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After a day off to enjoy the Big Apple the Cavs engage the Nets in a rematch of their Tuesday night win where the Cavs had a 22-point lead with under seven minutes to go and then let Brooklyn cut it to five points in the final minute. The announcer said it was a “textbook example of how not to close out a game”. JBB was not happy, saying the Cavs “allowed the lead to dictate our emotions…instead of doing the job and finishing the game the way we need to finish the game”.
The game was decided by 3-point shooting where the Cavs knocked down 14 from deep against 9 for the Nets (in 33 attempts). The 15-point Cavalier advantage was crucial in a 6-point win. I don’t expect Cedi to go 4-for-4 tonight, although he has made 19 of his last 38 from deep and I don't think the Cavs will make 48% two games in a row.
The Cavs gave up 54 points in the paint and 19 offensive rebounds, so that’s what needs to improve if they want to get another win. In their last 10 games before Tuesday the Nets averaged 8.5 offensive rebounds per game. They more than doubled that against the Cavs.
The biggest culprit was second-year power forward Day’Ron Sharpe, who had not even played in seven of their last eight games. At 6’9”, 265, Sharpe came in averaging 4.1 points per game and had played in just half their games this year. But in 20 minutes he tore up the Cavs for 20 points, 11 rebounds, and a +27. The Cavs were more concerned with contesting shots than boxing out Sharpe and he made them pay. He had 9 of their 19 offensive rebounds. Hopefully the Cavs will be more aware of Sharpe tonight and put a body on him.
The Cavs are clearly the better team but with Durant and Kyrie gone the Nets are younger and are playing with a lot of energy. As I said in the last preview, all their starters are 6’6” or over and they were getting their hands on a lot of passes Tuesday. They forced Garland into five turnovers. This time he should be ready when they double him on the pick-and-rolls.
The Nets have Joe Harris (6'6"), Royce O’Neale (6’6”), Yuta Watanabe (6’8”), and Sharpe (6’9”) coming off the bench. They have length at every position and they play hard, not giving up even when down by 22 almost halfway through the 4th quarter.
I’m expecting a tougher contest tonight. I don’t expect the Cavs to hit 48% from deep again and the Nets should do better than 27%. The Cavs need to do a better job on the defensive glass as the Nets took nine more shots than the Cavs on Tuesday. The Cavs won because the Nets were awful on 3’s while the Cavs were unusually sharp from outside.
Ben Simmons is still out for Brooklyn. Donovan Mitchell got whacked on his injured finger Tuesday so I’m wondering if they might give him the night off. The next game isn’t until Sunday so that would give him four days off for the finger to heal.
The Cavs are now 4.0 games ahead of the Knicks with eight to play. Five of the Cavs’ last seven games are against Houston, Indy, Charlotte, and Orlando - all in 11th place or lower. They're also four games behind Philly for 3rd. The Cavs appear to be locked into 4th place. They can afford to give Mitchell a night off. In fact, with the Knicks loss to Miami last night the Cavs can probably start getting ready for the playoffs now.
The game was decided by 3-point shooting where the Cavs knocked down 14 from deep against 9 for the Nets (in 33 attempts). The 15-point Cavalier advantage was crucial in a 6-point win. I don’t expect Cedi to go 4-for-4 tonight, although he has made 19 of his last 38 from deep and I don't think the Cavs will make 48% two games in a row.
The Cavs gave up 54 points in the paint and 19 offensive rebounds, so that’s what needs to improve if they want to get another win. In their last 10 games before Tuesday the Nets averaged 8.5 offensive rebounds per game. They more than doubled that against the Cavs.
The biggest culprit was second-year power forward Day’Ron Sharpe, who had not even played in seven of their last eight games. At 6’9”, 265, Sharpe came in averaging 4.1 points per game and had played in just half their games this year. But in 20 minutes he tore up the Cavs for 20 points, 11 rebounds, and a +27. The Cavs were more concerned with contesting shots than boxing out Sharpe and he made them pay. He had 9 of their 19 offensive rebounds. Hopefully the Cavs will be more aware of Sharpe tonight and put a body on him.
The Cavs are clearly the better team but with Durant and Kyrie gone the Nets are younger and are playing with a lot of energy. As I said in the last preview, all their starters are 6’6” or over and they were getting their hands on a lot of passes Tuesday. They forced Garland into five turnovers. This time he should be ready when they double him on the pick-and-rolls.
The Nets have Joe Harris (6'6"), Royce O’Neale (6’6”), Yuta Watanabe (6’8”), and Sharpe (6’9”) coming off the bench. They have length at every position and they play hard, not giving up even when down by 22 almost halfway through the 4th quarter.
I’m expecting a tougher contest tonight. I don’t expect the Cavs to hit 48% from deep again and the Nets should do better than 27%. The Cavs need to do a better job on the defensive glass as the Nets took nine more shots than the Cavs on Tuesday. The Cavs won because the Nets were awful on 3’s while the Cavs were unusually sharp from outside.
Ben Simmons is still out for Brooklyn. Donovan Mitchell got whacked on his injured finger Tuesday so I’m wondering if they might give him the night off. The next game isn’t until Sunday so that would give him four days off for the finger to heal.
The Cavs are now 4.0 games ahead of the Knicks with eight to play. Five of the Cavs’ last seven games are against Houston, Indy, Charlotte, and Orlando - all in 11th place or lower. They're also four games behind Philly for 3rd. The Cavs appear to be locked into 4th place. They can afford to give Mitchell a night off. In fact, with the Knicks loss to Miami last night the Cavs can probably start getting ready for the playoffs now.
