Game Summary
April basketball is allowing a G-League Memphis team to tie an NBA record in three-pointers made in a game, foul while down double-digits late to try and break the record, in the midst of the Cavs onto their third 50+ win season in four years and locking up homecourt advantage by virtue of other nightly results. The Cavs rotation-ish players, and a starter or two operating at half mast, were able to rally past the Grizzlies after being down double-digits after the 1Q and set the scene for what could be a further rest filled end to the year.
By The Numbers
17: Both teams biggest in-game lead
29: 3PMs by the Grizzlies -- tying an NBA single game record
10: 3PMs by the Grizzlies in both the 1Q and the 4Q
62.8%: The Grizzlies three-point rate -- the highest mark of any Cavs opponent this year
139.2: oRTG by the Cavs -- their 5th best effort this year
9: Cavalier players with 10+ points
118: Points by the Cavs after the 1Q
60.8%: REB% by the Cavs, their 3rd best effort on the year
+19: in FTMs by the Cavs versus the Grizzlies
76: Points in the paint by the Cavs, a 46 point advantage over the Grizzlies
22&11: Dennis Schroder's first double-double as a Cav
8: Assists by Keon Ellis - a career high
By The Players
Dennis Schroder: They say Schroder plays his best basketball in April so let's hope this is a start to what that looks like. Kenny talked postgame about Schroder's role, and it looked a lot like what he said they wanted him to do: early drives, get in the paint, get downhill and shoot your midrange when open. 7 of his 8 FGMs were inside the paint + restricted area, and was aggressive in taking his man off the dribble consistently throughout the game. It's no surprise one of Schroder's best games also came when the ball was able to be in his hands. While there's a microwave nature to his game, he also has an element of a bruising running back in football -- the more he gets his touches, the more he gets into his rhythm and can wear a defense down. Granted, this is the Memphis Grizzlies but it was good to see Schroder operating in ways the Cavs thought about him when they acquired him. His 11 assists for 25 points created were team highs with 6 of those going to Ellis.
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Keon Ellis: The former Sacramento King duo led the way for the Cavs offensively, and Ellis was a big part of that. His 19-points were up there with season highs but his 8 assists as a career high were what got the most attention. He showed a surprising amount of patience, and decisiveness operating with the ball in his hand as a decision maker. Kenny has mentioned in the past there's more to Ellis's game and he's learning about him as they go, and while you can't take too much from this game, it's certainly interesting to see the different element Ellis showed to be quite comfortable in. The scoring was also good to see as the 3-for-5 from deep will be needed when he's on the court with the core.
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Sam Merrill: The one-time Memphis Grizzly had a bit of a rough homecoming to start the game before turning it around. He started 1-for-5 from deep before finding his range in the second half and going 3-for-6. Since the trade deadline, Merrill is shooting 36.4% from three and in March that dipped to just 32.1%. He's been battling a host full of injuries, and those could be catching up to him -- he took a shot to the thigh during the game and also was grabbing at his wrist (again) that has bothered him for most of the season. There's also the thought that the his consistent in the starting lineup, consistently being asked to guard up defensively against bigger players may be wearing him down on offense as well. He's to hoping that's not the case, and he's catching his rhythm at the right time. Either way, his consistency in now being an off dribble player is showing some sparks.
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Evan Mobley: A mundane 26 points (on 11 FGA), 6 rebounds and 4 assist game for Mobley. Between he and Allen, it looked like they were operating at half speed for most of the game and their sheer size earned them a multitude of looks against a depleted, and short, Grizzlies team. There were some wrinkles Kenny showed with the ball in Mobley's hands that should be replicated moving forward. There was also the decision making as a passer that continues to be shown off and that needs to be continued to go to. There three turnovers and some sloppy drives. There was also the improved (?) free-throw shooting up to 62.5% to which he's at 64.3% over his last 7 games -- ever so slightly better than his torturous run at the line. The team defense had a 47.2 rating swing (in a negative way) with him on the floor which gets to the first point of his game evaluation.
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Jarrett Allen: Couldn't tell if his play was a result of him playing at half speed or laboring from his knee issue, and it very likely could have been both. There were flashes of his normal self like protecting the rim against all challengers and making moves that could only be described as AND1 Live Tour-esque. And then there was Allen getting beat relatively easily off the dribble against the Grizzlies big men and not looking like his normal self around the rim with his burst. If the first is the case, I don't blame him. These are meaningless games for him, and seeing him out there in the 4Q was a bit nerve wracking. On the other end, if it was injury related, then it means he needs all the rest he can get between now and the first round matchup and this is something they'll have to manage. In his four games back, Allen is shooting 52.4% from the line. If you're having knee issues, and can't bend, and have to use your upper body, that's where things like that are noticeable.
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Craig Porter Jr: After the game, Kenny called him "positionless" and a "basketball player". The most interesting part of his postgame comments was him saying "those guys that can do all those things contribute in the playoffs usually." It's likely a coach heaping praise on his player when given the opportunity but also an interesting look into Kenny's mindset that he hasn't ruled CPJ out of contributing come playoff time most likely in a utilty role. This felt like it had the chance to be a CPJ game, and it was and it wasn't. It was with the 8 rebounds (3 offensive), 6 assists, and 4 stocks (including this chasedown) -- contributing in all the small ways, and disruptive ways that Kenny was talking about. It wasn't in the sense of this was an opportunity for CPJ to be aggressive offensively, with the ball in his hands, and get back to some of the things we saw early in his career. So only 7 FGAs in an April game is a bit disappointing -- the lack of aggresiveness and shooting (1-for-3 on 3s, and passed up some spot-up attempts) will be something he has to fix going into next year. It's there, it's just can be tap into it?
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Tyrese Proctor: To that point: Proctor played 4 minutes less than CPJ but got up one more shot than CPJ. Now, Proctor was far from efficient (2-for-8, 1-for-4 from 3) but one thing he's not is bashful. The efficiency has come-and-gone when Proctor has gotten minutes this year but like a lot of the Cavs shooters when he gets hot, he gets hot. The 33.6% on the year from 3 has been a bit disappointing given his shotmaking in college, and that being his one winning skillset. Otherwise, some of the other ancillary numbers have just been okay (only 2 rebounds but 3 steals on the game). For a rookie the defense has been pretty good which is something to build off of and something the Cavs could use next to Mitchell and Harden looking to next year. Off-ball shotmaking, size and defense is really the perfect complement to those two.
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Nae'Qwan Tomlin: The energy went way up when Tomlin stepped on the floor, and he had a game similar to the games that got him his two-year contract. Cavs assistant coach Trevor Hendry noted at halftime how the Cavs energy changed when Tomlin and crew stepped on the floor in the 1Q and its noted in the overall score -- after being down 21-12, the Cavs were 12-15 after the bench unit helped stabilize the game including an immediate 6-0 run. A lot of that due to Tomlin. The three-point make was nice to see but it was better seeing him contribute in ways that got him his deal -- 9 rebounds (including 4 offensive), 2 stocks, and a +12. His little off-the-bounce adventure to the rim is hopefully some skills he can build on going into next year.
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Larry Nance Jr: A solid game, for junior. The finishing looked a bit better than earlier in the year where some of his finishing and leaping skills looked diminished so 5-for-6 in the paint + restricted area was a good sign to see especially if the Cavs bigs get into some foul trouble and Kenny is forced to turn to the bigs for help. While the Cavs defense was iffy throughout the night, the Cavs had a -20.6 defensive rating swing with Nance on the floor compared to off. Credit to him for some competitive minutes which can be hard for a veteran come April and games like these.
Game Notes
- How much stock do you want to put into a game where you could build a full roster of who was on the injury report and neither team really had a true interest in winning the game?
- It's easy to dismiss the Cavs performance given the circumstances. It's also hard to give them the benefit of the doubt when the three-point defense has been porous all year and the G-League Grizzlies just almost set a new NBA record.
- The hard part to give them the benefit of the doubt on is the ways the Grizzlies were creating a lot of their looks -- off dribble penetration, and off simple ball screen actions. Both ways the Cavs have struggled to defend all year. Those have both led to breakdowns defensively that have put the Cavs in some difficult spots.
- Part of three-point defense requires effort, and well uhh, these games typically don't inspire much effort when you have nothing to gain from it. Inversely, when the team on the other side has everything to prove, and little structure offensively, the three-point shot is typically the easiest shot to throw up there. Look no further than the Cavs last game of the season last year when they threw up 60 3PAs against the Pacers and Emoni Bates and Jaylon Tyson had double-digit 3PAs -- same type of feeling, same type of game.
- So when the bench unit comes in that is filled with young guys for the Cavs -- Tomlin, CPJ, Proctor, etc., it's not a surprise (in this environment) that the game balances out a bit and the Cavs defense improves. The energy level was matched as opposed to veterans opening the game who figure to be in the playoff rotation and are doing a little big of self preservation to ensure they can make it to the rotation in the playoffs.
- If this is the Schroder we get come playoff time, sign me up. Again, hard to put too much stock into these types of performances. But... they can also be something that a player builds upon confidence wise after a relatively rough March. Schroder isn't shooting as poorly as Lonzo did from the field (40.5% vs 30%) but the three-point numbers aren't that far off (28.8% to 27.2%). The same type of drive game they acquired Ball for and never really saw, is the same type of impact Schroder has in him and the Cavs need to see more consistently. His rim pressure as a guard that either facilitates, a dump off, kick out or short midrange float finish, is the biggest value add he brings to the table.
- The same goes for CPJ if/when he sees some minutes. Obviously, Kenny sees him as a utility guard at this point in time being able to do a little bit of everything and inserted in there for his possessionmaxxing but his drive game is undoubtedly a skill of his that he needs to leverage if/when he gets called upon come playoff time.
- Likewise for Ellis, his ability to do some more things with the ball is his hands is something the Cavs can perhaps build off of whether it be through intentional looks or unintentional creation for Ellis off secondary looks within sets and off closeouts. The biggest flashes Ellis showed was his off-ball readiness, and decisiveness in making plays when the ball swung his way. That will be something to be replicated and Merrill has shown an increasingly effectiveness in doing when attacking closeouts. On the other side, Ellis running some P&R actions, and looking comfortable in doing so, is something they should explore more in the remaining games.
- With the Knicks winning, and securing the Cavs at least the 4 seed, the next three games should be focused on rest, rest, and more rest. There's very little to gain by playing regulars any regular minutes and the Cavs aren't going to solve their rotation, determine their starting lineup, or catch rhythm with three games over five days. At this point, rest and health is the greatest asset the Cavs can gain and need every single drop of it.
- The byproduct of resting is ensuring they keep the 4 seed and don't move into the 3 seed which would mean potentially playing the Boston Celtics in the second round. At this point, the Cavs need as much run up time as possible to play the best team in the Eastern Conference. Coming off potentially two series wins, as opposed to win, and reaching a round they've never reached before, does something for the mental and confidence that may be what they need to climb that mountain. Plus, as we saw last year in the playoffs, anything can happen injury wise the further teams make it. The Pacers saw Tatum go down, Giannis go down, and the Cavs fall apart. Just keep yourself alive, and who knows what the injury luck will bring.
- There's an argument to be made if the Cavs play hard these next two games they could push Atlanta down the standings and setup a first round matchup against the Raptors. That's a valid point. But, the injury risk versus what they have to gain is simply not worth it. Additionally, if the Cavs can't beat the Hawks in round one, and are targeting the Raptors instead, then this core isn't the core they thought it was.
- With all that being said: The Cavs also lock in a 50-win season for the third team in four seasons. After four years of pain and winning 104 games over the 2018-2019 to 2021-2022 timespan, the Cavs have consistently been a very good team. Teams go through phases of non-competitive play and competitive play, and the Cavs are in their competitive play phase. Obviously the end results haven't been what they've wanted but they've managed to rebuild in a way that is hard to do and have managed to do it successfully. Now, the only thing left is getting further in the playoffs.
- One final stat: Kenny credited his team postgame of sticking together and turning the season around after a 17-16 start. There was a time when Kenny's seat was hotter than hot, and the season looked like it was about to go off the rails. But, since that time they've gone 33-13 which is tied for the 5th most wins in the NBA over that span and have had the 7th best net rating (+6.1) over that timespan. There's been a lot of change, and a lot of injuries to manage through, but they've managed to keep the ship afloat and be pretty successful in doing so. That's why if there's a positive to look toward the postseason with it's they've been good despite being those circumstances if they can stay healthy than the ceiling is pretty high.
Box Score & Highlights