Campy Russell says Cavs must get physical with Pacers to win series

There is nothing wrong with the Cavaliers a heavy dose of hard work won’t cure, says Campy Russell, a former star player for the Wine and Gold and now part of the pre- and post-game shows on Fox Sports Ohio.

Russell expects to see more effort, energy and urgency on April 18 when the Cavs host the Indiana Pacers in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series. All three were lacking on April 15 when the Pacers took Game 1, 98-80.

“I think it was pretty simple,” Russell said after practice on April 16. “The energy level wasn’t what I thought it should have been. I thought we’d come out with a greater sense of urgency. I thought we’d be much more physical than the Pacers were. I thought that set the standard for the whole night.

“When we tried to become more physical and play with more urgency, we were down by too many points. When we got within seven points, we weren’t able to sustain that effort to get over the hump.”

The Cavaliers know they need more urgency in the rematch. The Pacers, swept by the Cavaliers last year (albeit by a total of 16 points), didn’t fold when their 69-50 lead with 3:53 left in the third quarter shrunk to 70-63 in fewer than three minutes.

The biggest problem for the Cavaliers was the way they started and the way they finished; they were outscored 33-14 in the first quarter and 25-15 in the fourth quarter.

Coach Tyronn Lue is contemplating lineup changes to interject more energy. Kyle Korver’s health will play into Lue’s decision; Korver practiced April 17 after missing practice the previous day with an illness.

Guard J.R. Smith, who scored 15 points in 29 minutes off the bench on April 15, might get more playing time, Coach Tyronn Lue suggested after practice April 16.

“It starts with the coaching staff coming up with a game plan and we just have to follow it,” Smith said. “I don’t think there are too many adjustments we can make.

“We just have to play harder to start the game off. They just played more physical than we did and it showed. It definitely showed. If we could bottle that third quarter up and part of that fourth, the way we played with intensity, diving on the floor, guarding people, contesting every shot, making the extra pass, we’ll be good.”

Lue after practice on April 16 said LeBron James has to be more aggressive. Russell agrees.

“It all starts with LeBron being aggressive out there,” Russell said. “When he’s aggressive, a lot of great things happen for everybody on the floor. If we play with a great level of intensity as well as being physical, I don’t see this Pacers team beating us.”

The series shifts to Indianapolis for Game 3 on April 20 and Game 4 on April 22.

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