Let it all out. The Cavaliers Rant Thread

MIAMI — The Cavs hit rock bottom Sunday night.


Embarrassed by the Miami Heat, 121-84, Cleveland suffered its third straight loss and fourth in the last five games. This was, by far, the ugliest of the year — its most-lopsided defeat, even less competitive than the 33-point margin against Miami in late November.


Sunday was supposed to be an exciting night in Miami. Not just because it was the finale of the popular and untamed Ultra Music Festival that took over much of downtown. - lol

But because it was the return of young forward Evan Mobley.


Apparently, Mobley can’t fix all of the team’s current problems. There are too many.



Mobley scored the first points of the game — a smooth 3-pointer from the left wing. That was the Cavs’ first, last, and only lead of the night. They got clobbered the rest of the way, trailing for 46 total minutes, by as many as 45.

This wasn’t just an off night. It wasn’t solely about missing star guard Donovan Mitchell (nasal fracture and knee bruise), Max Strus (knee strain) and Dean Wade (knee soreness) — although that trio would’ve helped.

It was an uncharacteristic and unacceptable top-to-bottom no-show.



No heart or effort. Missed layups. Comical turnovers (three of them in the first five possessions). Absurd fouls. An inability to solve the Heat zone. Baffling lineups. Abysmal body language. An overall nonchalance against a no-nonsense opponent that outclassed them in every way, sending another clear message with the playoffs just weeks away. The Cavs looked distracted and exhausted.

By the end of a listless first half, they trailed by 21 points. It only got worse from there.



After Miami opened the third quarter on an 11-5 run, Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff pulled all five of his starters — Darius Garland, Caris LeVert, Isaac Okoro, Jarrett Allen and Mobley, wanting to save their legs on the first game of a back-to-back. The only one who re-entered was Mobley, as he clearly needs game reps and conditioning work following a nine-game absence because of an ankle injury.



Cleveland scored a season-low 84 points on 41.7% shooting and 31% from 3-point range. Only one starter — Mobley — hit the double-digit scoring mark. He finished with a team-high 15 points on 4 of 6 shooting, 2 of 2 from beyond the arc and 5 of 6 from the foul line in 21 minutes.



The balanced Heat, playing without Jaime Jacquez Jr., Kevin Love and Tyler Herro, had seven players in double-digits. Swingman Haywood Highsmith poured in a game-high 18 points off the bench. Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo had 15 apiece. Miami scored 35 points off Cleveland’s 17 turnovers. It finished plus-14 on the glass. Had 29 assists on 43 made shots.



The Cavs didn’t have answers. For anything.



With 10 games remaining, this group that considers itself an Eastern Conference contender suddenly has some soul-searching to do. Can the Cavs regroup and pick themselves back up?

Up next​

The Cavs will return home for the second game of a back-to-back against the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

My money is on Dan cleaning house by end of season. Bye Kobe and Bye JBB. Could happen sooner.

southsiderwp said:

I’m starting to the we bring everyone back for a lame duck season, only to tear it down and rebuild two.

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Rebuild with what?

After June 2024 Utah controls our next 5 drafts.

Just a colossal fail by Koby.

Any GM is going to have their flaws -- there's no perfect GM..

I was once anti-Koby but think for the most part he's done a good job acquiring and identifying talent, and establishing a talent pipeline to building out cost effective role players..

The current coaching situation is a large blemish on his record but I'd like to see him hire another head coach before shuffling through another shakeup..

If he is that tied to the hip and isn't willing to make the necessary move, then that's a recipe for an new FO too..

Guys, we don't have our pick until 2030. It is why I say the most likely course is to trade a soon to be FA disgruntled Mitchell for a C/3 guy at wing. Sign Mobley to his next contract, resign Okoro and get a new coach in here and see what he can do. My guess a perennial play in team is most likely, but if Evan develops, a step up wouldn't surprise me to perennial playoff team who can't quite get to the finals. We are stuck with our draftees and the faster you accept it, the better you will feel.

I am ready for them to let Koby go.

He's going to hire his own guy while most likely being on the hot seat next season. It's a recipe for disaster if a new coach cannot help these guys get their shit together.

He helped create a bad situation. If there's an executive they like available this off-season, I would not hold back.

DirtyDan said:

I am ready for them to let Koby go.

He's going to hire his own guy while most likely being on the hot seat next season. It's a recipe for disaster if a new coach cannot help these guys get their shit together.

He helped create a bad situation. If there's an executive they like available this off-season, I would not hold back.

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Not how Gilbert works. More likely Gansey takes over, probably may happen anyway.

Cement said:

Rebuild with what?

After June 2024 Utah controls our next 5 drafts.

Just a colossal fail by Koby.

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This is why you don’t assume you’re loaded with all-stars already based on the untested potential of young players and decide the draft will be useless for you for the rest of the decade. Turns out predicting the future is hard.

Futuredome said:

Guys, we don't have our pick until 2030. It is why I say the most likely course is to trade a soon to be FA disgruntled Mitchell for a C/3 guy at wing. Sign Mobley to his next contract, resign Okoro and get a new coach in here and see what he can do. My guess a perennial play in team is most likely, but if Evan develops, a step up wouldn't surprise me to perennial playoff team who can't quite get to the finals. We are stuck with our draftees and the faster you accept it, the better you will feel.

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Since when has this been the case?

I'm not one to pin hopes on unlikely events but this is Cleveland and 2016 did happen... The Miami Heat were about to lose to the Chicago Bulls and made a run last year.. Cavs have the talent, and at this point I just want to see a healthy-ish team in the playoffs..

But, even if things don't go the way most of most of us hope in the playoffs there's still a small window they have this off-season... Hire the right coach, make the right roster adjustments (which isn't much), see what this core looks like with both, and go from there.. Sure if the right deal comes along for a core piece you make it, but I have a hard time believing that's the case.

I really don't think this team is as far as they're currently showing... They're much closer to the run team then they are the runs team.. And as we've all seen, coaching matters.. That's why so much of the offseason is on finding the right coach... The cracks showing are less about the core and more about the weak support system around them..

Any extreme moves are likely to be made next trade deadline or next, next off-season -- not this offseason.. The Cavs aren't in the market of taking talent losses, and the team cannot be wrong on Mobley, and to a lesser extent, on Garland.. That's why you change the coach before you change the core..

ticon12389 said:

Ive written off this season as a lost cause and a quick first round exit. It is what it is. Just gotta hope they get a good coach here next year who can fix Mobley and Garland and hopefully Mitchell doesn’t ask out.

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And I kinda have too which is why I dont gripe anymore. I blew my load awhile back. Posters that continue to spew frustration tells me they still have hope. I surrendered that premise eons ago. It is what it is and I have accepted it. I still am a fan and root 4 the best and brace myself 4 the worst. I guess the way to survive the wrath on this board is to let your farts out slowly and constantly than to have a few sharts then be gas free. My flatulent days are over cuz Im on a different diet of acceptance.GO CAVS

Futuredome said:

I disagree with both. Mitchell won't work as the sole point guard than Garland. Teams adjust and you need different skill sets.

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Sole starting PG, which is pretty much what every team in the NBA has.

Altman ain't going no where.

This team was amongst the very best, where its talent clicked like gang-busters.

It just so happens it happened when JBB was forced to do the opposite of what he wanted.

To me that is a clear indication that: 1) The Cavs have a nice collection of talent, with a good deep bench, though perhaps too much talent at the top that it doesn't fit, and 2) Their coach sucks so bad the team literally does better when he can't be him.

Altman has also uncovered some nice gems from the scrap heap; proper role players and even starters. He is not the issue.

How was the Miami trip?

—- got free anal.

Cool!

—- not really

redruM said:

And I kinda have too which is why I dont gripe anymore. I blew my load awhile back. Posters that continue to spew frustration tells me they still have hope. I surrendered that premise eons ago. It is what it is and I have accepted it. I still am a fan and root 4 the best and brace myself 4 the worst. I guess the way to survive the wrath on this board is to let your farts out slowly and constantly than to have a few sharts then be gas free. My flatulent days are over cuz Im on a different diet of acceptance.GO CAVS

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I have no idea what any of this means but am fascinated at the same time..

Sounds like you and the Cavs may have a lot more in common than you realize: They blew their load too early and shit on the floor when it really mattered..