Live Thread: Cavs @ Hawks
2022-03-31The Cavs took the midnight train to Georgia and will face off against the surging Atlanta Hawks in a massive clash between two Eastern Conference play-in teams. The two teams are headed in opposite directions. The Cavs have lost four in five and the Hawks have won four in five. It appears as though the Hawks are making a mad dash up the standings before the season runs out while the Cavs are looking to hang on for dear life until reinforcements come back. Hawks have won the last two meetings against the Cavs, and will be looking to take the season series 3-1 should the Hawks win tonight.
Stats and Notes
The Hawks come into the game with the second highest offensive rating in the NBA (114.9). Trae Young is obviously one of the premier offensive point guards in the NBA, so Darius Garland will have to rise up to the challenge with an MVP performance just as he did last night against Luka Dončić. Luckily for the Cavs, the Hawks are an abomination on defense so there will be plenty of opportunities to score if the Cavs can overcome dead legs off of a back to back.
The Curious Case of Cedi Osman
As it was discussed on the last pod, apparently Cedi Osman has been benched due to going outside the bounds of his “scorer only” role. While there was good reason to bench Cedi, the publicly stated reason doesn’t withstand the tiniest bit of statistical scrutiny. If anything, Cedi’s two main offenses are easily identifiable: 1. His defense was an abomination, and 2. He was hijacking the offense with poor shot selection instead of deferring to Kevin Love in the second unit half court offense.
Will Cedi’s purgatory end tonight? It could given the recent struggles of Brandon Goodwin. Goodwin’s play has fallen off of a cliff, especially on defense. He’s also too deferential on offense, passing up wide open threes to dribble into worse shots. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff is in the unenviable position of cobbling together a second unit that isn’t a complete disaster. Maybe it’s time for the Return of the Jedi, stay tuned.
Tip off is scheduled for 7:30PM ET and will be broadcasted live on Bally Sports Ohio/Great Lakes, Go Cavs!
cap up
Bucks win as Durant misses in OT at the buzzer. Evil has been vanquished…for tonight, anyway.
LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Would be a lot more satisfying if we weren’t staring down the barrel of getting creamed by these guys in the play-in in two weeks. Tho if we could beat Kyrie at the Rock to get the 7th seed it would be up there with greatest Cavs wins of all time. Ah, a fella can dream…
DREAM BIG WORLDBFREE!
LOVE IT!
I was rooting for the Bucks in last years playoffs. Maybe Bucks/Grizz would be my choice for the finals?
When I lived in Peoria for two years, I learned a good rule of thumb on who to root for once your own team is out:
Whichever team is furthest from salt water. Bucks/Grizz would rate pretty high on this scale.
Nets bucks game is so good
Any body else concerned about Okoro’s overall lack of offensive assertiveness even as second year player. I would rather have him put up 3 for 11, 4 for 12 shooting games just to developed where his shot is going to come from in future and how he can improve from there. Feels like he’s aware of his shooting percentages and trying not to risk them going down. I know he’s still very young and some players developed later but he’s a big part of this teams future, needs to try and give a lot more or they need to cut… Read more »
Yes. It’s a coaching issue. They need to be encouraging him to be aggressive offensively.
It’s part of the issue with picking up LeVert.
Needs to be on ball a lot more. THat’s when he went off last year.
Maybe a move to 6th man? IDK
It’s a good idea. Miles Bridges was Charlotte’s 6th man last year, he’s made big leap this year.
I love that comp, Miles Bridges unstoppable to the rim now.
Yeah, Okoro’s maybe not the top tier athlete Bridges is but close, but height and frame wise their fairly similar.
He also thrives when he can get on the break which we haven’t been doing as much without JA/Mobley – giving up way too many offensive rebounds or just made baskets in general.
He doesn’t really have a go-to offensive move or move without the basketball. Lot of times he’s just parked in the corner.
I agree. Has so few tools from the 3 point line to the rim. Although with his size and frame feels like he should be able overpower smaller guards, but he doesn’t attempt to do it as much.
Bucks-Nets going to OT after Giannis hit a three (breaking Kareem’s team scoring record), and Durant unable to hit at the buzzer. Durant was well defended as Giannis cam for the help on the shot.
Giannis hitting stepbacks is unguardable.
Man Giannis clutch 3 to pull ahead of Kareem for the all time Bucks scoring lead
I think my disappointment will be higher if we lost in the play-in than be a bottom dweller all season long.
LMFAO probably so, it was looking real good there for a moment!
glad there was garbage time, Goodwin an Windler finally making good decisions.
same could be said for Cedi too.
Apparently when the threat of “I will be benched for trying even the everyone else is having a bad game” is removed…cedi relaxed a bit
LMFAOOOOOOOOOO SPEAK ON IT
Hell yeah, Windler finally doing what he’s supposed to!
Switched to Nets/Bucks.
Couldn’t take it.
Definitely heard it was a great one
Rage TO on the scrubs getting worked
A pleasantly over achieving team comes crashing to Earth (and then bouncing a bit). JA needs to play in whatever brief post season appearance materializes. Rubio return would be nice, but is that even slightly realistic? LeVert has penetration skills, but is simultaneously uncertain and out of control much of the time. And right now, a fairly serious head case. Growth of young guys has been fun
How is LeVert a head case?
Just seems uncertain of himself and his shot much of the time. And forces up a bunch of lousy shots rather than pass out. At times trying too hard to be the man. At least in many of these games
Ahh I see what you mean. I thought you meant that as in a bad locker room guy
Not sure on Rubio, don’t think we will have much to offer and I bet he goes for a sure fire title contender
Worst game of the season? I mean I was kinda expecting a loss but not a quarter and a half of garbage time
I like the term “Lisa” for a really bad loss hahaha
Lol that was a weird typo and strangely … my moms name
IDK there have been a precious few, I think Phoenix earlier? Charlotte? This competes but there have been a couple.
That Warrior game where DG injured his back was pretty ugly…but they actually had a roster then…this was awful, but they have a skeleton crew…
yeah, Warrior game was def bad… but they were in it for 3 quarters at least just an ugly 4th IIRC.
Losses against the Pistons and Rockets come to my mind – mostly because we had JA and Mobley back then
Windler’s shot is broken again. the whole team has lost their confidence.
Seriously Windler needs to lock himself in the gym this summer and just shoot corner 3 after corner 3
He has done that his whole life most likely. Give him a consistent role it probably returns within 5 games. But that’s not coming from JB
Goodwin chucking a midrange two off the dribble
Windler airballing a three
Every brain is broken.
At least we don’t have to play two more games in the next 72 hours. Honestly fuck the nba schedule maker
Three point % through three: Cavs 5-19 26.3%, Hawks 13-30 43.3%. Also, the Hawks have had much better looks. They’re actually running an offense.
AC and Brad surprised by the fact that it’s easier to tech shooters to defend than it is to teach defenders to shoot.
GD it, Dylan.
Love that curl Cedi 3 – literally like how Korver taught him
first drawn up play for a three i’ve noticed all game.
That’s gonna be sore in the morning…
that’s technically a flagrant
Damn good thing they lottery protected that pick…
WHY IS WINDLER PASSING UP AN OPEN THREE????? WHY IS CEDI PASSING UP AND OPEN THREE?????? WHY ARE THEY COACHED TO DO THIS????????
trust baby!
JB hates the long ball…
I honestly don’t believe that but rather they have 0 absolute Kelvin scale 0 confidence and thus just pass it up (which is also coaching )
i actually think they’re being coached to, JB uses the term “one more” as a team philosophy.
He wants them to drive and kick one extra time to increase the advantage, and He’s spoken about how he’s prioritized the layup over the three as a offense’s focus. It’s leading to all the guys thinking too much and not doing less.
I’ll buy that
Cavs need to be hunting threes. The Cavs have attempted 18 threes in nearly three quarters. Literally just launch them, chase the rebound and launch them again.
Cedi doing too much again.
meh…at least he’s trying something. Okoro did zilch.
Yup
Cedi drives, Cedi turnover
I’ve missed that 😩
Cedi bringing the ‘chaos’ with that pass…
Get the started out. White flag it, no injuries play the bench
Pretty close to garbage time, so Windler should see some minutes soon…
Feel really bad for him… he did what he supposed to and gets shit on for nothing.
Joe Harris 2.0 is coming…
He’ll probably be moved this summer, so he’ll get a shot somewhere else…
holy crap DG’s brain is broken, he just shot a Sexton shot.
I think he’s pretty frustrated, but yeah totally a Sexton shot…hardly ever see him do that…
I’d pop Trae if he tried that shit on me.
Brown really does need to pass it out when he gets boards. He shoots 20% on those put back spin ups and we ned threes.
Ice got a hand on a ball !!
Cavs body language looks like 2020.
Trae Young could not have existed in the NBA before like 2009. He would have 900 career ending concussions.
In terms of winning players – Allen DG and Rubio were 1,2,3 for most of the first 40 games
With Mobley 4th. And Dean Wade probably 7th
This isn’t that complicated. It sucks 100%. But nitpicking I think is unfair
It’s not nitpicking to want Windler mins. Or want to not trade 2 points for 3 points. Or to not completely collapse 4 players on every drive. JB is continuing to coach as if those players you mentioned are still in the lineup every night. They aren’t. He hasn’t adjusted almost at all.
LMFAOOOOO that list is hilariously basic LMFAOOOOOo
agree 100%, I meant it’s funny the obvious shit going on LFMAO
Guys are extended beyond their roles. We’re missing 4 of our top 5 guys from the start of the season (JA, Mobley, Rubio, Sexton). Guys like Lauri, LeVert, and Okoro aren’t good enough to fill in consistently on both ends of the floor.
Schedule has been grueling too and it’s the end of the season when teams are playing harder.
Points criticizing JB are fair – just other factors in play too.
All these takes!!! Missing 4 out of our top 5 players and the rotation guys are not here for it, this is what you get. Still frustrating as hell !
can’t afford missing open 3s. every one of them has to fall.
Gotta trip and elbow drop there, Lauri.
I can’t watch this dude. Trae Young is my least favorite player to watch.
I’d even rather watch The Beard…
Yeah because at least you get to watch Embiid if you watch a game with the Beard
HOW IS THAT A FOUL???????????
lol both were not fouls on mark
holy shit what are you doing Moses?