Recap: Pacers 117, Cavs 112 (Or, so close, too bad.)
2011-02-03Overview: The Pacers pulled out a 117-112 win against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Darren Collison made the game-winning 3 with 1:07 to play. Ramon Sessions recorded a game-high 25 points and 9 assists for the Cavs.
Close only counts in horseshoes, hand grenades, and for teams that are not historically terrible bullets:
– This team’s moments of competence have been few and far between this season. Those moments, when they have come, have generally featured Ramon Sessions attacking weak defenses and playing like a true point guard. Against most teams, Ramon’s attack-attack-attack style doesn’t work: against the Pacers, he looked like Tony Parker. He was able to get into the paint, found the cutter or open shooter when the defense collapsed on him, and lived on the free-throw line against the Pacers, who were completely incapable of defending the rim without fouling. Ramon has his flaws, and they are serious flaws, but the only time the Cavs look like a real team is when Ramon is on his game. I don’t really know what to do with that information. In related news, this team has not won a game since a week before Christmas.
– This was a crazy game. The Cavs faced an early deficit, but got back in the game by pushing the break and drawing fouls by being aggressive. Ultimately, the team lost because they didn’t run their offense on crucial possessions and couldn’t stop the Pacers from getting whatever shot they wanted whenever they wanted it. The Pacers rushed at times, but they got a wide open lane to the basket or jumper every time they didn’t do something comically stupid. For the millionth time, this team is not going to have consistent success if it keeps trying to outscore teams. The only time they can play actual offense is in transition, and they don’t care enough about defense to consistently get stops. That’s a bad combination.
– Manny Harris looks like a legit NBA player. I admit I was skeptical, but he’s dangerous in transition, can make threes if the defense sags, and can slash effectively. If he was playing alongside LeBron, he’d look like a starting-quality NBA swingman. That comment cuts both ways.
– Parker was on his game tonight. Every now and then, he’ll pull out a performance that reminds you how good he was with Maccabi Tel Aviv, and Wednesday night was one of those games. He drained tough jumpers, made smart passes and cuts, and even had some nice finishes inside.
– Eyenga settled for rushed shots late, but so did Harris, Jamison, and Hickson. It’s becoming apparent that the players on this team don’t believe the Cavs will win unless they make hero plays late, and no player on this team is really capable of making hero plays. Again, that’s a bad combination.
That’s all I really have for tonight. This was the Cavs’ best chance to avoid the futility record, and they blew it with horrible defense and forced shots late. The team does not trust the offensive system, and there is no defensive system. They lost because they do not know how to win. “They don’t know how to win” is usually a cliche; however, when a team hasn’t won a game in a month and a half, the cliche becomes the truth. Until next time.
Hickson’s incredibly bad hands really standout when he misses passes like the one Sean B refers to. 10 seconds left, down by 3 and the ball hits him directly in his hands and he can’t put it away for the dunk! Argh – that was frustrating!!! Manny and Eyenga both have flashes of how good they can be. Manny is clearly more refined between the two but they both seem to be getting better from one week to the next and with thier athletic ability the only thing that can stop them from being legit NBA role players (or staters… Read more »
This was the closest they’ve come to a win in a while. If Hickson doesn’t mishandle that pass with 10 seconds left and they cut it to one….
…and if my aunt had testicles, she’d be my uncle. Oh, well. When’s Washington come to the Q? If they’re still winless on the road at that point, that might be the Cavs’ best remaining shot a win this year.
Back when the cavs were 7-9 it seemed IMPOSSIBLE to think they would be 8-41 by Feb, it is simply incredible.
On paper, and when healthy the current Cavs team doesn’t look terrible. Not good, but not historically bad either. A combination of injuries, lack of star power, and losing their manhood on December 2nd have contributed to form the current level of suckitude we see every game now. The biggest problem is that lack of star power. Out of all the professional American sports, basketball is the one where having the best player means you have a legit chance to win everytime out. In baseball, having an Albert Pulos is great, and good for 5-6 WAR, but he legitimately gets… Read more »
Hoops I’ll keep all the players you mentioned and add Andy to that.
To me, the most dissapointing stat of the game, was JJ’s 3 REBOUNDS.obviously, Our SG sholdn’t be doubling our centers rebound total.
I think Eyenga has a chance to be special. If he was coming out this year and playing like he was at an American college, I think he’d be a lottery pick. Some of his blocks are amazing, and he seems unfazed by the moment, and had a couple huge baskets late. Also, his jump shot and his jump hook are somewhat unblockable. He has a really unorthodox offensive game, that’s hard to prepare for. Four plays late killed us: Hickson’s incredibly stupid 20 foot brick, not rotating on Collison, Parker’s ill advised foray to the basket (though he DID… Read more »
Did anyone noticed how Hickskon seemed like he didn’t want to be in the game at all? Not sure if it was because the ball was not going to him as much, but by the 3rd quarter you could easily see his mannerism had changed and he was barely even joggin up the court.
Yes, I understand losing gets to you mentally, but the Cavs are not gonna win with this kind of attitude…
Didn’t Hibbert go like one or two picks before JJ?
Another game we very well could have won if Andy were healthy. I at least think we have some solid role players going forward in Harris, Eyenga, and possibly Samuels/Gee.