2023-24 Regular Season Thread II: March Toward Destiny

[Deezus]

Can't believe @The Oi just dropped an F-Bomb live

 

[raiders91sc]

All these injuries are why I have not been concerned about the Cavs having duplication at several of their rotation spots. I would much rather have the problem of coach trying to keep good players happy while playing fewer minutes than they want in the unlikely event that everyone on the roster is healthy than having to put G-league guys into the rotation due to a couple of starters being out. (I am pretty sure that a couple of weeks ago we had four players from our summer G-league champs on the court at the same time -- Mobley, Merrill, Porter, and Bates).

The goal should be to have lots of players who contribute more than what their salary level indicates. Right now, we have quite a few players like that: Merrill, Okoro, Wade, LeVert, Allen for sure, Porter, and Mobley. Probably even Strus and Niang. Morris definitely did the other night. Sometimes you have to pay big bucks for a superstar, and that is harder to gauge, but the way Mitchell is playing, I'd say he is worth his salary. You just can't pay too many guys at that level.

I'd say that Garland is the only player whose contributions are not on par with his salary. I like him a lot, and when he is on, he is certainly a weapon. However, his small stature, weak defense, proneness to injury, and max-level salary all work against him. His skills (i.e., shooting and dribbling) are excellent already and will not improve, and physically I don't see him getting stronger. I would probably trade Garland unless he is willing to restructure, and why would he do that?

I would certainly rather have Okoro at $20 million per year than Garland at $40 million, because unlike Garland, he is getting better as his skills develop. And he is rugged. Resign him.

LeVert helps in so many ways -- Resign him.
Wade is a bargain and he is a winner -- keep him and extend his contract.
Strus -- keep him for his four year contract.
Niang -- I think he is incredibly skilled for his body shape and we have needed his toughness. His minutes might decrease, but keep him at his salary unless he is needed as trade filler.
Merrill -- not going to get better, but his role is needed. Sign him to an extension!
Porter -- I loved that we signed him. He is also getting better.
Mitchell -- I hope he wants to stay and we can afford him. He is the alpha dog we need.
Mobley -- I don't see an HOF career out of him, and I think our initial expectations were too high. But he is a good player, and we will lock him up.

Thompson, Morris -- can help now but are not in long-term plans.
Jones, Jerome, and Nance -- whatever.
Too early to tell for sure about IMobley (looks like his ceiling may be 10th man), the Australian guy, and EBates (reminds me of Reggie Miller)

I would certainly rather have Okoro at $20 million per year than Garland at $40 million, because unlike Garland, he is getting better as his skills develop. And he is rugged. Resign him.

are u serious?? really?? Okoro??

 

[Prof123]

I would certainly rather have Okoro at $20 million per year than Garland at $40 million, because unlike Garland, he is getting better as his skills develop. And he is rugged. Resign him.

are u serious?? really?? Okoro??

Not even close, in my opinion. If there were no salary cap, then it would be different. We could get a player in free agency as good as Garland for $40 million per year. Okoro is going to outplay his contract, while Garland is not.

 

[kidduck]

The way the refs are already 'letting them play', think about what it will look like
in the post-season.

Then ask yourself if the Cavs are really tough enough. MM and TT are those
players, but with a healthier roster, will either of them be enough to
change a playoff series?

 

[Dr No]

The way the refs are already 'letting them play', think about what it will look like
in the post-season.

Then ask yourself if the Cavs are really tough enough. MM and TT are those
players, but with a healthier roster, will either of them be enough to
change a playoff series?

We need to get healthy. We know DM & Strus are tough enough = they’ve done it. I think Wade’s game translates. And hopefully last year’s first timers are better prepared. And hopefully we don’t draw an uber-physical team like last year’s Knicks

 

[cabs]

Probably end up 5th seed and play magic, not the worst thing to happen and will be a must win series for JBB you'd think

 

[sloveniafan]

I agree with 5th seed. Quickly checked remaining schedule. Cavs will be good to win another 6 games. NY has much easier schedule, likely to win 10 more.
Orlando has many homegames left, so even if they win 8 they will be close to the Cavs. Indiana needs to win 4 more than Cavs, so it is unlikely they will be better.

 

[raiders91sc]

Not even close, in my opinion. If there were no salary cap, then it would be different. We could get a player in free agency as good as Garland for $40 million per year. Okoro is going to outplay his contract, while Garland is not.

STARTERS

PTS

REB

AST

FG

3PT

FT

PF

MIN

STL

BLK

TO

+/-

FPTS

STARTERS

PTS

REB

AST

FG

3PT

FT

PF

MIN

STL

BLK

TO

+/-

FPTS

I. Okoro

7

1

1

3/6

1/3

0/0

2

38

0

0

0

+2

10

He outplayed it last night. If we could just get 2 Okoro we would be title bound. Guy is trash and will be lucky to get a mid level contract next year.

 

[Jscc]

Not even close, in my opinion. If there were no salary cap, then it would be different. We could get a player in free agency as good as Garland for $40 million per year. Okoro is going to outplay his contract, while Garland is not.

Why is Okoro getting the benefit of the doubt and not DG? Okoro is exactly one year younger then DG, their experience differs by one season, and both were drafted at #5. DG has taken this team to the play-in without Mitchell, got an all-star selection, and has greatly improved. Okoro is basically the same guy he was his rookie season.

I'd predict DG would have plenty of suitors @ $40 million. SA is one that comes to mind. Pop loves DG and he would flourish with competent coaching.

 

[foucault87]

Why is Okoro getting the benefit of the doubt and not DG? Okoro is exactly one year younger then DG, their experience differs by one season, and both were drafted at #5. DG has taken this team to the play-in without Mitchell, got an all-star selection, and has greatly improved. Okoro is basically the same guy he was his rookie season.

I'd predict DG would have plenty of suitors @ $40 million. SA is one that comes to mind. Pop loves DG and he would flourish with competent coaching.

Okoro is absolutely not the same player as last year let alone his rookie season. He has made massive strides offensively as a shooter and has shown some off the dribble juice. His defense has moved from good to elite. Not close at all to the raw ball of hustle he was as a rook

 

[bushwick_bill]

 

[mds]

Can we have a poll asking "Have you actually watched any of the games?"

 

[Prof123]

Why is Okoro getting the benefit of the doubt and not DG? Okoro is exactly one year younger then DG, their experience differs by one season, and both were drafted at #5. DG has taken this team to the play-in without Mitchell, got an all-star selection, and has greatly improved. Okoro is basically the same guy he was his rookie season.

I'd predict DG would have plenty of suitors @ $40 million. SA is one that comes to mind. Pop loves DG and he would flourish with competent coaching.

If they had the same salary, that would be one thing, but they don't. Garland is going to cost more than twice as much as Okoro. Garland made great strides from his rookie year to his third year, but I haven't seen improvement since then. In fact, it seems he turns the ball over more now than in the past. There is a reason he made the all-star game previously but not recently.

Okoro is a completely different player than he was his rookie year! He is fast in the open court and is a much better finisher at the rim than Garland. He might be the best finisher on the team, in fact. He still has no midrange game, but he scores a lot more this year on a spin move after a quick dribble drive to the elbow. His 3-point shot is drastically improved; in fact, he is shooting 2% better than Garland. Moreover, he is solid as a rock. For whatever reason, Garland just gets knocked around.

 

[CavsKermit]

Not even close, in my opinion. If there were no salary cap, then it would be different. We could get a player in free agency as good as Garland for $40 million per year. Okoro is going to outplay his contract, while Garland is not.

This post aged well.

 

[Pierre Pan]

Can we have a poll asking "Have you actually watched any of the games?"

I love how we constantly get posters coming into the Game Day thread commenting on the game after they state “I didn’t get to watch any of the game, but….”…”…allow me to give you my expert opinion and analysis “