Random dribbles following the Cavaliers’ 112-110 overtime road loss to the Toronto Raptors in Game 6 on Friday.
1. They say that “Game Seven” is the two most wonderful words in sports. I doubt the Cavaliers feel that way today.
2. Fittingly, the Cavs were doomed by a turnover. That’s been their undoing in all three losses. And almost in some of the wins as well.
3. It happened with the Cavs leading by a point and time winding down. Dennis Schroder was pressured at halfcourt and fired a pass to a fairly well-defended Evan Mobley near the sideline. Mobley caught it, briefly, before the ball was slapped off his leg and rolled out of bounds.
4. Raptors ball. What followed … well, you had to see it.
5. If not, just know that Raptors wing RJ Barrett took a highly questionable three from the top of the key. The ball bounced straight up into the air, rose above the shot clock, and looked like it might hit the top of the backboard on the way back down.
6. Instead, it went straight through the hoop. And that, as they say, is the way the ball bounces.
7. The shot was challenged by Mobley. The result of it was no fault of the Cavs. But they sure didn’t help themselves for most of the night.
8. Keep in mind that the Raptors were without injured forward Brandon Ingram, their top scorer during the regular season. Nor have they had injured starting point guard Immanuel Quickley for the entire series.
9. But here we are. Game. Seven. Yuck, the Cavs are likely saying.
10. Mobley was fantastic much of the game, finishing with 26 points and 14 rebounds. But aside from a spurt here and there, Donovan Mitchell (24 points) and James Harden (16 points, nine rebounds and nine assists) … they’re still not leading the team to greatness.
11. That sounds harsh, because neither was bad. They just didn’t take over. The Cavs and their fans are still waiting for that.
12. The Cavs did manage to overcome a 15-point deficit. They scratched and clawed and forced the Raptors to play at their pace. But the things they did (or failed to do) before that left the outcome up to chance.
13. Toronto scored just 12 points in the fourth quarter, and the Cavs still failed to secure a road game. They’ve won just four of the past 15 away from home in the playoffs.
14. Kenny Atkinson to reporters: “This is why you fight so hard to get home-court advantage. We knew this wasn’t going to be easy. This is the playoffs, this is what it’s about. We’ve got to recover and get ready for Sunday’s game.”
15. Luckily for the Cavs, the Pistons overcame a 24-point deficit in Orlando on Friday to win by 14. So if the Cavs advance (and that’s no guarantee), their second-round opponent will be in the same spot. Specificially, also coming off a Game 7.
16. For the record, Game 1 of the second round is Tuesday. Will the Cavs be there? Yes, if they play like they did in the fourth quarter of Friday’s game.
17. But they’ll be going on vacation if they still don’t improve in those all-important areas of the intangibles.
18. They did a much better job on the glass in this one, outrebounding Toronto by a 52-38 count. That’s part of the reason they were able to get back in it. They also were better in the turnover department, though the 18 they coughed up here will still be too many in a Game 7.
19. Jarrett Allen played his best game of the postseason, finishing with 14 points and seven rebounds. But his 2-of-6 shooting on free throws sure didn’t help. Overall, the Cavs were 19-of-27 from the line. That proved costly.
20. Barrett finished with 25 points, and Scottie Barnes and Ja’Kobe Walter added 24 apiece. The Cavs have to find a way to slow down Walter and Collin Murray-Boyles. It’s inexcusable to let two young players go off as they have been.
21. Dean Wade added 10 points and five rebounds. He was a plus-10. It turned out not to matter much, but it sure could during a deciding game.
22. So do I think the Cavs will win on Sunday? I’m leaning that way. That said, I’ve found that my gut means nothing. The Cavs’ grit will mean a lot more.
23. Mitchell: “Protect home court. Doesn’t matter if they won by 30, (or) two. Protect home court. That’s all we can do.”
- BOX SCORE | Raptors 112, Cavs 110, OT
- RELATED | Barret’s miracle shot sinks Cavs, forces Game 7
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What’s interesting is to this point I’ve heard no national or local media person talk about Donavan Mitchell’s perimeter defense.
Are you guys seeing what I’m seeing? Although he gets steals, and very focused on stealing from time to time, the rest of the time? Just running around? It’s like he’s coasting out there half the time, daring guys to miss or make a move. He just jogs at them on the perimeter. Is anybody else seeing this?
The whole “Turn it on” thing should never be at the defensive end. It should always be on.
It’s really hard to tell where his mind is at sometimes out there. The poor D and the erratic plays on offense, it’s a bit of a roller coaster, when combined with his immense talent. This is why I say whatever his personal coach is doing.. I don’t feel like it’s working. His talent is his talent. But on the floor, simple and high level decisions and doing much more than be an elite scoring force, part time, really don’t seem to be his forte.
This team’s identity is still a work in progress. And we’re still playing too many guys to the point where NONE of our shooters will ever catch meaningful rhythm in a game. We’re trying too many guys as the shooter roll, when guys who have more all around game and aren’t scared of the moment, many nights they shoot just as good or better, especially when things are tight. Sam Merrill is a liability out there on both ends. Yes, on BOTH ends. This is the NBA playoffs and we need to get real about what we’re seeing. I’m tired of everybody else compensating to set up a guy for shots who costs us so much else everywhere else in the game, struggles everywhere else, including staying on his feet.
Meanwhile a DNP for Ellis? We earned this loss. Play guys long enough so they can play their role and be good at it. We’re putting guys in for a few minutes and pulling them. It’s a mess.