Live Thread: Cavs vs Timberwolves (#Dominate)
2021-02-01I did not come to play, Cavs fans. I came to dominate. Such are the insipid Derek Minor lyrics that seem to pervade every return from the break on the Fox Ohio broadcasts. Sadly, the Cavs have done anything but lately. All that changes tonight, though.
#Cavs J.B. Bickerstaff said Andre Drummond is out for tonight. Larry Nance Jr. is out, as he was listed on the injury report.
— Kelsey Russo (@kelseyyrusso) February 1, 2021
That’s right. The guy who shouldn’t be playing because he holds his wrist every time he tries to dunk, and the guy who refuses to pass to his own team are both out tonight. Freed from the yoke of the Drumm, I’m excited to see what this Cavs squad can do against a depleted Minny squad with a questionable DeAngelo Russell. Let’s hope the Cavs play smarter and more aggressive from the perimeter tonight, and shoot more three pointers. I tweeted a bit earlier today about what ails the Cavs offense…
The Cavs’ biggest problem on offense is that no one screens for each other. Drummond sets the worst screens of any big I’ve ever seen. The Cavs guards and wings get the ball stolen all the time because defenders play super tight knowing they’ll never get picked off. The Cavs run pick and roll with zero weak side action so it’s super easy to defend. And God when the ball goes to the post it is the simplest of sets/cuts with no screens to free anyone.
Also, everyone takes the first (obvious) pass on the cut available instead of running through to the 2nd and 3rd options, that is, unless there’s a wide open pass on the perimeter then they look for the home run instead of moving the defense. Finally, when they do run off ball actions, they freee guys up at the elbows and free throw line, instead of at the wings, very often leading to a very compressed half court. It’s maddening. I really hope they bench Drummond tonight just to see how much better the offense can be (they did).
If the Cavs correct these issues on offense and defend, they should DOM-I-NATE.
DON’T LOOK NOW BUT THE ” HARDEN-LESS ” ROCKETS HAVE WON 6 IN / ROW —-GOOD FOR THEM !!!
Making it even more unlikely we can entice CJ to Cleveland :(
PRINCE HAD A SOLID GAME LAST NIGHT –HOPING HE CAN FIND HIS 3 PT STROKE AGAIN
JUST WATCHED ALLENS POST GAME INTERVIEW—IMPRESSIVE —EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE IS THE SIZE OF HIS FRIGGIN HANDS !!!!
THANK YOU SIMMO FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR WINDLER —-BOTH HAD THE SAME RESPONSE
Dude is just starting out. I hate it when young players finally get their chance and get picked apart for their failure to dominate.
SOME ‘SHOUTS ” OUT TO STEVENS WHO STAYED READY / GAVE SOLID MINUTES LAST NIGHT ALSO —HAS AN NBA BODY / ATHLETICISM/ PROBABLY LACKING IN THE SKILL SET
Stevens’ D is solid! But yes he’s rusty elsewhere….
JUST WATCHED REPLAY —-GOOD ‘W ” —-JB HAS TO FIGURE OUT THE MINUTE DISTRIBUTION FOR DRE / ALLEN ——-1 THING I NOTICED —( AM SURE THERE IS A STAT ON THIS ) –IS WOLVES HAD TO HIT ON 6-7 CORNER TREYS LAST NIGHT / THINK OTHER TEAMS HAVE A HIGH PCT VS CAVS ALSO FROM THE CORNER / NEED TO IMPROVE ON THIS —–WINDLER STILL FIGURING IT OUT -( AS ALL ROOKIES HAVE TO DO —MUCH MORE DIFFICULT FOR HIM WITH LACK OF MINUTES ) HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE HE WILL BE A SOLID ROLE PLAYER
They got waaaay too many open looks from the corner…meanwhile, the Cavs got close to zero…need to fix that.
nice win and finally on the right side of the column. this Cavs team needs to play more loose and just trust they can take and make the shots. At times in this game it looked like guys were afraid to shoot open shots and then drove into heavy traffic in the paint, this causing silly turnovers. whenever there was a catch and shoot situation and Cavs took it, the shot went in. also Cavs need to fix defense where they leave a guy wide open in the corner, reminds me of Mike Brown defense. No one on TWolves needs… Read more »
damn guys, watching the replay, Garland’s passing and defense was incredible… I guess Nate’s the only one who noticed???!!! LMFAOOOO
His passing when he is game fit is always high-level. His D was the standout today.
agree 1000% LMFAOOO picking up full court and sticking with his guy…. outplayed DLo and he’s a former all-star that’s only 24 years old!!!
This is how poorly designed the offensive scheme has been so far this year:
Drummond accounts for 31% usage, which is in the 98% percentile in the NBA.
His offensive EPM is -1.4, which is ranked 8th best on the Cavs’ roster… one spot BEHIND Thon Maker, who was at -1.0.
Most positive offensive impact according to EPM:
Interesting Fedor article… I guess JB been reading my posts about the offense!!! LMFAOO Let DG and Sexton cook in the PnR!!! that should be the whole offense. let them learn the damn reads…. they drafted DG to be a heliocentric offensive player, let him freaking run the show!!! Literally wasted a quarter of the season on Dre post ups. by the same token, still too many midrangers from DG tonight…. either get to the basket or pass it out…. quit stalling and shooting the midrange J unless you’re cooking! Also, they need to set the pick higher closer to… Read more »
EPM data including tonight/last night:
Allen #30 <<<<<< deserves to start, plays far superior team offense to Drummond.
Drummond #76
Nance #111
Sexton #138 <<<<<< defense has taken a dive.
Prince # 168
Cedi #199 <<<<<< having a sneaky good year IMO
McGee #216
Garland #257 <<<<<< great game last night, offense might be coming?
Dotson #285
Windler #289 <<<<<< defense relatively good, offense bad.
Wade #344
Okoro #350
Stevens #359
Cedi is hit or miss…Sexton tries really hard but he seems to overreact defensively adn pick up a lot of fouls…Windler looks lost on both ends, not sure if its confidence or what…he seems unsure how to fit in the offense and defensively he is looking around and losing his man…Garland needs more confidence to jsut fire away…his passing has gotten better. Allen will be best Cav in long run.
Agree with all of it, but with respect to Windler – I think it’s just experience. The confidence will come with time on court. Last game he shot well, but you could see the other guys actively trying to make stuff happen for him. He stepped up. At some point, you gotta be in the right position already, not be asked to be. He’ll get there.
yup its rookie year, totally agree
Nice to see us hang on tonight.
I fear an 8 game skid is coming. Maybe we get 1 or 2.
Dunno. Feel like some teams may underrate the Cavs and get caught napping. A KLove return at some point could galvanise things too.
WOW, Garland with 19/11??? Okoro and Sexton plus minus monsters???? LET’S GOOOOOO!!!!!
Allen and Prince some low key studs???!!!! Cedi with 7 boards????!!! HELL YEAHHHHHHH!!!!!