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2023-24 Season | Game #29 | Pelicans @ Cavs | Dec. 21, 2023 | 7:30 p.m.

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bushwick_bill said:
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I'm assuming DM isn't seriously injured and could go if it were a playoff game. I wonder if he'd be playing had we lost last night. With the win, and having taken 3 in a row, it gives us the opportunity to really rest/heal DM since we don't play again until Saturday. He is going to carry a heavy load until Garland returns, so giving him a week "off" this time of year while going at worst 3-1 is pretty fortunate.
 
Dr No said:
I'm assuming DM isn't seriously injured and could go if it were a playoff game. I wonder if he'd be playing had we lost last night. With the win, and having taken 3 in a row, it gives us the opportunity to really rest/heal DM since we don't play again until Saturday. He is going to carry a heavy load until Garland returns, so giving him a week "off" this time of year while going at worst 3-1 is pretty fortunate.
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Donovan isn’t injured, but rather suffering from an illness
 
With Mitchell out we better hope Valanciunas and Zion are also out. Or at least on a minutes restriction. What would really be great is if both Vala and Cody Zeller were out since they are the starting and backup centers. Zeller is also questionable with an illness.

All of these guys played Tuesday night so it appears the symptoms showed up yesterday. So I think there's a decent chance they won't be playing.
 
Wham with the Right Hand said:
In the second half Sexton chased Merrill around and mostly prevented him from taking 3's. They also switched people like Markkanen onto him to prevent 3's. He still made a couple in the second half, but he wasn't getting open looks like in the first.

The Pelicans excel in preventing the 3. Ingram is 6'8", Williamson 6'6", Jones 6'7", and Vala 6'11". McCollum is 6'3". They have height everywhere and they saw what Merrill did last night and noted the Cavs took 51 three-point shots. They will be prepared to defend the 3 tonight and they're very good at it.

However, they rank 27th in opponents' 2-point percentage, so the key is to drive on them. They're 25th in block percentage. Valanciunas is not very quick and he's not a leaper. I don't expect Merrill to light it up tonight - the Pelicans will be ready. But pump fakes and blow-bys should be effective.
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Hopefully the chasing results to open shots close to the hoop. There were two easy layups by Tristan and Levert in the second half as a result of two people following Merrill around screens. It reminded me of Korver gravity.
Them being 27th in 2pt percentage lends itself to that being an area for the Cavs to exploit tonight.

Great Analysis as always Wham!
 
Prime 1978 said:
Hopefully the chasing results to open shots close to the hoop. There were two easy layups by Tristan and Levert in the second half as a result of two people following Merrill around screens. It reminded me of Korver gravity.
Them being 27th in 2pt percentage lends itself to that being an area for the Cavs to exploit tonight.

Great Analysis as always Wham!
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Yep, what we've needed is 3-point sharpshooters who can draw the defender out and open up space for DG, DM, and LeVert to attack the rim and also for Allen and Mobley to operate one-on-one in the low post.
 
Cavs players dropping like flies with these injuries. Something must be said about the team's medical staff.
 
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