Live Thread: Cavs @ Magic
2021-01-04The 4-2 Cavs battle the 4-2 Magic tonight for the third game of their six game road trip. It’s a battle, a battle for one of the top spots in the conference. Excuse me, I’ll say it again, one of the top spots in the conference.
I know it’s less than ten games in, but whenever I have a chance to mention the Cavs and the top of the conference in the same sentence, I’m going to do it.
Anyways, I haven’t had a chance to watch much of the Cavs yet (aside from a quarter here and there) but I’m looking forward to seeing some real NBA ball from the squad. It appears they’re moving the ball these days and they have a defense. They currently rank 2nd in defensive efficiency.
The Cavs will be without Kevin Porter (personal), Matthew Dellavedova (concussion), Kevin Love, and Dylan Windler. Issac Okoro is up in the air right now with a foot sprain and Darius Garland is too due to a strained shoulder.
The Magic are without Jonathan Issac, Chuma Okeke, and Al-Farouq Aminu. Evan Fournier and James Ennis III are questionable.
Things to Watch:
-The biggest thing I’ll be watching tonight is how Collin Sexton adjusts to some real defensive point guards with the Magic rolling out the just paid Markelle Fultz and the lanky Michael Carter Williams. Sexton is averaging 26 points on 55.6% shooting from the floor and 55% from 3-land to go with 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals a night. He’s the 11th highest scorer in the league right now.
–Andre Drummond has also been posting monster lines averaging 17 points, 14.2 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks a night. Can he continue that production while having to step out onto Magic center Nikola Vucevic who is averaging 21.5 points a night to go with 11.5 boards and 2.7 3s. Who will guard Vucevic is the Cavs choose to put Drummond down low to protect the paint?
-Lastly, who are the Cavs going to send at Aaron Gordon? If Okoro is out, will Cedi get the start on him or is Larry Nance going to chase him around?
Probably live to fight another day tonight instead of running Cedi, Sexton, and Dotson into the ground
they don;t have anyone else to play LMFAOOO
Cabs get an injury exception feel like Mudiay worth a flier.
maybe
McGee gotta finish that… 5 point swing there
Yeah. Thought Larry needed to look for his shot there.
Yeah he had 2 opportunities with defender sagging on him. Didn’t look for the shot
Getting out of reach. May already be with how tough it is for us to score in halfcourt.
totally screwed… not one healthy PG
Yeah. Going to be tough going until Garland comes back. Or Exum I guess, if he comes back.
Another big cedi bucket.
CEDI STEPBACK!!!!!!! WOW!
The officiating this game is a bit one sided.
Just don’t have the firepower. Losing people in transition didn’t help.
Time to abandon the zone.
Dotson got lucky with that foul call. Great block by Vuc before that.
Great pass drummond
Team pretty banged up halfway through a roadtrip. Not liking where this is headed. Hoping not too many bad losses that can affect player self-confidence.
Probably someone should pick gordon up in transition.
Well, starting to lose contact now. I think Cedi may need to play the rest of the game.
danger time….. need to get nance/cedi the ball!!!!!!
Halfcourt offense going to be pretty difficult this whole game.
Wade’s cold from 3.
Wtf, how was that a block?
I do not like the 3/2 we’re playing. Just matchup.
Trying to hide Sexton.
Costing us in transition though
Feel like Drummond finishes like he’s a little over built and can’t fully extend his arms over his head.
Cavs finally get a foul call that possession.
Gordon this games Blake Griffin
Gd cavs not matching up in transition
good gosh Drummond…. getting stuffed by MCW?
Lol. Collin off ball d. Or lack thereof. Follows with a three.
CEDI TO SEXTON!
Cedi really facilitating well.
Great now Cedi hobbling
Oh no. Cedi limping.
Figures.
Thank god for dotson tonight
Drummond post fail.
DOTSON!!!! for the lead???!!!!!
Beautiful flash to the free throw line by cedi.
Throws a great lob into drum.
Drummond can’t finish
This is what I’ve been saying…
preaching to the choir LMFAOOO he’s awful at it!!!
awful on ball defense sexton
That didn’t qualify enough to use the term defense in that sentence.
Well that was a stupid way to start the second half…
Twitter annoying me.
https://twitter.com/oldseaminer/status/1346262777724358658?s=20
Oh boy. Nance played 21 minutes that half. Cedi played 23. We may be on fumes by crunch time.
they have no other playmakers.
Are we thinking a non-contact “calf strain” is really an Achilles?
Damn sure looked like it to me.
I thought he might have gotten kicked, tbh.
Feel bad for Exum – dude cannot catch a break.
Impressed by the grit again. Could have easily become a blowout after that start. Didn’t let the tovs or cold early shooting affect the other end.
Any word on how long Garland will be out? Sure could use him & Okoro soon. Have to think Okoro will be back for the next one, else why bring him to Orlando?
Now that exum is gone, for what may be a very very long time, doubt they have mch choice on Okoro.
Hopefully can get enough offense in the second. Cedi or LNJ are going to need to keep taking and making outside shots
Cedi yes. Nance needs to start making them.
Amazingly, we are only down 2. We’d be ahead with less TOs.
Sexton, Dotson, and Cedi are gonna play a ton. 3 perimeter players healthy. LNJ, Drummond, McGee, Wade, & Maker. Stephens & Bolden also available.
Boy cannot overstate the impact Nance, Drummond, and McGee have on this team’s d.
Size matters.
Gonna be a challenge with just 8 healthy bodies, but Cavs look motivated…
keep it close until the 4th, let Collin go to work in a ugly win.
That was a hell of a half by the Cavs.
Solid comeback after that rough start…
It’s a miracle the cavs are in this game LMFAOOOOOO
Sexton real mixed bag tonight
Smart foul cedi
no pass Collin shot possession.
Mcgee just spun to the wrong shoulder. Woulda had a dunk if he’d spun to rhe left.
Great closeouts on the perimeter that time…
Sigh Colllin…
Larry the long arms of the law…
McGee’s gotta finish that with a dunk.
See above.
CEDI TO SEXTON!!!
Have enjoyed Dotson’s game last 2 outings. He’s a confident mover in traffic, seems to have good court awareness.
Fultz throwing passes to nobody…
nice finish Sexton!
McGee walking it down!!!!
JaVale McGee throwing hammers like a blind roofer…
Lmfao!
That was a rough heat check…
Hope that doesn’t shatter his confidence for the rest of the night
What happened to okoro coming back?
Must have been more serious…
Game time decision they decided to be cautious.
Dotson’s 10 spot is so much more efficient than Collin’s…
He and Cedi bailing the offense out right now.
Sexton getting himself in trouble a lot tonight.
Wowser where has this cedi been for the last three games?
This is a fun game.
Drummond such good hands on d. Dejavu by collin
Cedi is going Flama Blanca right now