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

[Rich]

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?

If we "need" Ricky Rubio and Dean Wade to put together a competent offensive performance against the leagues worst defense then the season is fucked, well and truly.

 

[Ohioplayer00]

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

Doesn’t do any good to have rim protectors when shooters stop FT line extended and bury the open mid range shot (which the Spurs hit regularly last night)

 

[Rich]

Doesn’t do any good to have rim protectors when shooters stop FT line extended and bury the open mid range shot (which the Spurs hit regularly last night)

I mean over the course of 82 games it does do good. You're playing the odds that those shots are the ones you want them taking. And they are.

They weren't last might but again...this is the 2nd best defense in the league.

We were playing against the worst defense in the league last night and scored 49 points in the first half.

Defense is not our issue here.

 

[Ohioplayer00]

I mean over the course of 82 games it does do good. You're playing the odds that those shots are the ones you want them taking. And they are.

They weren't last might but again...this is the 2nd best defense in the league.

We were playing against the worst defense in the league last night and scored 49 points in the first half.

Defense is not our issue here.

It’s not????? So if it wasn’t our defense how did they go on a 16-0 run???? I’m not trying to be a smart ass but go back and watch the game! Garland was getting blown by last night…..and when they weren’t blowing past him he was making a weak attempt at getting over screens! The majority of their shots last night were wide open shots with nobody within 3-4 feet! At least three times AC said “we dodged a bullet there” because a Spurs player had a wide open three look! Again I say defensive ratings are tricky. It’s not the number of shots your opponent hits but actually at what junction of the game they hit them at! Our defense turned in a SOLID effort in the last 8 minutes but it was the quarter and a half (where they went on a 16-0 to a 19 point lead) before that where our defense fell apart.

 

[Cavatt]

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??

Mitchell admitted to fucking up and not knowing if there was a timeout. He said he should have known and it was his fault. Sometimes they don't hear the coach.

 

[Ohioplayer00]

Mitchell admitted to fucking up and not knowing if there was a timeout. He said he should have known and it was his fault. Sometimes they don't hear the coach.

I’m confused or maybe I don’t know the rules! How did Mitchell fuck up not knowing the time out situation! I was under the impression the rule is only the coaches can call a time out….not the players!

 

[Cavatt]

I’m confused or maybe I don’t know the rules! How did Mitchell fuck up not knowing the time out situation! I was under the impression the rule is only the coaches can call a time out….not the players!

Nope. Players call them all the time, but especially when they dive for a loose ball. Coach often ask player to call it because refs are watching players not coaches.

Sometimes it's too loud to hear the coach call it, that helped Blatt in that tight Bills series in 2015. He was out of timeouts and the refs didn't hear him and Lue almost tackled him to stop him from getting a tech in a super tight game.

 

[Ohioplayer00]

Nope. Players call them all the time, but especially when they dive for a loose ball. Coach often ask player to call it because refs are watching players not coaches.

Sometimes it's too loud to hear the coach call it, that helped Blatt in that tight Bills series in 2015. He was out of timeouts and the refs didn't hear him and Lue almost tackled him to stop him from getting a tech in a super tight game.

So then my question is during a 15,16 or 19-0 run why don’t players take it upon themselves to call a time out????