Cleveland Oh. – This was just one of those games. Coach JB said he noticed in the third quarter; the guys just didn’t have it tonight. This is the NBA. Craig Porter Jr. talked about how the grind of the NBA season is very different than college. The Cavs play 17 games in March. It is the grueling part of the schedule. They were missing Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Max Strus, and Dean Wade. It just wasn’t ideal for the Cavs in any way. And the Nets came in and played like they were supposed to.
The third quarter was where it went wrong. The Cavs gave up 44 points to the Nets in the third. The Nets made 8 of ten threes. That was where the game was lost. Coach JB didn’t even put his starters back in and no one played more than 29 minutes tonight. The front end of a back-to-back, the Cavs not close to full strength, no point in going all out for this game in March.
Photo via Cleveland Cavaliers
From the start of the game there were signs. The Cavs opened up the game with back-to-back turnovers. Then George Niang got into it with Nic Claxton. Even though the Cavs fought hard in the first half, and went into halftime down one, there were signs. The Nets shot over 50% from three and the field. Cam Thomas scored almost at will. Dennis Schroder lived up to his nickname “Dennis the Menace.” It was just a game where the Cavs were playing anther NBA team, without three starters and a rotation piece. I don’t think its concerning, but… It just is what it is.
The Cavs host the Phoenix Suns tomorrow night at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. The Suns are a top team in the west, and present different challenges. But if the Cavs can get one or two of the guys back, that will help. It won’t be Mobley, and it probably won’t be Mitchell either. So, the Cavs are going to have to gut out a win over a top team. They have done it many times this season, but… they need it more than ever now.
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