Live Thread: Cavs vs Timberwolves (#Dominate)
2021-02-01I did not come to play, Cavs fans. I came to dominate. Such are the insipid Derek Minor lyrics that seem to pervade every return from the break on the Fox Ohio broadcasts. Sadly, the Cavs have done anything but lately. All that changes tonight, though.
#Cavs J.B. Bickerstaff said Andre Drummond is out for tonight. Larry Nance Jr. is out, as he was listed on the injury report.
— Kelsey Russo (@kelseyyrusso) February 1, 2021
That’s right. The guy who shouldn’t be playing because he holds his wrist every time he tries to dunk, and the guy who refuses to pass to his own team are both out tonight. Freed from the yoke of the Drumm, I’m excited to see what this Cavs squad can do against a depleted Minny squad with a questionable DeAngelo Russell. Let’s hope the Cavs play smarter and more aggressive from the perimeter tonight, and shoot more three pointers. I tweeted a bit earlier today about what ails the Cavs offense…
The Cavs’ biggest problem on offense is that no one screens for each other. Drummond sets the worst screens of any big I’ve ever seen. The Cavs guards and wings get the ball stolen all the time because defenders play super tight knowing they’ll never get picked off. The Cavs run pick and roll with zero weak side action so it’s super easy to defend. And God when the ball goes to the post it is the simplest of sets/cuts with no screens to free anyone.
Also, everyone takes the first (obvious) pass on the cut available instead of running through to the 2nd and 3rd options, that is, unless there’s a wide open pass on the perimeter then they look for the home run instead of moving the defense. Finally, when they do run off ball actions, they freee guys up at the elbows and free throw line, instead of at the wings, very often leading to a very compressed half court. It’s maddening. I really hope they bench Drummond tonight just to see how much better the offense can be (they did).
If the Cavs correct these issues on offense and defend, they should DOM-I-NATE.
Sorry guys missed most of the game but looks like a W!!!!! HELL YEAH!!!
Still need more from O from Okoro. He needs to fire that corner 3 up without hesitation
DOMINATE. DOMINATE. etc
That felt more like the early season defense. Especially on perimeter. Allen gobbling shots in paint helped the perimeter players probably as far as confidence to stay up. But they also tried harder when I was watching too.
Got the win, can’t say this was a fun one though. Apart from the Allen show!
Allen MVP. Dunno what we’d have done without him tonight.
22 threes. Better, but obviously not anywhere near ideal.
Allen was great, even better if he had hit a few more FTs…Garland was really good, he just needs to shoot more 3s…
One of garlands better performances, like in the first three games before he was injured.
Alright. Got this one. Our offense obviously needs so much work. Defense much much better. Especially on the perimeter.
Clutch. Good job, Taurean.
Clutch TP!!!
Why prince? Get the ball to Garland. Ugh.
JB makes some maddening mistakes. Not calling a timeout in that press was one.
Well. Gotta make fts.
If we lose,……
Either way we still kind of suck right now.
This game is ludicrous…
You’ve got two timeouts there. Freaking use one.
Wowser. Russell trying to pull a miracle
Boy can play….
Wolves ball…
Dream shake part two
Ooh we got lucky on that inbound. Big shot by garland to ice
Minny still in it
Don’t save the call under your own bucket… Basketball 101.
Yeah. Was worried when I saw him trying.
Corner 3 by Prince a fine shot, just aired it
Big miss by Beasley
Much more rushed tonight. We haven’t lost people on the perimeter since I tuned in. We did a bunch last night.
Actually we did lose people on the two threes bu that minny big. But that was more off good passing.
Perimeter D yesterday was non-existent.
Definitely was sub optimal.
Ha russell with give up three. Credit the d. Pestering him.
Yuck Collin
Omg, darius
Dream shake by dg
Cavs playing so hard on d on the perimeter tonight. Night and day.
Allen huge safety valve for the guards. Makes decisions easy when they get into paint.
Allen! Another monster jam!
How can you play Drummond after this????
Cause it’s the worst team in the league missing their starting center?
Allen difference in this game.
HOLLLYYYYYY
Ohhhhh my way at an oooooop!!!
Allen is a dunking god…
Allen soooo good protecting the rim
Allen gobbling up shots at the rim
Nice finish dg. Should’ve been an and 1
Showing resilience….
Starters came back in. That helped. Bench can’t manufacture points too well.
Allen is a block machine.
Good drive on closeout by okoro. Teams probably shouldn’t closeout hard on him.
Yeah. I don’t get it.He got lucky be got a passing lane.
This happened last game. Cavs missed 10 straight. They are at 8 now.
Here comes the loss.
My positivity is running low.
Same.
My positivity will be gonezo if we lose this game.
That was a disastrous stretch and JB waited two plays too long to take a time out.
Feels similar to last night.
3>2….weird…
Reserves get them out
Run an offense Jesus.
Better defense. About the same offense. Bench hurting us.
Danger time
Wolves using a mysterious invention called math to stay in this…
Minnesota trying to make their run here. Dangerous stretch.
Ugh. Sexton drive then the Stevens brick.
Allen is so much better than Drummond.
I think we have to accept that Dre’s knucklehead quotient is just too high, despite the flashes. He is just not a winning player because of it. Just bench him/let him walk.
JB gonna waste another challenge here.
Yeah, that was doomed to fail…
Man been impressed by Stevens tonight, just active and solid
Yeah, cool head. Doesn’t get sucked into jumping on D.
He can defend, always could…just not giving you much on the other side…
Cutting well.
10 on the block count.
Great D and finish at the end of the third!
Perfect execution at the end of the quarter!!!
Good screen. Gotta lay em out every now and again
I don’t even really think that was a foul…
Makeup for the bad foul call on the Strip of javale.
The Nate Smith School of Basketball teaches that fundamental, I understand.
Lol. You don’t set back screens at half court in pickup?
It’s a very physical game in this country…
Cedi with the 3 at the buzzer…that’s justice…
Hot justice!
Need to push lead up over 10 before the break…
Stevens great d tomght
Wow. Great pass and cut from dg to cedi
Cedi missin all kinds of bunnies tonight
Sweet pass, dg.
Why the hell does Sexton get to shoot the tech when he’s not as good of a free throw shooter as Garland?
This is the nba. How it works with stars.
That Allen dunk was ridic
Allen throwing it down!!!!!
Allen’s dunks are very enjoyable…
And his touch around the rim is a welcome relief!
He’s Kareem in that respect compared to Drummond…
Great play cedi.