"There wasn’t the aggressiveness that was needed,” Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “We allowed them to keep pushing, pushing, pushing and at no point in that first half did we stand our ground and say enough is enough and push back."
That's where the game was lost. I noticed immediately how physical the Bulls were on defense and how the Cavs were unable to get good shots and had to keep forcing bad, contested shots with the clock expiring. The Bulls were easily fighting through the screens of Mobley and Markkenan. We definitely could have used Allen.
The Cavs won the second half 59-45. But they dug themselves too big a hole in the first half by not being prepared for the level of physicality the Bulls came out with. 16 points in the first quarter? Please.
Cedi was useless. JBB went to Windler instead and there was a big improvement. Garland and LeVert combined for 23 points in the 4th quarter and almost pulled it out.
There were so many missed opportunities. LeVert had an uncontested dunk and the ball slipped out of his hands. Markkanen had an uncontested dunk on a put-back and banged it off the rim. There's four points just on missed dunks. Not to mention six missed free throws by LeVert and Garland and 22 missed 3's in 26 shots by Garland, LeVert, Love, and Markkannen.
At this point I just want them to win one of the play-in games and get the experience of being in a playoff series. I didn't realize this, but each round of the playoffs is best of seven. So if the Cavs survive the play-in they will get at least four playoff games against the 1 or 2 seed and I assume two of the first four games will be at home. If Allen is back they could steal a win and get five games. That would be a valuable experience IMO.
