CtB Trifecta: Live Thread – 76ers @ Cavs (or, Strus is Loose!)
2024-12-21Good afternoon/evening CtB!
The Cavs put on a basketball masterclass last night against NBA Cup champion and Central Division rival Milwaukee Bucks 124-101 in a game that wasn’t even that close as the mop up crew logged nearly 12 minutes of action in the 4th quarter. The Cavs dominance started on defense with Dean Wade inserted back into the starting lineup, who was the ideal two way wing the Cavs needed especially for this game putting up elite 3 and D work against the likes of MVP candidate Giannis Antetokuoumpo and solid NBA wing and champion Khris Middleton. From there, it was the return of Max Strus, who contributed a tidy +20 plus/minus in only 19 restricted minutes of work. It feels like the return of Strus has really given an energy boost to the squad at the perfect time, which is the beginning of the dog days of the season until the All-Star break in February. With this win, the Cavs have secured the season series win against the Bucks.
Tonight’s preview
The Cavs welcome the Philadelphia 76ers to the frozen and windy banks of the Cuyahoga River for a Saturday night Eastern Conference showdown. This will be the second game of a three in four for the good guys, all at home. So the Cavs should be seeing this as a tough but intriguing opportunity to rack up three quick wins before a post-Christmas Western Conference tour that will take them into 2025.
As for the Sixers, after their big move to secure the services of Paul George it’s been nothing but disaster after disaster for Philadelphia so far this year. They are a prime candidate stealth tank team, but so far they don’t look inclined to lean into that going 6-4 the last 10 games… which is best among the East lottery teams currently. The Cavs look poised to more than oblige them in securing a chance at a top 6 lottery pick. However, the Cavs will have to do it without Max Strus, who’s getting load managed since his first action of the season last night:
Tip off is scheduled for 8:00PM Eastern time and will be broadcasted live on Fanduel Sport Networks, Go Cavs!
AGREED ON BUCKEYES HAVING THE BEST TALENT EVERY YEAR—- SHOULD HAVE WON A NATIONAL WITH STROUD AT QB —— SO IF UM PLAYS BURROW s AHEAD OF FIELD s AND IT “ BLOWS UP IN HIS FACE “. WOULD HAVE HAD SOME TOUGH QUESTIONS TO ANSWER——- BURROW s 1st YEAR AT LSU WAS JUST AVERAGE——- I AGREE WITH MOST OF WHAT YOU ARE SAYING RAOUL 👍👍
After Burrow’s first year at LSU, the LSU coaches implemented the Athens HS pro style offense, in which JB never faced a fourth down in three years. Worked pretty good for them.
HEY RAOUL —DID THE GAURDIANS GET FLEECED ON THE NAYLOR TRADE—— COULDNT THEY HAVE GOTTEN MORE
I certainly would have thought so. But they usually are pretty shrewd, so maybe they know something: 1. Cecconi was a high draft pick with good tools but a disappointment. the Guards are undisputed #1 in pitcher development, maybe they think they can make him an ace. He has one minor league option left. 2. Naylor hit a lot of HR’s, but his average slipped, his fielding took a big dip, he has gotten fatter as the season went on. Santana is way better in the field (at >10 years older) and pretty good at the plate. So the Guards… Read more »
reading more: Santana actually had close and/or better offensive statistics than Naylor. Santana is clearly a better fielder and is certainly aging better.
Since Naylor would have been in his last year with Cleveland anyway, the Guards get an at least as good 1B plus the trade assets. Win for the Guards.
For the DB’s, they are taking a gamble on getting Naylor’s health and conditioning back on track and maybe having a long term power hitter. TBD.
IF DAY / BUCKEYES WIN A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP— HE GETS A “ PASS “ FROM ME —— VRABES IS TAKING A NFL JOB —- MENS BB TEAM COMPLETELY DISMANTLED THE KY WILDCATS !!!!👍🏀💪
The Buckeyes have arguably the best players every year and almost always disappoint due to weak head coaches. Why did Urben Meyers get a pass for not playing Joe Burrows? They would have had four straight national championships if UM knew how to coach a modern offense.
Even with Strus returning, I hope the Cavs will continue to use lineups with Garland or Mitchell; Jerome or Merrill; Levert or Okoro; Niang; Mobley, Allen, or Wade because those lineups are outscoring opponents 133 to 102 per 48 minutes in 244 minutes of play this season. On the other hand, with Strus available I hope they never have to use lineups with Garland or Mitchell; Merrill; Jerome; Niang or Wade; Mobley or Allen because those lineups have been outscored by opponents 124 to 90 per 48 minutes in 94 minutes of play this season. All other lineups composed of… Read more »
Funny how the best team in the NBA isn’t even playing on Christmas day. That’s fine. Maybe we’ll get some respect when we win it all. Go Cavs!
Top three teams in the West aren’t playing either.
Gotta let this one go.
Christmas is all about stars. It is how the NBA thinks: LBJ, Curry, Durant, Joker, Giannis, Luka. Embiid. That’s top 7 in star power if not the best 7. Plus Wemby, Ant, & Tatum.
SGA, Spida, and the Rockets don’t move the needle as much.
Would have gone Memphis over SA – either a Ja redemption story (and I think Ja might be over Ant) or some #discourse
Athletic story: Giannis also wondering why Bucks not included. His thought: algorithm(s) selecting against small mkt teams.
right. that is always a big part of what national coverage is about. same as with fan voting for all stars, etc. You get NY, LA, Boston, Chicago, and not much else.
coming up:
Monday: Jazz
Friday: at Nuggets
Monday: at Warriors
Tuesday: at Lakers
Friday: at Mavericks
Sunday: Hornets
That will be an interesting road trip: four teams that CAN be really good, but often are blah. We are 9-3 on the road so far.
At least it is not four games in six days. four games in 8 days should allow some good practices.
GREAT DAY TO BE A BUCKEYE 👍💪👍💪🍺🍺🍺
one thing to worry about is that if the Bucks win it all, they might keep Day instead of bringing in Vrabel
cavs making the extraordinary (and almost unbelievable ?) look routine..
The main similarity between JB and KA seems to be the insistence on playing hard all the time. Not every coach can get that spirit from their team. The main difference between JB and KA so far aside from all the experience KA has with actual good teams who run competent offense seems to be some version of KA telling his players: stop caring about results. You are here to do the things you are great at. Do them and live with the results. Over time the skillsets will win out. His post game presser tonight was so telling. He… Read more »
Every word, man. I loved his pressers, they are almost as good as the game itself. He keeps being humble, like “I inherited this talented bunch of players who all like each other and all work hard, how lucky am I”, but man has he stepped in at the right time. He strikes me as the type of coach that doesn’t need to shout in the locker room – he’s the parent coach – him being disappointed in them would be worse than him being angry.
Kenny, like the players, needed to taste real failure to be elite.
It’s nice that it’s come together at the right time. It’s a lucky break in a lot of ways. It doesn’t happen if we fire JB a year early and go with Nick Nurse or Bud. Just special timing.
The players needed to go through the last two years of humbling to be able to hear Kenny’s message too. I have really enjoyed the ways in which Mitchell and Garland have matured as leaders and they each have their own distinct style.
JAYLEN TYSON +16 IN 14 MINUTES ROOKIE OF THE YEAR SEASON LOADING…
Yes. One nit I have w KA is that I wish JT would regularly get say 3 minutes w core group rather than playing only during garbahge time. Recognize that it may be tough to commit time to so many players, but when injuries make Cavs shorthanded at key moment, would be good if JT had meaningful time w core guys going up against other teams.
He’s a legit MESS right now defensively. I’d still give him minutes but damn it’s ugly
JB has the pistons playing so much better
LeVert finished with an absolutely absurd +36!
I just saw this–in 22 minutes?! Ty’s +20 in 24 minutes was silly enough…
SAM AMICO FOR PRISON
Cleveland wins by 20+ on both games of a Back 2 back. That’s extremely unusual.
And against quality teams.
I still don’t consider the 76rs quality esp without embiid but on the 2nd night of B2B it’s damn impressive
Cavs opened up another can of whoop ass tonight.
There you go Jaylon.
The absolute end of our bench tonight was CPJ. He started like a dozen games last year. The depth is so awesome
It’s great. With the inevitable injuries, the train rumbles on.
Well, I guess we’re fortunate this year in that none of the core four have been injured for a long stretch.
Roster tiers:
Superstar: Mitchell
Probable all-star: Mobley
Former fringe all-star & plus starter: DG, Allen
High end rotation/spot starter: Strus, LeVert
Plus rotation/spot starter: Jerome, Ice, Wade
Solid rotation: Niang
Fringe rotation: Merrill
Deep bench: TT
Fighting for last active spot: CPJ, Tyson
A third big and a bigger/athletic wing are the only needs I see as constructed.
good data. might bump Wade, Ice, and/or Jerome up a notch
Garland is pretty clearly a tier above Allen as a fringe Allstar and has been the best player on the floor as much as Don or Evan
Better minutes for Tyson tonight.
Jerome with the Jason Williams pass there.
Omg. Just walked by the in bar and saw the score. Love itm
Domination
CARIS LEVERT
Let Caris Cook!
That’s really nitpicky on that travel call.
Mobes 4 assists away from a triple double.
James Dean!!!!!
JAMES DEAN WADE
LETS GOOOOOOO BODYBAG THESE HEAUX
CAVALANCHE!!!
Shooting around 60% from 3. Just lovely.
Wow. That’s impressive!
Georges went straight up. Another garbage call.
Ball don’t lie!
DG3!
How arw they calling these ticky tack garbage calls against us. But then allowing our players to get tackled.
Tony Brothers’ officiated games are always like this he allows a lot of contact but calls ticky tack stuff until the game starts getting out of hand and he has to start calling some of the “more physical” stuff because someone nearly got hurt. I feel like it’s the same story every time. Which I guess at least he’s consistent?
Need that from minivan.
Need to cut back with the turnovers. They seem to be telegraphing them into the middle making it easy to pick off.
Merrill with a quad injury.
Sixers playing like littel bitches now that they getting spanked
ha-ha!
Seriously next level basketball
Love it! Rage Nurse TO!
Now that’s the dunk from Mobley I’ve been looking for.
Wow! Mobley!!!!
Like I said… scary!!
Mobes looking more and more Kevin Garnet like in skillset. Will never be the attitude of course
I like Mobley’s disposition better, silent killer like Kawhi
Or Duncan. I mean, long way to go before we start comparing him to Timmy. But that’s where we want this to go, right?
LETS FUCKING GOOOOOOO THIS IS BEAUTIFUL BASKETBALL
Had no clue Eric Gordon still played.
Mobley is…becoming scary!!
MOBLEY 3?????????!!!!!!!
These Preston commercials are god awful!
WHAT A PASS JA SHORT ROLL DEAN WADE ELBOW 3 NICK NURSE RAGE TIMEOUT!!! I SMELL A CHRISTMAS CAVALANCHE
James Dean!!!
JIMMY DEEAAAN
I LOVE THE JA/JAMES DEAN DOUBLE ANGLE PICK FOR DG 3 OTD
Did Drummond eat Jared Sullinger?
Heh
Mitchell breaking ankles!
Ty from the logo!
Ty Jerome,not afraid
Lazy stretch.
Georges gettin chippy
SPIDA MVP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CARIS LEVERT EN FUEGO
SAVE US DONOVAN
WHAT A PASS DG GREAT HUSTLE JA! THERE WE GO LET’S TURN THE MOMENTUM
Caris in to get the griddle started.
We’ve got the worst ref in the association tonight.
HOLY SHIT JA GOT NAILED!!!!!!!!!!!
Holy shit, about as bad a start it could possibly be…. JA missed a bunny, gave up a 3 on lazy defense, then turned it over on an easy lob to Mobley.
Rusty ball movement so far.
Theee turnovers are killing us.
Ugly start
No mercy tonight. Need to end this one early and leave no room for hope. Would be an annoying one to lose when there is an extra game to gain on Boston after they crapped the bed against the bulls