2023-24 Season | Game #18 | Hawks @ Cavs | Nov. 28, 2023 | 7:30 p.m.

[Dr No]

Someone mentioned that Mitchell is due for a big game. I agree. After nine days off with a hammy he was 4-for-18 against the Lakers and 4-for-17 the next night against the Heat. Now with a day off and playing against a bad defense I expect he'll get back to his normal 30-point per game self.

I suspect DM will be looking to score early and often tonight. Its been a while since he had a big game. Atlanta has to look like a good opportunity for him.

 

[Anglefan]

No mention of the no-reason tournament? Blasphemy!

Today is the final day of the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament. The Cavs are on the outside looking in, unless the following happens:

1. Cavs win and the Heat, Celtics, Knicks, and Nets all lose.

or

2. Cavs win and hold a tie-breaker over any other group team in the East with a 3-1 record.

Since 1 requires two upsets to 12 or greater point favorites at home and won't happen, how do we know who we hold a tie-breaker over?

 

[shoes22]

Since 1 requires two upsets to 12 or greater point favorites at home and won't happen, how do we know who we hold a tie-breaker over?

We don't know, it's in flux because the tiebreaker is point differential, and a lot of those teams still have a game left to play.

To have a decent shot at advancing, we need to beat the Hawks tonight by +17 points or so.

 

[Lee]

No mention of the no-reason tournament? Blasphemy!

Today is the final day of the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament. The Cavs are on the outside looking in, unless the following happens:

1. Cavs win and the Heat, Celtics, Knicks, and Nets all lose.

or

2. Cavs win and hold a tie-breaker over any other group team in the East with a 3-1 record.

I am so glad, the courts are so awful, makes watching the games so unenjoyable

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Since the only ones to benefit from winning the tournament are the players, and they have more than enough money already, who cares?

 

[2 For The Brew]

Since the only ones to benefit from winning the tournament are the players, and they have more than enough money already, who cares?

Adam Silver and the geniuses who thought creating a virtual tournament was a brilliant idea.

 

[CavsFaninNJ]

Since the only ones to benefit from winning the tournament are the players, and they have more than enough money already, who cares?

I don't know - maybe it's the long-time die hard in me but just the competitive spirit as a fan, I would like for the Cavs to win it. Just from a Cavs perspective. It's almost reflexive. Of course I want them to win it.

But as a fan of NBA basketball, I don't really think it's significant.

I think it will become somewhat significant when a team wins the in-season tournament and the NBA title and that becomes the new pinnacle for a perfect season. Teams, and their fans, will want to win both of them.

 

[shoes22]

Since the only ones to benefit from winning the tournament are the players, and they have more than enough money already, who cares?

It's still a championship, even if made up and new this season, no? Things have meaning if people decide they do.

With that said, the Cavs odds of advancing to the quarterfinals are like 10%, even with a win tonight, so I'd temper any expectations for this year.

 

[Jake]

So no Cavs games to watch for over a week if they don't advance? Is that correct?

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

No mention of the no-reason tournament? Blasphemy!

No kidding.

 

[Jscc]

The Hawks with Trae are one of those teams along with the Pacers and Kings to where you can throw their stats out. They will shoot 110% from 3 against the Cavs everytime.

 

[RonG]

Cavs by 13 tonight.

 

[shoes22]

So no Cavs games to watch for over a week if they don't advance? Is that correct?

No. There would be two additional regular season games added to the schedule if they don't advance, one on December 6th, and another on December 8th. One home and one away.

 

[2 For The Brew]

No. There would be two additional regular season games added to the schedule if they don't advance, one on December 6th, and another on December 8th. One home and one away.

I think they will be games pulled from later in the season but I’m not sure.

 

[shoes22]

I think they will be games pulled from later in the season but I’m not sure.

No games being pulled, just games added on the dates I said. The schedule was released for every team with 80 games on it. The additional games are dependent on who advances in the in-season tournament.

The opponents for the two extra games will be Eastern Conference teams, likely teams we are only scheduled to play 3 times this season. Likely candidates are Boston, Orlando, or Toronto for the home game, and Miami, Charlotte or the Knicks for the road opponent.