Recap: Cavs 91, Bulls 101 (or, Windy City Blues)
2022-03-13In what has become a Groundhog Day type of situation for the Cavs, they put together a fantastic defensive effort along with an absolute dud on offense to lose to the Chicago Bulls 91-101. The combination of defensive playmaker Alex Caruso returning for the Bulls and the absence of about half the roster for the Cavs proved to be too much to overcome. Let’s dive right on in…
1. Hospital Cavs on display
The Cavs were missing 60% of their opening night starting lineup, and Rajon Rondo got injured tonight. What else can really be said? It was funny to hear NBA Champion Kevin Love talk about the injuries in the post game presser because he said he didn’t notice how many guys were out until a couple of days ago, but that the injury bug really started to snowball after Ricky Rubio went down. Interestingly Love’s mood was very positive. He thought that the upcoming home stand will help give the Cavs an edge going down the stretch to enjoy the energy of the home crowd, rest up, and heal up at home without the travel.
2. The growth of DG and Mobley
What a dime from 10 🤩@dariusgarland22 ➡️ @cediosman pic.twitter.com/8EPSmwpcjY
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) March 13, 2022
Love’s positivity wasn’t just limited to the injury luck turning around. He gushed praise on his two young teammates, Darius Garland and Evan Mobley for how they’re carrying themselves thru this tough stretch. Love talked about how DG was able to fight through a terrible shooting start and ended up finding his shot. This is the type of development mindset-wise yours truly wanted to see in order for the young PG to take his game to the next level. Not letting a bad play spiral is something all young players struggle with, but DG’s growth in that area has been monumental to his current success this season. Here’s to hoping tonight unlocked another level.
Evan Mobley took on the challenge of Nikola Vucevic and acquitted himself quite well, one of only two Cavs in positive plus/minus territory. When ask what it will take for Mobley to get the next level offensively, KLOVE succinctly replied, “Time.” Well said, Champ!
#MOBLEYROTY 🔥@evanmobley has started the night 5-5 in Chi-Town! #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/oRM1RpqiVM
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) March 13, 2022
3. Tonight’s issues
The two main problems the Cavs had tonight were missing open threes and the bench unit getting clobbered. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff thought the offense did what they were supposed to, they just missed open shots they should make. Bickerstaff was less amenable to the idea of the home stand taking on any additional import because of the playoff standings or health. He’s clearly trying to keep the pressure off of his two young stars for the stretch run they need to make in order to get to the playoffs.
4. The Good News
Two positive things to note were the team’s defensive effort and Isaac Okoro’s performance in particular on that side of the ball. The Cavs were able to force DeMar DeRozan into an inefficient scoring night, scoring 25 points on 26 shots. That was due in part to Isaac Okoro’s stellar defensive night with two steals and leading the team with a +11 plus/minus. There needs to be growth in Ice’s defensive game, perhaps tonight was a building block to that goal.
5. Quick note on the Bulls
Holy crap did they miss Alex Caruso. He is their Ricky Rubio, with Caruso’s impact going so far beyond the numbers, although the numbers also say that he turns them into a contender. Another guy who’s stood out for the Bulls this year is their second round rookie Ayo Dosunmu. What a home run pick by the Bulls front office. Dosunmu should be what Cavs’ fans hope Isaac Okoro becomes, which is a well-rounded offensive glue guy with defensive chops. In a similar vein to the Cavs, what’s really holding the Bulls back is health. Can they get Lonzo Ball, Patrick Williams, and Zach LaVine healthy and back? If they ever do actually get healthy, look out!
6. Up next, the NBA’s anti-Cavs agenda
The Cavs are in the midst of playing six games in nine days. It’s a farce, an outrage, total and utter bullshit. There’s no reason in the year 2022 this dumbassery should continue. Dan Gilbert should fire up the Comic Sans Word document and put Adam Silver on blast, Go Cavs!
P.S. As promised, Windy City Blues
LT up
Ok, final thought, I promise. Remember those whispers a few months ago that Sexton might be able to return in time for the playoffs? Pipe dream???
Complete pipe dream IMO
Also, is SOME timeline on JA’s return too much to ask for as a fan a week after his injury? To me, that’s the real x-factor on whether we have any chance of holding onto the six seed. Speaking of which — there’s all this talk about staying ahead of Toronto, but it seems inevitable that Brooklyn is gonna catch us now that KD is back, Simmons is en route, and Kyrie may very likely be able to play home games soon. So really, we’re talking about holding onto the 7-8 seed so we at least get two shots at… Read more »
Man, watching what Dinwiddie is doing in DAL, it definitely seems like we got the wrong one of JA’s former Nets teammates at the trade deadline. Given how inconsistently Levert played for us before he got injured — and how long a road it seemed like it was going to be to truly integrate his idiosyncratic game into our system — it doesn’t seem that likely to me that his return is going to be the answer to our problems.
I know there were rumors about Dinwiddie, but guessing Dallas won out because they ate Bertans contract, which is a pretty bad deal.
Speaking of pretenders, the Bulls fit the bill too. Would be happy to play them round 1.
Happy to boast that I saw Muddy play in Columbus around 1980.
Man, that must’ve been a religious experience!!!?
Love live blues, used to jam out with my best friend while growing up, go to open mic nights in bars and restaurants in Cincinnati!
You bet. I have also seen Ray Charles, Duke Ellington, Chuck Berry, James Brown, lots more.
I recall seeing a great Cinci band called the Modulaters once — put their bumper sticker next to one for the Browns on my car, which got some laughs.
Nice!!!! I’ve only seen James Brown in that list, saw him open for Woodstock ’99 LMFAOOO
Love that Cinci band story too!
I saw James in maybe 67 or 68. His band jammed all afternoon in Baker Center, then went to the Convo and continued jamming onstage. My GF and I tagged along and got front row seats. They left the stage for about 20 minutes so they could make an entrance, then played actual songs for a long time before James made his entrance. The show ended with James being dragged off stage, then escaping for another song, about four times total.
They don’t make ’em like that anymore!
LMFAOOOOOOO love it!!!!!
So disappointing to see the Lakers getting their doors absolutely blown in on national tv and it not being a home game for them.
Boy the remaining schedule is pretty brutal.
Bulls, Bucks, Denver, Philly, Dallas, Brooklyn. Not confident get more than 1 or any out of those.
There are 4 must wins (no excuses for a legit playoff team) including: detroit, orlando twice, and knicks.
Hawks, raptors, Clippers, and lakers should be but the way cavs playing of late I would consider those tossups.
Raptors, Clippers, and Hawks be tough games and losses. Lakers should be a win but, LBJ torching people and playing us.
back around the 1/4 and 1/3 marks, the Cavs had had the hardest schedule in the NBA to that point, and it was supposed to get easier the rest of the way. what happened to that?
Well we’ve had a cush schedule January 19th to March 8th. In that stretch of games only elite teams we’ve played are bucks, Philly 2x. Middling teams included Atlanta and Toronto. Every other team was bad. Record against bad teams in that stretch: 9-5 Wins- OkC, NYC, NO, Charlotte, Indy, SA, Indy, Wash, Indy Losses- detroit, houston, detroit, Minny, Charlotte Middling teams: 1-1 Win- toronto Losses-atl Elite teams: 1-2 Wins- Bucks Losses- Philly, Philly Total- 11-8 over one of the easiest stretches of the season. Some due to injuries but also because their d slipped for a lot of that… Read more »
thnx. good data and analysis.
Yeah looking at those Ls to Detroit x 2, Houston, and the Minny game they were up big in the 2nd Q… If the Cavs even just went 2-2 in those games…
Nice recap, Chris! And props for some Muddy Waters!
I hate to say this, but I am on team stealth tank. Or rather, I don’t mind us falling into the play-in. We are starting to accumulate a lot of guys who make a lot of cheese but I do not think they impact winning consistently (LeVert, Markannen, maybe Sexton).
We need a real backup PG (or two), two way wings who can shoot, and a legit backup C. And that is if you buy Lauri as a starter.
Gimmee our pick back.
Appreciate it Jason as always!
Yup, agree 100% if play in is the outcome, I’m good eith that, considering where the season started.
The Rubio thing is spilt milk that I’m sad about but will have to get over (in terms of assessing the season)
Yes the Cavs have injuries and key spots I get it, but again another big time game where the same guys step up and others just dont. I’ve written it constantly and will until it changes but another game where a top 5 pick in Okoro does nothing offensively when they need him to step up. Played 34 minutes and scored 6 points…just not acceptable for a starter and Cavs need more out of him. We can talk about defense but other guys play good defense and still score…Cavs better go undefeated when Levert and Allen are back cause it… Read more »
right. and while you are at it, the Browns should cut Miles Garrett. dude is worthless on offence.
Garrett probably wouldn’t be if he played offense. Unfortunately hard to have one tool specialists as wings in the nba. Unless they’re guys like Thybulle, who is on another level than Okoro as far as causing tovs.