If Donovan Mitchell is healthy enough, can the Cavs beat Indy or the Magic in Rd.1 of the playoffs?
Donovan Mitchell’s health has been a hot-button topic for the Cleveland Cavaliers since the All-Star break. From a knee injury that sidelined him for nearly a month and a broken nose that has forced him to wear a face mask, Cleveland’s All-Star guard has had a rough few weeks.
The question now turns to how will the Cavs make sure Mitchell is healthy and ready to go for the playoffs. It’s a little more complicated than that. Mitchell himself has admitted that he’s playing through pain in his knee, but there’s no time to sit out any more games. J.B. Bickerstaff and company will instead have to help him manage the pain and minutes.
Full article | https://www.si.com/nba/cavaliers/how-cleveland-cavaliers-plan-donovan-mitchell-ready-for-nba-playoffs
Indiana Pacers (46-34, sixth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (47-33, fourth in the Eastern Conference)
Cleveland; Friday, 7:30 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Indiana aims to keep its three-game win streak intact when the Pacers take on Cleveland.
The Cavaliers are 10-5 against the rest of their division. Cleveland has a 9-5 record in one-possession games.
The Pacers are 11-5 against the rest of the division. Indiana leads the Eastern Conference with 30.6 assists. Tyrese Haliburton paces the Pacers with 10.9.
The Cavaliers score 112.5 points per game, 7.7 fewer points than the 120.2 the Pacers give up. The Pacers are shooting 50.5% from the field, 4.3% higher than the 46.2% the Cavaliers’ opponents have shot this season.
The two teams square off for the fourth time this season. The Cavaliers defeated the Pacers 108-103 in their last matchup on March 18. Caris LeVert led the Cavaliers with 23 points, and T.J. McConnell led the Pacers with 14 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jarrett Allen is averaging 16.4 points and 10.6 rebounds for the Cavaliers. Evan Mobley is averaging 15.4 points over the last 10 games.
Haliburton is averaging 20.2 points and 10.9 assists for the Pacers. Pascal Siakam is averaging 23.3 points and 8.7 rebounds while shooting 54.4% over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Cavaliers: 4-6, averaging 108.3 points, 37.5 rebounds, 30.2 assists, 7.9 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 48.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.4 points per game.
Pacers: 7-3, averaging 123.6 points, 42.2 rebounds, 30.3 assists, 6.7 steals and 6.4 blocks per game while shooting 50.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.8 points.
Full article | https://www.espn.com/nba/preview/_/gameId/401585802
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5 Comments
All these hosts have to do separate shows about the Cavs so Bull is not around to completely ruin the segment 😂
I do realize we've had injuries, but this is a team with a lot of continuity. A team this young with this much continuity should never be getting worse. If we lose to Orlando or Indiana in rd 1 we have to blow it up unfortunately.
I have 0% confidence in this team. Mitchell alone can't save this team. You need everyone to play well and they haven't. And I definitely have no confidence whatsoever in JB.
The problem with all the injuries a team cannot find its footing and flow. Constant changing players and their style and loss of others. So is there any wonder they look shaky. It's not that you don't have the talent it's jelling as a unit, they have not been able to achieve that, no matter the coach.
I really believe we can if we just focus and play smart for 48 mins every game