Live Thread/Not A Recap: Cavs @ Pistons (Or, Tuesday Night Redux?)

The Cavs are facing the Pistons for the second time in less than three days. They’re in Detroit this time though. John Beilein is hoping the team has a better showing in his first return to Michigan since leaving the Wolverines. He doesn’t want to regret his decision.

The Cavs entered the final frame Tuesday night with an 11 point lead. Kevin Love already had 24 points on 10-13 shooting. He had gone 3-5 from deep in the first three quarters and had four assists! Yea, he was having himself a night.

He shot just two more times the rest of the game for six points. Meanwhile, Darius Garland and Collin Sexton went 1-8 in the fourth and scored just six points. Derrick Rose, the guy they presumably were matched up against much of the quarter, scored 11 points including a go head floater-winner where he scooted around an Andre Drummond screen to get past Matthew Dellavedova with 26.1 seconds left in the game.

It was the same story it is many nights. Kevin Love doesn’t get the ball when he should, and the Cavs come up short. Love is a pro. He’s a very good pro. The young guys on this team need to realize this.

I cheated and watched this game picking my spots, looking at the box score, and watching the recap. All of those things just furthered the narrative that Love is the best guy on the Cavs. He is space. When he pops, he sucks a defender out and leaves a wide open lane against a slower big for one of the guards. Or, he’s just open and hits his shots for the most part. Sexland will need to realize this if they want to win.

Here’s a fact: Sexland went 1-8 in the fourth quarter. Collin had their only make when Kevin Love flashed up to screen just enough to make Derrick Rose stutter and then slipped out immediately to 3-land. Collin then had a lane as Thon Maker stayed home on Love. None of Sexland’s other shots used Love as a screner. None of Garland’s did. Come on…

Oh yea, I forgot. You can always drive by a larger defender into a giant guy like Andre Drummond and try to dunk. See, Sexton did it below.

Collin Sexton what are you thinking 😐

pic.twitter.com/s191rTCXZI

— Everything Cleveland (@everythingcle_) January 8, 2020

Sexton doesn’t want to give the ball to the 6’10” guy standing behind the arch who is 4-6 from deep and just canned a three ball less than 30 seconds ago and has  a 6’3” guard on him. A 6’3” guard that is cheating away from him for some reason. NO WAY. Or, even use that tall 3-bomber to screen. THAT’S RIDICULOUS.

Everyone in the universe sees this stuff. What is Beilein seeing? Why doesn’t he just bench Sexton and Garland for a game and make them watch film for the duration of a game of what happens when Love is involved? Some wins might follow.

The Cavs left one out there. The Pistons grabbed it. Nonetheless, the Cavs should bounce back tonight. The Love lack of touches talk is loud and clear right now. Love even apologized for being upset over it ultimately. This is the start of a great turnaround story…I can hope.

Cavs 110, Pistons 101. Love gets 35.