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After a disappointing loss to the Raptors the Cavs return home to take on the Chicago Bulls, who they trail by one game in the standings. A Cavs’ win puts these teams in a tie for fifth place. Assuming Toronto beats Indiana at home tonight we could have a three-way tie for fifth. Chicago leads the season series 2-1.
The Bulls are 26-10 at home and 16-21 on the road, so they don’t travel well. They have lost 10 of their last 13 games and will be without starting point guard Lonzo Ball. At first glance it may appear the Cavs should be favored considering the Bulls’ poor road record and recent performance.
However, I think that is not the case. Looking at the Bulls 10 most recent losses, their opponents were Milwaukee (twice), Memphis, Miami, Phoenix, Utah, Philadelphia, Atlanta, New Orleans, and Sacramento. Those are all very strong teams other than the last three, and they were all on the road. I don’t think the Bulls are playing that bad, but their schedule has been brutal.
That being said, the Bulls have only one road win in the last six weeks and that was by six points over Detroit.
Two weeks ago the Bulls beat the Cavs in Chicago 101-91. The Cavs were playing on the second night of a back-to-back on the road, having flown in from Miami the night before. They were missing Allen, Markkanen, and LeVert. The Bulls were missing Ball and Zach LaVine. So we get Marky and LeVert back and they get LaVine. This should be a higher scoring game.
The Cavs were tired that game and the Bulls had 12 steals. With Allen out, Nikola Vucevic had 20 points and 14 rebounds. The Bulls’ bench destroyed the Cavs’ bench. Cedi was 1-for-8 on 3’s. As a team the Cavs were 5-for-24 from deep. The Bulls were 9-for-21 so they had a 12-point advantage on 3’s in a 10-point win.
To win tonight the Cavs need to cut down on the turnovers, get more help from their bench, and shoot better than 21% on 3’s. Defensively the Bulls will have DeRozan, LaVine, and Vucevic so the Cavs will have to figure out how to keep all of them reasonably contained.
With Markkanen and LeVert back the Cavs’ bench will be deeper this time around. Playing at home with a day off should mean fresher legs and better 3-point shooting. I’m sure the Cavs will score more than 91 points, but the addition of LaVine means the Bulls will have more firepower as well.
DeMar DeRozan is averaging 27.6 points on 50.5% from the field. LaVine averages 24.8 points on 48% and 40% on 3’s. Vucevic averages 18 points on 47.7%. Coby White steps in as the starting point guard; he’s hitting 39.7% of his 3’s. Javonte Green and Ayo Dosunmo are both shooting over 50% from the field and 37-38% from deep. The Bulls have a lot of scorers.
As a team they rank 11th in scoring despite taking fewer 3-point shots than any team in the Association. They rank 2nd in 3-point shooting percentage, so they should shoot more IMO. They probably only shoot 3’s when they are totally uncontested, which would explain the low rate and the high percentage. They are second to last in percentage of points from 3’s. The key to beating the Bulls is making them miss their 2’s.
The Bulls rank 21st in points in the paint, so they’re more of a mid-range team, led by one of the best mid-range shooters in history in DeMar DeRozan. The Cavs did a nice job on him two weeks ago, holding him to 9-for-26 from the field, although he did make seven free throws. But this time they have to account for LaVine so it will be tougher.
The Bulls rank 17th in scoring defense and 24th in points in the paint. Vucevic is 6’10” but is not a shot blocker. None of their other rotation players are taller than 6’6”. Patrick Williams at 6’7” has been back for three games after an extended absence but is only playing 18 minutes.
The Bulls are 24th in both block percentage and opponents' points in the paint so it’s obvious what the Cavs need to do - pound it inside. The Bulls are only 26th in opponents’ 3-point percentage so there should be some open 3’s as well.
Two nights ago the Bulls lost 126-109 to New Orleans despite 39 points by LaVine. DeRozan was out with a strained groin. If he can’t go that would be huge for the Cavs.
The Bulls have allowed 125 points or more in four of their last five games. Like the Cavs they are having problems with their defense.
“We’ve got to start getting back to our brand of basketball,” LaVine said. “We can’t give up 122 points. Hats off to the Pelicans, but we can’t do that if we we’re a playoff team.”
Actually it was 126 points but you get the idea. The Cavs have also slipped badly on the defensive end recently, although the loss of Jarrett Allen obviously plays a big part.
If DeRo can’t go it would help the Cavs immensely. But mainly the Cavs need to get back to playing great team defense, pound the ball inside on offense, and hit their open 3’s. The Cavs are 29th in turnovers per possession. That has to improve. The Cavs do too much dribbling into crowds, IMO.
This would be a good game for LeVert to step up and play some tough individual defense on DeRo or LaVine. Same for Okoro and Stevens. The Cavs need to play better individual defense on the ball so their wings don’t have to drop down into the paint, leaving shooters standing alone in the corners for uncontested 3’s.
Should be a full house on a Saturday night and a rowdy playoff atmosphere. Hopefully the fans can give the Cavs a spark.
The Bulls are 26-10 at home and 16-21 on the road, so they don’t travel well. They have lost 10 of their last 13 games and will be without starting point guard Lonzo Ball. At first glance it may appear the Cavs should be favored considering the Bulls’ poor road record and recent performance.
However, I think that is not the case. Looking at the Bulls 10 most recent losses, their opponents were Milwaukee (twice), Memphis, Miami, Phoenix, Utah, Philadelphia, Atlanta, New Orleans, and Sacramento. Those are all very strong teams other than the last three, and they were all on the road. I don’t think the Bulls are playing that bad, but their schedule has been brutal.
That being said, the Bulls have only one road win in the last six weeks and that was by six points over Detroit.
Two weeks ago the Bulls beat the Cavs in Chicago 101-91. The Cavs were playing on the second night of a back-to-back on the road, having flown in from Miami the night before. They were missing Allen, Markkanen, and LeVert. The Bulls were missing Ball and Zach LaVine. So we get Marky and LeVert back and they get LaVine. This should be a higher scoring game.
The Cavs were tired that game and the Bulls had 12 steals. With Allen out, Nikola Vucevic had 20 points and 14 rebounds. The Bulls’ bench destroyed the Cavs’ bench. Cedi was 1-for-8 on 3’s. As a team the Cavs were 5-for-24 from deep. The Bulls were 9-for-21 so they had a 12-point advantage on 3’s in a 10-point win.
To win tonight the Cavs need to cut down on the turnovers, get more help from their bench, and shoot better than 21% on 3’s. Defensively the Bulls will have DeRozan, LaVine, and Vucevic so the Cavs will have to figure out how to keep all of them reasonably contained.
With Markkanen and LeVert back the Cavs’ bench will be deeper this time around. Playing at home with a day off should mean fresher legs and better 3-point shooting. I’m sure the Cavs will score more than 91 points, but the addition of LaVine means the Bulls will have more firepower as well.
DeMar DeRozan is averaging 27.6 points on 50.5% from the field. LaVine averages 24.8 points on 48% and 40% on 3’s. Vucevic averages 18 points on 47.7%. Coby White steps in as the starting point guard; he’s hitting 39.7% of his 3’s. Javonte Green and Ayo Dosunmo are both shooting over 50% from the field and 37-38% from deep. The Bulls have a lot of scorers.
As a team they rank 11th in scoring despite taking fewer 3-point shots than any team in the Association. They rank 2nd in 3-point shooting percentage, so they should shoot more IMO. They probably only shoot 3’s when they are totally uncontested, which would explain the low rate and the high percentage. They are second to last in percentage of points from 3’s. The key to beating the Bulls is making them miss their 2’s.
The Bulls rank 21st in points in the paint, so they’re more of a mid-range team, led by one of the best mid-range shooters in history in DeMar DeRozan. The Cavs did a nice job on him two weeks ago, holding him to 9-for-26 from the field, although he did make seven free throws. But this time they have to account for LaVine so it will be tougher.
The Bulls rank 17th in scoring defense and 24th in points in the paint. Vucevic is 6’10” but is not a shot blocker. None of their other rotation players are taller than 6’6”. Patrick Williams at 6’7” has been back for three games after an extended absence but is only playing 18 minutes.
The Bulls are 24th in both block percentage and opponents' points in the paint so it’s obvious what the Cavs need to do - pound it inside. The Bulls are only 26th in opponents’ 3-point percentage so there should be some open 3’s as well.
Two nights ago the Bulls lost 126-109 to New Orleans despite 39 points by LaVine. DeRozan was out with a strained groin. If he can’t go that would be huge for the Cavs.
The Bulls have allowed 125 points or more in four of their last five games. Like the Cavs they are having problems with their defense.
“We’ve got to start getting back to our brand of basketball,” LaVine said. “We can’t give up 122 points. Hats off to the Pelicans, but we can’t do that if we we’re a playoff team.”
Actually it was 126 points but you get the idea. The Cavs have also slipped badly on the defensive end recently, although the loss of Jarrett Allen obviously plays a big part.
If DeRo can’t go it would help the Cavs immensely. But mainly the Cavs need to get back to playing great team defense, pound the ball inside on offense, and hit their open 3’s. The Cavs are 29th in turnovers per possession. That has to improve. The Cavs do too much dribbling into crowds, IMO.
This would be a good game for LeVert to step up and play some tough individual defense on DeRo or LaVine. Same for Okoro and Stevens. The Cavs need to play better individual defense on the ball so their wings don’t have to drop down into the paint, leaving shooters standing alone in the corners for uncontested 3’s.
Should be a full house on a Saturday night and a rowdy playoff atmosphere. Hopefully the fans can give the Cavs a spark.
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