Finals will be the winner of the Atlanta Hawks-Washington Wizards series. Having won 8 of the 16 games needed to win the NBA Championship, the road will not get any easier for this team. Now, with uncertainty about Kyrie Irving's status (left knee tendinitis), the Cavaliers will have to press on. Time and effort will tell how they fare on the next leg of their journey. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Adeline Deladisma.  |
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