Random dribbles following the Cavaliers’ 133-122 road loss to the Detroit Pistons on Friday. …
1. I haven’t loved what I’ve seen from the Cavaliers lately. Even in wins, they’ve looked a little aloof for about two weeks.
2. The ball movement isn’t as crisp. The shots aren’t falling — and I bet the all-important “shot quality” stat has taken a hit along the way. They aren’t rebounding as well as they should. Their defense has been erratic.
3. Look, I didn’t expect them to win Friday. It was the second night of a back-to-back, and on the road. Coach Kenny Atkinson has all but admitted they are dragging toward the finish line. They just look beat. That was certainly the case against the Pistons.
4. But even in wins, I see the Cavs being outhustled and outmuscled. They’ve lost five of eight. And they weren’t exactly sharp in the victories — with all three coming over non-playoff teams (Jazz, Trail Blazers and Spurs).
5. I’d even venture to say the so-called “game faces” have changed. I’m seeing a lot of confusion and complaining to the officials. That’s not the Cavaliers of three weeks ago.
6. This isn’t to sound a bunch of alarms or send Cavs Nation into a panic. I still think they’ll win the East. At 59-15, they’re 4.5 games up on Boston with eight to go. I still think they could really go places in the playoffs.
7. But not if they play like this, or anything close. They will have to be the team they say they are. And they might do just that. I’m talking about the here and now, though, and the here and now can’t end soon enough.
8. The Cavs were without Max Strus (ankle), and for the second straight night, Ty Jerome (knee). Neither injury is serious. Atkinson and the Cavs are wisely playing the resting game as the regular season comes to a close. But the Pistons were without All-Star guard Cade Cunningham (calf).
9. No matter, Detroit (42-32) was the aggressor for most of the night. The Pistons scratched and clawed and jeered and cheered. Too often, the Cavs looked indifferent, maybe a little soft. I don’t think they’re a soft team. I do think they’ve played like one in spurts lately.
10. They are also allowing other teams to control the pace. That’s a far cry from the winning streaks of 15, 12, and 16 games this season.
10. Atkinson to reporters on the loss: “We were kind of on our heels. The game plan was to take away the paint. Limit turnovers. Win the rebounding game. You give the instructions, and you either do it or don’t. We didn’t. They imposed their will. They imposed their identity. That’s why you come out with the L.”
11. Donovan Mitchell was brilliant in trying to pump life into what looked like a lost cause. He erupted for 22 of his 38 points in the fourth quarter, sparking a comeback. It was an admirable effort, no doubt. But these Cavs have never won that way. They need to do it as a team, utilizing all of their many weapons.
12. Darius Garland was good for most of the game, but in an about-face, sort of disappeared in the fourth quarter. He’s been good in crunch time all season, the Cavs’ Mr. Clutch. But against Detroit, he went 0-of-4 shooting in the final 12 minutes.
13. Jarrett Allen was amazing the previous night against the Spurs. It was a different story in this one. He didn’t have it. Neither did Evan Mobley, who rested against the Spurs. When Atkinson said the Pistons “imposed their will,” he probably meant near the basket. Allen and Mobley were pushed around and ineffective underneath.
14. Mobley finished with nine points on 3-of-10 shooting and six rebounds. He was outplayed by Isaiah Stewart. We don’t say this often about Mobley, like maybe three times this season … but this was a stinker.
15. Allen only played 19 minutes and finished with eight points. The frontcourt just didn’t deliver. Garland added 21 points, De’Andre Hunter scored 11, and Dean Wade had 10.
16. But in a game like this, it’s all just numbers. As Atkinson suggested, what matters is your identity, playing like the Cavaliers. We all know they’re better than this.
17. Now, it’s been a brutal stretch of the schedule. The Cavs come home for a few days. They get a rematch with the Clippers on Sunday in Cleveland. Then they get a couple days off. Maybe that will be just what the basketball doctor ordered. Let’s hope.
18. Atkinson with the final word: “There are still [eight] games left. I trust our body of work. I trust the guys. I do think we need to get home and collect ourselves a little bit, sleep in our beds and get back in our routine and actually practice or have a shootaround. I think that’ll help.”
- Box Score | Pistons 133, Cavs 122
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Let’s be real, the Pistons punked the Cavs big time and it’s been disturbing watching them. All is see is dribble, dribble, dribble while players stand at the 3 point line waiting for something to happen. No movement, cutting, back door cuts, picks, screens, nothing but stagnant b-ball. They look like a team that can be taken in the first round. Very unwatchable right now and they better right the ship soon or we are all set for major disappointment. 🏀😎
Thank you Joseph, for putting it so much like I felt !!! I said so after everyone was rejoicing after a Big 3rd quarter in the Jazz win. “They’re back” they said with elation. I would LOVE to hope that was the case,,, It was NOT.
I stated then that -“Just ONE quarter (3rd) of the normal terrific Cav’s we’ve seen almost all year, over-whelming the LOWEST ranked NBA team in the western Conference,,yeah, for just ONE quarter…. just doesn’t make me believe that they’re completely back !
In late Feb., When they went through the Knicks, Memphis, Orlando, & Boston like a knife thru hot butter, I really thought, looking at the remaining games,(the way they played then) that they might even be able to win out over MOST if not ALL remaining games–I know,,,Pipe dream!
But the way they’ve been playing this way,,,, I mean it’s BEEN ALL OF MARCH!
Even in their wins,,, it was always an amazing COMEBACK win. They had come out sluggish ever since the other win over Portland( Overtime win) & had slipped a great deal ever since. Everyone Jacking up 3’s not consistent the way they had (except Strus & Jerome at times). Leaving MANY points at the free throw line. And yes NOW seem to have NO defense at all. Detroit Killed them & without their STAR. I hate to say it.
Mobley DPOY ?????????????????????? NOT anymore. I feel it too, Looking quite well like a first round EXIT. Sorry, they’ve had all month to fix it & it’s only gotten worse.
Sam, ,,,,, I DO love your optimism & I DO hope it wins out. Not in Panic here but…. It’s hard to watch,,,, downright painful at times because you KNOW their better than that & what you said about shot selection –Right on.