The NBA's Twilight Star System

The Nets opened their first possession with another isolation play for Joe Johnson, but he missed. Mozgov secured the rebound, and Kyrie Irving pushed the ball to the frontcourt.

The Cavaliers' first offensive possession was, as usual, centered on Irving. Recently, Irving had been demanding a significant share of the offense, showing little interest in passing.

Without calling for a screen, Irving opted to take on Deron Williams one-on-one. Using his younger, faster body, he burst past Williams and finished an easy layup.

Even though the Nets won the jump ball, the Cavaliers struck first.

On the Nets' next possession, Deron once again handed the ball to Joe Johnson. Johnson's earlier miss hadn't shaken the trust of his teammates or coach just yet.

This time, Johnson avoided a jumper against Jay Sun, opting instead for a direct drive to the basket. After two games, Johnson seemed to realize that Jay's ability to contest jump shots was a significant problem.

Johnson used his strength to force his way into the paint, shielding the ball with his off-hand to create space for a layup.

Jay struggled to contain Johnson's power, and the latter successfully scored under the rim. However, Johnson paid a price for the physical play. While he wasn't small, he also wasn't a player built to consistently bulldoze his way through defenses.

His age was beginning to show—what had once been an effortless play now left him gasping for air.

Still, Johnson felt a brief sense of relief as the ball dropped in. After two lackluster games, he'd faced heavy criticism from fans and media alike.

On the other end, Irving brought the ball to the top of the key. Following a sequence of off-ball screens, the ball was passed to LeBron James on the wing.

James took his time sizing up Bojan Bogdanović, who visibly tightened his stance in anticipation of what was coming.

LeBron didn't hesitate. The moment he caught the ball, he lowered his shoulder and drove hard into the lane.

Brook Lopez scrambled to rotate over, but he was too slow. James powered through the gap and laid the ball in.

The Nets' forwards simply had no answers for LeBron.

The two teams continued exchanging baskets, but Brooklyn couldn't keep up with Cleveland's offensive efficiency.

By the end of the first quarter, the Cavaliers led 27-21. Jay had contributed five points and one assist.

Defensively, he was starting to adjust to Johnson's game, limiting his jump shots while learning how to better defend his drives.

Meanwhile, on the Nets' bench, Johnson sat with a towel over his shoulders, reflecting on his performance. "Man, I'm getting old," he muttered under his breath.

Deron Williams wasn't faring much better. His aching ankles hampered his movement, and his shooting wasn't falling. With limited options, he had been focusing solely on orchestrating plays for his teammates.

After the break, the second quarter began.

Coach Tyronn Lue made an unusual adjustment, keeping most of the starters, including Irving, on the court. On the Nets' side, Deron was subbed out for Jarrett Jack.

Jack, a veteran known for stepping into starting roles when injuries struck his teams, brought a new energy to Brooklyn's offense.

Irving, however, was undeterred. At the top of the key, he dribbled against Jack, skillfully manipulating the defender's balance with a series of crossovers. Jack initially kept pace, but Irving eventually found an opening and drove to the rim.

As Lopez closed in for a block, Irving abruptly pulled up for a mid-range jumper.

Swish.

Two more points for Cleveland.

Jay spent much of the second quarter serving as a spot-up shooter, stationed in the corner, waiting for catch-and-shoot opportunities.

Brooklyn, meanwhile, adjusted their strategy. Rather than forcing isolations for Johnson, they leaned more heavily on Lopez in the post.

Lopez rewarded their trust, scoring several baskets against Cleveland's backup center, Tristan Thompson, whose defense was still developing.

Despite Lopez's efforts, Cleveland maintained their lead, thanks to their efficient offense. James and Irving took turns initiating plays, while Love chipped in from the perimeter.

Jay had limited opportunities but made the most of them, scoring a basket and recording an assist late in the quarter.

At halftime, the Cavaliers led 52-42.

During the break, Lue emphasized the importance of extending the lead. Both he and the team's management had made it clear: they wanted to close out the series quickly and avoid unnecessary games.

When the third quarter began, Jay was subbed out, allowing Irving to stay on the floor.

Brooklyn's coach, Kenny Atkinson, also adjusted his lineup, leaving his core players on the court longer in hopes of cutting the deficit. Notably, however, Deron remained on the bench—perhaps as a scapegoat for the team's struggles.

Irving orchestrated Cleveland's offense to perfection, setting up Love for a three-pointer and attacking the basket when the defense sagged off.

Meanwhile, Lopez continued to dominate inside for the Nets, exploiting his size advantage against Thompson.

The two teams traded baskets for most of the quarter, with the Cavaliers maintaining a steady lead.

With three minutes remaining in the third, Jay checked back into the game, replacing Irving, who had been playing since the start of the half.

Sweat poured down Irving's face as he sat on the bench, exhausted from carrying much of the offense.

Jay stepped onto the court, ready to take charge.

"Don't worry," he thought. "I'll take the shot."