Preview and Live Thread: Cavs at Bulls (Game 4)
2015-05-10News is that Pau Gasol will not play today after injuring his left hamstring in Game 3. They are calling it a “strain” which means he could be back in a game or two. The Bulls finally went to their bench in game 3 and Nikola Mirotic showed how dangerous he can be. He scored 12 points and grabbed eight boards in just 22 minutes. He was a game high +19. Obviously, losing Gasol hurts the Bulls, but the “small-ball” lineup of the Bulls is dangerous if only because it features a lot of streaky outside shooting in a series that has been mostly a half-court grindfest. I’m not sure I agree with the sentiments in these tweets that the Bulls will be “better” but they will present a different look that the Cavs need to be prepared for.
https://twitter.com/Cavsanada/status/597471791028666368
Jacob Rosen saved me some time:
Regular season and playoffs:
Cavs w/ Gasol on court: +27 in 221 mins (+5.86 per 48)
Cavs w/ Gasol on bench: -12 in 120 mins (-4.80 per 48)— Jacob L. Rosen (@JacobLRosen) May 10, 2015
The Cavs once again stand at the precipice of a chasm. It’s hard to see them beating the Bulls in three straight games, making this game somewhat of a “must-win”. However, if they split on the road they will have regained home court advantage and will be sitting pretty.
The key to the rest of the series is Kyrie Irving’s health and LeBron James’ offensive execution in the half-court. Both of these were severely lacking in game 3 and cost the Cavs the game (the Cavs bench played very well). Kyrie’s game has a chaos factor that can get buckets when nothing else is working, much like he did at times in game 1. Without that, the Cavs offense is predictable and relies on a lot of high screen and rolls with LeBron. Jimmy Butler is showing an increased acumen in defending these screens. He’s anticipating them and rarely getting picked. The Cavs “answer” to this was to have LeBron go mano-y-mano in the post. Unfortunately, LeBron’s been losing the handle as he tries to muscle his way into the low post.
Keep an eye out for Timofey Mozgov’s minutes in this game. The Cavs don’t seem to trust him out there. He’s fumbled away enough passes and had his shot blocked at the rim enough to understand why the Cavs are quick to pull the plug. Still, he offers rim protection. The Bulls swung the momentum in their favor in the 3rd quarter of game 3 with a series of breezy dribble-drives to the hoop.
Now Mozgov played the first half of this quarter so he was partly responsible for the carnage, but he will fare better in the long run at keeping the Bulls from turning the game into a layup line for Butler and Rose. Keyphrase: “long run”. Will Blatt stick with him after a few momentum changing turnovers? Or will he go with James Jones and TT.
According to @ESPNStatsInfo, the Cavs are a +25 this series in the 49 mins Thompson & Mozgov shared the court. Could exploit more w/ no Pau
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) May 10, 2015
These teams know each other and there is some chess to be played: will Blatt try to actually “go big” to exploit the loss of Gasol (and hope the Bulls play the severely struggling Joakim Noah) or will they call in an airstrike and run James Jones for heavy stretches at the 4?
Still, this series is being defined by the play of Rose, Butler, James, and Irving. Going into the series, you’d have given the edge to the Cavs. If Kyrie’s injuries hamper him as much as they did in game 3, it’s going to take a vintage LeBron performance to advance.
This team is laboring and looks rattled.
If I was Blatt I would lay into LeBron right now. That last possession was inexcusably lazy.
Keep shooting the fade-away threes Bron… JEEZ
The refs are apparently Rose lovers!
@mcuban: That’s why we shouldn’t let 2ndary defenders take charges. Step in charges have become a basketball play. It shouldn’t be. #changrtherule
+1,000,000,000,000 on this…
How could Rose have been set when he was running backwards with LeBron like an inch away?
Sliding his foot and announcers say “Give credit to Rose”
F this. I don’t know if I can take this emotionally. So infuriating.
this is 2009 all over again
Not really… 2009 featured unbelievable outside shooting and a dominant big man in the middle. It also featured a 60+ win Cav team that looked a lot less beatable…
Am I just being a homer, or was that a terrible call?
Terrible call. Bron shouldn’t have tried going one on three, but Rose was clearly still moving…
Anyone else ready to rage-quit this game right now?
Yes, you said it before I could. I have almost destroyed my laptop several times. I think my watching this game is starting to become a hazard
This is a nightmare!
James tries to go one on three and it doesn’t turn out well. Go figure.
Rose clearly still moving on that “charge”
Great! Now LeBron is hurt.
We need to get to the rim
Bron can’t guard Butler… and Butler is stopping Bron…
Can’t score. Can’t stop Rose/Butler = loss!
Rose absolutely initiated that contact. I hate when shooters do that. How do you expect a defender to defend against that?
LBJ is making me want to throw my remote through the screen right now… WTF is he doing?
Bull**** call there.
Need to sub in JR for Kyrie
After this series we’re going to pull David Blatt’s mask off and find out it was really Mike Brown all along.
He has done a great job given the circumstances, I don’t where this perspective comes from.
Kyrie’s injury is killing the Cavs right now… Bring in Delly and JR
Honestly, the lineup should be LeBron, Shump, JR, Moz, and TT
5 3 pointer attempts this quarter already and havent made none, we need to get to the basket
We are not valuing possessions…getting stops and wasting possession after possession. It’s maddening! We look like 1/3 of the offense we used to be. Seems about right without Love and Kyrie I guess…
Cavs now 2-15 from three, yet Blatt not putting in his best three point threat. Bad game plan…
Argh. Don’t understand what the Cavs are doing.
What happened to LeBron’s shot this season?
with way fouls are being called surprised lebron isn’t driving more to hoop….cavs can’t hit shots right now not sure they can win this game
Go after Dunleavy
Don’t understand why they don’t just put JR in to take these threes?
Not sure either do they forget they can sub?
Need to bring in Smith.
Some home refs at this game…
Dung hole w 4 fouls
Another wasted possession.
Need to get JR back in for some threes…
I’m gonna have a heart attack by the time this game is over.
Killing it on the line
God, I hate these announcers.
Cavs have been terrible on the fast break all year. I hope Blatt does some practice on that for next season…
Slowest break ever there.
Moz is just not using his brain right now…
Kyrie can’t guard anyone.
No idea how that wasn’t an over the back call. And, of course, the commentators don’t even mention it.
Noah is getting away w a lot
How many moving screens does Noah have?
Gotta stop switching big men onto Rose… Geez
Noah deserves at least 3 fouls right now
Noah fouled on the mOzgov rebound and he went over the back on the miss. Lol.
How was THAT not over the back on Noah?!
Nice play. No rock pounding and LeBron scored.
Well, at least he can still hit a wide open mid range J…
Big bucket for James to start
That third foul on Moz is troublesome…
Cavs could be up double digits if not for this stat: Cavs 8 turnovers leading to 10 points; Bulls 5 turnovers leading to 2 points…
Yeah we needed to get more during that stretch but we are up 4 and without gasolmthey seem more challenged on offense! Attack Gibson, love to see Lebron posting up this half
Well, we wouldn’t be up by double digits if we cut the turnivers AND the Bulls did go almost 6 minutes without any points. Both sides have had their problems and we are up by 4. Could be better, could be worse. Still a half to go. Rather be up than down.
And also things like LBJ dribbling out the clock for a contested three didn’t happen…
Defense and rebounding, that’s where this game and series will be won. Yea, that’s probably where most are won….
Cavs up at the half!
Good to see CAVS winning the rebound game 22-19.
bulls shot 20% and only down 4…this game is not fun to watch…kyrie is liability right now and honestly shouldn’t play in 2nd half…use combo of delly/schump/Jr with lebron JJ TT Moz and i don’t know maybe use one of the vets like Marion to do something….cant really believe Love goes out and Cavs looks disjointed all of a sudden…run an offense and rotate Bulls won’t be able to stop everything
I would have less of a problem with Kyrie playing hurt if he at least was looking to make smart passes… He has 1 assist in the last six quarters…
Cmon we are up 4 after a crapoy fisrt and a lame Irving. He is out there because he is a still drawing coverage, we are getting to the line a ton. Big buckets from Jr. coming soon, I wish Lebron would of let somebody else shoot that last shot or drive on Noah to get the foul
Sometimes I have nightmares about LBJ dribbling out the clock on the last possession of a half and launching a contested three that misses wildly… I might need therapy…
The United Center looks really nice inside. There’s like three tiers of seats it looks like.
Is that what Blatt drew up? Somehow I doubt it. Crap play there, Bron.
The whole team seems so disjointed and unsure of what to do on both ends of the floor. Its unnerving watching this team play that way.
Kyrie had a cutting LBJ on that last pnr and it led to a breakaway dunk for the bulls.
Lol I think that pass hit Perkins in the face, lollllllllllll
Does Blatt just have no faith in Marion right now?
Who would you suggest putting him in for?
Perkins…
He’s played for 2 minutes………….
Yeah why isn’t Marion getting any run?
Because he’s…
Sigh , Perkins SMH… u can always depend on a turnover from him
i don’t think kyrie is even at 50% right now and not sure why he is still in game….i know he’s making free throws and all but he just can’t create on offense…I mean what was that when he drove into 3 guys?
How did Perk let that ball bounce off his face?