Recap: Cavs 105, Wizards 120 (Third Quarter Blues Strike Again)
2021-05-15Last night the Cleveland Cavaliers played a very competitive three quarters of basketball, but failed to come out of halftime ready again, allowing the Washington Wizards to coast to a 120-105 victory that secured their spot in the play in tournament. The Wizards’ bench flexed their muscle in this game, outscoring the the Cavs’ bench 58-16. Let’s dive into last night’s takeaways…
Game Balls: Cedi Osman, Isaac Okoro, and Jarrett Allen
The young trio of Cedi the Jedi, Ice, and JA played some inspired team basketball, especially on the offensive end and kept the Cavs competitive against perhaps one of the hottest teams currently in the NBA. Cedi led all starters in net rating (+7.0), had a scorching hot shooting night (80.0% TS), and enjoyed a LeBron-like night of making plays (31.6 assist ratio, six assists). His only blemishes on the night were his three turnovers and a silly foul or two on defense, but it was great to see him back without any rust from his ankle injury.
Allen looked like pre-All Star Break Allen, delivering an efficient 18 points (61.5% TS), a team high 14 rebounds, three assists, and a monster block on Chandler Hutchinson, preventing him from a poster dunk.
BLOCK of the Night: May 14th
👉 Jarrett Allen of the @cavs pic.twitter.com/2xhGG4BRRb
— NBA Canada (@NBACanada) May 15, 2021
Ice continued his recent run of great play for a rookie at the shooting guard position, dishing out five assists with only one turnover on the game. That type of advanced level decision making with the ball is why Coach JB Bickerstaff chose to let Ice run the point for long stretches of the second half of the game. Ice also pitched in a not-insignificant six rebounds, which has been a consistent weak part of Okoro’s game this season (averaging only 3.1 rebounds this season).
The conundrum of Collin Sexton
Box score champion Young Bull had himself a very efficient scoring night with a team high 26 points on 66.6% TS, however as it has been the case for much of the season, YB’s decision making and feel for the game did not lead to team success. YB had by far the worst net rating among starters (-37.8), and was a complete disaster running the point with six turnovers and a below average 14.3 assist ratio. JB yanked YB after two consecutive turnovers to begin the third quarter that pretty much ended the game right there. Perhaps YB was caught up in his matchup against Hall of Famer Russell Westbrook, but for whatever the reason YB delivered a clunker of a performance and the funny thing is you would’ve never known it unless you watched the game.
Quick Notes on the Wizards
With the win last night, the Wizards clinched their spot in the play in tournament, bouncing the Chicago Bulls out of their chance to get in. Russell Westbrook had another insane triple double with 21 points, 12 rebounds, 17 assists, and a team high +20 plus/minus. Newly minted Cavs’ nemesis Daniel Gafford also pitched in three blocks, accounting for half of the Wizards’ total of six blocks on the night. As it was mentioned earlier, there may be no hotter team in the NBA than the Washington Wizards. They’ve posted a 16-6 record since April 7th, and it could be said they’re the only team that no one wants to face from the Eastern Conference play in teams.
Update: please consider donating to the Cleveland Rocks Fundraiser we’re holding this week for Ryan Yankee. Vintage won our CtB fantasy league (of which Ryan was a member) after a scoring correction three days after the final game flipped DanK’s one rebound lead to a 5-4 lead for Vintage. Congrats, Vintage! Before the flip, DanK volunteered to donate all winnings to a charity honoring Ryan. Vintage (and all of us) graciously agreed, and this is what we chose!
In honor of CtB contributor, Ryan Yankee, who we tragically lost in March, we're raising money for Cleveland Rocks Past Present and Future, a Cleveland charity benefitting displaced local musicians. Please consider donating. https://t.co/QaLMrBRHFX
— HoopsDogg (@oldseaminer) May 15, 2021
We’ve reached the end my friend….
The Cavs’ final game of the season is tomorrow evening in Brooklyn against the Nets. It would appear that the Nets will be motivated to win the game to avoid falling to the third seed and a meeting with the tough-as-nails New York Knicks. Draft lottery season is just a little more than 24 hours away, GO CAVS!!!
Wiz nab 8th! I would love them to beat Boston for 7th & then matchup with the snowflakes, I mean, Nets. Possessed Russ (+ Beal) vs KD, fat beard & not focused on hoops KI.
Boston will play Washington in the the play-in. I’m taking the Bullets.
Final day of Tank Commander. Best Csvs can do is tie for 3rd & hopefully win some coin flips. Though in terms of lotto balls, tied teams split the balls for both/all spots. If it is an odd #, coin flip winner gets the extra.
Houston = 1st
Detroit = 20 wins. Miami (6th).
Orlando = 21. At Phil (clinched 1st)
OKC = 21. LAC (4th) avoiding LAL (7th/6th).
Cavs = 22. At Brk (2nd) needs W to stay 2nd.
Minny = 22. Dal (5th). Mavs 5th or 6th.
CLF you’ve pretty much mastered the art of the recap. You’ve also got the knack of distilling an issue to it’s true self: “Young Bull had himself a very efficient scoring night….however as it has been the case for much of the season, YB’s decision making and feel for the game did not lead to team success.” Whatever happens with the draft, I hope that the Cavs next year recognise what Sexton’s limitations are and structure the team appropriately. I’ve stuck to watching most games this year on principle, but need to see some forward progress. Life is busy, and… Read more »
I appreciate you Simmo!!!
Yup, 100% agree… the Cavs org needs to understand the only thing that brings people back is winning. If they don’t want to win, people aren’t going to care.
AMEN BUCKAROO——PREACH IT !!!!!!!
the losers should have their own “lottery” playoffs for the rights to the best talent.. eliminate the entire miserable tank mentality.. you need to win against the other losers to get the rights to draft the best talent.. f$ck the lottery dice (random numbers suck and represent nothing except randomness).. let the losers fight it out, and yes, the real garbage NEVER gets the best talent.. force the owners, front office, players and coaches to work for the whole season (and beyond) to EARN the rights to hyper-talented new blood.. and yes, incompetent teams (not thinking of any specific team… Read more »
agree buck, I thought about the same idea because even with the play in, there were at minimum a half dozen teams that were completely unwatchable, including the Cavs.
and BTW HOLY CRAP VINTAGE WON???!!!! That’s a monumental upset!!! Congrats Vintage, and I actually feel bad for DanK even though he dominated the whole league LMFAOOOOO
This was after vintage literarally beat me by one free throw in thw first round. I had it locked up and played Jordan Poole in the sunday late game. His 1/2 at the free throw line gave Vintage a .002 advantage age the free throw line and a 5-4 edge. What run, Vintage!
LMFAOOOOOOOO man that’s incredible…. and beating your team was no easy task this season either!!! Vintage the underdog story for the ages!
As they say, it’s better to be lucky than good!!
Please see the update I posted above around our fantasy bball championship/fundraiser for Ryan, and thanks for capping, Chris!
No problem, and thanks for the info Nate!
FWIW, if the Bucks lose to Miami tonight, Brooklyn could clinch #2 and have no incentive (standings-wise) to win the finale.
Of course, KD, KI, & Harden could use some burn together.
Oh, didn’t know that, thanks for that tidbit… 100% agree, could see Nash playing them anyway to make sure they’re ready together.
Nice write up!.
At least YB is starting to get benched for mistakes. Only way he is gonna learn.
Much appreciation for reading Jason as always!!!
Yup, JB not letting things slide is a great thing, too bad he hasn’t done it more this year, granted he’s pretty much had no options to go to off the bench (thank you Koby).