Cleveland Cavaliers vs Philadelphia 76ers 2/12/2024

Game Breakdown

Cavs - 121-123 L

• Garland, Mitchell, Strus, Mobley, Allen

  • CAVS ball screen defense doing a great job early in the game of being active in the pocket passing windows and getting deflections

  • 33-2 when leading going into the 4th quarter going into this game

• GARLAND showing some real creativity with his handle when navigating ball screens and the drop+secondary defenders

  • He has been AWESOME so far in the 1st half scoring the ball in a multitude of ways

• SPIDA unselfishness and passing impresses me every game I have watched this year

  • Maybe he isn’t “elite” in this aspect but I think he is better than many would give him credit for

• LEVERT with a couple really nice passing reads in the 1st quarter

  • Really liked the game he played

  • Made an impact defensively as well

• OKORO knocks down a couple corner C&S 3PAs

  • 41% on these at this point in the season

• MOBLEY defensive really showing up here in the 3rd

  • Active hands in ball screen to get deflections

  • Awesome low man rotation and block on a Bamba drive

76ers

• Maxey, Hield, Oubre, Martin, Reed

  • Nurse with a beautiful action to start the 2nd quarter to get Maxey and Off Screen 3PA

    • Maxey down screen on left side, Payne comes off backscreen on right side, Payne then screens for Maxey along with Reed to get Maxey a staggered come to right wing while a DHO is happening back on the left side

      • Just had the Cavs defense running around and the action was very fluid

  • 3-17 on the season when trailing entering the 4th Quarter coming into the game

  • Not sure how I feel about fouling Up 3 with 10 seconds left on the clock…understand it when there is less time but this felt a little early

• HIELD doing a lot off the bounce early in this game

  • This could be useful in the non-Maxey minutes even with the signing of Lowry

  • Shows some passing ability as well

  • He is pretty effective and disruptive with his hands at times as well

    • Doesn’t necessarily stand out in his box score steals stats

  • Obviously, the shot making is going to be huge

    • 2 CLUTCH 3PMs off the bounce late in the 4th Quarter

• MAXEY, for as good as he has been offensively, is just getting attacked over and over and over

  • What is the answer in the playoffs…???

  • The shooting, combined with the speed, combined with the ability to stop on a dime and rise up OR step back just makes him so difficult to defend effectively

• REED with a couple of really nice finishes in the first 6 minutes

  • Bodies through Allen from the dunker spot for a dunk

  • PnR and finesse left hand finish a couple minutes later

  • WHAT A VERTICALITY BLOCK TO HOLD THE LEAD AT THE END OF THE GAME

• PAYNE just comes in and does his thing, you HAVE to appreciate guys like this in some capacity

  • Made a few shots, pressured the rim a bit, distributed the ball

• BAMBA having an impact solely based on his size

  • Contesting and altering shots at the rim defensively

  • Caught a lob offensively (really nice pass from Hield)

  • Knocks down a 3P, has made 263 in his career at a 36% clip

• COUNCIL IV looks like he is playing a little too fast and almost “out of control” but he has pressured the defense that resulted in positive things multiple times

• MARTIN finding ways to be impactful with his athleticism

  • Cuts, OREBs, Lobs, Transition, etc.

• OUBRE making shots….can you keep him on the floor in a playoff setting defensively?

  • Felt like early in the season he was at least making defensive disruption plays

  • Hit like 3 right baseline pull up jumpers

    • Also makes buckets down the stretch to help win the game

*General Note: Maybe it is the amount of games I am watching this year and the depth at which I am doing so but it seems like there is more Zone being played in the NBA this year. I wonder if the “numbers” back this up.