Game Thread | Game #66 | Pistons @ Cavs | March 4, 2023

[jjvors]

Allen dunks over Wiseman:

 

[jjvors]

Cavs Pistons highlights:

 

[CavsKermit]

Dean is broken

He played 3 minutes of meaningful and got one shot attempt. I don't know if fans expect him to take contested shot attempts, but that's not him. If his defender is sticking with him out there, he's already done his job in terms of spacing.

 

[ice cream man]

He played 3 minutes of meaningful and got one shot attempt. I don't know if fans expect him to take contested shot attempts, but that's not him. If his defender is sticking with him out there, he's already done his job in terms of spacing.

He did miss making a wide open cut to the basket that would have given him an uncontested dunk. But that was in garbage time. I don't have a problem with his shot selection in general, but have to admit his shot looks way off right now.

 

[Dr. Claw]

It was basically a 30 point blow out.
There were points where I was watching with a furrowed brow and then I noticed "the Cavs are up 20".
Detroit's offense actually generates some good looks. They are just ass, especially missing so many of their starters.

Donovan getting hurt again is not good. Him having to carry is not good.
What is good? Evan Mobley nearly matching Darius Garland in assists. Okoro's hustle (I think he can be this team's Josh Hart/Josh Richardson player but he has to be the starting 3 out of necessity, and gets a weird whistle). JA (again, woefully underappreciated by the Spacing Uber Alles crowd).
We saw a lot of Cedi. Waiting for Dean to find his way offensively. And absent 2 threes (not surprisingly off the catch), a dismal game on offense from Caris Levert.

Thanks to the blow out we saw Danny Green (2 3s in short time), and Sam Merrill (at least one bucket).
I see why they plucked Merrill out of the G-League. His offball movement is much better than a good deal of what we see in the team's regular offense. Maybe that's a damning observation.

There were a couple of times I saw Green screen himself open and didn't get the ball. I've seen this from Donovan too. I think Cavs need to get used to making that pass and let the recipient send it to the skies.

 

[CLEfan330]

With as shitty as this bench is, not forcing Green and Merrill into minutes to see what they have consistently is a crime. We can’t keep trotting out Stevens, Wade and Cedi and not see what the big 4 look like with a legit shooter

 

[CavzAddict]

He forces us to push the pace. I don't mind it.

Get used to it. It's going to keep happening and thats a good thing.

I'd be fine with it if he could handle the damn ball. He turns it over to much.

 

[macbdog]

This pistons team is so much worst then our post LBJ years

The lineup they are running out there is, but this Pistons team has more talent on the DL than that Cavs team did.

 

[Dr. Claw]

With as shitty as this bench is, not forcing Green and Merrill into minutes to see what they have consistently is a crime. We can’t keep trotting out Stevens, Wade and Cedi and not see what the big 4 look like with a legit shooter

really should have happened when the Cavs went up 25+. There was at least the entire 4th or that to happen

 

[Cavatt]

With as shitty as this bench is, not forcing Green and Merrill into minutes to see what they have consistently is a crime. We can’t keep trotting out Stevens, Wade and Cedi and not see what the big 4 look like with a legit shooter

Don't really disagree with this, but one thing I think has become clear the past few games is that Stevens should really only play small ball 4. He is not a wing as far as I can tell. I also don't think he has been taken advantage of by any backup 4's. I really liked the toughness and switchability he has. I also like him posting up guards when he gets switched on him. He looks 1M times more comfy at the 4 than at the 3 or 2

 

[jjvors]

Six Cavs make the NBA Top 10 list! Is your favorite among them?