2023-24 Season | Playoff series #1 | Cavaliers vs. Magic |

[blank964]

By next week we'll be in the playoffs and LeBron won't be.
That's.... Never happened.

Yeah it is a mind**** but I'll take it.

 

[MrX]

The Magic are the only team the Cavs could sweep. The Celtics are gonna whip this team

Glass half empty our last 10 games vs Celtics 5-5 and 3-1 last year.

Take away the 20 pt blow out loss in game 3 to Knicks and the Cavs lost the remaining 4 games by average of 1.8 pts. We held the Knicks to average of 99.6 pts

I like this team and wouldn't be surprised if we went to the finals or surprised if we got knocked out in 5-6 vs Boston or even see this series go 6.

If we had health on our side this year we would of been competing with #1 seed rather than #2 seed. All I know is we are competitive.

 

[2 For The Brew]

By next week we'll be in the playoffs and LeBron won't be.
That's.... Never happened.

Not true. It last happened with Shawn Kemp and Big Z. LeBron missed the playoffs that year for some reason.

 

[Pierre Pan]

Some interesting points in Terry Pluto’s “Scribbles” this morning :

When it comes to Cavs, what I like, what I don't & what I wish – Terry Pluto's Scribbles — cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Scribbles in my notebook after the Cavs 96-86 victory over Orlando as they have a 2-0 advantage in the best of 7 first round of the playoffs:

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CLEVELAND, Ohio – Scribbles in my notebook after the Cavs 96-86 victory over Orlando as they have a 2-0 advantage in the best of 7 first round of the playoffs:

The Cavs player I’m happiest for is … Jarrett Allen. He took a lot of criticism after the Cavs were booted out of the first round by New York in the 2023 playoffs. He spoke the truth when he mentioned about the playoff “lights being too bright” for the Cavs. That led to him being labeled soft, even some media suggestions he should be traded. Just be glad that didn’t happen.

I love Allen as a player, but … even I didn’t know he had this in him. This being back-to-back playoff games of 18 and 20 rebounds. This being not backing down when pushed and shoved, instead playing through the physical play when officials don’t blow the whistles. He’s averaging 16 points in the two playoff games.

Maybe we should have seen something like this coming … In his final 53 games of the season, Allen averaged 18.1 points and 11.6 rebounds with 37 double/doubles in those last 53 games. It feels like Allen has been around forever, but he’s only 26.

I like how … Donovan Mitchell owned up to the fact that he didn’t play well in the second half of Game 2. He had 19 points and 7 rebounds at the half. In the second half, he scored four points with one rebound. He was 2 of 9 from the field. He settled for 3-point shots (2 of 10 for the game) instead of driving to the rim and putting pressure on the defense.

I wish the Cavs … would have moved the ball more in the second half. Also, the players seemed to stand around, watching Darius Garland and/or Mitchell dribble. In the first half, the Cavs shot 50% from the field, including 8 of 19 on 3 pointers. They went from 58 points in the first half to 38 in the second half thanks to 34% shooting and a very stagnant offense.

I wonder why … the Cavs don’t run more plays for Max Strus to move without the ball, run around picks to get open for 3-point shots. He’s stuck standing on the perimeter. Yes, he’s 2 of 10 on 3-pointers. This team needs more movement.

I guess four minutes was too much … That’s what Sam Merrill played in Game 1. He never got off the bench in Game 2. Merrill is excellent moving without the ball. He can get hot from 3-point range. Bickestaff has settled into an 8-man rotation. Most coaches tend to do that in the playoffs, but this offense needs a boost.

Some stats have a secret meaning … There is the plus/minus number. For example, in the two games that Cavs have outscored Orlando by 22 points when Allen has been on the floor. Next is a plus-20 for Mitchell, followed by a plus-18 for Strus. During the regular season, the Cavs were productive when Strus played even when he didn’t shoot well. That’s the case in these games. Strus has grabbed nine rebounds in each game.

Evan Mobley has … made a lot of progress compared to his performance in the 2023 playoffs. He has not become discouraged when knocked around under the rim with no foul calls from officials, He’s using his jump hook more. He’s taken a few bad shots, but I like how he’s being aggressive. He’s averaging 16.5 points and 9.0 rebounds in this series.

Let’s hear it for … Mobley, Georges Niang and Isaac Okoro. They have taken turns defending Orlando star Paolo Banchero. Yes, he’s averaging 22.5 points. But he’s made 15 turnovers in two games. He’s been frustrated at times.

It’s a cliche but probably true … several Cavs mentioned the series will be harder as the next two games are in Orlando. The Magic had an 18-23 road record, but they were 29-12 at home. The Cavs were good on the road, a 22-19 mark. The average NBA home team wins about 2 of every 3 games.

Darius Garland still drives me crazy … when he dribbles into traffic and doesn’t seem to have a clue where he wants to pass the ball. He’s averaging 6.0 assists compared to 4.5 turnovers, not a good ratio. But in a series where few players on either team are shooting well, Garland is a 50% from the field and 47% on 3-pointers, averaging 14.5 points. He has made several key 3-point shots in both games when Cleveland’s offense was stalled.

The numbers tell us ... teams with a 2-0 lead in a best of 7 series go on to win the series 93% of the time, according to the Land of Basketball website.

 

[macbdog]

By next week we'll be in the playoffs and LeBron won't be.
That's.... Never happened.

Not true, Cavs went to the playoffs several times in the 80s and 90s when LBJ didn't.

 

[bigfoot5415]

Glass half empty our last 10 games vs Celtics 5-5 and 3-1 last year.

Take away the 20 pt blow out loss in game 3 to Knicks and the Cavs lost the remaining 4 games by average of 1.8 pts. We held the Knicks to average of 99.6 pts

I like this team and wouldn't be surprised if we went to the finals or surprised if we got knocked out in 5-6 vs Boston or even see this series go 6.

If we had health on our side this year we would of been competing with #1 seed rather than #2 seed. All I know is we are competitive.

IMO, we are a it of a problem for the Celitcs (as I feel we are the Nuggets) matchup wise. I believe Evan Mobley is a significant problem for them because the Celtics often rely on Tatum to either take advantage of an opposing defenders length or speed. While Evan isn't a Tatum stopper, his package gives him fits (HEY-O!!).

Since Mobley came here we are 5-5. All games decided by 10 or less. Despite not having Evan for 1 game, Donovan for 1 game, Garland breaking his face on poor old Kristaps Porzingis, and all the other crap that has happened this season. We have kept it close.

I wouldn't bet my house on beating them, but I sure as hell would not be surprised. Their lack of depth will catch up, theyve been pretty healthy as well. One physical or long Miami Heat series could be just the swing we need in our direction.

 

[Patdatass]

Game 3 is big. If we can pull it out then I think the series will be all but done.

 

[jjvors]

Game 3 is big. If we can pull it out then I think the series will be all but done.

My prediction was a 5 game series. If we lose one game in Orlando, it it more likely game 3 or game 4? I think we win game 3 and let down and lose game 4.

 

[Pierre Pan]

Game 3 is big. If we can pull it out then I think the series will be all but done.

Not to be condescending, but considering that teams up 3-0 in a best of seven playoff series are 151-0 in that series, that’s not really going out on a limb…lol

 

[AllforOne]

Game 3 is big. If we can pull it out then I think the series will be all but done.

True, but then the real key will be Game 4. If they can win that one, after winning Game 3, then I can really see them getting to the second round.

 

[jmilo]

True, but then the real key will be Game 4. If they can win that one, after winning Game 3, then I can really see them getting to the second round.

I really don't care how many total playoff games this Cavs team wins.

If we just make sure that we win our last playoff game, I'll be happy.

 

[foucault87]

I really don't care how many total playoff games this Cavs team wins.

If we just make sure that we win our last playoff game, I'll be happy.

Only 14 more that matter

 

[Futuredome]

The turnovers are on JB. Just watching it close up you can see his crappy offense in all its glory. Nothing new under the sun. Get a better system.
Garland: has stopped being a negative presence. Can he produce positive gains like last year?
Mobley: inconsistent. 22 year old who we hope the switch flips
Allen: playing great physical ball.
Mitchell: looks about 80-85%. Getting better. Perfect if he uses this series to get back into 100% Mitchell. Bad for the Celtics.
Bench: Struss has struggled shooting, helped in other ways. Okoro with some value in a bad matchup. Niang is awful. If Dean can not repair his manhood, JB has to give Morris a shot.
Merrill needs time. JB's short sided crap does not give Merrill any respect for the man, I am sure. Neither does it myself.

 

[foucault87]

The turnovers are on JB. Just watching it close up you can see his crappy offense in all its glory. Nothing new under the sun. Get a better system.
Garland: has stopped being a negative presence. Can he produce positive gains like last year?
Mobley: inconsistent. 22 year old who we hope the switch flips
Allen: playing great physical ball.
Mitchell: looks about 80-85%. Getting better. Perfect if he uses this series to get back into 100% Mitchell. Bad for the Celtics.
Bench: Struss has struggled shooting, helped in other ways. Okoro with some value in a bad matchup. Niang is awful. If Dean can not repair his manhood, JB has to give Morris a shot.
Merrill needs time. JB's short sided crap does not give Merrill any respect for the man, I am sure. Neither does it myself.

I like that you somehow cloned Mitchell, benched stress, and insulted every single player besides JA in one post. That's pretty wide even for Futuredome

 

[DocSaric]

The turnovers are on JB. Just watching it close up you can see his crappy offense in all its glory. Nothing new under the sun. Get a better system.
Garland: has stopped being a negative presence. Can he produce positive gains like last year?
Mobley: inconsistent. 22 year old who we hope the switch flips
Allen: playing great physical ball.
Mitchell: looks about 80-85%. Getting better. Perfect if he uses this series to get back into 100% Mitchell. Bad for the Celtics.
Bench: Struss has struggled shooting, helped in other ways. Okoro with some value in a bad matchup. Niang is awful. If Dean can not repair his manhood, JB has to give Morris a shot.
Merrill needs time. JB's short sided crap does not give Merrill any respect for the man, I am sure. Neither does it myself.

Did you catch his presser comments on “adjustments”? lol he said there’s really no such thing. You just execute original game plan and try hard. That’s it.