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

[Wham with the Right Hand]

It is hard to disrupt 3 point shooting when your guards are midgets. Pacers and Nets shot over our guards the entire evening.

This is what we signed up for when we traded for Spida.

Yeah, you could see them deliberately switch Garland onto Haliburton and then he would just shoot the 3 in rhythm, knowing even if Garland was in his face he couldn't contest the shot.

It got to the point where the Pacers weren't even bothering to get right up to the 3-point line - as soon as they got in the general area they'd launch the shot, knowing it was going in. When both Haliburton and Hield are on fire in the same game there's not much you can do.

However, JBB criticized the team for not playing "our game" and getting caught up in the Pacers' fast-paced game. I don't know about that - at halftime the Cavs had outscored them 18-9 on fast breaks. But in the 4th quarter the Cavs were up by 7 and instead of grinding out possessions and getting dunks they got into a running game and were blown out over the last five minutes. Also, Garland injured his thumb and couldn't even make a free throw. He said he didn't want to even shoot them he was in so much pain.

I want to see this team about four weeks after Wade and Rubio get back. I was encouraged by the Cavs scoring 126 points last night. It was a combination of Mitchell having a bad night shooting (10-for-25) and 60+ percent shooting by the Pacer on 3's that turned what should have been a W into an L.

JBB also criticized the Cavs for not playing defense. The team that gives up 104 points per game was scorched for 135. My observation is the Cavs emphasize protecting the paint (they lead the NBA in fewest points allowed in the paint) and they're willing to concede some open 3's in order to prevent layups. When they face a team that is hot from outside they pay the price.

Normally you expect a team to make about 35-40% of their 3's. If that were the case last night the Pacers would have made 12 instead of 19 from deep and the Cavs win by 13. Make it 15 if not for the blown goaltending call.

 

[BigZ94]

Seriously? Do you think the refs are going to gang up on Rick Carlisle for showing them up yesterday? Show me a coach that doesn’t complain calls. JBB seems to have calmed down a bit on the sidelines. I do wish he’d sit down more with a stylus and pad and think of some in-game adjustments though.

Every coach complains about calls, but JBB is just CONSTANTLY berating them

 

[CavsKermit]

Record aside, I don't think they make it out of the play in when the time comes.

I will say this, Haliburton has an edge to him that I wish Darius would exude. Darius is incredible but he doesn't seem to have that, "you can't stop me" attitude.

The reason the Pacers are so dangerous, especially in a play-in game, is how well they shoot. If they get that hot, they can beat anyone. Yes, they had some open threes, but they also made some contested and deep threes. The very first play was Heild grabbing the rebound turning around and hitting a three only a couple seconds in.

What Haliburton has over Garland is at least four inches of height and several inches of wingspan. Haliburton also has a roster of guys who can bury a three playing around him. But I'd take either Garland or Haliburton over both SGA and Morant. Players who can space the floor themselves, and get their teammates involved, are more valuable than guys who drive into the paint 20 times a game hoping for a whistle every third possession.

 

[Dr. Claw]

Yeah, you could see them deliberately switch Garland onto Haliburton and then he would just shoot the 3 in rhythm, knowing even if Garland was in his face he couldn't contest the shot.

It got to the point where the Pacers weren't even bothering to get right up to the 3-point line - as soon as they got in the general area they'd launch the shot, knowing it was going in. When both Haliburton and Hield are on fire in the same game there's not much you can do.

However, JBB criticized the team for not playing "our game" and getting caught up in the Pacers' fast-paced game. I don't know about that - at halftime the Cavs had outscored them 18-9 on fast breaks. But in the 4th quarter the Cavs were up by 7 and instead of grinding out possessions and getting dunks they got into a running game and were blown out over the last five minutes. Also, Garland injured his thumb and couldn't even make a free throw. He said he didn't want to even shoot them he was in so much pain.

I want to see this team about four weeks after Wade and Rubio get back. I was encouraged by the Cavs scoring 126 points last night. It was a combination of Mitchell having a bad night shooting (10-for-25) and 60+ percent shooting by the Pacer on 3's that turned what should have been a W into an L.

JBB also criticized the Cavs for not playing defense. The team that gives up 104 points per game was scorched for 135. My observation is the Cavs emphasize protecting the paint (they lead the NBA in fewest points allowed in the paint) and they're willing to concede some open 3's in order to prevent layups. When they face a team that is hot from outside they pay the price.

Normally you expect a team to make about 35-40% of their 3's. If that were the case last night the Pacers would have made 12 instead of 19 from deep and the Cavs win by 13. Make it 15 if not for the blown goaltending call.

There are WAY too many Cavs in the paint, over helping to prevent the 2 when there should be better floor balance on these defensive series. Overhelping all the time.

It's a systemic thing at this point.

 

[dice1717]

Just looked at the January schedule. Ouch. Could be a .500 team by the end of that month

 

[kidduck]

Hield is also now the league leader in made 3's for the season.

 

[Ohioplayer00]

It is hard to disrupt 3 point shooting when your guards are midgets. Pacers and Nets shot over our guards the entire evening.

This is what we signed up for when we traded for Spida.

It’s not just Spida and DG…..it’s the whole team that loses connection with three point shooters! What kills me is when we let the man with the ball (like Heild last night) come down on a fast break, dribble to the three point line and pull for a three. It’s basketball 101…..the most important man on the floor is the one with the basketball. Especially if he’s been torching you all night!

 

[Ohioplayer00]

Seriously? Do you think the refs are going to gang up on Rick Carlisle for showing them up yesterday? Show me a coach that doesn’t complain calls. JBB seems to have calmed down a bit on the sidelines. I do wish he’d sit down more with a stylus and pad and think of some in-game adjustments though.

I have played and coached this game for years…..trust me refs don’t “gang up” on a coach or player but if you’re chirping at them all game long at some point they make a conscious decision NOT to “see” calls for you! I have had refs actually tell me that after a game and in conversations with them away from the court.
Refs are human and they can get just frustrated as coaches and players. JBB needs to sit his ass down with his staff and start making proper in game adjustments instead of constantly chirping at the refs. Chirp at your damn players who are playing like shit!

 

[BigZ94]

I have played and coached this game for years…..trust me refs don’t “gang up” on a coach or player but if you’re chirping at them all game long at some point they make a conscious decision NOT to “see” calls for you! I have had refs actually tell me that after a game and in conversations with them away from the court.

Tim Donaghy said in his docu that there was an incident where iverson did something, can’t remember what. But there was basically refs collectively decided to start calling travels on him. So this does happen.

I’m sure JBB isn’t popular in the nba reffing circles

 

[Ohioplayer00]

There are WAY too many Cavs in the paint, over helping to prevent the 2 when there should be better floor balance on these defensive series. Overhelping all the time.

It's a systemic thing at this point.

THANK YOU…..I say this allllllllll the time! The Cavs act like we are going against Embid every night the way they consistently drop into the paint and worst into “no man’s land” (not close enough to the paint to help or drives and close enough to their to recover to close out a three ball look)!

 

[cavsfever]

Hield is also now the league leader in made 3's for the season.

Lakers were idiots not trading for Turner and Hield

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

There are WAY too many Cavs in the paint, over helping to prevent the 2 when there should be better floor balance on these defensive series. Overhelping all the time.

It's a systemic thing at this point.

Yet they still lead the NBA in scoring defense.

 

[Ohioplayer00]

Yet they still lead the NBA in scoring defense.

I’ll tell you where defensive scoring ranking is a mirage. It’s when and where in a game scoring happens! You might play excellent defense through out a game but it’s those 9, 10 and 12-0 that digs you into a hole that does not show up in the numbers of a ranking. And the Cavs have had way too many runs like that…..especially at the end of games.

 

[Rich]

Fact is, the Cavs are gonna give up some 3s when the other team has longer players like Haliburton and Hield. That's life for us. Garland and Mitchell are a relatively short backcourt pairing and there are teams that can, when hot, take advantage of that by shooting over their heads.

Pacers just got very hot and, all in all, I don't think the Cavs played that poorly defensively considering the limitations that we have length wise on the perimeter.

But therein lies the issue. You've got a rotation of Okoro, Stevens, LeVert and none of them are a 6'8/6'9 wing. That's the problem.

You put length on a guy like BUddy Hield and everything changes. But we can't.

 

[Ohioplayer00]

Fact is, the Cavs are gonna give up some 3s when the other team has longer players like Haliburton and Hield. That's life for us. Garland and Mitchell are a relatively short backcourt pairing and there are teams that can, when hot, take advantage of that by shooting over their heads.

Pacers just got very hot and, all in all, I don't think the Cavs played that poorly defensively considering the limitations that we have length wise on the perimeter.

But therein lies the issue. You've got a rotation of Okoro, Stevens, LeVert and none of them are a 6'8/6'9 wing. That's the problem.

You put length on a guy like BUddy Hield and everything changes. But we can't.

I’m sorry…..I’m just processing! We couldn’t put “length on him”? Buddy is 6’4! Correct if I’m wrong but Okoro is 6’5 and LaVert is 6’6!
You don’t consider that as “length”???