Game Thread | Game #28 | Cavs @ Spurs | Dec. 12, 2022

[Jscc]

Fedor cuts them no slack and he's starting to name names:

There’s no reason to praise a late-game rally on this night. No sense in trying to pull positives. No yeah-butting this one.

If the Cavs want to be taken seriously, it’s time to figure out this road nonsense. They are completely unrecognizable away from Cleveland. So is Garland, who was icing his sore left hand after the game -- an injury that occurred at some point in the first half Monday night.

Garland at home: 11 games, 26.1 points, 50.3% from the field, 46.9% from 3-point range, 8.4 assists and a plus-minus of plus-11.1 per game.

Garland on the road: 11 games, 16.6 points, 33.9% from the field, 28.4% from beyond the arc, 7.4 assists and a plus-minus of minus-5.1 per game.

Jarrett Allen didn't mince words, either.

They came out with more energy than us in the first half. I feel like the whole game we were just timid. Didn’t know when we wanted to step on the gas.

Timid. Overconfident. Disrespectful. Well, at least the Cavs are admitting it. Hopefully this game and the others like it will make them angry and they will start respecting every opponent and starting every game like whoever wins the first three minutes wins the game.

While it's true yeah-butting this would be making an excuse. The players battled back and played stifling defense in those last few minutes and ended the game with two good shots generated by sheer talent. DM had a step on all his men on that layup and DG had a wide open corner 3 from a Mobley bullet pass to DG's chest. That didn't need to happen though.

They had 12 seconds when Mitchell rebounded that ball and a timeout to use. There was no reason for JBB not to call a timeout there and draw up a play. This is an example of JB's coaching making the game harder on his players. And wtf is the point of Walton? Isn't he supposed to draw up plays for situations like that if JB doesn't??

 

[kookoo]

While it's true yeah-butting this would be making an excuse. The players battled back and played stifling defense in those last few minutes and ended the game with two good shots generated by sheer talent. DM had a step on all his men on that layup and DG had a wide open corner 3 from a Mobley bullet pass to DG's chest. That didn't need to happen though.

They had 12 seconds when Mitchell rebounded that ball and a timeout to use. There was no reason for JBB not to call a timeout there and draw up a play. This is an example of JB's coaching making the game harder on his players. And wtf is the point of Walton? Isn't he supposed to draw up plays for situations like that if JB doesn't??

Have you seen his ATO plays? I think we were better off. And yes, Walton doesn't get the negativity he deserves. I want to see how the squad runs without JBB there TBH. He seems like someone who doesn't really listen to anyone else.

 

[Jscc]

Have you seen his ATO plays? I think we were better off. And yes, Walton doesn't get the negativity he deserves. I want to see how the squad runs without JBB there TBH. He seems like someone who doesn't really listen to anyone else.

Yeah, his ATOs are not good, but if he isn't even interested in trying... then I see no purpose for him on this team. On a team dominated by large egos like LeBron and Kyrie, Lue made it his job to have good ATOs and took them seriously.

 

[kookoo]

Yeah, his ATOs are not good, but if he isn't even interested in trying... then I see no purpose for him on this team. On a team dominated by large egos like LeBron and Kyrie, Lue made it his job to have good ATOs and took them seriously.

I never thought Lue was a great coach but his ATOs were elite. Those alone would probably have won us a few more games this season. And dealing with those egos, 100% vs JBB who has no real egos to deal with except his own.

 

[Alec]

I guess I wasn’t an idiot for identifying this team as soft, very early on.

They shit their pants last year during klay’s comeback game. They proceeded to do so in multiple games. In adverse situations. Against physicality.

Need to break up this group.

 

[dice1717]

Spurs won't hit contested shots like that again for the rest of the season. Absurd display.

I'm annoyed by this one but not angry.

Onto the next.

Seems like that is a constant theme on these threads “ (plug in team) will never hit those shots again, etc”

I guess the team is just unlucky in that sense?

I think not

 

[Alec]

Seems like that is a constant theme on these threads “ (plug in team) will never hit those shots again, etc”

I guess the team is just unlucky in that sense?

I think not

You’re right. Multiple GDTs I’ve seen this,

“THEY CAN’T STAY THIS HOT!”

“They’re hitting crazy shots!!”

At what point is it a pattern that the Cavs, without perimeter length, get bombed on?

 

[kidduck]

Cavs got an in your face reminder about what a team looks like
that features movement of the ball and players on offense
and hunger for the rebound.

Too bad we can't find out what Pop would go with
this group.

 

[Jscc]

Seems like that is a constant theme on these threads “ (plug in team) will never hit those shots again, etc”

I guess the team is just unlucky in that sense?

I think not

I think it has to do with our defense being non-physical. Shooters are comfortable shooting when the only consequence may be a hand in their face. Strategic use of hard fouls changes that quickly.

 

[Rich]

Seems like that is a constant theme on these threads “ (plug in team) will never hit those shots again, etc”

I guess the team is just unlucky in that sense?

I think not

The team is second in defensive rating.

If teams were consistently hitting tons of shots against them they wouldn't be 2nd in defensive rating.

I understand you think your role here is troll the game threads but let's at least make a little sense when we do it.

 

[Ohioplayer00]

The team is second in defensive rating.

If teams were consistently hitting tons of shots against them they wouldn't be 2nd in defensive rating.

I understand you think your role here is troll the game threads but let's at least make a little sense when we do it.

They might be second in defensive rating and that suggests teams are hitting a ton of shots but the question is not the volume of shots but WHEN those shots are made and how! Nobody can debate how many wide open threes this team gives up in “critical” situations! Last night the Spurs were hitting shot after shot on us and with the exception of a few we weren’t connected to the shooters at all! They penetrated the paint almost at will last night!

 

[daytripper]

Bottomline as a team they shot 5/23 from 3 for a whopping 21%. If they had just made 1-2 more they win the game.

 

[33Y0]

Bottomline as a team they shot 5/23 from 3 for a whopping 21%. If they had just made 1-2 more they win the game.

Sure, but my issue is I don't think they feed Allen and Mobley enough in the paint.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Over a four-minute span of the 2nd quarter the Cavs were outscored 16-0. The Cavs missed ten consecutive shots against the NBA's worst defense and also committed a turnover. A 37-37 game was suddenly 53-37.

We've seen this before - the opponent gets rolling and the Cavs can't stop the bleeding until the damage is really bad. It's frustrating.

But they could have overcome it if they hadn't gone 5-for-23 on 3's against the NBA's 30th ranked 3-point defense.

Stevens and Okoro combined to score 0 points in 41 minutes. Okoro blocked 3 shots in 16 minutes but the Cavs were playing 4-on-5 offensively with those guys on the floor. Our bench was outscored 55-32. We need Rubio and Wade.

Garland had four turnovers and one 3-pointer. Two of the turnovers came on back-to-back possessions after the Cavs had cut the lead to seven points in the 4th and had big time momentum.

Fedor pointed out that Garland's on/off is a +10 at home and a -5 on the road. His scoring average is 9.5 points lower on the road, his shooting percentage is 17% lower (33% on the road!), and his 3-point percentage is 18% lower (28%!).

Somebody needs to figure out why Garland is an All-Star at home and a G-League level player on the road. Can he not sleep in hotels?

 

[Rich]

They might be second in defensive rating and that suggests teams are hitting a ton of shots but the question is not the volume of shots but WHEN those shots are made and how! Nobody can debate how many wide open threes this team gives up in “critical” situations! Last night the Spurs were hitting shot after shot on us and with the exception of a few we weren’t connected to the shooters at all! They penetrated the paint almost at will last night!

Teams penetrate most nights against us. We have bad defensive guards and elite rim protectors. That's how the team is built.