Live Thread: Cavs @ Pacers, Game 4
2018-04-22
The Cavs are back in Indiana again tonight. After giving up an 17 point lead in the 2nd Half of game 3, the Cavs are down 2-1 to the Pacers. This game isn’t a must win, but having to play a must win game in Indiana would be a poor position to be in for game five.
One has to hope the Cavs can right their play. They are making just 9.7 3s a night (12-16) at a 30.9% rate, which is second worse in the playoffs. During the regular season, the Cavs made 12 3s per game (3-30) at a 37.2% rate, which was sixth in the league. The shooting will hopefully return to normal. No one on the team is getting buckets outside of the King.
LeBron James has scored 98 points this series, he’s averaging 32.7 per game. The Cavs have scored just 270 points in three games. James has essentially score 37% of all those points. There’s not much more to say. Cleveland simply needs more guys to make shots.
Defensively, the Cavs haven’t allowed the Pacers to score over 100 and are second in defensive rating for the post season. The struggles haven’t gone away and the their trapping scheme hasn’t been the most effective, but the defense isn’t to blame for the losses.
Tyronn Lue has mentioned Tristan Thompson will probably see minutes this game because of “toughness.” George Hill will miss the game because of his back. This means the Cavs will have to figure out some way to slow Victor Oladipo. Jose Calderon is probably not the answer to that. He’s starting anyways though.
Right now, I’m not confident the team can figure the offense out. At least with Jose starting, LeBron will be have some help creating shots, but it may not be enough.
Sabonis has the face of an 8 year old.
Cavs get immediately slower with Love back in. Bring us home, LeBron.
nobody on Cavs boxes out at all….ever
so exhausted with these rotations. why lue
Tough iso.
Indiana bigs are killing us
WTF is Clarkson doing?
He must still think he is playing for the Lakers in April with that crap…
Sabonis is James Worthy against the Cavs smh
I don’t understand why love is back at center. Cavs were playing well with Nance.
Because we have the worst head coach in the history of the league. Fuggin pathetic.
That’s why. They were playing a little too well for Lue. Back to the Love at C lineup that hasn’t been able to stop a kitten in the paint all year…
Because Lue.
Klove just flailing his arms on that putback.
Love just standing in the corner and not even trying to post up
Sabonis murdering the Cavs.
Gah. Second bank shot tonight.
Sabonis wide open again.
Love is in? Is Lue gaslighting us?
Bron getting passive.
Cavs finally get a call. Come on, Rodney.
Cavs still are so unsure how to run an offense or what to do with ball….I mean at some point natural instinct takes over to just shoot
Our front court (non LeBron) is worthless. What do we have to lose with Zizic?
At a certain point the team that generates easier shots will pull ahead.
We stop running offense. Tech on Bron.
Falling apart.
OK. Weather the storm here, guys.
Green for 3! He’s warm right now!
JEFF GREEN! ICEWATER IN HIS VEINS!
Another terrible possession. Why is Hood playmaking?
Green three
Green to the rescue!
The Cavs look gassed and the Pacers look like they know the Cavs can’t hang with them.
3 Cavs standing under the rim…. the 1 pacer gets the offensive rebound and foul.
Argh. LATE whistle.
HOW DO WE NOT GET THAT REBOUND?
All one on one. Leading to turnovers.
STFU Webber.
hahahaha lance!!!
Green attacks the basket with success.
Green bailout on an awful offensive possession.
Haha. They never call that. Big break for the Cavs.
How hard is it to make in-game adjustments?
Collapsing. No one knows where to be on offense, not that it would matter since Indy knows where our shooters are always
Argh. Cavs falling apart.
We can’t defend.
Lead lost. Sabonis wide open
James is going to play 46 minutes tonight
Pacers now killing the mid range
Like to see Jeff run the point here.
Got to hope that Hood and Nance can bring some offense into the game.
I’m terrified of Jeff green here.
I dont feel like we pull this one out. Bron has zero rest and lue is coaching like we are tanking for better draft position.
Here’s that handoff…
https://twitter.com/NBAonTNT/status/988243128216764416
I’m shocked at that quarter Love just had.
Sigh. Cavs 9/29 and pacers 10/23 from three. This is NOT shooting variance. It is quality of looks. Afraid that the tough threes will stop falling.
“Make of miss league” — Idiots
Cavs gotta get their heads in the game.
Hood and Clarkson in particular
Nance should play entire qtr and everyone has to crash the boards here….nothing left unturned at all….this is Lue’s legacy right here….they lose this game he is done as a coach, not real turning back
Why didn’t James go to the hole instead of jacking. KLove must still be in the concussion protocol or something. Going invisible the wrong time
Lebron is probably completely gassed now…better hope somebody gets hot, or this one will be over…
he barely shot that quarter. hopefully saved something
They just don’t have complete players other than LeBron and J.R. You can have energy or shooting or passing or defense or basketball IQ with players on this team but seemingly not at the same time.
Kevin love with possibly his worst quarter as a Cav. Pouting, dumb.
Should have been pulled for Nance…Young completely pwned him…
If live plays a minute in the fourth we are screwed
do Pacers have the most formidable front line ever or are the Cavs scared to drive? what gives? Pacers have so much confidence and Cavs just get weak all the time…unreal this is still close game
Cavs lost their pace this quarter
Argh. Run a freaking offense. What the hell was LeBron doing the last three possessions?
Tired.
so love plays all 12 – makes perfect sense
this is just I have no words
God…. Lue’s just gonna watch KLOVE brick everything.
Uugh kev. You get one of the few completely wide open looks and brick
Cavvs walking it up every play.
We are ride or die with contested Treys tonight.
KORVER WAS FOULED!!!!
Argh. Another terrible possession. Korver is hot. Feed him! Freaking Clarkson.
Lebron is having trouble getting motivated to win this series…sure he is looking ahead and thinking its not worth it
He’s tired and frustrated.
Awful possession no plan. Drive into a wall of pacers pass into a contested three with 3 sec on the shot clock
Big 3 from Kyle. Nice Love D. Bron attacks.
Good sequence.