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The Cavs return home for the second of a back-to-back series against the Bulls. After a thrilling 103-102 win in Chicago Saturday the Cavs are 2-0 against the Bulls.
Saturday’s win was not pretty. The Cavs allowed the Bulls to steal the ball 15 times and had 21 turnovers. They went 12-for-19 from the foul line. They committed seven turnovers in the 4th quarter while trying to protect a lead and scored two points in the last 4:56. During that span they went 1-for-5 with four turnovers. As Kevin Love said, they did everything they could to lose, but won “ugly”.
They were saved by excellent defense. Zach LaVine was held to 15 points after scoring 43 on Detroit the night before and the Bulls only managed 102 points.
That being said, anytime you beat an NBA team on the road without Mobley, Garland, Rubio, and Wade and with Donovan Mitchell going 5-for-16 with seven turnovers it’s a really good win. Especially against a team that came in having won five of their last six.
Now the battle shifts to Cleveland where the Cavs are 16-4. The Bulls are 7-11 on the road. I don’t know if Garland or Mobley will be able to go. Garland is listed as “doubtful” so I assume he’s out; Mobley is “questionable”. Since the Cavs beat the Bulls in Chicago without either of them and now they’re at home, I expect they sit Mobley to give his sore ankle two more days of rest.
The Bulls rank 29th in opponents’ 3-point percentage and in two games the Cavs are hitting 44.6% from deep. Love is 10-for-17 on 3’s and Cedi is 5-for-9. Those two are combining for 31 points per game against Chicago. The Cavs need to continue to take advantage of the Bulls’ weak perimeter defense, especially with Garland and Mobley out.
Caris LeVert also likes playing the Bulls - he’s averaging 18.5 points, 6 assists, and 5.5 rebounds against them.
The Bulls allow an average of 9.5 offensive rebounds per game but the Cavs had 15 Saturday despite Mobley being out. The Cavs outscored the Bulls in second chance points by an unbelievable 25-2 which was huge in a one-point win. You can bet the Bulls will emphasize not letting that happen this time around.
To go 3-0 against the Bulls the Cavaliers need to continue their hot shooting from deep and continue getting offensive boards and second chance points. They need to keep getting positive contributions from the bench, especially if Mobley and Garland can’t go. Okoro, Lopez, and Neto were +2, +4, and +7 off the bench Saturday which was crucial in a one-point win.
The Bulls are 9th in forcing turnovers and they forced 21 on Saturday. They were lurking in the passing lanes and anticipating passes, jumping in for steals. The Bulls have a lot of 6’4” to 6’7” guys that are quick and gamble for steals, so the Cavs have to be more aware and not overpass. Mitchell in particular needs to cut down on the turnovers. In two games the Cavs have committed 37 turnovers against the opportunistic Bulls.
If the Cavs cut down on the turnovers, do a better job at the free throw line while, continue to play solid team defense, make a high percentage of their 3’s, and get offensive boards they should get another W.
The Cavs did a nice job on DeRozan in the first two games, holding him to 10-for-26 from the field and 17 points per game. Zach LaVine is averaging 19 points so the Cavs are containing the damage on him as well. However, by focusing on the Bulls’ top scorers the Cavs allowed Dosunmu and Javonte Green to combine for 31 points Saturday on 11-for-15 from the field. They need to be careful about overplaying the big guns and getting burned by the supporting cast.
First game of 2023 - let's start the New Year off right.
Saturday’s win was not pretty. The Cavs allowed the Bulls to steal the ball 15 times and had 21 turnovers. They went 12-for-19 from the foul line. They committed seven turnovers in the 4th quarter while trying to protect a lead and scored two points in the last 4:56. During that span they went 1-for-5 with four turnovers. As Kevin Love said, they did everything they could to lose, but won “ugly”.
They were saved by excellent defense. Zach LaVine was held to 15 points after scoring 43 on Detroit the night before and the Bulls only managed 102 points.
That being said, anytime you beat an NBA team on the road without Mobley, Garland, Rubio, and Wade and with Donovan Mitchell going 5-for-16 with seven turnovers it’s a really good win. Especially against a team that came in having won five of their last six.
Now the battle shifts to Cleveland where the Cavs are 16-4. The Bulls are 7-11 on the road. I don’t know if Garland or Mobley will be able to go. Garland is listed as “doubtful” so I assume he’s out; Mobley is “questionable”. Since the Cavs beat the Bulls in Chicago without either of them and now they’re at home, I expect they sit Mobley to give his sore ankle two more days of rest.
The Bulls rank 29th in opponents’ 3-point percentage and in two games the Cavs are hitting 44.6% from deep. Love is 10-for-17 on 3’s and Cedi is 5-for-9. Those two are combining for 31 points per game against Chicago. The Cavs need to continue to take advantage of the Bulls’ weak perimeter defense, especially with Garland and Mobley out.
Caris LeVert also likes playing the Bulls - he’s averaging 18.5 points, 6 assists, and 5.5 rebounds against them.
The Bulls allow an average of 9.5 offensive rebounds per game but the Cavs had 15 Saturday despite Mobley being out. The Cavs outscored the Bulls in second chance points by an unbelievable 25-2 which was huge in a one-point win. You can bet the Bulls will emphasize not letting that happen this time around.
To go 3-0 against the Bulls the Cavaliers need to continue their hot shooting from deep and continue getting offensive boards and second chance points. They need to keep getting positive contributions from the bench, especially if Mobley and Garland can’t go. Okoro, Lopez, and Neto were +2, +4, and +7 off the bench Saturday which was crucial in a one-point win.
The Bulls are 9th in forcing turnovers and they forced 21 on Saturday. They were lurking in the passing lanes and anticipating passes, jumping in for steals. The Bulls have a lot of 6’4” to 6’7” guys that are quick and gamble for steals, so the Cavs have to be more aware and not overpass. Mitchell in particular needs to cut down on the turnovers. In two games the Cavs have committed 37 turnovers against the opportunistic Bulls.
If the Cavs cut down on the turnovers, do a better job at the free throw line while, continue to play solid team defense, make a high percentage of their 3’s, and get offensive boards they should get another W.
The Cavs did a nice job on DeRozan in the first two games, holding him to 10-for-26 from the field and 17 points per game. Zach LaVine is averaging 19 points so the Cavs are containing the damage on him as well. However, by focusing on the Bulls’ top scorers the Cavs allowed Dosunmu and Javonte Green to combine for 31 points Saturday on 11-for-15 from the field. They need to be careful about overplaying the big guns and getting burned by the supporting cast.
First game of 2023 - let's start the New Year off right.
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