Game Thread | 2022-23 Season | Game #3 | Wizards @ Cavs | Oct. 23, 2022

Smooth said:

His +37 leads the team this year..

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Cedi was plus 41 last night alone.

Could really feel the lack of a PG out there tonight. Team assist total was very low and when things got tough, the default seemed to be dialing up another pick and roll with DG/Caris looking to score. Also, I'm not a fan of these small/small P&Rs when you have two bigs on the floor. Seems sub-optimal to have both Allen and Mobley spaced out in the corner/dunker spot.

Bob_The_Cat said:

The rest of the post has nothing to do with the bolded. You could at least tag me lol

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Oh no. It has everything to do with it.

because often, the very rational take runs opposite of the hyper-fanatic take.

If I don't immediately hop on board with the hot new player or coach before giving it a chance to breath? Pessimist.

Rich said:

You thought nothing like this before the first three games.

You had a pretty low opinion of Lauri.

A zero opinion of Agbaji.


Now three games in, that's all changed?


Ehhhhhhhhhh seems suspect.

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You’re actually wrong because right when we traded Lauri I complained. Nice try though. I’ve defended him for a long time now while Cavs fans harped on him.

And Mobley I started to get a lower opinion on as last year progressed. He suffers from a lot of the issues JJJ does.

RubioFanLifer said:

Surprised they pulled it off in the OT. They looked out of gas and with DC having the momentum.

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Washington was tired too. They missed all those free throws in OT.

This team won scrappy all year last year. They’ve come out in the first 3 games, with a superstar but missing an All Star PG, and people are disappointed with the scrappy wins lol

These team is so fun. Reminds me of the 09 Cavs vibe but with more than 1 good player lol

red. said:

View attachment 12785

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It’s weird how this became a thing, but it’s kinda cute how they take a group junkyard dog photo after every win.

In regards to the bigs not being very involved in the offense, I think that will get much better once DG comes back and guys get more used to playing together. There are a bunch of open rolls and pocket passes that aren't being converted right now- Caris and Donovan can both pass pretty well, but they're looking to score whenever they get downhill on the pick. Once we get DG back and the offense starts to flow, the ball should find both of them much more.

I just hope Mobley didn't sprain that ankle again; both he and Allen don't look quite in NBA game shape yet, with Mobley being farther away, and any ankle sprain just delays that even more.

Rich said:

Oh no. It has everything to do with it.

because often, the very rational take runs opposite of the hyper-fanatic take.

If I don't immediately hop on board with the hot new player or coach before giving it a chance to breath? Pessimist.

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What I mean is Mobley not getting Giannis’ body in one offseason isn’t a contrarian or pessimistic take. It might not even be possible in the first place. Have no idea what you’re referring to in the last sentence.

Neto should play power forward. He's a tank. Mini Lebron.

Bob_The_Cat said:

Mobley just seems to get stuck in no-man’s land offensively and it looks awkward as hell. He almost just needs to commit to developing jumper or trying to dunk on everyone because right now he’s stuck somewhere in between.

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I think Mobley's ideal developmental path is as a secondary creator at the elbow.

We're going to have to wait and see if that is possible with this backcourt.

All4One1ForAll said:

I don’t think Mobley is going to be as superhuman as people here expect. His frame is an issue and his skills have a long long way to go. I think it’s very possible Lauri + Ochai + 2 unprotected picks + 2 pick swaps turns out to be better than just Mobley. Guess we’ll see who’s right in a few years.

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His frame is an issue and skills have a long way to go? He’s 20..21 years old. Was a one and done kid.


Lauri Markannen is in his like 6th season and there’s still not much evidence he affects winning and losing over a large sample size. In no universe will him, Agbaji, and some late firsts and swaps that won’t even get used because of where the picks will be, ever be worth Mobley. We could have probably gotten Kevin fuckin Durant if we wanted to put Evan Mobley on the table he’s a top 6-8 trade asset in the entire league. Most Young bigs of his ilk don’t start becoming difference making offensive players for 4…5…6 years and they never usually make the difference he made in year 1 defensively.

That can be your opinion if you want it to be but I suggest you back away from the keyboard.

Is this going to be a fun season or what????

Yeah, I thought they were cooked after Mitchell missed the bunny at the rim and then got his pocket picked twice. Second night of a BTB, playing 45 minutes, no wonder he was gassed at the end of the 4th. I figured the Wizards would dominate the OT with DM exhausted.

Wrong. They played intense defense and smoked the Wizards 14-4 in OT. Donovan was awesome - scoring, getting a huge steal, and playing great D. Very impressive, and so was LeVert, who had a big bucket and an assist to Allen.

The Wizards shot 49.4% from the field and 42.9% from deep. Normally with those numbers it's an easy win. But the Cavs killed them on the glass 48-35, and especially on the offensive glass (16-4). They forced 18 turnovers while giving up 13, and they made 22 of 25 free throws while Washington only attempted 15, making just 9.

Cedi has been a huge surprise. Okoro is starting but Cedi had 32 minutes to 20 for Isaac and it was like that last night as well.

Dean Wade was a +19 in 21 minutes and got more court time than Love tonight. JBB saw that things were working when Wade was on the floor and went with the hot hand.

Mobley had an off night offensively but he did hit four big free throws down the stretch. He needs to lose the running left-handed hook shot.

The bench chipped in with 43 points. Lopez and Neto were both +8. This team is so deep and will get even deeper when Garland and Rubio are back.

We don't need to see the lineup that started the 4th quarter again. It was Mitchell and four slow white guys; Lopez, Wade, Love, and Cedi. I could see there would be a problem getting off good shots. The Wizards outscored the Cavs 8-3 in a minute and a half. JBB went to his bench.

This team is only going to get better.