Anshari Taslim
New York, NY – May 23, 2026 – The Cleveland Cavaliers find themselves in a precarious 0-2 hole against the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals, a deficit that has intensified scrutiny on their philosophical approach to the game. After a 109-93 loss in Game 2 at Madison Square Garden on Thursday, where the Cavaliers connected on a mere 9 of 35 attempts from beyond the arc (25.7%), the team’s locker room remained steadfast in its belief in "the process." This unwavering confidence, despite the two consecutive road losses, hinges on the conviction that their strategic execution and shot quality are sound, and that statistical variance, rather than fundamental flaws, is primarily to blame for their early series struggles.
The narrative surrounding "process" has been a subtle undercurrent throughout these playoffs, but it gained significant visibility in New York. Digital billboards flanking Madison Square Garden have prominently displayed a Nike advertisement featuring Knicks star Jalen Brunson alongside the phrase "TOO MUCH TO PROCESS." Initially conceived as a playful jab at the Philadelphia 76ers and their star, Joel "The Process" Embiid, whom the Knicks swept in four games in the previous round, the advertisement has inadvertently shifted its focus to the Cavaliers as they grapple with their own interpretation of the concept.
Following their Game 1 defeat, a contest in which Cleveland squandered a substantial 22-point fourth-quarter lead, Cavaliers forward Dean Wade articulated the team’s perspective. "I think our process was right tonight," Wade stated, emphasizing the team’s adherence to their strategic plan despite the adverse outcome. Head Coach Kenny Atkinson echoed this sentiment the following day, elaborating that the team’s internal analytics indicated the Knicks were "in the first percentile of shot quality" during Game 1, suggesting New York benefited from an unusual string of highly improbable makes. The message has remained consistent after Game 2, reinforcing the notion that Cleveland has not fundamentally played poorly, but rather suffered from an anomalous dip in shooting efficiency.
Game 2 provided stark evidence of Cleveland’s shooting struggles. Of their 35 three-point attempts, 12 were classified as "open" (with the closest defender 4-6 feet away), yielding only 2 makes (16.7%). A further 19 attempts were deemed "wide open" (closest defender 6+ feet away), from which the Cavaliers converted just 6 (31.6%). These figures underscore the team’s contention that they are generating quality looks, but simply failing to convert them at their typical rates. For context, during the regular season, the Cavaliers ranked 10th in the NBA with a 36.8% team three-point percentage, a mark they expect to return to.
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The Cavaliers’ optimism for a series turnaround stems from several factors, most notably their historical resilience and home-court shooting prowess. The team points to their second-round series against the Detroit Pistons, where they also found themselves trailing 0-2 before orchestrating a dramatic comeback to advance in six games. While the Pistons series unfolded differently in terms of specific game scenarios, Cleveland’s ability to recover from an initial deficit provides a psychological benchmark. Furthermore, the Cavaliers boast a formidable 37.6% success rate from behind the arc at home during the current playoff run, a significant improvement over their road performance. This marked improvement in their shooting touch within the familiar confines of their home arena fuels the belief that a return to Cleveland for Game 3 will naturally coincide with a more favorable shooting performance.
Individual player statistics from Game 2 further illustrate the perceived anomaly. Sharpshooters Sam Merrill and Max Strus, both known for their efficiency from long range, combined for a disappointing 1-for-11 from deep. Merrill, who averaged 13.5 points and shot an impressive 42.9% from three-point range during the regular season, and Strus, who contributed 12.2 points with 37.7% three-point accuracy, are not expected to sustain such an uncharacteristically low output. The inherent high-variance nature of three-point shooting is a widely acknowledged principle in basketball, and coaches frequently emphasize that trusting the process of generating good shots will ultimately yield positive results over a larger sample size. Cleveland’s coaching staff and players alike appear to be leaning heavily on this statistical rationale, hoping for a regression to the mean in their favor.
Despite the fervent belief in "the process," even Coach Atkinson acknowledges a nuanced boundary where pure analytics must cede to strategic adjustments. Prior to Game 2, while discussing the team’s defensive scheme against Jalen Brunson, Atkinson articulated this dilemma: "This is a real dilemma in coaching, but I do think there’s a point where you’ve kind of got to say, ‘OK, the numbers don’t mean as much right now, we gotta do something different.’" Brunson, who averaged 34.5 points through the first two games of the series, has proven to be a particularly challenging cover, consistently finding ways to score despite Cleveland’s defensive efforts. Atkinson’s perspective aligns with sentiments expressed by players on the opposing side. New York’s Josh Hart, reflecting on the role of analytics after Game 2, offered a vivid analogy: "At a certain point, they’re a lamppost to a drunk person: You can lean on ’em, but they won’t get you home. At a certain point, you gotta have a good feel for the game." Both statements underscore the understanding that while data provides valuable insights, it cannot entirely dictate in-game adjustments, particularly when results consistently deviate from expectations.
The Cavaliers’ current predicament brings to mind the philosophy championed by Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault. For years, Daigneault has stressed the importance of "manufacturing offense" – a strategy focused on generating points through avenues less reliant on jump shots. This includes consistently attacking the paint, drawing fouls to get to the free-throw line, forcing turnovers to create transition opportunities, and aggressively crashing the offensive glass for second-chance points. Daigneault’s objective is to prevent his team from becoming a "make-or-miss team" that is unduly susceptible to cold shooting nights. While Coach Atkinson’s Cavaliers roster, featuring talents like Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, may not possess the same hyper-athleticism or an abundance of All-Defense caliber players at every position as Daigneault’s Thunder, the underlying principle remains pertinent. Relying solely on the hope that more jump shots will eventually fall is widely regarded as an insufficient strategy in high-stakes playoff basketball.
Atkinson himself has begun to articulate the necessary strategic shifts. "We knew coming into this series we have to make 3s," Atkinson stated, acknowledging the integral role of perimeter shooting in their offensive scheme. "That being said, we do have to find a way to get our bigs at the rim more, get more free throws, probably attack downhill more in transition." This indicates a recognition that while shot quality is paramount, diversifying their offensive attack and creating easier scoring opportunities is crucial, especially when the perimeter shot is not consistently falling. Cleveland’s big men, including Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, have demonstrated the capability to impact games offensively through interior scoring and offensive rebounding, aspects that could be emphasized further.
The Eastern Conference Finals, by their nature, are characterized by razor-thin margins. The talent gap between the Cavaliers and the Knicks is not perceived as enormous, making every possession and every strategic decision critically important. A team insider noted that "It’s difficult when you’re not making shots, and it puts twice as much pressure on you defensively." The increased pressure on the defensive end, coupled with the psychological toll of offensive struggles, can compound problems rapidly. The Cavaliers’ regular season defensive rating of 109.8, which ranked them 5th in the league, suggests they possess the capability to withstand some offensive slumps, but sustained pressure can lead to breakdowns.
The devastating impact of giving away Game 1, particularly after building a commanding lead, cannot be overstated. While the Cavaliers maintain confidence in their overall play despite the 0-2 deficit, they are acutely aware that their margin for error has diminished significantly. The upcoming Game 3, to be played on Saturday in Cleveland, represents a pivotal juncture for the team. Historically, teams that fall behind 0-3 in a best-of-seven series face an almost insurmountable challenge; no NBA team has ever successfully overcome such a deficit. Should the Cavaliers find themselves in that unenviable position, the discourse around "shot quality" and "the process" will likely be superseded by more immediate and dire concerns about their season’s longevity.
For Cleveland to turn the tide, they must not only rely on their analytics-backed belief in shot quality but also implement the tactical adjustments identified by Coach Atkinson. Increasing their attacks to the basket, converting free throws – an area where they shot 75.8% in the regular season, ranking 20th – and capitalizing on transition opportunities will be essential to complement their perimeter shooting. The return to their home court, where their shooting percentages have historically improved, offers a tangible source of hope. However, the clock is ticking, and the abstract comfort of "the process" must soon translate into concrete results on the scoreboard. The Cavaliers’ ability to blend their strategic conviction with timely adaptation will determine their fate in these Eastern Conference Finals.
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