Recap: Cavs 107, Hawks 131 (or, Hotlanta Seat)
2022-04-01The Cavs melted in the Hotlanta heat as the they put up no resistance from the jump and take the loss against the Atlanta Hawks, 107-131. There are many directions to go, so let’s go down the rabbit hole…
1. JB paints a bleak picture
Coach J.B. Bickerstaff was blunt in his assessment of the Cavs’ play tonight. He thought they stood around on offense and played isolation basketball, and played without any “force” on the defensive end, taking away neither the paint or the three ball. Obviously that was the case for anyone watching, but why did it happen? J.B. didn’t want to use the injury excuse, tonight he said “bad habits” were creeping in. When Marla Ridenour of the Akron Beacon-Journal asked if a team dinner was in order, J.B. responded that they’ll take the day to get away from each other. Don’t hurt ’em too hard, J.B.!
2. Injuries and scheduling reality
In spite of J.B.’s tough talk, the lack of bodies and the back to back set the Cavs up for failure. If anything, J.B. should bear some brunt of the blame for not letting the deep bench get some run until the fourth quarter. Lauri Markkanen was limping from the jump ball. Darius Garland was making terrible decisions and taking terrible shots. Isaac Okoro with one rebound in 25 minutes. The wheels simply came off the Cavs’ wagon tonight.
3. The “start Caris” agenda in shambles
The trusty abacus has rendered its ruling, J.B. needs to take out Caris LeVert from the starting lineup. He hasn’t earned the distinction because his defense is not NBA quality. The Cavs are posting an unacceptable 119.9 defensive rating while LeVert’s been on the court in his 14 games. While LeVert’s offense has actually been fine, he simply gives it all away and then some on the defensive end. Yes, there’s something to be said for context, LeVert’s drawn some crappy lineups to play with given all the injuries and shuffling. But the numbers are the numbers, he doesn’t deserve to start. His defense stinks to high heaven.
4. The “start Moses Brown” agenda needs to end
Give J.B. credit for exploring the idea, Moses Brown actually earned the chance to prove himself in spot starting duty. But J.B.’s defensive scheme appears too complicated for Brown to grasp, and he’s getting lost way too much on defense. While Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen are out, starting Kevin Love, Lamar Stevens, or Dylan Windler ought to be the move depending on matchups.
5. J.B.’s trust issues instill fear instead of confidence
Cedi Osman, Brandon Goodwin, and Dylan Windler played like they were scared sh*tless of getting benched by J.B. in the pivotal moments of the game. When the game finally reached garbage time, the guys finally loosened up and played the best Cavs basketball of the night in the fourth quarter. The garbage time lineup had the only positive plus/minus among the top three most used lineups tonight. Cedi looked like Cedi of old, Windler started letting the three ball fly, and Goodwin started cooking on offense.
So why does J.B. have these guys wound up so tight? The constant yanking of minutes has proven itself to be one of the dumbest decisions J.B.’s made this season. It makes no basketball sense how Caris LeVert or Rajon Rondo can go out there for 20-30 minutes and drop a deuce on the court, yet Windler or Cedi get yanked for a bad pass or a missed rebound even though they’ve been solid contributors throughout the season. It’s this kind of politics where guys start to tune out and quit. Is that what happened tonight? Time will tell if these things linger. But if J.B. wants to talk about how the Cavs lost their identity, try looking in a mirror first.
6. Quick note on the Hawks
The Hawks’ blitz towards the 7/8 seed continued unabated tonight. That’s a team that’s hitting on all cylinders. Trae Young is in top form and they have all of their key guys healthy. May their season end in pain and suffering.
7. Next up, the Big Apple
The Cavs will get 36 hours off before having to play a Saturday matinee in the Mecca of basketball, Madison Square Garden against the New York Knicks as part of another back to back. Adam Silver ought to be held accountable for his scheduling crimes, Go Cavs.
LT up
Jeez, Mavs crap the bed against the Wiz. Finney-Smith who COULD NOT MISS against the Cavs got 8 points.
I’m gonna go punch a wall.
I didn’t see the game, but mind boggling that the Mavs gave up that many points.
Lol…Lakers lose, even with Lebron and AD, and seems very unlikely that complete garbage team will soil the play-in. They need to hire Rambis as either HC or PoBO.
LeBron just gunning for that scoring title at this point :p
cavs lost any chance of hitting the 6th seed tonight. Honestly they will likely be the 10th seed unless hell freezes over…but it is weird to watch it happen in real time.
WOW stunning win by Memphis… starting to feel like a team of destiny.
Thoroughly enjoyable game. With a roster playing like that without their key guys…sky is the limit.
yup, 100%!
Interesting part of the broadcast on tonight’s Suns-Grizzlies game – they have the refs mic’ed up and are showing all of the ref discussions on challenges/replays. Doing a good job.
Is wade injured? And anyone know the timeline for JA’s return
Wade done for the season after meniscus surgery (non-career threatening). JA out at least another 2 games, if not more.
Thanks
TSHIEBWE// KENTUCK NAMED AP PLAYER OF THE YEAR—SOME MOCK DRAFTS HAVE THE CAVS TAKING HIM WITH THE SPURS PICK ?????—–THOUGHTS
1:00 GAME TIME TOMORROW ——SUPPOSED TO BE SUNNY // MILD TEMPS —–WHILE YOU CTB BROTHERS ARE DRINKING YOUR FAVORITE BEVERAGE WATCHING THE CAVS—I WILL BE “TOILING ” OUTSIDE IN PURSUIT OF ‘CONQUERING” THE MRS NOMADS ” NEVER ENDING HONEYDO LIST “………..AM SURE I WILL TAKE A BREAK FOR ……..” MORE BEER PLEASE ” ——–AM SURE I PUT ALL YOU GUYS ON A GUILT TRIP :-)
Yes!!! I hope it will be a “more beer please” because of celebration and not because Cavs are getting blown out by the 3rd quarter
Had some time this morning to look this up. We’re currently 2 games ahead of the Nets, Hornets, and Hawks. 2.5 games behind the Raptors – based on how they are playing and how we are playing, 6th seed seems out of reach unless they massively choke. So Cavs, have 5 games left: @ Knicks, Sixers, @ Magic, @ Nets, Bucks Brooklyn remaining schedule: @ Hawks, Rockets, @ Knicks, Cavs, Pacers Hornets remaining schedule: @ 76ers, @ Heat, Magic, @ Bulls, Wizards Hawks remaining schedule: Nets, @ Raptors, Wizards, @ Heat, @ Rockets Record vs Brooklyn: 1-2 with 1 pending… Read more »
Great info thanks for posting. I don’t think the top 4 are as worried about the nets as everyone seems to think they are. The chemistry isn’t that great for them. They could find a rhythm over their next 5 games sure, but unless we expect Bruce Brown to perform like James Harden in 4 out of 7 games, the nets can be schemed on d by each of the top 4 in the east. Same goes for the try-hard Raptors…they shouldn’t scare anyone in a 7 game series, vax issue or not. The hawks should scare everyone outside of… Read more »
btw, it looks like the Honeymoon might already be over with Harden and the 76’ers.
Doesn’t take long for turds to start reeking, no matter how golden they are
Bucks and Clips going full load management, Cavs could learn something from this!
Bucks deserve to trot out that lineup after that game last night. Maybe the game of the year. I didn’t start actively watching it until Cavs were in garbage time, but even the part I saw was amazing.
Giannis doing MVP thangs
ALSO I THINK WE MISS WADE MORE THAN WE REALIZE —-EVEN THOUGH HE WAS PART OF “JB’S TRUST DOGHOUSE TEAM “
100%, and even Dean Wade didn’t get consistent minutes, although supposedly some of that was load management for his knee.
IS MOBES// ALLEN // RONDO GOING TO BE READY FOR THE PLAY IN GAME —WITH THOSE 3 BACK –DOES IT GIVE US ANY CHANCE AT ALL
I’m sure they will be back for that. Does it give them a chance, against the Nets? Yeah, not a good chance, though.
I think we may be in Hornets/Hawks territory for the play in. 9th/10th.
I don’t see us winning another game.
Wish we had the KD stopper – Jimmy Dean Wade – to increase our chances!!
HEY MIKEO—-DO WHAT I DO WITH THE “JB TRUST AGENDA “………….” MORE BEER PLEASE ” I AM BUYING :-)
Thanks Chris. If I have to hear much more about JB’s ‘trust’ issues with players in a non ironic way I’m gonna get stabby. I will continue to ironically say it to mock his nonsense.
You have an injury gutted roster. That sucks, but you have to play the players playing the best, and try to help them succeed on the court.
I’m not exactly seeing that.
LMFAOOOO @ “I’m gonna get stabby” great stuff Mike!!!!!
THANK YOU AGAIN CLF FOR ALL YOU DO——# 5 JUMPS OUT AT ME—AS A HIGH SCHOOL COACH FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS AND A COLLEGIATE PLAYER I CAN RELATE TO THE GUYS PLAYING SCARED —–YOU CANNOT PLAY TRYING “NOT ” TO MAKE A MISTAKE // THAT MEANS YOU ARE NOT BEING AGGRESSIVE // OVERTHINKING // PLAYING TIMID—-JB HAS TO GET PAST THAT ‘TRUST ” ISSUE AND LIVE WITH SOME MISTAKES// GROWING PAINS– ( AGREE YOU DON’T WANT EXCESSIVE// REPEATED MISTAKES BUT LEARN TO LIVE WITH A FEW )– —SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON—I AM SURE THERE ARE PLAYERS… Read more »
THATS RIGHT COACH!!!
Some players make you wanna play hard and have fun. Allen is one of those. I think when he went down, this team has lost its sense of adventure and has become unduly self-concerned and worried about taking chances. CLF I have wanted to see how JB’s tight control of bench minutes would play out on maturation of those players. Maybe injuries has made this harder to bear fruit, but the “trust” BS he came out with a few days ago wrecked that for me. You burn a player in public, or even suggest that they are untrustworthy – you… Read more »
Yup, yup I’m nodding my head… and good point about Allen! Really a dawg’s dawg!
At this point, what does Okoro bring to the team that is better than Windler? His defense is not nearly as good as his wishcasting, he doesn’t shoot, and he cannot rebound at all. So what is he bringing to the table that suggests he should be starting and earning more minutes than others?
Okoro’s offense is definitely better than Windler’s at this point of the season. But, Windler’s defense is good enough that there should be a conversation about why he doesn’t get consistent spot duties a la Dean Wade.
This season’s magic was over when Rubio went down. The rest has been a slow death. Obviously, injuries haven’t helped, but that crazy joy died with Rubio’s knee. I would have preferred to have a rehabbing Rubio on the roster and around the guys than Levert’s terrible play. It would have been great had Dylan’s three ball dropped last night, but he is still playing well. His length and defensive effort has been fantastic. They have the chance to fall all the way to 10 in this last week. If the Cavs want to avoid falling into a one game… Read more »
Preach!
Cedi is like a puppy. He thrives on positivity and fun. He has some dawg in him but even that needs to be brought about by making dawg activity and grit somehow fun. JB and he are NOT compatible. That’s not even a dig at JB…it’s just not a good dynamic for Cedi cuz JB has all the power over his mins. When Rubio was able to be a buffer between JB and Cedi and kinda transmute JB’s coaching into something that was still fun for Cedi, it worked great. Rubio’s value has nearly inexhaustible depth the further we get… Read more »
woof. pointed, empathetic, yet still scathing review, Chris. Bodies aside, there is a clear lack of cohesion at the moment. Only somewhat related to the bball iq on the floor. I’m not gonna mention how this is exactly what began to sink the Mark Jackson ship in Oakland. I’m not gonna discuss Jackson’s inability to give a consistent leash to players he liked and disliked based on personality. I’m not going to remind anyone of the mood of the warriors in the last year of Jackson’s tenure and the first year for the fighting Kerrs. It’s not a certain future.… Read more »
I like the idea of bringing in Kerr! I’ll give him a call.
Would be nice to find a kerr. Hard to do though. Basically only a handful of truly elite coaches in the nba at any given time and they tend to stay with teams for a very long time (eg Pop SA, Spo Miami, Carlisle mavs). Usually only leave because they’re forced out. Guessing that was what happened with Carlisle behind the scenes. Kerr himself will probably be with the Warriors for the foreseeable future. When Curry retires I could see him maybe moving on, but also probably just as likely to stay. You’d probably have to find a guy like… Read more »
Hell, I’d take Terry Stotts. He uses real offensive sets.
But nothing short of a player revolt will send JB packing at this time. If it starts to look like he’s hindering Mobley’s development, then I could see them looking elsewhere.
won’t happen this year or likely next year. But starting year 3 of the contract he will be on the block if they aren’t championship contenders
I don’t want Kerr. But we are likely to need a coach like him to maximize the window for this elite young group unless JB can work his way into something resembling a coach for adults. He coaches like a college coach. Most NBA coaches are either college coaches or specialists who got a shot. Mike Brown is a great example of a specialist who is a great staff coach but a poor head coach. It takes a different type of brain
Atkinson would seem perfect for this group. And he coached JA and Levert. But it’s a pipe dream at this time.
Rowan Atkinson roaming the sidelines as the cavs coach would be legendary
Ideally you’re finding guys that have broad ranges of experience in the nba. I am loathe to hire college coaches with no nba experience. Preferably you find guys that aren’t retreads. That usually means up and coming assistants or maybe guys that had good performance tactically as briefly HCs but didn’t get a fair shake. The trick as you point out is not finding specialists who can’t manage. Defensive specialists specifically. Kerr inherited a team from Jackson who got those guys to buy in on d and Kerr had Ron Adams as his defensive guru. I feel like for development,… Read more »