Game Thread | Game #43 | Cavs @ Trail Blazers | Jan. 12, 2023

[Jscc]

Portland tried trapping DG at nearly half-court with Lillard and Simons in one of those final possessions and he dribbled around both like they weren't there. I don't think I've ever seen him do that before.

 

[Pierre Pan]

 

[Pierre Pan]

How old are you?

Old enough to collect my dinner . See my post directly above.

 

[MD13]

Also, Portland is 12th in defensive points allowed per game. We scored 68 points in the second half and 7 more points overall than they usually give up.

Of course there is room for improvement in offensive flow but I think some of what gets criticized about our offense in general is operating under the assumption that a perpetual motion style offense is best for all rosters. Based on our extreme talent at lead guard and our extreme dearth of reliable 3P wing shooters, it’s not currently the best style of offense for our roster

Great observation here. The tradeoff to all these motion offenses that people don't take into account is the turnover rate. Teams that pass the ball all over are much more likely to turn it over. Our old Kyrie and LeBron offenses were as iso-heavy as anyone, but we were still the best offensive team in the league because we had awesome spacing and those two did such a good job generating high percentage shots without turning it over.

Given the offensive and spacing limitations of the roster, I don't think the average fan gives our coaching staff enough credit in playing to their strengths. Things like the high-low passing, unique cutting principles, and even the off-ball actions to get our guys the ball on the move are very effective overall. Now if Okoro can keep up his stretch of really good play/shooting and we get another shooter, now we're cooking.

 

[J_J]

Also, Portland is 12th in defensive points allowed per game. We scored 68 points in the second half and 7 more points overall than they usually give up.

Of course there is room for improvement in offensive flow but I think some of what gets criticized about our offense in general is operating under the assumption that a perpetual motion style offense is best for all rosters. Based on our extreme talent at lead guard and our extreme dearth of reliable 3P wing shooters, it’s not currently the best style of offense for our roster

Makes sense there and great observation. This team does need a consistent shooter. I believe we all feel we are a 3nD player away for being championship caliber basketball team. The spacing is very crucial for players like Garland and Donovan in this offense.

 

[Pierre Pan]

I wonder how Reggie Bullock describes to his barber what he wants when he goes to the Shop. Lakers go down in double OT

 

[Tlyons]

Welcome back Rubio

Return game and contributed in a big way.

I'm ok with him stealing Evan's JYD

 

[Pierre Pan]

Cavs game highlights on TNT postgame

 

[MirORich]

Makes sense there and great observation. This team does need a consistent shooter. I believe we all feel we are a 3nD player away for being championship caliber basketball team. The spacing is very crucial for players like Garland and Donovan in this offense.

Better 3 and D and(probably most importantly) more seasoning for Garland and Mobley are necessary.

We should expect that, accept that, and be patient with that.

The Warriors were one of the youngest, least experienced championship core for their first title and even they still went through several disappointing(even disastrous) playoff series before they had the proper experience to advance.

And while Kerr and his assistants(Gentry, Ron Adams, Walton) were an upgrade over Jackson, the main factor in getting them over the hump was the experience of losing in 2-3 playoff series first that got Curry/Klay/Dray to the point where they fully understood what was required to win

 

[J_J]

There were number of possessions tonight where JB’s style of defense led to offense momentum’s of easy buckets and transition. The 4th quarter was huge defensively where everyone is bought in. DameTime is a phenomenal player. Not counting Dame, we hold Portland to 6-20 from downtown. There were multiple possessions where we had Levert or Okoro guarded way upfront to avoid in Dame shooting 35 ft 3s, had 1 guy helping to get Dame to pass away, so we gave him multiple looks and made Dame to pass away. I thought those stretches were key especially how rotation was great and the help defense by Mobley and team was phenomenal. Just well done on coaching and execution which led to easy transition and buckets.

 

[CavsKermit]

I felt like this might have been the best synergy game between Garland/Mitchell on offense and Allen/Mobley defensively.

 

[kookoo]

There were number of possessions tonight where JB’s style of defense led to offense momentum’s of easy buckets and transition. The 4th quarter was huge defensively where everyone is bought in. DameTime is a phenomenal player. Not counting Dame, we hold Portland to 6-20 from downtown. There were multiple possessions where we had Levert or Okoro guarded way upfront to avoid in Dame shooting 35 ft 3s, had 1 guy helping to get Dame to pass away, so we gave him multiple looks and made Dame to pass away. I thought those stretches were key especially how rotation was great and the help defense by Mobley and team was phenomenal. Just well done on coaching and execution which led to easy transition and buckets.

It's super helpful against a team with just one ball handler... IMO.

JB needs to change things up against more offensively sound teams that don't just rely on one player.

 

[Pierre Pan]

There were number of possessions tonight where JB’s style of defense led to offense momentum’s of easy buckets and transition. The 4th quarter was huge defensively where everyone is bought in. DameTime is a phenomenal player. Not counting Dame, we hold Portland to 6-20 from downtown. There were multiple possessions where we had Levert or Okoro guarded way upfront to avoid in Dame shooting 35 ft 3s, had 1 guy helping to get Dame to pass away, so we gave him multiple looks and made Dame to pass away. I thought those stretches were key especially how rotation was great and the help defense by Mobley and team was phenomenal. Just well done on coaching and execution which led to easy transition and buckets.

I was cringing watching LeVert guarding Dame up top….thinking that Dame was going to draw another foul on him from beyond the 3 point line. But Caris prevailed

 

[letgocavs]

7 feet of what?

Love is probably shorter than whatever he's listed at. And it aint 7ft.

Of pussy, try to block the shot and play some defense

 

[jjvors]

Mitchell highlights: