Who HAS to be our 'X Factor'

[JohnBoy65]

Who needs to play well every game of this series for us to even have a chance to win this series. Rememeber we're expecting IT and AB to play well. So who needs to do it?


I've seen some people say Sully needs to be a monster. I want to go somewhere different. I think I am going with Bass. He's surely capable of going for 17 and 10. Not to mention I think his physical style of D could bother Kevin Love. Remember when Bass played great D on Melo in that series with the Knicks a couple years ago?

I think if Bass can go 17 and 10, and our other guys play like we're accustomed to we are going to be in every game this series.

[Csfan1984]

Zeller

May not seem like it but if Z can be efficient and aggressive (22/10) there may be a chance to win a couple games.

[Eddie20]

Olynyk!

If he's aggressive and hitting his shots it could really spread them out and force Irving and Love to play D without a Mozgov or Thompson behind them.

[littleteapot]

I think we either need one guy to do something no one would ever expect or a lot of guys have to be on their A game.

But if I had to pick one, I agree that it's Zeller, but I think defense is the most important area where he has to be as good as he can. Kyrie and Lebron are going to beat their defenders a lot and we need a guy in the middle to take stuff away from them.

[gpap]

Good question.

Either Isaiah or Crowder.

Both guys because they attack the basket and knock down the 3 and Crowder especially because he's a good defender and can lock down 'Bron better than Turner.

[loco_91]

Isaiah Thomas. There's nobody on the Cavs that matches up with him defensively. I think he should look to take 30 shots per game.

[danglertx]

I think our X factor just has to be our bigs shooting from three effectively enough to open the middle for Turner and Thomas.  If Crowder, Olynyk, Sully, and Jerebko can consistently space the floor shooting something like 6-10 on threes, we have a chance.

[Evantime34]

Marcus Smart on the offensive end.

[Tr1boy]

Olynyk will play better than many expect IMO.

[Monkhouse]

Marcus Smart on the offensive end.

Agreed.

If Smart can turn a whole new gear, and really try to draw as much as fouls, while playing tough defense on Irving, I can see him having a huge impact.

[jpotter33]

Our stretch bigs need to play well from the perimeter to draw Mozgov, their only inside protection, out from the basket. Further, all of our bigs should be able to abuse Love when he's guarding them, so that should be a point of emphasis for this team.

It'll be interesting to see who they put Lebron on, because other than Smart he'll be putting out a TON of energy on the defensive side of the ball. Bradley runs around everywhere on offense, and I think Turner can consistently get past Lebron with his craftiness and ball-handling. The key with Lebron is giving him many different bodies and defenders to throw him off. I fully expect to see Turner, Smart, Crowder, and Wallace all have some time guarding Lebron in the series, perhaps even JJ, too. If it wasn't for star treatment, I think Smart and Crowder could really slow Lebron down if they were allowed to play their physical brand of D against him, which they won't.

[gpap]

Olynyk will play better than many expect IMO.

I think Olynyk is one guy who is going to get destroyed in this series, IMO.

The Cavs front court is going to eat him up.

[PhoSita]

Gigi Datome is averaging 22 points a game as a starter.  So I'd say he's our best chance of pulling an upset.

Let's go Luigi!

[Rosco917]

That's the million dollar question. That is why making the playoffs is a positive thing. Our young team gets to see what taking it up a notch really means. They get to see how far off they are from being the players the organization needs and wants. Let's be honest, one player is not going to do it.

IT has to be the guy that shines on the national stage. He has to average 22 to 24 a game and get big baskets when the team needs them, plus create for others in the paint.

i just hope he can physically hold up.


 

[Rosco917]

Our stretch bigs need to play well from the perimeter to draw Mozgov, their only inside protection, out from the basket. Further, all of our bigs should be able to abuse Love when he's guarding them, so that should be a point of emphasis for this team.

It'll be interesting to see who they put Lebron on, because other than Smart he'll be putting out a TON of energy on the defensive side of the ball. Bradley runs around everywhere on offense, and I think Turner can consistently get past Lebron with his craftiness and ball-handling. The key with Lebron is giving him many different bodies and defenders to throw him off. I fully expect to see Turner, Smart, Crowder, and Wallace all have some time guarding Lebron in the series, perhaps even JJ, too. If it wasn't for star treatment, I think Smart and Crowder could really slow Lebron down if they were allowed to play their physical brand of D against him, which they won't.

Right on the nose.