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Game Thread | 2020-21 Season | Game #56 | Cavs @ Bulls | April 17, 2021

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Wham with the Right Hand

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After a day off the Cavs take on the Bulls in Chicago. The Bulls are 22-33 overall and tied for 10th place in the East, so they are fighting to keep that last play-in spot. They have been a better road team this year as their home record is 10-18 against 12-15 on the road.

The timing of this game could not be better for the Cavs. Bulls' star Zach LaVine is out for several days due to COVID precautions. LaVine is averaging 27.5 points per game on 50.6% from the field and 41.6% from deep. The Bulls have lost five straight and are playing on the second night of a back-to-back while the Cavs had an off day. Everything is in the Cavs' favor, which means they are almost certain to lose.

Sorry, but it seems like every time the stars line up and it looks like the Cavs might actually have an easy win they get beat, if not annihilated.

These teams last played on March 24 in Cleveland with the Cavs winning 103-94. That was a much different Cavaliers team that night. Sexton was out and so was Love, Prince, and Delly. Hartenstein hadn't been acquired yet. The Cavs used a lot of guys who aren't playing now. Cedi, Cook, Dotson, Windler, Stevens, and Thomas combined to play 81 minutes that night. Windler and Dotson are out tonight and Cook is no longer with the team.

So since the Cavs' win nearly a month ago they've added Sexton, Prince, Love, Delly and Hartenstein while the Bulls have lost LaVine and added Nikola Vucevic at the trade deadline.

With LaVine out Vucevic leads the Bulls in scoring at 22.6 ppg and 10.2 rebounds. He's hitting 49.8% from the field and 45.3% from deep. Allen and Hartenstein need to gear up for this guy.

PG Coby White is averaging 14.4 ppg but only shooting 41.1%. Their other three starters are averaging under 10 points per game.

Last night the Bulls lost 126-115 to the 28-26 Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies shot 52.3%. Not much defense by the Bulls.

The Bulls have a big team. Vucevic is 6'11". The other starters last night were Daniel Theis (6'8"), Patrick Williams (6'7"), Garrett Temple (6'5"), and Coby White (6'5"). They also bring in 6'8" Thaddeus Young, who's averaging 12.3 points on 57.9% at age 32 and Lauri Markkanen (7'0") off the bench. Markkanen is averaging 14.7 ppg and shooting 38.4% on 3's. They have to be one of the bigger teams in the league.

Garrett Temple starts at shooting guard in place of LaVine. He's 34 years old so Sexton and Garland show be able to blow by him with ease or knock down 3's if he backs off.

The Bulls made a lot of moves at the trade deadline bringing in Vucevic, Theis, Javonte Green and Troy Brown, Jr while sending out Wendall Carter Jr and Otto Porter Jr., among others. So far it's not paying off.

I'm not going to review their team stats because it's a different team after the trades and especially now with LaVine out. Bottom line is they've lost five straight, they're playing on the second night of a back-to-back at home where they have not played well, and they don't have their best player. The Cavs beat them last month with a bunch of guys playing major minutes who have since been replaced by better players. All signs point up for the Cavs which is why I'm pretty pessimistic about tonight.
 
I love hesitation moves. Love doesn’t even try to contest shots.
 
Good pass by DG to Okoro.
 
I will say the Cavs are moving down court faster.
 
Nice dish to Allen by Sexton. Missed bucket tho.
 
DG got fouled twice on those driving plays.

Where is Hartenstein?
 
Another good pass by DG to Nance.
 
The hell going on with Allen around the rim?
What happened to pre-all star break Allen? Just due to injuries?

The guy before the break looked worthy of 5 years / $100 mil. Current version is nowhere close.
 
What happened to pre-all star break Allen? Just due to injuries?

The guy before the break looked worthy of 5 years / $100 mil. Current version is nowhere close.
Maybe he’s not 100% healthy.
 
Nike makes the ugliest NBA jerseys. Bring back Starter!
 

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