2023-24 Season | Game #68 | Cavs @ Pacers | March 18, 2024 | 7:00 p.m.

[bleedwineandgold03]

There was a merril attempt where he got way more contact than that and there was no call.

But there’s no rigging. If Jb had used his challenge earlier we would’ve lost this game refs are really bad and I’m tired of it

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Couldn't watch the game but just looked at the highlights. They must have played great defense to hold a team averaging 125 ppg at home to 103.

Nice to see Marcus debut with 14 points in 20 minutes on just 7 shots.

Garland was only 1-for-9 on 3's. He's made nearly 50% since the break. A normal game from him and this one would not have been close. Pretty impressive to beat Indy in their house with four key players out, including our best player, and Garland ice cold from deep.

LeVert either scored or assisted on at least 45 ofr the Cavs 108 points.

 

[Melancholy Jaques]

We have had role players save our asses a number of times this year. Over the course of an 82 game season, the whole bench matters.

Jefferson & Frye on the NBA Champion Cavs.

 

[bushwick_bill]

 

[CavsKermit]

• DG really needs to get it together. Another 5 turnover-game. Another turnover during a crucial point of the game with a minute left to go in the 4th. At least in the recent dozens of games, he's been playing a very unserious brand of basketball. He has not been the floor general/leader that a lot of us were hoping for
• Besides the Pelicans game, he can't seem to drive by the bigs that switch onto him, let alone his primary defenders. Hopefully it's because he's still getting back into the game shape that he lost during his jaw injury. Either way, instead of adjusting or looking for different ways, he's forcing the issue trying to drive by these guys even when it's not working. The ball really sticks to him in these moments
• Gotta give credit when credit is due. I've been critical of JB, but it was great to see that they actually ran something with 40 seconds to go, instead of having Garland or LeVert ISO. It got the Pacers defense scrambling, and Isaac got a wide open layup. And oh, great coach's challenge. I thought Niang pushed Siakam, but it turns out his belly is what it is. What can you do?
• What a game by Marcus Morris. If he can continue to play somewhat like this, his shooting and toughness may become valuable in the playoffs

He's our primary ball handler, and depending on how our role players are shooting, our primary scoring option, he's playing too many minutes, facing the best defenders the opposing team has to offer, and is also facing defenses that are trying to force the ball out of his hands.

Those teams are doing that for a reason. They'll live with guys like Morris beating them.I feel like people have unrealistic expectations.

Since trading for Siakam, the Pacers now have a second big who can help at the rim. They went to great lengths to make sure Haliburton didn't get switched onto him. Without Strus or Mitchell, it kind of is what it is.

 

[Tlyons]

Really rooting for Garland to figure out these 4th quarters.

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

Nice

 

[Pierre Pan]

Couldn't watch the game but just looked at the highlights. They must have played great defense to hold a team averaging 125 ppg at home to 103.

Nice to see Marcus debut with 14 points in 20 minutes on just 7 shots.

Garland was only 1-for-9 on 3's. He's made nearly 50% since the break. A normal game from him and this one would not have been close. Pretty impressive to beat Indy in their house with four key players out, including our best player, and Garland ice cold from deep.

LeVert either scored or assisted on at least 45 ofr the Cavs 108 points.

DG started off so sluggish, passive and lackadaisical; of course, the Pacers pressured him full court which was a major factor. The defense picked things up after the first quarter and DG finally showed some energy and confidence in the 2nd half after the coaches must have prodded him to pick up the tempo. LeVert was contributing everywhere and Morris was nearly perfect from the field. JA had a “quiet “ 23 and Niang had a decent start , keeping us in the game early and Merrill provided a decent spark; likewise with CPJ who only spelled Garland briefly.

 

[avs2000]

Really rooting for Garland to figure out these 4th quarters.

He is not a rookie he should already know what has to be done. He is a maddening player

 

[buzzdog]

It was a great win due to our defense finally making an appearance. McConnell was having his way with our guards for a pretty good stretch of the game until we finally got serious about playing defense, and after that he disappeared and became a non factor.

I still hate that our offense is so dependent on creating off the dribble but when you have Garland and LeVert running the point I guess that's what you're going to get. We were okay with the over-dribbling as long as they did it early enough in the shot clock, which I will say LeVert is good at attacking early... Garland, not so much.

I'm highly impressed that we came back and won this with "bad" Darius. I think Garland was giving maximum effort but he couldn't buy a basket to save his life and he reverted to his old over-dribbling ways on too many possessions, with the rest of the players standing and watching, waiting to see which way Darius would end up going. I want the other version of DG back, I know he's in there somewhere. He needs a coach or Donovan to point this shit out to him in real time, to remind him to initiate early and keep the ball moving.

In spite of that the team did move the ball well when they had the chance. Opportunistic scores created from our defense won the game for us, changing the momentum and energizing the defense to play even tighter when Indy showed it bothered them.

 

[Ethan]

He is not a rookie he should already know what has to be done. He is a maddening player

Haliburton looked even more ineffective in crunch time. They are both 24 years old. They will get better with experience.

 

[Dr. Claw]

Jefferson & Frye on the NBA Champion Cavs.

Yep.

Thumbs up to Marcus Morris. He was my main choice out of the guys that were left because of the Cavs' need to have some support in the frontcourt. When Mobley and Wade are out, we see what can happen. You couldn't have asked for a better team debut than Mook. Might be the "Tristan" of PFs at this point.

Speaking of Tristan -- even with no PEDs, you see what he still can do. He can't jump for lobs, he's obviously slower than most, but dammit, he is always in the right space for rebounds. 2 fouls drawn when the Pacers tried to cheat him out of position is something I fear you can't teach. In the future, the Cavs need to consider this quality in players. Saved a lot of possessions tonight just being himself.

I have to say, Niang is playing much better in these games. Hitting more shots, and his "Statue Mario" defense occasionally is becoming handy in critical moments.

Shout out to JBB for having Okoro bring the ball up in crunch time. DG needs to cut the lollygagging, opposing defenses crash on it. Shout out to Okoro for proving he is capable.

Shout out to LeVert. He really stepped up when the team needed it throughout this game.

I hated first half defense so much. The unnecessary double teaming that left shooters open. This team is so ass at limiting 3-point opportunities, even when healthy.

Any win over the Haliburton Pacers is a great one for me. All their 3 point shooting, the Myles Turner (who is not better than JA) BS, so on and so forth. They are a lackluster defensive team, Cavs need to exploit that.

 

[foucault87]

Yep.

Thumbs up to Marcus Morris. He was my main choice out of the guys that were left because of the Cavs' need to have some support in the frontcourt. When Mobley and Wade are out, we see what can happen. You couldn't have asked for a better team debut than Mook. Might be the "Tristan" of PFs at this point.

Speaking of Tristan -- even with no PEDs, you see what he still can do. He can't jump for lobs, he's obviously slower than most, but dammit, he is always in the right space for rebounds. 2 fouls drawn when the Pacers tried to cheat him out of position is something I fear you can't teach. In the future, the Cavs need to consider this quality in players. Saved a lot of possessions tonight just being himself.

I have to say, Niang is playing much better in these games. Hitting more shots, and his "Statue Mario" defense occasionally is becoming handy in critical moments.

Shout out to JBB for having Okoro bring the ball up in crunch time. DG needs to cut the lollygagging, opposing defenses crash on it. Shout out to Okoro for proving he is capable.

Shout out to LeVert. He really stepped up when the team needed it throughout this game.

I hated first half defense so much. The unnecessary double teaming that left shooters open. This team is so ass at limiting 3-point opportunities, even when healthy.

Any win over the Haliburton Pacers is a great one for me. All their 3 point shooting, the Myles Turner (who is not better than JA) BS, so on and so forth. They are a lackluster defensive team, Cavs need to exploit that.

Ups for the smb3 rep