(On tonight’s game): "I just thought we came a lot more ready as I told you pregame that we needed to be. We had to be in the moment from the jump ball. We had to be engaged, we had to have a great defensive mindset and we had to set the tone for ourselves more than anything else. I thought we did that. Tristan (Thompson), as always, contributed in his way in the areas of the game that he’s good at without stepping outside of himself and played a very important part in the victory."
(On the difference of LeBron James playing mostly at the wing position tonight): "Recognize that for good parts of the game he played the four as well. He just didn’t start there. I think the important thing is Bron was typical LeBron. Very aggressive, in attack mode, engaged and leading his guys by example and vocally. Obviously, his determined effort and aggressivity in terms of attacking the game was very evident."
(On what he saw out of guys stepping up): "We got great contributions from everybody that came into the game. Our starters were terrific, but the guys that came off the bench were a critical part of us winning the game. We need it, obviously, down a few guys. We really need that and they gave it to us.”
(On the pick-and-roll defense): "We executed our game plan better and in the specific actions themselves we did a better job. I didn’t think we re-created the wheel. I just thought we were a lot more focused in our coverages and the adjustments that we did make were successful tonight. That doesn’t mean going forward we solved it all because we have a long way to go and a lot of games left to play. We’re going have to stay focused and continue to do a good job in those areas of the game.”
(On Iman Shumpert): "Iman has given us a terrific series thus far. He’s obviously a very, very important player for us. I hope he’s going to be okay. He did stretch his groin and we’ll see if it’s not too serious. He was able to come back in as you saw. The moment we could get him out of there, we did. The idea of putting him back in was just because we’re going to need him and we didn’t want him sitting too long. Then once we saw we had our hands around the game, we were able to sit him back down again. Time for one of those miracle 48 hour recoveries. That’s what we’re hoping for."
(On how big this win was): "This was a back against the wall game for us. There was no way we wanted to go back to Chicago down 0-2. I will say this, the first game we didn’t play well and Chicago beat us. That’s what happened. Today, we really stepped up, but we were facing a lot of changes in that first game. We were playing for the first time without 40 percent of our starting lineup. We were playing after an eight-day layoff. We didn’t meet the challenge that day. Today, we did but that’s it. No more than that. It’s 1-1. It was an important win for us. We get to go down to Chicago with the series wide open for both teams and we’re going to have to play great basketball in order to win down there."
(On James Jones): "He’s been in the league for 12 years because he’s a high character guy that knows how to play and is always willing, ready and able to help the team when called on. I can’t put it any better than that.”
(On the confidence in James Jones tonight): “I’m very confident in him. He’s battle tested. He’s playoff tested, he’s battle tested. He’s a true professional, a true gamer. Anytime his opportunity is called, especially when I’m on the floor I’m always looking for him. I know he’s capable of doing great things. For him to have 17 off our bench tonight (is great). Defensively he was in tune as well. His commitment to detail throughout the whole game. He’s just great to have – not only out on the floor but just in the locker room, he’s a great guy. I’m happy for him, I’m happy for his performance. I’m more proud of him than anybody tonight. He was amazing.”
(On Tristan Thompson’s performance): “For Double T (Tristan Thompson), just having him on the sideline today was a little bit more physicality to start the game and we responded well. I would say what he does is a relentless effort on the glass. It was unbelievable for our team and every extra possession we get is key. He’s just relentless.”
(On the headband): “I don’t know, it was just in my locker when I showed up in the locker room today, so I just decided to give it a go. It was time for it to make a comeback, so that’s what happened.”
(On getting Kevin Love back with the team): “Just having Kevin back, just seeing his face, seeing his excitement. Obviously we know he’s down about the injury, but you couldn’t tell today. He was happy to be back. He got a great response from the fans who love him here.”
(On taking the most shots since 2009): “For our team now, we’re a little shorthanded. The extra shots I’m getting right now, that would be for Kevin (Love). You can add couple more shots that I would be getting for J.R. (Smith). We’re a little short-handed. For me, I have to kind of change my approach. I had to change my approach tonight knowing how short-handed we are and be ultra aggressive. Kyrie (Irving) wanted me to be ultra aggressive, which I’m not accustomed to doing, especially taking that many shots. I’ve never been a high-volume shooter. But, I have to respond to my teammates. What my teammates want me to do, I try to succeed at doing. So if it’s a change of mine that I set for myself, then I have to do it if that’s what my guys want me to do.”
(On what LeBron does for the team when he is “ultra aggressive”): “I just feel like that mindset, that feeling that me and him – we have a lot of similarities, but also, what makes it special, is that we’re also different. I think when he talks about his efficiency, that’s something that I definitely want to emulate going into every single game. I just try to speak as much wisdom- little wisdom- that I have going into the game, but that killer mindset of never stopping, never giving the defense a night off on any possession. I feel like he definitely did that tonight. There wasn’t one possession where you could look on the floor and he wasn’t dominant, whether it was a pass, a score, a defensive stop, a rebound or anything like that – he was all over it, which we expect him to do. When he has that mindset, that killer mindset, not really caring what’s going on except for his teammates, he’s the greatest player playing in the game right now.”
(On the defensive changes made tonight): “Just took a total team effort of being loaded up. With D-Rose (Derrick Rose) especially always pushing the ball, to make him uncomfortable as best as we can and just try to stay attached to him – put a hand in his face. Obviously he’s a great player, he’s going to hit tough shots but we just wanted to get to him and (make sure) that every shot he shoots is contested.”
(On the difference on defense this game): “We played with a sense of urgency. Game one, we felt like we were on our heels and we didn’t come out ready to play. The Bulls jumped on us early and we fought back but it wasn’t enough. Tonight we knew we had to come out and throw the first punch and attack them.”
(On what he hoped to impact by starting): “Just do what I’ve been doing all season. My role here is just to play hard, set screens, get guys open, try to get extra possessions and just play hard every possession and that’s what I did tonight.”
(On the effect of LeBron James playing more on the wing): “He’s very good in a lot of different areas. He’s good in the post. He’s good on the wing. He’s good in the high post. He’s good at the elbow and good at the pick-and-roll. He’s going to put maximum pressure on you, so you’ve got to try to make him work as much as you can for his points. Then, he can hurt you with the pass if you’re not disciplined with the help. Tonight he got everything. He’s a great player. He’s got the ability to make (shots), even when defended well. But I don’t think we defended at our best tonight.”
(On guarding Iman Shumpert in addition to LeBron James and Kyrie Irving): “When you have great players – they have two of them – it requires help. But you can’t do it recklessly. We have to have the discipline to be able to do both. (We have) to take care of the ball in the paint, react out, cover the line, challenge the shot and finish with the rebound. When we do that, we’re pretty good. When a guy goes to help and we don’t stunt, they’re going to get a rhythm shot…This team requires you to make multiple efforts. If you don’t, you’re going to pay. We paid tonight.”
(On what the difference was in the Cavs’ starting lineup tonight): “The aggression. We knew the aggression would be better and harder. We didn’t respond well to it. We got outrebounded. We gave them everything. 38 points in the first quarter was too big of a cushion for them. We tried to work our way back into the game. We had maybe one crack at it and we didn’t get it done. We’re capable of playing a lot better and we’re going to have to.”
(On whether the Cavs’ starting lineup change impacted Cleveland’s defense): “I wouldn’t say it was a change defensively. I think with Tristan being out there, rebounding was huge because he’s so active. But as far as with the change, it made the offense a little bit more efficient in getting to where they wanted to go. LeBron did a great job with playing hard right from the beginning, attacking the lanes and just changing the pace of the game. For the leader of the team, that’s what you’re supposed to do. (You’ve) got to take your hat off to them. Everybody on the team followed right behind him and they got a huge lead right away.”
(On starting out so slow with the chance to take a 2-0 lead): “It’s frustrating, but I think it’s a learning experience. The game is behind us. But the way that we came out was kind of a nonchalant type of attitude. The intensity wasn’t there right from the beginning, and we let them get where they wanted to go right away. Defense was the key. There was no ball pressure. Hopefully in the next couple of days we can change that.”
(On whether the Cavs stopped their pick-and-roll game): “It wasn’t that. When you’re down 20 right away, you’re trying to play quick. You’re trying to get out in transition and you’re in the hole, so the game totally changes. You’re trying to do new things and just trying to get everyone together. It just didn’t work for us tonight.”
CAVALIERS NOTES:
- The Cleveland Cavaliers evened up the playoff series at 1-1 after defeating the Chicago Bulls 106-91 on Wednesday night in Quicken Loans Arena. It was the fourth time the Cavs eclipsed the century mark this postseason (4-0) and are 25-0 at home (including the regular season) when scoring 100 or more points.
- Cleveland opened up the game by scoring a playoff-high 38 points and held a 20 point lead through the first period. It set a franchise playoff record for largest lead held after the first quarter (prev. 19 twice, 05/10/2008 vs. Boston and 05/07/2010 at Boston). The last NBA team to lead a playoff game by 20 points at the end of one quarter was Oklahoma City on 04/27/2013 at Houston (also 20 points).
- The Wine and Gold offense scored 106 points on the night and shot 12-26 (.462) from three-point range, which was their best three-point shooting percentage so far in the playoffs. Cleveland connected on nine triples in the first half to tie a franchise playoff record for three-pointers in a half (4/22/10 2nd half at Chicago). The Cavs move to 20-0 at The Q (including regular season) when shooting .400 or better from behind the arc.
- The Cavaliers outscored the Bulls 23-15 in second chance points and held a 45-37 advantage on the glass.
- LeBron James registered a 2015 playoff-high and game-high 33 points, eight rebounds, five assists, two steals and one block in 34 minutes. Tonight was James’ third 30-point performance of the playoffs and 71st of his postseason career. Tonight was also James’ 50th career playoff game with at least 30 points, five rebounds and five assists. James’ fifth assist of the night moved him into a tie with Tony Parker (1,059) for 6th on the NBA’s all-time playoff assists leaders list.
- Kyrie Irving finished the night with 21 points on 5-9 (.556) shooting from the field, three assists and two steals in 34 minutes of action. Irving has now scored 20-plus points in five of the Cavs six postseason contests and is averaging 24.0 point, 3.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.2 steals in 40.2 minutes per game during the playoffs.
- Iman Shumpert knocked down 4-7 (.571) shots from three-point range and finished the night with 15 points, seven rebounds and a game-high three steals in 29 minutes. Tonight was Shumpert’s third straight outing of 15 or more points and has averaged 17.3 points on .500 (16-32) shooting from the field, including .474 (9-19) shooting from behind the arc, 6.0 boards, 2.0 steals and 1.0 block in 36.0 minutes over that span.
- Matthew Dellavedova dished out a playoff-career high and team-high nine assists and scored nine points in 36 minutes off the bench. Dellavedova’s nine assists off the bench established a franchise record for most assists in a playoff game by a sub. The previous record was eight by Darnell Valentine on 5/3/89 at Chicago. (Elias Sports Bureau)
- Tristan Thompson got his first career postseason start and hauled in a playoff career-high and game-high 12 rebounds, to go along with five points in 35 minutes of play. Thompson is averaging 7.8 rebounds per game during the playoffs.
- James Jones finished the night with a postseason-high 17 points on 6-10 (.600) shooting from the field, including a playoff career-high tying 5-9 (.556) shooting from behind the arc and two rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench. Jones’ 17 points were the most points he has scored in a playoff contest since 2011 (25 points, May 1 vs. Boston). It was also the most points scored by a Cavaliers sub in a game this postseason.