Eastern Conference Semifinals Live Thread: Game 2, Pacers @ Cavs
2025-05-06Good evening CtB!
The Cavs again welcome the Indiana Pacers to the banks of the Cuyahoga River for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, down 1-0 in the series. What happened Sunday evening? Sadly, the Cavs simply didn’t show up. They played soft, weak, whiny, and entitled and as such got their asses handed to them by a team that’s not even known as a physical team. In fact, the Pacers were ranked 28th in the NBA in rebounding rate this season yet they ended up drawing on the board battle 43-43. That speaks to just how pathetic the Cavs’ physicality in the game was.
And now, that lack of hit-first mentality resulted in injuries to several Cavs, most notably DeAndre Hunter and Evan Mobley. My guess is that they play, but how compromised are they? Indiana is playing loose and free without the burden of expectations. For the Cavs, this is the first adversity of the postseason… how will they respond? Every test this year they’ve risen to the occasion.
Tip off is scheduled for 7:00PM Eastern time and will broadcasted live on Fanduel Sports Network, Go Cavs!
WHAT I MEANT RAOUL IS INSTEAD IF SIGNING “ OKE – DOKE “ THEY SHOULD HAVE SIGNED NYQUIL
DG, Ev, and Hunter all part of shoot around. Good news. I have to miss the game tonight. Here’s hoping I was the jinx all along.
AGREE MR STEAL WHAT YOU POSTED——- THINK TYSON WITH A FULL YEAR IN THE LEAGUE/ FULL OFF SEASON WORKING ON HIS MAJOR WEAKNESS ( 3 PT SHOOTING) WILL BE PLAYING SOLD MINUTES NEXT YEAR—— NYQUIL IN HIS “ LIMITED “ BASKETBALL CAREER SHOW s SOME HIDDEN POTENTIAL——————— STEPHEN A WAS TOTALLY OUT OF LINE CALLING OUT DG FOR NOT PLAYING——- FRIGGIN MORON —— WE SUPPORT/ LOVE YOU DG
Stephen A has ALWAYS been clueless. he is entertaining. I doubt if he has played any sport, otherwise he would know something
https://www.cleveland.com/cavs/2025/05/cavs-provide-injury-updates-on-darius-garland-deandre-hunter-and-evan-mobley-ahead-of-game-3.html
Wreckless physicality aka dirty play…
“Both Hunter and Mobley suffered injuries in the fourth quarter of Cleveland’s Game 1 loss against the Pacers on plays Atkinson believed were excessive and over the line of normal playoff physicality.“
It sucks. Mathurin is a maniac (didn’t he bump a female ref??) and Mobley has killed Turner for years.
MR STEAL YOUR LIST OF FREE AGENTS/ POSTS LOOKS INTERESTING—— “ OKE – DOKE “ HAS PROBABLY SEEN POSSIBLY 10 MINUTES—— HIS CONTRACT SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO “ NYQUIL “ CHECK HIS STATS AGAINST THE PACERS REGULARS WHEN THEY WERE COMPETING AGAINST OUR ZOO CREW ——- NYQUIL ON LIMITED MINUTES COULD HAVE HELPED— ESPECIALLY NOW SINCE MOBES IS OUT
I think they will give Tomlin the CPJ deal. More years. Okeke as a semi-proven NBA player, like Green, is a better short term play for now. I really like Tomlin – incredibly hopeful, he has FRP talent! -but I gotta ask if there have been any effective rookies in the second round for a few years. Edey was decent against OKC but got played off the floor. Last year, can’t think of any. It’s a lot to ask. Even Tyson, who has had some OK flashes and even good full games earlier in the year , is probably not… Read more »
you can’t give a players contract to another player.
AGAIN LIKE I POSTED AND NATE ALSO—- MOST OF THE SEASON FOR KOBY TO GET A LEGITIMATE BACK UP POST IN CASE OF AN INURY ESPECIALLY IN PLAYOFFS
If by legitimate you mean “big and not ass” I think the best buyout big was like…Alex Len? biyombo?
Trying to train Wade up for it made sense and worked well (he had double digits boards).
But I think if you can live with some combination of Green / Okeke / Tyson in his spot you might move Okoro for an established big with a skill. Think he makes the same $ as Jonas.
That said, FA class looks OK. Don’t know if you could get Boucher, Nance, Precious, Hayes, or Steven Adam’s on a vet min, but…
Need to put on our big boy pants:
https://www.audacy.com/923thefan/sports/cleveland-cavaliers/carman-dont-believe-evan-mobley-will-play-again-in-series#
AGREED RAOUL “ IF “. EVERYONE IS HEALTHY
MAN THE BASKETBALL “ GODS “ ARE MESSING WITH VEGAS —-SOUNDS LIKE CURRY IS OUT FOR A WEEK
AMEN ARCH —— PAYBACKS ARE HELL
Cavs should really junk up the game. Start stepping under Myles Turner when he shoots, like he did to Mobley. Do it to Haliburton to. Push Mathurin into the stands when he drives to the rim. Chuck the ball at Tony Brothers face, for being a shitty ref. And slap the fuck out of slappy Siakim, like he does on every defensive play.
Yup, we’re getting out-physicaled by the softest team in the NBA. Truly fucking pathetic. 28th in rebounding and can’t win a board battle.
Totally.
Yeah I am really tired of watching other teams cheap shot the Cavs and them rarely taking proportional measures in response. No wants another Malice at the Palace, but the opponents shouldn’t feel they have carte blanche to put players at risk, and unfortunately the refs are too often slow to rein it in. I feel like KAT shoving DG in the back from behind while in midair was where it really started (this season).
Donovan’s elbow to the jaw might have been “accidentally on purpose,” in which I support it in context but it’s unfortunate the timing of it contributed to the Pacer’s comeback.
When have we won an important game – even in the regular season – by junking it up?
I understand the gut appeal but the two times we had players being super physical (Donovan’s elbow to Nesmith and Allen’s crushing screen on Ausar), it was very costly.
(i also don’t intend this as a sharp comment, i just don’t know that (a) it works for us or (b) that we need it for a talent equalizer – if Ty doesn’t have the worst game ever we win)
Oh yeah that Pistons game, which we won. I think the point is you need to respond to the other teams “wreckless” physicality with your own “wreckless” physicality. Then make the refs rein it in. The regular season isn’t the same type of basketball as the post season. So you typically won’t find many games where you have to play that style of play.
We BARELY won on a DG 35 footer after giving away a lead bigger than last game. We were up like 10 with 2m left. Getting F2 up 5 in the clutch for nothing. I’m saying why / when is that necessary? I question the assumption as far as it relates to high end pro basketball success. It’s a talent equalizer early on but it hurts as much as it helps. Boston wasn’t some overly physical juggernaut, nor was Denver or LA or the KD GSW teams. Or the Heatles or Spurs. And of course Draymond is famous for blowing… Read more »
I mean I just don’t want more of our guys getting hurt. That’s the ultimate goal of this. It’s really not that complicated. Can you find examples of less physical teams that won championships sure, but they probably had better officiating and didn’t have any of their guys getting injured. The Pacers said this is how we are going to play. So we have to respond. Not with anything dirty, but “wreckless.”
Or we could just whip their asses on the court with skill and go home up 2-2. Worked for most of the year as well as last year against Orlando. Talent gap between 2024 Magic and us is about the same as 2025 Pacers and us.
I agree with the goals just don’t think the method is proven. We had JR backhanding MFs as retaliation in ‘15 for KLove and it didn’t make anyone healthier.
If enough guys are back I saw enough on Tuesday that we can fight to a draw re physicality
JR backhanding Crowder was more than wreckless. I just think when the refs see one team playing a certain way, they often forgive some of the excessiveness which gives them an unfair advantage. They’re allowed to headlock, and we can’t breathe on Haliburton. Put it on the refs to get the game under control.
Agree. I hope it’s trending the right way (I felt the common foul call on the Mitchell eblow swing was a makeup call)
We should get a fair game call in Indy. No one wants a sweep