Dribbles: Cavs don’t need to panic, but they do need some buckets

May 21, 2026

Random dribbles following the Cavaliers’ 109-93 road loss to the New York Knicks in Game 2 of the East finals on Thursday.

1. Let’s start by saying this is nothing new. The Cavs were down 0-2 last series, too.

2. Yes, they have to hate how they totally blew Game 1. They also have to hate how they got zilch from their role players in this one.

3. But role players always play better at home. The Cavs haven’t had a home game yet. Until New York wins there… it’s still not panic time.

4. Yes, the Cavs will eventually have to win a road game. Let’s just say that’s not their strength (though they did win two in Detroit). For whatever reason, their offense is just so dang ugly on the road.

5. This really wasn’t much of a game after halftime. Donovan Mitchell (26 points) played well in the second half. James Harden (18 points, six rebounds) wasn’t terrible.

6. But most everyone else for the Cavs was just sort of running around out there and missing a bunch of shots.

7. That’s role players on the road for ya. At least, it sure can be with this team.

8. I thought the Cavs were OK otherwise. Only eight turnovers for the game. Won the rebounding battle (42-40). Didn’t get pushed off their spots.

9. Nor did I have a big issue with the defensive game plan. It was basically to make someone other than Jalen Brunson or Karl-Anthony Towns beat you. For the most part, it was to let Josh Hart take open threes.

10. Good idea, actually. Hart just made ’em (5-of-11). I’d stick with that strategy, because Hart hitting threes isn’t sustainable for the Knicks.

11. Basically, it might win you a game. It won’t win you a series. And I bet Hart doesn’t shoot nearly that well from the perimeter in Cleveland. I’d bet it won’t even be close.

12. The big issue was offense. In both games in New York, the Cavs went long stretches where they did… nothing. Like, just sort of dribbled, sort of passed it around the perimeter, sort of waited for a teammate to take over.

13. That’s not sustainable, either.

14. Remember the Game 7 blowout win in Detroit? The ball had energy. The Cavs guards drove, they dished, they created opportunities for others, resulting in easy baskets all around. A winning formula.

15. On Thursday? Yeah, not so much. Why the Cavs can get away from that, I’ll never know.

16. For instance, Evan Mobley had zero shot attempts in the second half. Part of that is on Mobley. Part of it is on the guards. I’d say most of it is on coach Kenny Atkinson.

17. At halftime, Charles Barkley said the Cavs needed to keep getting the ball into Mobley and Jarrett Allen. “The Knicks can’t stop them,” Barkley said.

18. But guess what the Cavs got away from in the final 24 minutes?

19. Even so, you can’t win road games with Sam Merrill shooting 1-of-8 from the field and Max Strus shooting 1-of-7. Jaylon Tyson returned to the rotation, and he was 1-of-4.

20. That’s 3-of-19 shooting (1-of-14 on threes) from guys who you are counting on to be an X-factor. Sometimes, the ball is just to blame. Other times, you need to get out of your own head and knock it down.

21. But again, guys tend to shoot better on their own floor. That’s not just these Cavs. That’s NBA history.

22. Still, man, what is it with the Cavs and free throws? Good grief. This has become a teamwide inexcusable epidemic. The Cavs went 22-of-32 from the line. Make even just five more and you’re putting some heat on the Knicks.

23. I doubt it changes. Everyone has been screaming about the Cavs’ free-throw issues all season. Yet it continues to happen and is seemingly getting worse.

24. Allen finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds. He was good enough. Mobley scored 14 with six boards. Very good in the first half. Invisible in the second half (offensively).

25. The Cavs can celebrate that they successfully turned Brunson (19 points, 14 assists) into a passer. That was the idea. So this game truly came down to making shots. It’s as simple as that.

26. Hart made those shots for the Knicks. Merrill and Strus threw up bricks. There’s your difference.

27. The Cavs needn’t worry until they lose a home game. I say that to people and I get a lot of “Yeah, but…” Basically, they want to try to convince me that being down 0-2 means it’s time to act frantically and tear it down. Sorry, been doing this too long.

28. The Cavs are saying, “Let’s see you win in our building.” Mitchell was even clapping on the sideline in garbage time. As if to say, “OK, they did what they were supposed to do. Now it’s our turn.”

29. Yes, the Cavs need to win a road game to advance to the Finals. But it doesn’t have to be Game 1. It doesn’t have to be Game 2. It doesn’t even have to be Game 5.

30. Their job now is to merely do what the Knicks did in New York — and win two in Cleveland. Extend the series. Make the Knicks sweat. Find out if they’re as good as they think they are right now. And what might happen if they find out that they’re not.

31. Do I have faith the Cavs can do that? I don’t know. No opinion, really. But I’ll let you know after they play in Cleveland. Other than that, here’s a tip: Make shots. Make free throws. Keep everything else you did in Game 2 relatively the same.