Game Thread 2020-21 Season | Clippers @ Cavs | February 3, 2021

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Fedor pointed out that the 10 three-point shots the Cavs took were a season low for the entire NBA. He has a nice column on how the Cavs understand that won't fly and they need to "fix" their offense.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

The fact we allow teams to shoot 41% from the three ball line IN OUR GYM says Nance wouldn’t have made a bit of difference!

The Clippers were over 55% and some of that was because it's easy to shoot 3's over our short guards who can't get up high enough to really contest the shot. I've seen lots of times where opponents gathered to shoot a 3 and then stopped because they saw Nance was in position to block or strongly contest the shot. But if Garland or Sexton is in your face you just take the shot, especially if you're 6'7".

 

[Ohioplayer00]

The Clippers were over 55% and some of that was because it's easy to shoot 3's over our short guards who can't get up high enough to really contest the shot. I've seen lots of times where opponents gathered to shoot a 3 and then stopped because they saw Nance was in position to block or strongly contest the shot. But if Garland or Sexton is in your face you just take the shot, especially if you're 6'7".

Sorry you can’t use our guards height as the issue....Portland, Toronto and Atlanta have small guards as well and they hold teams to a lower shooting percentage. It’s about staying attached to shooters, rotating quickly and closing out on shooters even quicker. This shows there’s a laziness in executing on defensive responsibilities.

 

[Nphan]

Sending him to the bench will just encourage him to think that when he comes in, it's his time to shine.

There's only one solution, bench him until he stops playing like absolute shit.

Wouldn't that be fine? Let him best up and out rebound the other teams bench players while out starters rest.

 

[Kouki]

Wouldn't that be fine? Let him best up and out rebound the other teams bench players while out starters rest.

I'm not confident his efficiency would even improve enough vs 2nd stringers for him to be effective

 

[Cavatt]

Sorry you can’t use our guards height as the issue....Portland, Toronto and Atlanta have small guards as well and they hold teams to a lower shooting percentage. It’s about staying attached to shooters, rotating quickly and closing out on shooters even quicker. This shows there’s a laziness in executing on defensive responsibilities.

I am not understanding this take. George hit a shot at the buzzer where Okoro high fived him. There isn't better defense to be played there. Could Giannis crown him more, sure.

The Clippers are the best 3 point shooting team in the league. The Cavs played good enough defense to hold the Clippers to 100 points last night, they just hit some shots.

Paul George was on fire. He shot what, 90% from 3? Statistically he shouldn't have been able to do that if nobody guarded him.

This kind of reaction didn't happen against the Lakers in similar outcome. You have to be able to score and not just defend against the best teams. The Cavs can't do that right now, and THAT IS WHY THEY ARE NOT ONE OF THE BEST TEAMS THEMSELVES.

A contending team of 30 year old guys beat a team of mostly 25 and under guys last night. The Cavs played really good and found out some weaknesses in their game last night. This was a learning experience.

 

[Cavatt]

Long term I still feel really good about okoro, but man is anyone else concerned that his two best games were his first two preseason games? Need more aggressiveness out there - needs to earn his minutes a little more.

He won the Grizzlies game single handedly at the end and willed a win.

He's really good. Just needs reps

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

I am not understanding this take. George hit a shot at the buzzer where Okoro high fived him. There isn't better defense to be played there. Could Giannis crown him more, sure.

The Clippers are the best 3 point shooting team in the league. The Cavs played good enough defense to hold the Clippers to 100 points last night, they just hit some shots.

Paul George was on fire. He shot what, 90% from 3? Statistically he shouldn't have been able to do that if nobody guarded him.

This kind of reaction didn't happen against the Lakers in similar outcome. You have to be able to score and not just defend against the best teams. The Cavs can't do that right now, and THAT IS WHY THEY ARE NOT ONE OF THE BEST TEAMS THEMSELVES.

A contending team of 30 year old guys beat a team of mostly 25 and under guys last night. The Cavs played really good and found out some weaknesses in their game last night. This was a learning experience.

You're right, George was on fire - he even banked one in on a long 3 with Okoro in his face. I just think Nance is the best defender on our team against the 3 due to his movement skills, length, and jumping ability. I saw him face down James Harden those two games against Brooklyn. Harden pump faked a couple of times but Nance wouldn't bite so Harden had to pass off when he wanted to take the shot.

I just don't agree that not having Nance to defend the best three-point team in the league made NO difference. Obviously, not a 23-point difference, but he would have forced a few misses or forced the shooter to pass off.

There was one time where Sexton was guarding George at the 3-point line and the ball was passed to Ibaka at the free throw line. Drummond came out of defend Ibaka and for some unknown reason Sexton abandoned George and dropped down to the free throw line and doubled Ibaka. He probably thought Ibaka would dribble and he could steal the ball. Ibaka just passed it back to George for an uncontested three. I have no idea why Sexton thought they were better off doubling Ibaka and leaving the best three-point shooter in the league wide open.

 

[OptimusPrime]

You're right, George was on fire - he even banked one in on a long 3 with Okoro in his face. I just think Nance is the best defender on our team against the 3 due to his movement skills, length, and jumping ability. I saw him face down James Harden those two games against Brooklyn. Harden pump faked a couple of times but Nance wouldn't bite so Harden had to pass off when he wanted to take the shot.

I just don't agree that not having Nance to defend the best three-point team in the league made NO difference. Obviously, not a 23-point difference, but he would have forced a few misses or forced the shooter to pass off.

There was one time where Sexton was guarding George at the 3-point line and the ball was passed to Ibaka at the free throw line. Drummond came out of defend Ibaka and for some unknown reason Sexton abandoned George and dropped down to the free throw line and doubled Ibaka. He probably thought Ibaka would dribble and he could steal the ball. Ibaka just passed it back to George for an uncontested three. I have no idea why Sexton thought they were better off doubling Ibaka and leaving the best three-point shooter in the league wide open.

A few things, first I don't think anyone said Nance's absence had no impact on the defense. It's obvious that they miss him on that end of the floor.

Next, Sexton gambling for a steal and leaving George open for a 3 is a dumb play, but his size had nothing to do with it.

Finally, I don't remember every play, so Nance might have had a few nice stops against Harden, but I do specifically remember Okoro making his life miserable both of those games.

 

[Ohioplayer00]

I am not understanding this take. George hit a shot at the buzzer where Okoro high fived him. There isn't better defense to be played there. Could Giannis crown him more, sure.

The Clippers are the best 3 point shooting team in the league. The Cavs played good enough defense to hold the Clippers to 100 points last night, they just hit some shots.

Paul George was on fire. He shot what, 90% from 3? Statistically he shouldn't have been able to do that if nobody guarded him.

This kind of reaction didn't happen against the Lakers in similar outcome. You have to be able to score and not just defend against the best teams. The Cavs can't do that right now, and THAT IS WHY THEY ARE NOT ONE OF THE BEST TEAMS THEMSELVES.

A contending team of 30 year old guys beat a team of mostly 25 and under guys last night. The Cavs played really good and found out some weaknesses in their game last night. This was a learning experience.

I’m not just talking about this game....overall on an average teams shoot 41% from three land on us! IN OUR HOUSE! That’s poor defense no matter how you slice it!