Game Thread | Game #54 | Grizzlies @ Cavs | Feb. 2, 2023

[KilgoreTrout]

Highlight of my week so far.

1. DG's game is very mental - good in this case, and disconcerting at other times, but he can THAT guy and needs to unlock it more consistently. Can't just be circumstantial.
2. This game should provide a lot of clarity regarding the rotation minus Stevens. Make a move for that 9th spot and focus on how to maximize Garland and Mitchell's synergy with the rest of the squad from here on out - but let Spida get healthy first.
3. This is probably the baseline for where the bench needs to contribute each night, whether it's from two guys like Rubio and Cedi tonight, or collectively.
4. Willing to sacrifice at least player each game to get punched in the dick if it makes the guys get angry.

We need to have more Cavs to get angry enough to punch guys in the dick.

 

[buzzdog]

Solid win as the Cavs take advantage of Adams and Jackson being out to outscore the Grizzlies in the paint 64-44. Mobley and Allen dominated the paint, although Morant had some impressive floaters.

Garland stepped up big with 32 points and 11 dimes, but the big story was the bench. With Mitchell ejected and LeVert out we needed some scoring and Cedi stepped up huge with 21 points and a +20. Rubio was a +15. Okoro chipped in 12 points and 3 steals. It was a group effort. The Cavs did not allow any 20-0 runs like in the first game.

The good news, besides the fact that the Cavs never lost their focus and just kept pushing until the win was secured, was the emergence of Rubio. In his last two games he's 7-for-15 overall and 5-for-10 on 3's with 7 rebounds and 9 assists. He's starting to look like last year's Ricky.

Desmond Bane kept it close, hitting 6-for-7 from deep. And Santi Aldama had another good game against the Cavs with 21 points and 10 rebounds, going 4-for-7 from deep. Without the excellent 3-point shooting of Bane and Aldama this one is a blowout.

Without the presence of Adams and Jackson the Cavs scored more points than they have in a month. The ball movement was great as the Cavs racked up 33 assists, which has to be one of the highest totals of the year if not THE highest.

Good solid win against a team they should beat considering the injury situation and that they were at home against a team that played in Memphis last night.

I haven't seen any comments about the excellent ball movement tonight from the Cavs. Against the Heat they were trying hard to stick with passing but they did it to excess, passing on viable shots only to get to the end of the shot clock. Tonight they evolved to the next step, passing and moving with direction and purpose, which ended up with a lot of wide open shots and dunks.

Tonight it seemed like the whole team was bought into ball and player movement as the key to defeating what the defense was trying to take away. They believed in passing with purpose as a winning strategy. Even the dribbling was done with a purpose by both Darius and Ricky, probing then dishing. We changed up the offensive sets from rapid ball movement one time, to dribble penetration the next time, and we never let their defense settle in.

I hope this serves as an example and a template for what is effective for this team.

 

[Lurking Upvoter]

I feel like Rubio stunk for 3 quarters then had a 5 minute stretch where he made an excellent play every time down the court. Interestingly this happened when Okoro was his backcourt mate.

 

[Kepler]

all star snub should boost dg's play

 

[Kepler]

also kenny smith is a dicksucker

 

[Peacedog]

I LOVE that they gave the chain to Mitchell. That's PERFECT!

 

[CleveRocks]

Yeah, Garlands passing was on another level tonight

 

[Kiddo]

If we could play the rest of the season with this energy and effort we'd be a lock for the 3 seed or better, easily. Playing fast with this group is fun!

 

[CavzAddict]

Jarrett Allen's shoe design makes it look like he's wearing slides.

I've made that joke multiple times lol.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

View attachment 14191

Dude, you need to turn on the light next time you get dressed.

 

[CavzAddict]

But his Brooks toss avg is up.

Threw his bitchass to the ground

He had the opportunity to deck him right in the face but passed on it. I'm glad he did. Brooks aint worth the suspension. The message was sent and that's all i care about.
Plus Spida had a savage post game interview.

 

[CavzAddict]

Ricky just toying with everyone. I love that man.

He was surgical with his game before he got hurt. We're getting glimpses of it again!

 

[cavsfever]

Honestly though I feel like even I would be capable of going 2-11 and getting punched in the balls during an NBA game

 

[shoes22]

Fantastic game by Garland. When he plays like this, we are a very hard team to beat. This game reminded me of a lot of the ones he’d turn in regularly last year.

Cedi stepped up big off the bench, and Rubio showed flashes of his old self in the 4th quarter.

This game really made it clear we don’t need LeVert on this team at all, and I’m not knocking him as a player. Koby needs to do what he has to and trade him.

 

[Dr. Claw]

Dildo Brooks did the Cavs a favor; while watching the game I was thinking Donovan Mitchell needed to sit because it looked like he was still affected by the injury. Cavs responded accordingly, and it was great to see it.

Darius Garland master class. 32pts/11ast.
Okoro lowkey master class.
Evan and Jarrett with a double double each.
Rubio back into MSG form and helped Cedi along.
As seen elsewhere: "No Love, No LeVert, no coincidence."
Dean Wade isn't killing the Cavs on defense.
Rubio when he gets to cook, cuts down on the unnecessary dribbling. Okoro does too, even though he is not typically a ball handler.

Hope JB takes notice