Fear The Sword - All PostsThe Warriors blew a 3-1 lead - never forget that.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50189/fts-fav.png2024-03-28T13:08:20-05:00http://www.fearthesword.com/rss/current/2024-03-28T13:08:20-05:002024-03-28T13:08:20-05:00Dan Gilbert “thinks” Donovan Mitchell will re-sign
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<figcaption>Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Cavs’ owner feels sure that the superstar guard will remain in Cleveland. </p> <p id="OvaZfv">While there are still a handful of regular season games and the playoffs, the <a href="https://www.fearthesword.com">Cleveland Cavaliers</a> have a potential Donovan Mitchell extension hanging over the organization. But team owner Dan Gilbert feels strongly about how things will play out this summer. </p>
<p id="ZW4bId"><a href="https://apnews.com/article/cavs-donovan-mitchell-contract-87fd3b7e862d82e02b5f2b5c1bfe029c?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=share">Gilbert met with the Associated Press</a> on Thursday <a href="https://x.com/twithersAP/status/1773407647095550065?s=20">in Detroit to discuss the city</a> hosting the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft">NFL Draft</a> in 2025. While in the rare position to take questions from the media, some used it as an opportunity to ask him about Mitchell’s future. Gilbert stated that he is confident Mitchell will re-sign with the organization that traded for him back in 2022. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Cavs owner Dan Gilbert told AP he's confident Donovan Mitchell will sign an extension with Cleveland this summer. Story upcoming.</p>— Tom Withers (@twithersAP) <a href="https://twitter.com/twithersAP/status/1773398187115512222?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2024</a>
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<p id="tOcgkT">“We’ve been talking to him for the last couple of years about extending his contract,” <a href="https://apnews.com/article/cavs-donovan-mitchell-contract-87fd3b7e862d82e02b5f2b5c1bfe029c?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=share">Gilbert said to The Associated Press.</a> “We think he will extend. I think if you listen to him talk, he loves the city. He loves the situation in Cleveland because our players are very young and we’re just kind of putting the core together that he’s clearly the biggest part of.”</p>
<p id="xyyzh6">Of course, Gilbert has never been one to shy away from questions like that, nor has he been one to exhibit much pessimism. <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/cavs-owner-guarantees-to-win-championship-before-lebron/">He said back in 2010</a> that the Cavs would win a championship before the then recently departed LeBron James - which did not happen. While that was over a decade ago, his confidence persists. </p>
<p id="J2Y7Jr">Cleveland can offer Mitchell a four-year $200.4 million extension this upcoming summer, around $55 million more than what he could have signed this past summer. There was notable pessimism from the Cavs’ faithful when Mitchell declined to extend a few months ago, but it was a business decision to push that into 2024. </p>
<p id="x6DI0I">The Cavs already extended Darius Garland to a five-year $193 million deal that kicked in this season, the richest contract in team history, locking in the blossoming point guard for the long haul. Evan Mobley will be eligible for an extension as well and, if signed, would make the Cavs an awfully expensive team despite only regular-season success - so far. To make all of those pieces fit financially the Cavs may need to get creative in how they fill out the rest of the roster, even with a rising salary cap. </p>
<p id="1G0tOC">ESPN’s Brian Windhorst <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0eOiy0srxI">said on NBA Today</a> last July that the Cavs were aware of the financial implications of trading for Mitchell and anticipated him waiting to sign an extension until 2024 at the earliest. That time is coming up quickly, but it seems like no matter how the Cavs show out in the playoffs, Gilbert is confident that Mitchell will remain in Cleveland for the foreseeable future. No doubt another early-round flameout would put additional pressure on the front office to figure things out, even if Mitchell agrees to remain with the Cavs.</p>
<p id="Dpazxs">Optimism from Gilbert is reassuring, and he has shown a willingness to spend for a winner in the past. But whether Mitchell extends, or doesn't, it will be a critical offseason for the Cavaliers. </p>
https://www.fearthesword.com/2024/3/28/24114765/dan-gilbert-thinks-that-donovan-mitchell-will-re-sign-with-cleveland-cavaliers-this-summerMike Anguilano2024-03-28T11:46:22-05:002024-03-28T11:46:22-05:00Cavs to sign Marcus Morris Sr. for the rest of the season
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<figcaption>David Richard-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The journeyman wing’s 10-day contract with the Cavs expired, but he will remain in Cleveland for the playoffs. </p> <p id="zmzcKs">The <a href="https://www.fearthesword.com">Cleveland Cavaliers</a> will reportedly sign forward Marcus Morris for the rest of the season per Chris Fedor of <a href="http://cleveland.com">cleveland.com</a>. Morris signed a <a href="https://www.fearthesword.com/2024/3/17/24104178/cleveland-cavaliers-to-sign-marcus-morristo-10-day-contract">10-day contract with the Cavs</a> on March 18th and immediately saw rotation minutes for Cleveland’s injury-depleted roster. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">After the expiration of his 10-day contract, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cavs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cavs</a> are planning to sign Marcus Morris Sr. to a rest of season deal, sources tell <a href="https://twitter.com/clevelanddotcom?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@clevelanddotcom</a></p>— Chris Fedor (@ChrisFedor) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisFedor/status/1773379785172848806?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2024</a>
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<p id="MF9SMn">The 34-year-old Morris has now been with eight NBA franchises, previously appearing in 37 games for the <a href="https://www.libertyballers.com">Philadelphia 76ers</a> before joining the Cavs. In five games with Cleveland this season, Morris is averaging 7.8 points and three rebounds in 18.4 minutes per game. Though a small sample size. Those are not insignificant numbers, though it is yet to be determined what his role will be once Dean Wade returns from injury. Regardless of whether he sees the court or not, Morris provides a veteran leadership that should be valuable for the playoffs. </p>
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https://www.fearthesword.com/2024/3/28/24114657/report-cavs-sign-marcus-morris-rest-of-seasonMike Anguilano2024-03-28T09:23:30-05:002024-03-28T09:23:30-05:00Isaiah Mobley knows the three-point shot is key to making it with Cavs
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<p>Upping three-point volume requires more than just a willingness to take more threes.</p> <p id="NLyBTL">Koby Altman took a seat courtside to watch the Cleveland Charge on Wednesday evening for the only home game he attended this season. Isaiah Mobley didn’t waste time showing the <a href="https://www.fearthesword.com">Cleveland Cavaliers</a> president of basketball operations what he’s been working on.</p>
<p id="DM4tne">Mobley calmly drained a contested, in-rhythm corner three on the opening possession of the game which was a sign of things to come.</p>
<p id="Y6HJTP">“I saw it as another opportunity just to get in-person eyes on some of the things I’ve developed,” Mobley said.</p>
<p id="hIPIfy">Mobley canned four of his eight triples on Wednesday including an iso, step-back three from the top of the arc. Last week he went 4-10 from three against the Memphis Hustle. He’s made a conscious effort to increase his three-point volume since getting<a href="https://www.fearthesword.com/2024/3/20/24106248/isaiah-mobley-learned-a-lot-in-recent-minutes-with-cavaliers"> run with the Cavs at the beginning of the month</a>.</p>
<p id="6r5QNq">In his last extended NBA action, Mobley took four threes in 13 minutes against the <a href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com">Phoenix Suns</a>.</p>
<p id="ZY75Vn">“I’ve known it too in the other little stints I’ve had and just watching other guys in a similar position and stuff,” Mobley said. “Definitely playing up there and seeing those types of shots [helped].” </p>
<p id="Iikrwp">Saying you need to take more threes and actually doing it are two different things. Isaiah has always seemed more comfortable pulling from the perimeter than his brother, Evan, but putting yourself in a position where you naturally take more shots is an adjustment. </p>
<p id="Dwctdf">“In college, Isaiah was dominant inside,” Charge head coach Mike Gerrity said. “When you constantly think you have advantages to go get a basket in a drive or post up, it becomes ingrained into you. When you catch it you’re thinking ‘That’s just what I do.’ So now you’re kind of reprogramming yourself to be like, ‘Okay, in my next role I’m probably not gonna be able to go ahead and drive it.’”</p>
<p id="o5nlB3">“In the G League, I’ve always felt dominant at being able to get to the basket and finish at a high level,” Mobley said. “But you’re playing for something bigger instead of just putting my head down and getting in [the paint]. I’m working on stuff that’s going to translate for the Cavs and the leagues as a whole.”</p>
<p id="YNlSBK">Mobley is a skilled offensive player, but those skills won’t translate to the league easily unless the outside shot forces teams to close out and treat him like a shooter.</p>
<p id="CXXbgb">“The position where he’s been trusted into when he’s had his minutes with the Cavs was at the four,” Gerrity said. “In those situations, he’s going to be in space and he’s not going to be involved in as many pick-and-rolls as he is here. Anytime you’re able to stretch the floor at the next level for Darius [Garland], Donovan [Mitchell], and those guys to be able to have the space so that they can go out there and make plays. That’s what they need.”</p>
<p id="e86iRV">Mobley’s season in the G League is going to be over by the end of the week. He likely won’t get another opportunity to show what he can do for the Cavs in a meaningful regular season game. That said, he’s hoping his performance on Wednesday left an impression on Altman and company that he can be the outside shooter the organization needs from a big. For him to take that next step in his career, he will need to continue to force himself to shoot it at the volume he has over the last week.</p>
<p id="0JrYAU">“It takes time,” Gerrity said about developing a shoot-first mentality. “We’re kind of reprogramming and re-switching what you’re used to doing. When you’re used to doing one thing, retraining your body and your mind to be able to be like, ‘Okay, no this is what I got to continue to improve’ [can be difficult].”</p>
https://www.fearthesword.com/2024/3/28/24114224/isaiah-mobley-three-point-shot-cleveland-cavaliers-cleveland-chargeJackson Flickinger2024-03-27T21:03:32-05:002024-03-27T21:03:32-05:00Watching the Market: Cavs at Hornets
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<p>The offense was there in spades, but defense? Never heard of it. </p> <h2 id="Hshn6a"><em><strong>Stock Up: </strong></em></h2>
<h3 id="2HuYDh"><strong>Max Strus’ impact returning from injury</strong></h3>
<p id="IfKvKF">For those who forgot how complete of a player Max Strus is, his return was a friendly reminder of why the <a href="https://www.fearthesword.com">Cleveland Cavaliers</a> spent the bulk of their offseason budget on Strus. It became apparent quickly from the opening tip that Strus was not going to treat this game against Charlotte as a soft ramp-up. </p>
<p id="DOZgV3">Strus was firing away quite efficiently for a man who hasn’t seen action for 12 games due to a knee strain. Strus finished the game shooting 7-13 amounting to 19 points. Strus allows the offense to open up a lot more as defenses have to respect the gravity from the perimeter that Strus demands. Hopefully the time off will allow Strus to reset and this can be the trajectory we see Strus have going forward. </p>
<h3 id="HnMDMN"><strong>The team’s three-point percentage </strong></h3>
<p id="oYoi2r">If there was an aspect of this game the Cavaliers can hang their head high on, it would have to be the team’s three-point percentage and volume. Not only did the Cavaliers open this game firing away from three, but they played a huge factor in the team coming out strong in the first quarter. </p>
<p id="gYGwBs">The team as a whole had shot 44 three-pointers, converting on a nice percentage of 43.2%. Who else but Sam Merrill led the pack in terms of attempts (11) and makes (5) after starting the game shooting four for four from beyond the arc. Other notables from the perimeter in this game were Georges Niang (4-5), Max Strus (5-10), and Darius Garland (3-10). It has been instrumental in these past two games against Charlotte and helped to bail the team out tonight. </p>
<h2 id="y7Ym5v"><em><strong>Stock Down: </strong></em></h2>
<h3 id="Awvx6W"><strong>Defensive effort</strong></h3>
<p id="gSIt75">On Monday, it was evident the discrepancy in talent between the Hornets and the Cavaliers as the game progressed. It appears after taking care of business handily on Monday, the Cavaliers took their foot off the gas defensively. While the Cavaliers’ offense in the first half was rolling and playing to the level they are capable of, the defense was lacking and frankly lifeless. </p>
<p id="f9s9V9">Overall, there were many lapses on the floor and just a lack of effort in transition. It just felt like the team was missing the urgency and sometimes felt as if they were going through the motions. The Hornets as a whole shot a nauseating 57.9%, and they were able to live in the paint, somewhere the Cavaliers had defended well throughout the season.</p>
<p id="XZSVPs">Hopefully, this will be a short-term issue as even at half time Georges Niang voiced his frustration stating how this should occur especially given the fact this is a team they are more familiar with after just playing them on Monday. </p>
<h3 id="BvJFES"><strong>A sense of urgency in a waning season </strong></h3>
<p id="1xVO18">Let’s face it, this is a bad loss, at this point in the season, the schedule is tightening up. No more can this team have the off-night type of game. This was a type of loss, the defense was lacking, and the effort was never there through all four quarters. Things are heading in the wrong direction at the wrong time, even as the players appear to slowly come back into the fold. </p>
<p id="6y9obm">With <a href="https://www.fearthesword.com/2024/3/27/24113707/cleveland-cavaliers-news-donovan-mitchell-reportedly-eyeing-a-return-as-soon-as-friday">Donovan Mitchell slated to possibly return on Friday</a> against the <a href="https://www.libertyballers.com">Sixers</a>, this team has very little time to get some consistent level of play strung together. Tonight makes one wonder if this season is almost lost to the injuries that transpired. Between all the time missed and the identity of this team morphing into the talent on the court, this team has infinitely more questions than answers. </p>
https://www.fearthesword.com/2024/3/27/24114190/watching-the-market-cleveland-cavaliers-at-charlotte-hornets-max-strusCorey Walsh2024-03-27T20:53:30-05:002024-03-27T20:53:30-05:00Cavs falter 118-111 to Hornets
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<p>This one didn’t feel good. </p> <p id="cYtSp4">The <a href="https://www.fearthesword.com">Cleveland Cavaliers</a> would like to have this one back. A late-season loss to the Charlotte Hornets is not what anyone had planned. Let’s recap how it happened:</p>
<h3 id="thp4cf"><em><strong>Coming up Short</strong></em></h3>
<p id="7dhhmP">Closing games has been a thorn in the Cavaliers' side this season. A back-and-forth affair seemed to be heading in the right direction when Cleveland stormed to take the lead late in the final quarter. And then... the Hornets went on an 11-0 run. </p>
<p id="m7OTCO">It was more of the same for the Cavs. Playing against the clock because their offense milked too much time before getting into a set. Turning it over due to indecision. But most painful of all, sending Charlotte to the free throw line repeatedly because they fell into the bonus earlier in the quarter.</p>
<p id="MpiLw9">This is the real deal-breaker for Cleveland. In a game where they shot the cover off of the ball for three quarters, it was the defense that came up short. Had the Cavs simply played with their usual assertiveness from the get-go, it might have been another coast to victory. Instead, they feel the sting of defeat. </p>
<p id="PDlCCi">It wasn’t all bad, though. Max Strus returned with a barrage of three-pointers, finishing with 19 points on 5-10 shooting while Sam Merrill poured in 17 points on 5-11 three-point shooting. Jarrett Allen was sturdy as usual with 24 points and 8 rebounds. </p>
<p id="SdnWYk">Darius Garland posted 14 points and 12 assists but was a turnstile defensively. Caris LeVert’s trainwreck possessions in the closing minutes all but sealed the deal. </p>
<h3 id="TpQqYW"><em><strong>Big Picture</strong></em></h3>
<p id="a3P27U">What can be said about this team in game 73? We have seen the best and worst this iteration of the Cavs has to offer. Tonight was the latter of the two. </p>
<p id="uadGrc">With Mobley and Strus returning and Donovan Mitchell next in line, the Cavaliers should be in good shape (physically) entering the playoffs. All that’s left to see is which version of the team decides to trot across the finish line. </p>
https://www.fearthesword.com/2024/3/27/24114197/final-score-cleveland-cavaliers-118-111-charlotte-hornets-max-strus-evan-mobleyTony Pesta2024-03-27T12:36:34-05:002024-03-27T12:36:34-05:00Donovan Mitchell reportedly eyeing a return as soon as Friday
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<p>Mitchell’s return is on the horizon. </p> <p id="vkdB7M"><a href="https://www.fearthesword.com/">Cleveland Cavaliers</a> All-Star Donovan Mitchell is reportedly aiming to be back on the floor as soon as Friday night against the <a href="https://www.libertyballers.com">Philadelphia 76ers</a>. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Cavaliers All-Star Donovan Mitchell is targeting a return to action as soon as Friday's home game vs. the 76ers, sources tell <a href="https://twitter.com/TheAthletic?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheAthletic</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Stadium?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Stadium</a>. Mitchell has been sidelined since March 16 due to knee issue and nasal fracture. Now on cusp of return. <a href="https://t.co/3phFB5k0sP">pic.twitter.com/3phFB5k0sP</a></p>— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1773023938097877394?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2024</a>
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<p id="Zvg6I8">The Cavs have essentially been without Mitchell for the entirety of March. He appeared in only two games, clearly hobbled by a lingering knee injury. A fractured nose sent Mitchell back to the sidelines where he has missed seven straight games, including tonight’s upcoming match in Charlotte. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Donovan Mitchell talking about his knee post-game, says he probably won't play against Indiana.<br><br>Donovan had a PRP injection on March 4th to treat a left knee bone bruise (missed 7 total games), before returning 2 games ago. <a href="https://t.co/r0Z5QgbscD">pic.twitter.com/r0Z5QgbscD</a></p>— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) <a href="https://twitter.com/SerenaWinters/status/1769149575200161947?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2024</a>
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<p id="7GKQ08">Mitchell’s presence has been sorely missed. He was blazing an All-NBA trail before injuries derailed his campaign. Under the league’s new player participation rules, Mitchell is no longer eligible for All-NBA consideration as he will not reach the 65-game threshold. </p>
<p id="2FXpmX">But the Cavaliers are not worried about Mitchell’s award status. They would rather he just gets healthy and makes a full return before the playoffs. While it is unclear if Mitchell’s knee will continue to limit him in his second return — it sounds like he will at least be back on the floor to give it another go before April. </p>
<p id="oNcYWM">For the Cavs, Mitchell’s return could provide emergency brakes to stop the freefall they’ve been bordering on since losing him. They’ve gone 5-9 without Mitchell since the All-Star break. This stretch has extended Milwaukee’s lead for the second seed and sliding deeper into the seedings would require only a minor slip from the Cavs — with just 1.5 games separating Cleveland and Orlando for the 5th seed. </p>
<p id="HhKHJP">The final stretch of the season will be important for building momentum into the playoffs. With the return of Evan Mobley and imminent comebacks from Max Strus and now Mitchell, things could be looking up just in time. </p>
https://www.fearthesword.com/2024/3/27/24113707/cleveland-cavaliers-news-donovan-mitchell-reportedly-eyeing-a-return-as-soon-as-fridayTony Pesta2024-03-27T11:36:35-05:002024-03-27T11:36:35-05:00What to watch for in Cavs at Hornets
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<p>The Cavs will look to sweep the back-to-back against the Hornets. </p> <p id="I76Rtc">It wasn't always pretty, but the <a href="https://www.fearthesword.com">Cleveland Cavaliers</a> (44-28) managed to pull away from the Charlotte Hornets (17-54) in the fourth quarter of Monday’s contest at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. The two teams will square off again, this time in North Carolina. </p>
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<p id="iayxB8">What: Cleveland Cavaliers at Charlotte Hornets</p>
<p id="oMCsby">When: 7:00 pm</p>
<p id="JkWqQo">Where: Spectrum Center - Charlotte, North Carolina</p>
<p id="RctSkW">Line: CLE -10.5</p>
<p id="apoxwG">Cavs Expected Lineup: Darius Garland, Caris LeVert, Isaac Okoro, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen</p>
<p id="ih5kO0">Cavs’ Injury Report: Donovan Mitchell (nose, OUT), Dean Wade (knee strain, OUT), Ty Jerome (ankle, OUT), Max Strus (knee, QUESTIONABLE), Pete Nance (G League, OUT), Isaiah Mobley (G League, OUT)</p>
<p id="Si04QO">Hornets Expected Lineup: Tre Mann, Vasilije Micic, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, Nick Richards</p>
<p id="KiBEK1">Hornets Injury Report: LaMelo Ball (ankle, OUT), Seth Curry (ankle, OUT), Mark Willliams (back, OUT), Cody Martin (ankle, OUT), Leaky Black (G League, OUT), Marques Bolden (G League, OUT)</p>
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<h3 id="4FYiiN"><strong>What to watch for: Don’t take any team lightly</strong></h3>
<p id="26XKtx">This season, the Cavs have had a knack for not taking lesser opponents seriously, or simply lackadaisically going through the motions and getting their doors blown off. Their most recent matchup in Miami comes to mind, where Cleveland was never in it. Charlotte fits the bill as a team that the Cavs take lightly, let them stay in the game far too long, and in the end allow the crowd to be a factor. The Hornets are not good, far from it even, and heavily injured, but they do play hard. Heck, just the other night, the Cavs failed to impose their will and let Charlotte stick around into the fourth quarter. That is not what you want to see of a team with aspirations of getting out of the first round. </p>
<p id="8ZrIhS">Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen should be enough to beat the Hornets. They have a significant advantage down low and defensively, as Charlotte is without several starters. Miles Bridges is not a good defender, and Nick Richards is overmatched in the paint. Mobley and Allen, especially, should be the focal point. Garland was quite passive in the first half on Monday, a common issue with him whether Donovan Mitchell is on the court with him or not. But against a team like the Hornets, he needs to stretch those aggressive muscles. It would be nice to see, as the Cavs’ ceiling is somewhat limited if he is more playmaker than he is a scorer. Though the two-man game with Mobley is still fun to watch:</p>
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<p lang="in" dir="ltr">DG ➡️ EV4️⃣<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LetEmKnow?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LetEmKnow</a> <a href="https://t.co/pzNzGW9AB2">pic.twitter.com/pzNzGW9AB2</a></p>— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) <a href="https://twitter.com/BallySportsCLE/status/1772420345812672914?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2024</a>
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<p id="Bxi8KS">Good teams find ways to win. If the Cavs want to be a good team, and they have not been lately, then they need to put away all doubt and beat a team they should dominate. </p>
<h3 id="gM8D7T"><strong>One stat to watch for: Bust the shooting slump</strong></h3>
<p id="O68edJ">As of late, the Cavs have completely lost the ability to make shots at a reputable clip. particularly from beyond the three-point line. Last Friday against Minnesota, they shot 24% from deep. One game later, in a laugher against the Heat, they shot 31% from deep (42% overall). They were terrible in the first half against Charlotte last time out but rebounded in the second half. Against bad teams like the Hornets, a bad shooting night doesn't hurt as badly. But against good teams, like the ones the Cavs will be playing for the next few weeks, a bad shooting night is crippling.</p>
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<p lang="tl" dir="ltr">Bang, bang, Niang! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LetEmKnow?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LetEmKnow</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/cavs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cavs</a> <a href="https://t.co/pT8ycGmgH6">pic.twitter.com/pT8ycGmgH6</a></p>— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) <a href="https://twitter.com/BallySportsCLE/status/1772424638053687432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2024</a>
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<p id="DnpZCR">Not having Mitchell or Dean Wade healthy greatly impacts the possible spacing on offense (and in the case of Mitchell, rim pressure). That’s where Garland needs to be more of an attacker and willing pull-up shooter. It stings having so many guys hurt, but the Cavs still can get up quality looks. Sam Merrill, Georges Niang, Isaac Okoro from the corner, and Garland should be enough to win - much like it was two nights ago.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sam is getting hot! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LetEmKnow?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LetEmKnow</a> <a href="https://t.co/t9EwqNoo92">pic.twitter.com/t9EwqNoo92</a></p>— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) <a href="https://twitter.com/BallySportsCLE/status/1772426658395422919?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2024</a>
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https://www.fearthesword.com/2024/3/27/24112567/what-to-watch-for-in-cleveland-cavaliers-at-charlotte-hornetsMike Anguilano2024-03-26T19:00:53-05:002024-03-26T19:00:53-05:00Max Strus is questionable to return vs. Hornets
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<p>Strus will be a game-time decision in Charlotte. </p> <p id="DrbwXI"><a href="https://www.fearthesword.com">Cleveland Cavaliers</a> wing Max Strus has been upgraded to questionable and will be a game-time decision for Wednesday night’s game against the Charlotte Hornets. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Max Strus is questionable for the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cavs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cavs</a> against the Charlotte Hornets and will likely be a game-time decision.<br><br>Donovan Mitchell and Dean Wade remain out.<br><br>Pete Nance, Isaiah Mobley and Ty Jerome are also unavailable.</p>— Evan Dammarell (@AmNotEvan) <a href="https://twitter.com/AmNotEvan/status/1772739276297429021?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2024</a>
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<p id="d2URGl">Strus has missed 12 straight games with a knee injury. Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said before Monday’s game that Strus has been “heading in the right direction” for his recovery and provided an update on the rest of the injured Cavaliers. </p>
<p id="9dim8X">“I believe they will all be back in time to play some games (before the playoffs),” Bickerstaff said. “We got some tough road games coming up and I think there’ll be great tests for us and just great opportunities for our guys to be back on the floor and get that kind of feeling playing in an adverse environment.” </p>
<p id="kfEySW">The Cavaliers have missed Mitchell, Wade and Strus throughout this recent stretch. Strus, in particular, serves as a connective piece they haven’t been able to replace in his absence. The value a role player such as Strus brings is often overlooked until you need it. </p>
<p id="n6dWW1">Strus is the ideal wing to complete Cleveland’s starting five. He can pass, dribble or shoot — a triple threat that is needed for success in today’s NBA. Toss in some serviceable defense and Strus is a massively impactful player. </p>
<p id="ksi0tR">On the season, Strus is averaging 12.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists. All career-highs. He’s also knocking down 34% of his three-point attempts, which is slightly lower than you’d like. But his ability to space the floor is higher than his efficiency suggests. Strus has nailed the 15th most catch-and-shoot three-pointers this season. </p>
<p id="IZt36Z">The Cavs are just 5-7 since Max moved to the sidelines. While the rest of Cleveland’s injuries haven’t helped, the team will be relieved to get one of their most important pieces back soon. </p>
https://www.fearthesword.com/2024/3/26/24112981/cleveland-cavaliers-news-max-strus-listed-as-questionable-vs-charlotte-hornetsTony Pesta