Recap: L.A. Clippers 128, Cleveland 111 (or, Culture of a Tank Ability +LT)

There was a point in the the second quarter, Sunday, when the the Cavaliers had a chance to cut LA’s lead to five. Cedi Osman and Collin Sexton were racing down the court with only Reggie Jackson standing between them and the basket. Instead of passing to a streaking Sexton, Cedi opted for a tricky reverse layup that rimmed out. Luke Kennard collected the ball fired it ahead, and Ibaka layed-in an Osman four point miss. Though the Cavs would cut it to six with about 90 seconds left in the second, after a Reggie Jackson layup, Javale McGee threw away the ball under his own basket which led to Luke Kennard triple. Next play Sexton drove for a wild layup, got knocked to the floor, complained, didn’t get back on D and the five-on-four advantage allowed another Kenard triple with 3.6 left in the half to extend the Clips lead to 12. The Cavaliers would never be close again.

These kinds of crippling mistakes have plagued Cleveland for this entire road trip. Four point misses, and baffling turnovers have been the norm when failing to close quarters against teams that are resting their stars against the Cavs and still winning by 20. Taurean Prince was a disaster this game: 0-6, -27 in 19 minutes, and just didn’t give them any rebounding with just three when starting at the four spot. The Cavs were outrebounded yet again: 47-40.

Meanwhile Collin Sexton has become empty scoring for the Cavs, as he was eviscerated by Lou Williams and the Clippers defensively. Sexton repeatedly reached, picking up five personals, and helped sweet Lou end up 8-8 at the line and finish with 30/2/10. Williams was a master of getting a shot up quick after contact or reaching up through the hands. Sexton added just two dimes: indicative of his tunnel vision and inability penetrate and make a simple pass to the wing to a wide open shooter after bending the D. He repeatedly ignored Windler and Garland to force bad looks inside or get his shot blocked. He also failed to push the pace in the first half, deferring to the Clippers’ pace and walking the ball up the court. Collin finished 8-16 from the field with 22 points, but -31 on the game for and only took one three pointer.

For a better look at a guy who played winning basketball, Isaac Okoro led the starters in plus minus with -8 and a 10/3/2 line, and continues to make the easy pass to the next open player, and the pass out to the wing that Sexton repeatedly ignores. (Check out the second highlight here at the old Delly play to drive to the elbow, cut off the defender and pitch out for an easy Osman three). Okoro also worked his butt off all night on D, but got pushed around by much older and bigger players.

The other bright spots: some offensive excitement from Darius Garland: 20/2/6 with two steals and a pair of triples. He consistently got to the rim and fed Jarrett Allen, who finished 6-10 from the field, but missed some big ones. Allen fished with 15/10/3 but added four turnovers, as even he seems to be succumbing to the malaise. Cedi also added 20 in 24 minutes as he was aggressive in looking to score, especially from three, and showed the shot selection from deep (3-7) that Sexton (0-1), Garland (2-4), and Windler (1-2) should have. Damyean Dotson was 0-5 but played aggressively on D and played with better pace in the third and fourth (+5 in night). Dotson will have a chance tonight with Windler out.

The Cavs had opportunities in this game, but stretches with just enormous mental lapses killed them. We talked about the end of the second, but in the third, Patrick Beverly came out and nailed a three-ball off a p/r kickout from Williams over abysmal weakside D from Prince and Garland. Then PBev exploited a sleepwalking Cavs offense, picking Okoro’s pocket during a lazy dribble handoff, and racing to the other end for a layup, leading to a JB rage timeout. It wouldn’t matter. The Clips blitzed the Cavs in the third: 25-12 in the first six minutes, essentially icing the game off heady play from Beverly (16/6/5) and Williams.

Those aspects combined with 36 trips to the line for L.A., plus an inability to field a four who could hold his ground, led to this loss. Marcus Morris got Isaac Okoro on ISOs over and over and exploited him and overhelping Cavs defense on catch and-shoot Js. He and Ibaka would combine for 43 points as they routinely abused the Cavs, Jarret Allen, and their collection of undersized fours, leading to this conversation I had online.

Cleveland doesn't have a playable 3rd power forward after Love & Nance, yet has an open roster spot? That's frankly ridiculous. You can't bring some guys in on 10 days? Come on, Koby. The games may not all be winnable, but the Cavs aren't even trying to field competitive lineups.

— HoopsDogg (@oldseaminer) February 15, 2021

John Henson, Bruno Cabaclo, Cheick Diallo, Ersan Ilyasova, Skal Labissier, Mbah a Moute, could all theoretically give you rebounding and near replacement level minutes at the four.

— HoopsDogg (@oldseaminer) February 16, 2021

I mean look at a team like the Bulls that are giving significant minutes to Satoranski, Thad Young, and Jarrett Temple who beat the Pacers Indy Monday night. You need effective veterans to win and to help teams know what the hell they’re supposed to be doing on the floor. The Loss of Larry Nance Jr.’s leadership might be the most painful part of his absence. The Cavs, without more veterans on the floor, are going to keep getting destroyed especially because JB does not seem to be the greatest game coach.

The Cavs are tanking this year, and it’s galling because the Cavs convinced us all that they weren’t tanking, and then failed to make roster moves repeatedly to shore up their holes. I don’t care that they’re tanking, long term, but it’s demoralizing for these young guys, and it’s completely hypocritical to talk about building a culture of accountability while hanging Andre Drummond out on the line after the Allen trade. The Cavs completely mismanaged the situation and treated him merely as an asset.

Andre Drummond won’t play again for the Cavs this season as they seek a trade, but the toll it’s taken on the team seems to have affected everyone on this long, brutal road trip. I don’t expect things to get better tonight. Perhaps we’ll see a Dean Wade breakout at the four.

Meanwhile…

#Cavs will have nine players available tonight. Dylan Windler (knee soreness) will join Taurean Prince (ankle) on the bench. Kevin Love, Matthew Dellavedova, Larry Nance Jr. and Marques Bolden are already inactive. Then, of course, Andre Drummond won't play.

— Chris Fedor (@ChrisFedor) February 16, 2021

There’s a combined 14 players on the Injury Report for tonight’s Cavs/Warriors game pic.twitter.com/2yJD3qSCMb

— Brayden Todd (@Bray__NBA) February 16, 2021