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2023-24 Season | Game #56 | Cavs @ Wizards | Feb. 25, 2024 | 6 p.m.

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Smooth said:
  • The Cavs took control in the third quarter pushing their lead to double digits at various points. After trailing for much of the first half, they led for all but :29 seconds in the third quarter. It helps when you hold the opposing team to 37% shooting.
  • It wouldn’t be a Wizards game without Jordan Poole getting hot. He scored 11 fourth quarter points, and the Wizards went on a 14-1 run start.
  • However, the Cavs defense took control once again. The Wizards only scored 11 points the next nine minutes. Outside of the quick 5-5 hot stretch to start the quarter, the Cavs held the Wizards to 34% shooting (22-64) from quarter two to quarter four.
  • After that run, the Cavs quickly struck back with back-to-back three-point makes by Garland, with LeVert setting him up on both. The six points were part of Garland’s 10 fourth quarter points and +15 which led the team.
  • This coincided with the Cavs going on a 11-1 run of their own.
  • And hey, LeVert hit a three – his first in three games. It was part of a fantastic fourth quarter for LeVert with seven points, six rebounds and three assists.
  • It was also part of a fantastic game for LeVert who nearly had a triple-double: 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists. Amazingly enough, he had zero turnovers and his 8 assists created 21 points.
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I would add that Allen had a very good game, especially in the first half. Bagley had 10 offensive rebounds in their last game but just 2 tonight and 9 points.
 
Gimme Some Mo said:
If NBA.com numbers are correct...

Our starting 5 while DG and Mobley were injured had a Net Rating of +19.6 (Micthell, Okoro, Strus, Wade, and Allen)

For reference, this is better than any other teams starting 5. Denver starters is +13.2, Bucks +15.3, Celts +11.7, Clippers +12.6

Guess how many minutes that Cavs lineup has played since DG/Mobleys return... 17 minutes. SEVENTEEN minutes in 11 games. Best lineup in NBA.

I haven't bashed JB at all this year outside of playing Niang too much... but this is a fireable offense. I get that they aren't going to start together anymore, but how is this lineup not getting extended run together every single game?
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Don’t tell Adam 81 king that. He’ll have a shit fit. They didn’t start winning till Niang played more! Lol
 
Dr No said:
You forgot to add the Mavericks on the road. And the Bulls x 2 & Hawks, who are in the play in position. Also Miami @ Miami when Mobley was out but not Darius. And the Jazz who were in playoff contention and playing well before losing 8 of their last 10. And let’s not miss the most obvious comparison - The other lineup eviscerated a considerably better Wizards team twice, while this lineup has struggled twice.
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Well if you include the non-playoff teams as playoff teams, I agree it looks a lot better (also the Mavs were without Kyrie when we beat them and that game came down to the final shot).
 
CavsKermit said:
Well if you include the non-playoff teams as playoff teams, I agree it looks a lot better (also the Mavs were without Kyrie when we beat them and that game came down to the final shot).
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The arrogance from a few on this board is astounding especially if you look at their track records with their predictions...
 
AllforOne said:
It’s not hate. It’s just a recognition that the team has not played as well with him than they did without him (a trend that we’ve now seen the past two seasons).

Garland had 17 points and 7 assists, shot 40% from the field and 33% from deep, and had 4 TOs. The Cavs squeaked by against a 9-win Wizards team that was missing several key players (to the extent that a 9-win team can have “key” players). It’s not the game I would pick to crow about Garland’s performance. Maybe we’ve really lowered the expectations bar for max contract players?

Again: not hating. The best outcome is still Garland and Mitchell figuring out how to thrive together. I’m just not seeing it, even with the rosiest goggles I own.
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The Wizards had just finished a 14-0 run to start the 4th quarter and were up by six to when Garland checked in. He scored 10 of his points in the 4th quarter and pulled the team ahead (also the box score has him at 3 TOs) He's been the best player on the court for the Cavs the last three games and all people have done is complain about him. It's silly.
 
I was at HOMER and contemplating if I wanted to watch JJ from goodtimes or KERMIT from sesame street. Instead I drank a RED bull, sipped on a BREW and nursed a MATTY ICE. Yeah its nice to live at HOMEr
 
"We didn't play up to our standard tonight...I expected more fire from our group after losing two games in a row. We've got to get back to that spirit we played with before the break...I've got to do a better job of getting our players ready to play and our guys gotta do a better job as well.

It was a mindset thing, I think we came out of the gate and looked at our opponent without giving them the due respect...we gotta be better, and again, that's on me to make sure we are."

I love that JBB is not satisfied with a close win over a 9-47 team missing a couple of key players and having another starter injured early. He said he expected more and takes part of the blame.

After the loss to Philly before the break he said the same thing - the Cavs didn't respect the opponent and expected them to roll over with Embiid, Melton, and Tobias Harris out. They were complacent going in and got beat. That almost happened again tonight, but LeVert and Garland stepped up big time in the 4th quarter.

I didn't like opening the 4th with Mitchell, LeVert, Niang, Okoro, and Mobley. Only Donovan and Caris can create their own shot - the rest of them need an assist to score. That's a bad mix, IMO. Only one outside shooter and that's Mitchell, unless the opponents decide to not guard Okoro. Sure enough, the Wizards started the quarter on a 14-1 run in the first 2:03.

Fortunately, JBB didn't wait too long to get Strus and Allen back in the game - 2:03 to be exact, and Garland came in less than a minute later.
 
The Wizards were less "ass" than expected, with Jordan Poole finding his shot again, Landry Shamet somehow drinking the same juice as Cam Payne, and in general, the team being able to capitalize on the Cavs' slow start. (Kuzma, however started out hot and was not as much as a problem as the other two mentioned).

DG came through big, and hopefully assuaged some of the concerns about his play. Back to back 3s, when it seemed the Wizards were hitting some absolute BULLSHIT was huge. He took 11 3s tonight.

I really was impressed with Strus and Okoro tonight. Their passing was critical to some buckets. Max getting some huge scores of his own, and Okoro... that mid-air twist to hit the impossible layup was amazing. But it wasn't just about scoring with those two.

LeVert finding the basket again was also huge.

Mobley coming through was huge -- I still think he might have been good taking a 3 or 2, but the paint was an easier get and he made good decisions mostly. That rebound off the LeVert miss. HUGE.

Sam was good in relief of Strus (not sure he would have seen the floor if not for that happening). He did his job.

Still wanting to see more Dean, though Niang produced no cusswords from me for the first time in a while.

Putting the last 2 losses in perspective: Cavs lost each by 7.
The Cavs won by 9 points vs Washington.
Donovan Mitchell in sub-optimal form put 16 points in the collection plate. THE LITERAL DIFFERENCE.
 
Garland shot 3-9 on threes tonight.
He is shooting 34% from 3 this year.
He's at 32.6% for February.

That's not good enough for his size.
He needs to shoot better or he'll get
eaten alive in the playoffs again.
 
Jscc said:
Yay, we beat a $#!++y team.

I'm seeing the same rotation habits that got us swept last year slowly creeping back in now that everyone is healthy and it is just so predictable.
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Exectlie
 
Jscc said:
Yay, we beat a $#!++y team.

I'm seeing the same rotation habits that got us swept last year slowly creeping back in now that everyone is healthy and it is just so predictable.
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This
 
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