Playoff Live Thread: Knicks @ Cavs, Game 4 ECF 2026-05-25 101 By Chris Francis Good evening CtB! The Cavs “fight” for their season tonight and some semblance of professional pride. Schröder is out, Mike Snyder seems to believe it’s Jaylon Tyson’s night… let’s see what the kid’s got, Go Cavs! Playoff Live Thread: Knicks @ Cavs, ECF Game 3
I’ll be rooting for Wemby and Spurs. Thunder/Knicks? – not sure which way I would go. At the arena was fairly brutal. Knicks fans nearby were reasonably well behaved, but understandably annoying. Chatted up a Cavs partial season ticket owner who was happy to see another Cavs fan (me) sitting nearby. We were both appreciative of the season, and like basically everybody on team (w possible exception of a fellow named James). Had hoped for a chance to show appreciation for home team after game, but that was just not happening. Knicks (at least this post-season) travel well. Loudest visitors… Read more »
Good on you flying the flag , Patrick!
gotta admit that Burson looked pretty darn good. don’t know if he is in a hot streak or what, but he has made me a fan (other than playing in NY)
COLD ONES —- WILL BE RIGHT OVER RAOUL———- POSTED A COUPLE WEEKS AGO—- THERE WILL BE ALOT OF “ WHAT IF S “ SURFACING——- CAN GO TO OUR DRAFT PICK s SEXTON/ ICE —- TO THE SPIDA TRADE— THE LIST GOES ON ——- WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE THE COMMENT s POSTED
now is the time to second guess that stuff, but don’t take it to seriously — it is always easy to see what the smart move would have been after five years or so. —- off to Tony’s.
Sexton (for us) was better than expected for a #8 pick but bad lotto luck.
Okoro was a miss who I liked a lot.
Draft picks, FO and coaching are about all the same. We’ve been a B/B+ franchise. Very good but never overachieving outside of maybe a stretch in 21-22 and the 24-25 and never getting excellent as Indiana and NY have done.
You want more but it takes a LOT of luck
starting now, it is time to figure out what to do going forward. and the cupboard is beyond bare. for some selfinflicted pain, we can review the trades that got us to where we are.
THANK YOU TREIZE AND ALL YOU CTB BROS——— EVEN THOUGH WE MIGHT DISAGREE AT TIMES YOUR ENLIGHTENED OPINION s ARE ALWAYS WELCOMED/ APPRECIATED———“ MORE BEER 🍺 PLEASE “ ———- SHOULD BE AN INTERESTING SUMMER!!!
I am about to head out for a couple cold ones!
Im not sure why but this Cavs playoff run was the least enjoyable in recent memory. Just not a real likeable squad imo
I’ll point out that very few cTb commenters had the season ending as late as 5/25.
A great movie with the worst ending ever :( enjoy the summer
Well, interacting with all of you and the CTB faithful was the highlight of my season. I guess the real Cavs playoff run was the friends we made along the way. ♥️ Go Spurs
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYw-nhGMfLv/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
Thank you as always to Nate, Chris, Eli, and especially ALL COMMENTERS on another fun season that ended earlier than any of us would have wanted.
Still, have to admit I enjoyed this year much better than ’18-’19 for sure!
Seconded!
61-33 REBOUNDING—- NEED I SAY MORE ——— LET THE OFF SEASON SOAP OPERA / DRAMA START ———- SEE WHOLESALE CHANGES COMING
There is a lot to say on this, but what is clear is the Cavs have tried to get by without wings. The last three playoff losses:
2024: Boston (Tatum, Brown)
2025: Indiana (Siakam, Nesmith)
2026: NY: (Anunoby, Bridges, Hart)
Much has been made of Tower City and the small backcourt, but I think this series showed that without wings, you can win a lot of regular season games, maybe even a few playoff rounds… but without two-way, switchable defenders, you cannot finish the deal.
Yeah, but the only chance to get a good wing was Mobley over Barnes, which is not a bad choice at all. We tried so much to get one and it’s just not panned out
Understood. It’s an upper-tier kind of problem. What I think the wing deficiency exposes is the lack of switchability on defense and flexibility on offense. Harden/Mitchell cannot hide on D and Wade/Allen are not offensive enough. In general, they are not athletic enough, which is why they barely survived Barnes and the Raptor scrubs and Cade and the one-dimensional Pistons…and why they could not fastbreak a basket. Maybe Tyson can become that guy?
You hope for Tyson / Tomlin and maybe Niang or the FRP.
But there’s a reason Mikal went for 5 FRPs annd OG went for two really great young prospects…actual good wings have high market value.
Well, the past three years we lost to the Eastern Conference champ…consolation?
Proctor checking in
We had to lose a series healthy to take away the excuses. Have to learn from it, do the little things, because you can’t out talent teams unless you get Giannis and Bron for very little
Losing this way may ensure an “everything is on the table” off-season.
Oh, everything will be on the table. For one more year, Watson’s contract will be the worst deal in Cleveland…but Harden’s player option will be a close second.
I don’t mind it for the right deal. I mind an “anything is better than this burn it down” but there are swings that make sense if you can pull them off.
I don’t think Kenny survives but I also don’t think that’s a panacea.
getting Bron for free is the only chance.
44-24 REBOUNDING—— ANY QUESTION THAT THE CAVS DIDNT COME TO PLAY——— ONLY KIDDING YOURSELF——— EMBARRASSING/ FRUSTRATING/ —— FANS DESERVE MORE OF AN EFFORT!!!!!
They are trying. Knicks are just in a great zone and getting every bounce.
Fans let NY take over Rocket…iono
THAT needs to be discussed. I am shocked our fan base didn’t show up for this.
This is more the Knicks being unbelievable than us being low energy.
Shamet hitting 90% from 3 OG plus 50+ Mikal 70+
Legler comment about everyone in rhythm at once 1-9 is accurate. No one has done this, not even Indy last year.
Oh stfu.They’re not that good. They’re making a team that lost two games to Atlanta look like the GD Globetrotters.
There’s a reason they’re in rhythm. The Cavs haven’t played any defense and are completely demoralize by their idiot coach.
crash out time. take a nap
I was lucky — I failed to set the alarm to “on” so I slept through the first half.
Step one on getting them prepared for next season is firing Atkinson. I’ll be disappointed if he’s the Cavs head coach next season.
no chance of that. unfortuately that is about the only decent move the Cavs have.
Numbers don’t lie, the point differential is nuts: whatever you think about the individual players they are all playing awesome at once.
They lost two games BY TWO points to the Hawks. If your only losses are one possession games, you’re good. This is as strong as any of the LeBron EC runs
no way. the Cavs were undefeated through the first three rounds of the playoffs every year with LeBron.
No, what the Knicks are doing and the level they are playing at is as strong. My bad, wasn’t clear, but 12-2 with two one-possession losses is up there with Cavs 16-17.
MGK in the house, representin’
Appreciate the humor, even when a bit of gallows
Trade everyone and rebuild around Mobley and Tyson.
THIS
I’m open to keeping Proctor, CPJ, Tomlin and Bryant. Maaaaybe Strus and Merrill. Everyone else gotta go.
And I will always love Jarrett Bookstore Allen, but sometimes you gotta break up for everyone’s good.
“ EVERYTHING IS OK SPIDA —— WE ARE STILL WINNING THE ANALYTIC s 🤮”
DISCUSSING TEE TIME/ WHICH GOLF COURSE FOR TOMORROW
Long convo between coach and just DM
Any speculations?
OMG
JA 1 FG ATTEMPT 🤮
And only 2 boards
Knicks will have a good chance in the Finals. Something I’m a bit surprised to say.
But the diff is less than 20 (finally), so let’s not get ahead of ourselves just yet…
After watching the halftime “analysis,” I would love to see Kenny, Chuck, and Shaq have to explain how the Cavs came back and won.
Why I’m still at arena
HATE TO SAY I POSTED THIS EARLIER TODAY ABOUT CAVS “ NOT WANTING TO GO BACK TO NEW YORK——- READY TO GET THEIR GOLF CLUBS OUT “ ——- I HATE BEING CORRECT!!! —- NOT REALLY—- “ THE “ MRS NOMAD SAYS I AM NEVER RIGHT
What are the improvements needed for this team for next season?
The plot is being laid out in my opinion for Bron to comeback, one last championship or deep conference playoffs run then tour the 25th season.
Because I’d rather have him anytime than James Harden.
This is a good conversation for the upcoming offseason. This series magnifies our deficiencies, but it’s pretty clear the Knicks are in a space we cannot match.
Keeping the game on in the background. Good time to fold some laundry, water indoor plants, work on next year’s taxes, etc.
Heading out for a jog. Might be back later to inspect the carcass.
I can’t remember last FG.
Welp.
Pathetic. This team has quit in its coach in the eastern conference finals. Analytically, they’re ahead though.
It is hard to keep going when you know the other team is better.
SA got crushed G3. OKC got crushed G4. Minny got crushed in an elimination game. It happens all the time.
Tonight perhaps we let go of the rope a little. But, it isn’t like it is gonna make a difference.
Nice… this morning was the first time Stephen A. and I agreed on something.
Again, just as a reminder, by point differential, this New York Knicks are the best team in NBA history since going down 2-1 to the Hawks.
We have flaws. But to say they are playing well right now is an understatement.
Agreed–we literally cannot get into the lane. The have sealed it off. Our only offense is Harden drawing fouls.
I think both fan bases are booing Harden’s free throws, BTW….
Bummer.
Defense gets torched, Kenny subs in 4 guard lineup with a 6’4″ small forward LOL
The game is not even 14 minutes old. Ugh
Harden is just a basketball terrorist. Hope to God the Cavs dont extend him
They cannot. He has cost them so many baskets on turnovers and not getting back on defense…I cannot watch this next year.
Gave up 38 points with garbage defense, should be ashamed.
Another 38 point first quarter by the Knicks.
Cavs defense really not up to the task this first quarter. Sigh.
So fun following a small market team. NBA LP asks “would you like to watch some key plays to catch up?” Sure, ok. It provides 5 Knicks buckets.
Well tbf, the Knicks are the better team and thus provide lore and better highlights
Shamet 14 for his last 18 from 3?! Thats unbeatable
All of them wide open, mind.
You beat me to it!
But that’s the thing. Our guys have had lots of wide open shots. Haven’t gone in.
Also true.
Knicks have done everything right, closed out all their series as quickly as possible, gotten lots of rest, and are reaping the benefits.
Is that right? Wow. It helps when he’s left wide open, like on that last one.
I am having flashbacks to the 2010 series against the Magic. Anyone else old enough to remember Nelson, Lewis, Alston, and Turkoglu launching threes at ridiculous percentage? A few of those guys were on steroids, at least…
Merrill and Wade.
The way the Knicks fight over screens versus the Cavs’ passive switching is not a great sign.
Well, let’s try to fight on.
You never know what could happen if you fight on. Someone gets hot. Someone goes cold. Someone turns an ankle. Etc.
Go Cavs.
Mobley & Mitchell
If they actually play well defensively, we’ll win
NO ONE IS RUNNING BACK ON DEFENSE GET SOME FRESH LEGS IN KENNY ARE YOU ASLEEP???????
GET STRUS OUT OF THERE! MISSED 3 AND DIDN’T RUN BACK ON DEFENSE
Enough of the breakaways for the Knicks already.
U THE MAN !!! DASPEC 90 …………. “ MORE BEER 🍺 PLEASE “
GO CAVS !!! ——HOPING THIS IS NOT THE LAST LIVE CTB ———- TYSON TO THE RESCUE!!!!
He has been pooptastic so far, sadly
I’ve done my preparations for this game: I’m starting with an IPA, and I’ve got hard liquor on the bench if I need it.
No Schröder. Tyson time.
Go Cavs! Either way, going to be hoarse tomorrow.
Let’s go Cavs.