Game Thread | 2020-2021 Season | Game #53 | Pelicans @ Cavs | April 11, 2021

[Wham with the Right Hand]

The Cavaliers, fresh off a nasty beatdown against the Raptors in which they set a franchise record for points allowed in the first half, take on the Pelicans, who hammered the Cavs 116-82 one month ago in New Orleans. That game was not as close as the score suggests. The Cavs were down by 36 points after three quarters. They were held to 9 points in the third quarter.

The Pelicans, 23-29 and losers of 4 of their last 6, have pretty much the same team except starting point guard Lonzo Ball is out. He scored 3 points against the Cavs in March but was a +33 in 25 minutes. Four of the five Peli starters were +23 to +33 in limited action against the Cavs that night as most of the second half was garbage time.

The Cavs started Allen and Nance that game but did not have Garland, Hartenstein, Prince and Delly. Kevin Love only played 10 minutes as he was just returning from injury. So the Cavs will bring a much different lineup tonight. Cook, Osman, McGee, Dotson and Windler combined to play 88 minutes that night. None of them are seeing minutes now.

Whether that will make a difference remains to be seen. Somebody has to guard 6'8" power forward Brandon Ingram who scored 28 points on 11-for-14. Huge center Steven Adams had 17 boards in 21 minutes. And the unstoppable force that is Zion Williamson bulled and spun his way to the rim for 23 points in 18 minutes before calling it a night.

I think the Pelicans are a bad matchup for the Cavs because of the size and muscle they bring to the front line where the Cavs are more of a finesse team with skinny guys like Nance and Allen and a shorter player in Okoro. Maybe Love and Hartenstein can add some muscle while Prince brings a little more height to the perimeter. But I still don't see how they contain Ingram and Zion.

Two nights ago Zion scored 37 points as the Pelis beat the Sixers. The presence of Joel Embiid didn't matter. Zion also kicked in 15 rebounds and 8 assists. The only way to stop him is to put a wall of bodies in front of them but then he passes out of it for an open shot by someone else. Against Philly he was a one-man wrecking crew. The other four starters combined for 34 points and the bench combined for 30 points in a 101-94 win against the Eastern Conference leaders.

I think the Cavs will be more competitive tonight, especially coming off last night's humiliation, but I don't see how they can beat a physical team like this.

 

[KilgoreTrout]

3 games in 4 nights? This team will be worn out.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

3 games in 4 nights? This team will be worn out.

Only Garland, Sexton, and Wade played more than 26 minutes last night and they were off the night before so it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

It will be interesting to see what Hartenstein can do against Steven Adams. Hart had a really good game last night with 12 points, 8 boards, 6 assists, 3 steals, and 4 blocks in 25 minutes.

I'm not looking forward to watching Love guard Zion if that's how they match up. That could be a disaster. But Okoro is way too small. They might put Love on Adams and Wade on Zion. That puts Okoro on 6'8" Brandon Ingram.

Like I said - bad matchups all over the place.

 

[Rich]

This is a bad matchup.

Ingram is way too big for Okoro and Zion is way, way too athletic for Wade and/or Love.

 

[foucault87]

In fairness, unless you are Giannis, Zion is a mismatch for everyone

 

[red.]

Darius Garland (sprained right ankle) is considered to be a game-time decision for Sunday's game against the Pelicans.​

Garland departed Saturday's game during the fourth quarter after landing awkwardly on an opposing player's foot. The schedule works in Cleveland's favor here, as they will not play again until Wednesday night. If Garland is unable to play Sunday night, Collin Sexton will have the ball in his hands even more as the primary ball-handler.

 

[red.]

Collin Sexton (strained left groin) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Pelicans.​

Both of Cleveland's starting guards are considered to be questionable for what is the second game of a back-to-back. While Darius Garland (ankle) left Saturday's game late due to injury, Sexton was able to play 35 minutes without any noticeable issues. Matthew Dellavedova is not listed on the injury report, so he would likely see an increase in minutes if Sexton and/or Garland are unable to play.

 

[daddywags]

Collin Sexton (strained left groin) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Pelicans.​

Both of Cleveland's starting guards are considered to be questionable for what is the second game of a back-to-back. While Darius Garland (ankle) left Saturday's game late due to injury, Sexton was able to play 35 minutes without any noticeable issues. Matthew Dellavedova is not listed on the injury report, so he would likely see an increase in minutes if Sexton and/or Garland are unable to play.

Ain't it a shame that we refuse to tank?

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

Ain't it a shame that we refuse to tank?

We would have lost either way

We are wasting injuries in the wrong places

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

I want them to put the new guy on Zion. He's 6'10", 260, and built like a shit brick house. Zion will probably take him to the cleaners, but at least Kabengele has the physique to make him work for it. And what better way to show you deserve another 10-day contract or maybe more?

But with Love, Nance, and Wade at the 4 along with Allen and Hartenstein at the 5 all under contract for next year I don't see a spot for Kabengele next year. I'd still like to see him bang with Zion, though.

 

[red.]

I want them to put the new guy on Zion. He's 6'10", 260, and built like a shit brick house. Zion will probably take him to the cleaners, but at least Kabengele has the physique to make him work for it. And what better way to show you deserve another 10-day contract or maybe more?

But with Love, Nance, and Wade at the 4 along with Allen and Hartenstein at the 5 all under contract for next year I don't see a spot for Kabengele next year. I'd still like to see him bang with Zion, though.

Mfiondu Kabengele (sprained right ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Pelicans.​

Kabengele did not get into Saturday's loss to the Raptors until late, and he would be in line for a similar workload if made available to play Sunday. Leave him in the waiver wire.

 

[KilgoreTrout]

Collin Sexton (strained left groin) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Pelicans.​

Both of Cleveland's starting guards are considered to be questionable for what is the second game of a back-to-back. While Darius Garland (ankle) left Saturday's game late due to injury, Sexton was able to play 35 minutes without any noticeable issues. Matthew Dellavedova is not listed on the injury report, so he would likely see an increase in minutes if Sexton and/or Garland are unable to play.

Just don’t lose by 70 points.

 

[Rich]

We would have lost either way

We are wasting injuries in the wrong places

You can't be serious.

 

[Rich]

It's a back to back. They want to lose.

We know they aren't questionable. Just announce they're out.

There's a 0% chance either guy play.

 

[Dr No]

Only Garland, Sexton, and Wade played more than 26 minutes last night and they were off the night before so it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

It will be interesting to see what Hartenstein can do against Steven Adams. Hart had a really good game last night with 12 points, 8 boards, 6 assists, 3 steals, and 4 blocks in 25 minutes.

I'm not looking forward to watching Love guard Zion if that's how they match up. That could be a disaster. But Okoro is way too small. They might put Love on Adams and Wade on Zion. That puts Okoro on 6'8" Brandon Ingram.

Like I said - bad matchups all over the place.

I wonder about putting Stevens on Zion.