2023-24 Season | Game #72 | Hornets @ Cavs | March 25, 2023 | 7:00 p.m.

[buzzdog]

JA, Niang and Merrill won this game for us. If not for those guys getting a win would have been in doubt.

 

[bushwick_bill]

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Great defense allowing 92 points and awesome passing with a season high 41 assists on 46 baskets. Yep, Mobley was doing it all with 17 points, 7 rebounds, and an astonishing 8 assists. He averages 3.0.

The bench was a ridiculous 11-for-21 on 3's. Niang and Merrill were +19 and +17 in 25 minutes each. Porter had 9 points and 4 assists in 14 minutes for a +8. With key players injured we need the bench to step up.

LeVert's shot still isn't falling (3-for-13) but he had 7 rebounds, 7 assists, a steal, and 2 blocks, so he still contributed.

The Cavs did a great job on Bridges, who averages 21.3 ppg. He was held to 5-for-14.

Gotta do it again on Wednesday.

 

[bushwick_bill]

 

[Tlyons]

I'm not complaining about the results, but why was Morris throwing an elbow above someone's shoulder a catalyst?

Did they just feel the Flag 2 was excessive?

Edit: nevermind. I get it after hearing Morris explain it. I like it.

 

[buzzdog]

I'm not complaining about the results, but why was Morris throwing an elbow above someone's shoulder a catalyst?

Did they just feel the Flag 2 was excessive?

Making an otherwise soft team feel a little harder? Apparently this came from the players themselves, and they're looking up to Morris as a mentor.

 

[Tlyons]

Making an otherwise soft team feel a little harder? Apparently this came from the players themselves, and they're looking up to Morris as a mentor.

Yea, I like the mentality. Let's just not start throwing bows at everybody lol.

I tell you what though, if this brings out a beast in Mobley and Allen, bring it on.

 

[bushwick_bill]

 

[bushwick_bill]

Making an otherwise soft team feel a little harder? Apparently this came from the players themselves, and they're looking up to Morris as a mentor.

Him, Strus and Niang lol has the potential for so many techs...

 

[buzzdog]

Yea, I like the mentality. Let's just not start throwing bows at everybody lol.

I tell you what though, if this brings out a beast in Mobley and Allen, bring it on.

I think Morris got it up just a few inches higher than he wanted, and the offensive player dipped his jaw down a little lower than he expected.

 

[Tlyons]

I think Morris got it up just a few inches higher than he wanted, and the offensive player dipped his jaw down a little lower than he expected.

Yep. I just went back and watched it(i should probably make that a habit before i post, lmao) and honestly it looked like he was aiming for his chest. Poor Richards got beat up this game lol.

Nice to have an enforcer out there

 

[2 For The Brew]

Making an otherwise soft team feel a little harder? Apparently this came from the players themselves, and they're looking up to Morris as a mentor.

I didn‘t like the play at all and said so at the time.

But Marcus said it was designed move to get the team going, JBB said that got the team going and gave Morris the JYD, and Allen backed up Morris.

In the playoffs every round is a death match. Two go in, one comes out. That’s what matters. If that got the guys fired up then it was a good move for the team and that’s what matter - the team.

I still don’t like the play but if that’s the difference then that’s what needs to be done.

 

[2 For The Brew]

.

 

[Smooth]

• The NBA is a copycat league, and the Cavs are only going to see more pressure and more zone until they can beat it. Sure enough, the Hornets were periodically blitzing high pick-and-rolls and threw out some half court zone. After how well Miami’s pressure and zone worked, teams are going to use it until the Cavs prove they can beat it.
• And right now, I’m not so sure they can. Especially the high pressure, and especially with Garland. The way you beat that high pressure is quick passes out of it. It allows you to play 4 on 3 more efficiently, so long as your roll man can make the right decision. Too often Garland tries to beat the pressure with the dribble which only plays into the defense and mitigates the Cavs advantage. It also allows the back line defense more time to rotate over to cover for the high pressure. If you pass out of the pressure quick enough, you can catch the defense in a bad spot rotating.
• The Cavs are going to see plenty of this in the playoffs until they show they can beat it. Mobley and Allen are equally adept at being a roll-man playmaker. The question is can Garland get rid of it quick enough and can the Cavs shooters in the corners do enough damage to cause a change in defensive strategy. Thibs has historically dared those Cleveland role players to beat him, and Thibs has typically won.

RCF RECAP
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[bushwick_bill]