Patrick Thomas

Writer ✍️ Actor 🎭 Musician 🎸 CLE Sports Blogger 🏈 Progressive Politics #letemknow #dawgpound #forTheLand

[Patrick Thomas @CSReportBlog]

📑tCSR: #Cavs fall to #Magic to close the postseason. My thoughts and a look toward the Regular Season opener against #LeBron.

✍️ Patrick Thomas

https://t.co/pFTcCWfcZB

#LetEmKnow #ClevelandCavaliers #ClevelandCavs #Cavs #NBA #Preseason #LeBronJames #ClevelandOhio

[Patrick Thomas @CSReportBlog]

We no longer have the personnel to play like that. He’s 100% right about beating the press and moving the ball. But we are moving more and more towards ISO ball w/ Mitchell/Harden. He’s gotta feel frustrated coaching such a different roster as far as skillets are concerned.

[Patrick Thomas @CSReportBlog]

If you’re talking about the press, I personally only recall it rearing its head starting w/ the Indy series when Garland’s toe was cooked. Mitchell couldn’t beat it. Ty couldn’t beat it. CPJ wasn’t even trusted enough to get a chance. When Kenny took over, he installed an offense

[RealCavsFans.com @realcavsfans]

If the Cavs have consistently been poor in handling pressure over the last four years, what have they done differently to improve how they handle pressure?

[Patrick Thomas @CSReportBlog]

That was predicated on ball movement and spacing…and they set a record for Team eFG% and I believe had an OFF Rating that was 2nd All-Time only to the 2023 Champion Celtics. When DG was on the floor, they tied the Celtics at 123.2. I like Kenny but *his* offense is long gone.

[Patrick Thomas @CSReportBlog]

@JakeDSBD24 That maybe true. But he’s 37yo with a lot of mileage on his legs. It’s not just the press, Harden is slow getting the ball up. Last postseason we relied on Tyson, Strus and Schroeder to help get the ball up quicker and as a method of sparing James’ energy as well.

[Patrick Thomas @CSReportBlog]

For all the shit Evan takes, I think he was our best postseason player. Not defender. Player. Some DPOY level play against Detroit that swung the series. 2nd on the team in APG (>than Mitchell at 3.9.) 3rd in ppg but higher FG%, eFG%, 2pt% and 3pt% than both Harden/Mitchell.

[Fear the 'Fro: A Cleveland Cavs Podcast @FeartheFroPod]

Anyone saying “both the bigs vanished in the playoffs” did not watch the postseason.

It’s unacceptable to go through a whole qtr where the ball handlers (and Watson) turn the ball over endlessly. It set the Cavs up to get cooked in transition w/o bigs back. That was the 3rd.

[Patrick Thomas @CSReportBlog]

#letEmknow

[Patrick Thomas @CSReportBlog]

This is the story of the year. We kept Mobley. I believe that was the right choice. But now that you’ve kept him…and he is your 2nd highest paid player…he absolutely must be the clear #2 option offensively. 15FGA is not a pie in the sky number. If you passed on All-NBA talents

[Mack Perry @DevaronPerry]

Donovan Mitchell had a USG of 32.6% last night. James Harden had a USG of 24.4%.

Evan Mobley? 17.9%.

[Patrick Thomas @CSReportBlog]

And are still going to use him as a distant 3rd option…then I really don’t understand what the plan is or ever was. If Atkinson and/or Mitchell/Harden don’t realize or trust that Evan is the only path toward raising their ceiling, then he should have been moved. It’s baffling.

[Patrick Thomas @CSReportBlog]

@major_bux @ESPNCleveland @WindhorstESPN Yup. Windy completely flipped on this overnight. We’ll cross the 3rd year bridge when we come to it.

[Patrick Thomas @CSReportBlog]

Group. #LetEmKnow

[Patrick Thomas @CSReportBlog]

Regarding Atkinson…I think if you paid attention last postseason you saw that he and his staff made crucial adjustments that got them through the first two rounds. But pretty much since DG’s absence against Indy, we haven’t been playing his offensive scheme anymore. The way the

[Patrick Thomas @CSReportBlog]

Team is built now is more dependent on Harden and Mitchell pick and roll. It’s also a more veteran group that might be tuning him out, I’m not sure. But we haven’t seen the ball him like it did in 24-25 since the Miami series. Maybe we do require a different voice to reach this

[Patrick Thomas @CSReportBlog]

Smoother. As did his ballhandling. But he needs volume and he needs usage. Based on the little I saw I think he’s made crucial improvements to his offensive game. He just needs to be given the chance to sink or swim. #LetEmKnow

[Patrick Thomas @CSReportBlog]

JA had 14 at the half. Mobley had 15. JA finished with 14. Mobley finished with 18. Blaming Mobley for last night is utterly hysterical behavior. He cannot assume the #2 role on offense without the support of his teammates and coaching staff. I think his shot looked much

[Patrick Thomas @CSReportBlog]

@SportsBoyTony “You’re” is the Cavs organization. Mobley didn’t pass on being traded. This falls on the entire organization. If they aren’t going to feature him and give him 15FGA’s a game then that’s on them. From Gilbert to Altman to Atkinson to Mitchell. He can’t assume this role w/o help.

[Patrick Thomas @CSReportBlog]

@SportsBoyTony What? Please explain this to me: Allen had 14 at the half, Mobley had 15. Allen finished with 14, Mobley finished with 18. The backcourt had 8ast/11to. Mobley again had a better AST/TO ratio than his backcourt that can’t beat a simple press. Just like last postseason.

[Patrick Thomas @CSReportBlog]

@FeartheFroPod Thanks for picking me up. I'm usually the cock-eyed optimist but I wasn't up to lining up for the firing squad yesterday 😂 This game will be a reference point fs but by no means should define their season or potential. The postseason alone wields that power.

[Patrick Thomas @CSReportBlog]

Should not be too much to ask at this stage. I believe In Evan but if this is the plan offensively they absolutely should move him. #LetEmKnow #Cavs #ClevelandCavaliers

[Patrick Thomas @CSReportBlog]

The question is...if the #Cavs are content for Mobley to their 2nd highest paid player...and keep him over a potential Gianni or Jaylen Brown trade...what is with this apparent willingness? Evan has had the tools to develop for years but he needs the shot volume, usage and

[RealCavsFans.com @realcavsfans]

Mobley and Allen finish with 18 FGAs in the 1H. Mitchell and Harden with 16 FGAs in the 1H.

Mobley and Allen finish with 5 FGAs in the 2H. Mitchell and Harden finish with 15 FGAs in the 2H.

The imbalance and willingness to be imbalanced is killer.

[Patrick Thomas @CSReportBlog]

support from the organization top to bottom especially including his teammates, specifically Mitchell and Harden. Evan's shot and handle both looked cleaner from what I saw, but this inability/unwillingness to establish him as the clear #2 offensively is utterly bizarre. 15FGA