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2023-24 Season | Game #32 | Bucks @ Cavs | Dec. 29, 2023 | 7:30 p.m. | NBA-TV

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It's funny. I was kind of proud of JB for pulling Caris and keeping Porter in. Coach made the right call.
Me too!!! I thought for sure he was going to put Caris in, and I would have gotten really irritated. Again they absolutely when Mobley and DG is back can beat the Bucks... It is going to be interesting to see how everything plays out from now until the deadline... I trust Koby and the front office to make the right moves. I am still feeling really good about this team...
 
I wanna know why Wade is getting flamed for missing 3s when he took 2 of them yet DM went 2-10, Strus 2-11 and niang/levert combined for 0-12
I don't really think anyone should. I did not watch the first half but they missed some really fucking open three's in the second half...
 
I would say that it’s difficult for Mitchell to “control“ his game and be more of a team player; however, when he does, the team can really excel. He did have 9 assists this evening, and in his defense, there were so many Cavs that couldn’t hit a shot tonight, it makes it even more difficult to share the ball. He certainly gave Strus a bunch of opportunities late though
Something I haven't seen mentioned about the ball movement or lack thereof... Early in the game the ball was moving pretty well, and we were playing through JA in the high post with pretty good success.
But at some point the Bucks started jumping the passing lanes, we started making lazy passes, and we had a bad run of turning the ball over.
That is when I started seeing DM and LeVert start to do more ISO ball, more dribbling, with some 2 man actions sprinkled in. They lost their trust in the ball movement, and I think it may have come from the sidelines to try something different because we were backsliding pretty badly. And, we did manage to tread water for awhile. But the ball movement never really came back with a few infrequent exceptions.
 
I feel like if we can get healthy we can play with any of the big three in the East now, as long as we don't shoot 8-40 something... Knicks are not very good right now... And I never what to play the Cheat in the playoffs...
Knicks will have dead legs come playoffs. They'll play hard and win games but Mitchell will be missed. Hartenstein is probably to foul trouble and that will leave them weak in the paint. If Randle is down there just go at him bc he's the type that will hog the ball to try and get back at a player.

Still gonna be a tough team but they will rely on heavy minutes from here on our for Brunson & the inconsistent RJ Barrett.
 
I wanna know why Wade is getting flamed for missing 3s when he took 2 of them yet DM went 2-10, Strus 2-11 and niang/levert combined for 0-12
Niang & Levert were just as bad, if not worse.

Wade missed some shots but he passed up a few and had two grade school IQ turnovers. He has to he better and stay on the floor.
 
Something I haven't seen mentioned about the ball movement or lack thereof... Early in the game the ball was moving pretty well, and we were playing through JA in the high post with pretty good success.
But at some point the Bucks started jumping the passing lanes, we started making lazy passes, and we had a bad run of turning the ball over.
That is when I started seeing DM and LeVert start to do more ISO ball, more dribbling, with some 2 man actions sprinkled in. They lost their trust in the ball movement, and I think it may have come from the sidelines to try something different because we were backsliding pretty badly. And, we did manage to tread water for awhile. But the ball movement never really came back with a few infrequent exceptions.

There's a guy on the team who, by his nature and skillset, is immune to defenses changing their strategy. At least insofar as it will not stop the ball from moving. The ball will stay moving regardless. He'll solve the riddle quickly. That's the way his brain is wired.

He just has to play.
 
Just got back from the game. Not sure what it looked like on TV, but those calls looked ridiculous in person.

The three point shooting was worse than the calls.

With CPJ we are watching the birth of a star…if he plays.
 
Just got back from the game. Not sure what it looked like on TV, but those calls looked ridiculous in person.

The three point shooting was worse than the calls.

With CPJ we are watching the birth of a star…if he plays.
Trade DM for the three and d we need
CPJ backs up Garland
 
JBB subbed Porter for Mitchell to give DM rest, similar to the first half when Porter was in for just a cpl minutes, but he left Porter in, as his 4th-q play was good and kept him in even when DM came back. It was an encouraging sign.
Thank you.

I’m not looking to prop up or defend JBB, though I imagine some people see it that way given my post histoty.

I’m looking for signs that he’s coming around to CPJ being a “need/necessity” and not a “luxury”

Don’t love his usage/minutes in the first half and third quarter but encouraged he had him close the game out. Hopefully that is an indication of something, but only the short and medium term future will reveal that.
 
If JBB lets CPJ get 20+ minutes on a bad night, I'll give him praise.

But he doesn't get that leash and he only stayed in the game tonight because he was cooking.

He's not given the rope lesser players on the team are given. And yes, Isaac Okoro is lesser player. He's not allowed to play through mistakes.

So no, I don't view tonight as some turning point. He only gets minutes if he essentially plays near perfect basketball unless we have too many injuries.
 
Some notes:
  • The Cavs were on it offensively to start. They scored 37 first quarter points which is tied for the 5th highest scoring total in a quarter this year. They now have 5 35+ point quarters in their last 7 games. When the offense is going, it’s going.
  • The 40-point Milwaukee 3Q was tied for the 3rd worst defensive quarter on the year. Like the Cavs recent offense feats, this is now three of their four worst defensive quarters occurring in the last 7 games with all of those occasions allowing 40+ points.
  • The 3P shot really let the Cavs down all night. Despite shooting 43 3’s, they only made 6 three-pointers – that is the lowest total on a game this year. Strus and Mitchell were the only Cavs with more than 1 3PM but they also both had 10+ 3PA.
  • After not playing CRAIG! Porter Jr more than 2 minutes in the 2Q and 3Q, JB Bickerstaff finally turned to him early in the fourth quarter for a spark. And guess what happened? A spark ensued. CRAIG! came with the Cavs down 11 and they quickly cut the lead to 6.
  • The role players have really stepped up as of late and have been a big reason why they’ve stayed afloat. Tonight, Isaac Okoro, Dean Wade, Georges Niang, and Sam Merrill combined for 13 points in 76 minutes.

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