Cavs Earning Battle-Tested Label Early in Playoffs, but at What Cost?

The Cleveland Cavaliers are just one win away from advancing to the Eastern Conference Semifinals, although it’s been far from an easy ride.

Following a 101-91 Game 3 win over the Detroit Pistons, the Cavs have taken a commanding 3-0 series lead into what could be a first-round sweep.

Still, give credit to Detroit. In all three games, the Pistons have led for periods in the second half, with Games 1 and 3 coming down to the final minutes. This isn’t the typical No. 1 seed over No. 8 seed beatdown. The talent gap between the two teams is tremendous, but Detroit has hung in there with toughness and passion.

The Cavs are becoming battle-tested, a mentality that will serve them well later in the postseason. At the same time, we’ve seen Cleveland’s Big Three all play heavy minutes to secure these first-round victories.

A competitive, fire-stoking series has been good for the Cavaliers, but it’s also meant less rest with a seemingly long postseason run ahead.

Big Minutes for Big Three

Cavs head coach Tyronn Lue deserves a lot of credit for managing his stars’ minutes during the regular season.

LeBron James played a career-low 35.6 minutes a night, while Love and Irving both finished at 31.5. Given the latter two’s injury history, this was critical.

Now in the postseason, playing time for key players will only go up round by round. The opening series is supposed to be an opportunity for teams like Cleveland to run up scores early and cruise in the fourth quarter.

Through three games, the Cavs have been unable to do so. Game 4 isn’t looking promising either, as this scrappy Pistons team will have nothing to lose.

“This is a team that’s not going to quit,” James said, per NBA TV’s postgame broadcast. “A Stan Van Gundy team never quits.”

This is bad news for the Big Three and their legs, whose plan is to play another eight weeks. Through three games, James is averaging 41.2 minutes a night. Irving is at 36.9, while Love is right behind him with 36.2. Even Cleveland’s designated sniper, J.R. Smith, is receiving …

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