Playoff Live Thread Game 3: Cavs @ Heat (or, Target Lock Tyler)
2025-04-26Saturday afternoon bad news, Cavs fans: Cleveland will be without Darius Garland due to a sprained toe. After a war of words in the last couple days between he and Herro, Darius was ruled out before game time. The Heat will be without Love and Rozier still and I expect to see a healthy dose of Nikola Jovic. From Miami.
Here’s the key to this game: use Herro’s aggressiveness against him.
Tyler’s gonna be keyed up. Pump fake, coming off the screen and pulling up so he runs into you, decoy plays… They should all be a part of the game plan. Cleveland needs to feed the bigs around the basket cause Miami will want to take away the Cavs’ perimeter game which has killed em this week.
In other news, keep making Herro hit tough shots and limiting everyone else’s damage. Pay attention to Jovic and Make Bam hit threes. And go Cavs.
Mad Max 3! Leads to a Spo rage TO!
Strus, Strus, Strus!
Miami ready to go fishing.
The Heat have scored 22 points each quarter.
Sorry they scored 20 points in Q1.
Spo’s aversion to coaches challenges is… interesting. Don’t get it. As an opposing fan, not gonna complain.
I don’t think I’ve seen a shot go in for Wade since the regular season.
Don’t know what the numbers are but doesn’t feel like he shot well all season. Still I’m way more annoyed about passing out of an open shot than actual missed shots.
Spida 3!
Cavs so far.
This was the point where Heat made their run last game. Continue to focus.
Mobley iso on Wiggins. Like shooting fish in a barrel.
How is that not continuation?
I will never understand how they call continuation. I understand the rule, never agree with how it’s called.
Wow. Browns got Shaeder Sanders.
I think some apologies are in order now from those who savaged the Dillon Gabriel pick. Now it all makes more sense.
As a lifelong Browns fan I’d say that with all the context now revealed, this is the most “mature” and non-stupid draft of the whole expansion era. Not saying these players will pan out, just that for once they seemed to have had a plan.
Ty Jerome scoring 1 on 3 there.
Ty literally surrounded by airborne defenders and still cans the floater. He is ludicrous!
That was wild looking
Three big falls. Butler, Morant, Adebayo.
Jesus h. Jerome.
Hunter looking like post trade Hunter
Good response out of the time out. Take note JB!
Attaway Mitch
Lol. Wiggins is so washed.
He’s never been all that great. Kevin Pelton was right about him.
Agreed. I was wrong.
Time to bring in Ty and Hunter. Merrill hasn’t really produced.
Just made a great hustle defensive play.
Defensively he’s been good.
Also noticed the screen he set for DM a few minutes ago – for a 6’4 guard, he sets a solid one. But not scoring today, true.
Good timeout. Cavs flat.
I think Allen tipped that to Strus
Smart play
And Strus never slowed down after throwing the lob to Allen (left handed lob pass!) which is why Allen had that outlet for the tip.
There we go
Not a great start to the 3rd!
We need to attack the rim… shooting like 4-5 3’s to start with 2 missed layups by DM.
Man. Just post up Allen. Cavs overcomplicating their offense.
TNT been riding on reputation for years.
That was an awesome half!
I appreciate Hunter’s Kevin Love like ability to draw shooting fouls.
Yes, and not by egregiously baiting calls. With his size, handle, and crazy arm extension that makes a blocked shot infeasible, when he attacks it’s just hard “not” to foul him.
Good point. Hunter’s are more legit.
Mobley just DPOY’d somebody (great block + possession and outlet pass)
Followed by overpowering Wiggins on the other end.
Allen’s Defense and Offense no slouch either!
I felt it was “not” inappropriate for the halftime host to say Allen’s “playing like prime Shaq.” Lol! He is, today!
Wow Mobley. Incredible block.
Hunter again just killing it.
Hunter has been fantastic.
Hunter splits 3 defenders, never gives up the dribble, going to the line for 2 and nearly had the touch for an and-one.
I can’t remember seeing Allen “this” forceful – I guess the Orlando series before he got hurt, but damn, every cut to the rim he is looking to make a poster!
And the energy is contagious!
Big pair of slams by the he best finisher in the association!
Merrill gotta take that shot
nice to see hunter earning his keep..
Finally caught up to game. Cavs playing fantastic after a slow start.
Ty is +26
Ty’s lob passes are approaching DG’s for accuracy (on the other hand Merrill’s attempt early in Q1 made me miss DG, lol. Merrill’s solid but that’s not one of his talents).
Someone is going to pay Jerome. I hope it’s us.
Get this lead up to 40!
Kudos to Ice with the nice o-board positioning for a put-back. And went back up quickly thank God.
Yeah. His lone good offensive play. Only place he puts pressure on defense
Wade playing well but him and Ice still continue to be hesitant to shoot the open shot when they have it. Both had a chance on that play. Wound up with a forced shot instead. Frustrating.
Yeah if they’re consistently going to play together, at least one of them need to let it fly when open and stop thinking about it.
Okoro subs in and the Cavs immediately have their first awkward offensive possession of the game. But correlation is not causation. Lol!
I think that was a 37-8 run (might be off by a couple) until the Heat finally sank a couple 3s. With Garland on the sidelines and Donovan not really feeling it so far. Wow!
Hunter just buried a 3 over suffocating defense.
Great set play for DM to open the quarter.
Herro and Wiggins must be delinquent on their monthly utility bill because Dean is shutting off their water supply today
Jerome made a defender look foolish at one end on his way to sinking a floater, then picked Jovic’s pocket 5 seconds later.
What a dominate performance. As soon as Ty, Wade and Hunter came in, we smoked them.
The defense the last 6 mins is pretty impressive.
I love the early sub sequence – first Hunter and Ty replace Donovan (who looked off early) and Mobley and immediately stabilize the offense, then Wade joins them – replacing Merrill to add size – and the D goes into lockdown mode.
Great coaching by KA, great play by the Cavs. Spoelstra looking confused and frustrated
Yeah Spo calling timeout at 33-20 CLE, trying to stop the bleeding. I believe it was 2-12 early in the game, and the Cavs are on a 31-8 run since then through multiple timeouts!
Sean Wade playing some great defense
First time getting to watch live this round. Four early things I like: (1) Allen’s finishing is just exquisite even by his lofty standards; (2) calling travels is a thing again, already two of those whistles on the Heat in Q1; and (3) subbing Wade in “without” tying him to Okoro; and (4) since Hunter came in, he and Mobley are both relentlessly attacking the rim and the glass.
Great rebound Wade!
Heat getting the home whistle
CAVALANCHE
Like this big lineup.
Horrible call on Wade. That was good defense.
Strus to Allen. Great basketball
Thank you Nate, have to attend to work this afternoon… Go Cavs.
Ware got abused 4 consecutive times on the defensive end
KA switches things up, and it works.
This lineup is bringing it.
Ugh these matinee games.
Choppy so far. Unusual lineup for the Cavs with DG out.
Cavs cold from 3
Ready !!! We need this game 3!