Live Thread: Cavs @ Knicks, Game 4 NBA Playoffs

Good morning CtB!

The Cavs wrap up their Broadway series with a Sunday matinee performance in Midtown Manhattan as they take on the New York Knicks for game four of their seven game series. The Cavs suffered an embarrassing 99-79 loss on Friday night, and left many fans distressed and looking for answers. The Cavs were outassisted, outrebounded, and loss the turnover battle with an unacceptable 20 turnovers in the game. If they want to avoid an elimination game, they will have to do what they did in game two: hustle for rebounds, share the ball, and hit some threes. It sounds like Darius Garland’s ankle is good enough to play on, and the only question for the Knicks is whether to keep struggling guard Quentin Grimes in the rotation.

There were more than a few Cavs fans criticizing J.B. Bickerstaff’s decision to start Caris LeVert over Isaac Okoro, but don’t count yours truly among them. The biggest problem I have with Bickerstaff’s rotations is not going back to Dean Wade, who was a big regular season contributor to the Cavs’ success this season. But it’s hard to criticize Bickerstaff for doing that when Wade performed so poorly game one. At the end of the day, the Cavs’ problems in game one and three have much more to do with the young players Darius Garland and Evan Mobley not being able to hit any shots, and Cavs’ most important reserve Cedi Osman crapping the bed off the bench. Taking a bigger picture view, there certainly is the belief that J.B. Bickerstaff can’t coach offense, it was a criticism that dogged him in Memphis and Houston and is coming to fruition again under the intense scrutiny of the NBA playoffs. Does Sam Merrill need to make an appearance? That’s the last quiver J.B. has to goose this offense. For what it’s worth, I’d much rather see Merrill than Ricky Rubio, which hurts to say. Checking in on the calculator, tells the story:

Cavs’ offensive rating in the playoffs: 100.7
Cavs’ defensive rating in the playoffs: 102.5

There were a lot of fans who wanted to crow about this team’s “top 10” offense during the regular season, but the eye test revealed a troubling pattern: Playing Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley together hamstrings the offense, and playing non-shooting perimeter players such as Ricky Rubio, Lamar Stevens, and Isaac Okoro further hamstrings the offense. The Cavs need to enter the 21st century of the NBA, where there’s a premium put on role players who can actually shoot a jump shot. The fate of Spidaland rests on whether Danny Green, Caris LeVert, and Cedi Osman can hit a three. If they aren’t, then J.B. needs to try Dean Wade and Sam Merrill to try and fit the bill.

To Put a Fine Point on It:

Heavy sigh. We REALLY do not need to keep doing this but…

LeVert/Garland/Mitchell
117.9 oRTG
109.7 dRTG
+8.2 Net Rating

Okoro/Garland/Mitchell
91.8 oRTG
91.7 dRTG
+0.2 Net Rating

You tell me which one you prefer! https://t.co/mSnLjO5fcw

— Mike Zavagno (@MZavagno11) April 22, 2023

Brunson is 4-18 shooting against LeVert. The Knicks have an 85 oRTG in the 67 possessions that LeVert has guarded Brunson. The idea that they need to start Okoro for defense is baffling and, frankly, wrong

— Mike Zavagno (@MZavagno11) April 22, 2023

Feel like there is some second guessing around starting LeVert and I don't get it? He's the only option that allows you to play Garland and Mitchell off ball at times. Cavs were able to consistently create shots like this in the early going which you'll take 10 times out of 10 pic.twitter.com/DIdOTtf4oq

— Mike Zavagno (@MZavagno11) April 22, 2023

Mike Zavagno, a staunch Caris LeVert critic during the regular season, has done a 180 on LeVert because he understands the NBA Playoffs are a completely different animal than the regular season, check out his excellent game tape thread. There are reasons to criticize J.B. Bickerstaff’s coaching (prioritizing defense over shooting, the Kevin Love debacle), but starting Caris LeVert is not one of them… in fact, if anything Bickerstaff should be criticized for so easily abandoning it during the regular season instead of letting it cook and build the chemistry necessary to endure the playoff crucible. Here’s to hoping J.B. will find his inner Mike Brown and get this offense going.

Tip off is scheduled for 1:00PM Eastern time and will be broadcasted live on Bally Sports Ohio/Great Lakes, and nationally televised on ABC, Go Cavs!