Eastern Conference Semifinals Live Thread: Game 3, Cavs @ Pacers (or, Just What The Doctor Ordered?)
2025-05-09Welcome to Indiana, Cavs fans. The wine and gold travel to Indianapolis for as important a “must win” game as they’ve had since 2016. The good news is that it looks like at least Hunter and Garland are playing. They’ve gone through pre-game warmups. No news yet on Mobley. For all the teeth gnashing after game two, it took an epic coaching meltdown, ratfuckery by the refs, horrible defensive rebounding, three of the Cavs’ top seven injured, and a miracle finish by Indy to win by… one point.
The Cavaliers aren’t done by a long shot, unless they believe they are. So let’s hope everyone stops playing scared, starts playing physical, and that no one puts up with Mathurin’s and Nesmith’s goonery. I hope the Cavs dust off TT for some hard fouls and key rebounds and that no one puts up with any shit. Go Cavs.
Apparently they call lane violations now!
SIR G GETTING “ MVP FOUL CALLS “ —- TWICE HE INITIATED/ JUMPED INTO JOKIC —— JOKIC HAD GREAT POSITION —- CALLED FOUL ON JOKIC
Dude…. Denver scored 8 points in the opening quarter. OKC wasn’t much better with only 17 points.
WOW LESS THAN A MINUTE—- NUGGETS HAVE A TD / PAT = 7pts —- OUCH
AM WITH YOU BUCKAROO —- BUT OKC HAS SOME FIRE POWER/ WEAPONS TO THROW AT YOU —— STILL THINKING OKC WINS THE SERIES
NOMAD bro.. hard rock laying some nasty clunkers in the late minutes of game 3 vs nuggets.. personally, i am hoping nuggets claim the west.. so i was pleased that hard rock laid a few eggs..
CPJ HAS THE EXPERIENCE – PLAYS UNDER CONTROL— GREAT REBOUNDER / DEFENDER FOR HIS SIZE
we seem to be OK on defense and the glass, it’s the offense that is failing us rn.
it’s a moot point b/c everyone is available.
At this point I don’t see any good case for Ty over CPJ “in this series.” Even in game 1 when he scored 22, him taking 20 shots wasn’t really a good thing. The last two games he’s been a detriment whenever he’s on the floor. With all the injured guys back KA could shorten the rotation to 8, but if he goes to 9, CPJ at least does not hurt you on defense and the boards, and right now I’d trust his ball handling against the Pacers’ press over Ty’s. Give Ty a mental break to figure things out,… Read more »
The physicality and intensity is definitely impacting him. I’m down for more CPJ, but I’d also use Ty.
This series has me missing Vert, but I think I’m off playing CPJ unless we are desperate.
Hunter showed decent ball handing. I’d just give Merrill some of Ty’s minutes and let Dre or Max work as the second ball handler.
Honestly unless foul or injury trouble recurs we will always have a good primary ball handler and a good secondary ball handler (Mobley, Hunter, Max) and if they go to a super press and you need tons of ball handling you can do DG/DM/Max/Dre/Mobley.
Yes Hunter did fine at it even with the bad thumb.
TOMORROW NICHT s GAME IS IMPORTANT —- MAKE IT “ BEST OF 3 “
GAME SERIES WITH US HAVING HOME CT ADVANTAGE—- PACERS ARE WELL AWARE OF THIS ALSO—- GO CAVS 👍🏀💪💪
Mitchell is playing like the best player in the world. Mobley just nuked their offense. People will overfocus on the zone but even in man he was a terror. We lost the turnover battle and shot under 30% from 3 for three games in a row. And scored 126. Without wanting to sound too cocky, I think this is what figuring out a team looks like. Shades of 2016 — and we could still lose Game 4 or the series, it’s make or miss — but I don’t think the Pacers have a lot of other cards to play from… Read more »
SCOTCH I AGREE ON CPJ
GREAT WIN WITH THE INTENSITY 💪 WE NEED THE REMAINDER OF THE SERIES—-JEROMES STOCK IS FALLING ( HOPE HE BREAKS OUT) —WOULD LIKE TO SEE DRE GET MORE INVOLVED ALSO—— NEED SPIDA TO GET SOME WELL DESERVED R&R —- SO FAR HE IS HAVING AN ELITE SERIES
Good win. Needed it badly.
Mitchell ran out of flgas G2, butcwe still should have won. He’s been brilliant.
I still believe.
Tonight’s Cavs/Pacers game was played at a much more intense level than the Thunder/Nuggets game.
Am I the only one (gosh that’s such an internet brat start to a comment haha) who wants some CPJ mins for Ty? He isn’t the shooter ty typically has been but he is a really good on ball defender when not switching and rebounds shockingly well for a pg. And he is a really effective cutter and finished well at the rim.
I’m with you, I was surprised not to see CPJ until garbage time after DG picked up his fourth foul.
Well, OKC is also down 2-1 on the road.
So is Carlisle putting in James Johnson to junk it up even more in game 4?
With the season on the line, Cavs responded with a 18-3 run in 4 minutes after it went to 11.. saved the season.
Donovan had 13 pts and his lone asst was for a Max 3.. Don really carried us !
They never trailed. And never got closer than 11 in second half.
Yes but not scoring those quick 6 points to bring it back to 17.. Indy could have also scored 6 points and it would have been a 5 point game with a lot of tension. So that was a key stretch in the game..
We had the lead since the 1st quarter and lost the lead at the buzzer in game 2.. so it’s about closing games and we did that today, thankfully.
it’s the perfect way to use donovan. keep him in playmaking / catch-and-shoot mode for a half, and then have him close.
Mobley had minor butterfingers but was every bit the DPOY. A magnificent game and easily repeatable for Evan.
imagine if we actually shoot over 30% from three!
spectacular job cavs.. make uncle buck eat that crow.. climb that mountain.. create the destiny.. turn uncle buck into tug mcgraw..
Great win! And not based on anything unsustainable. Donovan is officially playing at a LeBron-like level this series (41 ppg!).
Happy w all 3 returning players. Ty Jerome needs some layups or some free throws, badly.
Ty 2-22 in his last 2 games, 0-8 from 3, no free throw attempts, 3 Asts, 5 to’
We Need D. Wade to also hit some shots. He’s 1-8 in 70 minutes, 1-7 from 3.. at least he rebounded well last game though..
Imagine what happens when Cavs actually start hitting their shots at their regular clip.. especially key bench players like Ty, Wade.
Go Cavs!
agree with Arch!
The Cavs have really punished Indiana for pressing them tonight, as soon as they beat the press they are going straight for the basket.
Having a point guard helps! DG had a horrible stat line but it felt like he controlled the game when in
(we did that to the OKC press too in the win)
DG looked confident and in control all night until the end of his last rotation, I guess that’s when he finally felt the toe. Hopefully another rest day will get him a little closer to 100 percent.
Mobley and Garland are the primary press-breakers because of their speed and agility.
Now that’s badass right there
Definitely
We need to attack the rim, atleast get a foul call.. that 3 from Wade was a good shot.. but sometimes I feel Hunter just jacks up 3 (he’s 1-5) and then only 1 non 3PA.. come on you have the length and speed.. ATTACK!
He plays like a guy who isn’t quite sure about his hands
Almost had a steal and now free throws again for Indy.. come on Cavs.. let get it back to 20.
Again.. need to close the quarter .. up 16.. now make your free throws.
This is a perfect example.Replay is useless.Officials are calling nothing all game and decided that’s a foul.
Seriously…
Yeah, it’s almost like they punished the Cavs for using a challenge
INDIANA MELTDOWN BECAUSE OF THE PHYSICALITY, THATS EXACTLY WHY YOU HIT FIRST
Agree, this is the way, quick and strong to the spot but not dirty
Ball don’t lie
The O rebounding tonight . . .is shocking! I wouldn’t be surprised if the Cavs are over a 50% rebounding rate on the Pacer’s end of the floor.
The FT shooting tonight 😐
Garland looks fantastic. Just making Mitchell’s offense 10x easier
The foul.trouble is unfortunate but he was the best player on the floor most of the first half.
He’s shooting AWFUL but the Indy defenders aren’t bothering him at all. Gone are the days where he struggles v length
Nesmith reckless play hurts his own guy
Man, the hustle plays by Astrid. Just great.
Strus
Strus has been the team MVP tonight so far.
Cavs have really adjusted to Halliburton. It’s subtle; he’s never really double teamed but he never has any space, either. And sometimes pressed full court. It’s made him more passive (1-6 FGA, no FT 3 assists, 1 TO) can they keep it up?
Good show so far. No Ty in the second quarter (?). I’m a fan of his, but I think it’s a good call.
We need to close the quarter well.. that has been a problem..
Mission accomplished.
Cavs ended the quarter 13-5 in the last 4 min.
Refs voting no on reckless physicality tonight. Let’s see if they stay the same in the fourth quarter.
What in the eff is Darius doing? Why do the Cavs keep hurting themselves on this series? Have to have more composure than that.
No effing idea. DUMB
especially so clear in the backcourt with all attention on you… and with 2 hands, so pretty easy.
Okay, Max just illustrated “junking up the game” in an effective way – a little shove on Nembhard, which wasn’t going to hurt him – but which baited Nembhard into retaliation and an offensive foul. The other thing I like was how the Cavs’ offensive rebounding has slowed down the Pacers’ offensive pace (except late in Q1).
Yep.
That’s fair
I love me some Max!!
DG!
Damnit. These putbacks are triggering me.
Hunter, Strus, Mobley and (before he picked up a third foul) DG are all playing with the aggressive physicality that is needed, not “reckless” but forcing action. It’s been well played for the Cavs so far except the closing minutes of Q1 – but that stretch hurt.
We need to make our free throws – 3/7 and stop fouling, Indy is already at 11/12.
I’m loving our two enthusiastic court side Cavs fans.
Me too!!! We need all the support and I know the Cavs see and appreciate it.
Mobley with a smooth left handed layup.
Need to regain momentum … after being up 16-4 and 25-10, we are tied 32-32 after 1.
Ty continuing to struggle with his shot and looking lost, it is a real problem.
Yes
Yeah.
Who hurt their thumb, Deandre or Mobley?
Deandre. Mobley=ankle. On the injury front, everyone seems not bad.
Can’t tell from the handiwork of Ev
Yeah that’s what I meant, he had butter fingers to an unusual degree in Q1.
Refs are keeping the “reckless physicality” under control so far.
CAVS FINALLY STOPPED PLAYING LIKE CANDY ASSES AND NOW PACERS SHITTING DOWN THEIR LEG
Great start otherwise though!
Can Mobley dry off his hands or something? Jeez, he can’t hold on the ball!
I agree go Cavs
Let’s go Cavs!
GO CAVS 👍🏀💪💪💪💪