The Cavs won this game, even if we didn’t get to see it.
The Cleveland Cavaliers snuck out of Indiana with a win. But you might not have been able to see it happen live.
Let’s see who won and lost the game.
LOSER – FanDuel Sports Network
I mean, come on?
Frustrations about the Cavs aside, this game was heading towards a fantastic finish when Craig Porter Jr. made an incredible recovery to block a Pacers shot at the rim — and then FanDuel’s broadcast cut out. We didn’t get to see ANY of the final two minutes of this game.
A technical difficulties screen showed up for the remainder of the game. Our only peek inside the action was from the voice of John Michael, who did his best to play-by-play what was happening.
I don’t know what caused the disruption, but this was wholly ridiculous. It took over 15 minutes of real time before the broadcast finally returned. This is a tough outcome for any of us who pay for this service.
From all of the times we miss entire plays due to the camera needlessly zooming in on a player, to now missing the end of games altogether. We need you to be better, please.
LOSER – Where is the heart?
It’s getting old. Watching the Cavaliers roll out the ball and expect the game to fall in their favor is a strategy that hasn’t paid off much this season. At some point, they need to realize that coasting on talent is the quickest way to throw their season away.
The Cavs finally came to life in the final frame, just in time to sneak out a victory. But if they had simply played with the appropriate effort and energy in the first three quarters, they wouldn’t have had to sweat out the final minutes. This won’t cut it against better opponents.
LOSER – Chemistry
This team is not on the same page.
They get lost on defense, blowing rotations and failing to communicate. On offense, they dribble without a purpose, either making the correct pass a moment too late or failing to move the ball at all.
This lackluster offense and vulnerable defense are a bad combination. One that can’t be excused by a lack of talent. The Cavs have enough star power, even without Donovan Mitchell, to be a better team than this. But it’s a chemistry issue. It’s a lack of focus. It’s not paying attention to the details.
The Cavs were a machine last season. In large part because they all played together and problem-solved as a unit. Now? They go through long stretches where it appears they don’t trust each other. Or, at the very least, aren’t operating on the same frequency.
Maybe this will improve as the season goes on. Getting healthy and having the same lineups for more than a day at a time would certainly help. But still, things shouldn’t be this disjointed.
Winner – Gutting it out
Alright, my venting session is over.
The Cavs managed to gut this one out and win. That’s the most important thing. While I would have liked their process to be better, and I certainly can complain about their lack of cohesion — a win is still a win.
Darius Garland and Craig Porter Jr. were particularly great. Garland reminded us that he’s the best closer on this team with a huge fourth quarter while Porter did it all, nearly recording a triple-double with 8 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists.
Winning really can cure everything. Sure, we don’t want to ignore any of their flaws just because they won. But stacking wins and getting across the finish line even when you’re struggling is worth something. Be honest, you’d feel a lot worse right now if they hadn’t pulled away at the end.
The Cavs have a long way to go. What I’m about to say next might feel like a pipedream. But if they continue to weather this storm, win enough games to remain competitive, and then hit their stride in the final months of the season, then there’s something to feel great about going into the playoffs.
Surviving this stretch and emerging as a competitor after the All-Star break would be the confidence boost this team needs.
Category: General Sports
