Recap: Knicks 93, Cavs 95 (or, Make Them Pay)
2022-01-26Last night, the Cavs and Knicks turned back the clock and had an old fashioned Eastern Conference brawl, with the hometown Cavs prevailing 95-93. In a game eerily similar to the OKC game, the Cavs outrebounded and outassisted the Knicks, and also played their trademark lockdown defense. Let’s dive right in to the game’s takeaways…
1. Top Dawg of the Game: Ed Davis
Coach J.B. Bickerstaff called upon Ed Davis for a spot start for an ailing Jarrett Allen, and the former Mr. Basketball Virginia and NCAA Champion delivered a dominating performance, posting a +38.5 net rating in only 17.5 minutes on the court. He led the Cavs with his unselfishness (40.0 assist ratio) and hustle (11.8% offensive rebound rate, 20.0% defensive rebound rate). Bickerstaff highlighted a foul Davis took on Nerlens Noel to prevent an easy bucket, as a key winning play. The fact that Davis didn’t allow an easy bucket gave the team energy to compete for the win. Davis gives the team the edge and toughness of a junkyard dawg, which is why he’s CtB’s Top Dawg “sponsored” by the “Make Them Pay” guy. (Disclaimer: CtB is not sponsored and has no affiliation with the Misny Law Firm, parody non-actionable comedic bit, h/t to Nate Smith)
2. KEVIN LOVE IS THE RIGHTFUL NBA SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR
NBA Champion and future Hall of Famer Kevin Love dropped a team high 20 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, a steal, and posted a +18.6 net rating in 24 minutes of action. Love still has the ability to take over a game with his offense, and the Cavs should focus on exploiting that every moment he is on the court. There is still plenty of room on Love Island, so join in!
3. Isaac “Ice” Okoro finding his groove
Ice had another fantastic game with 14 points, six rebounds, two assists, a block, and posted a +23.6 net rating in 32.7 minutes on the court. Ice has always been a dawg, but he’s really letting it out recently on the defensive end and boards on both ends of the court. He’s the glue guy that the team can feed off of on the defensive end. Yours truly predicted a second half breakout, and it appears the agenda is off to a rousing start!
4. Rajon Rondo: Old Dawg, New Tricks
Rondo was big time last night off the bench, with a 100% true shooting percentage and +10.8 net rating in 18.3 minutes on the court. Rondo just makes timely plays, a bucket here, a rebound there. The Cavs still need reinforcements at the guard position, but it’s not because Rondo’s lack of ability, it’s been due to his lack of availability and managing his soon-to-be 36 year old body.
5. Dean Wade, sticking with it
It wasn’t looking good for Wade in the first half, who came out very tentatively especially on the offensive end of the court. But, eventually he let it fly to score an efficient 13 points, as well as put up five rebounds and three steals. Wade filled in admirably for the injured Lauri Markkanen, and with Markkanen out an extended period of time Wade will have ample chance to contribute to the cause.
6. Quick note on the Knicks
Yours truly talks to a few New York Knicks fans and they’re apoplectic about Coach Tom Thibodeau. He’s too loyal to the veterans and won’t play the younger, hungrier players. The Julius Randle extension has blown up in their face to a comical degree. Basically their hopes for future success rest on prying Zion Williamson from New Orleans and recreating the 2018-19 Duke Blue Devils team, who could barely beat a team led by Tacko Fall in the NCAA tournament. Really tough times in the Big Apple.
7. Up next, another Central Division statement game
The Cavs face off against the Milwaukee Bucks in a massive Central Division/Eastern Conference clash. The Cavs would play the Bucks if the playoffs started today. Also, the top 6 in the Eastern Conference are separated by only two games, which is insane to think about really. The game shapes up as one of last few measuring stick games the Cavs will play before heading into the All-Star break, so it would be wise for them to take advantage of the opportunity to notch a quality win as they approach the playoffs. Go Cavs!!!
live thread up!
Nice recap.
I just keep going back and look at the standings… lol, just to see it. So pretty. Happy because I felt like Cavs had enough talent last year to be at least mediocre, but youth and general dysfunction just made it unbearable to watch at times. So many games you could tell within a couple minutes they were going to get stomped. So much tougher mentally this year.
HAVE FUN CEDIMIND—-BRING US A ‘W’—-AGREE 100% WITH YOU JASON ON DRAGIC// INSTEAD OF TRADING ANY PIECES —” GO SHOPPING ” FOR THE MERCHANDISE
Wade and windler better shooters than cedà . Also rondo hitting shots is gravy
yup would agree.
Back home in CLE, going to my first live Cavs game, been living in Austin, TX. Hope JA and Giannis can play. Want to see a competitive game, but scared it may be a blowout if JA doesn’t play :(.
Good to hear from you CMT! Austin, TX not a bad place to live, but no place like home!!!
If Toronto buys Dragic out, I’d love that. I don’t want to trade a 1st ir high 2nd for him though.
NICE RECAP —THANK YOU—ALWAYS THOUGHT TIM MISNY WAS A ” DANNY FERRY CLONE ” OR VICE VERSA——REALLY LIKE WHAT I HAVE SEEN IN RONDO SO FAR—AGREE WE STILL NEED TO SHORE UP THAT POSITION—-BUT THE DROP OFF FROM RUBIO HASN’T BEEN AS STEEP AS PEOPLE FEARED —-GO CAVS —-WOOF-WOOOF-WOOF
Thanks NOMAD! LMFAOOOO Tim Misny does look like Danny Ferry!
Agreed, good with Rondo, but also need more!!! WOOF WOOF~!!
Wade was a damn valuable player in this game. I’d like for him to get his 3 point % up a bit, which would make him a pretty good role player. He rarely gets flat beat on point D. Really obvious when Allen is out. He does a lot of little things that are noticeably missed when he’s out. Hope he’s feeling better next time he’s on the court. Hard for me to imagine the Cavs beating the Bucks. It’s one of the worst matchups in the NBA for them, even if Jrue doesn’t play. But a competitive game would… Read more »
Sounds like it’d be Giannis who could miss the game, not Jrue or Middleton….. which would be a fascinating matchup still.
Giannis was probable last time I checked. Bucks missing Allen, Matthews, and Lopez.
Allen is questionable. We’d be down JA, Markannen, Sexton, and Rubio.
If their big 3 cannot beat us under these circumstanes, at home, with a rest advantage, they are doomed.
Randle got that extension for being good for one season and Knicks fans were clamoring for it haha…Knicks have potential i just think Thibs is too ornery….they’d be better off with a younger upcoming coach who can connect better with younger guys. As for the Cavs…yes agree the Bucks game is measuring stick for now, but I really think Koby is going to make moves. Even in some wins lately, its apparent the Cavs need improvements at several positions. They are playing well above the mean but at some point Mobley will hit a rookie wall (all of them do),… Read more »
Agree with you 100% re: Thibs being ornery LMFAOOOO
Yup, in spite of some nice playmaking from Mobley, zero stocks this game says rookie wall is hit.
I think they can survive on the wing, especially when Lauri comes back. But 100% agree, they need another besides a 36 year old Rondo.