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Game Thread | Game #35 | Nets @ Cavs | Dec. 26, 2022

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T.J. Warren, who didn’t start playing until Dec. 2 after missing nearly two years from foot surgery, set a season high with 23 points off the bench. - The Athletic

[Ben] Simmons, their third enigmatic star who was off to a terrible start following a year off from basketball, dominated with his size and defensive prowess on Monday, contributing nine boards, a block, and three steals to go with eight assists. - The Athletic


The Nets are getting guys who have been off for a year or two back up to speed and they are really dominating right now. They've won 13 of 14 and just beat Milwaukee by 18 and Cleveland by 8.

From the outside looking in, it just appears that basketball is the main thing. You’re hearing less noise about other things and it seems like every conversation is about basketball now. When you have players the caliber of Kevin Durant, Ben Simmons, Kyrie Irving, if basketball is the main thing, they’re going to be very difficult to beat and they’re going to be extremely competitive. - JB Bickerstaff

[Head coach Jacque] Vaughn took over the Nets on Nov. 1. They are the best team in the NBA since, at 20-7...Durant and Vaughn said the Nets run a simpler, scaled down offense and defense – and perhaps that was the main change made when Vaughn took over. - The Athletic

“When we step into the gym every single day it’s about basketball,” the Nets’ new coach Jacque Vaughn said.
 
This was a game where it was obvious we are missing a SF who can shoot. Wade would have made a difference. The Nets start 2 players who cant shoot at all, so its not Mobley/Allen hurting us, its 100% SF. Lamar made a couple, but we really need a guy like McDermott at SF.
 
I’m not going to give Mitchell a pass. Dude has 15 points this game and 12 points last game. And what was disappointing was seeing him standing in corner with Simmons, not even trying to get open. Next play, he went to the same corner with Durant in the 4th quarter, while Garland was putting in the work. Donovan got stopped at the basket a couple of times and sort of stepped away from the offense afterwards.
Mitchell has had a couple of rough shooting nights, but pulling the other team's best defender out of the painted area adds real value.
 
Should be fired for not taking a timeout during that 18-0 nets run. Anybody defending this fraud doesn’t understand basketball
You mean their two minute 18 point run to close the first? At what point did his failure to call a timeout become inexcusable? A minute in? 90 seconds?
 
Mitchell has had a couple of rough shooting nights, but pulling the other team's best defender out of the painted area adds real value.
I get that (having to deal with teams best defenders), but to see him not try to get open was my issue. Cleveland have 2 7-footers. Use one to switch off of Simmons off Donovan. Getting Donovan to screen until Kyrie was guarding him is not a rocket science. Hopefully JBB and Donovan figure it out because other teams always going to put other teams best defender on him
 
JB is still not using this roster correctly.

We should be going inside to set up the outside shooting. Allen should be our primary post-player with Mobley being 2nd. We have Mobley who can be our ball handler like Draymond Green in our half-court offense allowing Spidaland to play off the ball and spread out the offense with their jump shooting ability. Also, it's time to stop playing Lamar unless in a defensive possession after a Timeout. Neto gives u ball handling, a willingness to shoot, and good on-ball defense.
 
I wouldn't get too down about losing to the Nets. They are the hottest team in the NBA right now, and beating every team that crosses their path. The fact that we didn't get much from Mitchell or the 3pointer and still tried to battle back was encouraging. Those wide open missed 3s hurt my soul though. Whats even more sad is that I knew we wouldn't hit those wide open 3s. Never raised my hand with 3 fingers for any of them.
I'm in the same boat.
The game management by JB is the major thing that gets me grumpy besides the offense the Cavs run.
Been needing a wing forever. The next consolidation move is going to be critical.
 
I get that (having to deal with teams best defenders), but to see him not try to get open was my issue. Cleveland have 2 7-footers. Use one to switch off of Simmons off Donovan. Getting Donovan to screen until Kyrie was guarding him is not a rocket science. Hopefully JBB and Donovan figure it out because other teams always going to put other teams best defender on him
Eh, Garland was on fire and if Mitchell/Garland aren't going to help space the floor for each other, it's currently K. Love or nothing in terms of other options.
 
JB is still not using this roster correctly.

We should be going inside to set up the outside shooting. Allen should be our primary post-player with Mobley being 2nd. We have Mobley who can be our ball handler like Draymond Green in our half-court offense allowing Spidaland to play off the ball and spread out the offense with their jump shooting ability. Also, it's time to stop playing Lamar unless in a defensive possession after a Timeout. Neto gives u ball handling, a willingness to shoot, and good on-ball defense.
Okay, now draw that up those plays with every team we face pinching down off the corners so that there are four defenders in or immediately adjacent to the painted area.
 
T.J. Warren, who didn’t start playing until Dec. 2 after missing nearly two years from foot surgery, set a season high with 23 points off the bench. - The Athletic

[Ben] Simmons, their third enigmatic star who was off to a terrible start following a year off from basketball, dominated with his size and defensive prowess on Monday, contributing nine boards, a block, and three steals to go with eight assists. - The Athletic


The Nets are getting guys who have been off for a year or two back up to speed and they are really dominating right now. They've won 13 of 14 and just beat Milwaukee by 18 and Cleveland by 8.

From the outside looking in, it just appears that basketball is the main thing. You’re hearing less noise about other things and it seems like every conversation is about basketball now. When you have players the caliber of Kevin Durant, Ben Simmons, Kyrie Irving, if basketball is the main thing, they’re going to be very difficult to beat and they’re going to be extremely competitive. - JB Bickerstaff

[Head coach Jacque] Vaughn took over the Nets on Nov. 1. They are the best team in the NBA since, at 20-7...Durant and Vaughn said the Nets run a simpler, scaled down offense and defense – and perhaps that was the main change made when Vaughn took over. - The Athletic

“When we step into the gym every single day it’s about basketball,” the Nets’ new coach Jacque Vaughn said.
It's a crime that Brooklyn got him on the league minimum last summer. I really wanted to the Cavs to make a run at him, and quite frankly, this is another opportunity cost of the LeVert trade.
 
The problem is the Cavs DO NOT have a consistent scorer on their front line. We will not win any playoff games (which become half court games) without having somebody on the front line that can create their own shot and hit the corner three with consistency. Right now defenses will dare (and live with) Okoro and Stevens beating them from outside the arc. And I’m sorry I DO NOT want to see Mobley taking anymore threes! His form is horrible out there! He looks like a shot putter out there! He’s guiding his shot and not stroking it.
And I know there’s a lot of people saying that there’s nothing Koby can do.
There is no such thing as “nothing he can do”! There are teams as I pointed out earlier that could be sellers at the deadline. A lot of the bottom feeders are trying to position themselves for the chance to draft Victor W. Okoro, Stevens, Cedi, (expiring contracts) Love/ Windler, LaVert and Wade are all tradable assets (including available second round picks) to approach sellers at the deadline or before. This is when Koby (like Griffin) earns his money. Get creative!
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The problem is the Cavs DO NOT have a consistent scorer on their front line. We will not win any playoff games (which become half court games) without having somebody on the front line that can create their own shot and hit the corner three with consistency. Right now defenses will dare (and live with) Okoro and Stevens beating them from outside the arc. And I’m sorry I DO NOT want to see Mobley taking anymore threes! His form is horrible out there! He looks like a shot putter out there! He’s guiding his shot and not stroking it.
Totally agree. Not overreacting to one game but most people know that until we get that piece or two, we aren’t advancing in the playoffs- period.
 

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