2023-24 Regular Season

[JujitsuFlip]

Gotta go into asset protection mode, Toooskies... Not fight for a play-in spot.

Edit: the Cavs could realistically be 22-31 by the time Mobley is ready to suit up again.

Been thinking about this and decided to go find the quote. Hope we don't lose 16 in a row!

(We have a tough stretch coming up, though.)

And I'll keep this quote for when the Cavs unfortunately fail to make the the 2nd round of the playoffs for the 3rd consecutive season.

Even then I assume you still won't want to trade an expiring Mitchell or fire Jb heading into his 6th season though, so i probably shouldn't waste my time bookmarking it lol

[toooskies]

Gotta go into asset protection mode, Toooskies... Not fight for a play-in spot.

Edit: the Cavs could realistically be 22-31 by the time Mobley is ready to suit up again.

Been thinking about this and decided to go find the quote. Hope we don't lose 16 in a row!

(We have a tough stretch coming up, though.)

And I'll keep this quote for when the Cavs unfortunately fail to make the the 2nd round of the playoffs for the 3rd consecutive season.

Even then I assume you still won't want to trade an expiring Mitchell or fire Jb heading into his 6th season though, so i probably shouldn't waste my time bookmarking it lol

If that prediction is as accurate as your last one, I'm all for it

[JujitsuFlip]

Been thinking about this and decided to go find the quote. Hope we don't lose 16 in a row!

(We have a tough stretch coming up, though.)

And I'll keep this quote for when the Cavs unfortunately fail to make the the 2nd round of the playoffs for the 3rd consecutive season.

Even then I assume you still won't want to trade an expiring Mitchell or fire Jb heading into his 6th season though, so i probably shouldn't waste my time bookmarking it lol

If that prediction is as accurate as your last one, I'm all for it

That wasn't my prediction, i just said it was a possibility lmao

Kudos to the Cavs for beating the BTM FDRs of the league... In the regular season.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[jbk1234]

This Paris trip is like having a second all star break. I'll take it with Garland and Mobley out, but the Cavs sometimes seem like the only respite from January weather like this.

[ijspeelman]

I know we are on a win-streak right now and at the 4 seed, but after these next 6 or so games I would not be surprised to see us fall right back to the 8 seed

Would be excited to go 50% or at least win 2 in the next 6

[JonFromVA]

I know we are on a win-streak right now and at the 4 seed, but after these next 6 or so games I would not be surprised to see us fall right back to the 8 seed

Would be excited to go 50% or at least win 2 in the next 6

It's a tough stretch coming up, but 4 other teams aren't going to win all their games either.

[toooskies]

I know we are on a win-streak right now and at the 4 seed, but after these next 6 or so games I would not be surprised to see us fall right back to the 8 seed

Would be excited to go 50% or at least win 2 in the next 6

Looking a little closer at the schedule...

We don't have any back-to-backs, so no schedule losses for us.

I wouldn't characterize any of our seed rivals having an easy schedule over the next six games, although they're somewhat easier than ours. Everyone in this seeding battle is on a win-3-out-of-5 pace more or less so two or three wins for us should keep us close.

Milwaukee is 4-4 over their last 8 games, so now might be the best time to play them.

Our game against Orlando is the second night of a back-to-back for them.

The Clippers will be playing their third game in four nights.

Garland is coming back soon.

And after these next six games, look at the six after that-- they roughly balance out.

[JonFromVA]

Speaking of Garland coming back, one thing I'd like to see the Cavs do is create more open shots for Garland and Mitchell, but I guess that's on them and their willingness to move when off the ball.

I've heard the announcers comment that everyone on the team seems to want to set screens for Sam and that speaks to his willingness to move, his energy, and his deadliness. His movement is often what helps break down the defense. I wish Garland and Mitchell would see that and realize how much it helps the offense flow and figure out how it could help them get easier shots too.

[toooskies]

Speaking of Garland coming back, one thing I'd like to see the Cavs do is create more open shots for Garland and Mitchell, but I guess that's on them and their willingness to move when off the ball.

I've heard the announcers comment that everyone on the team seems to want to set screens for Sam and that speaks to his willingness to move, his energy, and his deadliness. His movement is often what helps break down the defense. I wish Garland and Mitchell would see that and realize how much it helps the offense flow and figure out how it could help them get easier shots too.

Well, it's also easier to move like that for 20 minutes a game like Merrill does than it is for 35-40. I think Merrill looks like he's in better shape than Garland was before his injury. And Garland's probably worse off now after a month of having his jaw wired shut with no physical activity and modified diet.

But also, Merrill's a movement catch-and-shoot guy while Garland and especially Mitchell are more comfortable pulling up off the dribble. It'd be amazing if Garland would do his best Steph Curry (or Sam Merrill) impression out there but I don't know how successful he'd be at it.

[JonFromVA]

Speaking of Garland coming back, one thing I'd like to see the Cavs do is create more open shots for Garland and Mitchell, but I guess that's on them and their willingness to move when off the ball.

I've heard the announcers comment that everyone on the team seems to want to set screens for Sam and that speaks to his willingness to move, his energy, and his deadliness. His movement is often what helps break down the defense. I wish Garland and Mitchell would see that and realize how much it helps the offense flow and figure out how it could help them get easier shots too.

Well, it's also easier to move like that for 20 minutes a game like Merrill does than it is for 35-40. I think Merrill looks like he's in better shape than Garland was before his injury. And Garland's probably worse off now after a month of having his jaw wired shut with no physical activity and modified diet.

But also, Merrill's a movement catch-and-shoot guy while Garland and especially Mitchell are more comfortable pulling up off the dribble. It'd be amazing if Garland would do his best Steph Curry (or Sam Merrill) impression out there but I don't know how successful he'd be at it.

There's levels to this ... both Garland and Mitchell are knock down open shooters and they will run P&R with the ball in their hands all game long. We've even seen them playing off each other at times with some screening action involved ... the trick is to expand. Two man stuff is training wheels, start playing within a 5-man offense like everyone is willing to do when our elite guards are off the floor.

Of course a proper rotation where everyone gets sufficient rest to sustain their energy level would be a major improvement.

[JujitsuFlip]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/39322549/cavaliers-darius-garland-cleared-some-court-activitieshttps://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/39322549/cavaliers-darius-garland-cleared-some-court-activities

I wonder what the "some" is, i assume anything avoiding that jaw.

[toooskies]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/39322549/cavaliers-darius-garland-cleared-some-court-activitieshttps://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/39322549/cavaliers-darius-garland-cleared-some-court-activities

I wonder what the "some" is, i assume anything avoiding that jaw.

Probably individual work but nothing involving contact.

Nice to see Mobley doing work too.

[toooskies]

Read on Twitter

Did not have Pete Nance on the bingo card.

[JujitsuFlip]

Read on Twitter

Did not have Pete Nance on the bingo card.

Like brother, like father before him.

Brobley can't even get minutes so I'm sure after his 10 day is up Cavs will sit at 13 players until the trade deadline.

Kudos to Nance for getting a little pay bump though!

[JonFromVA]

Read on Twitter

Did not have Pete Nance on the bingo card.

Just a way to toss him some money they probably would have given him if they had another 2-way.

[toooskies]

Read on Twitter

Did not have Pete Nance on the bingo card.

Just a way to toss him some money they probably would have given him if they had another 2-way.

Yep, it's just delaying until the trade deadline I'm sure. Surprised it wasn't Cooper, though.

[JonFromVA]

Read on Twitter

Did not have Pete Nance on the bingo card.

Just a way to toss him some money they probably would have given him if they had another 2-way.

Yep, it's just delaying until the trade deadline I'm sure. Surprised it wasn't Cooper, though.

He may be up next?

All depends how well we're getting along with the player's agent I suppose.

[toooskies]

Just a way to toss him some money they probably would have given him if they had another 2-way.

Yep, it's just delaying until the trade deadline I'm sure. Surprised it wasn't Cooper, though.

He may be up next?

All depends how well we're getting along with the player's agent I suppose.

I wonder if there's some kind of years-of-service hack we enable by giving guys 10-day contracts? Like, if we're planning to two-way Nance next year he'd get half of a 2nd-year player's salary instead of half of a 1st-year player's salary?

Cooper might get one year closer to retirement benefits?

[JujitsuFlip]

Apparently with Nance signing, it's the first time three people from a family have played on the same franchise.

[JonFromVA]

Yep, it's just delaying until the trade deadline I'm sure. Surprised it wasn't Cooper, though.

He may be up next?

All depends how well we're getting along with the player's agent I suppose.

I wonder if there's some kind of years-of-service hack we enable by giving guys 10-day contracts? Like, if we're planning to two-way Nance next year he'd get half of a 2nd-year player's salary instead of half of a 1st-year player's salary?

Cooper might get one year closer to retirement benefits?

If I'm reading the explanations right, they just have to be active for one game a season to get credit for a full season. With 3 qualified seasons under their belt, they'll qualify for an NBA pension. After 10 seasons they'll hit the maximum benefit.

So Cooper may have already qualified, and perhaps Pete will be one year closer; but mostly I think this is about shoveling some extra money to a player they hope will stick around even if they can't quite get him on even a 2-way yet.