Game Thread 2020-21 Season | Game #10 | Cavs @ Bucks | January 9, 2021

[ansatsusha80]

Pretty impressive effort tonight. Especially by Drummond and Dotson. Didn’t get embarrassed. Okoro and Stevens killed the team.

You better add Cedi to the list. He was useless as usual.

 

[sportscoach]

If you said the Cavs would be 5-5 to start the season, with what 7 players on the injury list after ten games to start the season, then I would have taken that right away on paper.

If anything this is given guys who normally wouldnt have had minutes a chance to prove themselves and with the East 7/8 spots really up for grabs in the playoff hunt, it really says they have a chance to sneak in if everyone is healthy.

 

[daddywags]

Going 2-4 on a 6 game road trip is fine.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Another bad first quarter as the Cavs had an inexcusable 9 turnovers and then 6 the rest of the way. The Cavs were down 13 after one quarter and lost by 10. The game was essentially lost in the first quarter. This team needs to learn how to start better.

Kris Middleton was the difference with 27 points on 16 shots plus six assists. He was a man among boys and clearly the best player on the floor. Bobby Portis had a nice game with 17 points, 11 boards, 3 assists, and 4 steals. With Giannis out Portis stepped up.

Dre had a great game with 26 pts and 24 boards but had six turnovers, mostly on trying to force passes into tiny windows in the paint. The Cavs had too many turnovers trying to force passes that weren't there.

The Cavs bench had 13 points and zero assists in 54 minutes. With seven players out we have no bench. The Bucks bench had 23 points and 8 assists.

Overall the defense was solid. Holding the Bucks to 100 even without Giannis is not bad. We're just missing too much offense. Cedi is getting a golden opportunity to prove he deserves to be an NBA starter but it isn't happening. He was 1-for-8 on 3's when we had a chance to steal a win.

Okoro seems to be focused 98% on defense. In 34 minutes he had 4 points, 2 rebounds, and one assist for a -22, easily the worst on the team. He was 0-for-4 from the foul line. He was getting good shots when he drove, but couldn't get them to drop. Gotta remember he's only 19.

Yeah, Stevens was a -14 in 12 minutes. He's overmatched at this level. Under normal circumstances he's in the developmental league.

 

[Comeback kid]

Little difficult for the bench to score if they don’t play many minutes.

 

[Goldin Brown]

Drummond seems to be more effective facing up opposed to posting up, let's him utilize his passing more and he's kind of okay attacking the defense head on. Didn't hate him this game...

 

[ryanf]

Drummond seems to be more effective facing up opposed to posting up, let's him utilize his passing more and he's kind of okay attacking the defense head on. Didn't hate him this game...

I have the same assessment. Drummond better learn how to finish and have a few counter-moves if this is what he wants. A big guy driving from the high post can a be unique offensive threat.

 

[KilgoreTrout]

I have the same assessment. Drummond better learn how to finish and have a few counter-moves if this is what he wants. A big guy driving from the high post can a be unique offensive threat.

You should post more often.

 

[BigZ94]

Really don’t understand why Wade didn’t get a run when we were making that comeback in the 4th, could have used the spacing and what the hell has Thin Maker provided for us

 

[Comeback kid]

Really don’t understand why Wade am didn’t get a run when we were making that comeback in the 4th, could have used the spacing and what the hell has Thin Maker provided for us

They won’t play him if he’s playing well. Either Bickerstaff is clueless or something else is going on nobody knows about. Played great for 12 minutes 1st half and saw 2 minutes 2nd half. He hasn’t missed a shot in 2 games, rebounded well, and rock solid on defense, they are scared as hell when he plays well.............

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

They won’t play him if he’s playing well. Either Bickerstaff is clueless or something else is going on nobody knows about. Played great for 12 minutes 1st half and saw 2 minutes 2nd half. He hasn’t missed a shot in 2 games, rebounded well, and rock solid on defense, they are scared as hell when he plays well.............

Is he signed to a contract yet? Maybe that's why

 

[Comeback kid]

Could be. He signed a non-guaranteed contract 4 year contract.

 

[bigfoot5415]

They won’t play him if he’s playing well. Either Bickerstaff is clueless or something else is going on nobody knows about. Played great for 12 minutes 1st half and saw 2 minutes 2nd half. He hasn’t missed a shot in 2 games, rebounded well, and rock solid on defense, they are scared as hell when he plays well.............

Are we talking about the same Wade here?

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

I have the same assessment. Drummond better learn how to finish and have a few counter-moves if this is what he wants. A big guy driving from the high post can a be unique offensive threat.

Yes, he was surprisingly effective facing the bucket and driving for layups both from straight on and from the baseline. I don't like him posting up with his back to basket and trying to back down his man on the dribble. Too many turnovers.

 

[Cavatt]

Yes, he was surprisingly effective facing the bucket and driving for layups both from straight on and from the baseline. I don't like him posting up with his back to basket and trying to back down his man on the dribble. Too many turnovers.

Works pretty well on a slow footed center. I don't know if he is coachable enough to do anything like this, but they really need to do an assessment of shots that are good shots for Andre and those that aren't within 6 feet.

He should never slop it up to draw a foul, that is not efficient for him because he isn't a good enough foul shooter. He would be much better off passing it out to 3 in those instances. H doesn't get the benefit of the whistle as much as he should anyway, so it looks horrible because he doesn't get the call.

Putting it on the floor from top of the key or along the baseline makes sense. Below the ft line, there is too much traffic and he loses it consistently. When he has a head of steam, he is almost unstoppable and I don't think many guys will want to draw the charge.

Hook shots seem ok, layups on the move and runners he just doesn't have the touch for.

Most importantly they need to get him watching Shaq and showing how he ducked in for dunks and passed out of doubles and triples to the 3 pt line. I never realized how quick of decision maker Shaq was kicking out to 3 and how good he was finding the open guy. Boobie in particular was great off the bench that way, and I think Garland and Windler can be that guy.

When they are watching tape, "You are doubled in the post, somebody is wide open for 3, Andre. You are a great passer, you can pad your assists very easily here instead of missing the shot with double coverage. Are you willing to give up some missed shots for assists? You could be one of teh better passing centers in the league, or you can have a lower fg%."

It's a very tough conversation to have right now, because nobody else is going to get shots more efficiently at the moment with injuries, but he can't take these shots when he has better offensive players around him. Despite the turnovers, I would appeal to his vanity a passer.

It's just so crazy because it is literally just shot selection. He should know better by now. JB has to be honest with him.