2019-20 Cavaliers Regular Season Thread

[Rich]

There's a lot of stuff. We pout too much when a pass isn't made or a shot is missed. We're short. Not particularly physical. And then we have TT who gives a lot of effort but also knows how to fake hustle. Such as diving in for an offensive rebound he knows he can't get, thus, excusing himself when he doesn't have to run back.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Lowe: Ten NBA things I like and don't like, including the Spurs' new threat

This week we highlight the bigs in Boston, a vulnerability in LA and a new dimension in San Antonio.

www.espn.com

7. Cleveland's horrid transition defense

The Cavs are a perfect storm of horrific transition defense: young guards who attack the rim, fall down when they miss, and don't yet know how to communicate scrambling back; corner shooters who slump their shoulders when those same guards don't pass them the ball; guys so thirsty for offensive rebounds, they run in from the 3-point arc to chase them in vain; and veteran big men who, let's say, aren't super-motivated to bust ass for a crappy team. Some players fall into two or three of those categories.

Cleveland gives up the most transition chances in the league, and the highest points per possession on those transition chances. That double is so terrible -- requiring so much sloth and incompetence -- I almost admire it. It takes real commitment to be this bad at getting back on defense.
When they do retreat on time -- when the odds are almost even -- they turn ho-hum semi-transition situations into full-on emergencies with bad gambles and dumb decisions.

Don’t know how to load the clip he used but it highlights everything Zach mentions. Garland takes an awful turnaround shot he air balls. Cedi and TT run from the three point line to the basket for an impossible rebound (McKinnie crashes too). Two passes later Zubac is dunking on Sexton with McKinnie making an effort at least to help and Garland, TT, Cedi are the last three players on both teams to get pass the half court line.

So true that our guards attack the rim and fall down a lot. When they miss the layup or get their shot blocked their momentum carries them over the endline where they usually end up on the floor, which means the opponent already has a 5-on-4 opportunity. When you factor in Love standing in the corner, well, now it's 5-on-3 because Love runs like he has five pounds of mud in each shoe.

There has to be an emphasis placed on the corner shooters sprinting to the other end as soon as the shot goes up. If somebody (like Thompson) is crashing the offensive glass and doesn't get the rebound he has to try and harass the rebounder to slow up the outlet pass.

Same thing when we shoot a corner three. The player in the opposite corner needs to sprint back on defense as soon as the shot is released with the assumption that the shot will miss and result in a long rebound and fast break. The shooter also needs to get moving and not stand there watching his shot; otherwise they will fast break even off a made basket.

This has to be Job One for Beilein until it gets fixed, and if that means more playing time for guys who are willing to run the floor and get back on defense like Nance and McKinnie then so be it.

 

[LeeBuckeye]

I’ve read multiple reports of bigs being told to get back on defense but the numbers tell a completely different story for Love and TT

Love: 0.8 ORB put 10.0 TRB (career low)
TT: 4.2 ORB out of 10.4 TRB (career high)

They’re utilized differently due to their varying skill sets but still interesting when you consider TT’s second highest season was last year with 4.0 ORB.

 

[daddywags]

It would help if our guards would take open threes instead of insisting on driving to the middle constantly. Short or tall, the guards have to be the first line of defense to slow up fast breaks. It's hard to do that from under the other basket.

 

[Jontibs]

It is probably going to be 2-3 years before Garland and Sexton are positive NBA players, they both have so much to learn and size problems to hold them back.

 

[CalBuckeyeRob]

Tristan was -32 tonight. It makes you wonder if he is just trying to get moved.

 

[Mr. Orange]

It is probably going to be 2-3 years before Garland and Sexton are positive NBA players, they both have so much to learn and size problems to hold them back.

These guys are 19 and 20 and were the 5th and 8th picks in the draft. The sure fire All-Stars are mostly taken 1-3, and then spread throughout later lottery. But if you are picking 8th, it’s not very likely you will find a star player.

The Cavs best bet is to tank and hope for a top 3 pick this year.

 

[Jontibs]

Tristan was -32 tonight. It makes you wonder if he is just trying to get moved.

Could you blame him?

What Vet who could help a contender wants to be on a team like this. He played with massive heart for much of the season, apathy might be setting in now.

 

[Mott the Hoople]

I'm really, really, getting tired of these results against other pathetic teams.
Time to make some moves. This roster is so flawed action should be taken as soon as possible

 

[DirtyDan]

I'm really, really, getting tired of these results against other pathetic teams.
Time to make some moves. This roster is so flawed action should be taken as soon as possible

I think Koby is trying but reality is setting in. TT, Love, and the rest of the veterans on this team are not really desirable. They have either bad contracts like Love, Henson, and Knight or require an extension in the offseason like TT.

There are better options in the trade market and besides maybe Portland, I don't think anyone is looking for expiring deals. The JR situation all over again.

Positive: They have a real shot at Wiseman or Edwards if they stay in the top 3. This team badly needs more top end talent. Hopefully they can turn some of these veterans into picks and fully hit the reset button in the offseason.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

The losses of Clarkson and Porter have really hurt this team, IMO. They were winning half their games against the sub-.500 teams until those two were injured or traded.

I'm thinking this team can't have success with their current setup of two small guards, two defensively challenged forwards, and an undersized center with a shooting range of five feet or less. They desparately need a big who can protect the rim and a scorer like LaVine or Beal who can bail them out when they start spiraling down the drain like they do every game in the second or third quarter.

Last night they were outscored 40-12 in the last 10:15 of the second quarter. The other 38 minutes they were +16. They need a scorer who can stop the bleeding.

The Cavs are last in the NBA in block percentage by a wide margin, which means they must also be last in shots altered in the paint. When LaVine got to the rim there was often a defender on him but he just elevated too high for his layup to be blocked or altered. Henson is the only guy who can force opponents to put a higher arc than they want on their layups and floaters, which results in missed shots even when the shot is not blocked.

Like Tristan said, teams find it too easy to get into the paint. What he didn't say was that once they're in the paint the Cavs can't stop them.

The Cavs are 29th in defensive efficiency, barely ahead of the Wizards. The Cavs can't go forward with a front line of Cedi, Love, and Thompson - it's too small and can't defend the rim. There's no length or leaping ability.

I also can't see them continuing to play Sexton and Garland together, especially against teams with tall, very skilled shooting guards like LaVine and Beal. Eventually it will probably be Garland and Porter starting with Sexton either coming off the bench in the Jordan Clarkson role or being traded.

The best case scenario probably involves Love and Thompson being traded and the Cavs drafting Wiseman, but that will take a friendly ping pong ball. Nance and Henson (re-signed) would play the 4 and back up Wiseman. Cedi and Windler would battle for playing time at the 3 with Garland and Porter at the 1 and 2. Sexton would be the 6th man. Exum would come off the bench as well. So the rotation would be Wiseman, Nance, Henson, Cedi, and Windler on the front line with Garland, Porter, Sexton and Exum in the back court. We would also have extra draft picks in the future from the Thompson and Love trades.

But we probably won't get the best case scenario. We won't find anybody to take Love and we won't get in position to draft Wiseman. In that case we're screwed for another couple of years unless we can sign Whiteside in free agency with the money freed up from Thompson, Delly, Henson, and Knight coming off the books.

 

[avs2000]

The losses of Clarkson and Porter have really hurt this team, IMO. They were winning half their games against the sub-.500 teams until those two were injured or traded.

I'm thinking this team can't have success with their current setup of two small guards, two defensively challenged forwards, and an undersized center with a shooting range of five feet or less. They desparately need a big who can protect the rim and a scorer like LaVine or Beal who can bail them out when they start spiraling down the drain like they do every game in the second or third quarter.

Last night they were outscored 40-12 in the last 10:15 of the second quarter. The other 38 minutes they were +16. They need a scorer who can stop the bleeding.

The Cavs are last in the NBA in block percentage by a wide margin, which means they must also be last in shots altered in the paint. When LaVine got to the rim there was often a defender on him but he just elevated too high for his layup to be blocked or altered. Henson is the only guy who can force opponents to put a higher arc than they want on their layups and floaters, which results in missed shots even when the shot is not blocked.

Like Tristan said, teams find it too easy to get into the paint. What he didn't say was that once they're in the paint the Cavs can't stop them.

The Cavs are 29th in defensive efficiency, barely ahead of the Wizards. The Cavs can't go forward with a front line of Cedi, Love, and Thompson - it's too small and can't defend the rim. There's no length or leaping ability.

I also can't see them continuing to play Sexton and Garland together, especially against teams with tall, very skilled shooting guards like LaVine and Beal. Eventually it will probably be Garland and Porter starting with Sexton either coming off the bench in the Jordan Clarkson role or being traded.

The best case scenario probably involves Love and Thompson being traded and the Cavs drafting Wiseman, but that will take a friendly ping pong ball. Nance and Henson (re-signed) would play the 4 and back up Wiseman. Cedi and Windler would battle for playing time at the 3 with Garland and Porter at the 1 and 2. Sexton would be the 6th man. Exum would come off the bench as well. So the rotation would be Wiseman, Nance, Henson, Cedi, and Windler on the front line with Garland, Porter, Sexton and Exum in the back court. We would also have extra draft picks in the future from the Thompson and Love trades.

But we probably won't get the best case scenario. We won't find anybody to take Love and we won't get in position to draft Wiseman. In that case we're screwed for another couple of years unless we can sign Whiteside in free agency with the money freed up from Thompson, Delly, Henson, and Knight coming off the books.

porter is a difference maker. He and sexton are yiyr starting backcourt. Garlands needs to develop and should be coming off the bench paired with mckinnie who is growing on me

mckinnie needs signed

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

I like McKinnie but he's strictly a 3 and next year we'll have Cedi, who was signed to the long term deal, and Windler, who is a first round pick Beilein has consistently spoken highly of. McKinnie has been playing on 10-day contracts. I think he's a legitimate NBA player, but we already are committed to a couple of young 3's.

 

[bigdog123]

He's versatile enough to play multiple positions... our best defender of point guards.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

He's versatile enough to play multiple positions... our best defender of point guards.

Yeah, I'd like to see him retained but I don't know if he'll want to be here if he has to compete with Windler and Cedi at the 3 and Sexton, Exum, and Porter at the 2. He might want a bigger role than a situational defensive stopper.

By the way, Beilein complimented Porter's defense yesterday. We're stuck with Exum's contract for another year and his calling card is perimeter defense.

OTOH, Beilein said McKinnie is the best "runner" on the team. He also jumps out of the gym and gets more rebounds than you would expect from a guy that skinny. He can also knock down 3's if he can set his feet and shoot in rhythm. He's got some useful skills.