2024-25 Season | Game #69 | Cavs @ Kings | March 19, 2025 | 10:00 p.m.

[Wham with the Right Hand]

The Cavaliers take a 400-mile flight to Sacramento for the second night of a back-to-back against the Kings, who are 34-33 on the year and had one day off after their last game. The Kings lost four straight before beating Memphis 132-122 on Monday. Memphis was without Ja Morant, however.

In the four losses the Kings scored 97, 104, 104, and 106 points in regulation and allowed 122, 122, 130, and 133. At home the Kings are 17-15 and against teams .500 or over they are 10-22. Their big move at the trade deadline was trading De’Aaron Fox, who was averaging 25 ppg, for a package headlined by Zach LaVine.

Starting center Domantas Sabonis, who averages 19 points and 14 rebounds is out with an ankle injury. This will be a serious blow to the Kings’ chances.

The Kings are better on the offensive end, ranking 9th in scoring and 20th in opponents’ scoring. They are 7th in field goal attempts per game due to minimizing turnovers, ranking 5th in turnovers per possession. They are just average in effective field goal percentage, points in the paint, offensive rebounding, and assists. They shoot fewer 3’s than average and rank 20th in 3-point percentage.

The Kings are kind of a throwback team in that they ignore the conventional wisdom that the best shots are layups and 3-pointers. The Kings rank 1st in frequency of mid-range shots, 25th in 3-point frequency, and 29th in rim frequency. They also rank 1st in mid-range shooting percentage so they are the “kings” of the mid-range shot. They rank 9th in 2-point shooting percentage.

Zach LaVine has been on a roll in the 18 games he’s played with the Kings since the trade, averaging 22.7 points on 53% from the field and 44% on 3’s. Getting away from the Bulls seems to agree with him. Right behind is 35-year-old DeMar DeRozan at 22.2 points on 49% and 36%. DeRozan, of course, has mastered the mid-range jumper. PG Malik Monk, who took over from Fox, averages 17.7 points on 44% and 32%. PF Keegan Murray averages 12 points.

Murray was the 4th overall pick three years ago but doesn’t seem to be progressing as hoped. A 6’8”, 225-pound power forward he averaged 12.2 points as a rookie on 45% and 41%. This year playing 5 more minutes he’s averaging 12.3 ppg on 44% and 33%. His rebounds and blocks are up, however.

The Kings don’t have a lot of scoring on their bench. Valanciunas leads with a 9.5 ppg average and he will be starting for Sabonis. Keon Ellis averages 8 ppg and nobody else averages more than 6 points. Their starters average about 94 points per game against 22 from their bench.

The key to stopping the Kings’ offense is to vigorously contest the mid-range jumpers and get them out of their comfort zone. With interior length in Allen, Mobley, and Hunter the Cavs should be able to make the Kings take tough shots in the mid-range.

Defensively the Kings are not good at forcing missed shots, ranking 26th in opponents’ effective field goal percentage. They’re worst in the NBA in defending the 3-pointer, but they rank 23rd at defending the rim and the mid-range shot, so any shot is a good shot. The area where they excel is defensive rebounding, where they rank 2nd. You really need to make the first shot because they end up with nearly 4 of 5 missed shots.

The key for the Cavs offensively is to simply make their open shots. They should get a lot of them. Just take what the defense gives you because the Kings are not good at stopping shots from anywhere. In their last four games they are allowing an average of 129.5 ppg amd now their starting center is out.

The Kings have not been particularly good at home (17-15) and they have been downright bad against teams .500 and over (10-22). The Cavs have a huge edge in talent but they are on the west coast and playing their 3rd game in four nights and on the second night of a back-to-back. But Sabonis being out is a huge boost for the Cavs. The Kings are nearly 8 points better when Sabonis is on the floor, which is the highest mark on the team.

 

[Adam]

Must win

 

[PIP]

Less than enthused with this team right now...

 

[Dr No]

As long as we don’t just fall apart, wins and losses don’t matter a lot at this point. However, it does feel like we need to get back in the win column. But more than that, I think we need two things to happen: 1. We need to put together a game where we look sharp. We have been lethargic and lazy on both ends. 2. Keep minutes down. 3 of our 4 starters went over 30 minutes in a loss. At this point of the season, I don’t want to see Mitchell playing 34 minutes. I don’t want Allen wrestling a bear like Zubac for 32. This is a back to back, our bench needs to play more minutes tonight. Let guys like CPJ, Tyson and Green get some high energy minutes.

 

[2 For The Brew]

We’re favored by 5.

On paper this should be an easy win with Sabonis out. On the court we’ll have to see. We’re out of rhythm at the moment. Can’t assume wins against anybody on a west coast road trip.

 

[buzzdog]

We’re favored by 5.

On paper this should be an easy win with Sabonis out. On the court we’ll have to see. We’re out of rhythm at the moment. Can’t assume wins against anybody on a west coast road trip.

I dunno, we started out against the Clippers in a pretty good rhythm, we just didn't figure out how to defend their talent and guys like Zubac can hurt us in many ways. I think the offensive rhythm we put out last night would beat most teams but the defensive focus, effort and effectiveness needs improvement.

 

[2 For The Brew]

As long as we don’t just fall apart, wins and losses don’t matter a lot at this point. However, it does feel like we need to get back in the win column. But more than that, I think we need two things to happen: 1. We need to put together a game where we look sharp. We have been lethargic and lazy on both ends. 2. Keep minutes down. 3 of our 4 starters went over 30 minutes in a loss. At this point of the season, I don’t want to see Mitchell playing 34 minutes. I don’t want Allen wrestling a bear like Zubac for 32. This is a back to back, our bench needs to play more minutes tonight. Let guys like CPJ, Tyson and Green get some high energy minutes.

Harden, Zubac and Kawhi played 39, 36 and 36 minutes.

Mitchell, Allen, DG and Evan played 34, 32, 32 and 31 minutes.

The minutes policing here is a bit much.

 

[Futuredome]

Bad defensive team going against a team coming off a game, embarrassing performances against the Magic and bad last 18 minutes against the Clippers. Gut check for a fading overachiever??? The 2015 Warriors mostly destroyed and blew out their opponents (with a couple of their own blowouts in the mix, especially during rest games).
1.Mitchell needs to defer if he can't hit shots. 14-46 is terrible. Even pull himself.
2.Garland has not put together a steller performance in almost a month outside 1 game. A ongoing theme with him in March over his career.
3.Allen needs a breather if can't play right. No shame.
4.Mobley just can't let Mitchell brick shots.

 

[bleedwineandgold03]

Bad defensive team going against a team coming off a game, embarrassing performances against the Magic and bad last 18 minutes against the Clippers. Gut check for a fading overachiever??? The 2015 Warriors mostly destroyed and blew out their opponents (with a couple of their own blowouts in the mix, especially during rest games).
1.Mitchell needs to defer if he can't hit shots. 14-46 is terrible. Even pull himself.
2.Garland has not put together a steller performance in almost a month outside 1 game. A ongoing theme with him in March over his career.
3.Allen needs a breather if can't play right. No shame.
4.Mobley just can't let Mitchell brick shots.

Agreed and Mitchell is really killing momentum out there Iv been saying it all year he needs to go to the hole so his outside game opens up but when he just starts jacking 30 footers he goes 0-8 quick and usually doesn’t recover. He needs to be better and it starts with him

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Mitchell missed a week with the groin injury and since coming back he's 5-for-23 on 3's. But the last two games before the injury he was 1-for-13. He's made 6 of his last 36.

For now he should reduce the 3's to shots where he is wide open and focus on dribble penetration. He had 11 assists against the Clippers. He's shooting 34.2% from the field in March and 20.5% on 3's. He needs to be more of an assist guy until his jumper starts falling.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said he was tinkering with lineups against the Clippers. He has earned the luxury to do so by piloting this team to the giant cushion they have over the rest of the East, just like his players have earned the right to be totally calm after choking away a lead at the start of the fourth quarter for the first time all season on Sunday against the Orlando Magic, and then getting absolutely pounded on the boards Tuesday against the Clippers. - Joe Vardon, The Athletic

Vardon pointed out that the Cavs were 1-for-13 on 3's in the 4th quarter against the Clippers.

Poor defense by us. … Our lack of discipline fouling them and giving them second-chance points. They did have an elite shot-making game, but we weren’t disciplined and didn’t do the things on the margins.

That kind of performance can’t survive in a playoff atmosphere, a playoff situation. - Kenny Atkinson

The Cavs, as usual, were too handsy on defense, reaching in when they should be keeping their hands back. Okoro and Strus do this a lot, IMO. Also Jerome when he finds himself matched up against a bigger opponent who is forcing his way into the paint.

The good thing for the Cavs, if they can advance to the Finals, is the West is going to be a bloodbath. The Clippers are healthy and have won 7 of 8. They are in 8th place. The Timberwolves are in 7th and have won 8 of 10. The Warriors are in 6th, one game ahead of the Clippers, and have won 8 of 10. They are rolling since trading for Jimmy Butler.

So the Thunder, Nuggets, Rockets, and Lakers are really going to be tested in the first round. There will probably be no sweeps. The Thunder have a ridiculous 12.5 game lead and have won 9 of 10, but having to play the Clippers or Warriors in the first round followed by the Nuggets, Lakers, or Grizzlies in the second before meeting Denver, Houston, or the Lakers in the West Finals will be a grind.

 

[Dr No]

Harden, Zubac and Kawhi played 39, 36 and 36 minutes.

Mitchell, Allen, DG and Evan played 34, 32, 32 and 31 minutes.

The minutes policing here is a bit much.

The two teams are in totally different situations. They need to get out of the play-in and have to play their stars as many minutes as possible every night. We are all but a shoe-in for the #1 seed and have no need to wear our guys down. Also, we had another game the next night (tonight) whereas the Clips don't play again until Friday. The benefit we have of playing so great up to this point, is we have no need to do anything but keep our guys healthy and sharp.

 

[2 For The Brew]

The two teams are in totally different situations. They need to get out of the play-in and have to play their stars as many minutes as possible every night. We are all but a shoe-in for the #1 seed and have no need to wear our guys down. Also, we had another game the next night (tonight) whereas the Clips don't play again until Friday. The benefit we have of playing so great up to this point, is we have no need to do anything but keep our guys healthy and sharp.

32 minutes a game will "wear guys down"?

 

[Dr No]

32 minutes a game will "wear guys down"?

at game #68 when you are dealing with things like a sore foot, or an injured hand, or a strained groin - yes. Over the course of a long season a handful of minutes each game matter. You don't want to limp into the playoffs

 

[PIP]

I'd still limp into a hot bitch with a strained groin....

Edit to add: GawdDamnit PIP, you're in your 40's now and you're maturing as a person... Can't say stuff like this...

Edit to add...again: But datAss...