Game 78: Kings @ Cavs 4/6/2025

[ijspeelman]

The Cleveland Cavaliers would clinch the best record in the Eastern Conference with a win tonight.

https://bsky.app/profile/dannycunningham.bsky.social/post/3lm5lwt7khk2h

[JujitsuFlip]

https://sports.yahoo.com/article/jarrett-allen-expected-play-82-154035763.html

So it looks like Allen wants to play in all 82 games and the Cavs are going to let him but his minutes will be limited in the final 5 games.

[ijspeelman]

Preface that I've been only watching a handful of these games.

Popped in in the 4th when I saw the Cavs made it a one point game w 9 mins remaining. LaVine and DeRozan decided to hit everything. We missed some open looks, but overall looked good. There was some absolute weirdness with 40 secs to go where the refs (more likely Secaucus) gifted the Kings two points (Kings obvi shot after the shot clock, but were given two points and it was never looked at to be reversed) so we were playing like we were down 5, but w the idea we may only be down 3. Refs finally get together after Mitchell draws a three point foul and everyone in the building thinks they are going to reverse the LaVine 2, but instead they don't mention it and call Mitchell for stepping out of bounds prior to the three attempt.

Game wasn't stolen from us or anything, but was just odd bc everyone was aware that the LaVine shot shouldn't have counted, but it just did so the end was a lot less tight than it should have been.

I really do think these guys are just coasting at this point so I am not really taking anything from the bad play over the last month. I just don't think its indictive of our actual playoff play.

[JujitsuFlip]

The Cavs just really don't want that 1 seed, huh? lol at this point I'm just hoping for one more Celtics loss

[JonFromVA]

The Cavs are too young to be coasting, they shouldn't be assuming they have an extra gear that can summon when they need it.

[JujitsuFlip]

The Cavs are too young to be coasting, they shouldn't be assuming they have an extra gear that can summon when they need it.

They've been coasting for awhile now, builds bad habits.

Hopefully Mitchell's ankle is okay.

[toooskies]

The Cavs just really don't want that 1 seed, huh? lol at this point I'm just hoping for one more Celtics loss

We have a four game lead on the Celtics with four games to play, let's not overreact.

LaVine, Sabonis, and DeRozan all played and shot well. They played all their starters 40+ minutes while we only played ours 33 or less.

Okoro is playing really good minutes off the bench lately. He's now 2nd on the team (behind Javonte Green) in on/off. I'd love to see him get more minutes.

Wade, too. Surprised he only got 3.

[JujitsuFlip]

The Cavs just really don't want that 1 seed, huh? lol at this point I'm just hoping for one more Celtics loss

We have a four game lead on the Celtics with four games to play, let's not overreact.

LaVine, Sabonis, and DeRozan all played and shot well. They played all their starters 40+ minutes while we only played ours 33 or less.

Okoro is playing really good minutes off the bench lately. He's now 2nd on the team (behind Javonte Green) in on/off. I'd love to see him get more minutes.

Wade, too. Surprised he only got 3.

It's not an overreaction, Cavs shoulda had this wrapped up awhile ago.

Celtics final 4 games are Knicks, Magic, Hornets, Hornets. The odds of them going 4-0 is pretty good.

We have Bulls, Pacers, Knicks, Pacers. We just need to win 1 game to secure the 1 seed. All those teams have something to play for. We have 4 chances to secure the 1 seed and we may be trying to do it without Mitchell.

[JujitsuFlip]

As far as the rotation, for whatever reason, Merrill has secured the 8th spot in the playoff rotation. I too wish it were Okoro, Wade, or Green.

I think Green is locked into spot 11. Seems Wade is locked into spot 10. Okeke is way too new to the team to really gauge at all.

[mcfly1204]

The Cavs just really don't want that 1 seed, huh? lol at this point I'm just hoping for one more Celtics loss

We have a four game lead on the Celtics with four games to play, let's not overreact.

LaVine, Sabonis, and DeRozan all played and shot well. They played all their starters 40+ minutes while we only played ours 33 or less.

Okoro is playing really good minutes off the bench lately. He's now 2nd on the team (behind Javonte Green) in on/off. I'd love to see him get more minutes.

Wade, too. Surprised he only got 3.

It's not an overreaction, Cavs shoulda had this wrapped up awhile ago.

Celtics final 4 games are Knicks, Magic, Hornets, Hornets. The odds of them going 4-0 is pretty good.

We have Bulls, Pacers, Knicks, Pacers. We just need to win 1 game to secure the 1 seed. All those teams have something to play for. We have 4 chances to secure the 1 seed and we may be trying to do it without Mitchell.

How could thinking the Cavs will end the season with their longest losing streak not be an overreaction?

[JujitsuFlip]

We have a four game lead on the Celtics with four games to play, let's not overreact.

LaVine, Sabonis, and DeRozan all played and shot well. They played all their starters 40+ minutes while we only played ours 33 or less.

Okoro is playing really good minutes off the bench lately. He's now 2nd on the team (behind Javonte Green) in on/off. I'd love to see him get more minutes.

Wade, too. Surprised he only got 3.

It's not an overreaction, Cavs shoulda had this wrapped up awhile ago.

Celtics final 4 games are Knicks, Magic, Hornets, Hornets. The odds of them going 4-0 is pretty good.

We have Bulls, Pacers, Knicks, Pacers. We just need to win 1 game to secure the 1 seed. All those teams have something to play for. We have 4 chances to secure the 1 seed and we may be trying to do it without Mitchell.

How could thinking the Cavs will end the season with their longest losing streak not be an overreaction?

They might be without their best player, so that adds some context.

[FromTheLand]

We will get 1. Come on now!

[JonFromVA]

We will get 1. Come on now!

I'm reasonably confident we will lock up the seed.

My concern is that the team is getting too lazy under the assumption that they'll get rolling again when the games mean something; the thing is they don't have a LeBron nor the experience to presume they have that switch they can just flip.

[JujitsuFlip]

We will get 1. Come on now!

I'm reasonably confident we will lock up the seed.

My concern is that the team is getting too lazy under the assumption that they'll get rolling again when the games mean something; the thing is they don't have a LeBron nor the experience to presume they have that switch they can just flip.

Any preference between Bulls, Magic, Heat, and Hawks in round 1?

[ijspeelman]

We will get 1. Come on now!

I'm reasonably confident we will lock up the seed.

My concern is that the team is getting too lazy under the assumption that they'll get rolling again when the games mean something; the thing is they don't have a LeBron nor the experience to presume they have that switch they can just flip.

Any preference between Bulls, Magic, Heat, and Hawks in round 1?

Pick one out of a hat.

Bulls are extreme pushovers, BUT can probably out shoot any team in one or two games to make things interesting. Heat lack the talent, but any Spo lead team is a bit scary bc you know you are getting their best. Magic would be a lot scarier if Suggs was active. Hawks just seem to have our number, but again am not really worried about them in a seven game series.

I'd start worrying about Pacers, Bucks, Pistons in the 2nd round. I know the team I wouldn't want out of that group.

[JujitsuFlip]

I'm reasonably confident we will lock up the seed.

My concern is that the team is getting too lazy under the assumption that they'll get rolling again when the games mean something; the thing is they don't have a LeBron nor the experience to presume they have that switch they can just flip.

Any preference between Bulls, Magic, Heat, and Hawks in round 1?

Pick one out of a hat.

Bulls are extreme pushovers, BUT can probably out shoot any team in one or two games to make things interesting. Heat lack the talent, but any Spo lead team is a bit scary bc you know you are getting their best. Magic would be a lot scarier if Suggs was active. Hawks just seem to have our number, but again am not really worried about them in a seven game series.

I'd start worrying about Pacers, Bucks, Pistons in the 2nd round. I know the team I wouldn't want out of that group.

You better not say Pistons hahaha

But for the 1st round, i agree, Heat would be tougher bc of Spo.

I know we can beat the Magic but I'd prefer they end up 7th or 9th, they beat the crap outta our guys last season.

I'm not too worried about the Hawks bc of trades and injuries since November, they're probably the preference. Quinn knowing Mitchell and him maybe not being 100% would be the only slight thing to give me pause.

I can't really find any reason to fear the Bulls but I doubt they can win 2 single elimination games (if they don't move up in the standings this week).

[jbk1234]

Preface that I've been only watching a handful of these games.

Popped in in the 4th when I saw the Cavs made it a one point game w 9 mins remaining. LaVine and DeRozan decided to hit everything. We missed some open looks, but overall looked good. There was some absolute weirdness with 40 secs to go where the refs (more likely Secaucus) gifted the Kings two points (Kings obvi shot after the shot clock, but were given two points and it was never looked at to be reversed) so we were playing like we were down 5, but w the idea we may only be down 3. Refs finally get together after Mitchell draws a three point foul and everyone in the building thinks they are going to reverse the LaVine 2, but instead they don't mention it and call Mitchell for stepping out of bounds prior to the three attempt.

Game wasn't stolen from us or anything, but was just odd bc everyone was aware that the LaVine shot shouldn't have counted, but it just did so the end was a lot less tight than it should have been.

I really do think these guys are just coasting at this point so I am not really taking anything from the bad play over the last month. I just don't think its indictive of our actual playoff play.

I don't expect a Celtics in the Garden friendly whistle, but it really does seem like other teams come to Cleveland and get a friendly whistle.

[jbk1234]

As far as the rotation, for whatever reason, Merrill has secured the 8th spot in the playoff rotation. I too wish it were Okoro, Wade, or Green.

I think Green is locked into spot 11. Seems Wade is locked into spot 10. Okeke is way too new to the team to really gauge at all.

I wouldn't presume any of the rotation players, save maybe Hunter, have a locked up spot in the playoffs. Merrill was getting more run with Jerome out, but now he's back. Any rotation with both guys in it has vulnerabilities (before adding Garland). Any rotation with two of Okoro, Green, and Wade has certain vulnerabilities. The challenge is going to be to find lineups with the correct balance against the other team's units.

[jbk1234]

One concern I have is that Jerome's game can be rather heliocentric and sometimes it comes at the expense of Garland or Mitchell getting into rhythm. I'm not really sure what's to be done about it either as the better defender is always assigned to Garland or Mitchell. The smart basketball play is to let the guy with the weaker defender initiate the offense.

As far as the other end, we probably should've been forcing the ball out of LaVine's hands about halfway through the 4th quarter. The guy is on a multi-game heater. He had 43 last night against the Pistons.

[JujitsuFlip]

One concern I have is that Jerome's game can be rather heliocentric and sometimes it comes at the expense of Garland or Mitchell getting into rhythm. I'm not really sure what's to be done about it either as the better defender is always assigned to Garland or Mitchell. The smart basketball play is to let the guy with the weaker defender initiate the offense.

As far as the other end, we probably should've been forcing the ball out of LaVine's hands about halfway through the 4th quarter. The guy is on a multi-game heater. He had 43 last night against the Pistons.

Let's hope for a win tonight vs the Bulls then we can try to get some extended rest before April 19th.