• Changing RCF's index page, please click on "Forums" to access the forums.

2023-24 Season | Game #30 | Cavs @ Bulls | Dec. 23, 2023 | 8:00 p.m.

Do Not Sell My Personal Information
This may be very controversial on this board, but JBB is cooking in these games without DG, DM, Mobley.
Now, it may be because he's not allowed to use the microwave and actually use the players on the roster. But it is cooking.
I hope it continues when all of these players are available. There is some serious talent on this team.

Great team win from the Cavs following the shellacking against the Zion-less Pelicans.
Only one "real" point guard, no LeVert or Sam Merrill available, playmaking by committee and the Cavs just ground out a win.
CPJ, Strus, JA killed it. Dean continues his stretch of great two-way play. Okoro didn't have a great shooting night but he didn't quit taking the 3s when available.

JBB put out a lineup of NIANG, DAMIAN JONES, AND TT to spell Strus and Allen and I'm just LOL at it all.

I think the vibes are coming back.
 
couple of last thoughts:

1. we tend to only talk about offense when we talk about talent. But the guys we played tonight are mostly talented defenders and it showed.
2. Guys who know how to play basketball are often underrated. But we see it over and over again in college basketball when lower talent teams beat higher talent teams regularly because they are teams with guys that know how to play. The guys we played tonight are guys that know how to play.

That's why our winning 4 out of the last 5 while "undermanned" isn't as fluky as most people think. Every night this group is going to play defense and play smart.
 
The Cavs began the 4th quarter with a 10-point lead. JBB started his bench to rest the starters for the final push. He went with Jones, Thompson, Niang, Wade and Porter. Two centers, two power forwards, and a point guard. Nobody in that group can create their own shot except CPJ. I was wondering about that lineup, but he obviously wanted to rest Allen, Strus, Okoro, and Wade for the end.

That group of misfits actually pushed the lead from 10 to 17 points in the first 1:05 of the 4th quarter. But the Bulls went on a 9-0 run before Allen and Okoro entered the game at the 8:25 mark. The Bulls pulled to with 5 points before Strus made a huge 3-pointer with 6:50 mark, the first Cavs field goal in 4:05. The Strus hit a layup and another 3-pointer for an Individual 8-0 run to push the lead back to 13 points and the Cavs traded buckets the rest of the way. Strus tacked on two more free throws for a 10-0 run before another teammate scored.

I thought JBB waited too long to bring back Allen, Wade, Okoro and Strus once things started going south, but once he did Strus took over with three big shots around a couple of defensive stops to push the lead back to 13 and stop the Bulls last push.
 
Three days off to rest up, work on some things in practice, and hopefully get Mitchell, LeVert, and Merrill back before we take on the Mavs in Dallas. And that's three more days closer to Garland and Mobley getting back where we don't lose any games.
 
In the last two weeks the Bulls beat New Orleans (17-13), Philadelphia (20-8), and the Lakers (16-14). They also split with Milwaukee (22-7), with both games going to overtime. This is with the same lineup the Cavs played last night.

The Bulls must still be wondering WTF just happened.
 
Wham with the Right Hand said:
The Bulls pulled to with 5 points before Strus made a huge 3-pointer with 6:50 mark, the first Cavs field goal in 4:05. The Strus hit a layup and another 3-pointer for an Individual 8-0 run to push the lead back to 13 points and the Cavs traded buckets the rest of the way. Strus tacked on two more free throws for a 10-0 run before another teammate scored.
Click to expand...

I love Strus.

Reminds me of JR's role from that Big Three Cavs run.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Rubber Rim Job Podcast Video

Episode 3-14: "Time for Playoff Vengeance on Mickey"

Rubber Rim Job Podcast Spotify

Episode 3:14: " Time for Playoff Vengeance on Mickey."
Top