Live Thread: Cavs vs Pacers
2024-04-12Gooooood eeeeevening, Cavs fans!!! Cleveland faces it’s most important basketball game of the year so far as they look to take diwn the Indiana Pacers. The Cavs’ playoff seeding hangs on the edge of a knife.
The Cavs need a win tonight to basically lock themselves into no worse than the 4/5 slot so as to avoid dropping all the way to sixth or even seventh in the standings. The Pacers are playing for as much and to stay out of the play-in.
The Cavs will be without Dean Wade for at least the rest of the regular season. Dylan Merrill is doubtful, and in breaking news, Ty Jerome will not suit up tonight. For the Pacers, they’ll be they’ll be missing Isaiah Jackson and Ben Matburin.
Here’s hoping JB plays with the pace he wants (hard to do with an eight man rotation and three ball handlers) and that the Cavs REBOUND and defend. (…and if they win this, I’m 100% all in again.) GO CAVS!
Based on today’s odds: NYK, Cavs, Pacers, Magic, Philly, Heat all win, and the Bucks lose.
So then the Cavs will have the 3 seed and face the Pacers in the first round.
If all of that (above) stays the same except Orlando loses, then the Bucks would remain the 2 seed, Knicks at 3, and Cavs at 4, with the Pacers moving up to the 5th seed.
So it looks like we are most likely to play the Pacers in round 1.
Setting the stage for the East’s Nos. 2-4 seed chase If Milwaukee wins: The Bucks are the No. 2 seed, the Knicks are the No. 3 seed and Cleveland is the No. 4 seed If Milwaukee loses and New York wins and Cleveland loses: New York is the No. 2 seed, Milwaukee is third and Cleveland is fourth. If Milwaukee loses and Cleveland and New York both win: New York is the No. 2 seed, Cleveland is the third and Milwaukee is fourth. If Milwaukee loses and New York and Cleveland both lose: Milwaukee is the No. 2 seed, New… Read more »
Setting the stage for the East’s Nos. 5-8 seeds If everybody loses or if everybody wins: Orlando is fifth, Indiana sixth, Philadelphia seventh and Miami eighth. If Orlando wins: The Magic are the No. 5 seed unless Indiana loses and Philadelphia wins, in which case the Magic are the No. 6 seed. If Orlando loses and Miami wins: Orlando will be the No. 8 seed unless Indiana also loses, in which case the Magic will be seventh. If Indiana wins: The Pacers will be the sixth seed unless Orlando loses, in which case the Pacers would move up to fifth.… Read more »
Just ran across a discussion of “upper-decking” online, and it took me right back to a pod between Nate & Tom in which Tom describes what this is and how he experienced it.
Can we get Tom back for a pod this season?
I remember that. :)
Do you guys think we’re trying to lose by resting DG/DM/Vert in order to avoid a potential Philly 2-7 matchup?
Seems stupid to me given that the likeliest scenario if we beat CHA is that we get the 3 seed (ORL loses to MIL / NY beats ATL).
With the 3 seed, we’d still almost certainly play ORL or IND, and avoid the BOS side of the bracket.
Then again, maybe Koby and JB are more afraid of NY than BOS given last year?
This chart is very cool and helpful for figuring out possible/most likely outcomes today:
https://twitter.com/NBAPR/status/1779166218739449862/photo/1
If Koby and JB are more afraid of a Randle-less Knicks squad compared to Boston, they’re idiots. I’d be playing for the 2 seed, with possible home court for 2 rounds but 3 seed would be nice too.
I don’t think player selection at this juncture is based on win/loss scenarios. Health and form at this point are paramount, especially considering the interruptions over the last couple of months.
That doesn’t track for me given that they have a week off and the main rotation could probably use another game to build some momentum off of the Indy game. Sure, give them limited minutes but resting all 3 feels like a chess move
SONS WILL BE AT GAME TODAY (THANKS DAD 🙏) —- LOOKING TO WATCH THE YOUNGSTERS PLAY —-TT/ MORISS / JONES —— WOULD LOVE TO SEE EMONI GO FOR 20+ ————- SUCKS IF WADE IS OUT AGAIN FOR THE PLAYOFFS——GO CAVS 👍🏀
How many boys, what outfits are they gonna be wearing, what area of stadium?
Wish we’d taken a chance on Kai Jones
Per Fedor, resting Vert and DM tomorrow
Sounds like Garland is doubtful as well.
Dumb on all 3 counts.
https://x.com/nbapr/status/1779166218739449862?s=46&t=E8SiRvbZa9K2lria_OU0NQ
thnx. that is a GREAT graphic.
GETTING READY TO TUNE IN TO “ BUCKEYES SPRING “ GAME——— GO BUCKS !!
JA IS CAVS BEST CONTRACT 👍👍👍
Makes less annually than Josh Hart, it’s wild
remember all the whining on CtB about JA getting extended? it was very unpopular.
Not really. It was a pretty mixed bag. Eli in favor, Chris not a huge fan of the move, and I was on the fence iirc.
I don’t remember that.
5/100 was a no brainer, especially given the FA picture
For sure. I love that kid.
Jarrett Allen tonight:
29 PTS
13 REB
13-14 FG
Ties Jokic for the most 25p/10r games on 90+ FG% among active players (4).
AND MAYBE A “ DYLAN MERRIL — SAM WINDLER 🤪” SIGHTING
Playing well Sunday is note important than ideal playoff seeding. Just play well.
But also 10 man rotation and maybe sit DM.
Yes to both
What difference does it make in the last game of the season, coming into a week’s rest, how many guys we play? Is there a purpose served there?
always want to play a lot of guys when you can. you never know when you will be forced to play some of them.
Don’t risk injury to DM in a game the Cavs can win without him.
Yeah I guess that works. I’m stoked he’s getting rest either way
Gotta give some guys realtime reps. Wade is done until next year.
Is that official?
No. My opinion based on what I’ve heard. I would love to be wrong though.
Hey if the Cavs make it another month he might be a chance.
MOST IMPORTANT IS HOME COURT ADVANTAGE—— YES AT LEAST WIN THE 1st ROUND—— THAT WOULD BE PROGRESS———IS THAT ENOUGH TO RETAIN JB ??
you’d think so? on balance, 49 wins and a series win with all the drama would be a decent result.
as always depends on matchup and the “how” but you could see him coming back with a promise to expand the rotation a bit more.
sickos will be EXTREMELY unhappy if JB turns out to be a perfectly acceptable playoff coach lol.
Setting the stage for Sunday’s 2-4 seed chase in the East If Milwaukee wins, the Bucks are the No. 2 seed, the Knicks are the No. 3 seed and Cleveland is the No. 4 seed If Milwaukee loses and New York wins and Cleveland loses, New York is the No. 2 seed, Milwaukee is third and Cleveland is fourth. If Milwaukee loses and Cleveland and New York both win, New York is the No. 2 seed, Cleveland is the third and Milwaukee is fourth. If Milwaukee loses and New York and Cleveland both lose, Milwaukee is the No. seed, New… Read more »
I’m in favor of losing. I don’t want the Heat or 76ers in the first round.
Losing puts you in the Boston side of the bracket
I just want them to be in position to win a series. That will feel like progress.
we beat the Sixers with and without Embiid. It would be nice to beat Orlando or Indy but to be legit we’ll have to see where we are v. BOS/PHL/NYK/MIL (or I guess Miami if they don’t shit themselves in the playin)
DG seems to get up for Maxey, we have size to throw at Embiid…it’s not a cake walk for Philly.
CAVS NEED TO “ ATTACK THE RIM “ AGAINST THE PACERS—— TAKE “ SELECTIVE “ 3 PT SHOTS—-MISSED 3PT SHOTS LEAD TO PACERS TRANSITION BASKET s
WITH THEIR OFFENSE ( PACERS) NO LEAD IS TOO SAFE——— “ NEED TO KEEP PEDAL TO THE MEADAL “
DG NEED s TO GET WITH JA AND PRACTICE THE “ TEAR DROP “ SHOTS—— JA IS VERY EFFECTIVE!!
CAVS ——GET EVERYONE HEALTHY/ LIMIT TOs/ IMPROVE FREE THROW SHOOTING/ WADE —-SAM “ WINDLER 🤪” ADD TO THE BENCH—JB NEED s TO TRUST THEM
GIVING MY HORNETS TICKETS TO MY SONS TO GO TO GAME TOMORROW—— TOLD THEM TO HOLD UP A “ NOMAD “ SIGN 👍🍺🤪
In lower case, please.
😆
GOING TO SIT BACK/ RELAX AND WATCH CAVS “ W” —— BAILEYS IN MY COFFEE ☕️—— LIFE IS GOOD!!
If the Knicks & Bucks lose, we are #2 by virtue of winning the division, right?
I doubt the Bulls beat NY in the Garden, but it’s not impossible.
I think #3 is most likely (Cavs, Pacers, Knicks, all win, Magic beat Bucks).
That would mean most likely:
Celtics v Heat (assuming PI win)
Knicks v 76ers (assuming PI win)
Cavs v Pacers
Bucks v Magic
Yes on the #2, we’d be the only division winner. Magic and Pacers will be desperate to avoid the playin — I think that takes out the Sixers in any possible scenario for us, but have to see.
#3-6 is somewhat helpful to avoid Boston but I think we fear the NYK more than Boston in some ways.
really interesting stuff
Per Evan Dammarell on X:
So, with the Bucks losing to the Thunder if Milwaukee loses to the Orlando Magic on Sunday and the #Cavs beat the Hornets, then Cleveland wins the Central Division for the first time since the 2017-18 season.
Great press conference from Donovan. Really thoughtful and even handed. Took responsibility for a couple of bad plays, too.
Interesting comment about veterans TT and MMorris helping Jarrett stay on his game.
Jarrett with a monster night against Turner and Siakam. You love to see it.
One of Mobley or Allen usually kills Indy. They also don’t really have anyone who can guard Donovan let alone both he and Darius
The MOST important stat: Donovan 33 pts. This team goes as he goes
Gods Favorite Hali with 19 (including that fucking gimme 3), 12 assists against 5 TOs.
Good, not great, scheme discipline tonight or Turner and Hali, the two guys who can kill you. Siakam also held down.
If can get Wade over Niang this is a team we can take in 5. Only player I thought played particularly well offensively overall was JA
Strus with 9 assists…regardless of how he shoots, he’s always in the play. +17.
Definitely needs to be on floor during crunch time
Niang needs to stop shooting 0.5 seconds after he gets the ball.. just think for a moment… he shot 8 3 pointers today.. he also needs to be more consistent.. look at his shooting percentages per month for this season:
Oct:
FG: 25%
3PT: 19%
PPG: 5PPG
November
FG: 44.1%
3PT: 40.6%
PPG: 9 PPG
December
FG: 38.5%
3PT: 30.3%
PPG: 7.9 PPG
January
FG: 54.2%
3PT: 44.1%
PPG: 12.5 PPG
February
FG: 43%
3PT: 33.3%
PPG: 7 PPG
March
FG: 49.7%
3PT: 44.7%
PPG: 12.1 PPG
April
FG: 35.7%
3PT: 17.6%
PPG: 5.2 PPG
Rralllllly hope to play IND or ORL rd 1
Definitely do not want a healthy Embid in the 1st round.. those games might take 3 hours with all the fouls/free throws Embid will get.
Knicks and Celts doing all that work only to get the 6ers and Heat >>>
Go Cavs! Fire JB! Trade Garland! Go Cavs!
meanwhile, check out the memphis game against lal! 4 grizzles with 20 so far!
Pacers had 8 players with double digit scoring in an important seeding game.. while Cavs barely has developed a deep bench.
Merrill and Wade hurt
True.. will they be back in time for the playoffs.. that’s so key.
Brunson is on a mission, so far… would not want to see him in th eplayoffs
No thankyou!
I just checked out the box score and was like Brunson has been like 1st team all NBA with the way he’s carried the Knicks lately.
Yep. Brunson & SGA at guard. Tatum, Giannis, Jokic frontcourt.
Luka will bump SGA or Brunson because voters are silly, but I hope they both make 1st team.
damn, was hoping nets could steal one against the knicks, not going to happen though
Looks like Knicks will squeak past nets
DG came up big in the 4th—cant have said that much this year
Haters told me he was anti clutch!! Disgusting with no heart!!!
The man SCREAMING to go back in in the fourth???
Must be two DGs
Jekyll and Hyde
you can live with that from your #2 (or #3)
Tough tough win. Great games from JA and DM. Mobley not entirely at fault for the foul trouble given some of the calls. Strus is super glue.
Darius will some huge shots down the stretch.
Yassss!!! Cavs win lets go baby !!!
Quality win, good job boys.
Ice says goodnight.
Who gets the clutch FG to ice it?
Darius FUCKING Garland
Lol. Max iced it at the line.
Off an open three attempt getting the pass from who?
Huge 3 from Garland. Pretty on-brand – he’s only playable if he’s scorching from 3, and tonight he was and we needed it!
Strus.
Lol Haliburton. Cleveland thanks you.
These last-second attempts with no ball movement (even though it was a make this time).. its not going to win many games
That’s not a shooting foul! Come on.
DG complaining to coaches about being sat?
Cavs have no offensive plays when they need scoring in the clutch.. just horrendous to watch and frustrating as a fan..
Heart attack play Garland.
Seriously
Uuuurrrgghh!!!
Put the ball in Max’s hands.
Playoff rotation and DM is gassed.
I think he got hit on a screen or tweaked something on defense a few plays ago..
He got clobbered on a screen.
Need to run through Strus.
Massive letoff with Turner’s miss.
No one wants to shoot.
NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR THE MOBLEY THREE POINT PROJECT.
I don’t hate that he had the balls to take it
Now that’s how you run a break!
Constipated offense. Mitchell the laxative.
Max!
Big bucket.
Hate to say it but this game is playing out exactly as I feared. This team needs to rediscover their identity.
We have the worst coaching staff in nba. It’s not even close.
I’d take Damian Jones over Niang.
Missing too many shots and giving up too many rebounds. Need Strus back in.
Well thats one way to defend a 3 point shooter
At that point.. just run out to contest at least cant leave like 5 seconds go by
Niang! Make a god damn 3!!!!!
WTF is wrong with this team.
Whew, dodged several bullets there.
Finally caught one in the ass.