The Cavaliers had chances. They just keep giving them away.
Cleveland fell to Detroit 107-97 in Game 2 and now heads home down 0-2 in the series. The issue has been the same both nights. Too many mistakes, too little margin.
The Cavs opened in a hole again. Turnovers piled up early, and the shots were not falling. That is a bad combination against a 60-win team that knows how to make you pay.
Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen each had early giveaways that set the tone. James Harden and Donovan Mitchell followed. Cleveland had nine turnovers by halftime and never fully recovered.
Harden struggled to find any rhythm. He opened 1-of-9 from the field with more turnovers than assists, and some of the decisions left the offense stuck in mud.
The Cavs stayed within reach by getting to the line. Free throws helped offset a rough start from three and kept Detroit from blowing it open.
Then came the push.
Cleveland cleaned it up in the second half, taking better care of the ball and riding Mitchell, who finally looked like himself. He scored 31 points and attacked with purpose, helping the Cavs briefly grab a fourth-quarter lead.
It did not last.
Tobias Harris and Duncan Robinson answered with big shots. Cade Cunningham controlled the game with 25 points and 10 assists. The Pistons closed it out.
The Cavs will tell you they could have won both games. The scoreboard says otherwise. Now it shifts to Cleveland, where their season is suddenly staring back at them.
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Cavs really go out of their way to earn their losses.
Faith in this coaching staff and rotations is at an all time low. Faith in our GM is returning to pre-Atkinson levels.
Telling Mobley he’s training to be the next hall of famer is a joke. How about we stop kissing these kids’ behinds and tell them their first job is a simple job. Go out there and get as many rebounds as you can, all game. Learn how to use your body. How to carve out your space, That should have been year 1. Instead we just glaze dudes til the media glazes dudes, to sell tickets, and it usually goes to their heads. Last player to grow into full potential in Cleveland? Hmm..
Casting Mitchell as a number 1 franchise player.. then expecting him to defer to players as necessary especially as they grow into their potential and outgrow him, it’s just not going to happen. Mobley and whoever else, nobody will reach their potential watching Donavan Mitchell play hero ball at ill-advised times. Or most of the time.
Dean Wade? He logs more minutes than the guys we traded our all-star Darius Garland for. Shroeder and Ellis. I haven’t checked every game, but in the ones I’ve checked, Wade plays more minutes than those guys from Sacramento, every single game. Do Cavs think Wade is an allstar? This team is just not adding up right now. I don’t understand the decisions.