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Game Thread | Game #64 | Raptors @ Cavs | Feb. 26, 2023 | 6 p.m.

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What happened at the end of the third? Looks like the Cavs went up by 20, and then both teams forgot how to score.
 
It's all so reliant on the top 4. And to an extent, that's the team we've made this year.

But the drop-off is just so dramatic I just think it's asking too much in the post-season. This bench is feeling like one of the absolute worst of any above .500 team. ANd at the top of that list currently is how bad Rubio looks.
 
Wham with the Right Hand said:
Yes, huge win to break a 3-game losing streak and also a 3-game losing streak to Toronto. VanVleet being out was a big help but the Cavs won every quarter and played well in every phase.

Garland was magnificent with a +39 in 34 minutes. Mitchell had a line of 35/6/4. Allen and Mobley were outstanding. However, the bench continues to struggle. Rubio was 0-for-5 with 4 fouls and 2 turnovers. Wade was 1-for-7 and missed several uncontested 3's.

I said in the preview that the key was 3-point shooting. The Cavs did better this time around, holding them to 36% while hitting 50% of their own. The Cavs outscored the Raps by 27 points from deep, reversing the trend of the first three games.

I also said Mitchell needs to get going after shooting 7-for-27 in the last two games against Toronto, and he put up 35 points in three quarters.

The Raptors lead the NBA in steals at 9.3 but only had four as the Cavs did a great job of protecting the ball. The Raptors are second in fast break points per game but the Cavs blew them away 23-6. The Raptors' game is getting steals and fast break points but the Cavs took that away from them.

The defense was very good as the Raptors shot just 38.7% and with nine minutes left Nick Nurse threw in the towel with his team down by 30.

If the Cavs can continue playing at this level on both ends of the court they will win a lot of games in the next few weeks. Toronto had won seven of eight, and even on the second night of a back-to-back on the road and without VanVleet they have a lot of talent. This was a much needed and very impressive win.
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I think what's super key is that we played at a much faster pace. Especially after that flagrant review... went in trying to score quickly and they came back on defense just as fast.
 
I'm glad I could make it to a game where Spida went off. The last one I went to, neither him or Garland played. The starters were great. Our bench stinks worse than horse poop. Is there a reason Cedi didn't play? Rubio was horrible, Wade is too damn timid, Caris disappears just as much as 0k0r0, who i consider a bench guy (yes I know he hit 2 late game 3s). I fear our stars will get burned out in the playoffs.
 
Very good win. Loved the way they played.
 
Rich said:
It's all so reliant on the top 4. And to an extent, that's the team we've made this year.

But the drop-off is just so dramatic I just think it's asking too much in the post-season. This bench is feeling like one of the absolute worst of any above .500 team. ANd at the top of that list currently is how bad Rubio looks.
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Is it inconceivable that they can get it together for the playoffs? Each of the bench guys have had good games - I'm thinking of Cedi in December, Okoro has had 3 or 4 game stretches - but none lately.
 
CavzAddict said:
I'm glad I could make it to a game where Spida went off. The last one I went to, neither him or Garland played. The starters were great. Our bench stinks worse than horse poop. Is there a reason Cedi didn't play? Rubio was horrible, Wade is too damn timid, Caris disappears just as much as 0k0r0, who i consider a bench guy (yes I know he hit 2 late game 3s). I fear our stars will get burned out in the playoffs.
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Burned out in the playoffs? No back-to-backs and we’re exceptionally young. We definitely are short on experience but we’ll be fine on conditioning. Most teams drastically shorten benches in the playoffs.
 
Knowing your opponent, understanding how physical the game was going to be and exceeding that... - JBB

There have been games this year that the Cavs lost where JBB said they weren't prepared for the level of intensity or physicality. Not last night - they were ready. After getting beat three times by Toronto they knew what was coming and were ready and able to respond.
 
Melancholy Jaques said:
Is it inconceivable that they can get it together for the playoffs? Each of the bench guys have had good games - I'm thinking of Cedi in December, Okoro has had 3 or 4 game stretches - but none lately.
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Our bench is like a box of chocolates. Some nights LeVert or Cedi score 20 and look like starters. Other nights they disappear completely (although LeVert has been consistently dishing out assists lately).

Wade and Rubio missed a lot of time and they obviously need more games to get back on track. Hopefully 18 will be enough.
 
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