Cavs Earning Battle-Tested Label Early in Playoffs, but at What Cost?

The Cleveland Cavaliers are just one win away from advancing to the Eastern Conference Semifinals, although it's been far from an easy ride.

Following a 101-91 Game 3 win over the Detroit Pistons on Friday, the Cavs have taken a commanding 3-0 series lead into what could be a first-round sweep.

Still, give credit to Detroit. In all three games, the Pistons have led for periods in the second half, with Games 1 and 3 coming down to the final minutes. This isn't the typical No. 1 seed over No. 8 seed beatdown. The talent gap between the two teams is tremendous, but Detroit has hung in there with toughness and passion.

The Cavs are becoming battle-tested, a mentality that will serve them well later in the postseason. At the same time, we've seen Cleveland's Big Three all play heavy minutes to secure these first-round victories.

A competitive, fire-stoking series has been good for the Cavaliers, but it’s also meant less rest with a seemingly long postseason run ahead.

Big Minutes for Big Three

Cavs head coach Tyronn Lue deserves a lot of credit for managing his stars' minutes during the regular season.

LeBron James played a career-low 35.6 minutes per night, while Love and Irving both finished at 31.5. Given the latter two's injury history, this was critical.

David Liam Kyle/Getty Images

Now in the postseason, playing time for key players will only go up round by round. The opening series is supposed to be an opportunity for teams like Cleveland to run up scores early and cruise in the fourth quarter.

Through three games, the Cavs have been unable to do so. Game 4 isn't looking promising either, as this scrappy Pistons team will have nothing to lose.

"This is a team that’s not going to quit," James said, per NBA TV's postgame broadcast. "A Stan Van Gundy team never quits."

This is bad news for the Big Three and their legs, whose plan is to play another eight weeks. Through three games, James is averaging 41.3 minutes per night. Irving is at 37.0, while Love is right behind him with 36.3. Even Cleveland's designated sniper, J.R. Smith, is receiving 35.7 ticks per night.

While one can't argue with James, Love and Irving's production (a combined 70.6 points, 22.0 rebounds and 13.4 assists), that's a lot of mileage.

Proving They Can Win Ugly

Playing a team as tough as Detroit has its advantages, however.

For example, the Cavaliers' tendency to sleepwalk through portions of the regular season had to end if they wanted to make a run to the Finals. Had they played a pushover team in the first round, would they have even woken up?

Instead, the Pistons' ability to keep games close, combined with their off-court chatter, has made this an intense series.

Physical defenders taking their turn on James, combined with a few well-timed elbows from Andre Drummond, have forced Irving and Love to step up as well.

As a result, this is the best the Big Three has looked together at any point in two years.

"I think just right now we’re in a great flow," James said on NBA TV. He continued:

"

We understand what we want individually and as a team. Guys are picking their spots. First of all, we’re going to Kev a lot in the post. We want Kyrie as well to be aggressive on pick-and-rolls. For myself, I play off these guys. I just focus on what else I can do to help our team be successful while these two guys carry the load offensively.

"

Lue, who's been with the team since James announced his return in 2014, agrees.

"It’s been the best I’ve seen all three together," Lue said, per NBA TV. 

"LeBron’s just being LeBron. He’s taking a defensive challenge. Kyrie and Kevin have carried the load in terms of scoring the basketball for us. When you have guys that can do more than one thing, it’s about more than just offense. LeBron can score the ball whenever he wants, but he’s taken on a defensive challenge."

While James has done his share of scoring (23.0 points on 49.2 percent shooting), he's also taken charges, come up with big steals and set hard screens for teammates when necessary. Love (21.3 points, 11.7 rebounds) has come to life against Detroit, while Irving (26.3 points, 52.2 percent from three) has seemingly rediscovered his stroke.

Minutes may be high, but this is the push that Cleveland needed to help unite the Big Three and motivate them for the rest of the postseason.

Broom Time

Game 4 between the Cavs and Pistons will be played Sunday night in Auburn Hills, and Cleveland will be looking for a sweep. 

It's important that Cleveland finishes the job to provide its star players with extra rest days. If they do this, the Cavaliers can use the extra time to take in the Atlanta Hawks-Boston Celtics series, currently at 2-1 in favor of Al Horford and Co.

Last year, the Cavs received seven full days off after sweeping the Celtics, only to watch the Milwaukee Bucks push Chicago to six games in their own first-round series. Given how often James has been knocked to the floor already, a full week must sound good. 

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

However, Cleveland can't take Detroit lightly. It needs to come in with an even greater sense of urgency. If it means playing James, Love and Irving all over 40 minutes for one night, so be it. Better to spend a little extra time on the court than play another game entirely.

It hasn't been a walk in the park like some fans may have liked, but this fight with the Pistons has proved to be exactly what the doctor ordered for the Cavs.

Greg Swartz is the Cleveland Cavaliers Lead Writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @CavsGregBR.

Quotes obtained firsthand unless cited. Stats via NBA.com unless otherwise sourced.