The Cavaliers showed how fake the regular season is.
The #11 post-deadline offense couldn't do anything against a prepared Knicks D.
The #1 defense lacked the versatility of great postseason Ds and J.B. Bickerstaff was slow to make adjustments.
They have a lot to reevaluate.
• Is a Jarrett Allen/Evan Mobley viable after watching Mitchell Robinson dominate them? They couldn't grab a rebound, looked totally overmatched.
• Giannis comparing Mobley to Kevin Garnett is an insult to KG. I question Mobley's offensive upside. He has never shot above 70% from the free throw line and lacks soft touch. He isn't great off the dribble and may never be.
• This team really needs a wing. Okoro can defend and Osman can shoot. But they need someone who can do both to support Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland.
• Speaking of Mitchell. Another playoff bummer for him. He was good in the 2020 bubble and in 2021, but disappointing before then and since then. Especially sucks to see him fall short under the bright lights of New York.
• Knicks exposed their lack of size too, despite Allen and Mobley and sometimes Okoro being in support.
• That's partially due to Bickerstaff failing to adjust and some of his lineups. Such as Okoro and Rubio sharing the floor: Who needs spacing?!?
Cleveland was so good during the season but looked like a completely flawed team in need of big changes to take the next step in the future. In a way they seem like the new Jazz: a really good regular season team that just can't translate to the playoffs.
This was Year 1 with Mitchell. It's just a matter of what changes after dumping so many assets to get him.
What do you think?