Game Thread | Game #36 | Cavs @ Pacers | Dec. 29, 2022

[Alec]

I just can't get my mind where my expectations should be.

They made the Mitchell trade and gave up a lot. And yes, it was a lot.

So, in my mind, they're supposed to be competing for at, minimum, an ECF appearance this year based on that alone.


Yet my mind tells me the roster isn't yet experienced enough or well rounded enough to do that. That they aren't as good as the Bucks, Celtics, Nets, or Sixers. The names on the back of their jerseys + their experience is just better than ours.


Ok, but then back to my first point: if you give up 3 unprotected picks and 2 swaps and your lottery pick from this season and Lauri Markennen....doesn't that just demand you compete for an ECF?

Just can't quite figure out where to put my expectations.

They have Mitchell for another 2.5 seasons. The rest of this season, and two more.

The team is young insofar as age. But the starters actually have a good amount of experience, I think. Outside Mobley.

My thought was: make the second round this season. ECF 6-7 game series next season. Finals appearance in Mitchell’s last guaranteed year.

Pretty worried about that trajectory though. Things arent clicking. You’re a smart guy rich, you see the holes becoming more apparent here and the limited movable assets. For this season anyway.

 

[MirORich]

I’m sorry. I thought this was a Cavs message board and you’re the one who responded to my initial post…no one told you to do or not do anything… and you’re right… the whole point of this place is opinions. Goodness… this place is as soft as the team.

You’re exhibiting the same thing you’re accusing me of.

Not sure what part of my post you were offended by.

I refer to all my friends as Bud

 

[Rich]

They have Mitchell for another 2.5 seasons. The rest of this season, and two more.

The team is young insofar as age. But the starters actually have a good amount of experience, I think. Outside Mobley.

My thought was: make the second round this season. ECF 6-7 game series next season. Finals appearance in Mitchell’s last guaranteed year.

Pretty worried about that trajectory though. Things arent clicking. You’re a smart guy rich, you see the holes becoming more apparent here and the limited movable assets. For this season anyway.

I think they need homecourt to win a round this year and right now, all of the contending teams are playing too well.

I thought Philly would fall off but they've found it. And so has BKN.

And just flat out, when those teams are playing well, they have more talent, better coaching, and way more experience.

I can't see them beating, let's say Philly, in a 4-5 matchup w/o homecourt.

And maybe that's not really the fault of the team that they can't do that yet.

I dunno. I dunno if I should expect them to or not expect them to.

 

[Jscc]

I think they need homecourt to win a round this year and right now, all of the contending teams are playing too well.

I thought Philly would fall off but they've found it. And so has BKN.

And just flat out, when those teams are playing well, they have more talent, better coaching, and way more experience.

I can't see them beating, let's say Philly, in a 4-5 matchup w/o homecourt.

And maybe that's not really the fault of the team that they can't do that yet.

I dunno. I dunno if I should expect them to or not expect them to.

The Toronto and Brooklyn games shook my faith in homecourt advantage.

 

[CavsKermit]

“Officiating has become a problem for the Cavs”

Think it has anything to do with JBB treating all the ref crews like complete shit for 3 hours?

In some circumstances, perhaps, but Carlisle is the one who got tossed tonight.

I don't think the baseline official, who was screened off from the action, making all four of those calls is a problem with JBB.

There is no bigger pain in the officials' ass than Nick Nurse and the Raptors routinely gey away with murder.

I really do think that the NBA has to decide whether they want offensive players who initiate contact to be rewarded for that, or not. I suspect what happened is that last season a lot of teams who committed a lot of money to players who got their points at the line complained.

 

[Futuredome]

The NBA season is a marathon not a sprint

 

[bushwick_bill]

I just can't get my mind where my expectations should be.

They made the Mitchell trade and gave up a lot. And yes, it was a lot.

So, in my mind, they're supposed to be competing for at, minimum, an ECF appearance this year based on that alone.


Yet my mind tells me the roster isn't yet experienced enough or well rounded enough to do that. That they aren't as good as the Bucks, Celtics, Nets, or Sixers. The names on the back of their jerseys + their experience is just better than ours.


Ok, but then back to my first point: if you give up 3 unprotected picks and 2 swaps and your lottery pick from this season and Lauri Markennen....doesn't that just demand you compete for an ECF?

Just can't quite figure out where to put my expectations.

No second round and experience should be the expectations. How many times has Philly or the Hipsters been in the ECF? Cabs are not on the level of Bucks, Celtics, Hipsters or Philly.

 

[Rich]

No second round and experience should be the expectations. How many times has Philly or the Hipsters been in the ECF? Cabs are not on the level of Bucks, Celtics, Hipsters or Philly.

Well my friend, take a look at the standings.

Which of those teams are they supposed to beat in the first round? Milwaukee, Brooklyn, or Philly?

Because that's who they'll be playing baring some major injury derailing a season.


I think I was hoping either BKN or Philly imploded due to ego and disgruntled stars, but the opposite is occurring now, with both teams playing extremely well.

 

[Futuredome]

No second round and experience should be the expectations. How many times has Philly or the Hipsters been in the ECF? Cabs are not on the level of Bucks, Celtics, Hipsters or Philly.

Philly.......we will see. Things change.

 

[willglam]

While JB makes no adjustments it’s taken 3 teams in these losses to shoot lights out from 3 in order to beat us so it’s not all that bad but we need a wing who can dribble and shoot asap

 

[bushwick_bill]

Well my friend, take a look at the standings.

Which of those teams are they supposed to beat in the first round? Milwaukee, Brooklyn, or Philly?

Because that's who they'll be playing baring some major injury derailing a season.


I think I was hoping either BKN or Philly imploded due to ego and disgruntled stars, but the opposite is occurring now, with both teams playing extremely well.

Oh I know, the East is absolutely loaded, Injuries can happen, trades etc, Cabs are also not 100% healthy, Rubio will help etc. I am not pushing the panic button. I have patience with this team and even JBB (this season). I do think if the Cabs are not planning on resigning Levert or if a major trade can be swung using Love then Koby has to move either or, cannot let Levert's contract expire into nothing. It would suck trading Love after 9 seasons but he can always resign here this offseason if he is traded similar to what Rubio did...

 

[Alec]

we need a wing who can dribble and shoot asap

Aka the most valuable thing in the nba.

Don’t hold your breath brother.

 

[redscoon]

As far as playoffs go, I think the top 4 are clear cut better than us. I don’t think the Cavs are getting out of the 1st round unless they get some favorable injury luck. Durant, Giannis, Tatum, Embiid. Which one of these guys are we outdoing to close out games? We’ve been a mess late in games this year. Garland and Mitch have to work so hard being undersized.

The team is really waiting on Mobley. This version that is routinely the 7th or 8th best player on the court for extended stretches isn’t enough. Unless Koby can work some magic at the deadline to find some shooting, the drop off from Mitch and Garland to the next effective offense player is just too big to go toe to toe with the best teams.

 

[CavsKermit]

Aka the most valuable thing in the nba.

Don’t hold your breath brother.

In fairness, we just need one who can shoot and his defense just needs to be passable.

 

[CavsKermit]

Oh I know, the East is absolutely loaded, Injuries can happen, trades etc, Cabs are also not 100% healthy, Rubio will help etc. I am not pushing the panic button. I have patience with this team and even JBB (this season). I do think if the Cabs are not planning on resigning Levert or if a major trade can be swung using Love then Koby has to move either or, cannot let Levert's contract expire into nothing. It would suck trading Love after 9 seasons but he can always resign here this offseason if he is traded similar to what Rubio did...

The very real problem with trading Love is the Cavs desperately need the spacing he provides. For all the griping about his defense, he was +2 against the Nets and neutral tonight in a game they lost by 9.