Game 72 | Cavs (45-26) @ Bucks (34-35) | March 22, 2015 | 3:00pm EST

[supermario21]

The good part about our rotation now is that basically it is a playoff rotation at 8-9 guys on most nights. I think the fears of the bench are mostly exaggerated. As long as we don't have 4 bench guys and say Love or Irving we should be fine. Our bench guys have been killing it in terms of +/-. Just today, Delly +23, Shumpert +29, Tristan +22. JR was +17, LBJ +4, other starters negative. I like the rotation now because when we bring in Shump early we get his defense without losing too much offense. His entry into the game instantly stops the other team's offense. I like what we have in many ways right now.


And as I said in the other thread, the Bucks are not making the playoffs. They might be the worst team in the East since the all-star break. Are they even winning 30% of their games since then?

 

[col63onel]

Kyrie, Shumpert, Marion, Love, Tristan vs. Delly, Smith, LeBron, Jones, Mozgov

Who wins?

The Cavs

 

[tocov]

 

[oracio]

View: https://twitter.com/S_Hannig018/status/579753296069410816

 

[kimdimasan]

THIS IS SPAAARTAAA!!!!

 

[KilgoreTrout]

Cavs are still going to win by about a dozen.

Winner.

 

[Flight479]

LeBron sharing Mr. 4th quarter duties

 

[MaccabiCavs]

I was watching the Super Classico with my friends(Real Madrid vs Barcelona - soccer) so I couldnt watch the game(and I think it wasnt even broadcasted in Israel) but I was following the score online seeing Cavs are down almost all 3 quarters... than I checked again a hour later ended 108-90.... what the hell happend in the 4th

 

[wremy]

F'ing Miami not cooperating with this and getting blown out by OKC or the Bucks WOULD be the 7th seed now.

check out Mil schedule...they will be lucky to hold on to the 8th seed

 

[Return of the King]

That lebron block though..

 

[Dungong]

No Moz, Irving, or Love in the 4th, but the small ball line-up was killing it. A bit surprising since Kyrie was on a tear before he left the game, but Lebron went into take-over mode and that was that. The Bucks just never adjusted to it, and seemed to kind of give up there at the end. They did such a good job the first 3 quarters, but I think just lost heart there at the end.

This is just the latest in a series of reminders that this team wouldnt be very good without JR, Shump, and Mozgod, even with the Big 3. OKC pulled off a similar haul at the trade deadline for their cancer, and we would be talking about them more if Durant wasnt done for the season and Westbrook wasnt at least flirting with a triple double every night.

 

[Rimage]

I seriously can't understand how Mike Miller can be shooting so bad.
I mean he was an amazing shooter. Guys can still shoot the ball in their fucking 40s and 50s. How can his shot just go to shit so much?

The dude is coming in ice cold. It's not like he is over on some practice court taking warm up jumpers. The game is for all practical purposes done any time he comes in, so it's pretty much a guarantee he isn't focused or motivated to dial it in, due to the total pointlessness of garbage time.

This guy has been deep in the playoffs and on championship teams. You think he is getting up for regular season garbage time? He didn't just forget how to shoot, it just doesn't matter to him. Last thing you should be worried about with Mike Miller is his shot.

 

[tocov]

The dude is coming in ice cold. It's not like he is over on some practice court taking warm up jumpers. The game is for all practical purposes done any time he comes in, so it's pretty much a guarantee he isn't focused or motivated to dial it in, due to the total pointlessness of garbage time.

This guy has been deep in the playoffs and on championship teams. You think he is getting up for regular season garbage time? He didn't just forget how to shoot, it just doesn't matter to him. Last thing you should be worried about with Mike Miller is his shot.

I get it that he's not motivated. But he's a sportsman, he's a competitor. I refuse to believe he doesn't care if his shot goes it or out and just chucks it.
Even if it didn't matter to him, so deep into his career it's probably automatic for him.

 

[Benedict_Boozer]

JR Swish was awesome in this game on both ends. Really like what he brings to the table. That lob he threw to LBJ was crazy.

Shump is also quietly great. He just brings it on D period.

 

[Andrew]

Everyone was scared what JR Smith would show up when the Cavs traded for him, either the bone head that chucks shots and unties shoelaces or the cat on that Denver squad when they made a deep push into the playoffs. I am all aboard the Smith train, this dude, when given a winning chance, is beyond essential to that team's success.

Of course, a team with LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love is supposed to win. However, it takes more than 3 guys to win in this league and the "others" are showing up and buying into this winning mentality.

Even if it's a regular season game against the Bucks, Smith just offensively exploded in the 3rd, netting 14 of his 23 in the second half. Plus, no one mentions his defense, him along with Shumpert are underrated and can steal the ball at any given point.

Also, while Mosgov had a subpar game today. This cat has been the gem of the in-season moves for any squad in this league. He is so underrated on that pick and roll and even the pick and pop.

While Love only had single digits in this game, I am not too worried about his play today. He was getting good shots and open shots, he was just missing them. The time will come, hopefully in the postseason, when he just comes out of nowhere and has a massive double-double.

The month of April is light on the schedule, good to get these guys some rest in between games and get everyone on the right page for when it truly matters.