Playoff Live Thread (Game 5): Cavs vs Magic
2024-04-30Good evening, Cavs fans. It’s put up or shut up time for Cleveland. To say that the series hangs in the balance for Cleveland would be an understatement. There’s no way the Cavs can win the series of the don’t win tonight. But let me digress. Looking ahead feels like it’s been the entire problem for Cleveland so far this entire season. Donovan Mitchell recently said he wants to be “the face of the NBA,” and the Cavs’ have made no secret of the fact that they think Evan Mobley is a future all star or more. Maybe the Cavs, their fans, their players, their front office, etc. should stop looking at what the future holds and start looking at the now. Win the possession, the quarter, the half, the game, no matter who is on the floor (and Jarrett Allen may not be due to broken ribs).
One thing I love about about Nikola Jokic is that he doesn’t worry about being the face of the NBA, endorsements, regular season awards or records… He just focuses on making the best basketball play every single fucking possession. And the right basketball play is the one that helps his team win the quarter, the half, the game, the series, the playoffs. So stop talking about the summer. Stop talking about the past two games. Get on your horse and give it to Magic every fucking single play.
The guys came to play tonight. Good to see and fun to watch.
Will be fascinating to see how the Cavs perform in Orlando after this effort.
I half expect em to start all the G leaguers.
Banchero kind of ran out of gas there at the end. Insane block by Mobes to get the stop.
Game seemed to be several years long.
I love winning on a fantastic defensive play. Mobley was so impressive. Shades of 2016 Game 7 LeBron … The Block pt. 2??
Let’s not get crazy. That Mobley block was very good. Lebron’s block is one of the greatest plays in sports history. Babe Ruth calling his shot territory.
Yeah the block by Evan was a fantastic and timely play that we’ve seen him make a bunch.
The LeBron block was an all time athletic feat on top of the timing and narrative elements
Mobley’s block was good but to me his “stop” was even better – long as we’re taking 2016 nicknames in vain! lol! Banchero was just torching the Cavs all quarter, and taking every shot down the stretch—then Mobley covers him and he spends about 12 seconds using every move he can think of to get space, before bailing out in defeat late in the shot clock. Seen Mobley do to that so many people the last 3 years, but this is the first time it really mattered.
Morris on WTAM1100. Nice interview. “That’s why you brought me here, getting me off the couch!” Lol.
Also nice to defeat the refball
Man oh man. Cavs got very lucky that Banchero took that bad three and that Franz tried to challenge Mobley one on one. I’m sure Mosley wished he’d called a timeout to set up a Banchero shot.
Wagner believing his own hype about the 24 he put on Mobley in four minutes or whatever
Man oh man.
Man how much better was Morris Sr than Niang… that was refreshing not to see Niang out there.
Wow–you just reminded me of what WASN’T missing from this game. Hate to hate on a dude….but whoever thought he could guard Banchero was using some ridiculous math.
JB did it right. Timely TOs, good substitutions, no Niang, and Morris!!
Nice win without JA.
We showed some gumption.
EVAN!!!!
One of the hardest-fought wins I think I’ve seen from this team. Gotta applaud JB for putting the right guys on the floor when it mattered.
finally benched his teacher’s pet and went with Morris instead.
Mobley with 2 scores and a block to close us out.
Spida went too early. Good shot, though.
Mobes wins it on D.
Morris with the box out too
Noses front!
😂
Big block by Evan .. phew 😮💨
Yes!!!! What a block !
Clutch.
Fantastic rebound Morris.
Evan! Bad decision, Franz!
I think you mean SUCK IT FRANZ
BLOCKED BY MOBLEY
Wanna see Garland take this shot.
Are Allen’s ribs actually broken? Or just bruised?
bruised
I’ve heard both
🙏
Need 1 more bucket.
Ugh that was bad
Dumb
DG!!! What a pass
Noses front, Cavs!
Garland to Mobley > beautiful!
Garland! Brilliant feed!
How a guy liek Suggs plays that kind of defense and only has 2 fouls is amazing to me
That quick shot by Banchero was a huge favor
Banchero takes a dumb shot. Thank God.
Mitchell with 5 on Nanchero made no sense
Mobley has to double there.
How do u not get the ball out of his hands!?
Cavs need noses in front down the stretch when the fouling really starts
What does that mean?
Maybe an Aussie term? Need to be in front. Which they are. Hooray.
I assumed. Just wanted meaning! 😁👃
Two possessions in a row great Mobley D against Banchero, but with no JA on the court, Cavs couldn’t secure the rebound.
OMG. Magic have gotten every call this game.
With Mobes on ball, they kill us on the glass.
2 o boards in a row.
Glad Strus turned up. A little more aggression from Spida and Cavs should survive.
I like Mobley on Banchero
Yeah I know he’s hitting these mid range fadeaway but those long 2s are exactly the shots we want them to take
I Second Both Notions.
Yes
Gotta double banchero aggressively
Banchero is gonna be a problem.
Best player in this series
And he’s feeling it
Spida made up for the missed layup.
Marcus.
Mobley so obviously pushed in the back on that layup
OMG.
Huge 3 Morris!
Every time Mobley threatens to start flowing offensively…
Bad challenge. Dumb challenge.
Mitchell really struggling
Mitchell’s TOs have been atrocious, all game.
JB should’ve used his challenge earlier. He’s not gonna win this one.
A subjective call. Doubt they overturn.
Sorry but F these refs
Mitchell just too careless.
The turnover or the blown layup? Can you believe this guy is going to make $60 MILLION dollars a year?
I thought it was on Okoro for not running the lane wide enough.
Cavs cannot buy a call. Morris shoved in the back
Jeeze. That call was thin as hell.
WHY IS OKORO IN THE GAME
You gotta hit that layup!!!
Yeah that sucked. Wish Okoro would’ve ran the lane wider.
Lol. Mosley so GD smart. JB would’ve waited till the Cavs were down 7 to take that timeout.
Correct.
Spida!
Levert contributing. Love to see him score here.
Oof. Evan.
Aww. Poor Mo.
Gotta move your feet, Marcus.
Bad energy to start the fourth.
The fact it takes 3 guys to defend fultz down low is just ridiculous, so he kicks out to an open Isaac who buries it. We’re helping way too much in the paint (as we always do)
Can’t help off Jingles.
Garland. Ugh.
Terrible d. Good to. Mosley countered TT and Morris with Ingles and Isaac’s bulk. Time to try something new.
Gotta defend the perimeter…