Cavaliers being let down by their ex-Knicks contingent

ESPN First Take - Today 6/14/2016 (Cleveland Cavaliers vs Golden State Warriors Game 5)

OAKLAND Suspended Draymond Green will be absent for Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday. Ex-Knick Channing Frye, considered the X-factor off the bench for the Cavaliers entering the Finals, has been absent for the first four games.

LeBron James supporting cast has let him down in the Finals, most notably the cast of four ex-Knicks on their roster: Frye, Iman Shumpert, J.R. Smith and Timofey Mozgov.

Frye, an important part of the Cavaliers romp through the Eastern Conference playoffs, could get a boost from Greens suspension on flagrant-foul points resulting from his alleged groin-seeking swipe against James.

Kevin Love, who may return to the starting lineup, said both he and Frye can benefit from not having to faceGreens quickness in defending the outside shot.

He takes a lot away against a guy like me and Channing, guys at the perimeter, Love said before Game 5. They do a great job of guarding the perimeter as a team. Hes very dynamic on the defensive end. One of the new players who can guard 1 to 5.

Frye, the Knicks lottery pick in 2005, is just waiting for his chance. Frye has taken just threeshots (and one 3-point try) in the entire series, covering 32 minutes of action. He has two points total none in the past three games.

J.R. SmithPhoto: NBAE via Getty Images

The scrappier Richard Jefferson has taken some of Fryes minutes, but the Cavaliers are in dire need of offensive pop. Frye feels he can help more.

Of course. Why would I not feel like that? Thats ridiculous, Frye told The Post. I think right now Rich is playing great. Thats the great thing about our team is that in different series, different guys show up and do well based on matchups and different opportunities.

In the Eastern Conference finals, Frye averaged 9 points, shooting 58.3 percent on 3-pointers. In losing Game 4 of the Finals at home, the Cavaliers mustered just six3-point baskets to a Finals-record 17 made by Golden State.

I got to stay ready, said Frye, whom the Cavaliers obtained in a February trade with Orlando. I plan to play in every game, every minute. Its not like Oh man Channing, youre doing bad. Its just that Rich is playing out of his mind.

The Warriors are up in the series 3-1 mostly because their Strength in Numbers motto has proven prophetic. The Cavaliers are not getting enough out of Shumpert and Mozgov, the center who essentially was removed from the rotation for Frye.

Iman ShumpertPhoto: NBAE via Getty Images

Shumpert, a former first-rounder whom the Knicks traded to Cleveland along with Smith last season, is a defensive specialist, but has looked especially shaky on offense. Hes shot a combined 4-of-14 with 10 points in the four games. He also hasnt been enough of a defensive force on Golden States Stephen Curry: He has zero steals.

Shumpert signed a 4-year, $40 million contract last summer and needs to better pull his weight on a club with the second-highest payroll in NBA history a roster that could see a shakeup if they go down in five games to the Warriors.

Mozgov, a key factor in last years Finals and impending free agent, played in garbage time in the first two games and was a DNP in the crushing Game 4 loss. His lone meaningful minutes came in the victory in Game 3, when he set a vicious pick on Klay Thompson that forced him from the game with a bruised thigh. Thompson whined afterward that Mozgovs pick was dirty.

Smith, the Cavaliers starting shooting guard, has disappeared for long stretches of games. In Game 1, he took just threeshots and rarely was passed the ball. In Game 4, he played all but five seconds of the second half but didnt launch one shot.

Smith has 58 3-pointers in these playoffs, which is a Cavaliers franchise record. In the Game 3 win,Smith erupted for 20 points.

On why he didnt get off a shot in the second half Friday, Smith said, Its just the flow of the game. Guys thought they had advantages going downhill. Some they finished, some they didnt. It happens. I have to continue to stay aggressive on defense.

Source: http://nypost.com/2016/06/13/cavaliers-being-let-down-by-their-ex-knicks-contingent/