2023-24 Season | Game #54 | Magic @ Cavs | Feb. 22, 2024 | 7:00 p.m.

[Futuredome]

Orlando clearly wanted it more. They lost by 27 at home to the Cavs the last time these teams played. They were playing with great intensity and physicality. I think they didn't want to get punked again.

They were 14-5 before the injuries started kicking in, so when they have everybody they're a formidable team. They play five guys in their rotation who are 6'10" or 6'11".

At halftime Assistant Coach Sydney Lowe said Orlando was playing physical and the Cavs "did not reciprocate". Mo Wagner set the tone off the bench for physical play. It just didn't look like the Cavs expected to have to scrap and fight for a win. They came out flat and never really got going.

on a back to back. Not sure they cared much about that game. Misleading games.

 

[Futuredome]

We need more from DG and Mobley. They need to be the two best players on the floor when Mitchell can't go. This team wasn't built on the idea that Don has to be LeBron every night.

Maybe, but Garland ain't that guy. LeVert gave nothing

 

[Jscc]

Maybe, but Garland ain't that guy. LeVert gave nothing

Roleplayers aren't going to win road games.

 

[mAo_mAo]

Maybe, but Garland ain't that guy. LeVert gave nothing

But Garland should be that guy. Play like a max contract player. Personally, I don’t care if he is below average defensively m. However, if he is also just giving average offensive output then this contract will be an albatross in the making.

 

[Dr. Claw]

I thought he on a few of them he should have popped the shot off, he had time. Just felt like everyone was slow tonight.

This is just my problem below. This dude having the type of night he had...A game like tonight we definitely could have used TT...

I'll stand on it. Mo Wagner is ass. At best, he got the benefit of a Scott Foster ref crew (fuck that guy, seriously). So much that his expectations got him a tech.

One of those nights where the opponent hits too many 3s, and the defense slides back into help mode instead of closing out to their detriment.

The turnovers and the Magic Bench scoring most of the team's points (64 points to the Cavs 26???) were more significant than the "outmuscling". A ref crew that consistently cuts that out early (like the time the Cavs beat the Bucks recently) makes that not a factor.

 

[bushwick_bill]

But Garland should be that guy. Play like a max contract player. Personally, I don’t care if he is below average defensively m. However, if he is also just giving average offensive output then this contract will be an albatross in the making.

An albatross? Garland’s contract? Ooof. Before his injury he was rated a top 10 player in the league under 25 and now we are jumping to an albatross contract? On top of Cleveland isn’t a free agent destiny. He’s a max player and we have him locked up for a long time. If Don resigns they may chose to move him at some point and if Don doesn’t resign Cleveland has one of the better players in the league in his age group locked up for a long time. The reactions to the first game back after the All Star Break are entertaining.

 

[boostorbust1]

Garland just doesn't shoot enough, hes a excellent 3pt shooter and yet he doesn't shoot when he is open. Its frustrating and not sure what the issue is

A lot of complaints would go away if he would just shoot the dang ball especially when he is open, it was the same last year, doesn't shoot enough and loves to dribble

 

[PIP]

Ice continues to look good out there.

Go on…

 

[BiGZD]

We just aren’t winning many games without Mitchell. Without Mitchell, we’re not even a play-in team.

Considering the year before DM arrived we were a play-in team I tend to disagree. We have the same core 3 in DG/JA and Evan with an even better bench during that period. It's our crummy head coach that seems to be the problem

 

[Tlyons]

Go on…

 

[2 For The Brew]

Considering the year before DM arrived we were a play-in team I tend to disagree. We have the same core 3 in DG/JA and Evan with an even better bench during that period. It's our crummy head coach that seems to be the problem

I didn’t see the crummy head coach miss free throws or easy buckets at the rim. I didn’t see him go 1/11. The bench was 5/23 and 3/12 overall.

But I get it - when the team goes 18-2 it’s because of the players and when they go 1-2 it’s on the coach.

 

[ticon12389]

 

[RonG]

@RchfldCavRaised I told you we have an x problem. Fill in the X for the folks. Weeks ago.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Excellent. What a clown show. The carnival music was very appropriate. And they lost by 7 points. They gave away twice that many on unforced turnovers, not to mention.

Bickerstaff always tries to defend his players, but there's no defense for the carelessness and sloppiness they exhibited against the Magic. They surely knew going in that the Magic are 3rd in the NBA in steals but they still telegraphed a number of passes that were easily stolen and turned into layups on the other end.

It looked to me like the Magic came in focused and determined while the Cavs were still on vacay, at least mentally.

 

[buzzdog]

Excellent. What a clown show. The carnival music was very appropriate. And they lost by 7 points. They gave away twice that many on unforced turnovers, not to mention.

Bickerstaff always tries to defend his players, but there's no defense for the carelessness and sloppiness they exhibited against the Magic. They surely knew going in that the Magic are 3rd in the NBA in steals but they still telegraphed a number of passes that were easily stolen and turned into layups on the other end.

It looked to me like the Magic came in focused and determined while the Cavs were still on vacay, at least mentally.

That's the theme song from "Curb Your Enthusiasm".