The Indiana Pacers have shockingly kept themselves from double-teaming the Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James, who is leading the league in postseason scoring with a furious clip of 34.8 points per game on 55 percent shooting from the field.
While double-teaming a star with his vision has been a long-debated strategy, the Pacers have been carved up for two 40-plus-point performances from James in this series, yet even with their life on the line, they have only doubled him once in Game 5 and 16 times in the entire series, according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst.
Coach Nate McMillan explained why the Cavs have put the Pacers in a pick-your-poison proposition after Game 1.
“They've changed their lineup and put 3-point shooters around him,” McMillan said. “Basically what they're saying is if you help we're going to shoot the 3-ball. Which is what they want to do anyway. If you don't help he's going to drive the ball to the basket.”
Yet James has gotten plenty of points in the paint, recording 17 field goals in a 46-point performance in Game 2 and 14 in Game 5, shooting a brilliant 15-of-15 from the stripe.
“We didn't do a good job of trying to keep him in front,” McMillan said. “We held the perimeter and were too concerned about 3-point shooters and allowed him to play in the paint most of [Game 5]. That is not what we want to do, to give him room to operate and go to his second and third moves in the paint. We can do a better job.”
While James has flourished after coach Tyronn Lue's adjustments, the Pacers' star, Victor Oladipo, has suffered terribly in the last three games, shooting a woeful 12-of-50 from the floor and failing to reach the 20-point mark in three straight games, despite leading the team in scoring.
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