Chalk it up to a bad game in the opener of the eastern conference finals and get ready for Game 2 of the best-of-seven series against the Boston Celtics.
"We'll play better," the Cavs coach said today following the side's practice at TD Garden.
"We had a bad game."
Behind the scenes, Lue was looking for ways to adjust to the balanced Boston lineup on the heels of a decisive 108-83 victory for the Celtics in game one of the eastern conference finals Sunday.
Al Horford had 20 points for the Celtics and met little resistance from Kevin Love, who has been starting at center for Cleveland.
"I think in the first half we were a little soft," Love said.
"I mentioned after the game, just letting a few of their guys get open looks and get a good feel and they've been playing extremely well throughout these playoffs.
"A number of players have been stepping up for them. I think we just need to be better, really.
"Forcing the issue is the wrong thing to say on the defensive end - but making them feel us, and just being better."
Lue said he disagreed the team was soft.
"I don't think we were soft defensively," Lue said. "They took advantage of mismatches. We weren't able to get there. They're basically doing the same thing we're doing, they just executed better than we did."
Lue said the Cavaliers weighed installing Tristan Thompson to combat Horford and help slow the Celtics' interior scoring. Boston had more than 60 points in the paint in game.
"It's definitely something we have to weigh - we weighed it before the series started," Lue said. "We won seven out of eight. We weren't going to adjust until someone beat us. We played well with that lineup.
"Looking at the statistics, over the last three years of at least 30 years out of all the guys who guarded Al Horford, Tristan is No 1 in the league defending Al Horford. I think that's a good thing to know."
Thompson said he brings toughness and energy off the bench, but he's ready if called upon to set the tone as a starter.
"I'll just be myself, be active early," Thompson said. "Horford is playing well. He's shooting the crap out of the ball.
"Horford's a very good player. He's an All-Star. ... You get up for these games."
