2023-24 Season | Game #27 | Rockets @ Cavs | Dec. 18, 2023 | 7:00 p.m.

[BigZ94]

How about JBB putting Merrill in in OT? He gets five points including a huge 3 with 1:37 left. LeVert was having a bad game so JBB went with Merrill instead. Wow!

The injuries to Garland and Mobley may be a blessing in disguise because it's allowing Okoro and Merrill to really emerge and show what they can do while building their confidence. We will be a better team when Garland and Mobley get back than we were before the injuries.

Mitchell was a warrior tonight with 37 points in 44 minutes, plus 6 assists. He was involved in at least 50 points. Okoro did it all; 11 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists. Wade had 12 points on just 5 shots, going 4-for-5.

This should have been an easy win if not for 12 missed free throws, 6 by Thompson. Allen missed three more. The Rockets were 24-for-27.

VanVleet was amazing with 27 points and 17 assists the night after playing 39 minutes. I think he finally ran out of gas as he missed a shot with seven seconds left in regulation and another in the OT. Jeff Green was spectacular going 6-for-6 and was a team high +16. Can we trade for this guy? Not bad for a 37-year-old.

The other Green, Jalen, was 2-for-12 and didn't exactly prove he was a better choice than Evan Mobley with the second pick in the draft, at least not tonight.

I still think Niang might be the worst player in the NBA who is getting regular minutes. He does nothing well at either end of the floor.

Fantastic win. Merrill had 19 points in 24 minutes plus 4 rebounds, 3 assists, a steal, and even a block. He was a team high +13. Amazing.

It’s great he’s giving those guys a chance however it’s annoying it has to take multiple injuries for him to expand his rotations

 

[Adam]

It’s great he’s giving those guys a chance however it’s annoying it has to take multiple injuries for him to expand his rotations

This is my key issue. He only does it when he has no choice. Therefore he can't take credit for it. His instincts are what we pay a lot of money for and his instincts are trash

 

[WestchesterCavsFan]

Sammy is what I envisioned Windler to be. Great job Sammy

 

[avs2000]

is one player (and i am not saying it is only one) not enough to support my argument?

the systematic issues are a problem. houston was 2-9 on the road, and mitchell played 29 straight minutes through overtime to barely beat them. it's not sustainable.

porter played fine today, and built the lead, could have spelled him for a few minutes.

Just a matter of time until JBB gets dm hurt by playing him 40 mins a night.
Time to give IMobley a shot too
Before you know we will have our summer league team

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Just a matter of time until JBB gets dm hurt by playing him 40 mins a night.
Time to give IMobley a shot too
Before you know we will have our summer league team

Mitchell has played 40 minutes or more in four of his 22 games this year. He's averaging 36 minutes.

 

[macbdog]

First of all, I prefer we move on from JBB and have said that for a while now. Late to the party? Sure. I’d like someone with a more proactive modern take to offense than JBB

But oh man, I also can not wait to have a new coach to see where people assign the blame for every single aspect of every season, game, half, quarter, and play without the boogeyman to dump it ALL on.

Although. let’s be real, anything that goes wrong in the first 9-12 months after he’s fired will still be put on him.

Blame algorithm, excluding coach:

1. GM
2. Fans
3. Refs/NBA
4. Fans again
5. Players themselves

 

[scene42]

Feeling encouraged by the last two games. The wins are sweet, but at the bare minimum I wanted to see:

• Allen getting more touches and being used a hub
• CPJ getting developmental opportunities
• Ball movement

Allen is benefiting from being the only big on the floor (as is the rest of the team), but they're intentionally getting the ball to him. CPJ is getting some burn, though I'd still like to see JBB exhibit more trust in situational moments. To that point, I also wasn't a fan of Donovan playing 26 minutes straight last night, but it doesn't feel like we're living or dying by his offense at least.

 

[Cavatt]

This is my key issue. He only does it when he has no choice. Therefore he can't take credit for it. His instincts are what we pay a lot of money for and his instincts are trash

Yep. I just posted this in another thread, but this team has more depth than super great subs. JB does not seem like the mix and match kind of coach and it totally feels like the depth is wasted on him. He can't get Merrill in one of those games where nobody can hit a 3? Porter can't get run in one of those games where there is no penetration and the offense is clunky and not working without a pg?

 

[avs2000]

Mitchell has played 40 minutes or more in four of his 22 games this year. He's averaging 36 minutes.

yes, and with Garland out that is sure to go up

 

[Tlyons]

The other thing(besides Mitchell getting a breather)we're missing out on when JBB shut CPJ down for the entire second half is 3rd and 4th quarter game reps. Look what Merrill just did in overtime with the game on the line. That is invaluable experience that will almost certainly play a positive role in how he approaches crunch time situations and the player he becomes.

3rd and 4th quarters are when the game gets hot and heavy. We are robbing our young point guard of opportunities that will help him and this team now and down the road(possibly in the playoffs). These reps are crucial.

I'm just a guy watching on TV. So I'll look to our coach who is the one who said CPJ should have regular minutes when everyone is healthy.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Merrill is 14 for his last 28 on 3's.

 

[Dr No]

Merrill is 14 for his last 28 on 3's.

I’m genuinely surprised when he misses