Live Thread: Cavs vs Bulls (or, how deep is the hole?)
2025-12-19Cavs try again to solve their doldrums after a lackluster performance Wednesday that saw them struggle to score, and hand the Bulls 20 turnovers en route to a catastrophic fourth quarter that saw the diff as low as -19 and as high as “indifferent.” They return tonight with their best player out for “an illness.” Porter is also sick, but I think they wanted to give Donovan the night off and push the other players to actually not wait on him to bail them out every possession. Joining the sickies on the injured list are Strus, Merrill, Mobley, and Nance.
It’s the biggest test of the season for Darius Garland who has struggled to defend or orchestrate the offense when he’s on the floor, but whose own offense has started to ever so slowly come around. We’ll see if they can hold the suddenly healthy Bulls at bay who have all their rotation players back with the return Ayo Dosunmu. It’s a tall order, but would be an exciting win if they could get it.
LT up
https://x.com/i/status/2003194837219312123
https://x.com/i/status/2003158709690851640
https://x.com/NBACouchside/status/2002901256793444735?s=20
do the Cavs have a lot more injuries than other teams, or does every team have a lot of key players out?
We had the highest # of starting lineups of any team over .500. In terms of man games lost we are up there with OKC and Dallas (OKC has two guys out for the year). Boston has been healthy outside of Tatumzz
I think in terms of man games lost in terms of salary on the bench we are top 5, although we have no individual high contracts bc our max guys don’t have a lot of experience (like AD and Tatum make tons more than Don)
Through 29 games last season, Cavs’ three-point shooting percentages (#1 in the NBA): 40% Mitchell (made 104 of 257 attempts) 44% Garland (84 of 190) 32% Merrill (43 of 133) 37% Niang (49 of 131) 47% LeVert (42 of 90) 44% Jerome (40 of 90) 34% Wade (31 of 90) 49% Okoro (30 of 61) 40% Mobley (24 of 60) 38% rest of team (15 of 40) Through 29 games this season, Cavs’ three-point shooting percentages (#27 in the NBA): 38% Mitchell (105 of 274) 30% Hunter (47 of 155) 25% Ball (28 of 110) 35% Mobley (38 of 108)… Read more »
excellent info – thnx
FTS SAYS “ UNCLE “ DAN NOW GETTING INVOLVED—-NOT HAPPY RIGHT NOW—— GOOD OR BAD FOR CAVS/ US ???
most of the time the owner getting involved is a disaster
The validation / joy folks get from Dan being upset is weird work. Dan has owned the team what, 20 years? Could be anything from nothing to a comic sans letter to a teardown. But he’s seen it all and knows rebuilds suck. I think Hunter and maybe Ball’s play has accelerated some decision making for them in particular but I think the plan is the same for Garland and Mobley, it’s just coming a month or so slower than we wanted – I think 10 or so games after a setback is reasonable for DG to start flashing his… Read more »
this is probably nothingburger news — of course Dan is not happy – neither am I.
there is a reasonable chance most/all of the team will be healthy in a month or so, at which point they should be as good as last year
The Cabernets will be fine. Limping RN but over 0.5. Full squad will get them back to 0.7.
I do not pretend that this squad will go further than last season. But why do we watch sport? It’s not to see the expected outcome.
I was told the teams with the highest payroll must contend always or it’s unacceptable.
Despite the fact that you can look at the Suns, Clippers, Knicks, Bucks and Nuggets at various points in the last decade and see the exact opposite. If something is “unacceptable” but it happens a ton…maybe that’s not the right word lol
https://x.com/WineGoldTalkPod/status/2002435885686796359?s=20
this just in: Dan not happy that the Cavs are stinking up the gym. whoda thunk it?
🙏🙏 MR STEAL/ RAOUL—- FEEL SOMEWHAT BETTER ABOUT AT LEAST HAVING A DRAFT PICK ——- CAN T KEEP ON RELYING ON UNDRAFTED FREE AGENTS ( ALTHOUGH WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE WITH SAM / CPJ / NYQUIL/ WADE and throw in a late 2nd rounder PROCTOR)
SO DO WE HAVE A 2026 PICK—-EDUCATE “ OL NOMAD “ —-🙏🙏🙏
Yes but it’s covered by swap rights.
fortunately the swap would be with Utah
I thought it was a double swap with ATL or similar. Maybe I’m getting years crossed
COLLEGE PLAYER WATCHING—- NBA DRAFT—- ALOT OF SOLID WINGS IN TOP 15 ——- JUST SAYING
Pick swaps with Utah…
GREAT POST BUCKAROO—AGREE 100%— WE RUN A VILLANOVA OFFENSE—- CUT/ MOVE WITH A PURPOSE—ALOT OF BACKDOOR CUTS— BEAUTIFUL TO WATCH!!
Tomlin and Proctor need featured with the second unit. Proctor takes the shots that the defense gives him, unlike CPJ. Tomlin has the first step and handle that Tyson doesn’t and needs to be somewhere other than parked in the corner.
Run the Mobley / Strus actions from last with those guys, it beats slinging it around the perimeter for no advantage or whatever it is Hunter does.
DID KOBY OUTSMART HIMSELF WITH ATKINSON ? WITH HUNTER ? CAVS ARE PROBABLY BETTER THAN THEY ARE SHOWING RIGHT NOW, AND ONCE “HEALTHY” THEY ARE PROBABLY A GOOD AVERAGE 0.500 CLUB THAT MIGHT GET INTO THE PALYOFFS.. IF THE “YUTES” CONTINUE TO GROW, THEN AT LEAST THEIR ARE SOME GREEN SHOOTS.. SAD ABOUT HUNTER.. NOT ABOUT WHAT THEY GAVE UP TO GET HIM, BUT ABOUT HOW MEDIOCRE HE HAS BECOME.. WASN’T HE THE “BORDERLINE ELITE 3 AND D” GUY THAT JUST NEEDED TO BE PLAYING IN “MEANINGFUL”GMAES” ? SAD.. CONGRATS NOMAD BRO.. YOU RUNNING THE “PICKET FENCE” ?
They are a .500 club right now, not once healthy
Buck, talk to me about the all-caps. What’s the tactic here.
Gotta try to trade for Ty Lue. I’m not joking.
HAVE POSTED MANY TIMES—-“ MISS OTT ALOT “————— MORE POSITIVE NOTE —— SCHOOL I COACH AT WON ALL 3 GAMES TONIGHT——- FROSH / JV / VARSITY—— 15-0 FOR THE SEASON——- CAVS SHOULD COME AND WATCH US PLAY DEFENSE/ REBOUND/ PASS -CUT ATTACK——- THEY MIGHT LEARN SOMETHING!!!!
@cavsdan HIRE COACH NOMAD!!!
LMFAOOO 136 to this team, outrebounded, given up a 50/40/80 game
Okoro only negative starter for the Bulls, -14 in 20 minutes and benched for the 4th quarter run… tell me more about his “defense”
I think it was Jordan Ott all along.
Kenny should be fired for this crunch time lineup.Three guys on the floor afraid to shoot, and one who can’t.
132 points against a pathetic Bulls team, 31 points in the 4th quarter.
Why is Ball in the closing lineup? overall this closing lineup is horribly constructed. Feels like Atkinson has really lost the pulse of this team.
went with a veteran since Tyson was having a bad game… but I think his defense was good enough to let Tyson roll again.
DG simply can’t survive on defense…. weight roomed by Tre Jones and Coby White, pack it up
They move him around at will.
Yup, and they’re not even big guards.
Good challenge.
@Greg Siesel!! Good news: Cavs already have 31 assists! (Bad news: So do the Bulls)
Tomlin’s passing👀
This game is an indictment of Kenny’s minutes in previous games.
The Qwan!!!!
The ambassador.
.
One more try
Proctor heat checking lol
WTF do the Cavs have to do to get a foul call?
Tomlin again!
Qwan!
Who’s the asshole trading my point guard???? FOH
You can with him!
Go ahead and circle, jerks!
Make a wish!!
JFC the unforced turnovers.
I honestly can’t believe how bad this team is playing right now. I know there are injuries, but the D is non-existent. Gutless.
That was a demoralizing quarter close. The Cavs body language was rough.
Dogshit offense and defense… silver lining is this is a perfect pump and dump game for DG
JA has got to stop playing like a pussy.
Really trick or treat by Travers here.
Ball don’t lie.
Any time Tomlin doesn’t get at least 25 minutes he better have six fouls or Kenny gets an electroshock.
God, I love Tomlin
Proctor obliterated. No call .
Perimeter defense non-existent again, Bulls 7-14 from 3, not dominating the boards. Seen this game too many times.
It’s Garland and Hunter being worse than everyone again.
Lonzo!
Take the fucking foul when you’ve got a mismatch with Collins under the basket and have a foul to give. Use your brain.
Nice pass proctor.
Goes Cavs way this time but Jfc these wreckless close out calls janking up the game
Well at least they’re calling it both ways.
Hunters man scores after 23 seconds of great d. News at 11.
Bah. JA has got to be more aggressive there against an out of position Collins.
Jfc
Dumbest rule in basketball
#GODUKE #THEBROTHERHOOD
The Proctor is in!
Thank you for the LT sir!!
Go Cavs!