2023-24 Season | Game #67 | Cavs @ Rockets | March 16, 2024 | 5:00 p.m.

[eChameleon]

Don needs to be healthy for this team to really succeed to their fullest.

He's gonna wear a mask the rest of the way and the t-shirt economy will kick into high gear.

 

[mhi]

I think of one of the most interesting things to happen this season was when Windy went on his podcast and said the Cavs almost fired JBB earlier this year. We've got some roster issues for sure, but that was a good sign that urgency in the organization is there. Likely tied to Mitchell's contract.

 

[Bob_The_Cat]

Trading Garland for another small guard is pointless

Generally I would agree, but FVV is very good at defending both guard positions. He and Lowry played together without much issue. He's good at playing on or off the ball.

I definitely would not trade Darius straight up for him, but he does a lot of things I don't think Garland will be able to do, plus he does have championship experience.

I have a feeling it's something both teams wouldn't be able to agree on appropriate compensation.

 

[RonG]

What a strange game in person. I'll have to watch the replay. Seemed like the officiating was terrible. Granted I didn't have the best seats to actually enjoy the game from a viewing standpoint.

A little disappointed in cpjr? He said he was gonna give me an autograph and pic post game and well he went straight to the locker room. Oh well.

@GeorgesNiang did sit pretty close to me and I was able to get a pic.

 

[Pierre Pan]

Once again , 3rd place is starting to look shaky. It seems like I say this every other game but I guess .500 ball the rest of the way is hardly a recipe for success

 

[Otsego Mar]

What a strange game in person. I'll have to watch the replay. Seemed like the officiating was terrible. Granted I didn't have the best seats to actually enjoy the game from a viewing standpoint.

A little disappointed in cpjr? He said he was gonna give me an autograph and pic post game and well he went straight to the locker room. Oh well.

@GeorgesNiang did sit pretty close to me and I was able to get a pic.

Niang looks a lot more Asian in person I see.

 

[bushwick_bill]

View attachment 19361
Couldn’t resist…lol

Problem is Don is not healthy or appears to be playing that way...

 

[bushwick_bill]

Once again , 3rd place is starting to look shaky. It seems like I say this every other game but I guess .500 ball the rest of the way is hardly a recipe for success

Knicks have some tough games ahead themselves too... Hopefully they lose tonight. Magic could get the three seed they have the easiest of the three...

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[bushwick_bill]

This was was the fear...

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Cavs looked disinterested and gave up 70 points in the first half to a team missing it's leading scorer and 3 of its' top 8 players. The Rockets ran circles around the slow and lethargic Cavs. They are so much quicker and more athletic.

The Rockets rank 28th in 3-point shooting but hit 10-for-21 in the first half, then put the Cavs away in the 3rd quarter. By halfway through the 3rd it was garbage time.

VanVleet had 12 assists in the first half alone as he penetrated with ease and dished off for easy buckets. He badly outplayed Garland - it was like watching an older brother give a lesson to his little bro. Fred averages 8 assists per game but doubled that today.

The Rockets' starters were all between +7 and +22 while the Cavs' starters were all -13 to -17. Just an embarassing performance all the way around.

Jabari Smith Jr kicked Allen's butt with 20 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks, and a team high +22 in 32 minutes.

Part of me wants to flog the Cavs for once again playing down to the competition after a big win, but Niang pointed out before the game that with Sengun out the Rockets can switch defensively 1 through 5. With all that quickness and switching ability they held the Cavs to 73 points through three quarters before putting in the scrubs.

At halftime Sidney Lowe said that without Sengun the Rockets are quicker, more athletic, and shoot more 3's. Hey, isn't that what happened with the Cavaliers when Mobley got hurt? Their scoring went way up.

Austin Carr pointed out that "the Cavs could not stay in front of anybody". That was obvious. LeVert was the one guy who seemed to be playing harder (and better) than anyone in wine and gold.

Donovan still looks rusty in his second game back. He was 4-for-13 and was definitely bothered by the Rockets' quickness on defense. TT looked VERY rusty. I got the impression JBB wanted to give him some minutes because he needs to play after two months off and we weren't going to win today. Mitchell was playing in the 4th quarter garbage time so they also want to get him minutes.

The Cavs just ran into a quicker, more athletic, and hungrier team that is on a roll (won 7 of 8 now) and smells a playoff spot. Hopefully with a day off they come back strong in Indiana on Monday.

 

[bushwick_bill]

 

[bushwick_bill]

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Now Mitchell says his knee is still not OK and he'll sit out the next game. Might as well keep him out a week or whatever it takes.

Mitchell, Strus, Mobley. Just when it looked like the Cavs were getting everybody back it all goes to shit.

 

[bushwick_bill]

 

[Futuredome]

Horrible, but I expect it the rest of the regular season. Bad performance met with surprising good performance. I blame JB over amping early in the year. Seems like team defense is the first sign somethings off.