Live Thread: Cavs @ Pacers
2022-12-29Good evening CtB!
The Cavs are in the Crossroads of America tonight to take on the Indiana Pacers in a tough Central Division clash. The Cavs will be looking to put an end to their two game losing streak. The Pacers are locked in a tight battle to get into the precious sixth seed in the Eastern Conference. It’s a game that the Cavs should win, but any lack of focus and they’ll be walking away with an L.
INJURY REPORT:
#Cavs Robin Lopez (illness) is OUT tonight against the Pacers. Cedi Osman (lower back soreness) is QUESTIONABLE.
— Chris Fedor (@ChrisFedor) December 29, 2022
What do the Cavs need to do to win tonight? Shut down Tyrese Haliburton and Bennedict Mathurin, both of whom torched the Cavs in the first meeting. The Cavs’ defense is the most dominant unit of the game, they need to impose their will on the defensive end and they should come away with the win.
Tip off is scheduled for 7:00PM Eastern time and will be broadcasted live on Bally Sports Great Lakes/Ohio, Go Cavs!
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49270849/usa-today-9211667.0.jpg "Podcap: Indiana 135, Cleveland 126 (or, John-Blair Blues)")
I hope JB gets himself tossed for a few games moving forward.
I think we all need to manage our expectations with this team. They’re good but not great… yet.
Agreed but it’s still hard to watch game to game sometimes
JB hanging it on his players
You can’t let them launch that many open 3s.
Cavs played Pacers style, and did not defend. “We’ve got a choice to make”.
Exactly!
kind of bullshit for JB to do that when his rotations/lineups/strategy stunk. Not enough run for Okoro and Love, too much Tower City with Mobley getting fried cuz Indiana played small ball. Needed to buy 5-10 from Neto just for some defense.
Love to see LeBron to sign for the vet minimum 😂
Only caught the last 5 min but looked like terrible coaching by JB on many fronts.
I don’t know? Not sure JB was actually the culprit tonight. Sure he could’ve played Neto, as was only 9 available. But they got hosed by the refs and let the Pacers launch over 60 percent from 3.
The thing I would question is Garland, Mitchell and Levert all in the closing lineup. If they had Wade healthy he’d be out there as the 3. But since he’s not, is it better to run Okoro with Levert and just one of Mitchell or Garland? At least for this one game in which Garland’s hand was banged up? Just talking about at the defensive end. Because they kept ending up with Garland on Hield at the 3 pt line, and Levert’s or Okoro’s length would have bothered Hield more.
Of course most of the time you’re going to want both your top offensive playmakers on the floor in the closing minutes, but just talking about games like this where they’re having consistent trouble stopping opposing 3s.
I think this was the concern we had when the trade was made. Neither of these guys will be on the bench at crunch time–it would be an insult in their eyes, and no coach in this league would welcome the fallout by doing so… thus, you live and die with their ability to outscore their opponents, knowing that stops probably aren’t coming from the 1 or 2. Their back court is as unintimidating defensively as their front court is intimidating… if Wade can lock down the 3, is that enough?
yup, soon as he subbed Mobley back in 4th, everything went to shit.
After Cavs we’re up 106-99 at the 10 min mark…
10-0 to start the 1st 2 min of the quarter .. they were outscored 36-20 in the last 10 min…
And Cavs gave up 35| 35 | 36 in quarters 2-4 and almost gave up 30 in the first (29)…… can’t do that on the road…
Sounds on par with their road play
Cavs 6-10 on the road.. and I know we all feel this record could have been better.
Young team woes. Hope Rubio sures that up.
3-game losing streak.
I’m just hoping to win one of the next two games, against the Bulls.
I’m afraid the bulls got their mojo back last night and will be a different team
Great! 😞
So I’m making the assumption that Garland is likely out on Saturday.
Absolute stinker. And if DG is hurt, GET HIM OFF THE COURT.
Wish Rubio was ready to go right now…cause I think DG will miss at least a couple of games…
Pacers – 19/31 = 61%.. shooting 56.5% from the field, have 8 blocks, shooting 94% from free throw at home and Cavs expect to win ?
Something I really hate about today’s game…opponent picks that night to shoot 55%+ from three? Guess what, you’re losing.
Yep – make or miss basketball at it’s finest
Just to clarify the three-game losing streak in those terms:
Cavs 11-33 (33%) vs. Toronto: 19-37 (51%)
Cavs 13-36 (36.1%) vs. Nets 18-30 (60%)
Cavs 12-28 (42%) vs. Pacers 19-31 (61%)
Moreso than the opponents’ percentages are the disparities: does ANY modern team have a chance of winning when the three-point percentage disparity is at least 20%?
I could accept the defense surrendering 12-19 to Durant and Irving with defenders in their faces…but eight different Pacers hit threes, and it sounds like the Cavs just weren’t that into defending the line.
Nice breakdown!
Thank you.. and that’s what I’m frustrated about.. our defense on the perimeter .. can’t win like that.. I would love to see even the advanced stats like how open or contested those 3’s were.
Why is Garland playing with a hurt right hand?
Because Neto is in the doghouse apparently
When he lost the ball briefly, you thinking the hand was at issue? You’re right, this game isn’t important enough to play him hurt.
JB doesn’t trust Neto.
This game is over!
Cavs need to be launching 3s!
JB is saying … unbelievable man…
The refs will win this for the Pacers
These refs f’ing blow!
Godammit
What that’s off the Pacers you JV refs!
It wasn’t off of Levert?
Nice finish mobes
There you go Mobley!
Good d
Mobley heard us
Finally some good D
Mavs scored 9 points in 33 seconds.. anything is possible.. but cavs need to get stops..
JA looks gassed
Playing 8 versus 10
Mobley cannot go for the steal there.
Mobley kinda stinky tonight.
Mobley with some butter fingers tonight
Cavs finally get a call.
The amount of contact it takes to get a whistle at the Cavs’ end . . .
Frustrating…. But they are also not helping with giving up open 3’s
LeVert fouled and no call
Looks like a Hield 3 was changed to a 2
DG Mitchell and Mobley all getting smoked on defense,
Nothing new for DG and DM.
Cavs need to figure out how to play well on the road.
I honestly can’t take them serious without winning “winnable” games on the road.. and for me it’s more about defense than offense. Defense suppose to carry / follow you on the road.
Pacers want this one. Not sure why Garland is in with a bum thumb.
So annoying. Not sure why I put myself through this crap.
I say the same thing.. but I still tune in..