2020-2021 Cavs Season General Discussion

[RchfldCavRaised]

What did Allen say? I need to start watching the media pressers after the game.

I'll search once I'm off this work call. It was posted here by @kidduck

 

[daddywags]

Do you watch the games or just watch stats? It’s quite obvious to those who watch, Sexton does not look to pass the ball unless he’s in dire need. Was it last game where Sexton shot the ball eight straight times before even passing the ball to anyone else? Do people think PGs only assist? Sexton does not have the handle to break down a defender nor does he have the vision for passing. His proper role is a scoring guard. I mean... have we not seen how Sexton played with Hill, Exum and Delly? Sexton is not a PG. he’s a scoring guard who looks for his shot first and pass second. Garland set players up for good looks. It’s time to put players in their natural position and watch them blossom from there.

I watch the games. I've watched the Cavs since their inaugural season. I guess I'm just not as smart as most of the folks around here. It's my cross to bear.

 

[red.]

Here’s another angle @RchfldCavRaised was talking about.

 

[2 For The Brew]

I watch the games. I've watched the Cavs since their inaugural season. I guess I'm just not as smart as most of the folks around here. It's my cross to bear.

I’m also a long time although only back to 1976.

From my viewing of the games Sexton does drop some dimes but my eyes are old.

 

[avs2000]

Well, it appears the picture is clearing up now that the decision has been made to move on from Drummond and I think it's accepted that this year is all about building for the future and not going for a playoff spot.

“It’s a clear picture, right? Like, now you understand what’s in front of you,” Bickerstaff said. “And now you have to figure out how to make the best of it. Before you’re trying to ping pong to make sure that everybody gets an opportunity."

The Cavs were a different team with Drummond on the floor than with Allen as the two are completely different players. The Cavs were, as JBB said, ping-ponging within each game every time one replaced the other. It was almost like they were running two different offenses and every 5-8 minutes they had to flip a switch.

Now the Cavs can focus on the rotation and the offense that will be part of the core for next season. That would be Allen, Love, Nance, Okoro, Windler, Sexton and Garland. Prince, Dotson, and Cedi could be role players. The rest of the season is all about laying the groundwork for the future and giving the core pieces as much playing time as possible.

With Drummond's $29 million contract expiring the Cavs will be in a position to sign one good starter in the off-season, even after matching any offer for Allen or simply signing him to a long term deal. They should also be in position to get a lottery pick and add another young piece to the core group.

What the Cavs need most, IMO, is a skilled, high-scoring 6'7-6'8" wing who can hit 3's, take it strong to the hole, and defend the 3-point shot. Someone like a Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler, Jason Tatum, or Jeremi Grant, or Khris Middleton. Hopefully they can get a player in the draft that can develop into that kind of player.

They also need a taller shooting guard. Looking at the NBA scoring leaders for shooting guards, the leading Cavalier is Dotson at #48. The Cavs do not have a starting caliber shooting guard; they are playing two point guards and the third guard is Dotson. Their shooting guard was supposed to be Porter, but oh well.

If they sign or draft a quality power forward they can have a domino effect where Nance moves to the 3 and Okoro to the 2. Unfortunately, both of them are offensively challenged. Another possibility is Windler playing the 2 if he can develop a better 3-point shot.

So the plan is to sign the best player they can in free agency with the Drummond savings and hopefully get a top five draft pick. Just get the two biggest talents they can as long as they aren't point guards or centers and fit everyone in around them. In the meantime, identify the core and give them all the minutes they can handle.

The Cavs currently have the fourth-worst winning percentage and are a couple of losses away from the second-worst. A top three draft pick is realistic.

They could improve in the second half, and should, now that they aren't ping-ponging between Allen and Drummond. At some point, if they ever get both Nance and Love suited up at the same time, their power forward situation will improve dramatically. At the moment Dotson and Wade are the only shooting guard and power forward in uniform. They've got a point guard starting at the 2 and various 3's playing the 4 most of the game.

Even if they start winning some games against the weaker Eastern Conference teams after getting Love and Nance back they should still be in a position to get a top five draft pick. The Drummond savings should get them a very good starter. So add those two to the core group they have and put everybody in their correct position and take it from there.

It’s really not a bad core. Especially if the address needs with draft and a fa It’s just these last 6 games were so ugly

 

[RchfldCavRaised]

Here you go @red.

About Allen:

Really great and insightful interview. Really good awareness of where the team needs to improve and what happened last night. More importantly, VERY good leadership with how he takes accountability before giving criticism/asks for accountability from Sexton. He repeats many times "I need to do better, I need to be better, I can do more"

Also, very blunt and honest. (Ill paraphrase) "There was a few plays at the end of the half, probably 3 or more that Sexton didnt do what he was supposed to do, but I didnt have to blow up on him like that. We're all capable of doing more and I'm frustrated that we're not doing it on this long road trip"

 

[OptimusPrime]

I watch the games. I've watched the Cavs since their inaugural season. I guess I'm just not as smart as most of the folks around here. It's my cross to bear.

Garland is a much better passer than Sexton, and when he's on the floor, Garland should have the ball more and attempt to make plays for other guys or just get the ball moving.

But the idea that Sexton doesn't pass or even look to pass is wrong too. He doesn't have great vision, but he is improving. If anything, I think a lot of times he gets into the paint looking to pass, but when the defense stays on the big or crashes down on him from the non shooting wings, he ends up having to take all of those floaters. He just needs to figure out other ways to attack. Coaching him up would be a novel idea.

And finally, even if Garland should be initiating the offense more often than Sexton or anyone else on the roster, that doesn't mean no one else ever does so. Not even LeBron initiates every play the Lakers run. Even in the 80s when every position was more strictly defined and you had all time great point guards like Stockton and Isiah and Magic, the point guard didn't initiate every play. Every team needs multiple guys to do it on the floor at the same time. Sexton is getting better at it. Garland has a whole host of things he needs to get better at too. They're 22 and 21 years old respectively. They'll figure it out.

I'm more interested in seeing how they play with some NBA caliber power forwards. They seemed to do pretty well earlier in the year when they had one.

 

[ansatsusha80]

I didn't even see that during the game. That's what everyone was so fired up about? That was nothing.

I didn't see the game either but that video doesn't tell the whole story..Sexton fucked up by not communicating with Allen on the switch. Sexton is my guy but he needs to open his mouth in that situation.

 

[Green Lantern]

Here you go @red.

About Allen:

Really great and insightful interview. Really good awareness of where the team needs to improve and what happened last night. More importantly, VERY good leadership with how he takes accountability before giving criticism/asks for accountability from Sexton. He repeats many times "I need to do better, I need to be better, I can do more"

Also, very blunt and honest. (Ill paraphrase) "There was a few plays at the end of the half, probably 3 or more that Sexton didnt do what he was supposed to do, but I didnt have to blow up on him like that. We're all capable of doing more and I'm frustrated that we're not doing it on this long road trip"

And he's right..the one play Sexton should not have tried that pass to him when he was being covered as he was.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

This is his second year.....and his shooting form is bad. He clangs shots even when he’s wide open! There’s no rotation on his ball when he releases it (that means it’s flat)
Can he improve? Yes! To point of being a starter! Never! The biggest weakness he has offensively is he really doesn’t have confidence in his own shot! Watch him tonight!

This makes no sense. If his biggest flaw offensively is that he currently lacks confidence in his shot, that's far easier to improve than most other flaws. He has been a good, confident shooter for years, and he's just getting back to the game after missing an entire year. To say that can "Never!" recover that confidence in his shot is just asinine.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Do you watch the games or just watch stats? It’s quite obvious to those who watch, Sexton does not look to pass the ball unless he’s in dire need. Was it last game where Sexton shot the ball eight straight times before even passing the ball to anyone else?

I hate to tell you, but shooting "eight times in a row before passing" is a stat. It's just a stat from a single game.

The point being made is that Sexton is now up to 5 apg over a 5 game stretch. That doesn't come from a guy who never looks to involve others, regardless of what you say your eyes tell you.

That'a not to say he is as good a passer as Garland is right now, or that he is currently a fully developed PG. But it is a substantial improvement from his assist rate in prior seasons, and a sign of continuing progress.

 

[Ohioplayer00]

What did Allen say? I need to start watching the media pressers after the game.

He was complaining that Sexton didn’t communicate to him if he was going to switch or slide through the pick which allowed Green a wide open path to the basket! Sexton did that at least three times last night.

 

[Rich]

I watch the games. I've watched the Cavs since their inaugural season. I guess I'm just not as smart as most of the folks around here. It's my cross to bear.

A run-down of a .red post in a game thread.

"This coach sucks." "We don't run no plays!" "Play the young guys all 48!"

And different variations of that, no matter the coach, no matter the plays, and no matter the young guys.

 

[Rich]

I hate to tell you, but shooting "eight times in a row before passing" is a stat. It's just a stat from a single game.

The point being made is that Sexton is now up to 5 apg over a 5 game stretch. That doesn't come from a guy who never looks to involve others, regardless of whatyou say your eyes tell you.

That'a not to say he is as good a passer as Garland is right now, or that he is currently a fully developed PG. But it is a substantial improvement from his assist rate in prior seasons, and a sign of continuing progress.

There's also this sorta wish-casting that Garland is some elite level passer.

He can make FANCY passes, yes....but he doesn't see the court terribly well himself when he gets into the lane and, more often than not, is looking to score.

The numbers bear this out.

 

[Cavatt]

Garland had a lot of passing opportunities last night where he shot the ball. What game were people watching?

Sexton left Allen on an Island with his lack of awareness last night. He was personally responsible for probably 8 of those last 10 pts in the first half. It sucked and Allen was right to be angry.

Sexton doesn't look right. He isn't fast right now. All the more reason to tighten up that handle and increase offensive awareness and passing.

Really that last turnover he tossed to Allen was part of my problem with Sexton. He gets rid of the ball too late after the defense has recovered. He needs to give that up before the guy stopped him in his tracks under the basket. Picking your dribble up there and then looking for the outlet is simply too late. He needs a plan B before he drives.

I'm patient. They are a complete mess right now as far as organization. They need more time for chemistry. I really don't know how it went from "you can plug in any guy and they keep fighting" to "there isn't a single lineup that works".

It's frustrating, but notably Sexton can't break the defense like he was before and Garland seems unwilling.

Guys can't hit shots and we aren't getting defense from the PF spot basically at all.