Game Thread | 2021-2022 Season | Game #60 | Wizards @ Cavs | Feb. 26, 2022 | 8:00 p.m.

[Wham with the Right Hand]

In four games against Washington this season, Okoro has held Kuzma to 16 total points on 3-of-10 from the field and 1-of-4 from 3-point range. - Fedor

Kuzma owns the Cavs like nobody else. In four games against Cleveland this season Kuzma is 36-for-63 from the field (57.1%) and 17-for-30 on 3's (56.7%). But when guarded by Okoro those numbers are 30% and 25%. Against the rest of the Cavs he's shooting 62% from the field and 61% on 3's.

JBB's decision to have Okoro guard Kuzma in the 4th quarter last night probably saved the game. What I saw it I thought it was a mistake because Kuzma had been so hot on 3's that I wanted a taller guy like Mobley or Markkanen on him. But JBB knew what he was doing.

 

[cabs]

Hornets away game was more impressive because Hornets were right behind us and I think on top of no guards we also had no Lauri

 

[Cavatt]

I would say the IF is bigger than the WHEN at this point. Hope I'm wrong.

But there was a possession in the 4th quarter where he had the ball on the perimeter with nothing happening and he just decided to take it to the hole. He muscled his way to the rim, shouldered his man out of the way, and got the layup. I'd like to see a little more of that from him.

Yeah his first step is good enough he should be attacking weaker defenders. He should be able to muscle some dudes.

Lock him in a room with Corey Magette highlights. Similar build and strength

 

[cabs]

In four games against Washington this season, Okoro has held Kuzma to 16 total points on 3-of-10 from the field and 1-of-4 from 3-point range. - Fedor

Kuzma owns the Cavs like nobody else. In four games against Cleveland this season Kuzma is 36-for-63 from the field (57.1%) and 17-for-30 on 3's (56.7%). But when guarded by Okoro those numbers are 30% and 25%. Against the rest of the Cavs he's shooting 62% from the field and 61% on 3's.

JBB's decision to have Okoro guard Kuzma in the 4th quarter last night probably saved the game. What I saw it I thought it was a mistake because Kuzma had been so hot on 3's that I wanted a taller guy like Mobley or Markkanen on him. But JBB knew what he was doing.

I wanted Okoro switch to happen. Why? Because there was no one longer than Mobley to defend Kuzma… the issue wasn’t length it was separation. Kuzma was just too good at getting separation on our bigs our last hope was Okoro sticking with him and making him shoot with someone essentially under him not letting him get comfortable or to a spot

 

[2 For The Brew]

I should just stay out of the game threads. Because every time I read all the posts constantly bashing the shit out of our players I just want to go around and bitch slap a bunch of the people posting here.

Cedi and JA catch way too much hate from Cavs fans. We lose tonight without the efforts of those guys. Markksman was fun to watch, and Okoro was clutch. Even Mobley's contribution was decent although I feel he's playing so far below his potential his numbers were okay. Goodwin was just good enough to get by, KLove sucked but his block was fun to see.

People are so sour and so fucking negative, then when we scrap for a win even the positive comments sling shit mixed with the faintest praise. I hate these threads, I used to just completely skip them. Maybe I should go back to skipping it but I'm hungry for Cavs content.

36-24, ahead of the Bucks, Nets, Celtics, Knicks, Wizards and Hawks who all made the playoffs last season and ahead of BOTH ECF participants.

And yet we come from behind with a 17-2 run to close out the game and we still have griping afterwards - because all the bitching in the game thread just wasn’t enough, can’t enjoy a win, have to keep the Doomer narrative going.

We have people who would be negative, gloomy and claim we’re doomed if the Cavaliers were having their best season ever and facing adversity in the Finals. I’m sure of it.

 

[buzzdog]

I wanted Okoro switch to happen. Why? Because there was no one longer than Mobley to defend Kuzma… the issue wasn’t length it was separation. Kuzma was just too good at getting separation on our bigs our last hope was Okoro sticking with him and making him shoot with someone essentially under him not letting him get comfortable or to a spot

Our bigs defend shorter, quicker players on the perimeter by staying a step back so they can react to a drive, then they close out on a perimeter jumper by using their length. This works against a lot of smaller, quicker players in the league.

Kuzma is tall enough and talented enough that he can get his shot off by using a quick release with a high release point on some shots, and by doing step-backs on other shots. I don't watch him against other teams but against us he might as well be Michael Jordan and Steph Curry combined. He is skilled enough to get his shots off against taller defenders and against us he shoots an ungodly percentage.

Okoro has a good combination of strength, length while being quicker than Kuzma, so Isaac can stick a lot closer with better footwork, he does a better job denying Kuzma the ball, and denying Kuzma his comfortable spots while still getting up pretty high to contest.

Plus Okoro seems to have a really high level of pride in his defense, and his effort level can be off the charts at times.

 

[buzzdog]

36-24, ahead of the Bucks, Nets, Celtics, Knicks, Wizards and Hawks who all made the playoffs last season and ahead of BOTH ECF participants.

And yet we come from behind with a 17-2 run to close out the game and we still have griping afterwards - because all the bitching in the game thread just wasn’t enough, can’t enjoy a win, have to keep the Doomer narrative going.

We have people who would be negative, gloomy and claim we’re doomed if the Cavaliers were having their best season ever and facing adversity in the Finals. I’m sure of it.

I suppose everyone is entitled to have their reactions in the moment. And I do not think any of our players or coaches is above criticism. I see a lot of criticisms I agree with. And I understand there's a spectrum of optimism versus pessimism and everything in between. People on opposite ends of that spectrum tend to clash and that's perfectly fine.

Where I have a problem is when fans of this team thoughtlessly call players trash, or constantly say the head coach should be fired, say the team and season is a disaster, things like that. If you have a specific problem say it, explain it, say what you'd rather see. It even bothers me when people call highly skilled, talented and physically gifted opponents "trash", or say they should be easy to defeat. In my mind just about any guy on an NBA roster is in some ways elite compared to like 99.9% of all people who ever touch a basketball. The ones who play any significant minutes aren't on the floor by accident, they are out there for a reason. I think calling people and teams "trash" and similar denigrations is lazy, offensive and even delusional.

But hey, that's just how those comments hit me. I tend to react to counter those comments and I would think and expect that people who follow basketball and call themselves fans would know better.

 

[jjvors]

36-24, ahead of the Bucks, Nets, Celtics, Knicks, Wizards and Hawks who all made the playoffs last season and ahead of BOTH ECF participants.

And yet we come from behind with a 17-2 run to close out the game and we still have griping afterwards - because all the bitching in the game thread just wasn’t enough, can’t enjoy a win, have to keep the Doomer narrative going.

We have people who would be negative, gloomy and claim we’re doomed if the Cavaliers were having their best season ever and facing adversity in the Finals. I’m sure of it.

And we've already had the hard part of our schedule. Our remaining schedule is the 3rd or 4th easiest.

 

[The Oi]

I suppose everyone is entitled to have their reactions in the moment. And I do not think any of our players or coaches is above criticism. I see a lot of criticisms I agree with. And I understand there's a spectrum of optimism versus pessimism and everything in between. People on opposite ends of that spectrum tend to clash and that's perfectly fine.

Where I have a problem is when fans of this team thoughtlessly call players trash, or constantly say the head coach should be fired, say the team and season is a disaster, things like that. If you have a specific problem say it, explain it, say what you'd rather see. It even bothers me when people call highly skilled, talented and physically gifted opponents "trash", or say they should be easy to defeat. In my mind just about any guy on an NBA roster is in some ways elite compared to like 99.9% of all people who ever touch a basketball. The ones who play any significant minutes aren't on the floor by accident, they are out there for a reason. I think calling people and teams "trash" and similar denigrations is lazy, offensive and even delusional.

But hey, that's just how those comments hit me. I tend to react to counter those comments and I would think and expect that people who follow basketball and call themselves fans would know better.

Whole team sucks.

 

[The Oi]

Win of the year. They’re going to be just fine.

 

[bleedwineandgold03]

Hornets away game was more impressive because Hornets were right behind us and I think on top of no guards we also had no Lauri

And a free 4 point play on top of that

 

[Dr. Claw]

Kuzma hit three 3s that were tightly contested. Two of them were over a fully extended Mobley. That's 9 points. He hit four 2s with fully extended defenders in his face, two of them were Mobley. That's 8 points.

That is 17 bullshit points right there from Kuzma alone.

Flashbacks to that first season loss from them every time. It just seemed like he would not miss.

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

Flashbacks to that first season loss from them every time. It just seemed like he would not miss.

He got confidence early because we were , again, defending him poorly. Mobley actually was the first culprit, he was going under off ball screens and relying on either Allen to step up and take the switch (which is bad because Allen shouldn’t be chasing Kuz around off ball) or relying on his length and speed to catch up. He should have been focused on ball denial and forcing Kuz toward the basket. Once he canned 4 or 5 open threes, he had the confidence all night and we didn’t start guarding him well until he made 8 threes and was entirely on fire.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Love the enthusiasm but this guy better not quit his day job just yet.

He at least ought to wait until his testicles drop.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

A whole lot of NBA players really hate having a guy body up on them. Throws them off completely, and Okoro is just really good at crowding guys and making them uncomfortable.