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

[Rich]

This lineup got 3 possessions after that last timeout

They scored everytime down and got two stops with one Theis 3pt from the corner

Let them have a few minutes and we can win this game

Why is he subbing Sexton after 3 possessions?

Agree. Needed to let that lineup go more.

Did the same in the 4th. Subbed Love out and then 2 minutes later back in. Love didn't need to come back in there and Nance deserved to close that game.

 

[Rich]

I didn't think it was possible to have too many unselfish players but the fact is we have a lot of guys who either can't create their own shot or don't want to try. We're last in the NBA in 3-point attempts and 29th in 3-point percentage. The Bulls took 10 more 3's, made four more, which is a 12 point advantage from deep in a 10-point win. Yeah, we need another scorer.

You can't win in this league if you're last in 3-point attempts and second to last in 3-point percentage.

Okoro is quietly shooting 52.5% from the field and 45.0% on 3's in April. Part of that is he rarely shoots unless he has a high percentage shot. He needs to attack more and be more aggressive hunting 3's.

Yea it just seems to me the primary issue is staring us in the face.

We're 19th in defensive rating which, while not good, is also not terrible for a young team like this one starting small players. There's multiple good teams behind us headed to the playoffs. Brooklyn, Portland, Atlanta.

Last in the league in 3 point attempts. NExt to last in percentage.

This is the number 1 issue going forward.

 

[foucault87]

Yea it just seems to me the primary issue is staring us in the face.

We're 19th in defensive rating which, while not good, is also not terrible for a young team like this one starting small players. There's multiple good teams behind us headed to the playoffs. Brooklyn, Portland, Atlanta.

Last in the league in 3 point attempts. NExt to last in percentage.

This is the number 1 issue going forward.

Just getting shooters isnt going to cut it either. We need shooters who can also make plays. I dont think we need a heliocentric star ala harden, luka, or bron, but just more smart shot creators who are also a threat to score on their own.

 

[Rich]

Just getting shooters isnt going to cut it either. We need shooters who can also make plays. I dont think we need a heliocentric star ala harden, luka, or bron, but just more smart shot creators who are also a threat to score on their own.

If I could add two dream guys it would be a really competent back-up point like TJ McConnell and then just one unconscious 3 point shooter, preferably with length.

Duncan RObinson type of guy.

 

[ansatsusha80]

it was less than a week ago when sexton and garland sat out, this forum predicted a massacre but 6 players scored in double figures including 21pts wade and 19pts okoro, those 2 going for 14-22 shooting, 33pts from the bench and cavs unlucky to lose including conceding a 3rd quarter buzzer beater from over halfcourt

then sexton continued to sit out for the hornets game, i didn't see that game but the box score looks good, every player scoring, every player in +, looked like good team basketball with 41pts off the bench

sexton inserted back into the lineup, takes 19 and 20 shots, 5 turnovers, i think that is very deflating for the team anyway but especially if he isn't shooting well

The bench have been dog shit all season..Them having a rare good game doesn't change that they're sorry.

Nance and Dellavedova can't shoot.Teams are leaving them wide open to shoot and they're not making them.

Prince is inconsistent when it comes to scoring.

Cedi is more inconsistent than Prince.

Hartenstein can score but isnt a scoring threat at the moment.

Stevens can become a scoring threat but needs to work on his three ball. On top of that,he rarely plays unless there's an injury or the person before him is playing horribly.

I thought Dotson would atleast give us something but he's been garbage and hasn't play much this season.


Now,name me one player that can take the pressure off of Sexton when he's in with the second unit. I'll wait...

This team depends on Sexton,Garland and whoever's the third guy from the starters to score alot of points because our bench is horrible.

 

[Dr No]

Yea it just seems to me the primary issue is staring us in the face.

We're 19th in defensive rating which, while not good, is also not terrible for a young team like this one starting small players. There's multiple good teams behind us headed to the playoffs. Brooklyn, Portland, Atlanta.

Last in the league in 3 point attempts. NExt to last in percentage.

This is the number 1 issue going forward.

I think Sexton is a good player and a very talented scorer, but this is one of my concerns with him. He’s the highest usage player on our team (top 20 in the nba) and doesn’t take or assist 3’s very well. The offense runs through him and proficiency at the 3 point line is just not in his wheelhouse at the moment. It’s going to be difficult to become a team that shoots more and better from the arc unless his game develops that direction.

 

[2 For The Brew]

I think Sexton is a good player and a very talented scorer, but this is one of my concerns with him. He’s the highest usage player on our team (top 20 in the nba) and doesn’t take or assist 3’s very well. The offense runs through him and proficiency at the 3 point line is just not in his wheelhouse at the moment. It’s going to be difficult to become a team that shoots more and better from the arc unless his game develops that direction.

Actually he’s 23rd in usage and 20th in points per game. Scorers do have high usage as it’s necessary to shoot in order to score.

Tough to get assists on three pointers when the team stinks at shooting threes.

The four highest paid players on this up team are Love, Prince, Nance and Cedi. The four of them in total have outscored Sexton by 56 points. Night after night SexLand has to carry this sorry-ass roster and yet they are relentlessly attacked as being the problem. Ridiculous.

 

[kidduck]

Why not try some of the other DNP bench guys when the current reserves are playing
like crap? Sore need of scoring and toughness.

Hard for the youngsters to learn how to win if the head coach isn't all in , either from
driving the tank or lacking necessary skills himself.

How often can you watch a Cavs game and see where JBB has made helpful
in game adjustments?

 

[Dr No]

Actually he’s 23rd in usage and 20th in points per game. Scorers do have high usage as it’s necessary to shoot in order to score.

Tough to get assists on three pointers when the team stinks at shooting threes.

The four highest paid players on this up team are Love, Prince, Nance and Cedi. The four of them in total have outscored Sexton by 56 points. Night after night SexLand has to carry this sorry-ass roster and yet they are relentlessly attacked as being the problem. Ridiculous.

I’m not attacking Sexton, I said clearly that I believe he is a very talented scorer. But it’s not ridiculous to point out that his game doesn’t revolve around the 3 point line in either shot selection or assists. That is simple fact. And if our team wants to expand its 3 point volume, our highest volume player will have to adjust his game.

 

[2 For The Brew]

I’m not attacking Sexton, I said clearly that I believe he is a very talented scorer. But it’s not ridiculous to point out that his game doesn’t revolve around the 3 point line in either shot selection or assists. That is simple fact. And if our team wants to expand its 3 point volume, our highest volume player will have to adjust his game.

No, he won’t. The rest of the team needs to step up.

Whenever I hear opposing teams commentators before games they are worried about Sexton and Garland. Nobody else on our team is a major threat to score. Teams can run guys like Prince and Wade off the three point line because they can’t do much else. Delly has no shot; Kevin plays like an old man; Okoro is still raw offensively; Nance and Allen are not significant offensive weapons. Cedi sucks; Windler sucks; Dotson sucks; Stevens sucks; etc. We’re the worst team offensively and shooting 3s entirely on merit, but not because Sexton is the problem.

 

[daddywags]

According to nba.co stats, Garland's 6.1 apg account for 15.4 ppg, or 2.52 points-per-assist. For Sexton, his 4.1 assists account for 10.5 points, or 2.56 points-per-assist. Pretty comparable. The stats also show that Sexton makes 47.6 passes per game, while Garland makes 55.8.* So, while Garland clearly passes and assists more, Sexton isn't quite the black hole he's frequently assumedto be.

*Unless my math is wrong, 20% of Garland's passes are potential assists (11.1), while 18% of Sexton's are potential assists (8.7).

 

[Rodzilla]

I see... you comparing the game from a month ago when sexton was the PG and quinn cook was back up because garland and delly is injured? The game where everyone else couldn't hit a shot and sexton was the one showing some fight? Ok... next...

in the other game sexton and garland were out and delly didn't have a backup, so its a great comparison

other guys not hitting shots is kind of my point though, they hit shots in the delly game, 2 guys got career highs

nobody works harder to help teammates than delly, he plays as if scarlett johannson told him she would give him a blowjob if his teammates played well, he is setting off ball screens, always looking to find the open man or cutter, communicating and encouraging

 

[Rodzilla]

I don't get it. Last month the Cavs beat the Bulls by nine points with Cedi, Cook, Dotson, Stevens, Windler, and Thomas playing 81 minutes. Zach LaVine played for the Bulls and led them in scoring with 22 points. Sexton was out with an injury.

Last night none of those six players got a single minute. Those 81 minutes were replaced by Sexton, Love, Nance, Delly, Prince, and Hartenstein. On paper that's a huge upgrade in talent. On top of that, LaVine was out.

What happened? Instead of winning by nine the Cavs lost by 10, a swing of -19. If anything you would expect a swing of +19 or more with the Bulls losing LaVine (but gaining Vucevic) while the Cavs replaced a group of bench players and G leaguers with proven veterans.

Since returning to the team Delly is 2-for-16 on 3's. Overall he's shooting 23.1% from the field. Love has made 3 of his last 17 from deep. I don't think it was Sexton's fault that Love was 2-for-10 from deep last night or that Delly is shooting 23%. But I can't explain how the Cavs, who on paper were much improved over the team that beat the Bulls on March 24, were 19 points worse last night.

Sexton and Garland missed a ton of shots, going 17-for-41. Love and Delly were awful. Prince couldn't get off a single 3-point attempt as the Bulls hounded him on the perimeter. Allen only shoots the ball when he gets a lob. Nance only shoots when he has an uncontested dunk or an uncontested 3. Hartenstein and Nance are always looking to pass to a cutter, never to shoot. If no cutter is open the time clock expires and somebody has to force up a bad shot. The Cavs scored seven FEWER points than the last game when they were playing Cedi, Cook, Stevens, Dotson, etc.

They need another scorer in the worst way.

they were excited that they weren't playing with sexton in the win against chicago, like the ewing theory

 

[ryanf]

in the other game sexton and garland were out and delly didn't have a backup, so its a great comparison

other guys not hitting shots is kind of my point though, they hit shots in the delly game, 2 guys got career highs

nobody works harder to help teammates than delly, he plays as if scarlett johannson told him she would give him a blowjob if his teammates played well, he is setting off ball screens, always looking to find the open man or cutter, communicating and encouraging

Oh yes, i'm not denying delly's iq and floor game. But he old, slow and can't shoot. And since teams know his shot is gone, they just leave him wide open.

There is a reason sexton can't cut off the ball anymore with delly on the floor, they just gang up on sexton and leave delly open.

 

[Rodzilla]

Oh yes, i'm not denying delly's iq and floor game. But he old, slow and can't shoot. And since teams know his shot is gone, they just leave him wide open.

There is a reason sexton can't cut off the ball anymore with delly on the floor, they just gang up on sexton and leave delly open.

he is taking 4.3 shots a game, so the problem is delly is missing 1 shot per game more than he should, insignificant compared to delly's usual impact on the game

if delly could improve his 3pt shot to something normal, i would actually recommend that he intentionally miss a shot or more in unimportant situations to keep his average down so that teams would leave him open and he can make important 3's (but tell the team what he is doing and get approval)