Live Thread: Cavs vs. Raptors
2024-11-24Happy Sunday, Cavs fans. The Cavaliers host the suddenly tough Raptors tonight. After giving Boston all they could handle in last Saturday’s cup game before falling in overtime, Toronto had impressive wins this week against last year’s playoff team,: Indiana and Minnesota. R.J. Barrett has been on an absolute tear: scoring 95 over his last three games, putting up averages of 32/9/8. Stopping him with Cleveland’s still injured cadre of wings will be key for the Cavs. Speaking of injured wings, this feels like a good week to get the squad healthy, with just one home game (tonight) between last Wednesday and Thanksgiving eve. We can all thank our stars that the Cavs went out to a 16-1 record with a very compressed opening schedule. I hope the gents enjoy being in Cleveland this week and get some much needed rest, time with their families, and time with each other over the Thanksgiving week.
The Cavs will be without the services of Dean Wade, Caris LeVert, and Max Strus tonight, while Isaac Okoro remains questionable. I expect to see more of Jaylen Tyson, who was absolutely outstanding in his starting debut, Wednesday: 16/11/7 with only one turnover in 37 minutes. For Toronto, Bruce Brown, Bruno Fernando, Immanuel Quickley, and Kelly Olynyk will be out.
After sitting on R.J. Barrett’s left hand, stopping Grady Dick and Ochai Agbaji out at at the three point line will the next order of business for Cleveland. The pair are combining for 11 attempts per game and combining to score 30 points. Agbaji has been especially deadly: shooting 63TS%. He camps out in the corner, cuts behind the defense, and attacks closeouts for a dream shot chart for any stat-head.
Barrett will require a different kind of D. Barrett likes to drive in transition and use his ability to get to the rim to set up his counters. If you stop that first option, the left hand drive, and you can get him to stop and pivot for hooks and turnarounds, you’re much better off. Barnes is just 34% from 3-10 feet.
Finally, our old nemesis Scottie Barnes has dropped off a little from last year, posting career shooting lows almost across the board, plus career highs in turnovers and foul rate. He is still formidable, but it’s clear that Evan Mobley is the better player this year. Let’s hope that keeps up tonight. Rounding it out is the always tough Jacob Poeltle and perpetual Nate Smith trade target, Chris Boucher backing Jake up. Both the guys can make Cleveland pay if the Cavs’ bigs over-help: Poeltle at the rim and Boucher from behind the arc. Disciplined D should make the difference in this one. Go Cavs.
“ MORE BEER 🍺 PLEASE “ ——VICTORY BEERS ON ME ——— MY / OUR TEAM IS UNDEFEATED SO FAR ——- HAVE A GAME TONIGHT—— WE REALLY GET AFTER IT IN “ D “ 👍🏀
THANK s SIMMO DO MY BEST EVERY DAY TO PUT A SMILE ON PEOPLE s FACES/ MAKE IT A BETTER DAY ——- IT WOULD BE FANTASTIC IF ALL US CTB BROS COULD MEET—— POSSIBLY AFTER WE WIN THE NBA CHAMPIONSHIP THIS YEAR 👍🏀—- HAPPY THANKSGIVING 🦃 TO ALL——- AM THANKFUL TO HAVE GOTTEN TO KNOW YOU ALL —- RIDING THE CAVS TRAIN THRU GOOD/ BAD 👍🏀
NOMAD is hosting the Victory Party!
“THE “ MRS NOMAD AND I HAVE BEEN BEST FRIENDS SINCE WE HAVE MET AND IT SURE ISNT THE MONEY FOR HER “STILL HANGING AROUND “ —— CLOSE FRIENDSHIP CARRIES ALOT OF WEIGHT…………. THE “ HIDDEN TALENT s “ I HAVE 😈👺🤪ALSO HELP !!!!
NOMAD, you are a bad man, you crack me up and while we are likely to never meet (tyranny of distance etc) you will remain a role model to me in many ways.
Happy Thanksgiving!
interesting snippet from “Footboom”, which might impact the likelihood of Ty staying a Cav:
Mitchell, who has known Jerome since childhood, isn’t surprised by his friend’s resurgence. They played together under Jerome’s father in youth basketball leagues, and Mitchell quipped about those demanding days. “His dad used to cuss us out at 8 years old,” he recalled. “But it’s impressive to see Jerome not only come back but also dominate on the court. He breathes life into our team every night and I have no doubt he will keep it up.”
I had read about this somewhere else last week too but figured at the end of the day most of us are going to choose the extra millions of dollars over getting to hang out more with one of our friends from when we were eight… Who knows though, I really hope the Cavs figure out a way. He’s the perfect third guard to go with DG and Donovan.
yeah, but friends “since” they were 8 is different than “when” they were 8.
Well, if he really is one of Donovan’s guys, let’s hope that gives the Cavs extra incentive to make something happen to keep their star happy.
Last three games of the first quarter:
Wed: Hawks
Fri: at Hawks
Sun: Celts
Sunday night — somewhere between 17-4 and 20-1 — will be the time to firm up our confidence in how the season is looking!
Pretty intense game and another fine win.
Scotty Barnes screaming after his kind-of block on Mobley was wild. How do you even describe that? He was kind of freaking out. Rare to see a player so close to losing it.
The endless press conference questions about Ty Jerome got a little annoying.
His behaviour had me wondering if there is some low-key beef between the two that might stem from the ROTY stuff.
read somewhere they have been playing against each other since eighth grade
Zinger expected back tonight for the Cs. They should be full strength for us.
That’s great news. A chance to see, sooner rather than later – and well before the trade deadline, should the Cavs conclude they’re still one piece away from having all the answers they need – how they look against the Celtics best starting 5.
But we won’t be with Strus out, if not Wade & LeVert.
hello! do you know the Cavs are 17 – 1? the chances of any trade turning out to be a good idea are about 1 in 100.
the Cavs have arguably the best team already, there is basically zero room below the salary cap, there are no head cases, everyone gets along, the system is getting smoother by the game.
how did they get to this point, you ask? not making any stupid trades.
You right
I’m not “advocating” any trades. I do, though, think the outlook on this season should be that we’re all in to win a title. The Celtics aren’t going anywhere the next couple years. So, “if” the people who assembled this team – who clearly are smarter about this than I am, given how well things are coming together – actually thought something about the matchup with Boston was insurmountable, they’d have to consider what other deadline move might be warranted.
I can remember another Cavs team that previously held the franchise records for most consecutive wins (though not at the start of the season), most consecutive home wins and best single season home court record (still holds those last two). Won 66 games. Didn’t make any in-season addition that I can recall. Failed to make the Finals. Then LeBron walked after the next season. The two situations aren’t really alike; point is just that the Cavs’ start to me has, or should, lift goals from “getting to the ECF” to “winning a title.” Very hard to do – but when… Read more »
I mean. They literally lost to what is documented to be the most roided up team in NBA history, the 2009 Magic. It’s the past. Move on.
And personally, while I agree with Jason that Boston’s top 5 and top 7 is a little better than the Cavs’ on paper, I’m optimistic the Cavs ultimately get past Boston this postseason. So far off and lots to happen before we find out.
We have multiple bites at the apple due to all the extensions and Boston’s core guys being a bit older. If we can’t produce in the playoffs against them with home court (which we still need to secure) under Kenny’s system then it is bad but we still likely just tweak some stuff on the margins with the bench.
The goal is fine. It is also more likely than not that we don’t win a title. How many seasons of LeBron and serious contention for one ring? 8?
I think a decider can be injuries–namely the Zinger. Most of their starters have a relatively healthy track record re: injuries but the Zinger has a very checkered injury past.
I think so too, it could be the deciding factor in either direction. No team since the 18-19 Warriors has even made the conference finals the year after a successful title run, let alone repeated as champs. The accumulated wear and tear is not easy to manage.
Jerome is currently leading the NBA in TS% at 73.6%.
Allen 71.4%, CPJ 67.3%, LeVert 66.3%, Ice 65.2%, Mobley 63.3%, DG 62.0%, Mitchell 60.0%.
Merrill 57.9%, TT 56.7%, Niang 56.3%, Wade 53.6%, Tyson 52.8%, Travers 50.8%.
Just a daily roster construction update. Player, age, signed thru, and Bird rights status at the end of their current deal.
Mitchell: 28, ’26/’27, 27/28 PO, Full Bird
Mobley: 23, ’29/’30, Full Bird
Garland: 24, ’27/’28, Full Bird
Allen: 26, ’28/’29, Full Bird
—————
Strus: 28, ’26/’27, Full Bird
LeVert: 30, ’24/’25, Full Bird
Jerome: 27, ’24/’25, Partial Bird
————–
Okoro: 23, ’26/’27, Full Bird
Wade: 28, ’25/’26, Full Bird
————
Niang: 31, ’25/’26, Full Bird
Merrill: 28, ’24/’25, Full Bird
Deep bench:
CPJ: 24, ’25/’26, CO ’26/’27, Full Bird
Tyson: 22, CO ’26/’27 & ’27/’28, PO 28/29, Full Bird assuming he stays 3 years.
TT: 33, ’24/’25, Partial Bird.
Again, we are set up to retain who we want to retain, contractually. The only exception is Jerome who we can only go $12 mil on. Everyone else, it is only Gilbert’s willingness to pay the tax.
I think there are other penalties beyond the owner paying the tax.
Yes if you’re in the second apron for like 3 years in a 5 year span there are draft pick penalties and there’s other stuff before that.
Anyone been watching Orlando without Banchero recently?
I think we should stop prematurely punching our own ticket to an ECF berth against the Celts. If
the Magic puts it all together when Banchero returns, they will be a serious threat to us in the playoffs — with the added punch that they’ll be out for revenge for last year.
Agreed. And the shorthanded Bucks gave us trouble as well. And a Thibs Knicks team may look a lot different on D when Robinson gets back.
I don’t think anyone is talking 4-0 and 4-0 on the way to the ECF. First and second rounds will be competitive (especially if Donovan is not the best player in the series, which would be true v Milwaukee and Philly and possibly NY).
But I think that our versatility is helpful. Bucks and Magic and Sixers can really only beat you one way.
When OKC was roaring out of the gates last year there were similar proclamations made about them. We aren’t locks because no one is but just because teams have a path to getting better doesn’t mean they’ll be better than us in the playoffs. Orlando is surprising some teams but they still can’t really do playoff offense against us (and we didn’t have Allen for half the series or Wade at all). Other teams in the East are good but 17-1 with a twelve point differential is pretty much impeachable production. Most likely outcome is we stay a top-2 team… Read more »
Yup, as I said at the beginning of the year… it’s Boston, Cleveland, and Orlando…. looks like Knicks might be the 4th team but I’ll never believe in KAT.
sure. the “almost one quarter pole” is a little early to be buying your finals tickets. not least because injuries can change the outlook. but check the standings.
the stars must have aligned.. about time for the 216.. i am seeing multiple nba championships, assuming the team stays healthy over the next 3 years.. truly remarkable development of the team dynamics.. this is golden state 2015-2016 redux.. the evolution of a championship dynasty happening in front of our eyes.. i don’t think any team in the league can hang with this team in a 7 game series.. enjoy dudes.. you folks deserve this..
Stop being lebron moving to Miami. The margin for error for this team has expanded no doubt…but we have missed Dean Wade a ton since he has been out. Strus will probably thrive in this offense but will take some time to integrate. The ceiling is ridiculous. But the floor is as low as Garland’s. We could still be bounced in round one if Garland doesn’t show up. Our success has been awesome…but super slippery. The Jerome emergence is actually a threat to DG’s confidence if it isn’t managed correctly. Kenny has his work cut out.
I think Kenny’s pressing all the right buttons here so far. Even in a marquee matchup like the Celts game last week, you instill confidence in DG and go all the 3-21 way down with him if you must. It’s the regular season. But the playoffs will be another beast. If you’ve given him the grace of sticking out his bad games in the regular season, you should be able to pull him in a playoff game if he’s stinking up the joint. Fill up the cup now in case you need to pout it tf out in May.
We could get a healthy Philly in Round 1 as well.
I pretty much agree, although it might be bad luck to say so out loud (or in print). a lot of things can derail a dynasty: injuries, bad player attitudes, owner problems (idiots, like the Browns; cheap, like the Bengals, …), bad cap managment, … the Cavs have no sign of owner issues or bad player attitudes. salary cap issues are highly complex — that is how the Dubs lost Ty, and the Knicks lost Hardrock. injuries can get any team. the league should crack down on attempts to injure key players, like Tatum taking out DM in the last… Read more »
I think beating the Celtics is gonna be tough. Tatum, Brown, Holiday, White, and Porzingas is the best starting 5 in the association by a good bit. 5 all-star level guys. Most of them great on D as well. Plus Horford and Pritchard.
Their top 7 is better than ours, as good as ours is. We have to be better 8-11, wear them down, and take advantage of our size inside when Allen & Mobely are iut there together.
Ty Jerome…………
Tonight was the first game I got the feeling that Darius was feeling the pressure from Ty’s performance. That isn’t an easy relationship if ty keeps playing at an all star level and Garland fades back to less than all star level. There were about one dozen scenarios tonight where I felt Niang could have passed to Garland for a better shot. I hope I’m exaggerating…but it felt like Garland got freezed out. He was 4-7 from 3 and wide open a giant portion of the 3rd quarter. The Jerome thing shouldn’t be an issue but could become one…
https://www.reddit.com/r/clevelandcavs/comments/1gz8lbz/highlight_ty_jerome_hits_the_transition_three_and/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
Note DG being the first guy off the bench to celebrate on court with Ty
agree. I think most players value winning over personal accolades. I have been in about a million pickup games, and always wanted the best players on my team.
December 23rd: when the Cavs won their 17th game last season. Hoo boy.
Decent win but let up after the first. Becoming a pattern.
A little…although To be fair…they might not have let up so much as watched wide open look after wide open look clang the rim from Merril and Niang. 1-12 from 3 for those two who played significant mins. They should have scored 140
That’s the gamble. Merrill and Niang are one or two-tool guys. If they are on, blowout city. If off, it’s a hold steady vs second units.
Niang is a big part of the reason we got so much rest in NO so you take the crooked with the straight.
Good point.
That’s called surviving the Gorge Niang minutes.
The Niang hate has to stop. He’s a f-ing stalwart and a crucial glue guy on this team. I’d take him over so many other guys who look better on-court to the untrained eye.
TT just called Ty our version of Luka.
This team man. Love!!!! Once Max is back and we are fully healthy its just to be even more amazing
Max is gonna be fun to blend in with these guys can’t wait
Bench AWFUL tonight. Tyson tentative and weird, Niang one for a billion, Merrill one for a half billion, Porter rough. Thank God for Ty.
Reminded me of a 22-23 game where all the buckets were from the core 4 and Vert.
An aesthetically disgusting but reasonably productive game from DG.
The year of Ty Jerome
#LETEMKNOW
Bruce Brown rocking the cowboy hat
Good night CRAPTORS! Enjoy LeBronto!
#LETEMKNOW
I feel like the FT disparity is shit again tonight. Especially with Slappy Barnes on the floor.
THEY SHOT 20 MORE FREE THROWS SILVER FOR PRISON!!!!!!!!
Shades of Orlando: just get downhill and hammer away.
Nice foul Darius! Nothing easy for Scottie the clown
The Cavs haven’t played particularly well, but every time Toronto gets a hint of energy, the Cavs tap the gas and go on a scoring run.
Georges noted that they’re battling complacency.
Mobley: that’s for you, Scottie!
LMFAOOO WHAT A READ JA!!!
LMFAO as Scottie Barnes flexing and screaming after a big triple to… *checks notes* cut the Cavs’ lead to 14.
Situational awareness in short supply
I think Barnes is in my top 5 of most douchey players in the league.
YOURE A CLOWN BARNES LOOK AT THE SCOREBOARD
Barnes still talking smack!
Not sure why he’s doing that.
trying to pump up his guys, but looks stupid because he sucks
He’ll still be talking smack on the plane home.
Should make them take a boat.
CLEAN PLAY QUIT ACTING LIKE A WHINY PUNK BARNES
THATS WHAT YOU GET FOR TALKING SHIT PUNK!
Slappy Barnes gets a taste of his own medicine.
Scottie’s been shit!
Rough shooting nite for Merrill
Jerome just so fun to watch!
CMON SAM FIGURE OUT YOUR JUMPER BEFORE THE PLAYOFFS
Funny, he hit all of most of his practice threes during the halftime break.
all mental, he’ll figure it out
J3rome!!!
Just throwing daggers at the raptors.
And just like that it’s back to 15.
BeauTY
TY JEROME BIG BALL SHOT
TY JEROME 3!
SPIDA MVP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SPIDA!!!
free throws only thing keeping Toronto in the game, Vegas clearly trying to fuck the Cavs
The Raps can’t make a FT
GET NIANG OFF THE FLOOR