Playoff Live Thread (Game 3): Cavs at Magic
2024-04-25Happy Thursday, Cavs fans! The Cavs travel to the land of the Mouse tonight to take on the Magic. Expect Orlando to come out furious,as their series is pretty much on the line tonight. For me this game all comes down to shooting. Orlando is shooting 24% from deep in the first two games. I would assume they shot much better at home in the regular season, but I don’t have the stats to back that up cause I suck at the internet. The Cavs are letting them shoot, and we’ll see if Cleveland’s luck holds up.
If the Cavs win tonight, my prediction of the Magic in 6 is dead. Go Cavs.
A CHANGING LANDSCAPE IN THE NBA ——-I
It’s not quite like the end of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic, but it’s close.
Don’t recall seeing Durant so ineffective. “Washed” doesn’t quite cover it.
He needs to join LeBron 😂
frustration and choking abounds (not just in CLE).. george and kawhi combined for 16 pts in loss to mavs.. looks like westbrook made 1 FT in 19 min.. laughable
Westbrook back to his cantankerous best. What a clown.
GAME 4 COULD ANSWER ALOT OF QUESTIONS/ CREATE MORE CONCERNS FOR THE CAVS FUTURE
Taking a big picture approach, looking at how the season has played out and who is likely to win their current series, the only ones who played to their preseason potential is probably Boston. And even they are a flawed team with issues. You’ve got multiple HOFs who are either out of the playoffs already or look to quickly and meekly be going in that direction. Not saying this is as a backing to the team’s performance, just mean to say that there’s not really a path that’s going to guarantee any success outside of LBJ in his prime. I… Read more »
Yeah there aren’t huge questions here long term.
Extend Mitchell, think on how to get DG back to form (if Mitchell stays you still want DG to recover some value even if you think he’s not it long term, but maybe there’s a deal there over the summer: just would hate to have our only shot creators be Mitchell coming off knee issues and Vert).
Then a coaching upgrade if you can get it and we move
TREIZE —- SOME INTERESTING STATS ——- WONDER HOW MANY OF THOSE MISSED 3 PT SHOTS LED TO EASY BASKET s WHICH IS THE CASE ALOT OF TIMES———- REBOUNDING 3 PT SHOT —- ALOT IS ANTICIPATING WHERE THE BALL WILL BE AND THEN BEATING YOUR OPPONENT TO THAT SPOT 👍🏀
That was the case in the first quarter: awful misses to weird caroms
Do not believe a healthy Cavs squad has lost three in a row all year, which is interesting.
BANCHERO IS A “ DUDE “ —— MOBES NEEDS TO BECOME ONE ————— DUDE NOT DUD
MR STEAL -“ THE “ MRS NOMAD PLAYS “ THE WHAT IF “ GAME DAILY—— FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS— SINCE THE DAY WE WERE MARRIED 🤪🤪………. “ MORE BEER PLEASE 🍺” —— ON A “ MODELO “ BEER KICK RECENTLY 👍🍺
3-point percentages during the ’23-’24 regular season: 35.4% ORL playing in Orlando (#24 in the NBA); 34.9% ORL on the road (#25); 38.1% CLE opponents playing in Cleveland (#27 home-arena 3-point defense); 36.1% CLE opponents away from Cleveland (# 7 road 3-point defense); In yesterday’s game, ORL attempted 25 three-pointers prior to Thompson checking in in the 3rd quarter, with Morris following soon and all starters except Garland sitting the rest of the game. Given the above percentages, it’s reasonable to expect 9 of those 25 would go in. Orlando actually hit 10 of the 25, so essentially the same… Read more »
Maybe a bigger problem in game 3 was Cleveland hitting only 3 of their 21 three-point attempts before Thompson checked in.
Given the Cavs’ 36.1% road 3-point shooting and the Magic’s 34.3% home 3-point defense during the regular season, one might be forgiven for thinking the Cavs would make 7 of those 21 shots.
Perhaps even worse, the Cavs got only one offensive rebound out of those 18 missed three-pointers.
GO GAURDS 👍👍
I’m hoping JB goes with more veterans for the next game. At least mix in Morris and TT. I won’t hold my breath as he seems hell bent on the core four nonsense. I would start Mitchell, Strus, Okoro, Morris, and Allen. Garland, Merrill, Mobley, TT as first subs in. Bench Niang for a game.
Should be an interesting summer for Lebron. Maybe he’ll play for two or three seasons?
I could see him going to the Knicks. Especially if he’s swept again by the Nuggets.
Cavs need to build some equity. They should trade their first this year for two future first round picks, if that’s an option.
Credit to Orlando for playing a lot better tonight. Their D was a step better than the first two games, many more Cavs shots were contested and the Magic were much better on the defensive boards.
Mitchell didn’t seem to contribute much on D and had a few good drives but overall was not in command of the game.
I suspect the next game will be very low scoring as both defenses dig in.
Mitchell was shaken up and frustrated. That might have been his worst playoff performance ever. things can only get better
Inconsistent. Ugly. Team believing its own press and letting up AGAIN. Completely understandable for a Game 3 but frustrating to not have it even a little after the first quarter. JB pulling the plug early was good, let them marinate in it from the bench. Not playing what if though. We don’t get a player better than Mitchell in ten years (not bad enough for the lottery) and it’s a star league. Lauri and Sexton aren’t stars, DG and Mobley aren’t stars yet either way, and nobody we get with a #18 pick was gonna be more than a solid… Read more »
NOMAD bro.. good luck tonight.. make sure you do some stretching, and don’t forget to use a double-knot on those high tops.. good traction is a must when performance counts..
WORLD B —- AGREED— AM A BIG SPIDA FAN—- BUT DID CAVS “ PUSH THE PANIC BUTTON “ TOO SOON TO COMPETE FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP—-/ WE HAD LAURI ON A TEAM FRIENDLY CONTRACT AND DRAFT PICKS—(WE COULD HAVE TRADED SEXTON TO SOME TEAM) —- HATE TO PLAY THE “ WHAT IF “ GAME………OK “ THE “ MRS NOMAD IS WAITING……. HOPE I PERFORM BETTER THAN THE CAVS 😈🤪
I can’t confirm this on the blog, but I said as much to anyone who would listen to me then: Maarkinen was ready to explode, and Tower City was a threat. I understand the allure of Mitchell, but he isn’t a transcendent two-way player. I do love Mitchell’s fame and character, but yes, it is fair to wonder what might have been. Imagine teams trying to reckon with three legitimate active seven footers. Trading Sexton would have netted something, and either Ogbaje or another player could have complimented the team as it was constructed… oh well…
You go for a top-15 player when you can. Not sure where else that guy comes from when you aren’t a lottery team though so you understand the reasoning.
Big moves fail more than they succeed in the NBA: we are still well positioned if Mitchell stays.
if you gonna play what if go all the way! we should have drafted Embiid
Magic are better at home for sure, and they were due to actually hit some shots, but most of the Cavs played like they were drunk. Pretty embarrassing performance.
Lights too bright!
Go Sixers!
I wonder if Mitchell is still laboring from that dirty play from Wendell Carter Jr.? Doesn’t seem right since then.
WE ARE ALL LOYAL CAVS SUPPORTERS HERE AT CTB —- BUT THE LACKLUSTER PERFORMANCE THEY DISPLAYED TONIGHT IS EMBARRASSING/ DISSAPPOINTING / GETTING VERY DIFFICULT TO “ GET BEHIND “ THIS TEAM ——- TOTAL BS —————- GOING TO “ HIT THE HAY “ AND WORK OUT MY FRUUSTRATIONS / STRESS WITH “ THE “ MRS NOMAD 👍😈🤪
Being a Cavs fan never an easy task. Midwest toughness. Just one loss. Sleep well and remain resolute through Tuesday (at least).
IF THEY CANT / DONT RESPOND ON SATURDAY—— THE “ SOFT AS CHARMIN” LABEL WILL BECOME EVEN MORE A REALITY/ BECOME THEIR IDENTITY 😡☹️😭
They lost. Badly. Did folks expect a sweep? Let’s see what happens on Saturday
Was just hoping to see something to make me think, if they were playing the Knicks right now, that it wouldn’t go down exactly like last year. Still waiting.
HEY 1 POSITIVE TONIGHT-/— WE GOT A BUCKAROO POST 👍👍
SO GLAD I MISSED THIS “ MASSACRE “ ——- POSTED YESTERDAY ABOUT JBs ADJUSTMENT s OR LACK OF ——— IT IS ONLY 1 LOSS —— REAL TEST FOR JB/ CAVS IS HOW THEY RESPOND SATURDAY—IF IT IS REPEAT OF TONIGHT—— IT WILL BE A REPEAT OF LAST YEAR………” MORE BEER 🍺 PLEASE “
Agreed. If they win game 4, that will affirm their growth. Lose, and they really haven’t changed much from last year.
I love Spida but that trade is going to go down as a massive disaster. Shoulda built around 2022 squad with Lauri and tons of picks. Gilbert fleeced by Danny Ainge yet again.
Go Charge! 😳
JB hanging it all on the 1st quarter. Not setting the tone, allowing ORL to get rolling. No questions or answers about adjustments thereafter…🤷🏼♂️
Right because the game ends after the first quarter. 🤡 coach!!!
I didn’t hear JB, but I tend to agree. I think Orlando came out 0-8 to start. The Cavs had a reasonable offensive gameplan (go inside), but then we also kept missing shots and eventually Orlando found a rhythm. We didn’t respond, but again I’m at a loss for why not. We used to say here “it’s a make or miss league.” There was a lid on the rim for us tonight, that’s my glass half full take.
The Cavs need to ban Rich Paul from RMFH. He hosed the Cavs with DGs contract.
Caris just got nailed by friendly fire. What’s a little more embarrassment?
Magic in 6.
Weak mentality.
Loser org.
Glass jaws.
Paper tigers!
I was really hoping Mitchell would be a tone setter, given the narrative he hasn’t had a team do much in the playoffs. If he isn’t 100%, disregard this criticism. If he is, he hasn’t seized the opportunity to lead this team.
He’s been a disappointment.
Magic in 3
Hopefully this is the inverse of last season. Cavs ran the Knicks off the court game 3 and then never were a threat again.
down 40 ? really ? i actually thought this team might win this series.. uncle buck’s nose is twitching again, as it usually does when steaming piles start showing up on the freshly mowed grass.. any injuries, or is this just a night off (rather than an off night) ? it’s playoffs.. what you sign up for, what you are paid millions of rapidly depreciating $USD for.. .. put a f*cking stake thru the opponent’s heart and advance to the next round gentlemen.. garland 2-10 with 5 pts (on a $150 million contract) ?? i had them at maybe 60%… Read more »
Buck, I gotta know, are you one of those guys who has fits of rage at irresponsible dog owners?
yes.. i will be in your face and have my boot up your ass rather quickly under those circumstances..
Definitely appreciated your comment on tonight’s game.
Buck, NOMAD misses you. He’s been sending out smoke signals.
thx.. i will reach out to my sensitive NOMAD bro..
My goodness.
But, this is the way we’ve been all year. Never know whether or not the team will show up to play. They were up 10-3 (I think), Orlando was ice cold. I was thinking we might jump on them and push the lead to 15 or 20, and then…we hardly do anything on either end.
Make Georges, Max, Sam play rest of way. Can Darius pass to any of these guys for decent looks?
I missed the 3rd. So…..didn’t fire a shot huh? Can’t wait to hear what JB will have to say in the postgame.
I’m getting close to boycotting this team until JB is gone. More frustration than it’s worth. I said this last year – they’re just not a serious team, or organization.
Arch, you’re taking this way too seriously. I just had a fantastic
nap during the third quarter.
😂😂😂😂
This is the matchup we tanked for, right? lol!
Can’t wait till these coaches get let go after season
Banchero making east shots and contested shots. Doesn’t have to work too much on D.
Wow, can’t say Game 4 is a “must” win, but if the Magic come back to Cleveland 2-2, I will not be confident about what happens next. Cavs haven’t actually played that great in any of the games yet, outside of JA, and Mitchell’s 1st halves.
They’ve been pretty bad since the all-star break.
And really during their hot January streak they were mostly beating up on bad teams. They’re just an average team, with poor roster construction and a below average coach.
I didn’t want to chalk up that success to the schedule back then, but it’s hard to argue now. I guess part of it is the difference between healthy Donovan + Wade versus 60% Donovan and no Wade. But that doesn’t excuse or explain all of it.
Let Sam play extended minutes here for seasoning. Will he get open for his first shot attempt in 6 minutes?
Woof. What a stinker. Nothing easy on O. Just look weak af out there
Hahahaha just turned it on expecting us to be struggling in a tight game. What kinda garbage effort has this been???