Live Thread: Cavs @ Rockets
2025-01-22Good evening CtB!
The Cavs are on the Gulf Coast to soak in the non-subzero temps and put on a massive NBA showcase (and tiny chance of a Finals’ preview) against the Rockets of Houston. The Rockets have adopted the Tom Thibodeaux School of Strategy by emphasizing defense, rebounding, and physicality… this fight will be a contrast of styles and one in which the Rockets can easily exploit the greatest weakness of the Cavs – the boards. The Rockets will certainly get up for this one, a win against the Cavs is obviously meaningful validation for a young team on the rise. Get your popcorn ready and enjoy.
Tip off is scheduled for 8:00PM Eastern time and will be broadcasted live on Fanduel Sports Network, Go Cavs!
Looks like Mobley and Okoro are out tonight, but LeVert is questionable.
Heat plane waited on runway a couple hours for Butler to show?
https://nbaanalysis.net/what-channing-frye-heard-about-jimmy-butlers-missed-flight-shows-why-miami-heat-are-so-angry/
I was a little worried about the two back to backs to end the month (PHI/HOU) and (MIA/ATL) but with Philly and Miami disasters and ATL missing Jalen J, these look very winnable
the Heat got spanked last night. but I could see the guys not named Butler being really pissed off and playing hard and a threat to upset anyone.
anyone trading for Butler will be getting a guy who plays when he feels like it, wants max money, is over the hill, and doesn’t think twice about screwing over all his teammates.
KLOVE WOULD BE A NICE BUYOUT OPTION
Theoretical K Love or the guy shooting 35%?
There was a report that many agents are interested in the Cavs. We should have pick of the litter and I think we could do better.
OKC lost. LAL up 12 on BOS midway thru 2nd
Boston’s shooting percentage has become a concern rather than an anomaly. They didn’t just get beat by the Lakers…lebron played 30 mins. They got throttled. Any team can get hot and beat any other team in the NBA in one game. I get it. I think last year’s Celtics had the absolute easiest path to a title since the 2015 warriors in terms of playing injured teams and a not so great finals opponent…but I’m beginning to believe the title this year will absolutely go to a newcomer group to the finals. Be it the Cavs, thunder, rockets, pacers, even… Read more »
TOMLIN LAST 4 GAMES 63 REB’s —- 85 PT’s —— SHOOTING AROUND 40% FROM 3 ‘s ——- REBOUNDING WHICH WE NEED INTICE ME —— OFFENSE IS A NICE EXTRA!!!!
TOMLIN / CHARGE BEEN PLAYING WELL LATELY—- ATHLETIC BIG — 6’11” — MEMPHIS—- HAD 21 REBOUNDS— 22PTS —— 20+ REB’s IN ANY LEAGUE IS ALOT OF BOARD s ——HE MAY SURPASS MY “ MORE THOR “‘PLEA IF HE CONTINUES THAT PLAY —— SEE P NANCE IS NOW WITH DELAWARE
…
Jalen Johnson hurt. We might see the Pistons stay out of the play-in ahead of the Hawks.
Wild times.
L2M report has the Sengun shove as a foul.
Not quite as bad as that one NOP game with the goaltend (forget who the opponent was), but pretty bad refball tonight for what I felt was maybe the third time all season.
https://www.fearthesword.com/2025/1/23/24350653/nba-confirms-crucial-missed-call-between-cavs-and-rockets
And they stopped play to look at it,and still got it wrong.
AGREE WITH NATE’ s POST—- WE ABANDONED OUR NORMAL OFFENSE AND RELIED ON “ HERO “ BALL WHICH EQUATED TO BAD POSSESSIONS—- WILL FIND OUT SOON IF WE LEARNED AND MAKE NECCESSARY ADJUSTMENTS—— ATHLETIC—LENGTHY TEAMS SEEM TO GIVE US PROBLEM s —— HOPE WE HAVE THE OTHER 3 — ESPECIALLY MOBES WHO I HOPE SCHOOL s SEN” GOON “
we have won as many clutch games as we have lost with “hero ball” — the Bucks and Celtics wins come to mind. when you have great playmaking guards, rolling the ball out and letting them make plays is more or less industry standard and no different than what Minnesota did against Memphis three days ago.
shoot 31% from 3, we’ll lose.
there is a particular archetype that gives us “problems” but we were still able to impose our will, play Cavs basketball, and get it to a one possession game.
I agree in principal…but You aren’t assessing the Cavs late offense correctly. The ball movement was poor for sure … But the worst part was the player movement was non existent. We put zero pressure on the rockets defense because they could stand in one place and ball hawk. Hence the issue of 3 players taking the ball when we got in the paint. Kenny needs to be stern with player movement in late game situations and bench anyone who refuses to cut. With Evan we are in a better spot but go watch the spurs’ titles. It wasn’t ball… Read more »
I wanted to look at this closer and recontextualize bc the “right way” to play is the way that other elite teams use to win, not theory
Watching other elite teams late game offense suggests this is not really a thing. OKC needing a bucket against Dallas was not doing anything on player movement and of course Boston mostly just spreads the floor and goes.
Memphis guys move a bit more but it’s still “throw it to Ja or Jaren and let’s see”
That said I think Nate and you closer to the truth than I am for this particular game (although benching good players for bad less threatening ones like CPJ or TT for “lessons” purposes is bush league, more college/HS stuff and always bad coaching to take threats off the floor late)z
Really no movement. After such a physical game it’s understandable but we just needed one more.
REALIZING WE DIDNT HAVE MOBES — BUT REBOUNDING— ESPECIALLY COME PLAYOFF TIME WILL BE A FACTOR—NEED TO GET IT FIGURED OUT —-PISTONS DISMANTLED THE HAWKS — JB IN THE RUNNING FOR COY —-WILL BE INTERESTING GAME NEXT TIME WE PLAY THEM
WATCHING REPLAY—- OUCH— UP BY 6 WITH ABOUT 2:35 TO GO —-/NEED TO PUT THAT GAME AWAY/ CLOSE IT — BETTER / SMARTER POSSESSIONS— BETTER FOUL SHOOTING— SENGUN NEEDS TO BE KNOCKED ON HIS ASS —- SEE HOW CAVS RESPOND IN THE NEXT MEETING
That 2:35 was ass for their offense too. FVV with a 911 three or two, no other FGM.
20 offensive boards 22 forced TOs. I really liked what JB would have called “the scrap”
DG has never missed five FTs in a game before. Real fluke hours
Sure. But also a disaster of a last few possessions with garland and Mitchell going iso against bigger players when ball screens and puttingn Sengun in p/r had been key all night. Then an absolute give up lineup with 2.9 seconds left and no Allen on the floor for a tip in or lob threat, (and no real play drawn up). One of the cracks we’ve seen at crunch time from the coaching staff. I don’t blame garland for missing the freebies, but DM stunk and the Cavs git beat by a more athletic, grittier team again.
2.9 is pretty tough but throwing it to Mitchell and having him work was what we did against Milwaukee against (I think) Gary Trent, who is also a bigger athletic player. Mitchell can beat anyone 1:1, as can Garland. I thought we were equally gritty to Houston. They were quicker off the floor but we had equal second efforts, and equal # of offensive rebounds, and we were hitting the floor for 50/50 balls and turning them over a ton. DM makes a shot this is a different conversation. I don’t really put make-or-miss losses like this on the coaches,… Read more »
Did y’all see Tristan bang that dunk attempt on the rim? We know he ain’t boosting this year. But all kidding aside, he’s filled in well the past couple of games.
Must be cycling through the hgh rn.
I liked seeing the Cavs hang in there in a messy, chaotic game. I think that in the playoffs, it can get messy and sometimes you just have to muddle through, and I thought that the Cavs did I that tonight.
20 offensive rebounds!
Sam Merrill made contributions in a variety of ways but his shooting has been MIA.
He had that layup called for goaltending, a nice put back on a Garland miss, an assist to Jerome in the corner, he took a nasty charge and made a couple other nice defensive plays. Just need his shot to return.
Merrill is shooting 33% from 3 compared to over 40% last season.
Mobley needs to be a our go to guy in high leverage situations, only guy I trust ultimately in that situation.
I would normally trust DG or Mitch but they didn’t have it. Especially Mitch with all those bricks he was throwing up.
I think the consistent problem with both DG and Mitch is they get tunnel vision when the game gets tight, probably Spida moreso than DG tbh…. I think Mobley’s the most unflappable of the core four.
Spida has gotten 100% better on this. DG has some pet reads when things are tight, but he’ll go away from them if it’s not there whereas Mitchell won’t. All you can hope for is that they get a bit better at it from game to game and that’s clearly what’s happening — look at how Spida handles the trap now vs. two years ago and it’s night and day. Mobley is cool but he’s also loose with the handle in traffic…open question as to whether that would have been an issue against Houston, but we’ve all seen his high… Read more »
Man Sengun is my new least favorite player. On the playground with those elbows flying around that dude getting punched in the mouth.
Austin Carr was apoplectic about it and the referees. He is calling for straight up violence.
Brain farts by Kenny and DM too. You should have a play there. Also, Allen with the tip in too.
Don’t know about you guys but I saw too much one on one hero ball going on for long periods. Bad turnovers , weak box outs
Old habits.
Anyone “ever” remember Garland missing the first two of three FTs? Ugh!
Blame everyone but him.
yes, this. he’s never ever done this
Earlier in the game he had 2 misses as well.
Dude is over 90% for the year and hurt his back. Whatcha gonna do?
It happens, but he did choke. Sorry. I don’t think it’ll happen again.
actually, he missed. that is not a choke
😂 oh okay.