2023 NBA Playoffs 1st Round: Cavs vs. Knicks

[Wham with the Right Hand]

I was watching film for the Knicks playoffs last time they were in (certainly some members like Brunson are not there) and one area showed that Randle had a terrible playoff series. He made very bad decisions as he had 23 turnovers including 8 in elimination game. Atlanta blitzed him or tried to make it look like double team at times, and Randle was indecisive. He threw the ball away a number of times, forced a bad shot, or was just plainly bad. He even shot 29 percent from the field. Perhaps it was his first playoff series but we shouldn’t get him comfortable. Make him uncomfortable and don’t get him into a rhythm.

I wouldn't count on Randle playing badly this time unless his ankle is hampering his movement. He's a great player. He excels at drawing fouls and he's capable of getting hot on 3's.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Any chance for some cross matches with Mobley beginning the possession on Brunson?

...Okoro is the best option to start possessions on Jalen based on what we've seen to this point.

If Mobley is on Brunson who is checking Randle? Wade? OK, that puts Garland on Grimes and Mitchell on Barrett. That might work.

If Okoro is in I agree they will try him on Brunson first.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

From The Athletic's column on the series:

The Knicks will need some version of that player against Cleveland — and not just because of Randle’s talent. It’s because attacking the basket isn’t just what the Knicks do; it’s who they are.

Twenty-seven percent of their shots during the regular season came at the rim, third amongst the 12 surefire playoff teams. They were second among those teams in free-throw attempt per field-goal attempt. Translation: They get to the line a lot. And they don’t just gun for layups on their quest to the basket, either.

Most of the Knicks’ 3s come after the ball hits the paint. In particular, Brunson dribbles within a few arms’ lengths of the basket and then starts swiveling like his GPS won’t stop reloading.

 

[CavsFaninNJ]

I was listening to Locked On Cavs this morning, and the Locked On Knicks host said that in the games where Randle faced Mobley he didn’t play well with the exception of his outburst with 8 3s, and even there he struggled from the interior as in the rest of the games.

Cavs match up well against this team considering their best defensive player matches up well against Randle at PF. Better at the guard positions. Better at center. It’s just the Knicks depth.

 

[kidduck]

Julius Randle on Track to Game 1 Return​

To buck the odds again, the Knicks need Julius Randle back in the playoffs.

The Knicks All-Star forward is trending toward that direction after participating in non-contact drills during Tuesday’s practice.

“[Randle] did some, making steady progress, so [we] just take it day-to-day,” New York coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters after Tuesday’s practice. “He’s doing some running, shooting, scripting, that sort of thing. He meets with the medical [team] every day, so when he’s ready to go, he’s ready to go. But he’s made good steady progress. Each day, he’s a little bit better.”

Thibodeau, though, remained non-committal about Randle’s status in Game 1. He is scheduled to be re-evaluated on Thursday, two days before the series begins in Cleveland.

 

[Dr No]

If Mobley is on Brunson who is checking Randle? Wade? OK, that puts Garland on Grimes and Mitchell on Barrett. That might work.

If Okoro is in I agree they will try him on Brunson first.y wi

The problem with Wade going full time vs Randle is Wade will get in foul trouble. Whether he actually fouls or not is secondary. It’s a “status” thing and the refs will respect Mobley/Allen on Randle far more than they will Wade. Wade guarding him 15 minutes is fine, but I’m afraid there is no way the refs allow Wade to play effective defense against Randle for 30 minutes.

 

[Douglar]

The problem with Wade going full time vs Randle is Wade will get in foul trouble. Whether he actually fouls or not is secondary. It’s a “status” thing and the refs will respect Mobley/Allen on Randle far more than they will Wade. Wade guarding him 15 minutes is fine, but I’m afraid there is no way the refs allow Wade to play effective defense against Randle for 30 minutes.

I think we are going to see:

• The Cavs Core 4 get 36-40 mins each
• Okoro mirroring Brunson to start the game and any time Allen sits, probably 20-24 minutes considering his knee.
• LeVert is going to get 30 minutes in his usual role, maybe more if he's hitting his shots
• Some combination of Ricky Rubio and/or Danny Green for up to 24 minutes
• Wade gets 18 minutes or less.

If Wade is having trouble on D, getting bullied on the boards, or is bricking open looks, JBB might bring Cedi out of carbonite.
I don't think we see Neto unless Rubio has problems with his matchups.

Knicks want to attack; Cavaliers want to rim protect: Which team has an advantage?

Knicks' RJ Barrett on the Cavaliers: “They can’t guard everything. We’ll figure it out when the time comes.”

theathletic.com

The Knicks were not supposed to score as often as they did in 2022-23, especially considering the presumed lack of 3-point shooting on the roster. But Thibodeau has called for lots of 3s, dunks, layups and free throws. After all these decades without a notable point guard, they finally have a darn good one in Brunson, who dropped 48 points against the Cavaliers just a couple of weeks ago — though that performance came with both Allen and Isaac Okoro, who Cleveland will likely stick to the point guard for the next four-to-seven games, out with injuries.​

​

Randle just pulled off a renaissance season because he’s in the best shape of his life. He has more lift around the hoop. He could blow by wings and slam on bigs.​

​

The Knicks will need some version of that player against Cleveland — and not just because of Randle’s talent. It’s because attacking the basket isn’t just what the Knicks do; it’s who they are.​

​

Twenty-seven percent of their shots during the regular season came at the rim, third amongst the 12 surefire playoff teams. They were second among those teams in free-throw attempt per field-goal attempt. Translation: They get to the line a lot. And they don’t just gun for layups on their quest to the basket, either.​

​

Most of the Knicks’ 3s come after the ball hits the paint. In particular, Brunson dribbles within a few arms’ lengths of the basket and then starts swiveling like his GPS won’t stop reloading. He is Nestor Cortes with a 24-second pitch clock.​

​

The Cavs will attempt to get the basketball out of his hands. Brunson will seek mismatches to attack. Fighting to the hoop isn’t just a one-on-one battle. It’s also about a screener impeding whoever is guarding Brunson, so Brunson can steam forward or he can force a switch and poke at a lesser defender. It’s about Barrett or Hart noticing that their defenders are sagging off them and cutting to an open space. It’s about Randle (as long as he plays) muscling his way wherever he wants, even if an all-world stalwart, like Mobley, is buried in his chest.​

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If Randle doesn’t play, the Knicks could try to speed up the pace. Either of the potential power forward options (Toppin, who has started in Randle’s place for the past five games, or Hart, who has gotten minutes at the backup four) streak in transition. Maybe the Knicks create an extra fast-break bucket or three that way. If they move quickly, they’re more likely to force mismatches, too. When Cleveland’s defense sets up, any offense is in trouble.​

​

 

[Omar The Horse]

 

[shoes22]

Specific to the Cavs:


Two ABC games are HUGE, those are the most coveted spots on the broadcast schedule. As well as zero NBA TV games. Means the powers that be think that Cavs-Knicks will be the most intriguing series in the first round.

 

[Tonedef75]

Specific to the Cavs:


Two ABC games are HUGE, those are the most coveted spots on the broadcast schedule. As well as zero NBA TV games. Means the powers that be think that Cavs-Knicks will be the most intriguing series in the first round.

Or it means NY is possibility a large market.

 

[foucault87]

Randle is both their leading scorer and rebounder. Saying they are better without him is one hell of a stretch

Randle's problem is the same as Cedi's issue. Some games he looks like an All-NBA guy and is a 30-15 threat. Other nights, he looks like Andre Blatche. Over the course of the season he has been very solid, but he breaks the offense too much and can be abused on D. I am more concerned with the trio I mentioned in the other post as those 3 are the core of their closing lineup this season.

 

[Douglar]

Or it means NY is possibility a large market.

I wish we could play the Knicks in the playoffs every year.

Other nights, he looks like Andre Blatche.

We certainly played Blatche enough in the playoffs....

 

[-Akronite-]

Randle's problem is the same as Cedi's issue. Some games he looks like an All-NBA guy and is a 30-15 threat. Other nights, he looks like Andre Blatche. Over the course of the season he has been very solid, but he breaks the offense too much and can be abused on D. I am more concerned with the trio I mentioned in the other post as those 3 are the core of their closing lineup this season.

I've heard Knicks fans refer to him as a ball-stopper as well. They need to push the pace against us as to avoid playing into our defense's hands.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

I like having two days off after each of the first two games. It means the Cavs' starters can play 42 minutes and still have two days to recover. Great - we can protect the bench, which is where the Knicks have their biggest advantage IMO.

I was listening to JJ Reddick and he made the point that the Cavs have had problems closing out games this year whereas Brunson has been outstanding in crunch time. He seems to think the Knicks will have the edge if it comes down to a close game in the final minutes (and I agree). I have not been impressed with Garland in those situations this year.

 

[ice cream man]

I know we have "play-in" experience, but I'm a little worried about the physicality adjustment that some of our guys will have to make. Especially Garland and Allen. Sometimes they make some ugly moves when they're expecting a call and it doesn't come. Happened often enough in the regular season for me to be worried about it in Game 1.