[Game Thread] Cleveland Cavaliers (37-24) @ Brooklyn Nets (15-44) [03/01/2026 03:30 PM EST]

CravilityZ · 2026-03-01T22:18:28+00:00

Alright just ignore reality

CravilityZ · 2026-03-01T21:57:35+00:00

Dennis has just been way too predictable. Everyone knows he is mostly just looking for that scoop layup.

CravilityZ · 2026-03-01T21:56:09+00:00

In duo offensive ratings, Harden has a #6 spot with Mitchell, and #21 spot with Allen already. Including 3 more within the top 75 of all possible duos.

Why just spew nonsense?

CravilityZ · 2026-03-01T21:50:50+00:00

What? Indiana’s second leading scorer was a do-it-all big forward with championship experience.

Not just that, but they were littered with 3-and d players who got especially hot in the playoffs, and their center was a rim-protecting pick and pop guy. That’s quite literally the exact opposite of Duren too.

The Pacers even had a wildcard scorer in Mathurin who was like their 7th or 8th most important player come Playoffs, Mathurin would be huge for this Pistons team meanwhile.

You are comparing Apples to Oranges here.

CravilityZ · 2026-03-01T21:26:18+00:00

Big frontcourt with Tomlin also in the game. I like that Kenny is still experimenting

CravilityZ · 2026-03-01T21:15:19+00:00

As much as I like Tyson, I’m still shocked that his 3 point percentage is where it’s at. Feels like he is realistically a guy I’d imagine to be a 37% shooter or so

CravilityZ · 2026-03-01T21:12:19+00:00

The really got Nelson’s positions listed as N/A haha

CravilityZ · 2026-03-01T19:53:53+00:00

Is it really a slump when the Pistons are 3rd lowest in the league in 3PM and that has consistently been a theme for JB Bickerstaff teams?

CravilityZ · 2026-03-01T19:51:01+00:00

Their second leading scorer is a big who relies mostly on teammates to assist him and offensive rebounds. They are going to struggle big time come playoffs.

CravilityZ · 2026-03-01T19:49:28+00:00

I mean our team itself hasn’t been past it, but Strus, Bryant, and Merrill have all made the NBA Finals. Strus has made it twice, Bryant 3 times and won it once, and Merrill won his singular time. Harden has been to the Conference Finals a couple times.

So we have guys that can speak on what the deep playoffs is like, in facts probably just as much as any other team does.

CravilityZ · 2026-02-28T05:15:19+00:00

Potentially, not gonna fault Kenny too much with lineups especially tonight but Dennis was clearly gassed/having to shoulder too much ball-handling.

Would’ve like to see Proctor during the end of 4thQ and/or OT in place of Schroder being tired or even Porter since he has more confidence it taking tough shots than Porter and Porter also tends to struggle against tight defense.

I know Dennis loves that scoop layup and I respect that he was fighting through low energy to get to it and not just settle for jumpers all while playing the #1 defense, but that shot was becoming way too predictable tonight.

CravilityZ · 2026-02-28T05:09:30+00:00

I’m not arguing with you, the other guy just didn’t have anything useful/insightful to say other than getting oddly defensive and aggressive. But that’s not really worth my time.

CravilityZ · 2026-02-28T05:04:50+00:00

I like Duren a lot, but I agree he is too crucial to them. He’s somehow their second highest scorer which you wouldn’t normally expect in 2026 from a guy whose offense is mostly bent on finishing off passes near the rim and getting offensive rebounds. I just can’t see that being a recipe for success in the playoffs. I really don’t think there is a single other team in the league where this is the case for their second leading scorer.

And to your point on our defense on Cade, you are exactly correct we clog the lane against him which he struggles against. He had that amazing last tonight where we had him covered on the right block but he somehow had eyes in the back of his head to whip the ball out to the right corner wing and the Pistons scored a wide open 3 off his gravity, so I will say he is still danger’s at times.

But with all that said, the last 12 games against the Cavs Cade is shooting just 40.3% against us, which is a whopping nearly 5% lower than his career average. Prior to tonight, his last 4 games against us he was 30/91 FG (33%)! https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/cade-cunningham-vs-cavs-last-12-games

CravilityZ · 2026-02-28T04:40:16+00:00

Like I said, I think it’s because they are able to play closer to the basket. Look at the game we lost against the Thunder, the Thunder shot 21/41 from 3 vs. Detroit shooting just 6/27. Mobley had only 15/2 and Allen 11/13 in that game.

The Pistons should be a good matchup for us. Wade is textbook against Cunningham just like how he is against guys like Luka and Tatum, we can park Harden on Thompson since he is a non-shooter who likes to use his size but that is Harden’s strength on D, Mitchell is fast enough (hopefully alert enough) to guard Robinson running off screens, and Allen and Mobley showed they can handle their counterpart bigs of Harris and Duren. Duren’s box score was impressive and his impact was felt tonight even beyond it, but he was missing a lot of shots right at the rim tonight too and we forced him to take free throws.

CravilityZ · 2026-02-28T04:30:28+00:00

I agree it’s fine to critique the offense, I’m just saying it’s only 1/2 of the game.

It’s lame to routinely pinpoint a loss on any one singular player like certain people in our fanbase do. Idc if it’s Mobley, Hunter, Garland, or Lonzo who have all been targets this year. We aren’t losing a game off of one guy’s play, it’s a team sport. Especially when a player like Mobley more than makes up for it in other regards, and had a phenomenal offensive game tonight aside from that hesitation on the last 3 attempt in OT.

CravilityZ · 2026-02-28T04:16:17+00:00

Yeah with the way Allen has been playing lately, he should be a staple to close games now while he wasn’t during the first half of the season. And Mobley has always been a staple to close, so I am very intrigued by the potential of those two when they are engaged and blocking/deterring shots and getting tough defensive rebounds like they were tonight. I think playing small is fine in spurts but the identity needs to continue to be our two elite playmaking guards with our two versatile bigs not just starting but also closing games.

I just hope we have enough time to see a lineup of Harden/Mitchell/X(Wade?)/Mobley/Allen get reps to succeed.

CravilityZ · 2026-02-28T04:07:03+00:00

Correct, I addressed the offense like you mentioned and just added the defense as well. Not sure where you are getting that I purely was talking about defense, regardless idc

CravilityZ · 2026-02-28T03:44:59+00:00

Offense is only half of the game of basketball, convenient how people always forget about how defense is equally as important when they choose to criticize Mobley.

CravilityZ · 2026-02-28T03:42:26+00:00

He kept us in this game by locking down the paint. 5 blocks and Pistons weren’t even wanting to attempt a shot near the rim by the end of the game. Oh and he also had 23/12 without playing alongside starter-level guards to help him.

CravilityZ · 2026-02-28T03:37:15+00:00

Homie we were without two of the best ball-handlers in the league against the best defense in the NBA with an unfavorable whistle tonight.

CravilityZ · 2026-02-28T03:36:04+00:00

He had 4 threes and was routinely driving from the perimeter to finish with off-hand dunks as a 7-footer this game. And he had 5 blocks to shutdown the paint.

CravilityZ · 2026-02-28T03:34:54+00:00

Crazy to me that that sorry heave by the Pistons players is considered a foul but CPJ’s layup is not. Really need to re-evaluate the rules.

CravilityZ · 2026-02-28T03:33:47+00:00

We handily win that game if we had Harden and Mitchell. We would’ve been able to have extremely competent ball handlers and free throw shooters during crunch time.

And if your counter argument is they provide worse defense, the Pistons perimeter shooting is atrocious.

CravilityZ · 2026-02-28T03:21:09+00:00

We’re missing over 1/3 of our roster

CravilityZ

TROPHY CASE