Up one with just more than 10 seconds left, LeBron James said that the Cavaliers defensive game plan for the potential game winner for the Pacers was simple: Don’t let Paul George take it.
LeBron came out very high and tried to trap George, clearly catching the Pacers off guard — look how slow the rest of the team is to recognize the trap and cut to a spot to help — so George eventually found C.J. Miles.
Miles drove on Richard Jefferson, shook him with a pull-up, got off a clean look... and missed it. Cavaliers win Game 1. After the game, George was frustrated he didn’t get the final shot.
George: "I talked to CJ about it. In situations like that, I've got to get the last shot"
— Rick Noland MG/CT (@RickNoland) April 15, 2017
I get George saying that, he’s the superstar it’s his team, but all the greats pass when that is the right basketball play. George made the right play.
Miles should have gone back to George if the defense had sagged off him, but it didn’t. George cut to the ball but LeBron went with him, taking away any good pass. Maybe Miles could have forced the ball back to George, but the result would have been a long, contested shot over LeBron.
Miles got off a better shot, he just missed it.
Next time the Pacers may have a better play design. Or, play better defense throughout the game and not put themselves in that position.