Recap: Mavs 124, Cavs 97
2021-05-10Last night the Cleveland Cavaliers failed to take advantage of a Luka Dončić-less Dallas Mavericks team in the second half as they were ran out of the gym 124-97. The biggest news of the night was Dončić committing a flagrant two foul in retaliation of some physical play by Collin Sexton. Instead of folding, the Mavs decided to rally around their teammate and beat the crap out of the Cavs with a 30-15 run that put the game away. Let’s dive right into last night’s takeaways…
Game Ball: Collin Sexton
The biggest positive of the night was Sexton’s passing (23.3 assist ratio) as he was able to dish out seven assists to only two turnovers. He also was able draw the flagrant that got Luka kicked out of the game. Beyond that, Sexton delivered his usual non-existent defense (zero stocks) and sub-optimal shot selection (54.3% TS). Watching Sexton throw up midranger after midranger just isn’t fun to watch, so all apologies for the ornery attitude from yours truly.
Honorable Mentions: Mfiondu Kabengele and Brodric Thomas
The truly two bright spots in the game were the scoring of Kabengele and Thomas, who combined for 27 points off the bench on some fantastic efficiency (Kabengele 79.9% TS, Thomas 83.8% TS). Kabengele was also active on the boards, chipping in two offensive rebounds, while Thomas showed off some defensive chops with two blocks.
Quick Notes on the Mavericks
The Rick Carlisle coached Dallas Mavericks put on a clinic of winning team basketball, outassisting the Cavs 33-18 and outrebounding the Cavs 42-38. Tim Hardaway Jr. led the Mavs with 25 points on only 13 shots, 11 of them three pointers. Backup center Dwight Powell delivered a team MVP type of performance with 12 points, nine rebounds, five stocks, four assists, and a team high +28 plus/minus in only 27 minutes. It’s heartwarming to see him bounce back from a devastating ruptured Achilles tendon injury to play some great ball. Jalen Brunson was clearly the best guard on the court last night turning in a masterful performance with 13 points on perfect shooting, seven assists, two steals, and a +26 plus/minus in only 19 minutes on the court. The Mavs are clearly one of the hotter teams (8-2 record last 10 games) going into the playoffs.
CLF Soap Box
While some fans say there’s nothing to glean from these games, one can’t help but notice some disturbing patterns from the Cavs as the season winds down to a close. First off, Kevin Love’s defense is a joke. Love’s defensive EPM (-2.2 def. EPM, ranks in the seventh percentile in the NBA) is worse than Collin Sexton’s, which is nearly impossible to accomplish. Jarrett Allen completely checked out last night with zero stocks, only five points, five rebounds, and an embarrassing 1-4 from the free throw line. Isaac Okoro had an embarrassing one rebound and one assist in 32 minutes of play. NBA reporter Sam Amico alleges that 88% of the Cavs want to get out of Cleveland and the 10 game losing streak seems to corroborate the report. Coach JB Bickerstaff runs one of the most incompetent offensive schemes in the NBA.
Obviously the rebuttal to these critiques is that the Cavs are openly tanking. But Cade Cunningham’s presence isn’t going to magically fix everything that’s wrong with the team. Koby Altman and JB Bickerstaff have their work cut out for them this offseason, and there’s very little evidence that suggests they’re actually cut out for the job. So go ahead and dismiss this abysmal play at your own peril because the Cavs’ record shows a team that hasn’t improved one bit from last year should they lose out:
2019-20 Cleveland Cavaliers winning percentage: .292
2020-21 Cleveland Cavaliers winning percentage if they lose out: .292
Okay, that’s enough… just had to get it out of my system. But I do believe there’s some justification in saying these things as one who’s watched nearly every game this year and has watched this team progressively get worse as the year went on. Thankfully, only four more games to go.
https://twitter.com/oldseaminer/status/1391860604005228544?s=20
GOING BACK TO THE QUESTION ON DRAFT POSITIONING ( IF ALL RECORDS WERE ALIKE )—WOULD IT GO BACK TO HEAD / HEAD RECORDS AGAINST EACH OTHER ?
IF –( WITH AN EMPHASIS ON “IF ” )–THE CAVS F.O. WAS SMART —THEY WOULD OFFER THE SOON TO BE COACHING VACANCY –( GOTTLIEB ) TO DELLY
interesting given that a ton of Cavs’ fans love comparing Sexton to Mitchell LMFAOOOOO
SO MAGIC/CAVS/WOLVES/THUNDER ALL HAVE IDENTICAL WINS—IF THE SEASON ENDED TODAY OR WE ALL FINISH WITH THE SAME RECORD —-HOW DOES THE DRAFT ORDER FALL /// NUMBER OF PING PONG BALLS—-JUST CURIOUS —-THANKS FOR ANYONE WHO KNOWS
I’m guessing there’s tiebreakers or a coin flip?
Good on Gottlieb for getting out now. I know some people wanted to see her get a shot here, but I don’t think this is an organization that is going to give her any chance at success.
unfortunately we’ll never know
Yeah. Ultimately I’d love for her to get a shot, but working for Dan Gilbert… bleh
LMFAOOOO ain’t that the truth!!!
STAY TUNED —-COMING SOME TIME THIS WEEK— ( BELIEVE WE ARE ALL IN NEED OF THIS ) —–DID THIS LAST YEAR WHEN WE WERE IN THE MIDST OF COVID PANIC // UNCERTAINTITY ———-WILL ” DIG INTO MY YEARS // BAGGAGE ” OF NOMADS TALES // STORIES —–STAY TUNED AND AS ALWAYS ……….” MORE BEER PLEASE ” …..
LMFAOOOO oh boy can’t wait NOMAD!!!
TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU CLF——MAYBE AMICO WAS RIGHT —FEW PEOPLE WANT TO BE EMPLOYED // ASSOCIATED WITH THE CAVS ORGANIZATION ——AM SURE THE USC IS A GREAT JOB —-AND MAYBE SHE PREFERS THE COLLEGE GAME MUCH MORE THAN THE PROS —-WHO KNOWS —–SORRY TO SEE HER GO
I think she saw no opportunity to advance her career and bounced…. also obviously LA >>>>>>>>>> CLE LMFAOOOOOO
I don’t think the Cavs FO has anything do with this. Gottlieb got a six year deal. No NBA assistant job was going to match the salary and length that USC was offering. Very deep pocketed alumni with a tradition of dominance in women’s basketball, that they have not been able to live up to. Huge move for her.
I think it reflects poorly on a front office when they can’t keep talent. Also as I said, she saw the writing on the wall that there was no way she was going to advance and reading her words while she was with the Cavs, she clearly wanted to be a head coach eventually.
If you hire him great people, they’re going to get offers. How could the Cavs have matched this?
Easily, fire the incompetent nepotism hire with a 38% career winning percentage and/or open up that pocketbook, pretty sure cavsdan made a pretty penny over the pandemic.
That’s far above the market and contract length for an assistant coach. You firing JB to hire her?
ABSOLUTELY!!! LMFAOOOOO there were two instant upgrades IMO, Gottlieb or Buck… if I’m another NBA team they get immediate interviews this offseason.
https://twitter.com/oldseaminer/status/1391825162681659396?s=20
WHAT????!!!! That’s a bad sign IMO, she was a legit coach. Happy for her, but massively pissed at the Cavs’ FO.
i mean, how the f$ck do the knicks have almost 20 more wins than the cav-nots ??? they were in hoops-hell, circling the bowl, and then they did what everyone said they should not do.. hire some players and get better, rather quickly i might add.. now CLE is not NY, but still.. cavs are still circling the lower part of the bowl, about to get sucked into sh$thole, while they are still drowning with Love’s contract, etc.. not sure how the cav-nots get out of this mess in the next 3-5 years..
LMFAOOOO I said awhile back we’re looking at a five year rebuild minimum… it’s just reality of the situation given where Giannis is in his career, the juggernaut in Brooklyn, Embiid’s dominance, and Luka and Jokic out west about to start their decade of dominance.
Just gotta hope they get Cade and that Cade is a Luka level perimeter creator.
which means a 4+5 = 9 year rebuild.. ah yes.. my hometown CLE.. right on schedule..
LMFAOOOOO yup!!!!
1. Randle is a legit all-star.
2. Thibs is a top tier coach
3. Barrett made a legit Y2 leap
4. Rose can still play
It’s amazing what a good coach (Thibs) can do for a franchise vs a bad one (Fizdale).
Chris, I understand your simmering rant. However, comparing the last two seasons’ winning percentages only affirms they tanked last year as well and ended up drafting fifth. You are right–a dynamic draft pick does not fix this team, and there’s no guarantee they get that guy either. Still, management has made sure the Cavs haven’t sent eight NBA-ready players into the same game in how long now? They have also masterfully used injuries to shortchange their rotations. Brass is well aware what another victory might exclude this team from, draftwise. I haven’t watched a replay, let alone a full game,… Read more »
True… which is why I’m against tanking, there’s clearly bad habits forming such as Sexton trying to protect his shooting percentages or the team basically giving up on defense.
LMFAOOOO I appreciate the love Chris, the Cavs can’t kill my love for the game and their play gives me a chance to blow off some steam on occasion!!!
so, kolby numnuts wants that special cavs-kulture.. you know, the 0-10 culture.. yeah, i know gangsta culture (re mr fitty 50) is not necessarily something u want to wholeheartedly embrace, on the other hand, 0-10 isn’t really something you want to be embracing 4 years into a “rebuild”.. personally, i would take a whole load of tatted gangstas if they could avoid the “of-fors” and put some fear into the opposition (we don’t need no “meek and mild” dorothys out there on the hardwood.. kpj may be a gangsta head-case but he dropped fitty !!!!! not sure cavs-kulture gonna find… Read more »
No argument here. I only watched the first half, since I was dead tired, and had to get up early. Allen just doesn’t get to do much without DG, or at least Delly. Sexton isn’t very good getting him easy shots, and neither is anyone else.
The lineups they were playing last night aren’t going to beat any non tanking NBA teams.
Yup… obviously the bench was outmatched again.
One thing about Dallas is that their roster is very mediocre to bad outside of Luka among the playoff teams… they’re already wasting Luka’s talents with their current squad and I’m not sure what path they have to improve their team.
Very LeBron 1.0 situation IMO for the Mavs right now.
Porzingis is better than anyone the Cavs had as a running mate during LeBron 1.0. He just needs to stay on the court. I actually think their role players fit how Luka plays. But I agree, their ceiling is capped with how their roster is constructed.
I think theoretical KP is great, but actual KP is not even a top 50 player…. also apparently there’s some beef between he and Luka. But you probably have a point there in comparison to LeBron 1.0 Cavs.
THANK YOU AND ALL THE OTHER “BRAVE ” SOULS WHO ENDURED THE TORTURE OF WATCHING THE ENTIRE GAME—-I OWE YOU GUYS ……” MORE BEER PLEASE “—–INDY MIGHT BE ( I HOPE NOT ) A WINNABLE GAME TONIGHT —–MIGHT AS WELL COMPLETE THE ” SEASON OF TANK ” THE PROPER WAY ———POSTED THE OTHER NIGHT —-WISH BOTH BRUNSON AND POWELL WERE WEARING CAVS UNIFORMS
LMFAOOOOO CtB showed out and performed extremely well last night… Cavs need to get on our level (or the opposite for the sake of the tank LMFAOOOOOOOO)