INDEPENDENCE: J.R Smith may not have been digging deep enough when he said Sunday the Cavaliers got nothing out of their sweep of the Indiana Pacers.
Others saw areas of growth in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. Coach Tyronn Lue and LeBron James cited defensive improvements. The Cavs may have continued their penchant for blowing fourth-quarter leads, but they showed poise and toughness to prevail as the clock wound down. They handled a team that was hot, having won five consecutive games to qualify for the postseason, had a superstar in Paul George and a dangerous supporting cast, albeit one not as talented as theirs.