Live Thread: Cavs @ Magic
2021-01-04The 4-2 Cavs battle the 4-2 Magic tonight for the third game of their six game road trip. It’s a battle, a battle for one of the top spots in the conference. Excuse me, I’ll say it again, one of the top spots in the conference.
I know it’s less than ten games in, but whenever I have a chance to mention the Cavs and the top of the conference in the same sentence, I’m going to do it.
Anyways, I haven’t had a chance to watch much of the Cavs yet (aside from a quarter here and there) but I’m looking forward to seeing some real NBA ball from the squad. It appears they’re moving the ball these days and they have a defense. They currently rank 2nd in defensive efficiency.
The Cavs will be without Kevin Porter (personal), Matthew Dellavedova (concussion), Kevin Love, and Dylan Windler. Issac Okoro is up in the air right now with a foot sprain and Darius Garland is too due to a strained shoulder.
The Magic are without Jonathan Issac, Chuma Okeke, and Al-Farouq Aminu. Evan Fournier and James Ennis III are questionable.
Things to Watch:
-The biggest thing I’ll be watching tonight is how Collin Sexton adjusts to some real defensive point guards with the Magic rolling out the just paid Markelle Fultz and the lanky Michael Carter Williams. Sexton is averaging 26 points on 55.6% shooting from the floor and 55% from 3-land to go with 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals a night. He’s the 11th highest scorer in the league right now.
–Andre Drummond has also been posting monster lines averaging 17 points, 14.2 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks a night. Can he continue that production while having to step out onto Magic center Nikola Vucevic who is averaging 21.5 points a night to go with 11.5 boards and 2.7 3s. Who will guard Vucevic is the Cavs choose to put Drummond down low to protect the paint?
-Lastly, who are the Cavs going to send at Aaron Gordon? If Okoro is out, will Cedi get the start on him or is Larry Nance going to chase him around?
Sexton switched needlessly there. If that trey hadn’t gone in his man woukd have gotten the board. That needs to be excised. No more switching unless necessary.
Cedi with the Steph impersonation!
Of 15 rostered players, 7 are out. 8 are availabe.
INs: Sexton, Dotson, Cedi, LNJ, Drummond; Wade, Maker, McGee.
OUTs: Garland, KPJ, Okoro, Windler, Love; Delly, Exum.
Cedi is our backup PG.
Sexton is a turnover machine tonight…
Drummond dpoy steal and finish. COLLIN MIRRORS!
CEDI EN FUEGO!!!!!!!!!!
Using the FORCE!
Cavs definitely get a ton of steals…all season…
ranked 1st in TO rate on defense.
Cedi had the highest offensive rating last game, looks like his fantastic play is carrying over.
SEXTON COAST TO COAST!
Back to back pick sixes!
Big Drum with the steal and the near-coast to coast!
Cedi been pretty good, but that was a bad tov.
Just redeemed
Magic not typically this good from three (other than Ross)…
Vuc is very good from trey.
https://twitter.com/oldseaminer/status/1346256914708131840?s=20
That shot cedi made looked like a shot put, but I’ll take it.
Feeling it. He’s got a good rhythm tonight.
Vuc is such a talented offensive player…
Possibly the league’s most underrated
Pretty impressive comeback from being down 10-0
Wow dotson from like 29 feet.
Cedi looks amped…
Three on Anthony…
Dot from deep! Ross follows for some fantasy points for me. Dot answers,
Nance’s long ball is gone
Just gotta keep shooting with confidence.
Don’t disagree, but it would be super helpful for it to comeback sooner rather than later
Dotson AGAIN!
Dotson from DOWNTOWN
What is it about Orlando and PGs with weird hair?
D has been impressive so far…
Can’t believe I am saying this…..but that appears to be this team’s strength for once in like 10 years, save for 2016 playoffs.
Would be nice if nance could hit open treys again. But nice recovery on the oop.
Cedi to Junior! W great hustle maker.
Cedi making some sweet passes…
Might be a good Cedi game tonight…
Damn drummond. Talk about rim protection.
I really like Dotson’s game…
He’s found his way a bit real passive early in the year.
Not a ton of PT tbh…
Nice second chance leads to a Nance oop!
Sweet block Drummond.
Turkey Bacon…
Right calf strain for Dante… better news than the alternative
Calf strai8n for Exum…dodged a bul;let…
We’ll see.
Yeah. Frankly I don’t know if that means much at this point. They might not give that info out yet if it’s an achilles.
https://twitter.com/twithersAP/status/1346252552569040896?s=20
Gotta clean up the tovs
Man I hate that play.
Sexton patented
Holy cow maker. Don’t see a travel like that often. Great footwork on d
Unbelievable hustle by maker for that rebound.
Tip my hat to vuce on that turnaround. Wow
Maker! Great hustle
Nice pass mcgee
Defense really solid.
Collin has to stop ball watching. Ball you man. They need to be drilling him every practice in that.
One eye on the ball one on the man.
Sometimes I have no idea who Sexton is guarding
Cavs hanging in, but I think this one will get ugly. Really getting tired of guys not playing.
Sexton with a tricky finish.
Dot. Like it.
Big hit cedi. Nice play Dot
Magic size giving them tons of trouble.
This going to be rough without an initiator
Drummond got murdered
Well exum done for the season. Bet money Achilles
every time Nance doesn’t touch the ball on offense is a wasted possession.
achilles.jpeg (211×238) (wordpress.com)
Ugh. Worried.
Wonderful start…geez…
that’s not good, Exum down…. the replay looks even worse.
Uh oh… Exum with the non-contact injury… looked a lot like an achilles
thought the same thing EG…. WOW
Well that didn’t take long for Sexton to force one…
Dotson does get the start…
Happy B’Day Young Bull!
Gonna need a big game from Exum and Sexton… or Sextexonum
NOMAD’S AVAILABLE :- ) —–NO “D ” BUT I CAN STILL SHOOT THE “3 ” ———-WILL PROBABLY BE A NO SHOW FOR TONIGHT –( TEMPORARILY )—AS THIS IS THE LAST WEEK OF ALEX TREBEK TAPING BEFORE HE PASSED —TRULY AN AMERICAN ICON !!!
I’d start Dotson tonight.
who’s left at this point?? LMFAOOO (100% agree obviously re: Dotson)
https://twitter.com/ChrisFedor/status/1346232999105409024?s=20
That’s not good…. but we’ll get to see a Sexton driven offense and see if he’s progressed in that regard.