Dribbles: Cavs undone by details, and no one is exempt

Random dribbles following the Cavaliers’ 107-97 road loss to the Detroit Pistons in Game 2 on Thursday.

1. You know that feeling when a game feels there… like right there… and then suddenly it’s not? Yeah. That’s this series.

2. The Cavs are not getting blown off the floor. Let’s start there. This isn’t talent. This isn’t effort. It’s details. And right now, details are winning Detroit games.

3. Nine first-half turnovers in Game 2. Nine. You’re not beating anyone like that in May. Not a 60-win team. Not on the road. Not when you’re already trying to climb uphill.

4. James Harden had a rough one, and that’s the way nice guys like me will say it. It was actually worse. He went 1-of-9 shooting in the first half, with three turnovers, one assist. It wasn’t just the misses. It was the pace. The decision-making. The “what are we doing here?” possessions.

5. For context, Harden now has 30 career playoff games with more turnovers than made field goals. That’s not a trend you want popping up in real time.

6. Meanwhile, Donovan Mitchell finally looked like Donovan Mitchell again. Thirty-one points. Attacking. Getting downhill. For a stretch, he dragged the Cavs back into the game almost by himself.

7. That’s the version they need. Not the one settling. Not the one drifting. The one putting pressure on the rim.

8. And here’s the thing… it worked. The Cavs actually took a fourth-quarter lead. Brief, yes. But real.

9. Then came the difference. Detroit made the shots that swing playoff games. Tobias Harris. Duncan Robinson. Bang, bang. Door closed.

10. Cade Cunningham (25 points, 10 assists) did what stars do without forcing it. Controlled the tempo. Never looked rushed.

11. Without a doubt, Cleveland’s bigs set the wrong tone early. Evan Mobley. Jarrett Allen. A couple of those giveaways were basically live-ball invitations. You can’t gift possessions like that.

12. Mobley finished with nine points and just ONE rebound. Dude. Pistons reserve Ron Holland recorded two rebounds and he only played nine minutes. Mobley played 36.

13. To their credit, the Cavs cleaned it up. One turnover deep into the second half. That’s winning basketball. It just came after the damage was already done. 

14. That’s kind of the theme here. The Cavs keep figuring it out… just a little too late.

15. Coach Kenny Atkinson to reporters on the slow starts: “I don’t know what it is. Obviously, still haven’t figured that one out. Still back to the drawing board.”

16. The Cavs likely believe they could be up 2-0. They’re not wrong. They’re also not up 2-0.

17. Now the series shifts to Cleveland for two games. Season not over. Not even close. But the margin? It’s shrinking. Fast.

18. Bottom line? The Cavs have enough. Enough scoring. Enough size. Enough experience.

19. They just don’t have enough execution. At this time of year, that’s everything. The margin for error is razor-thin, and so far, the Cavs’ errors have been the name of the game.

More Cavaliers Game 2 coverage

• Cavs’ effort and chances are there, but execution keeps sinking the ship
• Cavs repeat same mistakes, get same result in Game 2 loss to Pistons
• BOX SCORE | Pistons 107, Cavs 97