Live Thread: Cavs vs Spurs
2023-02-13The Cavs are what has to be a 2023 record for them: a 15 point favorite. The Cavs have zero names on the injury report while the Spurs are piled abourd the hospital car of the Wembanyama Limited.
- F Keldon Johnson (ankle) probable
- G Tre Jones (foot) out
- F Doug McDermott (Achilles) Out
- F Jeremy Sochan (back) probable
- G Devin Vassell (knee) out
If you think the Cavs aren’t taking this one seriously, I would argue that JB probably had a nice highlight package of the Dec. 12th meltdown, and charged Cleveland with payback. What I really want to see is what the rotations look like on a fully healthy Cavs squad, and to see the wine and gold start sharpening the little things that they need to shore up before the playoffs: screens, freeing off-ball shooters, double post offense, and shoring up the shooting for guys like Caris LeVert and Evan Mobley. I’d also like to see Jeremy Sochan in action. But first, win the game, please, and don’t look like d-bags doing it. I think they get it done. Take the over.
Cap up
Jason- thanks for the deep dive stats and analysis. I think maybe it’s time to stop categorizing Okoro as a “non shooter”. He’s shooting 35% from 3 through 60 games, just slightly behind Jute Holiday and Damian Lillard. I’m also thinking that the days of the “core four” needs to evolve into the live five. Okoro has turned himself into an elite perimeter defender and proficient NBA starter on the offensive end. Welcome to ICE Island.
I hear ya!
HERE IS WHAT THE MRS NOMAD GAVE TO ME AS A VALENTINE’S GIFT— A SURVEY —-” 90 % OF HUSBANDS SAID THEY WOULD MARRY THE SAME WOMAN——-ONLY 40 % OF WIVES SAID THEY WOULD MARRY THE SAME GUY……………….OF COURSE THE MRS NOMAD HAD TO ADD THE WIVES % SHOULD BE MUCH LOWER “——–. I NEED ” MORE BEER PLEASE ” !!
The real conclusion to that survey is only 10% of married men answer truthfully on surveys about marriage. Lmfao
Lol !!!
WOW –NOT TRYING TO BRAG/// EVEN THE MRS NOMAD AGREED —-POP AND I COULD PASS FOR TWINS ( ALWAYS THOUGHT HE WAS A GOOD LOOKING GUY ) —-I WOULD HAVE TO CATERGORIZE HIM AS A BETTER COACH THAN ME :-)
Mitchell declines 3PT Competition invite. Big Finnish is in.
https://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/cavs_donovan_mitchell_declines_3_point_shootout_invitation/s1_17038_38468961
The Cavs have used 18 diffetent starting lineups in 60 games this year. 10 for one game only. 2 for 2. 2 for 3. And 4 for more than 3.
Just to add a data point, nothing definitive here. Be wary of drawing conclusions with sample sizes this small and schedule variance with strength of opponent/injury status, etc. But here are the records for each lineup.
DG-DM-IO-EM-JA: 13-5
DG-DM-LS-EM-JA: 7-3
DG-DM-CL-EM-JA: 2-4
DG-CL-IO-EM-JA: 2-4
DM-CL-IO-EM-JA: 3-0
DM-CL-DW-EM-JA: 3-0
DM-CL-LS-KL-JA: 2-0
DG-CL-LS-EM-JA: 1-1
DG-DM-DW-EM-JA: 1-0
CL-IO-DW-EM-JA: 1-0
DG-DM-DW-EM-RL: 1-0
DG-DM-DW-MD-EM: 1-0
DG-DM-DW-LS-EM: 1-0
RN-CL-IO-EM-JA: 1-0
——
DG-DM-CL-LS-EM: 0-1
DG-DM-IO-DW-EM: 0-1
DG-DM-LS-MD-EM: 0-1
DG-CL-LS-KL-EM: 0-1
Just to point a point on the coaching discussion, our current starting 5 has played 18 games together. Six of those in this current streak. Jackson had multiple years with Curry, Thompson, & Barnes.
4 lineups have played more than 5 games together. 2 ten or more. None more than 20. A bit early to call time on any coach. Much less ine on a 7 game winning streak who has the #5 record in the league, 4th most wins, #2 point diff, #1 D, #10 O, and the most wins by 10, 15, and 20 points.
All that with the 2nd youngest starting lineup in the league. The 2nd most player games missed (last I checked). Playing the most games in the league. And with one of the easiestcremaining schedules, while 3 of the 4 teams ahead of us have much tougher run-ins. Philly 1st, Bucks 8th, Boston 11th. We are 23rd.
Coach is doing fine.
All sports fan sites have a static level blaming the coach for rain. Goes with the territory.
well said and completely agree… lots of calls on this blog for JBs head after a bad stretch. He may not be the guy for the job but let it play out at least a bit!!! also, all the stats of where we are as a team suggest completely otherwise (that he is doing a helluva job)
A tidbit frim JB at the endof this article about Love. Sounds like he is not going to be mothballed. Want to give him some chances to play because they still believe he can help in big moments.
https://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/whats_going_on_with_kevin_love/s1_17132_38466766
This next group of games around the ASB will be a great test for our progress.
At Phil, ASB, Den, at Atl (b2b, last one), Tor, at Bos, Det, Bos, at Miami, at Miami. If we can split with Boston, in Miami, and the at Phi/Denver games, that screams legit to me. 4 or 5 wins here and I’m happy.
The last baker’s dozen is a lot easier: at Cha, at Cha, Phi, Wash, at Brooklyn, at Brooklyn, Houston, at Atlanta, NY, Indy, at Orlando, at Orlando, Charlotte. Beat Philly at home & run the table.
Went to the game last night, just perusing comments now. Wow lotta angst on here! I don’t think there was ever any doubt Cavs were gonna win. They let up for a minute there in the third and allowed the spurs to sneak in, but it felt like all Cavs needed to do was apply some more throttle to close out, which they did. Also lol at Darius being a high variance player. He had a bad game tonight but he’s an absolute monster. They flashed a stat at the game last night, only player in the league going 20/8… Read more »
Will get more confident when we can compete with the raptors once.
We struggle with long-aggressive teams. The Raptors can, and do, out 5 guys out tgere 6’6″-6’10” and switchy.
Hopefully the Dillon Brooks incident has changed things a bit.
Well said!!! Basketball is such a loooong-view sport. Any time my wife is watching the game and we are down like 8 to a bad team she’s like what is this??? I always just remind her, hey the game is 48 minutes long, the season is 82 games and these other guys are professionals as well.
38-22 with an absolute STUD in Donovan Mitchell, a should-be-an-All-Star Darius Garland, and two Defensive Player of the Year Candidates in Mobley and JA plus a bench rounding into form–what’s not to love?! Go Cavs!!!
This year’s team is getting healthier. Last year’s team was short-handed from jump and kept losing guys as time went on.
That’s true.. that also makes last years team record at this time amazing based on injuries.
T’Wolves hang on, barely. Luka 2 TOs in last minute, but they still almost came back & won.
KI wants out cause Luka is a bum
They are 0-2 together. Just sayin’.
so sad
Here’s my hot take on the coaching: would you get rid of Tito(not an apples to apples comparison)? Would you rather be like the browns? Resetting severe 6 months? I reserve the right to change my mind based on playoffs, but I think jb will show out!
That will be the test for sure. Cuz he failed to show any promise in the play in last year. Also ragging on coaching doesn’t always mean get rid of them. I can say garland needs to improve in any area…doesn’t mean I want him gone. If we can upgrade the current coaching by growing more mature skillsets im all in
JR is doing fine. Don’t listen to the haters.
As for the Browns, a lot of those coaches were bums, so moving on was a good idea. The problem was that they didn’t get anyone better.
I believe in the coaching. I looked back at the schedule: 2 losses to gsw, 1 to spurs, ny, bykn, Toronto, but that’s Toronto. I get the disappointment and it’s deserved. Losing to the clippers and Utah standout as especially egregious, to me. But, two big moths with their worst month a .500? Playing ball together, with good culture? There were no guarantees coming into the season of things going this well and I think letting the young guys play together and learn with extended minutes when practice is at a premium… well, proofs in the pudding, so far, to… Read more »
Amen. Agree 100%. JB is not Pop or Spo or Kerr, but he is a good coach. He is improving. We have the #1 D in the league despite starting 2 6’1″ guards not known for defense. We have the #10 offense despite starting 3 non-shooters. All with integrating a new main weapon.
Would you have said not to bring in Kerr even though Mark Jackson had that group progressing? Hard to know when the team is being throttled by the coaching
Jackson had 2 playoff trips to evaluate him. JB has had none. That process starts this year.
The team hasthe second youngest starting lineup in the league (OKC) and the 5th best record. Those things usually do not coexist. All despite being #2 (last time I checked) in player games lost to injury.
I’d be much more inclined to extend JB than fire him. I view the latter as absurd at this juncture.
Mavs are down 22 at home to the TWolves. Late 3rd.
Ugly win but still a WIN!’ Cavs are freaking g 38-22
True and true. I choose to believe the growing pains will lead to future greatness. Still think we will need a different guy at the helm to get this group to contender level
Uninspiring after the first quarter. Spida with 41. He looks back to full strength.
Wade only played 6 minutes. Did I miss an injury?
Just JB doin JB running a very short rotation I guess
Man the spurs felt like they were shooting hot all night. Glad we got it done
50.6% for the game. 11 offensive boards. 38.1% from deep. 16 TOs, though (14 for Cavs).
We won this one with offense. 56.4% FGs. +5 at the FT line.
Only 9-28 from deep (32%). Spida 6-13, Cedi 2-3. Everyone else: 1-12. Okoro (1-3) with that make.
Allen got him in the dome. Good call.