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Game Thread | 2021-2022 Season | Game #25 | Cavs @ Bucks | Dec. 6, 2022 | 8:00 p.m.

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Hard to win when your "shooting" guards combine for 3-17, and 1-11 from 3.

We needed Cedi to show us that Okoro was getting too many minutes, but instead, he reverted to 2020-21 Cedi, where he would shoot 1-8 from 3 and take us out of games on the reg. I sure hope he's not back to his old self. If he is, it might be time to give Stevens more burn, at the 2.

Markk, Allen, and Love tried to keep us in it, but could not overcome such awful play by our guards.

Bucks killed us on the boards, too.
Weird 4th from Cedi. 3 huge steals that kept us in it, but 4 missed 3’s that kept us from closing the gap.
 
The Cavs were right there at 98-96 with 7:07 left but they went cold and couldn't score for over three minutes. Meanwhile, the Bucks Big Three took over. It was Holiday with a 3, Middleton back-to-back 2's, and Giannis with 7 points to close out the game. The Cavs scored only 8 points in the last 7 minutes.

The Cavs missed 31 three-pointers. It was the worst exhibition of shooting I've seen from them this year, not to mention a lot of missed layups. They still only lost by 8.

Cedi was 1-for-8 on 3's. He was mercilessly abused on defense. So was Rubio.

Okoro was useless; in 18 minutes he had no points, 3 rebounds, no assists, and a -20. Offensively the Cavs were playing 4-on-5 when he was on the floor. JBB went with Stevens in the second half and Lamar responded with 6 points and 3 rebounds in 11 minutes and a +1. I honestly think Stevens is the better player but the Cavs are still trying to justify Okoro's draft position.

Jrue Holiday kicked Garland's butt in the point guard matchup. Holiday had 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists while Garland had 10, 3, and 9. Garland was only 3-for-12 from the field while Jrue was 9-for-15.

Love had a solid game with a line of 15/4/3 in 19 minutes.

It was basically even with 7 minutes to go but Holiday, Middleton, and Giannis took over while the Cavs were missing shots, in some cases in an embarassing way. Wide open shots were missing the rim or grazing it. Fatigue may have been a factor as they were playing their third game in four nights. For the game the Cavs hit only 39% of their shots. They did have 27 assists to 9 turnovers, so that looks good.

The Cavs are still learning how to close out games against strong teams. They couldn't do it against Utah or Milwaukee, but the fact that they were in those games down to the final couple of minutes (or seconds) shows how much progress they've made.
 
I'd just kill for a way to get an average starting shooting guard here.

I don't know how to make it happen.

I'm obviously willing to move Okoro at this point for a bag of chips, but even then a league average shooting guard is making like 15 million a year and we don't have the contracts to make it work.

And if they aren't making that, if they're making less than that, then they aren't being traded as they're underpaid and at that point valuable.
Isn’t $15 million per what Markk is making? Trade Markk for a 2, start Wade, Stevens, or Cedi at the 3, until we draft one in June. Have Sexton come off the bench next year. Unload Love’s contract next year. Use the money to sign a free agent. Championship.
 
I'd just kill for a way to get an average starting shooting guard here.

I don't know how to make it happen.

I'm obviously willing to move Okoro at this point for a bag of chips, but even then a league average shooting guard is making like 15 million a year and we don't have the contracts to make it work.

And if they aren't making that, if they're making less than that, then they aren't being traded as they're underpaid and at that point valuable.

You got add Sexton to Okoro for salary and added value. My fave would be Trent Jr from the Raps. He's only 22 and makes 16 mil this year. I'd even add a pick to get it done and have the SG taken care of for years.
 
The fact that the Cavs kept storming back when down double digits is a good sign.
I like that Lamar Stevens is making the most out of his 9th man minutes.
I really like that Lauri Markannen is maximizing his defensive effort out there.
I really, really like what Cedi is doing with his minutes. He keeps picking people's pockets and creating opportunities.

I think part of the problem on offense is scheme, but yes... there are some personnel weaknesses as well.

Ideally, Rubio comes in relief of Garland, not to play alongside him. Having him as a shooting guard and without the ball is just plain weird.
But there is no semblance of reliable shooting, even from the starters.
I wish the Cavs had a "Middleton".
(and also Sexton playing but that's besides the point)

Someone to go ahead of Cedi, that can be on the floor for those minutes currently held by Okoro (because defense -- the DRTG IS up when he's on the floor).

This is not a tanking season, not with the at least (in print) accolades the Cavs are getting, and the way they are fighting against teams much better than they are. But let's hope the Cavs can somehow score a shooting wing in this draft. Let's hope Koby has his clipboards in order.

Getting one out of a trade may take an act of the Rockets Front Office like what happened with the Harden deal. FA? Cavs have to make a huge impression and get people away from going to teams like the Lakers, Golden Piss, and Brooklyn (among others). Not counting on that.
 
It was that tonight I'll say.

JBB had to sub him out for Stevens because he was getting picked on defensively.

Middleton went right by him. Next play, he doesn't fight through a screen and Middleton gets Garland.

Does it again and JBB then has to take him out.
Nah. He only rested when he absolutely had to - played 34 minutes on a 2nd night of a back-to-back (3rd highest on the team). Definitely can't go higher than that. If anything, I'd have limited his minutes to 30 to preserve some energy for this coming week. We have a lot of games. Obviously that wasn't possible since we desperately needed Lauri's shooting today.
 
Weird 4th from Cedi. 3 huge steals that kept us in it, but 4 missed 3’s that kept us from closing the gap.
Cedi looks a little off after missing three games. In his last four games before his back acted up he was 15-for-31 on three-point shots. He was on a roll. Since returning to the lineup he is 3-for-13 in two games. He's missing uncontested 3's that he was knocking down before. He also blew a couple of driving layups last night.

Hopefully he'll get his rhythm back against Chicago.
 
That's not true at all. Rubio was getting abused last night.

They all got hammered. The Bucks are one of the most physical teams in the league. They almost have an Indiana philosophy of foul you ever time.

I never would have thought at the beginning of the year losing a close one to the NBA champs where nobody could hit an open shot would have people losing their minds.
 
Isn’t $15 million per what Markk is making? Trade Markk for a 2, start Wade, Stevens, or Cedi at the 3, until we draft one in June. Have Sexton come off the bench next year. Unload Love’s contract next year. Use the money to sign a free agent. Championship.
Yeah, because it's that easy..
 
They all got hammered. The Bucks are one of the most physical teams in the league. They almost have an Indiana philosophy of foul you ever time.

I never would have thought at the beginning of the year losing a close one to the NBA champs where nobody could hit an open shot would have people losing their minds.
Jrue Holiday is a very good ( and physical) defender.. He wore down Brooks in the ship series last year.. Cavs were not just missing shots. The Bucks can turn up the heat for short bursts.. which by the way is exactly what we did to start the fourth..

I think JBB knows that this team can lock your ass down for any five to ten minute stretch, but also knows 8 guys don't have the gas to sustain that level of effort..We usually start off defending, then if it's not a blowout, we work hard enough to stay close, then clamp down in Q4.. That pacing has brought us darn close with two top teams..

Our guys will get better at this through the year, and come playoffs will be the draw nobody wants..
 

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