Live Thread: Cavs @ Nuggets
2026-02-09Good evening CtB!
The Cavs are in the Mile High City to take on the Denver Nuggets in a potential Finals preview. The Nuggets have been a little shaky trying to integrate Nikola Jokic and Christian Braun back into their starting lineup, while the Cavs are trying to figure out how to play with James Harden. This game is a perfect measuring stick game for the good guys to figure out where the strengths and weaknesses are against a championship squad.
Tip off is scheduled for 9:00PM Eastern time and will broadcasted live on FanDuel Sports Network, Go Cavs!
KA stays small: Harden, Spida, Merrill, Tyson, JA.
Though I doubt Sam will be at the 3 on D.
LT is up sorry for the delay
No need Chris. You guys do a ton.
FWIW, the Wix beat Detroit soundly in the Motor City recently. And we needed 48 from Spida to win by 4 earlier this year. And the Pacers beat NY at MSG yesterday.
Wiz do have some size at the 4/5, so I wonder if we see LNJ or a Tomlin start.
Sarr out tonight for them.
DO WE JUST “ SHELV “ STRUS FOR THIS YEAR—- OPEN UP A SPOT FOR A HEALTHY PLAYER —- NOT SURE NBA POLICY ON THIS
You don’t get a free roster spot just because a guy is hurt. And if there is any chance he can make it back for the POs, I think you have to give him the chance. And I do think he does have a chance. If not, that would have a priority to move him before the deadline, though there might not have been any takers. Plus, we are freshbout of 2nds ti handout as sweeteners. There are 28 games left, + the AS . 2 months from tomorrow. But if he isn’t back in say, 6 weeks, he may… Read more »
Wade out again tonight. Should be ready post ASB.
Mobley, they said 1-3 weeks on 1/27, so 2 weeks into that time frame. I have no desire to rush him back. Calf can turn into Achilles if it ain’t right. And this is the 2nd one this year. DANGER WILL ROBINSON.
Strus? IDK if he is gonna make it back. Low bloodflow can lead to slow healing. He’s 5+ weeks into an, at least another month timeframe, and was supposed to be re-evaluated early Feb. It is the 11th and no news. I fear no news isn’t good news.
Kenny sez he’s good to go post ASB re Mobley
I like the Fro better.
WITH THE “ NEW DO” JA HAS LOST 6” TO HIS HEIGHT
Turns out he’s another 6’3″ guard.
GD it.
At 6’3″ Kenny will still play him at PF.
Saw this and thought it was neat. Cavs roster.
Lottery picks: 3. Mitchell (13th, 2017), Harden (3rd, 2009), Mobley (3rd, 2021).
1st Rounders: 4. Allen (22nd, 2017), Tyson (20th, 2024), Schröder (17th, 2013), LNJ (27th, 2015).
2nd Rounders: 3. Merrill (60th, 2020), Bryant (42nd, 2017), Proctor (49, 2025).
Undrafted 5. Strus (2019), Wade (2019), Ellis (2022), CPJ (2023), Tomlin (2024).
Most common category is undrafted with 1/3rd of the roster and 2nds + Undrafted making up more than half.
Suspension time!
Detroit loses Duren for two and Stewart for 7. Assuming they serve them immediately, they would be without both at Tor tonight & at NY the 1st game post ASB. Stewart would then miss at Chi, SA, OKC, CAVS, and at Orl. His first game back would be at Cavs. Reed is a good 3rd C, though. If the Pistons struggle during this next stretch, they could come back to the pack in the East.
Meanwhile, Charlotte loses Bridges & Diabate for 4 games each. They won’t have either vs us post ASB (b2b)
Seismic changes at the ballclub recently.
Insane.
What am I missing? The import of that has gone completely over my head.
That’s Jarrett Allen
Damn. Now I get it.
that’s gotta be fake
Spurs hammered shorthanded Lakers. Wemby had 35 at half. The loss column:
13: OKC (at Phx); Det (at Tor)
———
16: San Antonio
————–
19: Boston (Chi); Houston (LAC b2b for both)
20: NY (at Phi, b2b); Denver (Mem)
21: Cavs (Wash), Lakers
22: Minny (Por), Toronto (Det); Phoenix (OKC b2b)
23: Philly (NY)
24: Orlando (Mil)
We are a half game up on the Lakees and can plextend to a full game with a win tonight. Could also pull intona toe with NY is they lose in Philly on a b2b.
Pacers beat the Knicks at MSG. Twice, really. Ince in regulation then again in OT.
Knicks play in Philly tomorrow. A loss means we could toe them with a win over the Wiz. We’d lose the TB, though, so we’d still technically be 4th. But even in the standings.
Lakers resting LeBron Reeves, and Smart vs SA with Luka still out.
A loss would move the Cavs up to 8th, league wide. Maybe Kawhi can nuke the Rockets like he did Minny. Don’t think Indy helps us vs the Knicks.
pacers up 1 late in the 3ed
Shows what I know. Pacers won.
Knicks were without OG & Robinson & McBride.
Finally got to watch the fourth quarter as I ate dinner tonight. Have to admit. Harden was great in the fourth. Cavs winning with sub-optimal shrimp lineups was also a positive sign. Hopefully the play bigger against teams playing multiple bigs. If I had to choose between CPJ and Ellis this off-season, I’d choose Ellis.
That should not be a choice. CPJ can be retained for like $2.5 mil, or whatever his contract is worth. And they play different spots (despite KA’s weird fascination with putting CPJ off ball). The choices will likely be: 1) Re-sign Wade, 2) Sign Ellis, 3) Dump Strus and/or Schröder, 4) Try to sign a FA (LeBron) If we need to drop under the 2nd to ink an outside FA to anything more than a MIN, then we will need to shed salary. I suspect we sign Harden to a multi-year extension, probably 3, backloaded with outs in Y3, to… Read more »
Forgot he was a club option. But there’s a roster crunch coming, especially with the Cavs having a first rounder this year.
And they may need to cut to squeeze under apron if they want any trades in July.
TOTALLY AGREE WITH NATE ——- “ ALL IN THE LAND “ AGAINST THE WORLD——- BRING IT F__CKIN ON 👍🏀💪👍🏀💪
Brandon Ingram replaces Curry in ASG. Keep stacking those shoulder chips, Cavs.
CONGRATS NYQUIL—- VERY DESERVING—/ STAY HUNGRY MY FRIEND!!!👍👍👍
Cavs officially sign Tomlin to a standard contract. 2 years, $3 million.
https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-news/44284/cavs-naeqwan-tomlin-cleveland-cavaliers-charge-g-league-koby-altman
Roster full. One two way spot.
Congrats to The Qwan. Well deserved.
Watching the montage of the Cavs’ last few minutes’ scoring possessions on their IG, looks SO different from the Spida takeover the Cavs have leaned on sometimes – catch & shoots by both Tyson and Merrill, Spida and Harden each with iso scores, Harden feeding Allen, and Allen creating his own basket with an artful spin/up-and-under move that baked a post defender. Lots of confidence among those 5.
Also, nice that a larger Harden stood his ground against Jokic in the paint, forcing a pass into Hardaway’s hands. Not hating, but Garland is not going to to cause the same action 99 out of 100 times.
In that scoring montage, there was a play where Harden kept his dribble through some contact in the lane before the kickout to Tyson (or might have been Merrill) for the 3. Type of play where the same contact on DG might have caused a turnover while the refs swallowed their whistles.
when we got the last couple defensive rebounds, the guys passed to Hardin, and went up the floor looking very confident. I was too!
On 12/28 the Cavs had just lost two roadies in a row. A close, come from ahead loss to NY at MSG, and getting thumped in Houston. We sat at 17-16. DG was back. Pretry healthy save for Strus. And starting a tough stretch of schedule with two losses. I thought an unraveling or a renaissance could happen, but the former more likely.
Since? 16-5. The best record in the league.
Weirdly, there have kindcof been 4 ierations of the team over that stretch. Phase 1 was with the Core 4 healthy. Phase 2 was after DG got hurt. Phase 3 was Mobley getting hurt. And Phase 4 is the trades. Phase 5 will hopefully be a return to full strength (Wade, Mobley, Strus).
Phase I: Core 4 Rally (sort of). 6-3.
3 consecutive wins. At SA + home vs Phx & Den (without Joker). A close loss in Detroit. An uninspiring win at Indy, a bad loss in Minny. Followed by a great win vs Minny at home, a horrid loss to Utah at home, and a thorough thumping of Philly in which DG got hurt.
Some great wins. Some bad losses. Some reason for hope that MAYBE things were turning around. IF we’d have won in NY/Det, it would have been fastic. DGs last game a W.
Phase 2: Sans DG/Tyson Ascending. 5-1.
Started with THE Tyson 39 point game to win the 2nd in Philly. We got thumped by OKC at home (sans JWill). Won in Charlotte, vs Sac, and thumped Orlando twice (sans Wagner). Then Mobes got hurt.
Missed Wade for a couple. Proctor & Nance even had a good game in there. Ball & Hunter, too.
Phase 3: Down DG & Mobes. 2-1.
Now we are down 3 starters from last year. Shellacked the Lakers, got abused by Phoenix, and the open a can of whoop @$$ on the Blazers behind the 40/17/5 + 4 blk, 2 stl zero TO, zero foul masterpiece from JA.
Phase 4: Reconstruction. 3-0.
Demolished the Clips in LA after the Hunter trade in the debut for Schröder & Ellis. Runors swirling about a Harden/DG trade as both sit out, along with Zubac. Everyone dialed in for us.
Ball also dealt. Harden debuts & we beat Sac & Denver on the road without Wade. Spida, Harden, JA all strong.
Cannot wait for Phase 5: A Return to Health.
(Knock on Wood).
But I certainly would not rush anyone back. Take care of the Wiz. Keep Spida & Tyson healthy through the ASB, and see where we are, health wise.
AGREED MR STEAL—- MOBES IS THE 5th OPTION/ GO GET SOME OFFENSIVE REBOUND PUTBACKS / RIM RUN THE FLOOR IN TRANSITION 👍🏀💪
Yeah. If Harden, Mitchell, Allen, + Tyson/Merrill are the other 4, Mobes is 5th.
Unless….they try to put a small a small on him. You have to go at that some.
Or if Wade, Ellis, Tomlin, or CPJ are on the floor.
Is Jonas V the same guy that got picked one spot behind Tristan Thompson a couple generations ago? he looks like he is competing in strong man contests (the kind where you throw full kegs of beer over walls, pull semi trucks, etc.) at about 400 lbs. anyway, I watched the second half in a bar without the sound on, and have a question for anyone who got to hear the refs statements. late in the game, Jonas gets a rebound and starts windly throwing elbows around. on about the fourth swing he floored JA, who had been standing behind… Read more »
It was pretty absurd. They said that JA fouled JV before he hulked out. I think they said he grabbed his arm. It was a pretty crappy officiated game.
Yes. Same dude.
Irving, Big V, Klay, Bismack, Burks, Kawhi, Vuc, Tobias Harris, and Jimmy Butler, still trucking from that draft. I imagine there’s quite a few playing in Europe and Oz too (Cory Joseph was one). The first round of that draft was pretty loaded.
Mobley probably needs to be the fifth option on offense, all things considered. He’s not as good a roll guy as Allen (and he’s played with nothing BUT PnR masters between Don, DG and Harden) so he may have to be the garbage man Allen was if the 3 doesn’t come back.
It will be interesting to see when Mobley gets back. The DG trade signified win-now over development. Prioritizing Allen offensively over Mobley would follow that mind-set.
I think they’ll find stuff that works to get Evan downhill – a DHO from Harden to Mobley should generate a ton of great stuff.
Harden really does a great job of running simple actions and then setting up variations on those actions the next few plays. There’s a maturity in the playmaking that you don’t see from Donovan or DG.
Spida is far from a P&R maestro.
On SEASON in Utah, he had 2 aasists to Gobert. Two. Single digits anyway. Come ON. He has improved. He is good a the simple/first read when he penetrates, but still pretty TO prone.
DG is better as a pure point. But his size makes him vulnerable to blitzes and physical play, and he is not a great finisher inside vs size.
But Harden IS a meastro. He has more gravity (insert fat joke). Sees the 2nd option better than Spida, is virtually blitz proof, and is regular season clutch.
For a combo guard, he’s been awesome in PnR and we had that 23-24 stretch that solidified that impression in my mind. But it’s a CLE development he wasn’t that guy in Utah.
Fair.
Kevin Garnett (our other favorite guy) says Hardin will “unlock” JA and EM with easy lobs, and it will be “all over”.
https://cavaliersnation.com/2026/02/09/kevin-garnett-says-its-over-if-james-harden-unlocks-evan-mobley-jarrett-allen/
Mobley is so different from Allen in terms of first step / catching, hands (worse) and handle / speed off the floor / changing ends (better) that it might take time.
Yeah, despite Allen’s lack of outside shooting range, his skill level in the post is exceptional. I expect Mobley to need some time to catch up to what Allen’s already doing with Harden as if they’d been long-time teammates.
For sure! Forcing Mobley the ball and then watch him clumsily dribble or back into the paint and throw up a shot needs to be a thing of the past. He’s so much more effective when he isn’t dribbling – just get him the ball in a spot and have him get into his move quickly.
Pistons, who have to be without Stewart and Duren for a time, have, in the next 8.
TOR
NY
CHI
SA
OKC
CLE X 2
ORL.
A return to Earth in the offing.
Cavs and Celts wind up at the top of the EC?
Depends on when/if Tatum gets back.
The Knicks are 9-1 in their last 10 and their loss was to Det w/out KAT & OG.
I have been waiting for Detroit & Boston to come back to earth, but is hasn’t happened yet.
Remaining strength of schedule:
Detroit: 6th
NY: 17th
Boston: 5th
Cavs: 28th
Toronto: 7th
Philly: 22nd
————-
OKC: 2nd
SA: 8th
Den: 1st
Hou: 23rd
LAL: 10th
Phx: 9th
It will be interesting to see. Duren did not do a lot wrong there. The Charlotte guy instigated it AND escalated it.
Now, Stewart came running in off the bench. He may be in for a vacation.
Duren mushed Diabate in the face, that’s a brawl kick off anywhere
Stewart basically will miss the rest of the regular season (25 games).
Curry out of ASG.
I think Harden is a good candidate for a replacement.
The loss column:
13: OKC, Detroit
———–
16: Spurs
————-
19: NY, Boston, Houston
20: Denver, Lakers
21: Cavs
22: Minny, Toronto, Phoenix
23: Philly
24: Orlando
Tomorrow: Indy at NY; Clips at Houston; Dallas at Phoenix; Spurs at Lakers (b2b).
Mitchell: “We still haven’t practiced! We hooping on fives right now.”
Hoopin’ vibes, yes!
GD autocorrect.
I am convinced the foul call on Spida,at the end was a makeup call. Harden got fouled on that 3 pointer. Obvious as hell.
Found the replay of that – he got fouled on the shooting arm “plus” a landing area violation. How do you miss both?!
and watched the replay and still upheld it.
You know – Jarrett had a quiet series against the Pacers last year. But against Orlando in 2024, let’s remember that he was the best player on the floor for either team until the broken rib took him out (which not everyone realized at the time the severity of the injury). It was only “after” that, in Games 5-7, that Spida took over and carried the Cavs to the finish. Now, Jarrett’s playing with a literal big-man whisperer. I don’t believe he’s going to shrink this postseason. And then you have Harden already serving notice in his first two games… Read more »
And to finish the pleasant thought, it seemed grim when it appeared Mobley needed to establish himself as a number 2 option “this year.” But – with Spida, Harden, and an activated Jarrett; two absolutely lethal 3pt shooters; plus hopefully a healthy Strus to bring back the secondary wing playmaker element; they may not need much O from Mobes for awhile. Mostly just be a DPOY contender.
Mobley and Harden work out together in Cali and both are adidas guys… I think Mobley’s offense will continue to take off now that he has a PG who’s a PnR master and the spacing on the floor is ridiculous with the way they guard Harden.
Nice – forgot Mobes is from SoCal. I assume they’ll let him finish his calf recovery through the ASB and then we’ll get to see him in action with Harden.
yup, there’s no way they’re risking him given how calf injuries end up achilles tears with so many big names.
yeah I didn’t know there was a prior relationship between them but there is, i knew he wore his shoes though LOL
Back to our earlier discussion Chris – Mobes hasn’t played since the 26th, so hopefully he’s only got one week left before being able to move properly.
Nice!!! Can’t wait!
Yep. Forcing Mobley touches hurts our flow & efficiency.
He is shooting career low on FTs and worst since his rookie on FGs & 3s. And not by a little.
Allen led the league in WS/48 in the POs last year. 3 Cavs in top 4 (Mobley, Mitchell). Other 2 in the top 5 were Giannis & SGA.
Reports of our guys choking in the POs were greatly exaggerated. Some did in Rd 2. They are not here anymore.
NOMAD: here is that tough stretch after the ASB + the Brooklyn home game: at Cha (b2b), at OKC, NY, at Mil (b2b), at Det, at Brk, Det, Bos, Phi (b2b), at Orl. If we go, say 7-3 thru that, lookout.
Yes, I realize the Miami series skews the #s some.
Harden made me a fan fast!
JASON DONT THE CAVS HAVE 1OF THE EASIEST SCHEDULES IN THE LEAGUE POST ALL STAR BREAK———— SHOULD HAVE STRUS / WADE POSSIBLY EVEN MOBES AFTER BREAK
Yes we do.
But the last 16 are considerably easier that the first 11.
After Brooklyn we are: at the hot Hornets (b2b), the Knicks, Detroit twice, and OKC, and a couple other toughies in a rough 10 game stretch.
But after that? It is CAKE. at GSW & at LAL (b2b) is as tough as it gets.
CANT WAIT TO SEE HARDEN AGAINST THE KNICKS —— THEY WILL NOT OUT PHYSICAL HIM OR INTIMIDATE!!!👍🏀💪
YES SIR!!!!!!!! #LETEMKNOW
Give them credit.They hung in there and made it happen.Could have packed it in.Nice game.
Had to give up a lot to get a lot. Even good teams have a Bruce Brown or a Strawther that Harden can be hidden on.
Allen should get credit for playing the best basketball of his career here, Harden or no Harden.
Harden plus Mitchell plus two 40%+ three point shooters is a lot. I’ve never seen Merrill so open.
“ LTFK “ ( LET THEM F_____KING KNOW 👍🏀💪)
…do we send Nate to bed early when trailing late in a to-that-point non-descript game? Just checking for future reference. 😎
Probably for the best.
Lol. If I had a voice RN, I’d yell at you two.
Wish I could’ve watched this! I read the Cavs have the best winning % in the league since Dec. 29;’ obviously that will continue for now. 4-1 on a West swing that includes Denver, with no Mobes, no Strus, and no Wade for part of it, is strong. Spida and Harden “each” with 4 stocks tonight, like a poor (and much shorter) man’s Mobes/Allen; seems they are at least making an effort at that end of the floor.
Washington at home to goninto the ASB & Brooklyn at home out of it. Then it is a pretty rugged 10 game stretch.
But we should have a chance to get more in sych.
Harden with at least three occasions of well-timed help on double teams. Very cerebral in his craft.
yup, noticed this too, also freakishly long wingspan so he can disrupt looks
Absolutely. He has ballast & long arms. Better post AND help defender than DG.
He is 10 years older, but right now? It isn’t close.
Garland could only dream of having the game Harden had tonight. What a road trip.
THAT was a quality win.
All the starters positive tonight, all the bench negative save for Ellis.
Harden not terribly efficient, but clutch. 22/10/7 with 4 blocks. And yes, some time at PF/SF.
22/13 for JA. Tyson 16/3/2 on a gimpy ankle. Merrill 9 on 3/6 from deep.
Spida 32 pts, 10 dimes, 2 steals, 2 blocks.
Their half court offense is so much more robust with Harden’s size and ability to deal with pressure.
FOUR BLOCKS!!!!! I WAS TOLD HE COULDN’T PLAY DEFENSE
I think he’s been on CtB.
LMFAOOOOOO #LETEMKNOW
And 10 boards, I was told he could not defend PF (it will depend on who).
I doubt DG ever had a 4 block + 10 board game.
#LETEMKNOW
He is hard to blitz at that size.
Booyah! Harden at both ends! Bit tough for the former Kings tonight.
LET’S FUCKING GOOOOOOO!!!!!
Wow! Cavs steal one.
Hell yeah
Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let ’em know!
Anyone remember Cavs losing a game like this a few months ago?
Yep.
I would’ve missed that 2nd free throw.
Yeah that was odd.
Murray with a boooooneheaded foul.
HARDEN CLUTCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We are gonna have to give him a new nickname.
UNO IS HIS NAME!!!!!!!!!!!! #LETEMKNOW
yep, I like UNO !!
Cavs have the clock advantage here.
These fuggin refs.
ZACH ZARBA FOR PRISON
JAMES HARDEN DEFENSE AGAIN GREAT TIMING ON THE DOUBLE
This game is seriously constipated.
Dang. Could not clean the glass there.
Jokic looks cooked. FINISH THEM!!
WHAT A PLAY ANTICIPATED THE SWITCH DUCK IN JARRETT ALLEN