TORONTO _ Back on Dec. 21, the Cavaliers were one of the best fourth-quarter teams in the NBA and LeBron James believed he knew why.
"It's winning time and we've got a bunch of winning players that have been in that moment before," he said that day. "Our defense ramps up and our offensive execution steps up as well."
The Cavs' roster has dramatically changed since then. Six players were traded, four brought in on Feb. 8. Some of those winning players departed, most notably Dwyane Wade. The season has been rocky, pockmarked by injuries and drama.
"Winning time" was seemingly forgotten as the Cavs struggled to integrate the newcomers and went 16-10 after the All-Star break.
But what the Cavs' took from a Game 3 first-round loss to the Indiana Pacers might have changed their postseason future. While they have miles to go to reach their fourth consecutive NBA Finals, Game 3 might have been the turning point.
That night in Bankers Life Fieldhouse, they blew a 17-point halftime lead and lost by two. But out of those ashes, a season that seemed destined for an early, embarrassing end found new life.
Since then they are 5-1, including Thursday's dominating 128-110 victory over the Toronto Raptors in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at Air Canada Centre.
In a game the Raptors desperately needed to win, the Cavs played with poise. Their offense flowed smoothly. LeBron James spun to the basket for layups, scored 43 points and tied his career postseason high with 14 assists. Kevin Love stopped pouting over being forced to remain at center, came out with a new attitude and an inspired game and recorded his 2018 playoff-high with 31 points and 11 rebounds. Jeff Green went 4-of-6 on 3-pointers and pitched in 14 points, including a dagger 3-pointer with 6:58 remaining for a 112-96 lead. The Cavs placed five players in double figures for the second consecutive game after having no more than three in six of seven games.
It's clear something has changed.
On Thursday, there might have been a measure of disrespect to motivate them as well.
At Thursday's shootaround, James called it "kinda weird" that the Cavs-Raptors series was the only one in the league that doesn't have two days in between games. He might as well have thrown in the fact that the top-seeded Raptors and three-time East champion Cavs were not the night's marquee game, playing at 6 p.m. as a prelude to Celtics-76ers.
It's also possible the Cavs saw fatal flaws in the Raptors down the stretch in the Cavs' overtime victory in Game 1 and smelled blood. After being extended to seven games by the Pacers, the Cavs and James could use the rest if they manage to keep the semifinal series short.
But back in Game 3 against the Pacers, they should have smelled blood and didn't. After they threw it away, coach Tyronn Lue questioned the Cavs' toughness.
He's not questioning it now.
James mentioned the crucial Pacers' loss twice this week, before and after the Raptors' series opener.
"Ever since that third quarter in Game 3 we've learned something," James said Tuesday night. "Even with a new group for the most part, we just learn from our mistakes, we've learned how we can be resolved, we know what buttons to press at times. It's not always going to result in a win, though, but we know what we're capable of."
Winning time was rediscovered on Tuesday, when the Cavs prevailed despite not leading until overtime.
"Getting a stop at the end of the game and then having a chance to win, .6 on the clock and Bron got a decent look. Guys came to the bench and just said, 'Now it's time to go win it,' " Lue said before Thursday's game.
Lue and Tristan Thompson noted that the Cavs came together on Tuesday, with Thompson saying, "We stayed together and banded as brothers to get ourselves back in the ballgame."
There seemed to be more bonding in Game 2, although this time it was displayed in their offensive cohesion.
But the Cavs seemed to have found their turning point, their remade roster seemingly coming together at the perfect time. Months from now, they might still be pointing to Game 3 at Indiana.
