2023-24 Season | Game #75 | Cavs @ Nuggets | March 31, 2024 | 3:30 p.m. | NBA TV

[Boobie4Three]

I honestly don’t see this team passing first round unless they are facing Atlanta or Chicago,but that as unreal as seeing snow in Arizona in the middle of summer.

As I said in the Garland thread, without a miracle 3 it barrage from the super soaker and Mobley stepping up for 30 a night to offset poor guard play, it's going to be tough sledding.

It's mostly because it's next to impossible to envision 4 games of the maximum effort and wit required due to there being literally no good vibes or things to build on after our guys have been so ran into the ground.

JBB is suddenly preaching about the importance of health, after all the starters have shown massive signs of regression in play from a season's worth of overutilization.

This was predicted by many of us here back in November already.

Precisely. JB ran his team into the ground again, preaching effort in November.

 

[Beanie4Heisman]

Like Jones seems to be capable for stretches as a energy big, but only comes in when injuries or foul trouble hinder the other centers...

Cavaliers Center Providing Much-Needed Spark - Sports Illustrated Cleveland Cavs News, Analysis and More

Damian Jones is helping the Cleveland Cavaliers navigate their injuries.

www.si.com

Stunning how that was published just weeks prior to now and we haven't seen him since.

I cannot point to one player other than maybe Georges Niang who is currently playing up to their potential on this team (outside of some nights for Allen)

Just don't get how it was given a pass that JBB's teams persistently roll over when lights get bright. Who has developed their game significantly under his tenure here?

The reason the big lineup last season worked is the same reason Denver's does now, it's truly innovative and has a tall core of 3 that are all interchangeable on D. And 3 of the five components can truly shoot.

Have to keep asking what are the pillars of identity that our team relies upon... beyond "hustle"

Surely defense wins. However, ya still need to score more over the course of 4 quarters to win and replicate such 4 games in a series.

 

[Dr. Claw]

Like Jones seems to be capable for stretches as a energy big, but only comes in when injuries or foul trouble hinder the other centers...

Cavaliers Center Providing Much-Needed Spark - Sports Illustrated Cleveland Cavs News, Analysis and More

Damian Jones is helping the Cleveland Cavaliers navigate their injuries.

www.si.com

Stunning how that was published just weeks prior to now and we haven't seen him since.

I cannot point to one player other than maybe Georges Niang who is currently playing up to their potential on this team (outside of some nights for Allen)

Just don't get how it was given a pass that JBB's teams persistently roll over when lights get bright. Who has developed their game significantly under his tenure here?

The reason the big lineup last season worked is the same reason Denver's does now, it's truly innovative and has a tall core of 3 that are all interchangeable on D. And 3 of the five components can truly shoot.

Have to keep asking what are the pillars of identity that our team relies upon... beyond "hustle"

Surely defense wins. However, ya still need to score more over the course of 4 quarters to win and replicate such 4 games in a series.

thank you for throwing some much need cold water on "2 BIGS BAD"

I think a coach with a more modern take on the game could make this team the FORCE it really could be, even with only 3 confirmed shooters in the line up.

Feel like the bigs are taking more of a beating over the rest of the team.

I agree with your assessment of Niang. I was fed up with his play at one point, but he's been rounding into playoff readiness these last couple of weeks.

If team defense is ass, the team is ass. This is not a "cover poor defense with offense" (which a lot of people seem to want) team like the Pacers.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

They have two separate lineups that are decimating opponents:

Mitchell, Max Strus, Isaac Okoro, Dean Wade and Jarrett Allen have a 19.6 net rating in more than 200 minutes.

Darius Garland, Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, Okoro and Allen boast a net rating of 18.6 in around 100 minutes. - Chris Fedor, 4/2/24

I wonder if JBB will try to maximize the minutes with those two lineups, except with Mobley for Wade in the first one. Mobley's 3-point shot is coming along nicely so he could be a Dean Wade clone in terms of playing great D while still hitting an occasional 3. He's a better rim protector and rebounder than Wade, however.

In the second lineup I'd like to see LeVert handle the ball with Garland working off the ball and spotting up for 3's on kick-outs, or pump faking a 3 and then getting into the paint.

It would mean few minutes with Garland and Mitchell in the game together and the same for Mobley/Allen, but after 75 games the data is clear; we're better with one big on the floor vice two and we're better with just one of Mitchell and Garland.

The only problem is that Okoro is in both those lineups. Is he going to play 40 minutes in the playoffs?

 

[Pierre Pan]

The only problem is that Okoro is in both those lineups. Is he going to play 40 minutes in the playoffs?

Considering he‘s not playing at all right now, that’s really going to be a good trick ….lol

 

[2 For The Brew]

It's mostly because it's next to impossible to envision 4 games of the maximum effort and wit required due to there being literally no good vibes or things to build on after our guys have been so ran into the ground.

JBB is suddenly preaching about the importance of health, after all the starters have shown massive signs of regression in play from a season's worth of overutilization.

This was predicted by many of us here back in November already.

Strus ranks 75th in minutes played this season; Mitchell 116th.

Mpg: Mitchell 35, Garland 33, Strus & Allen 32, Mobley 31.

Where’s the overuse?

 

[Pierre Pan]

Like Jones seems to be capable for stretches as a energy big, but only comes in when injuries or foul trouble hinder the other centers...

Cavaliers Center Providing Much-Needed Spark - Sports Illustrated Cleveland Cavs News, Analysis and More

Damian Jones is helping the Cleveland Cavaliers navigate their injuries.

www.si.com

Stunning how that was published just weeks prior to now and we haven't seen him since.

I cannot point to one player other than maybe Georges Niang who is currently playing up to their potential on this team (outside of some nights for Allen)

Just don't get how it was given a pass that JBB's teams persistently roll over when lights get bright. Who has developed their game significantly under his tenure here?

The reason the big lineup last season worked is the same reason Denver's does now, it's truly innovative and has a tall core of 3 that are all interchangeable on D. And 3 of the five components can truly shoot.

Have to keep asking what are the pillars of identity that our team relies upon... beyond "hustle"

Surely defense wins. However, ya still need to score more over the course of 4 quarters to win and replicate such 4 games in a series.

He played 21 minutes in that game and has played a cumulative total of 19 minutes since. Craig Porter, Jr. suffers the same fate and Merrill too for a large part of the season.

 

[Beanie4Heisman]

Strus ranks 75th in minutes played this season; Mitchell 116th.

Mpg: Mitchell 35, Garland 33, Strus & Allen 32, Mobley 31.

Where’s the overuse?

The overuse is best shown in the games they are unavailable.

Players keep coming down with stress & impact related leg injuries that are exacerbated by playing starters for the vast majority of quarters. Our rotations are often wonky and unpredictable. How are players to establish an identity as a bench unit if consistent lineup combos are so fleetingly utilized?

Either we blow teams out or we get blown out and that's a partial reason why the minutes don't appear crazy high relative to those around the league... My point is the Cavs finally have a well above league average bench bunch, SO WEPONIZE IT AS SUCH

Garland and Don's usage numbers are surely insane if you wish to dive into those as we run a very limited style of offense when all 5 starters share the floor as seen in @Wham with the Right Hand 's minutes breakdowns of five man units.

 

[Beanie4Heisman]

The only problem is that Okoro is in both those lineups. Is he going to play 40 minutes in the playoffs?

Merrill has a place in some of those Okoro minute slots. When the best offensive guard/wing threat is off the court for the opposition during those stretches so he's not placed into heavy ISO scenarios and forced to foul or be beat... but that's where quick rotations and team defensive awareness remain paramount to protect against such.

Tristan/Niang/Thompson may also have a bite of a verrry short couple of those minutes in spurts when facing heavier rebounding opposing lineups. CPJr. may take a couple playoff minutes if DG or Don get into the projectable grinder strategy some teams may employ looking to pressure them on ball full court for most of a full 48 aiming to drain their legs by 4Q IMO

At the end of the day we're going to need 5 guys simultaneously actively looking to defensive rebound if we care to make any notable noise come this upcoming post season.