Playoff Live Thread: Cavs @ Pistons (Game 5)
2026-05-13Can the Cavs win one on the road? After solid wins in Cleveland in which Spida was transcendent and James Harden looked like James Harden again, the wine and gold will try to repeat the blueprint of the previous two wins: limit turnovers, lock down on Cade and Tobias Harris, make everyone else beat you, and let the Cavs big three eat (Harden, Mitchell, and Mobley).
For the Pistons, it’s been a lot of J.B. bitching about free throw disparity since Monday, to which I say, “maybe you should stop fouling people?” This isn’t a must-win for Cleveland, so I have my doubts as to their urgency. I hope they have figured out that they can’t wait till the last possible minute to play with urgency but I have my doubts. If the Cavs can match the energy and execution, they should get this, especially if Duren and Amen Thompson look like warmed over garbage again. Young players do love home cooking, though..
Can Dean Wade score any points to go with his exceptional defense? Will Kenny trust Jaylon Tyson or allow Schröder to hemorrhage points? Will Dennis’s three ball travel? Will the refs allow the Pistons to get away with murder on defense? Can Donovan be more than just a friendly neighborhood Spida? We’ll know the answer to all these questions in a few hours. Go Cavs.
Wade refuses to shoot, and I’m strangely ok with it.
Merrill with an excellent defensive stop on Harris. Wish he had made that 3.
Great draw on the foul. Pistons fans should be booing Harris. He should know better.
He instantly knew he’d fouled, then turned around and bitched at the ref. Can’t stand this whining.
Suck it, Harris!
DM needs these FTs to spark some offense.
I’m nervous – rare for me. I’m not sure Cavs will get a better chance against DET than right now.
Cavs have been conserving energy for the fourth all game. They should be able to close this.
Good things happening when getting into offense fairly quickly.
Does Tyson get a minute or two (on super short leash)?
No
Kenny doesn’t trust him and neither do I after his first half
He shits the bed again, it could be game. I’m a no.
Up 4 after 3! Chance to push it to 7 at the end.
+12 in the 3rd.
This is there for the taking.
100%.
Great defensive quarter.
Great close!
Mobley!
MOBLEY IT’S ABOUT TIME!!!
Sam is playing great.
These Detroit players are awfully whiny. For a team that’s supposed to be exceptionally “tough”, they’re being big babies.
With both teams in the bonus, this is going to be a long 3 minutes
Lol. A stupid JB challenge: a tradition like no other.
Bad timing, Cade is off the floor – resting while the clock is stopped.
This is a very dumb challenge.
The grift is the gift (hopefully).
Don’t bitch about it – challenge the call, Detroit!!
We’re in the bonus already. Great.
And he’s fighting over when it’s a big. I don’t get it.
Like right there, just switch!
Harden gets us back within 2.
Great D Cavs!!!
Mobley’s hands. Ugh.
Beautiful big-2-big play. More please.
Love the high low
Wade on Cade, good. Mitchell looking aggressive, even better.
Like the way they’ve come out of the locker room.
Observations: hope Spida’s ankle is ok. If it is, I think he’ll have some juice, but I’d use him as a decoy to start the third cause Detroit will be keying on him. Tyson was a dingdong who needs to control his emotions Harden has got to stop over dribbling and the Cavs need more pace on offense (and movement). Mobley has to play like a center, not a guard. More Merrill please. Send help at Tobias with two seconds left. Get the ball to Allen (who wants to play like a center) Gotta rebound and defend. Cavs should have… Read more »
Back down to 8 after being down 15 is a win.
A confident Tyson can be a real weapon. It’s a shame that isn’t working out. I wonder if KA can trust him now?
Yeah. They gotta coach him to control his emotions.
That is something he should have figured out by now.
Not at the moment.
Both teams over 50% on FGs and 40% on 3s.
Diffetence is TOs: 10 to 5 Cavs. Pistons up 4-1 on the offensive glass. We have shot 5 more FTs and made 4 more.
Under 10 at the half. Clean it up a bit, Cavs are right there.
Yes. Ball handling and tempo.
Strus!
Still too many TOs.
Donovan standing in the corner is a waist
Mobes just ugly on O. JA & Spida clean it up.
Man are these guys bitching about every call
Jenkins particularly. Cavs should target him, mentally suspect.
Already w 9 pts
Tempo up, good things happening
Nice response 8-0 run.
I love Mobley for defense ,but every time he puts the ball on the floor it’s a crapshoot.
Yeah, my stomach turns
3 Pts in the first 5:30 of the 2nd quarter.
Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers
and just like that, double digits down again.
I imagine Tyson will be sitting now, KA?
Cavs have played well, really should not be down 7 RN.
What was that about spotting double digit lead?
Super disappointing given how they are playing, Tyson brain fart aside. Cade will have to score heavily for them to win. Hope Cavs reel them in when JA is on.
Dumb Tyson
Stupid, Tyson. Really stupid.
Just like Strus cannot guard Cade, Harris cannot stop Mobley.
Gotta take better care of the ball. Turnovers are only good when filled with apples.
6 TOs too many, but they have 5. 50%+ the field for us, and from 3 for them.
Getting a little three happy. Feed Mobley inside.
B2B triples from Stewart.
Not spotting DET a 12 pt lead straight away bodes well. JA killing it. A lot to like.
Gorrrrgeous pass by Harden to JA!
Demoralise Heurter early should be the goal.
Harris really having to work hard for his normally easy jumper. Good signs.
Hanging in there despite the TOs.
4 TOs.
Does Mobley have to commit a TO early every game?
Yes
Go Cavs!!!
Word is, Jenkins will start for Robinson.
He sucks, so good.
With Robinson out, I wonder who starts?
Huerter is the most like for like sub, but has not played in a while. LeVert is a 2 guard, but of a diffetent type.
They could go bigger, shifting Thompson to SG, Harris to SF, and start BBall Paul at PF.
Or go smaller & start Jenkins.
Robinson is OUT for Detroit. Levert is good to go. And Huerter is available for the first time.
FWIW, Schröder was even in Game 3 and minus 14 in Game 4 from a +/- perspective.
I AM CONCERNED JB s CONSTANT BITCHING ( HE IS WELL AWARE HOW TO PLAY THE GAME) AND ALSO HOME GAME —- THAT COMBO WILL INFLUENCE HOW THE REFs CALL THE GAME———- CAVS WILL NEED TO ADJUST—— THERE WILL BE NO FOUL DISPARITY—— WE WILL NOT WIN THE GAME AT THE FOUL LINE———- GO CAVS 👍🏀💪
Nate – You think this is a bigger game for the Pistons than the Cavs? I would say the other way. Cavs lose this one, they gotta win 2 in a row, with the last being an away game 7. This feels like a bigger game for the Cavs 🤷♂️
More pressure on Detroit. They have lost two in a row. And are the higher seed.
Either loser has to win 2 in a row. That is the same for both. The difference is, if Cleveland loses, the first elimination game is at home. If Detroit loses, it is on the road. They might not see home again if they lose.
I think if we can get our noses in front, they may start to tighten up a bit.
Wait. If Detroit wins tonight, loses game 6, wins game 7, that’s uhhh… Not 2 in a row. And it’s not winning a road game either. Anyway…
I’m hopeful the Cavs carry the momentum into Detroit here and overcome their road playoff woes. Go Cavs!
Yeah I think this one is the must-win for the Cavs. Then close it out at home. Like Nate, I’m not sure if they can bring it without a more immediate threat. Fingers crosses.
My point being, it’s not an elimination game.