• Changing RCF's index page, please click on "Forums" to access the forums.

Game Thread | 2020-21 Season | Game #60 | Cavs @ Wizards | April 25, 2021

Do Not Sell My Personal Information

Wham with the Right Hand

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Oct 3, 2019
Messages
9,555
Reaction score
27,308
Points
135
The Cavs arrive in the capital to play the first of three games in 20 days against the Wizards, who are one of the two hottest teams in the NBA at the moment, having won 9 of their last 10 games with the only loss coming to the 42-17 Suns on the road. The streak includes wins over Golden State (twice), New Orleans, and Utah (44-16). The Cavs, meanwhile, have lost 6 of 8 and will be without Prince and Collin Sexton. Yeah, good luck Cleveland.

The Wizards are missing 23-year-old center Thomas Bryant, averaging 14.3 ppg on 64.8% from the field and 42.9% on 3's. They're also missing Rui Hachimura (13.5 ppg) and Deni Avdija (6.3 ppg). But they've been winning anyway. Two nights ago they beat OKC with a starting lineup of Bradley Beal, Russell Westbrook, Isaac Bonga, Raul Neto, and Alex Len. Those last three are averaging 17.7 points per game - combined.

Bonga is a 21-year-old 6'8" guard. Neto is a 6'1" guard. So they started four guards and 7' jouneyman center Alex Len. Bonga, Neto, and Len combined to score 24 points. Beal and Westbrook combined for 70. The bench scored 35 with 6'10" Davis Bertans leading the way with 12. Bertans is hitting 40.7% of his 3's. The Wizards scored 129 on OKC with only four players in double figures.

In their last nine wins the Wizards are averaging 120.1 ppg while allowing 109.6. For the season they're allowing 117.8 per game so their defense has improved by over 8 ppg. So has their offense as they're scoring 114.4 ppg on the season, so their offense is up nearly six points during this run.

The Wizards should be pretty good next year when they get Bryant, Hachimura, and Advija back.

Bradley Beal, 27, is averaging 31.1 ppg. Russell Westbrook, still going strong at 32, is averaging a triple-double; 21.9 pts, 11.1 assists, 10.9 rebounds. He's still the best rebounding guard in basketball. He's two months younger than Kevin Love.

I don't see much hope for the Cavs tonight, especially with Sexton out. This could have been a really entertaining game just for the guard matchups; Sexton and Garland against Beal and Westbrook. The young guns against the All-NBA vets still at the top of their games. Isaac Okoro is in for another "learning experience" no matter who he checks.

The Wizards are 9th in scoring but lately have been much higher. They normally don't take a lot of 3's (29th in 3-point rate) or make them (26th in 3-point percentage). But they were 18-for-32 against the Thunder two nights ago so who knows what to expect? It looks like they may have figured out their best rotation because they've got it all going on. And the Cavs have to play them three times in the next 12 games.

The Wizards are 6th in points in the paint and 3rd in free throws per play. They like to take it to the rim and they get fouled a lot, which is why they're 9th in scoring but only 22nd in effective field goal percentage. They get a lot of points at the stripe. They average 19.6 made free throws per game, third in the NBA. Maybe Allen and Hartenstein can force some misses in the paint without fouling.

Because the Wizards normally don't shoot a lot of 3's (and Westbrook is only making 31.8% from deep), the Cavs need to keep switching and stay between their man and the basket. Make them shoot 3's and keep them out of the paint. They average 10.4 made 3's per game. Last game they made 18 but that seems like a fluke. The Cavs should try to keep Beal and Bertans from getting open looks but the other guys aren't that dangerous normally.

Obviously the defensive game plan centers around containing Beal and Westbrook and not letting them go off for 70 points like in their last game. Try and force the ball out of their hands as much as possible, even if it means giving their non-scorers a good look. Allen and Hartenstein need to protect the rim while staying out of foul trouble.

Offensively the Cavs are the worst team in the NBA at 104.0 ppg and without their leading scorer they're in trouble. This one should not be close based on the recent trend lines of each team and the fact that the Cavs are on the road.
 
Last edited:
This should be an interesting game. I’m still trying to figure out when did Sexton get a concussion? He played the whole game against the hornets.
 
Garland's pass to Okoro jesus christ
 
Excellent pass to Okoro.
 
I don’t miss Osman at all.
 
That dude can pass. Good lob.
 
Cedi playing good so far besides that horrible forced fast break.

Beal is good.
 
SexLand is our whole offense. Surprised we are hanging in there even to this point. Looks like we got the good Cedi tonight. Knock on wood.
 
Hartenstein is a turnover machine
 
Offensively this unit is gonna struggle.

You've got three dudes who are absolute pass-first players and then Dean Wade and Broderic Thomas.

Nance has to realize these things sometimes and become a more aggressive scorer.
 
And Hartenstein has to stop only wanting to backdoor pass.

He's catching the ball in the middle of the paint with no one over 6'5 near him and he's not even looking at the rim.
 

Rubber Rim Job Podcast Video

Episode 3-13: "Backup Bash Brothers"

Rubber Rim Job Podcast Spotify

Episode 3:11: "Clipping Bucks."
Top