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RCF Recap: Cavs outpace Pacers, 120-109
Game Summary The Cavs are still searching for a game when they put it all together from start to finish. They controlled the game for most of the game, and Darius Garland's return had the offense buzzing and the team looking back to its normal self. Then, the offense hit a slog in the 4th quarter, which required a Garland return to which looked like it caused a reggravation of his toe. But then down the stretch it was a Garland finish at the rim, kick out for a De'Andre Hunter spot-up three and an Evan Mobley finish around the rim. Just like old times, just not all the time tonight. By the Numbers 142.4: Offensive rating with Darius Garland on the floor 91.5: Offensive rating with Darius Garland off the floor 37.5%: Percentage of shots...
Wham's Game Preview #17: Cavs vs Pacers
Game Preview The Cavs stay home for a Friday night tiff against the Indiana Pacers, who have fallen a long way from their NBA Finals appearance last spring. First Tyrese Haliburton blew out his Achilles, then Myles Turner left in free agency. Since the start of this season they lost Aaron Nesmith (15.5 ppg) and Obi Toppin (14 pts, 7 rebounds) to major injuries. As a result the Pacers stagger into town with a 2-13 record. They lost eight in a row before beating 4-10 Charlotte on Wednesday. It doesn’t appear that they are in any position to give the Cavs a battle, so they’ll probably win this game. Quenton Jackson, averaging 12 ppg, is a game time decision. For the Cavs it’s been reported that Darius Garland is “real close” to playing...
Wham's Game Preview #16: Cavs vs Rockets
Game Preview After a late 4th quarter win over the depleted Bucks (sans Giannis) the Cavs get a day off before hosting the red hot Houston Rockets. The Athletic’s Tuesday power poll has the Rockets 4th. Their comment: After a 0-2 start, the Rockets have won 9 of 10. They’re just thoroughly overwhelming on the glass, which makes up for whatever ball-handling loss they have with VanVleet out for the season. Houston is getting quite thin, as forward Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle) hasn’t debuted yet, while forward Tari Eason (oblique) is probably out until winter. Thin or not the Rockets are on a roll. Cleaning the Glass has them 2nd to OKC in point differential in non-garbage time at +13.0. The Cavs are 10th at +4.1. Kenny said after the...
RCF Recap: Cavs hunt down Bucks, 118-106
Game Summary Kenny said it after the game: This isn't the type of game that will go into the Hall of Fame but the Cavs have the type of talent where they can still eek games out. The game was really Giannis and post-Giannis. He went out with a groin injury mid way through the game and never returned. The Bucks were tied 49-49 at that point and finished a -12 for the game. Mitchell was active with his scoring profile but the game isn't the game it is without role players like Lonzo Ball, Craig Porter Jr, Sam Merrill and Thomas Bryant all making timely contributions. By the Numbers 47.2%: The Bucks came in as the 2nd best 3P% team in the league while the Cavs ranked 25th 38.6%: The Bucks FG% on shots inside the arc 18: Turnovers by the...
Wham's Game Preview #15: Cavs vs Bucks
Game Preview The Cavs stay home to take on the Milwaukee Bucks after a come-from-behind 4th quarter win over the Grizzlies, who have now lost 8 of their last 9. It was not a pretty win. I thought tonight we were going to come out with much, much more energy. We didn’t...cognitively, we weren’t there. We’ve gotta get our juice back - KA The Cavs are shooting 30% on 3’s over their last four games, a sample size of 193 attempts. In terms of energy, intensity, and 3-point shooting the Cavs have not impressed recently. The Bucks are 8-6 overall and 3-3 on the road. The Cavs are 5-2 at home and beat the Bucks in Game 3 in Cleveland by a 118-113 score. The Cavs should have the same players available for Monday’s game with the possible...
Wham's Game Preview #14: Cavs vs Grizzlies
Game Preview After playing 3 games in 4 days the Cavs get a day off at home before hosting the Memphis Grizzlies. This will be their first game of the season against a Western Conference team. Memphis is 4-9 overall and has been in a tailspin recently, losing 7 of their last 8 with the lone win coming at home against the 4-9 Mavericks. The Grizzlies are 1-4 on the road. Their point differential is -7.9 which ranks 25th. Ja Morant is averaging 19 points and 8 assists, but he’s shooting a horrid 35% from the field and 17% on 3’s. He’s only 26 and a perennial All-Star when healthy, but he’s only played in 59 games the last two years combined. I wonder if the injuries are starting to take their toll on the 174-pound point guard. He’s...
RCF Recap: Cavs fall flat to Raptors, 113-126
Game Summary Is the Miami or Toronto championship effort? The regular season has its place, and the Cavs have deemed it their experimental lab, but the baseline for tweaking their process should be effort and focus. Yes, the Cavs were coming off a back-to-back. Yes, they're in a tight window of games. But, they have a deep bench. And if they have championship aspirations, the effort cannot be option or be the flip of a switch, it has to be consistent. Toronto has played well recently and are beginning to gel but this is not the team at home they should have faced two losses to in a span of several games. Not if the Cavs want to get to where they want to get to. A disappointing loss all the way around. By the Numbers 10:46: Mark in...
Wham's Game Preview #13: Cavs vs Raptors
Game Preview Fresh off an improbable bench win over the Heat which saw guys like Luke Travers, Nae'Qwan Tomlin, and Tyrese Proctor getting 4th quarter minutes, the Cavs take the long flight to Cleveland for their second game of the season against the Toronto Raptors, who had Wednesday off. The Raptors started 1-4 but are 5-1 since with wins over Milwaukee by 28, Memphis by 13, and Atlanta by 12. Two weeks ago they beat the Cavs in Cleveland 112-101...
RCF Recap: Cavs (t)roll Heat, 130-116
Game Summary No Darius Garland. No Donovan Mitchell. No Jaylon Tyson. No Evan Mobley. No problem? The pesky Cavs hung around just long enough to make it a game and put the bench put the game away several minutes into the second half as they ended the game on a 52-24 run over the last 16 minutes of play. Led by Craig Porter Jr, every bench player posted a double digit positive plus-minus with the exception of Larry Nance Jr (+3). What looked to be a scheduling loss, turned into a galvanizing win. By the Numbers 69 to 47: Miami's first half point total to the second half point total 121.5: The Cavs oRTG without the missing pieces above +18: FTA differential favoring the Cavs, a night after they were on the other end of the disparity 15...
Thread 'How Four Factors Factored Into Cavalier Success (And Failure)'
What factor(s) define winning in the NBA? For Dean Oliver, one of the forefathers of analytics in the NBA, it comes down to four factors: 40% - Shooting efficiency measured by effective field goal percentage (eFG%). Formula: (FGM + 0.5 x 3PM) / FGA. This accounts for 3PMs being worth more than 2PMs. 25% - Turnovers measured by turnover rate (TOV%). Formula: TOV / (FGA x 0.44 x FTA + TOV). This evaluates how many possessions end in a turnover. 20% - Offensive rebounding measured by...
Thread 'From Garland to Harden: For Better or For Worse?'
Deadlines inspire action. The 2026 offseason was set to be the pivot point -- Donovan Mitchell’s player option would be a year away; Jarrett Allen’s three-year extension would kick in and his salary would jump to $28M; Darius Garland would be extension eligible; it might have been the first year in the 2nd Apron which starts the draft pick penalty clock; and the Cavs would be coming off a fourth playoff run with the core four confirming its stature as boom or bust. From there, the Cavs and...
Thread 'Deep Dive: The Fit & Finances of Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis'
THE Trade THE Financials There are a talent component and a financial component, and both are drivers for this deal. The apron era has forced teams to be quicker in their decision making in that they literally, and figuratively, cannot afford to wait around. Teams can spend time, and money, in the apron era when play and production permit. But when play and production don’t align with the finances, apron penalties and restrictions have forced teams to be more critical what and on...
Thread 'Evaluating A New Dean Wade Contract'
As each Cavalier contract is up the question always is: What are they worth? RealCavsFans has developed a methodology over the years to project contracts based on comparable players and their deals on the open market. Next up: Dean Wade. Previous Years Evaluating a new Caris LeVert contract Evaluating a new Ty Jerome contract Evaluating a new Sam Merrill contract Evaluating a new Isaac Okoro contract In President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman’s end-of-year press conference...
Thread 'RCF's 2026 Trade Deadline Guide'
Deadline day is approaching. February 5 at 3PM(ET) is when pens and pencils have to be down and teams can no longer make transactions with one another. The buyout market will be open but the trade market will be closed. Since the core four was formed, President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman has gone through three trade deadlines. He's made just one deadline trade over that time period -- the De'Andre Hunter move last deadline. Prior to the core four, Altman had made a trade by the...
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