Game Thread | 2021-2022 Season | Game # 11 | Cavs @ Knickerbockers | Nov. 7, 2021

[Lee]

Mobley wasn't a PF and Markannen wasn't a SF before we made it happen either

Mobley was a PF for sure and I would argue Markannen still isnt a SF but we are making it work, lol

I am not sure why so much hate still for JBB, he is really having these kids play hard, great team and individual defense, and is puting the ball in the hands of Rubio and Garland.

So far this season, we are being coached well. If JBB was a first year coach for the Cavs, everyone would be raving about the coacing job so far this season.

 

[Dr No]

Its believed the trade was promissed to rubio. We will see at the deadline, if Rubio is traded we know its what Rubio wanteded.

It came out after that LNJ wanted to go to Portland and the team abliged for him being loyal and a good teammate. We will see, Rubio might be having too much fun to want to leave.

Wouldn’t it be cool if we were the Thunder from 2 years ago and Rubio is our CP3 - it was clear he was only temporary for the Thunder, but they just kept winning and overachieving so he stayed around all year to see how far they could get.

 

[KilgoreTrout]

Mobley was a PF for sure and I would argue Markannen still isnt a SF but we are making it work, lol

I am not sure why so much hate still for JBB, he is really having these kids play hard, great team and individual defense, and is puting the ball in the hands of Rubio and Garland.

So far this season, we are being coached well. If JBB was a first year coach for the Cavs, everyone would be raving about the coacing job so far this season.

But the inbounds plays… And I still have PTSD from the crazy rotations, last year…

 

[JJ_PR]

Just saw the highlights. Mobley is gonna be a monster. We need to keep Rubio long term as well.

 

[perik777]

1.) Id argue this is a relatively attractive situation for a guy like Rubio unless he wants to ring chase but I think a big role for a good pay day would be something he’s open to. We have a lot of players who are great fits with him long term.
2.) I’m not so sure our ceiling is only a quick first round exit…..
3.) Getting to the playoffs IMO is invaluable. Creating a winning culture for your young guys is invaluable. What Garland and Mobley and Allen are benefiting from playingg with Rubio? Worth so much more than what a likely asset-strapped contender could give us. I don’t think he’s fetching some huge return regardless. I think we could get about the same value trading Sexton to maybe a non contender who wants a young guard who can score.

hI everyone, im a die hard Rubio fan since he was 15 years old and, at first, i didn't like the trade because i thought Rubio deserved better than going to a rebuilding team.

But sometimes you have to give it a chance and there are some aspects that could make Rubio to resign

1) Rubio has become a specialist in creating a winning culture in young teams. He did a great job in Utah (they had lost Hayward and were believed to go the lottery route) and Donovan Mitchell gave a lot of credit to him. He totally changed the Suns' culture in just 2 months, and Devin Booker said he owes Rubio EVERYTHING in terms of his progression. Minnesota was a sinking ship, no matter what you do....and now he finds himself in a team he didn't like.

2)But all of the sudden, they draft Mobley and Rubio is playing with a roster that fits very well his way of playing. He has two bigs who can finish around the rim when they receive the ball in the correct spots. He has a young point guard to model in Garland, who besides has a good attitude about playing the right way. He has a microwave scorer capable of cutting to the basket. And he has a team that defends with passion, and he can lead with the example.

3) Im pretty sure that Rubio has not ruled out to extend his contract and maybe a 3 year contract with a player option is the best option.

That leads us to another question, this team has a lot of young players in Allen, Mobley, Maekkanen, Sexton and Garland. If Rubio stays, would you consider trading the pick in next year draft for an athletic forward who can shot the three?

 

[Mcreek]

That leads us to another question, this team has a lot of young players in Allen, Mobley, Maekkanen, Sexton and Garland. If Rubio stays, would you consider trading the pick in next year draft for an athletic forward who can shot the three?

Yes I would. Even for a guy like Cam Reddish. Unless the team gets hit with major injuries and subsequently losses start piling up and a return to the lottery (highly unlikely). A guy like Reddish is the type of player the Cavz need. Losing a pick in the 12-15 range in the event they are outside the lottery won’t be as developed as the improving Reddish.

 

[NMCav]

Yes I would. Even for a guy like Cam Reddish. Unless the team gets hit with major injuries and subsequently losses start piling up and a return to the lottery (highly unlikely). A guy like Reddish is the type of player the Cavz need. Losing a pick in the 12-15 range in the event they are outside the lottery won’t be as developed as the improving Reddish.

An inefficient chucker with an inconsistent defensive motor is what the Cavaliers need?

 

[avs2000]

Teams of all 23 year-olds are fun for calendar shoots but traditionally don't have a ton of success.

Ricky is perfect for this team. He's barely on the wrong side of 30 and his effectiveness doesn't depend on his athleticism. He actually seems to be getting better in his 30s and I'd bet he'll be able to maintain this level of play (overall, not specifically tonight) for another 5 to 6 years easily.

OBVIOUSLY the big caveat is that he has to have interest in sticking around. If he doesn't, there's nothing to discuss. But if there is interest, I'd 100% without question rather have 3 to 5 more years of 30-something Ricky Rubio acting as a coach on the court and shepherding over this flock compared to another defensive specialist SG who makes Okoro look like Michael fucking Redd on offense just because he "fits our timeline" better.

It's not even a question.

Obviously, again, you have to talk to Rubio and see what he wants. If he's set on moving on after this season, sure, trade him for a piece that fits if you can.

He probably doesn’t know what he want yet. Have to see if our play continues. Have too see what pgs get hurt on contenders. I would be all in on keeping him. Last night will not happen often but his steady influence is what a young team needs

 

[cliffdawg]

Its believed the trade was promissed to rubio. We will see at the deadline, if Rubio is traded we know its what Rubio wanteded.

I’m sure nobody’s knows if that to be true or not especially a promises…….If anything what we might have told him ,if we’re looking like a lottery team around the trade deadline we would try to accommodate him into a better situation …..

 

[rcj47]

I’d recommend anyone who has access to Sirius XM to tune into NBA radio for Isola and Scalabrine 7-10am. They’ll be all over the Cavaliers.

I’ve been watching this team for 45 years and I’ve never seen a young team come together this quickly. Our road performance is unbelievable.

Toronto had a bunch of wings and so did the Knicks. Lot of good it did them. We’ve got Frobley playing mobile big man ball.

Charlotte did too in the recent game. I counted the wing size players (6'6"-6'7") that played for them. Out of ten players 6 of them were wings and of the other 4 players two were PGs, and two centers with one of the latter only playing 4 minutes.

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

hI everyone, im a die hard Rubio fan since he was 15 years old and, at first, i didn't like the trade because i thought Rubio deserved better than going to a rebuilding team.

But sometimes you have to give it a chance and there are some aspects that could make Rubio to resign

1) Rubio has become a specialist in creating a winning culture in young teams. He did a great job in Utah (they had lost Hayward and were believed to go the lottery route) and Donovan Mitchell gave a lot of credit to him. He totally changed the Suns' culture in just 2 months, and Devin Booker said he owes Rubio EVERYTHING in terms of his progression. Minnesota was a sinking ship, no matter what you do....and now he finds himself in a team he didn't like.

2)But all of the sudden, they draft Mobley and Rubio is playing with a roster that fits very well his way of playing. He has two bigs who can finish around the rim when they receive the ball in the correct spots. He has a young point guard to model in Garland, who besides has a good attitude about playing the right way. He has a microwave scorer capable of cutting to the basket. And he has a team that defends with passion, and he can lead with the example.

3) Im pretty sure that Rubio has not ruled out to extend his contract and maybe a 3 year contract with a player option is the best option.

That leads us to another question, this team has a lot of young players in Allen, Mobley, Maekkanen, Sexton and Garland. If Rubio stays, would you consider trading the pick in next year draft for an athletic forward who can shot the ball

I really appreciate the insight! I also agree with you wholeheartedly! Great breakdown.

I think the Cavs would prefer to draft said athletic forward who can shoot, but I don’t think anything is off the table. It all depends on where the pick is and who is available.

But my best guess is the Cavs would prefer to use free agency or taking on a contract in a trade to find a solid veteran wing, kinda of the Taurean Prince ilk….(maybe we could get him back from Minnesota lol). And then use their draft pick to draft the best 2 way wing they can find and develop him along with Okoro/Garland/Sexton/Mobley/Allen.

I could also see them swapping Sexton for a younger wing that has some warts much like Sexton does but may be a better fit here while Sexton would be a better fit elsewhere.

Cavs will have a lot of flexibility and options to address that spot long term next summer, and maybe they can find a solid buyout guy for the short term. I actually kinda like what Lamar Steven’s brings. He kinda reminds me of Dahntay Jones lol(neva forget his amazing 8 minutes against GS in the finals thst helped us win the title after basically never playing beforehand).

 

[CavsKermit]

Lost in the Rubio talk is the fact Mobley had a career high 26 on 11-15 shooting and hit 2 from 3.

The Knicks keyed on shutting down Allen and bet that Mobley wouldn't beat them. Oops.

Also, watching them trap Garland in the 4th quarter after Rubio was well on his way to having a career night was lol entertaining. Thibs is a good coach but he's not changing his game plan regardless of what's happening on the court.

 

[mds]

Can you blame Thibs for not believing Ricky would keep hitting them?

 

[2 For The Brew]

Can you blame Thibs for not believing Ricky would keep hitting them?

One of the great things about the NBA is almost anyone can have a sick shooting night. If you're up against a player that hot there's really nothing you can do. Other than Cedi (who had been very hot) we were hitting threes at a ridiculous percentage. Knicks fought back hard in the 4th but we just kept scoring.

 

[Ozone]

One of the great things about the NBA is almost anyone can have a sick shooting night. If you're up against a player that hot there's really nothing you can do. Other than Cedi (who had been very hot) we were hitting threes at a ridiculous percentage. Knicks fought back hard in the 4th but we just kept scoring.

I mean this is why Garland has to continue to be aggressive as a shooter to draw defenders so that others can establish the reputation they cannot be left open. Then the team success is ensured.