East Conf. Finals - Game 3: Boston Celtics 86-116 Cleveland Cavaliers - Cavaliers' Player Ratings
Three days off after their gut-wrenching Game 2 loss, in what felt like a must-win Game 3, the Cleveland Cavaliers finally got on the board with a blowout 30-point win.
They were once again led by LeBron James but Game 3 was all about the supporting cast finally stepping up and the Cavs, as a whole, playing with energy and intensity on defense. They held a Boston Celtics team, that was averaging 107.5 points through the first two games of this series, to just 86 points in Game 3.
On the flip side, the Cavaliers had only managed a high of 94 points prior to this game in the series but tonight they went off for 116 on 48.7% shooting from the field and 50% from beyond the arc (17 3s) - their best shooting percentages in this series.
There was a huge performance difference in Game 3 for the Cavaliers. So without further ado, let's get to Cleveland's Player Ratings:
LeBron James - 9.5/10
Stat line: 27 points, 12 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks and 3 turnovers on 8-12 FG's
Similar to Game 2, LeBron James hardly put a step wrong on Saturday night. He didn't have a 42-point triple-double but being the great player that he is, he knows how to balance his output once he can sense that his teammates have got it going early.
He struck that balance perfectly in Game 3. Yes, he had 3 turnovers and 3 personal fouls (oddly-high by his standards) but that's us nit-picking unnecessarily. Moreover, defensively James looked tuned-in like he has ever been this year, at least this postseason.
He knocked down 3s in a rhythm (3-3 for the game), drove the ball when necessary but for much of the night, he was a passer. A GREAT PASSER to be precise.
He dished out some unreal dimes in this game. He had a spectacular double-clutch reverse jam as well. It was basically a celebration in the Quicken Loans Arena, one that was orchestrated by James and supported well by his teammates.