Live Thread: Cavs @ Pacers (or, CtB Trifecta)
2025-01-14Good evening CtB!
The Cavs are in the Crossroads of America as they take on the officially scorching hot Indiana Pacers for a neo-classical Central Division rivarly/nationally televised prime-time showcase for Eastern Conference supremacy. The Pacers just broke the Cavs’ 12 game winning streak in decisive fashion 108-93 in Cleveland Sunday night. Some thoughts between then and tonight’s home and home rematch…
1. The Pacers are legit (Haliburton Ewing Theory?)
For keen NBA observers, Sunday night’s performance from the Pacers was not unexpected. Essentially their come-up has coincided with the health of Andrew Nembhard, the Pacers young and upcoming guard. The Pacers were already a good offense, but it was their defense that sealed the deal in the game holding the Cavs under 100 for the first time this season. And particularly, it was the defense of the Pacers’ bench that dominated the game with Jarace Walker and TJ McConnell absolutely terrorizing the Cavs. If their defense actually becomes a top 10 type of defense, this will not be a team you want to face in the playoffs. Also interesting that Indiana’s defense became otherworldly the moment Tyrese Haliburton went out with injury… coincidence? Absolutely not.
2. Injuries, lack of chemistry for the Cavs’ bench
Part of the reason why the Cavs’ bench uncharacteristically got dominated was because it’s trying to now integrate a lot of guys who haven’t really played together recently. Isaac Okoro, Max Strus, and Sam Merrill haven’t really played with each other at all this season due to various injuries to all three. Now Ty Jerome and Caris LeVert are also coming back down to Earth partly because of bench lineups being out of whack now for a few weeks due to injuries. Adversity has finally struck the Cavs and now we find out what this team is truly made of.
3. It’s a gauntlet until the All-Star break
One of the critiques of the Cavs’ historic start to the season is how weak the beginning of the schedule is. Now until the All-Star break the Cavs will be facing much tougher competition. The only two games against easy competition before the ASB come in February against the Wizards and Raptors. Otherwise, it will be night after night of playoff hungry teams, and contending teams. The Cavs getting on the positive of .500 through this part of the schedule shouldn’t be seen as a failure.
4. Slop distractions?
There’s also the business side of basketball that could be affecting teams in terms of trade rumors and contract speculations. The Cavs are buyers, and the Cavs also have tax and roster building restrictions coming down hard at the end of this season. Will POBO Koby Altman have to make moves? Will he let it ride? A quick conversation with other NBA fans revealed that the Cavs could lose Caris LeVert, Ty Jerome, and Sam Merrill this offseason, which pretty much eliminates all the talent that makes the bench great. Then there’s Brian Windhorst going on Cleveland radio saying that agents are telling him that players want to come to Cleveland. Are the Cavs young-ish guys prepared to handle the distractions of the trade deadline? Stay tuned…
5. Can Spida, Sam I Am, James Dean, and Strus is Loose find their shooting form?
In spite of the Cavs’ historically elite offense this season, this quartet of shooters really haven’t shot all that well relatively speaking. Now their numbers are by no means bad, but two percent better and this offense goes to even another level. There’s still a lot of improvement that could be made, and that should excite fans for the 2nd part of the season.
6. Start grinding
It seems like head coach Kenny Atkinson wants to re-focus the Cavs’ efforts on defense, and it will be interesting to see how that plays out. One thing that could be done is more minutes for Isaac Okoro and fewer for Georges Niang. Also, will Dean Wade maintain his starting lineup presence? Chris Fedor seem to erroneously report that Max Strus was to start last game. But it’s hard to see that happening given the struggles the Cavs have had maintaining a top 10 defense especially without Wade. Frankly, this team also misses Sam Merrill’s ability to chase guys and play hard-nosed defense. We’ll see if there’s any adjustments tonight especially in a home and home series.
Tip off is scheduled for 7:00PM Eastern time and will be broadcasted live nationally on TNT, Go Cavs!
Vote for the Core 4
Article about the Cavs on ESPN.
“Cavs-Thunder, the rematch: Examining Cleveland’s case for 70+ wins”
https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/43400613/cavs-thunder-rematch-examining-cleveland-case-70%2B-wins
70+ would be great, but is not too likely for several reasons.
It is rare to do this well and only lose five games in 39. Now you have to follow it up and only lose 7 games in 43 — that is two rare events back to back. OTOH, the first one is done. it they win the next two, that will be a good start.
the second half of the season is tougher, and the “very few injuries era” might not continue.
We are playing for the 1 seed in the East, too, and it is going to be extremely hard to dent a 6.5 game lead the way we and Boston have been playing.
Keep this pace and likely there are going to be some April games where the starters don’t play.
The Houston Rockets are nasty. Probably one or two years early for them to make real noise in the playoffs but as long as Sengun is healthy they are gonna end up with a home playoff series.
Raps beat the Celtics
They nearly beat us. Health has returned to Garlandto. They will play the starters 38 mins a game but those starters are damn good together. They could sneak into the play in with enough health
Celtics played without Tatum, Brown, and Horford.
All 3 of those guys played.
I’m now incredibly curious to find out more about this parallel NBA universe Patrick is apparently trapped in.
Raps have a lot of talent but are very short on maturity. I think their record is about right. I think they play themselves into and out of games at about that rate.
My bad re Celtics players. Don’t know where that came from. Maybe looking at recap from some other game.
Caught the Pacers game late. So happy that DG has his 4th qtr alpha dog mojo happening, even w DM on the court (and playing well).
yup, everybody’s an alpha on this team and they all support each other for it.
THAT SUCKS ABOUT HARD ROCK—— EXPECT SIR G TO PUT ON A MVP PERFORMANCE—- CAN SEE 40+ FOR HIM —- HOPE I AM WRONG
HardRock out with leg injury
That makes this game very very very very important to win. Mobes and Allen should feast. And even more Garland.
Garland’s mental toughness at this stage – so impressive. Thought he was out for the game, and then not only does he come back, but immediately goes into relentless attack mode, driving and taking the floaters that the Pacers were giving by trying to disrupt pass lanes so much.
This was the adjustment I wanted. The pacers were overplaying the kickout and the basket was open. Garland only one who figured that out and had skill to capitalize.
https://youtu.be/EmCsCKOpNx4?si=CbaSARs1MRqanOJ4
Thunder game is going to be great. They are going to focus on stopping our cutting and disrupting the flow, trying to force more set play type of game. appointment tv for sure
Mobley and Allen eat.
awright, 34 – 5,
at the Thunder and Timberwolves to round out the first half of the season. Two tough games.
We could easily have gone on a 5 game losing streak after the pacers game. Our schedule is gonna be tough slogging going forward. Which I think is perfect. What I liked about tonight was KA giving his feelings about the loss. He wasn’t shrugging it off…he was getting greedy. “We better correct this right now. We might never win another game if we don’t take care of the ball better and fix our defense.” He is the coach we needed. What matters to him is achieving the peak of our abilities. He isn’t gonna let our stars off the… Read more »
same
I think we lose to the Thunder but beat the Wolves.
maybe the most likely outcome, but a decent chance of the Cavs winning both.
WILL WATCH REPLAY OF CAVS TOMORROW 👍🏀
“ GIMPY “ IS MORE LIKE IT NATE 🤪——- WAS 1 OF THE MORE IMPRESSIVE COMEBACK WINS I HAVE COACHED———- SEVERAL RAGE TO ‘s BY THE OPPOSING COACH——TO NO AVAIL 👍💪🏀🍺
We just struggle against wingspan it seems like. Harder to drive, shots are slightly less open, passes are harder to feed through the court…we almost have to adjust our style of offense when we face Boston and Indy and Atlanta and geeze the magic are likely to be tough sledding now too. Fun eastern conference this year shaping up
we just need to feed MObley more, he’s unstoppable now… can get a middie off any time he wants they need to start telling him to hunt those shots.
Yeah. The only thing that stops him is the tos. But just gotta give him the reps
Exactly…. stop dribbling one dribble pull up… just looked he’s shooting nearly 50% from 10-16 feet this season, best since his rookie year.
Was just looking at his shot chart. He could have shot 8-10 threes. If he makes 5 of 10 threes that’s a volume I can love with. You’re so right. He should average 28 a game when left open and 8 assists a game when they try to guard him tight.
yeah, he’s a winner, you can trust him to learn how to make the winning play. it’s time to pass the torch to him now and ride his coattails.
Chris is right here. One pass to Evan, let him read and play off two feet.
He knocked Siakam back four feet on one drive: so much speed and explosion.
Dean Wade with another inexplicably impactful +12 in 21 mins with 0 points. He just fits so well with our starting lineup. Just enough threat as a shooter but never needs the ball and never stops moving
He was superb on Turner tonight.
he consistently makes it tough on opponents on defense, and completely unphased by guys going at him.
Dean has to learn when to pull the chair and slip around for the block on occasion instead of taking the contact.every time.siakam is a player who is susceptible to that.
Teams with big scorers will try him before Allen or Mobley on switches. Siakam killed him a bit in the first. He’s usually held up on paint scoring 4s and 5s and that was a surprise.
Yeah I haven’t watched as many games this season as last, but Siakam last night was the first time I’d seen anyone consistently giving Dean that much trouble on isos.
He and Okoro are pretty similar in this way. Great defense. Low usage. Know their roles. Don’t turn it over. Don’t take ill-advised shots.
Wade is bigger and allows us to switch 3-5 with the starters. Okoro is smaller, and our best defender on smaller/quick guards.
TIME TO CELEBRATE OUR WIN AND THE CAVS WITH MY NEW FOUND “ GARAGE BEER 🍺 “ 👍🍺🤪
JUST GOT HOME FROM OUR GAME——WE WERE DOWN BY 22 HALF—— WON BY 7 ——- NOMAD GAVE A “ CLASSIC “ HALF TIME SPEECH 👍👍👍
GIVE EM HELL NOMAD!!
Call you the Gipper
Good team win. We hit them in waves and stood up down the stretch on the defensive end. Solid minutes by Caris and Max.
damn one of the more satisfying wins of the season, see in you in the playoffs Indiana! cant wait to see you flop your way thru the game then!!!!
Super satisfying. Challenged, banged up, still won and got revenge. The ejection was icing on the cake.
Yeah get a real win streak going you losers! 😂
Carlisle is gonna punish trashcan McConnell after the game and make him do sprints on the football field, as Rick snorts Flo-nase
Garland inflicting the death of a 1,000 floaters on them
That’ll do it!
Mobley stonewalls Siakam at one end and feeds the Jarrett slam at the other – love it!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAH YOU SUCK SIAKAM LITTLE FLOP ARTIST
JA with the stamp!
Frodown!
Love it
ha-ha!