Live Thread: Cavs vs Magic
2026-03-24Happy Tuesday, Cavs fans. Cleveland welcomes the Magic, tonight, with the wine and gold looking to stay locked in on the four seed to (hopefully) play Detroit in the second round. Meanwhile, the Magic have lost six straight including a heartbreaker to the Lakers on last second Luke Kennard triple, Saturday, and a two point stunner at home versus Indy last night. They’re two games behind the Hawks for the six seed and are hoping to avoid the play-in with the Raptors through the Hornets jockeying for the fifth through 10th spots.
The Magic remain without Franz Wagner, with Anthony Black, Jonathan Isaac, and Jalen Suggs joining him on the injured list. Jarrett Allen is still convalescing from tendonitis joining Tyrese Proctor, CPJ, and Jaylon Tyson on the IR, while Larry Nance is questionable. Cavs should have this one, but the Magic will be feisty and these teams always play each other tough. I’m calling a Cleveland cover. Go Cavs.
LT up
SUCKS!!!!!——- THEY CAN SOME OF MY NARCOTIC s
Wade hurt. Down 4 important players.
Hurt or back to back maintenance?
DID WE BRING UP MINNIX/ ENARUNA——- MR STEAL—YEAH I FORGOT ABOUT PROCTOR—- PLUS THE MOCK DRAFT s HAVE THE CAVS GETTING SOME INTERESTING PROSPECT s
No Allen, Strus, Tyson, or CPJ tonight. LNJ ?able.
Harden, Mitchell, Merrill, Wade, Mobley
Schröder, Ellis, Tomlin, Bryant
EAGER TO SEE THE DEFENSIVE EFFORT TONIGHT AFTER BEING CALLED OUT BY KA AND EVEN SPIDA——- KEON NEEDS TO GET MORE INVOLVED IN THE OFFENSE
OK JUST THROWING THIS OUT THERE ( MY NARCOTIC s ARE ON OVERDRIVE). THOUGHT I READ CAM THOMAS WAS RELEASED BY BUCK s —— SHOULD CAVS CONSIDER PICKING HIM UP/ SCORING/ INSTEAD OF UMLAUT—- NOT SURE IF HE IS A PT GD ——— BE NICE TO ME MR STEAL FOR THIS POST—- BLAME MY MEDS 🤪
All solutions are internal and solved by the return of Allen, and Mitchell and Harden and Tyson actually paying attention to their defensive assignments. I expect they’ll do that.
Oh and Strus getting his lost step back.
Cam Thomas would be a fun spark on a make-good deal in the offseason. But would you want him playing over Proctor?
Per FTS, Cavs are in the 99th percentile offensively with Harden, Mitchell, and Merrill on the floor. +9.9 points per 100, 90th percentile.
Why all the 3 guard lineups? Necessity, for one. The roster is not balanced. But KA looking for combos that work is the other.
https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-analysis/47010/cavs-takeaways-orlando-magic-cleveland-cavaliers-sam-merrill-james-harden-donovan-mitchell-paolo-banchero
It’s partly unbalanced, but I don’t think it’s more than Merrill / Harden / Mitchell / Allen / Mobley are your five best players.
I have had historical concerns about Sam’s floor game, where the hype has exceeded his actual production, but that has been blown away this year. Let him start, let Harden guard the SF.
Guys 6’5″ and under: Harden, Mitchell, Strus, Merrill, Tyson, Ellis, Schröder, CPJ, Proctor.
6’6″ or better: Mobley, Allen, Wade, Tomlin, Bryant, LNJ.
“3”-guard lineups are one thing. What hurts the most defensively are the “4”-guard lineups. They can’t be completely avoided while Jarrett is out. But in postseason I really hope all the minutes at 5 will go to actual centers (Jarrett, Mobley and Bryant), allowing Wade to help with big wings rather than trying to anchor the post in tiny lineups. I agree with Merrill starting. Much as I like Tyson, and while it’s great to have Strus back, I think for this season Merrill is the best player out of those 3 at both ends of the court.
good points. hope to somehow get Tyson back to top form
BTW, Harden had a spectacular assist last night (video on FTS): he drove into the paint and drew a crowd. he must have seen (or used ESP) Strus go from the right corner to the top of the key. as he went up to shoot with less than a second, he fired a behind the back bullet to Max, who drained a three — I startled an entire (non-sports) bar by shouting “Wow!”. Check it out — it should be on all “Top Ten” lists. Although Wade did not have a great game, multiple times his closing speed getting back… Read more »
KJG STILL BEATING THE “ WE SHOULD HAVE KEPT THE TY JEROME DRUM “—— HAVE THEY NOT WATCHED SAM THIS YEAR—— TY ( as usual) IS PUTTING UP “ EMPTY STATS “ ON A LOSING TEAM—- PLAYING EVERY 3rd / 4th game ——- KJG = CLUELESS
Never really read them. Were they also Sexton fans?
they appear to be a collective crew and occasionally have some decent insight mixed in with the crap and the cluelessness. I think they are encouraged to write provocative stuff because getting people pissed off increases “engagement” — a tactic very common in the online world.
They trade on rage clicks.
10 MORE GAMES—-APPOX 900 POSSESSIONS ON BOTH ENDS TO GET IT RIGHT——— TYSON SHOULD GET UMLAUT s MINUTES———- HOPED FOR SO MUCH MORE FROM HIM ( UMLAUT)
the problem is that Umlaut is an ultra fast PG, and Tyson isn’t.
remember we got killed last year when Jerome couldn’t get the ball up the court past the Pacers, which is why he is gone. can Tyson beat a full court press with the dribble? that would be great and a good thing to work on.
He was too hyper agressive early on. Not knowing the plays, the players, and with us shorthanded, it was a defensible choice.
But he was not efficient, at all.
If he dials it back, becomes more of a distributor, pace-pusher, and defensive pest, it can still work. If it gets late in the clock, then go be aggrsssive. But not from jump.
got that right. saw him in the second half last night, three straight times he zips up the court and straight to the basket. he made the first two, third was a brick.
ALOT OF PLAYERS COMMENTS SOUNDED VERY MUCH LIKE THEY LOST THIS GAME—KA LAID IT ON THE LINE “ VERY SHORT PLAYOFF SEASON WITH THAT TYPE OF DEFENSE “. THE CLOCK IS TICKING——- YOU CAN TELL THE MEDIA “ WE WILL FIGURE IT OUT “——— TALK IS CHEAP—— SHOW THE RESULTS ON THE FLOOR——- GO CAVS
anyone notice the last 0.2 sec play? the OM threw a 3/4 court pass. Hardin intercepted it with his hands by his chest and instantly shot the ball with both hands, and it was slightly short, hitting off the front of the rim. don’t know if it would have counted, but it was astonishing that he could do this.
Yeah I honestly thought it was going in, looked like it had the legs and the arc.
this time two weeks ago, there was a lot of angst that this team couldn’t close. we off that
this time two months ago, there was a lot of angst about transition defense. we off that
now, there is a lot of angst about perimeter defense (even though it’s been bad offense that has killed us in the playoffs).
we are figuring a lot out, and fast. plus Boston just slipped out of the two seed (tied with NY but NY is 2-1 against them)
They’ve played two bad teams, got a lucky run against the Pels, and the Magic are swooning and were missing several guys. They also gave up 131 points. Harden taking over some reins has helped with closing games, but the concerns are definitely still “on.”
NOMAD and others were worried about the Magic two weeks ago, now they don’t matter? We are missing guys too.
There is nothing the Cavs can do in the next ten games to calm the worrywarts. If we have a good defensive game, the excuse will be it’s a bad team.
We have a ridiculous net rating, as pointed out, with Harden / Mitchell / Merrill, and separately with the 4 stars. We don’t need more than 2 good defensive quarters to win at present. We know it, the players know it, Kenny knows it.
Entertaining but flawed game.
Cleveland Rocks! Highly entertaining both ways. Team survived Tony Brothers and Wagner the lessor did not inflict significant bodily harm (or even draw a boo).
his injury really slowed him down, he looks like he can’t move at all
Mitchell finishes with a Jackie Robinson.
Spida ices it (hopefully) with our first points in the last 2 min.
One of the best closers in the business.
Dumb foul there. Really dumb.
Magic have a shot with a stop.
3 straight offensive rebounds for the Magic.
2 last possession. 1 this.
Big play on D from Mitchell there.
He wants this win. He’s played extremely well but seems frustrated by the team’s performance.
Think this gets overturned.
My sincere apologies to Mr. Thomas Darryl Dawkins Bryant, I will never libel your dunking prowess again.
He most definitely heard you.
Merrill has improved so much in the last couple years attacking off the dribble; to a degree that does not seem possible at this level and at his age.
Not surprisingly, the “Ellis+Strus at forward” lineup cannot get a stop right now..
DOES ANYBODY WANT TO GUARD ON THE PERIMETER?????????
HARDEN SPOKE WITH HIS ACTIONS ON THE COURT——— I AM TOTALLY GUILTY ( PROBABLY ALOT BIASED NOW) HOW GOOD/ HOW HE CAN CONTROL A GAME AND LEAD / COMPETE —HARDEN BRINGS SO MUCH MORE THAN WHAT DG COULD DELIVER RIGHT NOW
That’s how you start a quarter (Q3)!
A little late coming out. KA or a vet reading a riot act?
For what? We took a few big punches, came back, took the lead. Offensive process is fantastic.
Nothing specific. Just odd timing. Likely nothing.
KA was ripping them about their D. On the record.
Magic played a tight game (and lost) against Indy. Any chance home team turns up the pace in the second half, or are we back to strolling the ball into the forecourt on (too) many posessions?
Our defense remains terrible.
68 points to Orlando without Wagner & a slew of others. On a b2b.
We are shooting 66% on FGs and 50% from deep and perfect at the line and are up 4. -5 on the glass. -4 at the FT the line.
Knicks tied with the Pels.
Banchero just broad jumped damn near six feet into Harden’s landing space on that closeout!
Let’s go Pelicans
HARDEN BAILOUT NOW PLAY SOME DEFENSE FFS
Paolo can’t believe he fell for it.
Grift gift
EARTH TO KENNY YOU STILL CAN’T REBOUND
YOU HAVE FOUR GUARDS IN THE LINEUP YOU GAVE UP REBOUND AFTER REBOUND
Donovan with another brilliant pass that became a hockey assist leading to a layup.
WE MAY HAVE “ WHIFFED “ BALL / LNJ —- HIT IT WITH BRYANT 👍👍
The best of the 3, for sure. And the youngest.
Harden has to carry this lineup offensively, and is doing so. Sam, Wade, Tomlin, Ellis.
SO TRUE SIMMO —- HE STABALIZES THE SHIP—- IN A WAY FEW PLAYERS CAN
Tomlin did well on Paolo then.
My brain is still trying to reconcile the relief I feel when Harden in on the court with the way I used to feel about his Golden Turd days.
Don’t try to unwind that duality. It is what is is. What was a grift is now a gift.
LOL, I like that.
For me the league context has changed a bit too. I “used” to have that feeling about Harden, but right now he doesn’t look like such a grifter compared to (for example) SGA and Brunson, who are like the “Splash Brothers” of foul-baiting.
Harden is lighting Paolo up.
CHEF UNO RAGE TIMEOUT
GET SCHRODER OUTTA THERE WHY DO WE PLAY STUPID LINEUPS LIKE THIS HARDEN AND MITCHELL ARE ALREADY IN!!!!!!
Because we lack big wings outside of Wade and KA needs to see how some other guys hold up at the 3 defensively. Harden, Merrill, & Ellis all in that boat.
Thomas Bryant looking like Shawn Kemp out here.
TB!
There’s another one for you, WIndmill!!
Was about to say, maybe I wasn’t paying attention! lol
Holy crap, I can’t keep up.
Hell yeah. Thomas Bryant.
DOUBLE BIG WORKS KENNY
I seem to recall perimeter defence being a problem the last two times these teams played.
WAS WRONG PANCHERO 40–45 🤬
Great shot by Carter.
Cavs not able to find the loose balls.
Or defend the 3.
Brad Daugherty ripping them pretty good on the tele…..Defensive accountability.
Dog shit defense, no Tomlin, no surprise
Nicely executed by Bryant!
I think that’s the first time I’ve seen Bryant dunk all season! Great execution on both ends of that play including Donovan’s alley-opp.
Really?
Yeah – I like his addition to the bench, so it wasn’t meant as snark. But there’s been many plays (relatively speaking, as he’s more often shooting from 3) where he gets the ball at the rim and goes for a layup, and I’m wondering why at 6’9+ he doesn’t try to dunk it.
Schröder was worth it to get off Ball and to get Keon, but The Umlaut extracts a heavy tax.
thank you Nate! in class rn
Nice Schroeder-Strus two-man action getting Strus a wide open 3.
Dennis’s lone good play.
Late to this. When did Strus come off the bench?
2 minutes ago?
Bah. Wade couldn’t rotate off Bane to get to Paolo, and the Magic take a four point lead.
Rare Harden “slam”
Find something you love as much as Mobley loves biting on pump fakes.
he never used to bite on them rookie year :(
BANCHERO DOING WHAT HE DOES AGAINST CAVS —— WILL GET HIS 30-35
👍🙏 NATE — WOULD BE NICE TO SEE A “ WIRE TO WIRE “ CLEAN GAME / DOUBLE DIGIT LEAD THE ENTIRE GAME— GO CAVS !!