Recap: Cavs 101, Warriors 106 (or, Making Adjustments)
2022-11-12The Cavs were unable to snap their losing streak, getting sonned by a virtuoso performance from Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors, 101-106. It was the offense’s turn to falter after two games where the defense was unable to perform. Let’s dive into last night’s takeaways…
1. Making Adjustments: Bench Edition
If one were to distill the game statistically, the Cavs lost the game due to the bench getting completely outplayed by the Warriors’ bench. They were outscored 28-13, here’s a glance at the bench net ratings from last night:
Notice how Coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s answer to the absence of Dean Wade was giving more minutes to the struggling Isaac Okoro. Unfortunately for Cavs’ fans, J.B.’s adjustment was to double down on something that wasn’t working as opposed to Warriors’ Head Coach Steve Kerr. Kerr has apparently adjusted his approach to bench minutes, benching his struggling young players James Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga, and Moses Moody for veteran journeyman Anthony Lamb, who killed the Cavs in his short time on the court with 10 points, four rebounds, and an assist.
Steve Kerr on second unit:
"We’ve gotta find combinations that work off the bench. We’ll be making some changes."
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) November 4, 2022
Hey J.B., perhaps there’s something to learn from Golden State’s approach, just a thought!
2. One More Thing about Golden State…
Steve Kerr on Jordan Poole coming off the bench: "If Steph Curry can come off the bench, anyone can come off the bench."
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) May 1, 2022
If the readers will recall last year’s playoffs, Coach Kerr decided to bring NBA Champion, Hall of Famer, one of the greatest NBA players ever, Steph Curry off the bench in order to limit his minutes and ease him back into play after an injury. It’s hard not to second-guess Coach Bickerstaff’s decision to throw Darius Garland out there in the starting lineup only to see him struggle to find his rhythm to start the season. Garland’s eye still looks terrible, and he’s clearly putting up some subpar numbers. Why couldn’t DG come off the bench and ease him into the season, ramping him up when he starts looking good? Now J.B. has created a situation that puts more pressure on his 22 year old point guard because the team’s losing coincides with Garland’s return, not ideal!
3. The Cavs Miss Dean Wade
It should go without saying that Dean Wade’s absence underscores his importance to the team as a versatile and effective role player. As one can see below, out of all Cavs’ lineups that have seen at least 10 minutes or more of court time this season, Dean Wade’s name pops up in the four best lineups of the season in net rating:
There is a discourse brewing about whether Wade should get a shot at the starting small forward position over Caris LeVert. For the sake of getting LeVert some more on-ball touches, it’s not the worst idea to consider starting Wade. However!
4. In more positive news…
Probably the best news of the night was how the starting lineup performed in their minutes last night. They posted a net rating of +27.2 in 22 minutes on the court together, and J.B. clearly rode that horse until it died at the end of the game last night. It might’ve been their best performance of the season, given their early season struggles (-5.7 net rating in 100 minutes on the season). Hopefully it’s a sign that the chemistry is building among the young group.
5. More basketball virtuosity from MVP candidate Donovan Mitchell
6. Home Sweet Home
The Cavs travel cross country back to the shores of Lake Erie to host the Minnesota Timberwolves tomorrow night at the Rock. If there’s a team whose vibes reek of rotten eggs, it’s Minnesota. They spent a fortune to acquire Rudy Gobert to disastrous effect. It’s hard to call a random November home game a must win scenario, but beating the stinky Timberwolves is a must for the Cavs tomorrow night if fans are to believe the Cavs are headed in the right direction as the season goes along, Go Cavs!
LT up
https://www.nba.com/watch/video/thinking-basketball-cleveland-cavaliers-offense
No Mitchell, Allen or Wade tonight.
Sucks. Gonna make it rough.
This could get ugly. Then again Minny hasn’t been lighting the world on fire either.
BOTH MERRILL AND COOPER WITH 29 PTS—-MERRILL 5/9 FROM 3 PT LAND
WATCHING A LITTLE OF THE CHARGE GAME—MERRILL ANOTHER 3 BALL// 19 PTS —-S COOPER COULD BE A PLAYER TO WATCH AS BENCH// ROLE PT GD FOR THE FUTURE
PREACH IT JOHN B —PREACH IT ——–AM STICKING WITH MY NEW NFL TEAM ” WHO DEY ” RIGHT CLF
GOING TO WAIT ON ” PASSSING JUDGEMENT ” ONTO DG FOR AT LEAST 5-7 MORE GAMES—EYE IS STILL BOTHERING HIM —CONDITIONING—JUST GETTING USED TO A “DIFFERENT ” ROLE …………MAN DO I FEEL BAD FOR NICK CHUBB // TRUE PROFESSIONAL // GREAT RUNNING BACK// HAVING TO SUFFER WITH THESE ” FROWN-CLOWNS “—READ SOMEWHERE IF THE “FROWN-CLOWNS ” WOULD DECIDE ( DUE TO THEM BEING OUT OF PLAYOFFF RUNNING )—THEY COULD ELECT NOT TO PLAY WATSON AT ALL THIS SEASON AND THEN WOULD ONLY HAVE TO PAY HIM 1 MILLION DOLLARS FOR 2023 ———–I KNOW WHAT MY DECISION WOULD BE
Worst thing to happen to Cleveland sports in the last 23 years was the Clowns returning. Took away attention from the teams that actually deserve it.
garland is trying to prove he is as good as spida.. he ain’t.. he needs to stick to his knitting.. do what made him great last year (with far less pressure, because he no longer needs to carry the team).. make his outside shots, when he can get to his spots (not flinging crazy hero shit) and dissect defences with his passing.. sounds like his job has gotten much easier.. not sure why the performance is not like clock-work, which it should be.. i will throw this out there, knowing it is blasphemy, and that i will be roasted, but… Read more »
MY ” MAN MERRILL ” IS 3/6 FROM 3 PT LAND SO FAR—–7/15 LAST 2 GAMES —-ICE HAS FAILED TO MAKE 1 ALL SEASON—-JUST SAYING——-DID THE CAVS CALL UP “ELDER ” MOBLEY— NOT PLAYING FOR THE CHARGE TODAY
WITH SPIDA QUETIONABLE FOR TONIGHTS GAME WE UNFORTUNATELY MAY HIT THAT ” 4 GAME LOSING ” STREAK I HAVE POSTED ——ICE NEEDS TO SUIT UP IN A CHARGE UNIFORM—THE SOONER THE BETTER ——AND KOBY HAS TO “SUCK IT UP ” AND ADMIT HE MADE A HUGE MISTAKE PICKING ICE AT # 5—–I ALONG WITH MIKEO HAVE BEEN HUGE SUPPORTERS OF ICE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING BUT MY SUPPORT IS WANNING
Okoro as a starter is indefensible right now.
yup
he worked too hard during the offseason.. that’s a joke.. in my world, you work, you practice.. you improve.. period.. no work.. no improvement.. by definition, okoro is a slacker.. he is regressing !! very hard to do unless your head is only involved with money, and your “profession” is of no importance.. so, not only is he a drag on team performance, how can he not be a drag on morale, for the other team members, most of whom i accept are at least fairly mature professionals.. perhaps he can salvage his career, but he has ZERO trade value… Read more »
Saw a few flashes of takeover Mobley this game when the Cavs needed him. Wish we’d stop having him dribble outside the arc. Feed him inside he’s already so tough to stop down there
AC made a good point the other night. JA jacked up a terrible shot beyond the free throw line. He said that’s what happens when you don’t keep your bigs involved. They haven’t been getting good touches so they’re try to make something happen from spots they have no business trying from. JB needs to make that a point of emphasis. He did that for Mobley for one game and has since abandoned it.
yup, knowledge that’s only known by playing the game.
Yup, good post TOJ should’ve mentioned it in the cap… Evan’s realy starting to find his offensive rhythm, feed the beast!!!
Reddit is obsessed with the idea that the refs were major pro-Cavs this game. I guess I didn’t get that sense – anyone think the calls were way in our favor?
I thought the Cavs got the benefit on a good deal of them. I don’t get too worked up either way, bad calls are going to happen, have to be good enough to overcome.
i can’t stand watching the Warriors play because of their constant reaching for steals and moving screens. So, i thought this game the refs actually called them on it (and on Green’s BS) and that’s why it “seemed” pro-Cavs…. until that very last moving screen. (although Mitchell should have hedged out and trapped Curry or at least switched)
Cavs got a string of calls (with free throws) in their favour. The fact that they put themselves in a position that 1 bad call ended their chances is for them to work through.
CTB crew, I’m thinking about coming to Cleveland in Jan for the GSW and Bucks back to back home games.. seems like the best option as I live outside of the USA.
Any advice ?
Excited for you Sweetchi, any advice I could give you though would be almost 1 decade old, haven’t lived there since then.
I feel seriously good advice will be forthcoming from the beachside community forthwith….
damn Sweetchi international Cavs fans represent!
Not sure about any advice other than it’s gonna be freezing at that time of year LMFAO! Last time I went to a Cavs game was over a decade ago too.
You can reach out to Eli or David on Twitter? Or if Nate can chime in?
When looking up the weather in Jan in CLE I was like oh no.. The cold is what is freezing me out of coming then.. I’m also thinking about seeing them in Miami in March as an alternative.. but do what to experience a home game versus an away game.
I got to watch most of the game, and was astounded at the no call on the moving pick at the end. I was a master of the moving pick for decades, which is very effective with some slight contact, and make them push you out of the way. And I don’t rate the one last night as a moving pick, but rather a full steam “shoulder to the face” NFL level block. Is a no-call common in such a situation? The “Two minute report” has it as an INC (incorrect no call) with no comment about game deciding and/or… Read more »
Darius with a sit down with Malika on ESPN.
Spot on Chris.It’s pretty clear JB is a great motivator,but he’s wearing these guys out already .I think his choices are causing or aggravating injuries and setting them up for another late season burnout .I have to wonder if the Spaniard’s knee injury could’ve been avoided with a few less minutes.D Miller logging 38 mins per game just seems like asking for trouble.82 games is a long slog.DG almost certainly could’ve used some Neto minutes to ease back in.
Thanks Steve! Go Cavs!
Amen on Neto, SMFH get it right JB!