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

[Thelastcavsfan]

They’re def playing like they’re ready for the season to be over.

 

[bushwick_bill]

“We just have to play better,” Donovan Mitchell said. “There’s no other excuse to it. It’s that time of year. We have to play better. No other way around it. That’s on all of us. Starts with me. We all have to play better. We’ve shown we can do it and that’s what is frustrating. It’s not like we don’t have the capability to do it. That is a championship-level team without their second-best player and credit to them, they executed well and they have guys who have won rings and been there, but if we want to be that, a 29-point loss ain’t it.”

 

[bushwick_bill]

Lol

 

[bushwick_bill]

 

[buzzdog]

I watched this blowout. Not much to post about.

 

[shoes22]

I watched this blowout. Not much to post about.

On the positives...seems like Mobley had a productive game once again, and we got good LeVert today as well.

On the negatives...apparently Mitchell still isn't healthy. And no idea what's going on with Garland.

Teamwide issues...nobody cares about rebounding still, and the defense is still leaky.

 

[AustinCarr]

They looked bad. But they were going to.lose no matter what when the opponent shoots 63% from 3.

Mitchell needs to sit. He's not right. Garland needs to have confidence. He was open on screens all game and refused to take the shot. This team goes where that tandem takes them. Currently, it will take them to an early vacation.

 

[dice1717]

On the positives...seems like Mobley had a productive game once again, and we got good LeVert today as well.

On the negatives...apparently Mitchell still isn't healthy. And no idea what's going on with Garland.

Teamwide issues...nobody cares about rebounding still, and the defense is still leaky.

Garland sucks balls. That’s basically what’s going on with him. I would trade that M’er F’er for a cold cup of coffee tomorrow

 

[bushwick_bill]

 

[Pierre Pan]

Garland sucks balls. That’s basically what’s going on with him. I would trade that M’er F’er for a cold cup of coffee tomorrow

I was going to say got a ham sandwich earlier. Then , I started thinking of players whose salaries match for whom I wouldn’t trade him. I’ll do a little research.

In looking at realistic trade options / partners on a team by team basis, here’s what I’ve discovered (in descending order of total team salary ). Garland is due $36,725,000 next season.

Golden State: Chris Paul @ $30,000,000 undesirable, Wiggins $26,000,000+ and another player a possibility
Clippers: nothing matches unless you package Norman Powell and Zubac and Clips would never consider
Phoenix: nothing matches
Bucks: Khris Middleton makes $31,666,000 given his injury history , age not exciting
Boston: can’t imagine they’d have any interest trading anyone whose salary comes close…of note both Kristaps and Tatum will be making less next year than Garland
Denver: MPJ matches (slightly less) and Denver would never trade. Reggie Jackson is slated to make $5,250,000 and totally outplayed Garland
Heat: 3 are close but all less than DG…Bam (they’d never trade) , Herro at $29,000,000 would probably be a better fit but seems to be oft injured, Rozier , doubt he’s the answer
Lakers: maybe a decent option ….D’Angelo Russell $18,692,000 and one of Hachimura, Gabe Vincent , Vanderbilt I would do in a heartbeat
Dallas : package of P J Washington and Gafford__absolutely
Knicks: would have zero interest in Garland; Thibs would rather have Fournier back
Minnesota : no matches except for Anthony Edwards who will make less than DG and is an unrealistic option
New Orleans: Ingram and Zion match perfectly but both unrealistic
Sixers: no matches and only 3 players under contract for next year …Embiid, Maxey and Reid
Bulls: we would need a package back ….can’t see it working logistically
Blazers: Ayton the only close match
Raptors: would have to package Bruce Brown or Poetl or RJ Barrett and another player
Grizzlies: Ja or Desmond Bane match…they’d have 0 interest
OKC : can’t see anything happening
Atlanta: can’t see them needing DG
Brooklyn: Cam Johnson and Cam Thomas…yeah like they would consider ….lol
Sacramento: can’t see anything although a package of Barnes and Huerter match nicely
Rockets: can’t see anything working especially with their ascent
Wizards ; Poole the closest match and may be the first player that I’d say no to ….maybe
Indiana: nobody under contract that they’d trade
San Antonio : Devin Vassell ($29,000,000) and another player in a heartbeat
Detroit: nobody of interest to us…Fournier, Wiseman both hard no
Charlotte: nobody of interest left to match…Grant Williams and Bertans to match…not exciting
Jazz : package of Lauri and Sexton match perfectly! Bring them home, Koby
Magic: can’t see anything working

 

[nolookpass]

51 - 28 rebounding edge to the Nuggets. Horrendous effort. This team doesn't really box out, and our bigs can't handle the physicality. If you get punked by guys like Mo Wagner, Mo Bamba, and Paul Reed, how do you expect to go against bigger and better bigs in the playoffs?

 

[Pierre Pan]

The sad thing is that Garland had some opportunities for shooting threes when he was wide open and barely looked at the basket

 

[bushwick_bill]

Jazz starting line up tonight.

 

[Futuredome]

Garland could take all the 3's he wanted, meant nothing. The refusal of the rebounders to rebound is going make guys like Mitchell, Garland and Strus to pack it in.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Denver's incredible 3-point shooting was the difference. They came in shooting 37% and at that rate they go 12-for-33. But they hit 21-for-33 and those nine extra 3's gave them 27 points over what you would expect on a normal shooting night. We lost by 29.

In their last game against Minnesota the Nuggets were 8-for-28 on 3's. The game before that they were 10-for-40 - both losses. So in their last two games they shot 26.5% from deep but today they hit 64%. Crazy. Reggie Jackson is a 35% shooter from deep but he was 5-for-5 today.

The Cavs still got punked on the offensive glass, allowing 11 offensive rebounds on only 37 missed shots. Denver is a very physical team with a big front line of Jokic, Porter, and Gordon.

Mitchell was 3-for-12; he's not close to being himself yet. I wonder if his knee is still an issue. Garland is apparently running on fumes. Porter was out.

Well, you never expect to beat Denver at their house where they are almost unbeatable. It's not like we lost to Charlotte or something. It was 53-50 Denver with 3 minutes left in the first half before the bottom fell out. I like the way LeVert kept competing even with the Cavs down by over 20 points. He ended up with a line of 15/6/5 with 4 steals. And Mobley was 9-for-10 from the field.

Gotta get Wade back.