Game 68: Cavs @ Clippers 3/18/2025

[ijspeelman]

#Cavs list Evan Mobley (right foot contusion) as questionable for tomorrow's game against the LA Clippers.

https://bsky.app/profile/dannycunningham.bsky.social/post/3lkmjfzxdr22u

[JujitsuFlip]

Mobley will play and start tonight.

But, I'm off to bed, go Cavs!

[ijspeelman]

Yeah these West Coast games are killer

[jbk1234]

No one who watches this game is voting Mobley DPOY.

[ijspeelman]

Zubac specifically killed us with his OREBs

We'd double him and still couldn't get the ball and then it was just an easy look every time for him.

Also, FTs were horrendous tonight

Yeah they made a lot of crazy shots and we missed open ones, but we should have won this game even with that

[JujitsuFlip]

Just randomly woke up, looking at the box, there's no way Mitch's groin is healthy.

Damn, i hope we don't choke away the 1 seed, Celtics hot on our heels.

[jbk1234]

Observations: Mitchell still isn't right. Zubac is a beast. Leonard, and to a lesser extent Harden, still get superstar calls. Kenny needs to consider using a challenge in that situation. The Cavs as a team have to make their free throws. Playoff opponents are going to junk it up against us.

This game was eerily similar to the Knicks series with us being unable to secure the defensive rebound. If Merrill continues to struggle to get his shot off against playoff caliber defenses, maybe sub Green (so long as Okoro isn't also on the floor). Giving up that many second (or even third) chance points will get you beat in the postseason.

[JujitsuFlip]

Observations: Mitchell still isn't right. Zubac is a beast. Leonard, and to a lesser extent Harden, still get superstar calls. Kenny needs to consider using a challenge in that situation. The Cavs as a team have to make their free throws. Playoff opponents are going to junk it up against us.

This game was eerily similar to the Knicks series with us being unable to secure the defensive rebound. If Merrill continues to struggle to get his shot off against playoff caliber defenses, maybe sub Green (so long as Okoro isn't also on the floor). Giving up that many second (or even third) chance points will get you beat in the postseason.

That is why Knicks fans are confident they can beat us again.

[JujitsuFlip]

Also, Kenny deciding Merrill is the 8th man in his playoff rotation doesn't feel great. I'd rather have Okoro, Wade, or Green in that spot.

[jbk1234]

Observations: Mitchell still isn't right. Zubac is a beast. Leonard, and to a lesser extent Harden, still get superstar calls. Kenny needs to consider using a challenge in that situation. The Cavs as a team have to make their free throws. Playoff opponents are going to junk it up against us.

This game was eerily similar to the Knicks series with us being unable to secure the defensive rebound. If Merrill continues to struggle to get his shot off against playoff caliber defenses, maybe sub Green (so long as Okoro isn't also on the floor). Giving up that many second (or even third) chance points will get you beat in the postseason.

That is why Knicks fans are confident they can beat us again.

They can't. Hartenstein was low key really important for that team.

With Merrill, I just think that you need to react to what's happening on the floor. If you're getting killed on the boards, and Merrill is struggling to get his shot off, then maybe the value added isn't there (especially with Ty already on the floor).

Ty, Okoro, Hunter, and Merrill combined for 2 rebounds between them. Mobley only had 3 in a game where Garland managed 5.

[JujitsuFlip]

Observations: Mitchell still isn't right. Zubac is a beast. Leonard, and to a lesser extent Harden, still get superstar calls. Kenny needs to consider using a challenge in that situation. The Cavs as a team have to make their free throws. Playoff opponents are going to junk it up against us.

This game was eerily similar to the Knicks series with us being unable to secure the defensive rebound. If Merrill continues to struggle to get his shot off against playoff caliber defenses, maybe sub Green (so long as Okoro isn't also on the floor). Giving up that many second (or even third) chance points will get you beat in the postseason.

That is why Knicks fans are confident they can beat us again.

They can't. Hartenstein was low key really important for that team.

With Merrill, I just think that you need to react to what's happening on the floor. If you're getting killed on the boards, and Merrill is struggling to get his shot off, then maybe the value added isn't there (especially with Ty already on the floor).

Ty, Okoro, Hunter, and Merrill combined for 2 rebounds between them. Mobley only had 3 in a game where Garland managed 5.

Yeah, idk how healthy Mobley is right now with that foot. He had the calf earlier in the season, idk if they're on the same leg or not.

[jbk1234]

That is why Knicks fans are confident they can beat us again.

They can't. Hartenstein was low key really important for that team.

With Merrill, I just think that you need to react to what's happening on the floor. If you're getting killed on the boards, and Merrill is struggling to get his shot off, then maybe the value added isn't there (especially with Ty already on the floor).

Ty, Okoro, Hunter, and Merrill combined for 2 rebounds between them. Mobley only had 3 in a game where Garland managed 5.

Yeah, idk how healthy Mobley is right now with that foot. He had the calf earlier in the season, idk if they're on the same leg or not.

The Cavs should probably err on the side of caution with injuries to core guys at this point of the season, but I haven't seen Mobley get shoved around like that since his rookie season. He was entirely ineffective guarding Zubac and little better against Leonard. The team needs to watch the tape on this one. I still think we need an escalate in order to deescalate strategy when the game gets that physical. I was holding my breath watching Garland body up guys on the defensive boards while too many of his teammates wanted no part of the battle.

Altman needs to recognize that you can only push the pace after ending the other team's possession, and if you're struggling to do that, you can't keep having your players leak out.

[toooskies]

They can't. Hartenstein was low key really important for that team.

With Merrill, I just think that you need to react to what's happening on the floor. If you're getting killed on the boards, and Merrill is struggling to get his shot off, then maybe the value added isn't there (especially with Ty already on the floor).

Ty, Okoro, Hunter, and Merrill combined for 2 rebounds between them. Mobley only had 3 in a game where Garland managed 5.

Yeah, idk how healthy Mobley is right now with that foot. He had the calf earlier in the season, idk if they're on the same leg or not.

The Cavs should probably err on the side of caution with injuries to core guys at this point of the season, but I haven't seen Mobley get shoved around like that since his rookie season. He was entirely ineffective guarding Zubac and little better against Leonard. The team needs to watch the tape on this one. I still think we need an escalate in order to deescalate strategy when the game gets that physical. I was holding my breath watching Garland body up guys on the defensive boards while too many of his teammates wanted no part of the battle.

Altman needs to recognize that you can only push the pace after ending the other team's possession, and if you're struggling to do that, you can't keep having your players leak out.

Could just be that Mobley's from the LA area and his non-basketball activities might have been a contributing factor. (I'm not implying anything nefarious, just possibly not being on his typical schedule being back home, staying at his house rather than the team hotel, etc.)

[ijspeelman]

I take the blame for this one.

I collect Cavaliers basketball cards and I keep the starting lineup on display and only change it after a loss. After the loss to Orlando, I forgot to change the cards (its been awhile since we lost) so the basketball gods have punished me. I will change the cards to the starting lineup of the Kings game

[jbk1234]

Yeah, idk how healthy Mobley is right now with that foot. He had the calf earlier in the season, idk if they're on the same leg or not.

The Cavs should probably err on the side of caution with injuries to core guys at this point of the season, but I haven't seen Mobley get shoved around like that since his rookie season. He was entirely ineffective guarding Zubac and little better against Leonard. The team needs to watch the tape on this one. I still think we need an escalate in order to deescalate strategy when the game gets that physical. I was holding my breath watching Garland body up guys on the defensive boards while too many of his teammates wanted no part of the battle.

Altman needs to recognize that you can only push the pace after ending the other team's possession, and if you're struggling to do that, you can't keep having your players leak out.

Could just be that Mobley's from the LA area and his non-basketball activities might have been a contributing factor. (I'm not implying anything nefarious, just possibly not being on his typical schedule being back home, staying at his house rather than the team hotel, etc.)

Having watched the game, that's not the conclusion I came away with. I'd buy that he came back a game early and wasn't ready for the WWE his first game back.