Playoff Live Thread: Cavs @ Raptors (Game 4)
2026-04-26Put up, or shut up time, Cavs fans. After letting go of the rope, Thursday, the wine and gold look to play with more “force” against Toronto, Sunday afternoon. It remains to be seen if they can before their Sunday afternoon nap. Was Friday a one-off, or will the awful habits that have plagued James Harden throughout his playoff career surface yet again?
The Beard spent much of the last game throwing himself into defenders for fouls and not getting a whistle. You’d think that after 16 years of that not working in the playoffs, he’d change it up for the 17th, but alas. It led to some bad shooting and seven brutal turnovers. Meanwhile, Donovan Mitchell sat in a corner and was weirdly passive all game.
The hits didn’t stop there, as Dennis Schröder played himself off the floor (-8 in 5 minutes) and was thankfully nowhere to be seen in the second half. Meanwhile Keon Ellis remains overmatched at the three, and the Cavs need some Thomas Bryant and maybe Nae’Qwan Tomlin minutes, just to match Toronto’s size .
One of the few positive developments for Cleveland was Jaylon Tyson’s productivity: 13 points in 17 minutes. Now may be time to shorten the rotation for the wine and gold. Wade has to stay in the starting lineup to re-establish the lockdown on Ingram. I’d make the rotation Strus, Tyson, Merrill, and Bryant (or Tomlin if he’s not defending). Mitchell is going to have to be backup point guard and Strus, Merrill, Tyson, and Mobley are going to have to help bring the ball up.
If the Cavs do this, get out of bed before noon, don’t turn the ball over, and rebound, they got this. The difference between 3-1 and 2-2 is enormous, and if the Spida and friends want to feel like a real contender, they have to compete all game. We’ll see what they’re made of. Go Cavs.
Strus starting tonight, line moves to 10.5 Cavs
Also, I dislike the bagging on Allen. Dude clearly is playing through an injury. He doesn’t have the same lift. He’s also not getting touches on offense. But he was defending and rebounding last game as well as anyone.
Allen and Wade have the two highest net ratings by far against Toronto this series, they are not the problem.
The problem is Tyson, Schroder, Strus, and Ellis have shit the bed entirely and Kenny won’t do anything different than run those bums out on the floor.
This is majoring in the minors. The three best players need to play better and overcome Toronto’s adjustments with execution. Sam, Max and Tyson have been trick or treating but that’s in line with expectations.
Tomlin or Bryant or whoever can give surprise contribution or “energy” but that’s not what matters.
They literally lost the last game by a possession. Getting better at the margins matters.
I LOOK AT BOTH ELLIS / SCHROEDER s “ POOR PLAYOFF PERFORMANCES “——- WHO DID WE GIVE UP TO THE HAWKS TO AQUIRE HUNTER—— WAS IT 1 OF THIS YEARS 1st ROUND PICKS—- IF SO WE LOST THAT TRADE———GUESS YOU “ ROLL THE DICE AND SEE HOW THEY FALL “ —— GO CAVS!!!!
Nah. The real issue is having to pay for two more years of Schröder, who looks kind of cooked offensively. Plus Ellis in a contract year.
I have hope Keon will figure it out. But Ben was more than correct about Dennis.
We gave up a bunch of seconds to get Hunter IIRC.
76ers up 10 with 5 keft in Boston. Big Embiid game.
Thoroughly enjoyable!
loved it!
PROCTOR YES / NO ????
Nah. Evan, Don and James need to play better than awful and win some games.
No for me… Off the bench, I think I’d rather see Tomlin just as another body to put up against Barnes/Barrett and bring some energy. Bryant too for a couple hard fouls or screens.
I’m getting pretty tired of JA just being a no show in the playoffs.
15 boards was a show.
Bryant >>>>>> Tomlin for me, but wouldn’t mind seeing both if we lack energy.
Definitely try him over Schroder and Ellis at this point, but the problem is he’s been most effective this season with other guys who aren’t getting minutes: CPJ, Bryant, and Tomlin mainly.
The best theoretical Proctor lineup would be: CPJ, Proctor, Tomlin, Bryant, and Mobley according to two man data. That lineup would never see the court.
He doesn’t blend well with Mitchell and Tyson.
Also, rookie isn’t gonna get a whistle in series.
True, but that can be overcome somewhat IMO with the right mental approach. Tyson was definitely getting too frustrated when he wasn’t getting the whistle.
I think I’d like to see a handful of CPJ minutes. Schroder was decent in Toronto but it wasn’t enough. A few rebounds or blocks on weaker Toronto offense players might help a lot
👍🍺👍🍺👍🍺😁🍺😁🍺👍🍺🥱
LMAO SIMMO………..” MORE BEER 🍺 FOR SIMMO PLEASE “
Good idea!
Well, shit.Got home from a massive night out, completely hammered, watched the first 5 min but knew that if I stayed up and Cavs lost, I’d wake up the house & probably break the tv. Think I made the right call.
IT IS TIME FOR THE CAVS “ TO PUT UP OR SHUT UP—— TALK IS CHEAP “ —— BEEN TALKING ALL YEAR/ 2 YEARS ABOUT GETTING TOUGHER—- NOW TIME “ TO GO BIG OR GO GOLFING “. BARNES PLAYS WITH AN EDGE THAT MOBES WILL NEVER HAVE——THE TOUGHER THE GAME THE BETTER BARNES PLAYS MOBES IS THE OPPOSITE
Bring back the Cavs podcast
LOL appreciate that Don! A couple of us got sick and recovering
MR STEAL MY “ SARCASM “ WAS ON “ OVERDRIVE TODAY——THEY HAVE TO SHOW UP AT HOME—- BELIEVE THIS SERIES STILL GOES 7 —— GO CAVS
This was such a strange few games. Cavs favored by 9.5 in Game 5.
I didn’t get to watch this, but I see that Bryant still can’t get any run. He was killer “against” the Cavs last postseason, and he averaged 18 & 10 per 36 this year. Plus he’s the only big on the team that can fairly reliably hit a 3 (unlike Mobley) and is always willing to shoot it (unlike Wade). That isn’t useful?
And what about Nance, who looked good late in the season? The team is getting out-physicaled, again, and using some size could help.
The tweaks on the margins would help. Mitchell and Harden had at least four really dumb unforced errors in a one possession game. That’s kind of it
If you believe Mitchell and Harden are shitty players, then we are cooked. But they aren’t.
We are also pot committed to both and have no draft for four years.
We are showing great effort and fighting back against physicality.
The mentals were not there for Mitchell and Harden today.
Tyson and Strus and Sam all showing something and role players play better at home.
SPIDA / HARDEN “ DISCREETLY – PUBLICLY “ SAYING THEY WANT OUT OF CLEVELAND—- “ PLAYING— OR SHOULD SAY NOT PLAYING—- THERE WAY OUT————-HEY THE BROWNS HAD A DECENT DRAFT 👍
they just sucked in ways they’ve sucked before.
why must it always be “catastrophe! blow it up! they gone?”
ignore the idiots
Yeah, even if Mitchell and Harden suck we’re still gonna give them a full training camp next year, and unless we pull the trigger on Mobley for Giannis or Bron comes back, it’s going to be a pretty similar team. Keep Sam, Jaylon and Dean around the core – Max and Keon are fine to keep or move on from – and see what is out there.
SO GLAD MY GRANDKIDS HAVE ACTIVITIES SO U DONT HAVE TO LIVE THROUGH A 3 HR TORTURE—- JUST A “ 1 MINUTE GUT PUNCH “ WHEN I READ THE BOX SCORE——— I AM SAYING THE VEGAS ODDS HAVE SWITCHED TO RAPTORS WINNING THE SERIES——- MOBES HAS EVIDENTLY DISAPPEARED AGAIN——- ——- WILL SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT—— RIGHT NOW—— LOOKS GRIM
Kind of shocked JA was +14. He looked like he was playing in flip flops.
At least we know Sam can still shoot.
The defense was there, Harden got his act together in the 2nd half and Wade’s defense was great.
Unreal choke.
Put it on Mitchell tbf
And Harden. And everyone who was scared to shoot (Strus).
This team is NOT a contender.
Blow it up.
Amen!
Not disagreeing, but I’m willing to give them til the end of the season before making the call.
Blow it up for…?
Well, I guess it depends on the ultimate objective. Speaking as a fan, I enjoy watching pro basketball, and the Cavs are my team. I enjoy the regular season (especially when we’re winning…last year was awesome.) Even if they aren’t super-competitive, it can be fun to watch a team progress over time. And it can be frustrating when a team consistently underperforms. On paper, I think that the Cavs are the second best team in the East. Would have been on top but for the return of Tatum. I still think they have a punchers chance to beat them, if… Read more »
I’d like to see a full year with Harden and whatever happens with Bron next year.
I think LeBron would change everything, because he would demand that everyone play their best when it matters.
or shuffle the deck.
A+ post. Also made me think on the reality that most players leave the game with their playoff boogeyman alive and well.
While you can still get some good return for the pieces.
I mean, you let them play this out, of course. No other choice. But even if we scrape by Toronto and/or Orlando, the Celtics will blow us out of the water.
We have scored once in the last 4:55. Merrill’s. Mitchell hit 2 FTs at 4:55 ton put us up 84-76.
God this game sucks.
8 seconds. They are gonna choke this.
Fucking prevent offense.
Mobes with great board work, Spida 0/2 and Harden 0/1 that trip.
Good effort Mobes
Harden, why?
Big shot Sam!
And…..then that
3 possessions in a row we cannot clean the boards including a FT.
Their tallest guy is 6’7″.
OMG these refs.
Great play, Merrill. These refs are stupid.
Get a board, FFS.
We do have the lead, though.
This is not a flagrant. Come on
Spida powering up.
Mitchell with another terrible show on Barnes on the screen. Just let him go. Thank God Jacoby Walter can’t shoot. Mitchell ties it up on the other end though.
Yep, I’m yelling at the screen
Getting manhandled. Cavs can’t even set a screen because they’re getting pushed all over. And they look like they aren’t even expecting it, even now.
Extremely weak.
Mitchell just an awful show.
JFC harden
Sam. I am
Mitchell with a genius foul
At least three terrible passes by Schroder this game.
WTF is Mitchell doing!?
MITCHELL WITH THE DUMBEST FOUL I’VE EVER SEEN CHECK HIS FANDUEL ACCOUNT
Schröder JFC.
HOW IS THAT A FOUL ON TYSON??????????????????????????/
It was bullshit
Strus didn’t need to foul there.
Strus had to shoot that.
The wings are wide open after the first wave of d. Drive to the bucket or pass. Stop being so timid.
Guys gotta stop passing when they have a wide open path to the basket
Grab the ball, guys.
OMG Schroder
HARDEN FINALLY OUT OF BOZO MODE TIME FOR MITCHELL TO STOP BEING A LOSER
SHOOTING 25% FROM THE FREE THROW LINE FIRE THE SHOOTING COACH
looks like 56% from here
You’re 15 minutes late
I would love a huge run here.