Game Thread: Cabs Hawks Preseason Game 1

[Dr. Claw]

The impact of having Strus and Niang on the roster was immediately visible. Cavs taking more 3s but not at all really chucking. Both players definitely play "Cavaliers" basketball but bring new wrinkles to the game. Okoro taking 3s off the dribble and making them? Ty Jerome has made the Ricky Rubio situation even further a non-issue, Hawks officiating not withstanding. A bench line up of Jerome/LeVert/Okoro/Niang and another big is instantly better than what the Cavs had to scrape at any time last season.

Emoni and CPJ were entertaining. Sam Merrill, if anything, has a shot.

The Cavs won't hopefully need to go that far into the rotation come the playoffs, but those guys being there is so encouraging.

Buckle up, the Cavs finally have a decent group of reserves this season.

Evan was so nice with it tonight, I don't have to be as loud about the misses from DG and DM.

 

[Lee]

I do love how Bates always considers himself open. Reminds me of old-school World B Free and Vinnie Johnson, but tall enough to be able to get his shot off at any time.

Difference is, World was always open.

 

[chrisball96]

Sure It’s the first game of the preseason but if Okoro can keep building on that offensive performance I would be extremely grateful. But either way it’s clear where he put his focus this offseason and glad to see it working out so far.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Really impressed with Okoro who was playing his game. Passing up contested 3's to take it to the rim and either dish off or get a layup and draw the foul. 19 points in 21 minutes - very impressive. That's the style of play he needs in order to be a two-way player; he has to attack the rim at every opportunity and only take a 3 when there is no close-out. I was writing him off with the Strus signing but now I'm not so sure.

Garland was really off his game; 1-for-10 from the field and he missed a lot of shots he normally makes. Maybe he did more weight lifting than shooting in the off season.

The Cavs were 5-for-22 from deep in the first half and 13-for-48 overall. That's a lot of 3's but a very low percentage. The good news is they created a LOT of open 3's - they weren't forcing them.

They also got beat on the boards in the first half 31-19. Same issues we saw against the Knicks; they were dominated on the glass and their 3-point shooting is not up to NBA standards.

Great to see Wade knock down a couple of corner 3's. He and Okoro could have a bigger role than I thought this year. The Cavs are looking pretty deep.

Merrill put up eight 3's in 10 minutes. Talk about a gunner. Too bad he only made two.

Jones had 8 points, 6 boards, and a couple of blocks in 20 minutes, going 4-for-4 from the field. He's way better than Robin Lopez.

 

[chuck0609]

I didn’t see the game. Are they planning on playing any faster this year? Garland’s box score is horrible. Strus didn’t shoot well.
Bates lit it up!

 

[Comeback kid]

Actually a great look/OOB play but Drippu Dean just couldn’t convert the alley oop

@Comeback kid

I’m not knocking Dean. Just a factual statement. The play action was there but he wasn’t able to convert. But a huge deal. Happy to read the tweet that his shoulder is in good shape and he’s fully healthy

Might want to rewatch that. Raked hard across both arms. Probably the easiest foul call of the night but not in a preseason game.

 

[narbar32]

Sure It’s the first game of the preseason but if Okoro can keep building on that offensive performance I would be extremely grateful. But either way it’s clear where he put his focus this offseason and glad to see it working out so far.

...and then you suddenly remember his first ever NBA action in his preseason debut his rookie year when he scored 18 on 6 for 9 shooting including 2 of 4 from deep and a game winning AND-1 layup.

...and then you remember almost exactly a year ago in a preseason game also against the Hawks when he started in place of injured Caris (penciled in as our starter at the time) and went for 16 ALSO hitting 2 of 4 of his threes.

I have such a soft spot for Isaac and I will be as happy as any fan could be if he can finally put it all together this year with any consistency. But he is so freaking maddening the way he so CONSISTENTLY shows just enough of this kind of ability to give you hope that he's building on something before CONSISTENTLY reverting back to who he always is.

 

[Adam]

I think the big question is will Merril and Bates average 20 triple attempts per game with the charge. Seems likely.

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

I love everything about this team… but the coach.

The 2nd lineup with Levert, Okoro, Ty, Niang, jones/Mobley lacked spacing and shooting.
Would like to see Niang a lot with the starters.. dude is solid as fuck. Quick trigger. His slowish legs can be mitigated by the Cavs defensive scheme with Mobley in there pretty easily.

Cavs will probably over share the ball early on because they will find themselves wide open on a lot of early actions and will need this dude that will say fuck it to end the possession on high percentage… Niang is that fuck you guys I’m taking the shot dude.

Strus is nice… cerebral player with good fundamentals on both ends. Quickly swung the ball multiple times and showed good defensive skills. Hopefully he isn’t gonna be streaky with us. We need his shooting to be a better option than Mitchell and Garland do he doesn’t hesitate on his attempts. On the Heat he was the best option from 3 so he had infinite confidence.. on the Cavs it’s different.

Ty Jerome is excellent. Showed really good vision and passing accuracy. He will however need spacing around him. JVB has enough options and he should find the right pieces to fit his players.

Honestly, Cavs will eventually have to find that big , strong with shooting and rebounding to pair next to Mobley. Will be interesting.

With decent coaching, screening and spacing the Cavs should not be able to be stopped considering their ability to penetrate, shoot, pass and finish inside. How does Allen fit with that personnel on the offensive end? Offensive rebounding and being a lob target, but I just don’t think that can be matched to what the Cavs can achieve with a 4-5 out lineup that doesn’t surrender much size inside. Considering the lack of rebounding at the 1-3 and the highly switchable defense, the Cavs will have to find a guy that is also a great rebounder if that day comes and as Mobley matures, I think it will. Though they could also try to look for that big SF to try to resemble what they did with Lauri in a way.

Again, Niang is my guy. Dude is a charmer.

 

[Soar]

I see Okoro did some things when I stopped watching.

The other side of the coin is that he looked lost against regular rotation guys in the first half. Also, Okoro scoring some points in his hometown against the back 1/2 of Atlanta’s bench in a preseason game isn’t changing my impression of him. Isaac has had games like this before; even in regular season games. But the vast majority of the time he stands in the corner and it’s playing 4 on 5.

The irony of the whole thing is that I actually like some of what Okoro brings and objectively I think he will be in the league a long time. I also think he will look better this year with the better spacing on the roster.

I just think JBB and maybe Koby still view Isaac at a level way above what he is. If they can just accept he’s a 8-12 rotation guy who can give you some minutes and change some looks and play some more minutes when he’s playing well, fine. But they seem unwilling to admit that. I’m not even convinced JBB won’t start Okoro on opening night. I mean you take that starting lineup last night and JBB can easily move Caris to the bench and decides Okoro starts yet again. I’m assuming Allen will be out by the way.

But I’m just so tired of seeing Okoro out there to start games or be in big moments and Mitchell and Garland and Mobley are covered and Okoro’s man is like I’ll just leave Isaac in the corner. Rinse and repeat and the other team goes on a 9-0 run and JBB yells about defense.

 

[ChicagoCavFan]

So, do we think JB drew up a backdoor alley oop to Dean Wade to win the game, or do we think Wade spoke up and said "Coach, I got this", and drew it up on the floor?

 

[Ohioplayer00]

I didn’t see the game. Are they planning on playing any faster this year? Garland’s box score is horrible. Strus didn’t shoot well.
Bates lit it up!

It seems like (right now though it’s preseason) that JBB is trying play more up tempo this year. I know his three point line hand off offense is his “baby” and we’ll still see but I saw a Cavs team that really pushed the ball up the floor last night.

 

[kidduck]

Trae is one of the most irritating players in the NBA. All of his
whining for a call when someone breaths in his space
is almost comical.

 

[Dr No]

I think the big question is will Merril and Bates average 20 triple attempts per game with the charge. Seems likely.

And the only defense they play is against each other to see who gets off the next shot. It could happen

 

[jjvors]

Difference is, World was always open.

I remember watching World at the Richfield Coliseum in the 80s. There was one jump shot where he was falling backwards on his butt. He shot it practically straight up, over the defender and swish, it went it.