2025 Playoffs ECSF: Cavs (1) / Pacers (4) (1-4)

[jbk1234]

I hope the Cavs watched the Denver v. Thunder game last night. Jokic gave a class in how to foul back immediately if the refs are swallowing their whistles. Also, if one of your teammates hits the floor after getting shoved in the air, run up immediately and get in the defender's face.

We're a team of fragile nice guys ...

You don't have to throw a punch. If it comes to that, we have TT. You do have to have your teammates' backs and make the officials weigh the risk of the game getting out of hand. Officials don't want to be the story. It's why they let so much go in the playoffs. You need to force them to worry about being the crew that let too much go.

[jbk1234]

They moved the Zarba crew to the Minny/GS series. We got Tony Brothers, who for all his faults, will go look at the replay after a hard foul or dust up.

[JujitsuFlip]

They moved the Zarba crew to the Minny/GS series. We got Tony Brothers, who for all his faults, will go look at the replay after a hard foul or dust up.

That dude gave us some brutal ticky tack touch fouls though, we'll see how it goes.

[toooskies]

I hope the Cavs watched the Denver v. Thunder game last night. Jokic gave a class in how to foul back immediately if the refs are swallowing their whistles. Also, if one of your teammates hits the floor after getting shoved in the air, run up immediately and get in the defender's face.

We're a team of fragile nice guys ...

You don't have to throw a punch. If it comes to that, we have TT. You do have to have your teammates' backs and make the officials weigh the risk of the game getting out of hand. Officials don't want to be the story. It's why they let so much go in the playoffs. You need to force them to worry about being the crew that let too much go.

With Mobley and Hunter questionable, TT might be facing some legitimate playing time. Javonte Green might be the better veteran for this assignment.

[JujitsuFlip]

We're a team of fragile nice guys ...

You don't have to throw a punch. If it comes to that, we have TT. You do have to have your teammates' backs and make the officials weigh the risk of the game getting out of hand. Officials don't want to be the story. It's why they let so much go in the playoffs. You need to force them to worry about being the crew that let too much go.

With Mobley and Hunter questionable, TT might be facing some legitimate playing time. Javonte Green might be the better veteran for this assignment.

I actually think Green could be useful in this series with how athletic he is. Let Tyson go out there and undercut someone while they're airborne, he can claim he's a rookie who doesn't know any better lol

[ijspeelman]

No sign of Darius Garland, Evan Mobley or De’Andre Hunter here after shootaround.

https://bsky.app/profile/dannycunningham.bsky.social/post/3loj6x2pto224

[ijspeelman]

We and the organization have been raving about our depth so its time to show it when it matters

[JujitsuFlip]

We and the organization have been raving about our depth so its time to show it when it matters

Would be better if we were playing a team who didn't go 11 deep and push the pace the entire time. I think tonight will be bleak without those 3.

[gflem]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/cavs-de-andre-hunter-injured-as-refs-miss-blatant-foul-on-pacers-body-contact/ar-AA1E9MFn

I'm not sure why they're calling this body contact. On the one angle, you can clearly see the defender push Hunter with his left hand before the block.

Both the Allen and Hunter hit in the air plays not being called fouls is wild. But nothing new really, teams trying to rough is up, 4th post season in a row that is part of the game plan.

Shoving guys in the air while they're defenseless is dangerous. Both Allen and Hunter hit the ground hard. The only communication from the Cavs to the league should be in the form of a question: Can we do it too?

The answer was provided in the first 5 minutes when Siakam was (not) pushed in the back and Mobley was called. We may just have to have Tristan knock somebody unconscious with an elbow to get some sort of respect. I'm half joking, but it is frustrating to watch the repeated lack of respect given to the Cavs by the refs. Can you imagine if someone hit Curry the way Hunter was hit?

[gflem]

35/36 of Pacer's threes were considered wide open (25) or open (10) while 28/38 were considered wide open (11) or open (17). Ignoring the efficiency between the two bc its night and day and only caring about shot quality.

My eye test was wrong. I was under the impression we were getting similar shot quality from our C&S's.

It makes sense that we had a bad night from range even if it was much worse than it should have been and that they had a great day even though it was much better than it should have been. Wanted to see the stats so I could definitively say Cavs need to change something for game 2. Cavs need to change their defensive coverage for game 2. Pacers were looking for the extra pass every time and Cavs were selling out on the drives.

Cavs also need Garland lol

I didn't think the Cavs would carry over a similar defensive scheme from round 1 but they did, so that is a bit worrisome.

However, they have today to try and clean it up.

I think it starts with transition, try to clean that up. In the half court we have to surrender the drive.

Also, if Garland can't go again, i personally would start Wade. Merrill ain't it on defense and Okoro ain't it on offense.

This will sound crazy but if Kenny is dead set on keeping Wade with the Ty and Hunter bench unit, then I'd go with Green as my 5th starter. Green is super athletic. I'd give him the 2013 James White treatment. Starts both halfs just to keep the rotation in check and doesn't play much if at all outside of that.

Agree, and Green can give us 6 HARD fouls. He seems like the kind of player that would be okay with doling out some revenge fouls and we wouldn't really miss him if he fouls out.

[JujitsuFlip]

35/36 of Pacer's threes were considered wide open (25) or open (10) while 28/38 were considered wide open (11) or open (17). Ignoring the efficiency between the two bc its night and day and only caring about shot quality.

My eye test was wrong. I was under the impression we were getting similar shot quality from our C&S's.

It makes sense that we had a bad night from range even if it was much worse than it should have been and that they had a great day even though it was much better than it should have been. Wanted to see the stats so I could definitively say Cavs need to change something for game 2. Cavs need to change their defensive coverage for game 2. Pacers were looking for the extra pass every time and Cavs were selling out on the drives.

Cavs also need Garland lol

I didn't think the Cavs would carry over a similar defensive scheme from round 1 but they did, so that is a bit worrisome.

However, they have today to try and clean it up.

I think it starts with transition, try to clean that up. In the half court we have to surrender the drive.

Also, if Garland can't go again, i personally would start Wade. Merrill ain't it on defense and Okoro ain't it on offense.

This will sound crazy but if Kenny is dead set on keeping Wade with the Ty and Hunter bench unit, then I'd go with Green as my 5th starter. Green is super athletic. I'd give him the 2013 James White treatment. Starts both halfs just to keep the rotation in check and doesn't play much if at all outside of that.

Agree, and Green can give us 6 HARD fouls. He seems like the kind of player that would be okay with doling out some revenge fouls and we wouldn't really miss him if he fouls out.

I think that strategy is more complicated if Mobley, Hunter, and Garland are out tonight. That is 3 of our 5 players in our closing 5.

[JujitsuFlip]

Did Fedor really say Mobley can't put weight on his ankle? I can't find it.

[jbk1234]

I didn't think the Cavs would carry over a similar defensive scheme from round 1 but they did, so that is a bit worrisome.

However, they have today to try and clean it up.

I think it starts with transition, try to clean that up. In the half court we have to surrender the drive.

Also, if Garland can't go again, i personally would start Wade. Merrill ain't it on defense and Okoro ain't it on offense.

This will sound crazy but if Kenny is dead set on keeping Wade with the Ty and Hunter bench unit, then I'd go with Green as my 5th starter. Green is super athletic. I'd give him the 2013 James White treatment. Starts both halfs just to keep the rotation in check and doesn't play much if at all outside of that.

Agree, and Green can give us 6 HARD fouls. He seems like the kind of player that would be okay with doling out some revenge fouls and we wouldn't really miss him if he fouls out.

I think that strategy is more complicated if Mobley, Hunter, and Garland are out tonight. That is 3 of our 5 players in our closing 5.

I think if you're forced to all but concede Game 2 due to injuries resulting from dangerous plays on the part of the Pacers, it gets real simple real quick if the score starts to get out of hand.

[JujitsuFlip]

Agree, and Green can give us 6 HARD fouls. He seems like the kind of player that would be okay with doling out some revenge fouls and we wouldn't really miss him if he fouls out.

I think that strategy is more complicated if Mobley, Hunter, and Garland are out tonight. That is 3 of our 5 players in our closing 5.

I think if you're forced to all but concede Game 2 due to injuries resulting from dangerous plays on the part of the Pacers, it gets real simple real quick if the score starts to get out of hand.

Well, that's fair. Man, I'd hate to go into an 0-2 hole because outside of that 3rd quarter stretch, we didn't look all that sharp. But yeah, if we're not healthy, we're not healthy, not much we can do.

I did see the slowmo video of Mobley's injury, i 100% agree with Kenny, should've been a foul on Turner for giving Mobley no room to land.

[toooskies]

Did Fedor really say Mobley can't put weight on his ankle? I can't find it.

I saw a snapshot of his Subtext message on reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/clevelandcavs/comments/1kg8cd1/update_from_fedors_subtext_since_his_tweet_lacked/

[JujitsuFlip]

Did Fedor really say Mobley can't put weight on his ankle? I can't find it.

I saw a snapshot of his Subtext message on reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/clevelandcavs/comments/1kg8cd1/update_from_fedors_subtext_since_his_tweet_lacked/

Oof, that's not a good sign. That part about resetting Hunter's thumb sounds a bit worrisome too.

[Dupp]

Who’s not playing?

[JujitsuFlip]

Who’s not playing?

Probably none of Mobley, Garland, or Hunter.

Garland missed his pregame shoot around slot.

[Dupp]

That’s rough

[ijspeelman]

I would be very surprised if Garland, Mobley or Hunter played tonight for the #Cavs.

https://bsky.app/profile/dannycunningham.bsky.social/post/3lojvcqekrk2z