Live Thread: Cavs @ Suns
2021-02-08Game 25 – Tommy’s Restaurant @TommysCoventry
Serving Cleveland for 49 years – that’s 3 generations keeping this business alive!
Like many others, they have had to come up with creative solutions to keep the business going.
And btw… some of the BEST milkshakes out there!!
— Larry Nance Jr (@Larrydn22) February 9, 2021
That’s who’s getting Darius Garland’s Jersey tonight, in lieu of Larry Nance Jr., as he’s been auctioning off a uniform for a local Cleveland business every game this season. Larry is a mensch and Tommy’s is truly a fantastic restaurant. More than one trip to the Grog Shop has started with dinner at Tommy’s for me and a milkshake to follow. Oh, and they’ve one of the best vegetarian menus in the Land. To bid go to the Gameday plus tab on the @cavs app.
For the Cavs, Jarrett Allen will replace the surgically mending Nance tonight. That should be interesting as the Cavs will also be without Delly and Love, and that paint will be packed. The Suns will be sitting Jae Crowder, Chris Paul, and Abdel Nader tonight. This actually feels winnable for the wine and gold if they can slow down Phoenix’s shooters and execute an offense.
On the offensive end, we’re led by Sexton, who’s been a below average passer his entire career… and Drummond who can’t finish at the basket any better than DG does.
Basically the early season wins were a product of Dre and Nance playing insanely good defense, Sexton unsustainably hot shooting, and a ton of good luck.
Nance is out, Sexton’s shooting has regressed to the mean, and Dre’s defensive effort is starting to falter.
I don’t there’s any mystery to what the Cavs are doing this season, they’re trying to develop DG, Sexton, and Okoro and see if any of them pan out.
If we were trying to win, there’d be some type of accountability for their trash defense… but there’s not, so guys are just going thru the motions now. On the “bright” side, I think we end up in the top 5 bracket of odds for the draft.
Defensive EPM up to date:
Okoro -1.1, bottom quartile of NBA players.
Sexton -1.3, 16th percentile of NBA players.
Garland -1.9, 6th percentile of NBA players.
Our starting perimeter players simply cannot play NBA quality defense.
Trading for Drummond was not a tank move. Neither was the Allen/Prince move. The injuries and the KPJ fail set us back, no doubt. But I do not think we are tanking, we just are not that good.
At full strength, I think we’d be in PO position now. Once we get LNJ & Love back, perhaps we climb into contention.
We can beat bad teams, but against good teams paying attention, we are still overmatched.
I think there’s absolutely no difference between tanking and not being good… that how you tank, by being a bad team LMFAO
Getting LNJ and Love back can help, but does nothing to change what the real problem is, and that’s starting 3 players, 2 of whom just became legal drinking age.
GOOD ARTICLE ON BOOKER / ESPN
YEAH WEIRD SPOT TO BE —ALL IN FOR PLAYOFF PUSH OR ALL IN FOR TANKING —STILL THINK THIS ROAD TRIP WILL INFLUENCE ALOT OF CAVS DECISIONS GOING FORWARD –TRADING DRE / HOW FAST DO WE BRING LOVE / DELLY / LNJ BACK / ETC ————-MAN CAVS THINK THEY HAVE PROBLEMS– I WENT TO AN ANTIQUE SHOW RECENTLY AND THEY STARTED– ‘BIDDING ON ME ‘—WTF : – )
I think you are absolutely right. The results of this road trip will very likely determine the future of the Cavs and their decision making this season.
The Cavs did have Denver’s number last season, so maybe they have a turnaround victory tonight.
I can hope, right?
Hilarious to me is Cavs are three games out in win column to being a 4-seed. But also 3 games out in loss column of being dead last haha I think Cavs are right where they should be. Injuries have definitely hurt, but guys gotta hit wide open shots and at least take them. Really would like to see Garland attempt three’s. He keeps doing that floater stuff and yes it works but other times he doesn’t at all and it a wasted possession. Tough one tonight against the Nuggets, that could get ugly quick if focus and mistakes add… Read more »
Hmm, interesting ? on Booker. For me, I’d go
Lead team to title: LeBron, Kawhi, Curry
2nd banana/perhaps: Durant, AD, Giannis, Embiid, Jokic.
Tier3: Lillard, Harden, Luka, Tatum, Butler.
That’s a baker’s dozen.
Easily all-star: CP3, Mitchell, PG13, Beal, Booker, Brown, Simmons, Sabonis, Klay (injured), Lowry, Bam, Kyrie.(that is 25).
Just missed/low level all-star: Walker, Fox, Murray, KAT, DeRozan, Gobert, Westbrook, Middleton, Van Vleet, Siakam, Young, Hayward, Zion, Ingram, Brogdon, Holliday, Wood, Griffin, SGA, Grant, Zinger.
READ SOME OF THE GAME POSTS —YEAH ICE NEEDS TO REFINE HIS SHOT MECHANICS —-SMOOTH OUT THAT HITCH—TOOO MUCH WRIST IN HIS STROKE —NOT ENOUGH —-“LEGS BENT —-SHOOTING ON THE WAY UP– SMOOTH ARM ACTION STROKE ” —FINISH WITH A HIGH FOLOW THRU ——-” HIGH AND WAVE GOODBYE “
SO WHERE DOES BOOKER FIT IN AT— TOP 15 PLAYER / TOP 20–25 PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE —-HIS SIZE WILL ALWAYS BE AN ADVANTAGE OVER SEXTON
Probably top 20, at least imo…
He’s the 4th best player on the team at best IMO…. advanced metrics show he’s a lot of flash and not much impact on team success.
SORRY I COULDN’T JOIN IN LAST NIGHT –WATCHED REPLAY—-EVENE THOUGH WE LOST –STILL AN ENTERTAINING GAME—WAS HAPPY ICE TOOK / MADE THAT 3 PT SHOT LATE IN THE GAME –( ANALYTICS RECORD THAT )—–GLAD WYDL3R TOOK MORE SHOTS / MORE AGRESSIVE ON OFFENSE –HE HAS A UNCANNY KNACK FOR THE BALL/ BELIEVE HE HAD 7 BD’S / 50-5O BALLS —-THIS IS ABOUT THE 3RD/ 4TH GAME NOW DRE HAS REALLY PLAYED WITHIN HIS ROLE / BECOME MORE TEAM ORIENTED / LIKE WHAT I SEE —-I LIKE TO TAKE APPROACH -” GLASS IS HALF FULL ” VS–” GLASS IS HALF EMPTY… Read more »
only watched first half then went to bed like an old man…Cavs defense has lot to be desired…kinda wonder if the early ‘defensive rankings’ were mostly bs and now teams are playing harder and better and Cavs are just exposed…very little focus and attention to detail. Its one thing to be young, but I mean this is basic stuff. probably should have been a game we win but this team has so little margin for error and making dumb decisions just multiplies. hope they can rebound and get a W next time. JB has to stop bitching about officating, this… Read more »
As for the defense, a major part of it was likely due to the early schedule. We’re playing better teams now. And we got a couple teams who were resting guys or who had injuries early on, Bucks with Giannis the first game where we lost but held them to 100, Memphis with Ja. But I also think it has slipped. The effort on the perimeter and occasionally on the interior has not been the same. Dre has had some games of late where he hasn’t been as engaged on that end. It also seems to me we’re not scrambling… Read more »
Definitely the level of competition as heated up, but even the other night, the lack of paying attention to your man was quite shocking, this is hs level defense attention to detail. Gotta wonder how much coaching is involved in this because the mistakes are glaring.
EPM data after tonight: Allen #33 Dre #86 LNJ #107 Sexton #166 <<< defense is awful and offense slipping. Prince #176 McGee #211 Cedi #233 Dotson #273 Garland #282 <<<< above average offense now, mainly due to near elite passing. Pitiful team defense, but at least an average steal rate. Windler #328 <<<< bad overall, but showing some intriguing numbers. Good touch around the basket, above average rebounder, near elite steal and block rate (!!!). Two worst parts of his game is his 3ball and turnovers/passing, turns those things around and it would be criminal to keep him behind Cedi… Read more »
Not very familiar with the EPM stat – re: Okoro and rebounding, does EPM grade performance relative to others on the floor? Okoro’s rebounding is relatively low, but he also plays with the best rebounder in the league as well as many minutes with other high volume rebounders (Nance, Allen, and a bit of McGee). Also anecdotally, I know how hard it is for myself to go chase after a rebound after playing lockdown defense on someone… much less against the best wings in the NBA night after night. A bit of an excuse for Okoro :p He is also… Read more »
Yeah, Okoro is basically on the perimeter a *lot* when shots go up. I think he’d be a decent enough board man if he were in a different role.
yes, he’s in the 1st percentile of NBA players with qualifying minutes @5%.
our team defensive rebounding is below average even with dre, and its due to okoro, sexton, and dg being some of the worst rebounders in the NBA.
he can’t be in the first percentile, not at the 3 position imo.
outrebounded with two bigs, and Suns dominated the offensive boards.
Not sure I agree they are “banged-up”. Injury list isn’t particularly long, they had yesterday off. Sounds like excuses.
yeah, defense wasn’t good enough, and we’re playing with one hand tied behind our back with JB’s inability to adjust.
Missing Love and Nance does kinda hamstring the team, they are both a big part of their offensive and defensive identity (respectively). And the Cavs could really use even just 10 minutes a night from Delly as a true PG.
That being said, yeah, they should’ve been able to hold it together and win this one. Too many stupid mistakes and missed shots.
the pattern of crappy 4th quarter offense continues in this game, not good!
No Cav backs their shot in pressure situations except for Sexton. He seems to know it and plays accordingly, for good or ill.
I’m pissed if I was Prince…. absolutely deserved more run.
unfortunately, two bad shot decisions by Sexland doomed us, the one legged fadeaway by Garland and the Sexton pull up in heavy traffic.
Dre, DG, Prince the biggest net positives tonight, Okoro with a rough one, -20 plus/minus.
Okoro seemed fine to me. Thought he had a nice game. Lots of minutes when Booker was hitting impossible shots.
zero rebounds or steals…. and it fits the pattern that he’s really struggling as a rookie.
Eh. It’s the role they’re giving him. It’s kind of a dumb role and sort of antithetical to overall player development, but it’s a role: go guard the other team’s best player. Thought he had some solid moments.
I agree with all of that, but Bridges absolutely owned him especially in the first half…. while having good defensive plays one on one, just not having an impact team-wise.
Only watched the last 5 minutes but looks like our young backcourt didn’t make enough shots down the stretch whereas Booker hit some pretty tough shots.
looked like Sexton at least apologized to Dre for missing him on the block for a possible give and go.
Well barring a miracle that’ll do pig. That’ll do.
What a crappy finish
We are competitive. We just make too many mistakes against good teams.
It’s a team game, Colin
Pass the ball Collin.
OH MY GOD BAD DECISION SEXTON, AND DRE BUTTERFINGERS.
OMG DRE STONE HANDS
Can JB challenge that?
WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT CALL????????
Sexton had a hold of his arm. Tough call but correct.
Sub defense for offense JB PUT PRINCE BACK IN!!!!
GO WINDLER FOR OKORO FOR REBOUNDING TOO!!!
Yeah. Need to spread the floor a bit more
He did LMFAOOOO and it worked!!!
How big is that end of quarter TO pass from the first quarter?
Argh. They went under, Darius, you gotta fire the trey there.
didn’t see that but 100% correct.
Gotta score here
CMON DG MOVE THE BALL!!!
Suns finding a way to get the ball out of Sexton’s hands while we are letting Booker get shots
Allen gotta help at the nail there.
A rare Allen turd
JB needs to put Prince back in, Phoenix is small at the 4 with Cam Johnson.
Johnson makes an open trey. We can’t respond
Dre doesn’t have the quickness to contest that shot on the perimeter.
No too far a distance for him to cover. Defense had already been too compromised.
Man, sometimes the hitch is there, sometimes it’s not for Okoro.
He looks like Westbrook when he shoots his FTs… it’s like all wrist
YES!!! great call… 100% agree.
Make fts
This is a waste of time
Okoro got lucky cause he was fumbling that gather. That wasn’t a dirty foul, he was just stumbling.
Okoro lost the ball on the way up before getting fouled
Love Okoro looking at the Suns bench after that 3