Live Thread: Play-In Game, Cavs @ Nets

It’s finally here, the post-season and the Cavs are in it as they traverse to the banks of the East River to take on the Brooklyn Nets in the Cavs’ biggest game since the 2018 NBA Finals. All eyes of the NBA world will be on the Barclays Center to see if the Cavs can pull off what would be one of the great upsets in sports lore.

What will it take to upset the Nets? It starts on the defensive end with Evan Mobley. Mobley will have to be special tonight on the defensive end protecting the rim, rebounding the ball, and challenging outside shots on switches. The Cavs will go as far as Mobley can take them defensively. It’s obviously a tremendous burden to bear for a 20 year old rookie, but it’s in these types of games when Mobley elevates his game to superstar levels. No matter what transpires, this is the type of experience Mobley needs to test the limits of his game and become the NBA superstar he’s destined to be.

The game on the offensive end is clearly an easier task, that’s where Brooklyn struggles the most. But the question is whether Darius Garland and the Cavs’ offense can remain disciplined and consistently create and attack mismatches that will present themselves. Too many times the Cavs’ perimeter players have passed up on the simple play: a post up for Kevin Love, Lauri Markkanen, or Evan Mobley on a guard. The Nets will be playing a combination of Seth Curry, Kyrie Irving, Patty Mills, and maybe Goran Dragic or Cam Thomas. These are the guys who should be attacked every possession. Can the Cavs execute, and can they adjust to the Nets’ adjustments? The pressure is on Coach J.B. Bickerstaff to guide these guys through the game.

On Brooklyn’s side…

Looking at Brooklyn, the only real pressing question is with whom Coach Steve Nash decides to surround Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Conventional wisdom would dictate only Patty Mills and Nic Claxton getting minutes off the bench. But does Nash go with vets LaMarcus Aldridge or Blake Griffin instead? What about rookies Kessler Edwards or Cam Thomas? Nash trying to extend his bench or experiment could open a chance for the Cavs to exploit those matchups. But can the Cavs’ capitalize if it happens?

Stat to remember

This game will largely be dictated by who wins on the glass. The Cavs have a golden opportunity to generate second chance points given the Nets’ worst in the NBA defensive rebound rate. Unfortunately the Nets have a similar opportunity for themselves given a bottom 10 ranking for the Cavs. Who makes those hustle plays and creates the easy buckets generated by rebounding the ball? The Cavs lost the rebound battle by 14 last Friday night, that will have to change.

Tip off is scheduled for 7:00PM ET and will be broadcasted live on TNT, Go Cavs!