Live Thread: Cavs @ Thunder
2025-01-16A single game still separates the Cavs and Thunder. OKC looks to avenge their loss from eight nights ago, while Cleveland seeks to bottle the lightning they re-conjured Tuesday night in a bounce back win against Indy. Ty Jerome is available tonight after missing two games with injury, while the hits keep coming for OKC, who lost Hartenstein to a “left soleus strain” Tuesday against the Sixers, and will be out at least a week.
Look for Oklahoma City to run and drive and kick even more against Cleveland who will be looking to dominate inside. Again, if Mitchell, Garland, Caris, Sam, and Ty can pierce the shell of a hard trapping long set of guards and wings, then Allen and Mobley should eat at the rim. If I was the Thunder I’d be pressing – a lot. Let’s hope the Cavs control the boards, keep the turnovers down, and make the Tacoma City plunder pay. If they do, and they keep Shai under wraps, Cleveland should win by double digits. Go Cavs.
Anyone else realizing how elite Miami is as an org? Butler went through a shitty couple of games playing…a suspension…and came back and played in a game…and they still have not caved. Feel like if the Cavs were on that level the kyrie catastrophe goes way better
Hard to say we are in a position to be better than OKC the next few seasons. Their draft capital is insane. This might be the year we need to catch fire. And they could conceivably out of us for anyone on the market. Cam Johnson may not be at the top of their list I would guess Jonas V or someone similar.
SGA sitting out tonight should get us back to the top of the NBA record list temporarily. One thing we have on okc is more spread out responsibility and talent at the moment.
GET IT DONE KA
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Well, that was an egg. The Pacers loss was poor, too.
I’m not sure what happened last night. The Cavs came out strong looking to capitalize on their size advantage inside with Hartenstein out. Good strategy. The Cavs were up by seven I think when OKC took a timeout. After that OKC went on a run, and that was that. They Cavs did eventually go away from emphasizing their bigs, which I thought was a mistake.
Just one bad game, yes. But Niang already was an issue against Orlando last year. So I hope Koby has had his eye on upgrading that spot by the deadline if possible. What makes Thor unplayable in a bench role (it seems, as Kenny never uses him regardless of who else is active)?
Thor doesn’t rebound and he short circuits the offense because he doesn’t know how to pass.
Cam Johnson git r dun Koby!!!
Makes sense, just wondered as I don’t know Thor’s game. I’d love to see Cam Johnson here!
Grant from Portland got way overpaid but giving them Okoro and niang and cash for him in the next week makes me excited. Cleveland needs Okoro’s d but not at his size. Cleveland needs niang’s fun personality but not at his suck level.
Also looking forward to KA’s response next game. Wonder who he will cut out.
KA should be so grateful for this one. The team was not at all prepared. He has been with successful staffs but he needs a reminder that specific game plans mean something. If he counted this game as a yard stick he failed. If he didn’t…he really failed. Mobley should have had 30/12/6 with a usage above MJ. Just ridiculously poor planning.
“I would simply upgrade for guys who would make shots at a high level against the league’s best defense” is not a legit comment.
Herb Jones, as an example of a guy we can’t get, shot 39% overall and 33% from three against OKC last year
KA postgame quotes:
“They imposed their identity”, “we never responded”, “our tactical adjustments didn’t work”, “they had 7 pitbulls out there”, “they used their length to pressure the ball-handler”, “We gotta help Donovan, it’s not on him, it’s on me and the team to get him free”.
Sometimes you just eat one. Happened to Boston last year (and for a whole series v Miami the year prior).
The response will be interesting, but we might hit a plateau
DIDNT WATCH GAME—- THANKFULLY— WHY LiMITED MINUTES FOR MOBES / JA
Similar to all the zone looks sprinkled throughout. Kenny thinks Wade at 5 is a viable spread lineup. Might as well get reps with it when it doesn’t much matter to the outcome.
ITS HANGING— SIMILAR TO THE CAVS PRIDE—- 1 GAME IS ONLY 1 GAME—- OKC THRASHED THE CELTICS LAST WEEK—— STILL BELIEVE THERE ARE “ CRACKS IN THE ARMOR “ THAT NEED ADDRESSED/ FIXED——- CAVS SOMEWHAT HANDCUFFED TO MAKE A MAJOR TRADE—- SEE HOW THEY RESPOND VS WOLVES
Laughing and giggling after this national game embarrassment is not a good look.
that’s old school loser talk. sometimes you get got and it’s one game in January
a little air has been let out of the balloon. how’s it hanging NOMAD bro ?
DID I POST TOO SOON ABOUT SAMs SHOOTING JUST SAW HE WAS 3/6 FROM 3’s
I became disinterested in the game, may have missed his successful shots. My bad.
Merrill hit a couple in Q4 that looked comfortable and effortless. Hope it helps.
Barring an injury, CPJ will not be getting meaningful minutes, but I still like his game.
TT AND NIANG SHOULD JUST “ RETIRE “ START THEIR OWN PODCAST——— SAMs LACK OF 3 PT SHOOTING ACCURACY IS CONERNING ——— BERNARD: CHARGE—— THOUGHT WAS A LEGIT OPTION—— HAVENT SEEN HIM IN BoX SCORES LATELY
SGA = Send Georges Away?
SO GLAD WE HAD A LATE PRACTICE—- POSTED EARLIER TODAY/ YESTERDAY THAT SIR G WOULD GO FOR 40 ———— YES —— BEEN SAYING FOR SOME TIME……..” MORE THOR “ PLEASE—- WE KNOW NIANG CANT PLAY AGAINST GOOD TEAM s —— MIGHT AS WELL GIVE “ MORE THOR “ THOSE MINUTES AND START TO GROOM HIM WITH THE REGULAR s OR ALL IN WITH NATE s SUGGESTION— HERB WILLIAMS ——— AS THE SCHEDULE GETS TOUGHER AND THEIR “ TARGET ON JERSEYS “ GETS BIGGER—- WE WILL SEE WHO WE REALLY ARE —— CONTENDER s OR PRETENDERS
Not that it matters to this game, but Merrill‘s three-point shots haven’t really come close.
Hard to know whether to overcorrect here or not. What say you all?
Not an overreaction to say they should upgrade. Not the core 4 but othersxarectradable for right pieces
I wanna know what’s up with Mitchell first.
yeah, that is the big question. if he has a nagging injury this is the time to give him some time off.
last time I looked, the Cavs were 34 and 6, and in first place.
Don’t take this wrong but this team needs an upgrade at certain positions if they want to get far. Specifically gorgeous George needs traded and maybe others to get upgrade.
The perfect (thunder) storm. They’re not this good and we’re not this bad.
Yeah. Some definite lessons: Niang is unplayable against good teams. Cavs struggle against length and need to adjust their play. Also need some athletic wings. Herb Jones, anyone?
Agree. We need a few lengthy athletes and creators, not all of these one trick pony, off and on jump shooters who play good D. And, our bigs have to show more physicality.
Box score brutality
Can’t quite believe it’s still only the 3rd quarter.
Niang is absolute ass.
Getting blocked by the rim more than once
Why was Jerome out, I had heard illness. The game was out of hand by the time he was brought in in the second. Minutes restriction?
Well that’s his usual spot. But probably still pretty puny feeling.
Why is garland still in. This is shades of JB.
And with Niamg!
Da fuq is Williams bitching about at the FT line.
How about Thor or Tyson instead of Niang??
I’ve been wondering for awhile, what makes Atkinson unwilling to at least give Thor a look at some point?
Geez, we are on the verge of a forty burger here.
Cavs playing scared.
Chin the ball, Mobes
WTF is Mitchell doing?
His panicky throw from behind the backboard in the 1st told a story of his mindset IMHO.
Is Donovan ever going to play well in a big game?
OKC have removed Cavs passing game . Cavs have not been patient with the ball, I’d rather see a shot clock violation than these panicking turnovers.
Yeah I’m done. On to the next.
This is such a gift to have happen now. We can start looking to shed Niang before the deadline for something that resembles a professional athlete.
Well, at the very least, let’s hope they learn something out of this train wreck.
Kenny should put in the scrubs.
Haymaker taken right in the kisser! Ouch.