2025-26 Season | Playoff Series #1 | Cavaliers vs. Raptors

The Oi said:
Wade sucks man
Click to expand...
Wade has the best +/- of any Cav in the series. He's posted a positive +/- in every game the Cavs have played except game 3 (which we lost by 22 where he was -10). All of the impact evidence is that the Cavs have been substantially better with Wade on the floor than off it. All of it.

If you get frustrated by the offense with him out there, just understand that the defense has been worse, by a larger margin, whenever he's been off the court.
 
CavsKermit said:
Wade has the best +/- of any Cav in the series. He's posted a positive +/- in every game the Cavs have played except game 3 (which we lost by 22 where he was -10). All of the impact evidence is that the Cavs have been substantially better with Wade on the floor than off it. All of it.

If you get frustrated by the offense with him out there, just understand that the defense has been worse, by a larger margin, whenever he's been off the court.
Click to expand...
A large majority of “Fans” will never understand that. The only thing they check is points and ball dominance. And if you’re not a big scorer you’re ass.
 
I think I’d consider starting Wade and having Schroder be the first sub.
 
Comeback kid said:
A large majority of “Fans” will never understand that. The only thing they check is points and ball dominance. And if you’re not a big scorer you’re ass.
Click to expand...
the only real beef semi-smart fans have with Dean is his availability (which is luck anyways)

he’s been great and he has an opportunity for two more really great matchups. he will make himself some money
 
bdc2014 said:
I think I’d consider starting Wade and having Schroder be the first sub.
Click to expand...
I'd have Schroder out there in the Mitchell units and Merrill with the Harden units. I'd start Wade if Ingram plays, otherwise I'd save his minutes for backup 4 and kill the single big lineups with fire.
 
he's been terrible.

It's time to get real and build this team around Schroeder. Real fans get it.
 
Game 6 preview:

This will have to be short because I spent most of the day with a sick relative.

The Cavs return to Toronto where they have averaged 94.5 points in their two losses. Obviously that won't cut it. They need to find a way to score more on the road in front of a loud and hostile crowd.

The Cavs are shooting an appalling 42.5% from the field and 28.2% on 3's in Toronto. Their free throw percentage is just under 72%. Donovan is shooting 32%, Mobley 33%, and Harden 41% north of the border. All three need to improve their shooting percentages.

In Game 4 the Cavs committed 14 turnovers in the first half leading to 28 Raptors points. In the second half they committed one turnover which did not lead to any points. So the difference in points lost on turnovers was 28. The Raptors scored 74 points in the first half and 46 in the second for a difference of, you guessed it, 28 points.

Avoiding turnovers is the key. James and Donovan, don't try to force your way to the rim through a crowd of Raptors in the paint. Don't make careless, telegraphed passes and definitely no long sideline-to-sideline passes in the half-court offense. If you're about to be doubled, pass out of it quickly before they trap you and make it a short, crisp pass.

In their three home wins the Cavs are averaging 13.7 turnovers. In their two road losses they are averaging 18.5 turnovers.

Brandon Ingram is questionable for Game 6 but he's averaging 12 points per game on 33% from the field so I don't think they'll miss him, TBH. They're probably better with Mamu or Battle on the floor than Ingram. In fact they are -17.2 in plus/minus with Ingram which is worst on the team except for Ja'Kobe Walter.

Jamal Shead is having a remarkable series at +22.4. The next highest Raptor is Barrett at +5.4. The Cavs need to pay more attention to Shead as they have been leaving him unguarded on the perimeter to double Barnes and Barrett. Shead has reaped the benefits.

For the Cavs the on/off leaders are Wade at +28.7 (which leads all players), Merrill at +27.0, Allen +11.7, and Harden +5.6. Schroder is +1.4, Donovan is -1.5, and after that it falls off a cliff as Strus is -21.6 and Mobley -22.4. Tyson is -14.0.

The Mobley number is shocking as he is a max player but the Cavs are getting killed when he's on the floor. He had something of a bounce back game on Wednesday so we'll see, but overall his playoff performance has not been inspiring, at least in terms of team success when he's on the floor versus off.

It will be interesting to see if Kenny starts Strus again because the Cavs have been much, much better with Wade on the floor than Strus. It's over a 50-point difference. Max can be very good when he's hitting 3's, grabbing rebounds, and driving and dishing to bigs, but he's missed 67 games and he doesn't look quite like himself. He's also a defensive liability.

If I'm Kenny I'm giving more minutes to Wade, Merrill, and Allen while cutting back Strus' minutes. He's getting abused defensively by Barrett and Barnett.

This game is on Prime Video at 7:30. The pressure is on the Raptors to hold serve and give themselves a shot at an upset in game 7. My feeling is that if the Cavs can't beat the Raptors in Toronto without Quickley AND Ingram (if Ingram is out), then they won't get much farther even if they win Game 7.
 
Last edited:
On/off is a poor indicator. The small lineups around Mobley have struggled and its mostly scoring.
 
Ethan said:
Yo momma sucks. Actually she licks the taint first then she sucks. Rimjob mandatory
Click to expand...
You're goddamn right she does. My mom loves sucking dick and she'll tell anyone that wants to know. Proud of her for that.
 
CavsKermit said:
I mean Allen had 15 boards in Game 4 and was +14 which was the best among all starters. If Mobley goes 0-3 instead of 3-3 from three last night, which if we're being honest about the odds was the more likely outcome, that's a 14 point game. Not for nothing, but a 56% FGA from your 7 foot PF/center isn't *good.*
Click to expand...
Don’t let your feelings get in the way of facts man. Or how probability works.

You’re correct, so even with a 15 rebound game, Allen is averaging less than 7 per game for the series. Yikes.

Not quite sure what your overall point is.
 
Max and Mitchell just need to make shots while Harden takes care of the ball.

Dean, Tyson, Sam, and Dennis are playing with sufficient force and physicality.
 
Cassity14 said:
Don’t let your feelings get in the way of facts man. Or how probability works.

You’re correct, so even with a 15 rebound game, Allen is averaging less than 7 per game for the series. Yikes.

Not quite sure what your overall point is.
Click to expand...
The Cavs offense has been broken for last 3 games with or without Allen on floor . He's a center who's getting guarded by smaller players and the Cavs are unable to get him the ball. However, when you're struggling to score, defense and rebounding become very important and that shows up in the +/- category. As is the case with Wade, the Cavs aren't seeing the hoped-for offensive improvement when they play single big lineups. They're just sacrificing defense and rebounding.

They needed fluke 3 point shooting games from Mobley and Schroder to win on Wednesday. I don't know that those performances are repeatable.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top