2023 Eastern Conference | Round 1 | (4) Cleveland Cavaliers VS. (5) New York Knicks (Knicks lead 3-1)

[JujitsuFlip]

I’m sure I’m the only one on this train and I’ve said it 100 times but this series really depends on the health of Okoro.

No Okoro Knicks in 6, with Okoro Cavs in 7

The Cavs do not need Okoro to out talent the Knicks. They have 3 All-Stars and a young stud.

As I've said, 4 of the best 6 players in the series.

[jbk1234]

no team out there goes "oh boy, watch out for garland and mobley or else they'll destroy us"

Plenty of opposing teams have focused on getting the ball out of Garland's hands while letting Mitchell get his.

[NoDopeOnSundays]

I’m sure I’m the only one on this train and I’ve said it 100 times but this series really depends on the health of Okoro.

No Okoro Knicks in 6, with Okoro Cavs in 7

The Cavs do not need Okoro to out talent the Knicks. They have 3 All-Stars and a young stud.

As I've said, 4 of the best 6 players in the series.

The Cavs have 2 guys that can score, and nobody seems to address the fact that Garland has struggled vs the Knicks the last two seasons. Just saying they have more talent doesn't move the needle when two of those guys are just ancillary players, as good as Mobley and Allen are neither spaces the floor, which is the true bane of a Thibodeau coached team.


Back to Garland, last year he was at 49.3% TS and this year he's at 47.2 TS%, last season he was 2-11 from the field when guarded by Quickley, which was the worst % he shot against anyone in the league on more than 10 FGA, this year he's 4-12 from the field against Quickley. Do I think he's going to get shutdown? No, but I think the Knicks have the players capable of making his life very difficult, as they've done the last two seasons.

2021-2022



2022-2023



I cut it to the top of the list, but this is for the whole league.

[bronxknicksfan1]

I’m sure I’m the only one on this train and I’ve said it 100 times but this series really depends on the health of Okoro.

No Okoro Knicks in 6, with Okoro Cavs in 7

The Cavs do not need Okoro to out talent the Knicks. They have 3 All-Stars and a young stud.

As I've said, 4 of the best 6 players in the series.

And 2 of the top 3 best players are on the Knicks.

1. Donovan Mitchell
2. Jalen Brunson
3. Julius Randle

Then I’m assuming the next 3 would be Garland, Mobley and Allen…argument could be that IQ is as impactful as that group. Won’t say he’s better, but his numbers indicate he’s very much in that group this season.

After these players, it’s a massive advantage for the Knicks. RJ Barrett, Mitchell Robinson, Josh Hart, Quentin Grimes, Obi Toppin and Isaiah Hartenstein is most likely what the rest of the Knicks’ playoff rotation will look like and is a massive advantage in supporting cast than whatever the Cavs put out for their 5th starter and on the bench.

[iggymcfrack]

Cavs in 5. They've been the better team all season, they have the 2 best players in the series and I don't think the Knicks will be able to match them in crunch time.

1. Cavs have the best player in the series. The Knicks have the next best 2. Randle and Brunson are both better than Garland.

2. Brunson was one of the best scorers in clutch time this year. Don’t think that’ll be an issue either.

DPM
Garland 2.2
Brunson 2.1
Randle 0.5

EPM
Garland +4.4
Randle +3.3
Brunson +2.1

RAPTOR
Garland +4.5
Brunson +4.2
Randle +1.3

Any one of the top impact metrics you’d use likes Garland better than either of them. He’s an elite level passer/playmaker so you don’t see his full value just from box composites.

[JujitsuFlip]

Cavs this season have had Mitchell go for 71, Garland go for 51, LeVert go for 41, and Mobley go for 38. I don't think Garland is gonna be held to 9 ppg and Mitchell held to 25 on poor efficiency. Even if they are, there are a couple other potential scoring options on the team.

[cgf]

Cavs this season have had Mitchell go for 71, Garland go for 51, LeVert go for 41, and Mobley go for 38. I don't think Garland is gonna be held to 9 ppg and Mitchell held to 25 on poor efficiency. Even if they are, there are a couple other potential scoring options on the team.

By that same token, the knicks have had all of Randle, Brunson, Barrett, Quickley, Grimes, and Toppin, go for 30+ this season.

[bronxknicksfan1]

Cavs in 5. They've been the better team all season, they have the 2 best players in the series and I don't think the Knicks will be able to match them in crunch time.

1. Cavs have the best player in the series. The Knicks have the next best 2. Randle and Brunson are both better than Garland.

2. Brunson was one of the best scorers in clutch time this year. Don’t think that’ll be an issue either.

DPM
Garland 2.2
Brunson 2.1
Randle 0.5

EPM
Garland +4.4
Randle +3.3
Brunson +2.1

RAPTOR
Garland +4.5
Brunson +4.2
Randle +1.3

Any one of the top impact metrics you’d use likes Garland better than either of them. He’s an elite level passer/playmaker so you don’t see his full value just from box composites.

OBPM, DBPM, BPM and VORP favor both Randle and Brunson.

ORTG goes Brunson > Garland > Randle

PIE goes Randle > Brunson > Garland

If we want to go with RAPTOR stats though, it’s fair to say Knicks have 3 of the top 5 players for the series since IQ above Allen and Mobley in that stat.

Depends how you want to go through the stats. The only real standout is Donovan and it’s not by a ton. The talent discrepancy at the top isn’t as big as many are making it out to be.

[NoDopeOnSundays]

Cavs this season have had Mitchell go for 71, Garland go for 51, LeVert go for 41, and Mobley go for 38. I don't think Garland is gonna be held to 9 ppg and Mitchell held to 25 on poor efficiency. Even if they are, there are a couple other potential scoring options on the team.

Who? Levert has found it rough playing against the Knicks, Mobley has averaged 13.3ppg in 38mpg vs the Knicks through 4 games. I don't think Allen is going to score well enough on Robinson/Hartenstein to swing a series either, who is the 3rd guy?


If Garland plays like he has in the regular season the Cavs will lose this series, and this being his first playoffs, I don't really fear him. The Cavs have less room for error, if any of our guys are stinking it up there's a capable backup who has played quality minutes as a starter that can fill in.

[JujitsuFlip]

Cavs this season have had Mitchell go for 71, Garland go for 51, LeVert go for 41, and Mobley go for 38. I don't think Garland is gonna be held to 9 ppg and Mitchell held to 25 on poor efficiency. Even if they are, there are a couple other potential scoring options on the team.

By that same token, the knicks have had all of Randle, Brunson, Barrett, Quickley, Grimes, and Toppin, go for 30+ this season.

How is it by the same token? I've seen no one in this thread talk about what the #1 defense in the league will do.

All I've seen is people say Mobley and Allen are ancillary players at best, Garland is gonna get clamped, and Mitchell is gonna repeat his 2022 first round series efficiency.

Like you all don't understand that JB is going to play a 7 man rotation that will ensure 4 out of 7 times, with HCA, the Cavs are the better team.

[cgf]

Cavs this season have had Mitchell go for 71, Garland go for 51, LeVert go for 41, and Mobley go for 38. I don't think Garland is gonna be held to 9 ppg and Mitchell held to 25 on poor efficiency. Even if they are, there are a couple other potential scoring options on the team.

By that same token, the knicks have had all of Randle, Brunson, Barrett, Quickley, Grimes, and Toppin, go for 30+ this season.

How is it by the same token? I've seen no one in this thread talk about what the #1 defense in the league will do.

All I've seen is people say Mobley and Allen are ancillary players at best, Garland is gonna get clamped, and Mitchell is gonna repeat his 2022 first round series efficiency.

Like you all don't understand that JB is going to play a 7 man rotation that will ensure 4 out of 7 times, with HCA, the Cavs are the better team.

That's probably because you're a cavs fan. Otherwise, you'd also be noticing the posts saying Cleveland has all of the good players and the knicks won't be able to score at all. Some people like making silly over-the-top statements

Both teams have players other than their top star that are capable of scoring, and the defenses to quiet those other players.

[jasonxxx102]

I’m sure I’m the only one on this train and I’ve said it 100 times but this series really depends on the health of Okoro.

No Okoro Knicks in 6, with Okoro Cavs in 7

The Cavs do not need Okoro to out talent the Knicks. They have 3 All-Stars and a young stud.

As I've said, 4 of the best 6 players in the series.

Talent doesn’t always win. The NBA is about matchups more than anything

[JujitsuFlip]

I’m sure I’m the only one on this train and I’ve said it 100 times but this series really depends on the health of Okoro.

No Okoro Knicks in 6, with Okoro Cavs in 7

The Cavs do not need Okoro to out talent the Knicks. They have 3 All-Stars and a young stud.

As I've said, 4 of the best 6 players in the series.

Talent doesn’t always win. The NBA is about matchups more than anything

The Knicks are not a bad matchup for the Cavs though. Teams like the Celtics and Bucks are bad matchups for the Cavs.

[Soulyss]

Tough Matchup for the Knicks... I don't see them beating the Cavs.

[blueNorange]

i'm just enjoying reading mavs/nets fans being butthurt and saying things like cavs in 4

no team fears the cavs.

Sad Knicks fan sad after decades of being irrelevant

Cope a little harder, bro

i’ve got news for you, good or bad the new york knicks are always relevant

[JJ_PR]

1. Donovan Mitchell
2. Darius Garland
3. Jalen Brunson

FTFY. I'll give you Brunson over Mobley, but that's debatable as well.

[mdonnelly1989]

I don't see this series going any less than 6 games.

[Mind_Odyssey]

My biggest concern is Jarrett Allen. He’s a quiet nerd personality and sometimes plays like it.

He needs to put on his big boy pants against the Knicks bigs.

[RHODEY]

Don't think this one will live up the hype or even be particularly close. Cavs are much more talented across the board and will take it in an easy 5 or 6 tops.

[Ito]

want to say knicks in 6 but easily could b cavs in 5 or 6 winning sum tough close games.. confident ny gon get the job done doe