Podcap: Cleveland 125, Detroit 94 (Or, Breaking Through)
2026-05-18The Donovan Mitchell Cavs did it. 10 years after winning the greatest championship in North American pro sports history: to say that losing in the second round of an NBA playoffs would have been a disappointment for Spida and his friends would be the biggest understatement in Cavalier history. Fortunately, the lights were not too bright in Detroit. The question remains, though, will they be too bright on Broadway?
To break down the break through – an epic Game Seven smackdown of the Pistons – Nate, Chris, and Eli jovially piled into the pod booth before garbage time was even over to break down the game and the series. The guys all had different reactions: some saw it coming, some were gobsmacked, and some were relieved. We were all happy that our season isn’t over yet. After taking stock of a monster game seven from Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen.
For the second, half, our pod contemplated Knicks series. How do the starters, the bench, and the coaches match up? What are the keys to beating the Knicks? Do the Cavs have a secret weapon deep in the skunkworks of the Q? Are there barely concealed skeletons in New York’s closet? Who could the Cavs face in the finals? It was pod full of joy and relief.
As always, catch us below, download the full audio file, or listen on Apple Podcasts, TuneIn, or Spotify.
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REST OR RUST FOR THE KNICKS—— WE SHALL SEE——— UNFORTUNATELY THE MEDIA/ TV DEFINITELY WANT THE KNICKS IN THE FINALS——-AM SURE THE CALLS WiLL FAVOR THE KNICKS!!
Cleveland against the World!!!
Great episode! Sleep deprived/delirious Nate is the best Nate 💯🤠
Lol. I was definitely that
Great pod.
Go Cavs
Thanks, man!
Agree on the strategy.
1) Keep 2 of JA/Mobes/Wade on court as much as possible.
2) Don’t overhelp on Brunson. Play D without fouling. Go at him on D. But they will hide him on Strus/Wade.
3) Gotta take care of the ball & rebound.
4) Don’t forget about the bigs. Go at KAT.
Spurs in 6. Wemby breaks the rules. Pop, Duncan, Robinson, Manu, Parker, and Elliot are still very much around in SA and in the ears of the young guys.
how is putting Brunson on Strus “hiding” him? Strus will score a ton and beat him up
Knicks in 5.
That would be depressing. Hope its more competitive than that but I honestly have no clue as far as predictions go.
Cavs in 6
I agree. Cavs in 6.
OG is good. Bridges is the 2 guard. Hart is more the forward.
Brunson > Harden.
Mitchell > Bridges
Strus = Hart
Mobley > OG
KAT > Allen
———-
MRob > Wade (backup big)
Merrill > McBride
Clarkson > Schröder
Shamet > Tyson
Alvarado > Ellis
————-
KA = Brown
KAT > Allen ??
NY will be tougher.
Brunson is a better shooter than Cade and cleaner with the ball. KAT is a legit 2nd initiator. And OG/Bridges are very good wings/forwards. And Hart is not quite the defender Thompson is, but he is smarter and a better shooter. And MRob on the glass.
maybe. the Cavs got homered on X-mas day, and are also a lot better now.
Brunson really regarded as better than Cade?
Yeah, we dropped a one possession game on Xmas and smacked them in Feb (without Mobley I think?) having competent PG play is enough for us to go band for band with NY
On offense, Brunson definitely better. Cade is a better defender and probably better overall in the aggregate.
thnx, good data
I think the biggest adjustments KA made were:
1) Starting Strus. Gave us length on bench.
2) Put Mobes/Wade on Harris more.
3) Feed the bigs more.
4) Don’t help on Cade as much. Starve the others.
5) Point Mitchell.
In terms of Harris, he feasted on backing down smaller guys (Strus, Harden, Tyson, Mitchell) when we had Mobes roaming off of Thompson and Wade on Cade.
As the series went on, Mobley spent more time on Tobais. There were no backdowns anymore there.
As you guys pointed out, with Strus starting, we had 2 bigs at all times when Wade was in. Wade was not matching Cade. So he spent a lot of time on Harris, who is their 2nd/3rd option.
As the series wore on, Duren and Harris got completely taken out of the game by JA/Mobes and Mobes/Wade. That is their #2 & #3 options.
Doing that and making Cade beat you & wearing him down is the better play. Especially early. If he is off, then it is game over. If he is killing you it wears him down. Switch tactics if you fall behind.
When given chances, Harris (early on), Robinson, Reed, and LeVert did some damage. Jenkins too. Even Reed G6. Don’t let Cade make it easy for those guys.
On the Cavs front, it was really nice to see Mitchell the distributor return. He did that a lot when DG was here/hurt. DG can shoot off ball.
When Harden came, it obviously made the most sense for Harden to be more of the PG and Spida the scorer as we get everyone integrated. It is who they are as players at this point, at their core.
But Mitchell is still the mote dynamic guy who can more easily break down a more aggressive, long, physical D. And Harden can still shoot and space the floor and playmake off closeouts.
Wemby looks like he’s out there playing nerf basketball against his little brother’s friends.
haha — so true!
this is great!
This might be quittin’ talk, but I’m ok with the WCF being for all the marbles. The two teams left in the East can meet up in a bar, do some boat racing and watch the games.
I actually think the Cavs, with JA, EM and TB might be able to wear him down. It will take a village.
Images of Liliputians in Gulliver’s Travels come to mind.
For the record, we did beat the Spurs both times, but that was Wemby on a minutes restriction, and before Castle & Harper oevelled up.
Pre-Harden trade, too, though.
You have to either shoot lights out from deep, get Wemby in foul trouble, our hope for a poor shoorlring/high TO game from their backcourt.
Defensively, I wonder if this was what is what like to watch Russell or Chamberlain.
They were not as long as Wemby. But more athletic. Russell was top 10 in the world in high jump and Wilt could do 6’6″ and did triple jump. And this is pre Fosbury Flop and big soft landing mats.
But just almost complete and utter deterrence at the rim. I have seen some great defenders. Dream. The Admiral. Mount Mutombo. Even late 70s Kareem. Nothing like Wemby.
AGREE WITH YOU JASON—— HE IS JUST NOW PUTTING ON SOME “ MAN WEIGHT/ MUSCLE “
Wemby is most valuable.
No one else should win it for like 5 years.
Wemby might break basketball.
Wemby. Oh man.
It just ain’t fair.
That’s a flagrant 1
Wow. Hell of a shot by wemby.
That was incredible
Not a bad Game 1 on the Western front.
Was thinking the exact same thing.
THE BEST THING ABOUT THE CAVS WIN LAST NIGHT IS THAT THE “ CTB BROTHERHOOD “ IS GIFTED WITH MORE TIME TOGETHER 👍👍😁😁————-I WILL DRINK TO THAT “ MORE BEER 🍺 PLEASE “ !!
Cheers NOMAD!!!