Quickcap and Live Thread: Cavs @ Hornets, Part Two

Good evening CtB!

Here’s a quickcap in anticipation of tonight’s rematch of Cavs-Hornets as the Cavs try to take care of business yet again against the tanking Hornets…

1. Cavs 114, Hornets 108 (or, Procrastination is Good Enough)

The Cavs sleptwalked through three quarters of action Sunday evening before getting down to business in the fourth quarter and putting some pressure on the Charlotte Hornets, who then folded like a cheap suit to take the loss 114-108. It was the heroics of Ricky Rubio and Caris LeVert off the bench that really spured the Cavs to victory, which is ironic because the Rubio/LeVert tandem has had a very difficult time finding any success on the court on the offensive end (98.5 offensive rating currently). The Cavs with the LeVert/Rubio tandem Sunday night were a +48.9 net rating with a magical 128.9 offensive rating. Hopefully it’s a sign of growth and things to come as the Cavs head into the playoffs where they will need both guys to step up when Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell face the inevitable double teams.

Darius Garland (28 points, six rebounds, six assists, +22 plus/minus) and Evan Mobley (18 points, nine rebounds, +15 plus/minus) showed uncommon young veteran poise and some massive junkyard dawg mentality on the defensive end to close this game out. They will have to do it again since both Jarrett Allen and Donovan Mitchell will be out tonight with injuries.

The only real blemish in the game was Coach J.B. Bickerstaff resorting to Robin Lopez over Dean Wade (or Isaiah Mobley) for God only knows what reason, because it surely wasn’t because Lopez was any good (Cavs were a -36.6 net rating in Lopez’s minutes). Hopefully it was just a dumb one time decision and not an indication that J.B. has no clue how to put together a viable small ball lineup to increase the overall versatility of the team and prepare for some contingencies towards the playoffs. And it doesn’t even have to be Wade in the game, why not Raul Neto for 10 minutes against a shamelessly tanking Hornets team? Let’s see what J.B. will cook up tonight, unfortunately J.B.’s track record of identifying great lineups and playing them hasn’t been optimal… observe:

2. WTF J.B. Part 2

This is part of a list of the 15 most used Cavs lineups this season, arranged from worst to best. Notice the second worst lineup. Somehow J.B. has used this lineup in 24(!!!) games, tied for second most game appearances and it is the fifth most used lineup for the Cavs this season… WTF J.B.??? Also notice the bottom of the graphic, sadly the current starting lineup has produced the sixth worst net rating on the season among most used lineups and was pointed out by The Athletic Power Rankings writers and graciously posted last game by Commentariat member Arch. While the lineup is a stellar offensive juggernaut, it is a subpar defensive lineup and there are more productive options available to J.B. Will the lineup make a leap soon or will J.B. choose to mix it up for the playoffs? Stay tuned…

Here’s the same top 15 most used Cavs lineup list arranged from best to worst. Notice that Cedi Osman and Caris LeVert with the starters have proven to be much more dominant in their minutes than the Isaac Okoro or Lamar Stevens plus starters lineups. Why has J.B. resorted to less productive lineups time and time again? Who knows. There are two things interesting about this list. First is how well Lamar Stevens fits at the power forward spot in a “small ball-ish” lineup with Caris LeVert, DG, Spida, and Mobley. It’d be nice to see that lineup in more than five games. Secondly is the top line… the starting lineup from the beginning of the season when the Cavs went on their best stretch of the season at 8-0. If J.B. wanted to get Dean Wade going, why hasn’t he tried that lineup AT ALL since Wade’s return from injury? How does J.B. watch how good that lineup was, then think to himself “I’m never going to use it again.”??? WTF J.B.?????? I’m going to stop now before I have a stroke…

3. SHOUTOUT TO NOMAD

#Cavs are signing Sam Merrill to a *multi-year* contract, sources tell @clevelanddotcom.

— Chris Fedor (@ChrisFedor) March 14, 2023

In one of the more surprising moves of the season, the Cavs have decided to fulfill their 15th roster spot with sharpshooter and NOMAD’s long lost “son”, Sam Merrill. It’s mainly surprising just because he hasn’t seen anything except a few scrub minutes this season for the Cavs, but he profiles as someone the Cavs could use along the lines of erstwhile Cav rookie Ochai Agbaji. Merrill’s time at Utah State shows a versatile scoring guard with some nice playmaking juice and defensive chops. Unfortunately playing in the Mountain West Conference doesn’t provide the type of competition necessary to really take Merrill’s game to the next level. But ultimately, it’s a low risk move that fans can easily get on board with.

4. Cavs @ Hornets, Part Two

The Cavs will wrap up their southeastern vacation in the Carolina Piedmont with another go against the Charlotte Hornets. As it was aforementioned, there’s no Donovan Mitchell or Jarrett Allen. Will RoLo be used again? Or will #FREENETO or #FREEWADE make an appearance? Do we need to start adding #FREEMERRILL or #FREEGREEN??? For the love of God J.B. it’s the Hornets! THEY ARE TRYING TO LOSE! Anyways… Go Cavs!