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2023-24 Season | Game #41 | Cavs @ Magic | Jan. 22, 2024 | 7:00 p.m.

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Prof123 said:
The starting lineup of Mitchell, Okoro, Struss, Wade, and Allen is very good defensively and has been getting off to hot starts for quite some time.
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They're 10-2 now.
Prof123 said:
I won't be surprised if JBB gradually works Garland and Mobley back into the rotation by bringing them off the bench. He can say they need to get their legs back, but honestly, why mess with something that is working so well?
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I would really be surprised if he starts Okoro and Wade over Garland and Mobley once everybody is 100%.
Prof123 said:
One thing I don't want to do is make a trade for a core player, and have to try to acclimate someone new to the team (unless it involves trading Ford or Jones). There are liable to injuries and it is nice to know we have the depth to handle an injury to any player except Allen.
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I can't see them making any trades now. You could probably make an argument for trading Garland, though.
 
Under four minutes to go and 9-31 Charlotte has a one point lead over the 30-12 T-Wolves in Minnesota, despite 62 points (so far) from KAT. It would be amazing if Charlotte wins this game. (Probably just jinxed them).
 
  • I’m not so sure Bickerstaff is comfortable with CRAIG! Porter Jr as the sole playmaker on the court when it matters. Following along his substitution adjustment last night, Bickerstaff started CPJ with Mitchell to start the second quarter. The pairing was a +6 in 4 short minutes together. It seems like Bickerstaff prefers at least one other playmaker out there with CRAIG! whether it would be Caris LeVert, Strus or Allen.
  • One wrinkle the Cavs like to run a lot is a shooter screen for Mitchell (either Strus or Merrill) followed by Mitchell having a big man pick (Allen) set for him at the 3-point line to get downhill. This really creates a lot of stress on the defense trying to guard Mitchell, catch the shooter on the flare out and keeping track of Allen.
 
I don't know why, but I worry often when LeVert is not available. But CPJ makes it happen in those games with help from the rest of the lineup.

Can't say it enough: Donovan's willingness to adjust his role in this stretch has been huge. 25/13 and didn't play at all in the 4th. That's up there with the 71 game for me. And now that the Cavs have more reliable shooters, he can really impose his will on defenses.

Sam Merrill, Dean Wade, Max Strus, Georges Niang.... all these guys are making this new brand of basketball possible.

Which says nothing for Jarrett Allen. Glad the refs let him play this time around. He was awesome all around in this one. Orlando really didn't have anything for him, not even Bitadze who tends to be one of his nemeses.

This team went from a doom fest to even more of a doom fest, to playing the kind of basketball we've all been wanting to see.

Love seeing these games where opponents who have a knack for being really annoying in tight games have absolutely no chance of bailing their team out. This time it was the Wagners.
 
Jscc said:
I find it ironic that Don and JA are essentially playing the way we hope DG and Mobley play in the future surrounded by shooters.
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Not just playing, they're completely thriving in these expanded roles, in a way that DG and Mobley just didn't when they played.

The fear is not only that Garland and Mobley won't be able to jump in and replicate this style of play as well when they return...it's that having them out there at all could also reduce Mitchell and Allen's effectiveness, and both players have settled into a nice groove.
 
So how many games do you allow DG and Mobley to adjust?

For instances if JB inserts them back into their roles and we lose 3 out of 5, do you pull them?

There are huge risks here with them coming back and the team playing so well without them
 
boostorbust1 said:
So how many games do you allow DG and Mobley to adjust?

For instances if JB inserts them back into their roles and we lose 3 out of 5, do you pull them?

There are huge risks here with them coming back and the team playing so well without them
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With Mobley, it's more sensitive. A big coming back from knee surgery needs to be handled carefully. I would bring him off the bench until he feels ready to go 110%.

With DG, you just throw him out there and hope he did his homework watching this streak. Hopefully he watched what the shooters were doing while Don is on ball and do the same. Don't walk the ball up court or slow things down. If he doesn't show a willingness to do that then we got a problem. If he does show that willingness, you give him as many games as he needs.
 
DG and Mobley won't get "pulled".

One is maxed out and the other is considered our future All-NBA type player.

If they are healthy they will start after whatever ramp up standard is met.
 
Tlyons said:
DG and Mobley won't get "pulled".

One is maxed out and the other is considered our future All-NBA type player.

If they are healthy they will start after whatever ramp up standard is met.
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So win/loses and how the team looks doesn’t matter? You gotta play them because of their status and contracts?

That is a terrible way of analyzing situations
 
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