Live Thread: Cavs vs Hawks

We’ve missed a few recaps lately, and while two of them were nailbiting losses to the Thunder and Raptors, the most recent was an obliteration at the hands of the Clippers. Cleveland was pounded 133-92, the Cavs’ worst home loss, ever. More embarrassing? The Clippers were missing their best player another starter: Kawhi Leonard and Patrick Beverly. It’s worth nothing a few inescapable conclusions about the Cavs.

1. While older teams do well with more rest, younger teams, especially these Cavs fall apart with extended breaks between games. Playing at least every other day seems to get the Cavs in a rhythm that they seem impossible to recreate when they’ve got extended time off. I’m very wary of the first game after the All-Star break.
2.  Darius Garland, after some ok stretches this year has been abjectly awful recently. He’s not good at anything. The closest he comes to being not awful is his 5.8 assists per game to 2.6 turnovers, and 37% from three in the last three games. But he’s shooting just under 40% from the floor. When combined with the differently but also flawed Sexton, it’s an utter disaster and a huge reason the Cavs have lost 13 of their last 14. The pair combined to go 7-24 against the Clips. And let’s not even talk about defense. The teams looked like they were in different leagues.
3. Andre Drummond probably isn’t the answer. While he looked like a real honest-to-God NBA player against the Clips with a 19/14/3 line, he got waxed along with everyone else. I’m very wary of his freedom to shoot threes even though he went 2-3 on the game. It brought his season total to 3-24. It’s a double edged sword for Cleveland. If Drummond develops a reliable three point shot over the rest of the season, he probably can opt out and sign somewhere lucrative. If he doesn’t, then he’s gonna kill the Cavs on the floor by taking the shot. Simlarly: 1-2 Tristan Thompson Sunday.
4. Kevin Porter Junior passes the eye test, and should probably move into the starting lineup sooner than later. I’m not sure who he replaces though. The Garter or Sexter backcourts both sound a bit scary, and Porland and Porton both sound dumb. God. We’re picking backcourts based on nameology. That’s a low bar.
5. Why do I feel like Drummond is going to kill Kevin Love’s game?
6. See above for Larry Nance.
7. The Cavs have a lot of negative defenders, and their worst ones start. Andre Drummond isn’t going to fix that.

Anyway, we’ll see who wins tonight’s tank battle between the Hawks and Cavs. Bembry, Labasierre, and Capela will all be out for the Hawks while Dedmon looks to get his first start in his return to the Hawks. Kevin Love is out with an achilles injury tonight (WTF!?) and obviously Ante and Dylan. At least I get to see Nance play with Drummond. Let the tank battle commence.