Cavs can’t contain Suns, but show fight | Cleveland Cavaliers podcast

Cavs can’t contain Suns, but show fight | Cleveland Cavaliers podcast

On today’s show the Cleveland Cavaliers lose to the Phoenix Suns and yet there are positives to come out of it that I think tell you something about this team in a good way we’ll talk about that on a new lockdown Cavs are locked on Cavs your daily Cleveland Cavaliers podcast

This episode of lockdown Cavs is brought to you by Nissan are you the kind of driver that likes to push things a little further ever wonder what Adventure could be around the corner take the Nissan Rogue Nissan Pathfinder or Nissan Armada and go find your next big adventure check them all out today

At nissanusa.com I’m Chris Manning here solo today after the Cleveland Cavaliers down Donovan Mitchell maxu all of the same injuries Evan Mobley that we’ve been seeing from them in recent days they lose to the Phoenix Suns who got dein Booker back 117 to 111 loss for Cleveland thanks again to Jake Stevens

By the way as always for producing this episode a really strong start for Cleveland and I think there are some positives you can take from this game and feel good about parts of the performance it starts with darus Garland who was absolutely awesome to start this game absolutely on fire the most

Effective player on either team in the first quarter of this game 21 points seven of eight from the field five of six from three two assists one turnover two two from the line for Garland as part of a 30-point night and he’s the positive to me if I’m Cleveland he is

The number one thing I feel good about coming out of this game does he ultimately have the biggest most positive monster allstar game that you would want to see it wasn’t exactly that if you drill down into it 30 points 10 to 17 from the field 7 to 10 from three three

Or four from the line five assists five turnovers a steel two rebounds the assist or turnover ratio being one to one is not what you want you want Garland at his best to be more passive more feeding others that is his superpower I think in a lot of ways as a basketball

Player I also would look at it and say okay this isn’t even in line with some of the the really good games we’ve seen from him of late even his good games don’t really follow the same pattern right now the Wolves game from last week for instance was not about him taking

And making a bunch of Threes it was about him scoring inside the ark and showing you some efficiency in that part of the floor and looking more comfortable in that part of the floor that wasn’t the case here he was three of seven inside the ark over half

His shots come from three that’s not even necessarily a bad thing I would even I would say to that as well just saying him taking a lot of Threes is actually I I think a good thing it’s part of the reason why the Cavs I think were in this game was their three-point

Volume more than anything else so this again this isn’t a Garland game that exactly resembles the best of him but still feel like him putting up 30 him being as aggressive as he was him I think you know I haven’t looked at potential assists I didn’t

Track them in real time a lot of Miss threes for Cleveland in this game you know nango of six Isaac aoro Miss five Levert three of 10 like there’s missed shots left the floor Sam Marl remains in a funk just one of five for him from three in his 21 minutes you’re not

Getting the knockdown shooting that I think would accentuate Garland so I I I bet you if you go back and look at it there’s some assists left on the table that aren’t really on him but I felt like this was a pretty solid Garland game all things considered

If if they were going to win this game against a Phoenix Sun team that got Devon Booker back and Booker was Devin Booker at 27 that was going to go at Durant and beat a team with Kevin Durant and Durant had 37 and eight and six pretty good he’s pretty good they

Were going to need Garland to have a big game he for the most part did his part he had 30 he had five assists he was aggressive he came out absolutely heating you know would you have liked him to had more than nine points over three quarters over the rest of the way

For sure I I think he would tell you that I think the coaching staff would tell you that but this loss doesn’t feel like a Garland game where I’m like ah I’m still worried about him am I still worried about him in a macro sense because of what we’ve seen from him in

Recent weeks yeah I I am but I do feel like this game with him going for 30 the the aggression he showed the three-point volume the way he took threes was a big deal and and if you watch closely if you pay attention to the actual basketball you’re also seeing the Cavs

Do some different things with Garin that I think is really interesting and laying a foundation for what is to come when Mitchell is back it’s not all the time they don’t do it a ton and it’s it’s not even always resulting in him getting the ball back or getting shots or or

Anything like that right it’s not what what they’re doing is not leading necessarily to clear points for Garland but they’re running him off screens at times they are trying to set him up very intentionally off ball real heads the sickos out there salute to you we’ll remember from a

Couple years ago go that I this was under Bay line so like if you block this out of your mind I’m not going to tell you you’re wrong for that I don’t know why I even remember this but something the Cavs did to get easy buckets with

Their guards at that time was they would run Jordan Clarkson like first five seconds of a shot clock the ball comes across half court he would back cut on his man Matthew D avova would find him and it felt like that was on point easy buckets all the

Time the Cavs are aren’t doing something that simple here this isn’t just running Garland off a quick back screen they’re running him through multiple layers the spacing is a little bit tighter at times here but it reminded me of that in the sense that they were trying to use this

Guy who is most comfortable with the ball in his hands who they want to have the ball in his hands they trying to get him going in other ways they’re trying to have him you know come off a screen near the rim get a ball maybe go up for

A layup get fouled maybe he’s going to start flaring out for threes and I think this matter is going forward because if you think about building more chemistry between him and Donovan Mitchell those two guys building more in sync and feeling less like your turn my turn that

Partnership feeling more in Balance even as all things should be or at least as even as you can have when one guy’s an all NBA guy we’ll get to that later and one guy’s had a kind of up and down ear and an unfortunate year in a lot of

Ways you need to do stuff like that and be intentional about it yes DK Garland just needs to play better you can say that simply and I think that is true I think that is accurate I also think you can do things to empower him and when we’ve talked on

The show about off ball and Garland getting moving in different ways and doing more this to me is a is a good example of that it’s not going to be more than five times a game the ne I will be off the Wednesday game but when

I recap the the Saturday game by myself uh against the Rockets I will cover this and kind of track it directly that’s that’s a promise to you the viewer The Listener Garland getting five plays sets where it’s maybe not even necessarily for him I I don’t want to

Describe full intent on these but we’re part of the in part of the look is getting him coming off of a screen to be near the rim or flare up for three or just get the ball and not have to bring it up himself and initiate the offense I

That takes a pressure off of him that is good we we valorize herob ball we think about Kobe the great L Kobe Bryant we think about Jordan we think about LeBron we think about guys just Durant we think about ISO scoring being basketball in its purest form there’s something awesome about that for

Sure when guy one-onone hitting a tough pull up Jay there’s something awesome about that you want guys that can do that and and pull those moments out for you in big moments but sometimes you just need to run some easy buttons and do some work to set your guys up for

Success for for Darius Garland the way they are going to run him off screens get him involved and have him just not even bringing up the ball every time and have Isaac a COR dribble with the ball or play him with Craig Porter Jr for a

Large junx of this game which I thought was a good decision that’s going to relieve pressure off of him that is going to set him up for more success more of that for Garland who even though the Cavs lost I come my away feeling pretty decent about his performance all right after this

Going to explain though why the Cavs lost this game it starts with the third quarter and some mistakes that I think cost them that’s coming up after this today’s episode is brought to you by better help sometimes we all need the opportunity to get something off of our

Chest big or small certain things really start to get to you it’s important to let that out especially to someone who’s unbiased on your life so today I want to tell you how I really feel about something you might even been thinking the same thing and for me

It’s all NBA it’s Donovan Mitchell Darius Garland Jared Allen Evan Mobley none of those guys are in the all NBA conversation they’re not going to be there they weren’t All Stars Allan should have been but Mitchell’s not going to get there because of the 65 game Ro we’ll

Talk about this in segment three of the show but I think that’s Miss that’s you’re going to lose something when guys just aren’t eligible to him and bead some other guys it’s a bummer I get it but it bumps me out y can be different for everyone many of us have bigger

Problems than our favorite sports team and it’s important to get things off your chest every once in a while if you’re thinking of starting therapy give betterhelp a try it’s entirely in line designed to flexible and suited to your schedule visit betterhelp.com Doom loock innba to get 10% off your

First month that’s better help hp.com lockon NBA all right back here on the locked on cab podcast I’m Chris Manning Here solo today I’ll be off the next couple days Evan deal is going to run Point uh for this week he has his own stuff planned you can hassle him for

That the way Cleveland loses this game to me it was somewhat just about talent and availability I’m not going to sit here and tell you as you’re listening or watching me talk about this this game that that’s the most fun answer but I don’t think it’s worth

Overthinking this I don’t think it is worth a lot of the time working yourself into a shoot and getting mad or frustrated about a loss or or whatever it’s going to be because you want to say something didn’t go a certain way or blame JB bicker staff or

Whatever it is this is one of those games to me where you can just look at it and say hey you know what Donovan Mitchell the best player on the Cleveland Cavaliers did not play he was out with knee issue that has kept him out and we’ll see when he comes back it

Seems like it’s going to be on this upcoming road trip they’re about to go on right so there’s that you don’t have Evan M as well Dean Wade is out now you’re just not a full strength C team you just aren’t by comparison the Phoenix Suns get Devon Booker in all NBA guard

Back and he looked awesome in the 30 minutes he played he was 11 to 22 from the field didn’t make only made the 1 three out of seven but 27 points Kevin Durant as he’s want to do based on his time in the NBA and also

Just the stuff he did in the finals of Golden State kicked butt and was 14- 26 five of 10 from the from three 37 a game high 37 for Durant bradle be was good in this game 10 to 19 from the field two of seven from three not great but four

Assists just the one turnover had 24 Grays Allen was better than any Cavs role player frankly four or five from three 14 points for him that Talent at the top end of Phoenix that allar true that their big three won them this game Cleveland’s big three in this game

Is Darius Garland Isaac aoro and jiren Allen like is that the big three is it Carris lever instead of aoro like this wasn’t a Cav team that had the Firepower to really just kind of match the Suns when Phoenix got rolling they came out really hot won the first quarter by nine

That put you in a really good spot Cleland LED more of this game than Phoenix did Cleveland led by as many as 19 in this game second quarter is pretty even and you’re like okay Cavs are in an okay spot they extend the lead but phen

Phenix whittles it back all of that and it’s a 70 to 63 game at the half it’s a seven-point game if you’re Cleveland you’re like great okay we scored 70 points in a half can we buckle down defensively figure some of this out and then the third quarter happens and this is where

The the game just kind of unfolds in a poor way for Cleveland Durant in that quarter has 19 like that’s kind of the whole thing here it it doesn’t need to be more complicated than this Kevin Durant had 19 points in a quarter and by comparison darus Garland had five and

Isaac okoro had seven those were the the top two scores for Cleveland in that quarter they just did not have the Firepower to match Durant and match what Phoenix was capable of offensively in this game that that is where this goes wrong for Cleveland this is where things

Just do not work out for them unfortunately for them that’s going to happen it’s what happens when Donovan Mitchell’s not there I I when you get to this season and you get to mapping out the games you really want to see to me one of the ones I I would have

Liked to see is just Booker versus Mitchell that’s like why we like basketball you like seeing star matchups you don’t get to see it Cav pay for it I think that’s why they lost the one other person I want to shout out from this game in terms of well two other people

Number one Isaac OK Coro still a fan but he made a couple mistakes in this game that were costly stepping out of bounds late when this was close was a massive mental error for him um and he just was I think a little out of control it had a

Bad Miss as well from three but I still think he was additive and then Craig Porter Jr deserves some some praise he has at times of late I think not looked as good as he did earlier in the year not that he has looked overmatched but

He’s just you can tell there’s been like a course correction on his rookie year a little bit in terms of how good he was going to be right away this is a game where he looked pretty comfortable and I liked pairing him with Garland frankly I

Like the idea of him getting some reps as a combo backup point guard not a traditional backup point guard I think his future with this team is going to be is a guy who can play next to another guard and defend up and and pick his spots and

He’s going to need to shoot threes to really maximize his NBA future but this kind of game where he’s picking his spots and he’s five to seven from the field and he’s got six rebounds and he’s got five and he’s and he was got the one

Assist like he can do some things where he can be added and he can be perpetually helpful he can be someone who can play off of another guard in a real way and look comfortable there’s still growth to come here there’s still a lot of growth for

Him as far as where he’s going to end up and and what’s going to come here I I know there’s no doubting that to me but I I think we’re in a position where I like that he got some real reps here I like that this is someone

Who looked pretty comfortable and didn’t look phased by some of this you know I were you were you if you’re Cleveland overwhelmed by his performance no I mean he took seven shots he only took two threes like he still is kind of this old school kind of player but he looked more

Poised he looked more comfortable than he has I think in recent games he to me was maybe the second bright spot behind Garland in this game I like the way he played I like the way he approached this game he’s going to be someone that gets

Cut gets minutes cut from you um as it goes when this team is healthy he’s not going to play but if you bank this game in your me in your memory and you think about him next year and going forward this is the kind of game that I

Like he got the Reps in and I and I like that it worked out for him in this way the other just just to talk about samaro for a second I don’t care that he’s missing shots I don’t Sam Merrill taking a bunch of Threes And even if he’s struggling right

Now I quite like that he’s just still getting to play I think this team needs to take a lot of Threes I think this team needs to be in a spot where it’s just launching threes and being additive and trying to play that math game part

Of the reason I think they get out hot and are in this game late is just because they took 46 threes versus Phoenix’s 32 Phoenix was was way way more efficient no question about that and that’s kind of where they they win this game they were just better at executing but I

Think part of the Cavs math going forward is going to need to be to just find ways to play Threes And and that I think means riding Sam Marl I think a little bit through his highs and lows I I just would continue to do that all

Right that’s it for CF Suns check out lock on suns with my guy brandan clean if you want more on the opposite TI of this game I want to learn about Deon Booker any of that after this Donovan Mitchell JB bicker staff and Frank vogle both talked

About the 65 game rule on Monday what they said about it what it means what I think about what they said and also the latest on Mitchell’s injury return that’s up after this today’s episode is brought to you by Nissan the are you the kind of driver

That likes to push things just a little bit further ever wonder what Adventure could be around at the next Corner our friends at Nissan have a lineup of SUVs with the capabilities to take your adventure to the next level the 2024 Nissan Rogue is perfect for City drives

And Great Escapes class exclusive Google built-in your always updating assistant you call on is there for almost anything gone are the days of connecting your phone Google Assistant Google Maps and Google Play Store are right there built into your 12.3 in HD infotainment system the 2024 Rogue is the perfect

Mitas crossover for your next adventure the 20124 Nissan Armada is another part of Nissan’s incredible lineup it is a game changer from what you will expect from a fullsize SUV picture a rugged 4×4 that can seat up to eight In First Class luxury and style toe bigger and explore

Further in the 2024 Armada take the Nissan Rogue Nissan Pathfinder or Nissan Armada and go find your next big adventure shop at nissanusa.com all right so last segment today is going to focus on Donovan Mitchell so the news part of this first that Chris feuder of cl.com

The man who gets all the scoops on this beat does a great job covering the team he reported that Donovan Mitchell could return during this road trip um so this is the exact wording to quote him directly sources out cleveland.com he’s not expected to play Monday night in Cleveland Showdown against the Western

Conference’s six seeded Phoenix Suns the second game of a back-to-back however there is growing optimism that Mitchell could make his highly anticipated return at some point on the team’s upcoming three-game road trip in New Orleans Houston and Indiana he has resumed on court workor he did light workout on

Thursday with the team pedor he’s ramping up his activity JB bicker has said multiple times that it’s about how he responds putting it all together all of that but this is trending in the right direction for Mitchell to be back sooner rather than later we’ll see if you know Moy feels a

Little bit further off I think we’ll see what happens with stru and with Dean Wade now like there’s a lot to figure out with with some of that and them getting everyone healthy but Mitchell’s the big one and if he comes back on this road trip let’s just say he misses

Wednesday against New Orleans which like okay whatever but then he plays Saturday in Houston and then he gets a day off before they play Indiana and then he gets another day off before they play Miami and then he gets another day off before they play the wolves and then

Another day off before they play in Miami against the Heat again like that is that is like a good return structure for Mitchell if we’re talking about no back-to-backs during that run clevand doesn’t have a backtack for until April at this point which is really good for

Them after the the kind of the Run of games they’ve just had frankly if he can come back and he can play Then ramp up without having to play backto backs come back and be ready for the back-to-backs in that last West Coast Road Trip they have which you know

Going from in March into an Easter Sunday in Denver to through La in April 7th for the end of the season like if he can be ready for that and ramp up be ready for play you feel good about where he’s going to be at physically before the playoffs at

Least from we can tell from the outside so if he can come back and be ready for the the end of the stretch from the last month of the regular season you feel good about that I think if for the caps and Assuming he’s right all that stuff

But that’s that would be an absolute dub for the Caps the other part of this is all NBA so he missed his eight Monday was his 18th Miss game that means he’s no longer eligible for him to be the 65 game minimum for awards but also all MBA

Frank Fogle the sunset coach you has Evan Booker missed games as well and and you know Durant’s been injury all that stuff said quote I don’t know if the number is the right number but I do think there’s value having a cut off and then

Um he also said that when you see guys like Donovan and Joel embiid now being left out of all-nba consideration that does not feel right it’s just one of those things I’m sure the league will look at JB baker said for his board said I do feel like there are different

Consequences and different reasons why someone misses his game in Donovan’s case they these aren’t rest games if there was a limit or something that the league could come up with I think it would be better I will just say this I understand why JB bers have says that I don’t think

He’s even wrong but you can’t like once you introduce gray area how do you actually Pro like how how do you actually designate what is a rest game versus what is an injury game I don’t understand how you would functionally do that or be transparent about it to the

Public which is kind of important to be open and honest in like tell people what’s actually going on and not just have like people like me doing media coverage or anyone else or broadcast Partners just repeating back talking points like that that’s actually informing fans of like why these guys

Are missing games so I don’t think that’s like really tenable you kind of just you either play or you don’t to me kind of black and white this is also I think just about money ultimately like I I think the 65 game stuff is really just about TV deals

And bidding rights and bidding wars but I do feel for someone like Mitchell who’s had a great year I think aru could be better than last year someone like Ido I think would have won MVP if he had just been healthy hurn is going to be in this

Running like there there’s other guys around the league you can look at that are going to be affected by this I do feel for them and what it’s going to cost them what it’s going to take away from the resume potentially I don’t know if you should

Change it I do think guys just like it’s better for the league when guys play more but the the real solution would just be to reduce the number of games and there’s a more radical one that you could could do where you change the whole structure of League that’s not

Going to happen in terms of likeing it actually more soccer style that’s never going to happen even if like you could make a good argument for it and I don’t think they should do that to be clear even if like I love soccer and and I there’s a

Real there’s something really cool about every game in the regular season mattering in that way but dick I feel for Donovan Mitchell I feel for the Cavs who want their star player to make it all be 18 I get that I don’t know if you can though legislate between rest games

And like how do you prove that that to me is just not like some poor sap in the league office is going to be end up like me and be bald because he’s going to pull his hair out or her hair out because they’re going to have to

Designate what is a rest game and what is not and what like what are we doing at that point I think 65 games is fine it’s for money maybe it goes away once they get a new TV deal we’ll see but I I do like empathize on a human level that

These guys want to get recognized for what they’re doing that part I understand that’s the part I think is most true about all of this like someone like Donovan Mitchell someone like jelan beid those guys should be recognized for how good they were it’s a little bit unfair even if I

Get it that they’re not going to be eligible for that part of it but that’s going to be it for today’s lock on Cavs I’m Chris Manning back I’ll be back on Friday I think we’re going to record Thursday but Evan will be back with you

Next up so check out that check out lock on son check out locked on NBA check out lock on Browns for all the latest on the Browns if you’re interested in like the Jerry Jud Guardian season coming up check out lock on Guardians as well until next time have a great day hope

You enjoyed

On a new episode of Locked on Cavs (Tuesday, March 12, 2024) hosts Chris Manning (@cwmwrites, The Just Basketball Show, SB Nation’s Fear the Sword, Forbes Sports) goes solo to discuss the Cavaliers’ loss to the Suns, Darius Garland’s big night and what how he approached the game, what ultimately cost the Cavs the game, Craig Porter Jr.’s night, the possibility of Donovan Mitchell returning soon and his All-NBA status.

There’s a buzz in the third segment, I could not edit it out

Jake Stephens produced this episode. Check out his latest EP “If We Fall Asleep Too Early” on Spotify or wherever you listen to music.

Our intro music is from our friends at Astral Radio.

Subscribe to the Locked on Cavs Subtext – claim your free one-month trial now!

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!

Stitch FixStyle that makes you feel as good as you look—get started today at StitchFix.com/LOCKEDON

NissanOur friends at Nissan have a lineup of SUV’s with the capabilities to take your adventure to the next level. Take the Nissan Rogue, Nissan Pathfinder, or Nissan Armada and go find your next big adventure. Shop NissanUSA.com.

LinkedInLinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBA. Terms and conditions apply.

eBay MotorsFor parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit at eBayMotos.com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply.

BetterHelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Make your brain your friend, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA today to get 10% off your first month.

PrizePicksGo to PrizePicks.com/lockedonnba and use code lockedonnba for a first deposit match up to $100!

GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase.

FanDuelGet buckets with your first bet on FanDuel, America’s Number One Sportsbook. Right now, NEW customers get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS with any winning FIVE DOLLAR BET! That’s A HUNDRED AND FIFTY BUCKS – if your bet wins! Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit

FanDuel.com/RG

(CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit

ccpg.org/chat

(CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit

ksgamblinghelp.com

(KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…
🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOCavs?sid=YouTube

Locked On NBA League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft, WNBA & More
🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNBA

#Cavs #ClevelandCavaliers #NBA