Podcap: Cleveland 114, Brooklyn 113 (Or, Spida and his Amazing Friends)
2023-10-26Your friendly neighborhood Spida swung through the streets of Brooklyn, Wednesday, but he didn’t save New York. Donovan Mitchell used all of his Spida sense to close out a game that the Cavs trailed by six with less than 90 seconds left. Mitch started off this episodes showdown sequence with a monster steal and slam, and finished it with three-pointer against Cam Johnson who tried to flop his way to defense, leaving Mitchell all alone to bury a three-pointer that put the Cleveland ahead for good with 12 seconds left. The Cavs would go on to defend the Nets’ last shot well and start the season strong with a win.
In the early 80s, NBC and Marvel dropped a Saturday morning series called “Spider Man and his Amazing Friends,” which added obscure mutant “Firestar” and less obscure but no less unconventional “Ice Man” to Peter Parker’s retinue. Similarly, our own Spida Mitchell was helped by some unexpected friends. “Ice” Okoro had one of his best all-around games in memory, drawing a surprise start and contributed a 18/6/4 line on just 10 shots while putting his foes in a cage of solid dihydrogen monoxide. Cleveland called on Okoro to cool off Cam Thomas who’d racked up 24 in the first half, and Ice Man definitely helped put the ice cuffs on the precocious scorer in the second half. As for the “Firestarter” equivalent, Max Strus was aflame for much of the game, blowing up the expectations with a monster 27/12/2 explosion, including going 7-13 from downtown, and posting a +13 in his first start as Cleveland’s power forward.
The game was a blast, and to help us make sense of it all, Saturday morning comic fanboys, Elijah Kim and Chris Francis swung into the podcast booth. The Korean takeover of the CtB podcast studios (Chris’s words, not mine) breaks down the game, the surprising come-from-behind victory, and what lies ahead for Cleveland.
As always, listen below, download the full audio file, or listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn, or Spotify.
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It was a bummer Dean Wade was out with illness after his great two way preseason. Dean remains the Cavs best wing defender, with Okoro best checking guards. Without JA and Dean, this squad is just too small. The Nets had size advantages all over the floor. Cheers to Mobley for boxing out and Strus for flying to the glass, but the Cavs are going to need Wade and Allen. LeVert almost had me his preseason. He was taking smart shots, going all the way to the cup or dishing. Firing from three. Then the regular season starts and he… Read more »
I thought of u watching while Caris was LeVerting to form. It was a regression from who we got in preseason and the player he was at the end of last year. That being said, someone had to make a mid ranger and he tried. And to your point. It’s unconscionable the Cavs are playing Niang over Isiah (or even Thompson!) at this point. Someone has to bring some size and defense.
Niang should play. He just sucked against the Nets.
Let’s not fight the last battle constantly here: the focus is on the playoffs, no? Unconscionable is pulling away from your (good, working) plan to play a G-League and a fossil. We are focusing on playoffs, and Thompson and Brobley have no role there. They cannot even project to be decent 15m innings eaters as NBA level bigs.
Llama Stevens started 23 games last year. Why hasn’t Mobley the Elder earned a fraction of Tha opportunity?
They don’t play the same positions. Brobley is not gonna take minutes from Evan or a healthy Allen. Nor Love when he was here. Nor a healthy Wade at the 4, who is a better shooter and better defender in space. Stevens could defend 2-4 passably, Wade 3-4. Brobley is a 4-5. Now, maybe some minutes at the 5 if one of Evan or JA is out? Possibly. But Jones & TT will get chances first. Plus, that is gonna be more minutes with 2 bigs that will clog the lane. Yes, Brobley is theoretically a shooter, but he not… Read more »
My point is they need size and rebounding. He’s at least worth a flier when missing multiple bigs.
“worth a flyer” isn’t “it’s unconscionable to sit him”
True. We are undersized 1-3 and both bigs are skinny and Mobley is not a great rebounder.
But, agree with it or not, there have not been very many 2 big lineups that were not JA + EM the last two years. Love is a 4 all the way and an elite floor spacer & defensive rebounder.
Organizationally, we have decided how we are gonna play: twin towers with JA + Mobes and 4 out when one of them sits. We are gonna be small & skinny & get pushed around a lot.
I agree eith you, Nate, that it is not a winning formula. Basing our team on Portland (that 1 year they fluked into the WCF) is just bone-headed. But here we are (AGAIN) with 1 playable wing with size and a bunch if SG/PGs and two skinny bigs.
No playable backup bigs. No wings with size. Winning one series is the ceiling.
good points.
speaking of wild shots, I got to watch the replay of the first quarter and a half of the Bucks/76’s game last night. I was surprised at the fraction of crazy shots that went in. Giannis’s midrange shot is so flat they should call it “Bonneville Salt”, but it kept bouncing around and finally falling in.
On the bright side, 5 dimes & no turnovers for LeVert, and he was 3/8 from deep. Which is fine.
The 1/9 from 2 and the shot selection are the problems with him.
All around, I think Garland may have been worse.
RIP Bingo Smith
I second that emotion. He hangs in the rafters. 4 in games and 6th in points for the Cavs.
Also a fantastic afro.
Really thought the Mobley rebounding slander was out of hand. Dude was the back line of defense and challenging everything. He’s gonna be out of position for rebounds in those cases. Not Mobley’s fault if the ball bounces all the way to the uncovered weak side corner three point line. Other Cavs gotta step up.
A little bit of scar tissue from last year. He did fine, and Okoro, Strus, and Mitchell did a little bit of gang rebounding to help. The Nets are a huge team, we weren’t ever winning the rebounding battle.
Nets were ranked 29th in rebounding last year, 27th post KD/Kyrie trade.
were all the teams they played missing their starting 5 and playing four guards? we were, again, never winning that battle.
13.9% defensive rebound rate, gonna disagree probably should’ve slandered him more!
I’ll grant you that Niang and Okoro sucked at defensive rebounds as well…. pretty much no one did their job outside of Strus.
I agree regarding Mobley. His ceiling doesn’t seem as high. He’s definitely elite defensively. Maybe he just needs lots of continued development offensively. Probably an all-star, but probably not a super star.
Don’t agree. Giannis didn’t go nuts till his fourth year. Big men take longer. Evan has all the tools to be an elite player from the elbow to the low post. He’s starting to remind me of a more refined Kevin Michale with his length, ability to go over either shoulder and plethora of up and under moves. Slim Duncan comp feels very solid. He will be a guy that dominates and wins but his pedigree will be winning basketball more than elite numbers.
Certainly hope you’re right.
Yeah, there’s really not a path for a ton of usage for him, but he can do a lot of great stuff on offense as a 4. He could be Bam +4 inches on offense and that would be a great outcome for this team, but he’s showing such neat stuff in flashes as Nate points out. Just needs to be activated a little bit more like JA. It’s hard to see a guy who can do everything skill wise not really show a ton from a production standpoint, but the wins since he arrived should speak louder in the… Read more »
He still has no comfort with his left-handed finish, especially the easy lefty jump hook in the lane. He still wants to get to his right handed J far too often instead of using that hook. He will go to it more with his right over this left shoulder, but he still has a tendency to want to do a turnaround fadeaway in the lane instead of that easier pop straight up, over the shoulder jump hook. He needs to stop watching LeVert slop.
it’s probably why he’s a 4. it’s a tough shot to get to against big rim protecting 5s, although he did whip BLopez one or twice last year
His shot/touch doesn’t look good enough to me to ever be a great scorer. He reads the game well and is a good passer. He is a hard worker & could get better. But he seems like a 4th option guy to me in terms scoring. Maybe 3rd. But a Draymond type with a bit better scoring around the rim seems like his ceiling.
I will take a maybe on that. hardly anyone gets taller or more athletic as they get older, but a lot of guys get to be much better shooters.
Regarding Okoro, I haven’t seen it reported, but it was either on the Lowe Post or Hoop Collective that they were speculating that he might be someone who turns down a mid-level contract, knowing that money would still be on the table next year anyway. Might as well bet on yourself and try to drive that number up.
The tech on Garland was ridiculous, and I think the rule itself needs a lot of work. Right now…it just seems like a way for refs to exert (even) more control over the game.
I’ve been a long time listener of the pod, and always appreciate your guys’ insight and perspective.
Only real gripe from the last few pods is the incessant mouse and keyboard clicks. I know it’s more of a casual style pod but it’s making it almost impossible to listen to, especially with headphones on.
I take full responsibility for this one. I’m trying to multitask and should be better at muting.
good stuff!
there is plenty to worry about, but there was plenty to like, and it is a road win.
the Cavs are undefeated, and I am looking forward to a fun season!
Go Cavs!