Playoff Live Thread: Cavs vs Pistons (Game 3)
2026-05-09Will the wine and gold get back to their hot shooting ways in their own building, Cavs Fans? Will they fall into a practically insurmountable 3-0 deficit? Will the Beard be something other than a disaster this afternoon? Cleveland is very much in the situation Toronto was last round, and a long hard look in the mirror might be a necessity.
The latest excuse for James Harden’s horrific play has been a hand injury that might trace back a month or so ago. Regardless of the reason, if Harden can’t score, defend, or take care of the ball, there’s no reason for him to be on the floor. The Cavs should prep for some CPJ minutes as a contingency.
Meanwhile Kenny Atkinson keeps giving Dennis Schröder run over Jaylon Tyson, who has more size and ability to score at three levels than Dennis at this point. Schröder, Mitchell, and Harden combined for 15-42 from the field with 11 assists and eight turnovers. We also need more than 23 minutes from Dean Wade, to keep two rebounding bigs in the floor at all times. We’ll see if it actually happens.
Hopefully the Cavalier faithful bring their A game, the 3:00 PM start doesn’t prove a hinderence, and Evan Mobley gets his head out of his ass. Go Cavs.
Enormous ooto bucket for the umlaut.
Cavs really shooting 61%? Wow. Would hope for a larger diff.
Turnovers
Mobley has to close the space there.
The whistle Detroit’s been getting this game has been insane
Love the inverted screen.
Schröder going for an Oscar.
Dennis sold that. Contact to the throat area, though.
Guessing not flagrant
Agreed.
Good recovery here with a lot of Guards in: Spida, Schröder, Merrill & Harden wuth Mobes.
Playing with fire, IMO. Gotta get some rebounding out there.
I want Tyson in those badly but he can’t be trusted enough yet-truly awful 3Q close
LFG!
Harden giving them nothing right now. Thank God for Sam.
Just pitch it to the other end or call a timeout. You can’t repeat “bird stole the ball!”
Phantom call on Strus, terrible play by Tyson. Just play the damn starters the rest of the way. Can’t trust anyone off of our bench.
Strus has been good. Dennis pretty good.
Was the recent review just checking if shot clock violation, not a team challenge?
I don’t think it was a team challenge.
That was stupid. Tyson.
With no Harris or Cade, Cavs have to make a run here
Big shot Tyson!
Max Strus has been so huge this game.
Yes
Cavs playing like they just expect the other team to give up again.
Strus!!!!!
This will be a deserved loss.
Schröder with an abysmal shift.
Didn’t like the energy out of the locker room. Cavs getting out hustled and out executed.
Detroit’s DNA is aggressive. Ours is to jack 3s.
Change this lineup!
Need DM in
Feel like there are more offensive rebounds there for the taking, but the Cavs are content to retreat to defend. I like this timeout.
Too 3 happy. Go past Duren, Spida.
Harden 5 dimes, 1 TO.
Would love to see the score without the turnovers and offensive rebounds. But glad to see that second quarter. This is what our offense should look like.
I can take the o boards if they’re defending.
Only 2 TOs that quarter. 8-8 for the game.
2nd chance keeping Detroit in it. O glass is 12-1. Though they do have a bunch more misses.
Great to see Sam back.
Shooting:
Cavs: 69%/54%/56%
Detroit: 38%/14%/71%
Up 16.
Fantastic first half.
Nice challenge. Was a little sus at first.
Dumb challenge
We are struggling at the line.
Robinson is a real liability for the Pistons on defense.
Evan can’t shoot FTs.
He’s gotta work on this in the offseason.
Cade hasn’t been the best player so far today.
Wow!!!
Mitchell with a nice screen on Robinson dunk. /s
Make up three!
JA butterfingered the saycy pass from Evan.
Big play there. 3 on Cade. 5 pt play!
Mobes & Thompson both with 3.
KA gambling. JB not.
Clean the glass, darn it.
Good stretch w DM sitting
Well executed play. They switched Harden off of Jenkins and onto someone he could beat, and he drives and makes the pass to a wide open Wade.
…who does not hesitate and hits it in rhythm
I think that Harden isn’t quick enough to beat Jenkins but Donovan is.
Wade splashes a 3 so wide open off the Harden kick that JB gotta talk it over. Definitely running better offense today.
Nice!! Harden to Wade! Up 7.
Yes!!!
Ausar with an Oscar nomination
Mobes did graze his arm there.
Yeah but Donovan and Allen can only dream of getting FTs from that little contact
Yeah. Less that there was contact and more that Detroit being allowed to be very physical with the Cavs and not getting those same calls.
9-0 on the O glass. Though we have not missed much
Tyson bricking open 3s. Solid D.
Cannot clean the glass again. And again.
Even though Tyson missed the three, I liked that offense.
Feels like Cavs getting called for every small touch
Mobes misses 2, they get an I board on a FT.
Dennis has shown up (…so far).
Shot it really well. Allen, Schröder, and Harden really good. Save for the one bad shot, Mitchell, too.
Turnovers 6-2.
Offensive glass: 4-0 Pistons.
8 possessions right there.
Kenny now doing his fair share.
Need bench scoring to win playoff games! Somebody show up, please!
JB full whining mode
Good recovery. Still shooting well.
JA aggressive!
Early arrival for Dennis
I think it was wise to sit Mitchell with 2. Also I hated that quick triple.
With the starters out there, our biggest advantages are gonna be Harris on Mobley and whomever Robinson is guarding, usually Harden if Cade is hiding on Wade.
Those quick 3s take us out of that. And that one was way deep.
Drew Gooden in the house.
Mitchell too chucky there.
Back down 5.
Still too loose with the ball. Still too chicky from Donovan. He can get that shot anytime. Try for a better one, FFS.
Also giving up offensive glass.
Have not missed and down 5.
Just not going to have a chance turning it over like this.
Focus, Cavs! And Mobley, you’re not a point guard. Terrible start again.
In the first half’s of these games, I’ve been hearing Benny Hill music playing in my mind.
2 quick TOs by Mobes & Wade. And a 3rd from JA.
Brutal. And an 4th.
Pathetic.
2 quick ones on Mitchell.
Looks like Sam is warming up.
All Cavs players are active.
Patrick, we need you to lift their spirits today!