April 30, 2024 • 39 mins
Hosts Tim Alcorn and Jim Chones sit down with Tom Withers from the Associated Press to go over the first round action before being joined by Jeff Turner, the Magic TV analyst to look at the rest of the round.
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Speaker 1 (00:08):
Welcome to Calves HQ Playoff edition presented by bet Way.
Thank you for joining us on the Medical Mutual Cavaliers
audio verse. Now Here are your hosts, Tim Alcorn and
Jim Chones.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Problem the production studios at Rocket Mortgage Field House in
downtown Cleveland. Hi again, everybody, and indeed, welcome to the
playoff edition of Calves HQ presented by Betway. It's great
to have you with us as we kind of decompressed
tonight and get ready for Game five tomorrow night. Calves
and Magic. With the series tied at two games of
(00:42):
Peace and Jim, certainly a lot of gnashing of teeth
following the two games down in Orlando, but hey, it's
two to two, three to go with or maybe three
to go, maybe even two, but the Cavaliers still holding
home court advantage, so certainly a lot to look forward
or two. But tomorrow night is monumental.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Well, it means a lot tim to having the home
court advantage because it puts added pressure on the opponent.
You know, we did not play well and we won
the first two games at home. They played well and
won the first two games at their place, and that
fifth game can be a tricky one. But I do
(01:23):
think we're good enough even if we lose the fifth,
to beat them the last two. I honestly believe that.
I just think that it's taken us a while to
figure these things out, and in a seven game series
that oft times happened. The denominator is that they're the
four and five team. They're close. They have a little
bit different style of play, but they're close statistically, and
(01:43):
that's been the difference in the games. And you always
remember the last couple of games because we were in
Orlando and people were crying on the phone and acted silly,
and I said, oh, oh, wait a minute, this is
a seven game series. They held court, We held court.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
You know.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
Now we have home quart advantage and we have to
win two out of the last three.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
It starts tomorrow night, Game five at Rock and Mortgage
Field House. We've got terrific guests lined up to talk
about this Caves Magic series. Tom Withers from the Associated
Press will join us and we'll get the Orlando side
of the story with their TV analyst, former player Jeff Turner.
So a busy show ahead. Stay with us. Calves HQ
(02:23):
will continue after this time out on the Medical Mutual
Cavaliers Audiovers.
Speaker 5 (02:33):
They played well, you know what I mean, give them credit.
But in the first half we played really well. We
played good basketball. You know, we just didn't play well
in the second half. You know, we didn't shoot it well.
We turned it over in a third quarter six times,
I believe, two for nine from three. Like, you know,
we just didn't play well in that third quarter. And
(02:53):
you know, again, give them credit. You know, they played
with spirit, they played with energy. But we'll be better
at home.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Bickerstaff following the Cavs loss on Saturday down in Orlando
one twelve to eighty nine, and that tis the series
at two games apiece Game five tomorrow night at Rocket
Mortgage Field House. Well, Jim, I think everybody was a
little bit stunned as how things unfolded Orlando, Maybe not
(03:20):
the fact that the Calves lost to down there, but
the big loss on Thursday night and then obviously the
way things went in the second half in the game
on Saturday. But as you always say, boy, home court
means so much in a first round playoff series.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
Yeah, it does. It means a lot, because usually it's
a two to three point difference through the regular season,
and this is not the regular season because they get
a chance to strategize and plan for you. But sixty
two percent of the home teams do win in our league.
So when you do have the home court advantage, you
(03:58):
know you have to look at I think you know
all the way down the road it's gonna be a
seven game series. And the reason why I say that
is because they're so close. They have a little bit
different focus. We focus on our starters, and the strength
of their team is when they substituted go to their
veteran bench, So that in itself was a little different.
(04:18):
But these are two closely matched teams and you would
expect them to win it home. You might not like
the way that the Calves lost in or Lane, though,
but somebody on the moon would say did you win
or lose? They're not gonna say how much you lost
by So we're coming home. You know, we're familiar with
this place. There'll be an added inspiration. I just think
the Caves have an advantage now.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Of course the story on Saturday afternoon, Calves were up
nine at the half and then only had ten points
in the third, nineteen in the fourth. A twenty nine
point second half, and after the ballgame, Darius Garland was
asked to explain twenty nine second half points.
Speaker 6 (04:55):
Can't explain it. Just move on to the next and
that's what we're doing. Go back and rewatch it, see
what we can do better in the third quarter and
keep our hands up high and get ready for and
gave pop.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Now. One of the things that Orlando certainly has hung
their hat on all season long, and especially in this
playoffs series their defense. They've held the Calves under one
hundred points in all four games, under ninety in the
last two games, and Donovan Mitchell after the game on
Saturday talked about trying to run the Calves offense going
up against such a physical defense in Orlando when.
Speaker 7 (05:32):
The physicality ramps up, like we have to be able
to still run our sets and still get to our stuff.
Can't push us off our spots, and we can't settle,
you know what I mean. So in whatever facet that
means for each player is different, you know what I mean.
But I think that's that's where that comes in, you know,
being able to stick together in our and it's honestly
been our offense, you know, offensively, being able to find
(05:53):
ways to still get to our stuff even though the
physicality is ramped.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Up, Jim, is there a key to getting the offense going?
Speaker 3 (06:01):
Yeah, there is, But I think you got to look
at the matchups. They have a matchup of six four
and six ' five at the guard spot, and they're
agile and they're athletic, and they're very physical. And then
you look at their front line when they put carter it,
they're six ten across the board and all of them
have three point possibilities. So other than the physicality, we
(06:24):
have to overcome their size and their length, and we
know the formula for that. You know, get the ball
down on the floor, look for early looks, dribble penetration,
you know all those things. Maybe instead of setting the
pick the hy dribble speed at top of the key,
you do it on in the wings so that leaves
the middle of the floor open when you come off.
(06:45):
You know all those things. You know JB's going to
go through all of that stuff. But I just think
the advantage for us is just being at home. And
I know it's disappointing because the only reference we have
is those Lebron James teams and everybody they figures that
you had home court advantage you did in this thing
in four. Well, it's not like that with the four
and five team. They're awfully close. They just have a
(07:07):
different focus on how they get it done. And if
you think about it, they were third I think in
defensive efficiency. I think they were one hundred and eleven
points point something and we were one hundred and twelve
point something. So there's not much difference, especially when they
get on their home courts.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Well, for the Cavaliers, a guy that they'd like to
really get rolling tomorrow night would be Donovan. Mitchell had
the eighteen point first half on Saturday, didn't score after that,
and Donovan admitted, Yeah, he's been somewhat inconsistent this series.
Speaker 7 (07:39):
Tailor two halves. It's been like that, even when we
won the games. It's been like that, you know what
I mean. So I have to figure that out. That's
why I'm here, you know what I mean. So as
much as the success I get, I deserve the criticism too,
and I hold myself to that. My teammates probably hate
that I'm saying it, but it's just a fact. So
(08:00):
you know, you can't have eighteen points in the first
half and zero on the second and only four shots.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
Yeah, Cavaliers certainly want to see a big night from
Donovan tomorrow night when they return home, and of course
home court advantage. Cavs still with two of the possible
three games in this series at Rocket Mortgage field House,
and DG talks about protecting home court.
Speaker 6 (08:20):
I mean, that's just out of playoffs, coach. Like I said,
it doesn't start so somebody wins away game. So if
we throw the first punch at home, I think we'll
have them on the ropes. But they did what they
had to do at home. They won two big games
at home, and then they got to come to Cleveland
try to get one.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
So Jim, when you look to tomorrow night, winning at
home obviously is paramount. But how do you see this
series shifting? How do you see the momentum shifting back
to the Cavaliers on Tuesday?
Speaker 3 (08:49):
First of all, Tim, you know Donovan, you know it's
not all on your shoulders. This is a team game,
and only the best team can win a seven game series.
They've made it just Besore talking about the magic at halftime,
and our response was not good. You know, he only
got four touches in the second half, Well, somebody's got
to give him the ball. Somebody's got to run something
(09:11):
that you know that can get him free or some
kind of continuity play, you know. So it's not all
on your shoulders, Donald, and it's on all of our
shoulders because we are a team.
Speaker 4 (09:23):
You know.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
I just don't want him to overdo it and think
that he has to do it alone, because he can't,
because that's not how we became the fourth best team
in the East. It was a team effort, and so
with the adjustments have made it halftime, we just have
to be smarter and figure out ways to get him
the ball.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
There we go. We're gonna take a quick time out
on Cavs HQ when we come back. Well, a guy
that certainly has watched many Cavalier playoff encounters, Tom Withers
from the Associated Press, will join us. We'll hear from
Tom after this on the Medical Mutual Cavaliers audio verse.
Speaker 7 (10:00):
You give credit recredits to do they handled business at home?
You know, that's that's it, Like, you know, I give
credit recredits due it's upsetting that we didn't respond, But
you have to finally do it at the Grier like
we've done the first two games, as simple as that.
On the way, it'll be home early. But there's they
did it, you know for two games. We did it
for two games. That's a three nine.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
Donovan Mitchell talking to the media following the Cavs Game
four loss in Orlando. And this series is now tied
at two games of peace. Game five tomorrow night at
Rock and Mortgage field House, eight o'clock tip again eight
o'clock tip on Tuesday night with the Calves and the Magic,
somebody's gonna go up three to two in this series. Well,
(10:45):
a guy that certainly has covered a lot of Calves
playoff series over the years, now joins us on Calves
HQ two, kind of give us his insights and his
thoughts as to what we have seen in the first
four games. Tom Withers the outstanding. Right, you're a reporter
for the Associated Press, now, joins us. Tom, I mentioned
we're gonna let you try to dissect what's happened here
(11:07):
in the first four games. Well, it's been somewhat bewildering.
Just your overall analysis as to what we've seen.
Speaker 8 (11:16):
Yeah, aren't people supposed to come back from Orlando rested
and vacation with a little bit of a suntan and
maybe a little less money in their pockets. But yeah,
not an ideal Games three and four, obviously, I'll be
honest with you, guys. What kind of concerned me out
of Games one and two? While the Cavs won, I
didn't think they played particularly well, and I thought there
(11:36):
were really some moments of stagnation that we saw in
Games three and four. In Games one and two, particularly
in the second half offensively, and I know they were
playing with the lead, but it just felt like the
ball movement wasn't what it needed to be. And I
just think some of those bad habits then resurface down
in Orlando. And I'll be honest with you, guys, I
expected this to be. I picked the Cams to win
(11:58):
this in seven. I thought it would be a seven
game series. I did not expect, though, to be this
traumatic role reversal that we've seen here. We knew the
Magic would play hard at home. We knew their reserves
would be better at home. We knew their crowd would
be great at home. Didn't expect the Cavs to be
outscored thirty seven to ten and absolutely have zero answers
in that third quarter. And I know that's a kind
of a microcosm of this series in some ways, that
(12:20):
it's one team shoots well and the other one doesn't,
and that's where we're at. But you know, I think
that the good thing is is that, you know, from
a coaching standpoint, it feels like JP has had these
guys attention all year. I would hope that he still
has it. They've been a resilient group all year. They
certainly have to show some resiliency now because they could
not have played any worse than they did in the
(12:42):
third and fourth quarter on Saturday.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
Tom, I totally agree with you, especially on the first
two games. So we shot forty four percent, but we won.
You know when that happens, So you're looking at one
extreme where we struggle scoring and we still win the
two home games, and then we go there and they
blow us out, playing extremely well. Yeah, my biggest concern
(13:06):
is that their bench is playing well. Talk about their bench.
Speaker 8 (13:10):
Yeah, you know, Jim, what I what I liked in
the first couple of games here was that while while
Cleveland's bench wasn't scoring, they were doing the little things right.
Max Strews, I think at nine rebounds in Game one.
You know, Yang gave them kind of that that energy
and that little you know, that that toughness, which is
what good God, That's all we talked about since last
year with the Knicks, and I felt like that was
represented out there. But you know, Jab has decided to
(13:33):
go with a much shorter bench. He has not given
Sam Merrill. I think, you know, kind of the freedom
or what have you, the kind of the leash has
been short, for lack of a better expression, They need
to make some kind of adjustment in that regard because
Orlando's benches, those guys are playing great, and you know,
you get you know, we get one of the Wagner
brothers in the starting lineup and then the other one
(13:53):
comes in and they both kind of feed off of
each other and got that crowd going. But yeah, you know,
I think he also starts though, Jim with you know
that that first team has got to play better, right,
I mean, you can't be worried about how your reserves
are gonna step up, right, It's got to be. It's
got to be that the first five live up to
the standard that is expected. And I don't think that
(14:14):
has happened, at least not you know, not as consistently
as they've needed it for the first four games.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
That's for sure.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
Again, we're talking with Tom Withers from the Associated Press
nice enough to stop by and join us on this
week's edition of Cavs HQ. Tom. This will be Game
five tomorrow night. And they often talk about a playoff
series being a chess match going back and forth. Jamal
made an adjustment with the starting lineup when he put
Isaac back on the bench. Do you foresee adjustments from
(14:42):
the Caves.
Speaker 8 (14:44):
I don't really know if they have one to make
in that regard. To me, I think it's you know, yeah,
I mean Carter comes in, he's a you know, Carter's
a big boy and a big banger. It's more about
it's more about, like I said before those first five,
adjusting to that and know, you know, worrying about what
could happen on the week side by boxing out being
(15:04):
more physical. You know, I don't know if there's necessarily
like a chess move to counter that. To be quite honest,
I think it's again more about getting some offensive movement.
Speaker 4 (15:14):
You know.
Speaker 8 (15:15):
There have been times and Jim could speak God better
to this than I can, but some of these empty,
offensive possessions have just been maddening. And listen, I also
want to point out too that Donovan Mitchell is obviously
not himself, and while you know, he's biting down on
the bullet and saying all the right things, and I
have a lot of respect for him to not only
(15:35):
do that and be accountable, but to play through whatever
he's playing through. And what worried me, guys was that,
you know, when he came off of the week rest,
right then he gets thirty in game one, and then
I wondered how it would be with with you know,
two and three days rest in between, and we're kind
of seeing that now. And I really thought on Saturday
that he was doing a nice job, especially in that
(15:56):
first half of kind of you know, finding the quiet moments,
finding the find the quiet water in the river, if
you will, and taking some possessions to kind of pace himself.
And he hit a marvelous first half. And then I
can't explain what happened in the third and fourth quarters,
and particularly with Donovan, because he didn't have his burst,
his shot wasn't fallen. Maybe at one point they all
kind of resigned themselves to, oh well, let's get back,
(16:18):
Let's get back home and get this figured out, because
it's not going to happen today. But you know, Donovan
is not right, and I think that's maybe got more
to do with this than anything else.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Like great Insights again, Tom Wither's our guest Tom from
the Associated Press. We've got more to talk about with Tom,
so stay with us. Cav's HQ presented by Betwey. We'll
continue after this on the Medical Mutual Cavaliers audiovers.
Speaker 9 (16:48):
Through our Mindfulness Learning Space program. The Cavaliers, with support
from Sherwin Williams, made improvements to two classrooms at Wilson School,
including fresh paint, lighting, new desks, and classroom furniture. Wilson
School offers a range of services for deaf and heart
of hearing students, including interpreters who are deaf and hard
of hearing students are educated along with general education students.
(17:11):
All students are exposed to American Sign language and classes
all offer to students, teachers, parents and the community. Calves
in the Community is brought to you by Discount Drug March.
We'll be back with the second half of Calve's HQ,
presented by Betway right after this on the Medical Mutual
Cavaliers Audio Verse.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
This is calvs HQ Playoff Edition presented by Betway on
the Medical Mutual Cavaliers Audio Verse. Now back to the
second half with Tim Alcorn and Jim Jones.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
And let's not forget the dynamic duo on the other
side of the window. Senior producer Kurt McLaughlin Technical director
Marty Allen had a great guest this week is one
Tom Withers from Theociated Presso is time's nice enough to
stop buying and pay us a visit right here on
cavs HQ. Jimmy want to get things started with Tom
in our second segment.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
Thank you, Tim. A couple of things. I want to
make a couple of statements. This is the four and
the five team. If you look at their numbers before
the playoffs, they're awfully close, y and sixty two percent
of most teams win their home games, so I'm not surprised.
I thought it would go seven. I was anxiously thinking
(18:28):
of six, but I think it's going to go seven
now now it's the best two out of three. But
I'm looking at the Cavaliers and I'm looking at what
the Magic are doing. They're almost doing some high school
offense like a box in one or a Trianglar two.
Do you remember the old Trianglar two where you church
man the man and then the other three zoned? I
mean I played against Zones. I mean I never played
(18:50):
against a man the man in college, so I understand
zones a little bit. But I think that's what we're
having our problem, because we can't find a third score.
Speaker 4 (18:59):
That's exactly right.
Speaker 8 (19:00):
And and and Tim, I would be one of the
guys when Jim Jim Chones spoke up in the locker room,
I'd be listening attentively. Right, Yeah, there are Yeah, you're right.
And it's it's interesting too that they've kind of and
you know, God blessed the kid, by the way.
Speaker 4 (19:14):
I thought Jalen.
Speaker 8 (19:15):
Sucks series and season, and you know his career was
over when he got carried off the court in Game one,
so you know, props to him for coming back. I'll
tell you what, Jim. And now we see what a
defensive player that kid is. And they have really kind
of turned him loose and allowed him to, you know,
to get up on Donovan and he goes over every
screen and he's making things really hard for Donovan, who
(19:37):
I said before, I don't think is at one hundred
percent either, which doesn't help. But you're right, they're kind
of sinking back a little bit too, and and kind
of daring the calves. And if it's not going to
be off of a Darius Garland penetration or a Donovan
Mitchell penetration with a kick, the calves aren't finding any offense.
And what I think is confounded some people, Jim and
and and really aggravated them a little bit, is that
(19:59):
you're not seeing the off fence run through Evan and
Jarrett like we've seen it successfully done this year, right,
And whether that's them you know, flashing to the elbow
or whatever it is, or getting a high tich over
right right, or running some high you know, screening rolls top.
Speaker 4 (20:13):
Of the key, whatever.
Speaker 8 (20:14):
But again, I just I just feel like Donovan is
having such a hard time getting any separation even when
he's coming off of screens. And so you know, that's
a big part of it.
Speaker 4 (20:23):
And you know, as much as it I love to
see Evan slope.
Speaker 8 (20:26):
We knocked down those first two three in game one,
I was like, oh, that might not be the best
thing in the world either, because, as I've talked about
with you guys before, I still feel like the development
that Evan Mobley has to make is grabbing that ball
twelve feet away from the basket, putting the ball on
the floor and taking somebody to the rim.
Speaker 4 (20:43):
We see it at times, don't get me wrong.
Speaker 8 (20:45):
We see the times where Donovan will penetrate or Darius
will penetrate and they kick the ball inside to Evan
and he goes up strong. We don't see enough of that.
And you take the converse of that which you mentioned before, Jim,
look at the way Paulo Benkaro is playing as a
twenty one year.
Speaker 4 (21:00):
I've been so impressed with that kid. I mean, he's
said he's.
Speaker 8 (21:03):
Four he's four games into his playoff career, and it
looks like he's a ten year vet. When he comes
down with the ball, he knows exactly what he wants
to do with it. He recognized his mismatches. He backs
guys down when he needs to and then and then
goes back out and then gets a re entry pass
or whatever the case may be. So again, I think
there are subtle things that the Cabs can do to
improve this offense. I still think a lot of it, guys,
(21:26):
comes down to ball movement and movement without the ball,
and just playing more of a free flowing style that
we really haven't seen other than in you know, really
small spurts so far through four games.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
Tom throughout the year JB would talk about, Yeah, it's
a three ball league, but we play inside out. We
want that ball to go into the paint and then
spray back out, go into the paint, spray back out.
I think that's been missing in this series. Would you agree?
Speaker 4 (21:52):
Agree?
Speaker 8 (21:53):
Yeah, one hundred percent him, I do, and you know,
we all all they talked about in the offseason as well, was,
you know, increasing the volume of three pointers. And that's
one of the reasons that we got Max s Trus
and that's one of the reasons we got George Yang.
That's why Sam Merrill can have an impact as we
get deeper into the season, into the playoffs. But we're
not seen enough of that either. I mean, granted, they
(22:15):
were down, and it's hard to really look at the
stats when you're down by twenty five or thirty in
Game three and four, everything is skewed right, But then.
Speaker 4 (22:23):
We got up.
Speaker 8 (22:23):
I think it was seventeen threes in Game four, and
that's not nearly enough. And then you know, conversely, this
is an Orlando team that shot it worse than anybody
in the league. And you know, when they started Game three,
I think, oh for eight from the field, I was like, okay,
like like Jim said, I think this is going to
be a six game series. Well, they started to find
their range and they got comfortable, and they've got that
(22:44):
crowd behind him, and all those good things happened. So
you know, I think you know, my message I think
to Cleveland fans out there would be that you know, hey,
it's game five.
Speaker 4 (22:53):
This is what you sign up for.
Speaker 8 (22:55):
These are the great moments that we all missed for
all those years, and so you know, I expect that
place to be as loud as it is on a
normal day tomorrow night, if not louder. And you know,
I think there's a lot of people that walked away
from Saturday going, old boy, we're in trouble. Well you
still got you still got three games and two of
(23:16):
them are at home, and so you're you're still really
in the driver's seat, right And again It's it's amazing,
isn't it how the emotions swing and we always would
hear this from from from coaches and from players, and
but more particularly from fans, and so I know how
people are feeling. But hey, it's it's gonna be a
great time down there. And as we live through those
(23:38):
lebron years, you know these are the good old days
and you know you've got to save these team five. Man,
this is what it's all about.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
Yeah, you know people have been calling me and texting me,
mostly texting me and can we win the series?
Speaker 2 (23:51):
Sure?
Speaker 3 (23:52):
This this is this is the way series are played.
I make adjustments. You make adjustments. Home team has an
advantage and the steam advantage when they're the four to
five team. See, it's a little bit closer there. You know,
people don't understand that time now the think and I
agree with you subtle adjustments. You know, I don't think
you have to change the lineup. You might have to
(24:14):
substitute differently as far as your three bench guys are concerned,
and you might have to play Sam Meryl. But the
Calves can win this series. I know we've got the
imprint of the last two games in our mind, but
think about what we did at the first two games
at home. So you have to be optimistic, but you
also have to be realistic. You know, we have home
court advantage, and we're at home right now. I see
(24:37):
the Calves winning the series in seven.
Speaker 8 (24:39):
I still do as well, Jim. And you're right, we
can't be prisoners at the moment. And it's easy to
have happened, and especially easy to have happened when you
see a thirty seven to ten third quarter revenication.
Speaker 4 (24:49):
So sure, yeah, yeah, you know, I think.
Speaker 8 (24:51):
And to your point, Jim, you know, hey, look they
got home yesterday. You had a data kind of decompressed.
Think about it. You get back in the gym today,
you get up some shots, are feeling better about yourself.
You know your home, You're going to get a cooked meal,
You're sleeping in your own bed again tonight. Those are
all bigger things than I think people realize.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
Boy, no doubt about it. Tom. Before we let you go,
you cover all Cleveland sports. So with about two minutes,
I got to ask you about our friends across the plaza.
What do you think of this Guardian start? I know
it's a Cavs Joe, but how about to start for
the guards?
Speaker 4 (25:22):
Yeah?
Speaker 8 (25:22):
I did not have nineteen and nine on my Bengo
card for a team with a rookie manager, and you know,
a team that's been you know, all we've heard is
they can't score, they don't have enough big bats. I'll
tell you what. The thing that's really impressed me to
you guys about this group is that a lot of
them came up through the system together. So they know
each other.
Speaker 3 (25:42):
Right.
Speaker 8 (25:42):
It's not like you have a team that you're all
of a sudden integrating free agents into and hello, my
name is so and so on day one.
Speaker 4 (25:49):
Right, these guys know each other. These guys have played.
Speaker 8 (25:51):
Together at you know, in A and double A many
of them. And you know, in Jose Ramirez you have
and I don't think people appreciate it even here, you
have one of the five best players in baseball. Yes,
and I think sometimes that is very overlooked by not
only the locals and the media here, but people in general.
That kid is just absolutely sensational. You should have heard
Alex core of Boston's manager, raving about Hosey last week.
Speaker 4 (26:14):
So yeah, it's really.
Speaker 8 (26:15):
Been fun, you know, and given tim when you when
you think about the pitching issues that they've had, right,
I mean, they lose their ace for the year in
Shane Bieber and.
Speaker 4 (26:23):
Everybody stepped up.
Speaker 8 (26:24):
And that's what it's all about. And it's no different
with like we were talking about with Jim before with
the Calves. I mean, guys got to step up, right
Donovan Mitchell is struggling a little bit, then it's up
to the other guys to not only pull their weight,
but carry a little more than they're used to. So
that's what it's all about. It's been a lot of fun.
I think it's gonna make for a very fun summer here.
Speaker 4 (26:43):
Tim.
Speaker 8 (26:43):
And as we always talk about with the Guardians, the
blessing is that they play in the American League Central where.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
They get you.
Speaker 8 (26:50):
It's just like Jared said, first one to eighty five.
Speaker 4 (26:52):
I think that that's probably true.
Speaker 8 (26:53):
At the AL Central.
Speaker 4 (26:54):
You get the first one to eighty five win gets
the division. There you go.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
Tom Man, always great to have you on the show.
Just tremendous insights. Look forward to seeing you tomorrow night
here at Rocking Mortgage Field Outs.
Speaker 3 (27:05):
Thank you, Tommy, my pleasure.
Speaker 8 (27:06):
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 4 (27:07):
Guysank talk with us.
Speaker 2 (27:08):
From the Associated Press, joining us here on CAVS HQ
presented by Betway Fun stuff with Tom. We'll get back
to the Cavs and the Magic with our next guest,
Jeff Turner, television analyst for Orlando, will join us. We'll
talk about Game five tomorrow night and what's happened in
the first four, So stay with us. Cavs HQ continues
after this on the Medical Mutual Cavalier's audiovers.
Speaker 10 (27:39):
Our guys made the right adjustments and realized it was
about the body and ball movement, sharing it, moving it,
trusting the pass, and then you know their defensive effort
was it was high level and special. To hold them
to ten points in that third quarter. We said we'll
hang our hats on the defensive end. Guys realize that
we got to sit down and guard in order to
get some easy baskets in transition.
Speaker 2 (27:59):
Well that's magic, at coach Jamal Mosley. Following their Game
four win on Saturday afternoon, Cavs and Magic now tied
to two games of peace. Game five Tomorrow night at
Rocket Mortgage Field House in downtown Cleveland. For our next guest,
Jeff Turner, the TV analyst for the Orlando Magic. I'm
gonna start by saying, Jeff, here in Cleveland, everybody's saying
(28:22):
what happened in Orlando, they're saying what happened? Just the
inflection can really change that question around. But from the
Magic perspective, what happened in Orlando?
Speaker 4 (28:34):
Well, it's funny. This young Magic team, I don't even
think they know what pressure or anything is. They just
don't know what they don't know. They don't believe that
they're not supposed to win, that they don't have experience.
And this team all year has been probably ten points
better at home as far as a differential, you know,
scoring and what they give up defensively, so we figured
(28:57):
it would be better. But we're really really surprised, and
you're right, everybody was like, what happened? Yeah, it's been
a struggle to score in this series, and the Magic
found ways to score off their defense. Primarily, I thought.
Speaker 3 (29:12):
Jeff, I still can remember your rainbow left hand jumper
from the short corner.
Speaker 4 (29:17):
Nobody shoots from the short corner anymore.
Speaker 3 (29:20):
Jim Tyler isn't that same. And then I know Mosley's father,
and you know he's from Milwaukee and he went to
a great basketball school called Mesmer. I've got a little
feeling for him, and I saw where he took second
in the Coach of the Year, well deserved. I thought
you guys had a fantastic year. But I think to
(29:41):
keep it all in proportion, people have to understand that
this is the fourth and the fifth best teams in
the East, and they're gonna be close games. Everybody's gonna
win on their home court. That's just the nature of it.
But I think we have a little advantage if we
can't exploit it, and that's two out of three at home.
But this is an exceptional Magic team, especially from the
(30:03):
defensive And the reason why I'm saying all this is
to set up the question I want to ask you.
Do you believe that they can win a seventh game?
Speaker 2 (30:12):
Boy?
Speaker 4 (30:12):
You know, I think anything can happen. I think that
one thing, Jim, that you pointed out that both of
these teams are terrific defensive teams, and I think they've
got two very good young coaches in our league who
are able to make adjustments and so as you well
know that, you know, the playoffs are all about figuring
(30:34):
out ways to make shots. The one thing that as
a Magic fan, that concerns me is I think in Donovan,
you have a guy, no matter what the defense is
doing is can create his own opportunities create for others,
and I think you know, that's what happens in the playoffs.
(30:55):
So I'm glad you said these are the fourth and
fifth best teams in the league because I think Ashley
the theory is not getting enough attention for how good
it really is. I mean, you know, the defensive play
has been outstanding at both ends. I think what you
know we saw was in Games three and four, the magic.
(31:16):
We're able to find ways to score in transition off
their defense, you know, forcing turnovers, and I think that
was a big thing. But our two stars are very
young and don't have a lot of experience. You know, again,
maybe they don't know what they don't know, but I think,
you know, as you point out the edge, you know,
(31:38):
obviously with the Cavs with two of the remaining three
games at home, plus I think, you know, having Donovan
as that guy who's had playoff experience, been in big
situation gives them that. Now, can we win in Cleveland?
I think it really depends on how we do against
your backcourt, because I think that's, you know, that's been
(31:58):
the key the whole series.
Speaker 2 (32:00):
You know, we're talking with Jeff Turner. He's the television
analyst for the Orlando Magic. Former Magic player played with
Orlando back in the nineties for seven years, and Jeff,
I want to ask you about the Magic's Big three
per se these young draft picks. Of course, Polo Band
Carol number one pick in the draft last year, Franz Wagner,
(32:20):
Jalen Suggs. Just talk about the maturity that you've seen
from these guys, not only in the four games in
this series, where I think they've performed beyond their young status,
but really in just getting used to the league and
growing comfortable at the level of NBA play.
Speaker 4 (32:36):
Yeah, it is really something. I mean, when you consider
their ages, you know, they're all under twenty two or
twenty two and under. Franz and Jalen are twenty two,
and you know, Palo's just twenty one years old. Just
their demeanor, I guess it's not surprising from Franz, who's
you know, played a lot of high level European basketball
(32:56):
growing up. But you know, and Jalen has he's a
two sport guy. He's played in big games. The one
that's incredible to me is Polo Bank Carroll because there's
so much you know, you guys know is the number
one pick. The expectations are high. How you manage that?
You know, he's clearly the best player on our team.
(33:17):
You know, we run a lot through him. He's a
high usage player. For the most part. He keeps a
pretty calm demeanor. He doesn't get too high or too
low and just goes about his business. And I think
for a guy so young, it does speak to his maturity.
You know. I think a lot of people maybe discount
that from those three guys. You know, when you look
(33:39):
at lack of player experience and how young they are,
that maturity is there. But listen, Jimmy started off talking
about Jamal Moseley, the way he handles this young team
and has them playing so hard. His maturity as a coach,
you know, the first time through is just you know,
(34:00):
you can watch him from afar and you know, be
around him. He is all class is you know, just
a terrific human being and he is a great model
of what a professional should be for these young players.
And I think that plays a big part in the
(34:20):
growth and maturity of our young team.
Speaker 3 (34:22):
Yeah, I have to agree with you. Let's look at
both of these teams, you know, how are they winning.
You made mentioned to our backcourt and our starters basically,
and that's the secret to us. Our starters have to
set the table better because we're not getting the production
off our bench. But when I look at the magic,
the secret to your success is your bench. Talk a
(34:44):
little bit about that bench play.
Speaker 4 (34:46):
Really, It's been that way pretty much most of the year.
And I think, you know, going into the the playoffs,
you know, we all wondered would Jamal shortened his rotations
a little bit with minutes change, And it did a
little bit, I think in those first two games. But
what had happened, you know, all season long, is if
the starters kind of get off to a bad start.
(35:08):
I think we've got guys on our bench that have
really accepted those roles. The two primary guys I think, well,
actually three if you look at it, Markel Folks, who's
been a starter. Cole Anthony. He could be a starter,
I think for a lot of teams, but you know
he is. You know, he doesn't like it, which is good.
(35:29):
He's very competitive, but he kind of he's kind of
accepted that, you know, there's a spot for him coming
off the bench and bringing that energy and then you know,
Moe Wagner is I know people in Cleveland are not moner,
but you know the one thing, Timmy, and you know
this as being a player, like to me, I think
(35:52):
the easiest thing to do really from a standpoints of
the player is to be a starter, right, because you
warm up right and then your boom, you're right into
the game, your rhythm and everything. The hard thing to
do as is come off the bench not knowing when
usually and immediately provide energy and production. And you know,
(36:14):
you look at Mo Wagner and it's not you know,
flashing the panty. I'm all season long, he's playing about
seventeen eighteen minutes a game. He's given you you know,
he's averaging almost eleven points a game. He comes in,
but immediately he's productive and he just gives this young
team a boost. He doesn't really care about what's happening
(36:36):
in the stands. You know, he loves to motivate the
home crowd and everything. You know, he's you know what
every team needs a little bit of a guy that's
an instigator kind of You're right, you get under people,
get under people. Again, we've actually got to Joe Ingles
is one of those as well. But you know, Joe's
minutes have been down a little bit, but they have
(36:58):
been a spark. That bench has been a part for
us all season long, and I think in the you
know the tune. It'll be interesting now going back on
the road because it didn't play particularly well. I didn't
think on the road, So we'll just seem to see
if they can come up with that same level of
production we saw.
Speaker 2 (37:16):
It homely, no doubt, Jeff. This has been a lot
of fun and great insights. So we appreciate your time, Jeff.
We'll look forward to seeing you tomorrow night at Rocket
Mortgage Field House. Boy, this place should be rocking and
obviously expect a great game five, but we appreciate you
stopping by and joining us.
Speaker 4 (37:32):
Thank you. Jim. All right, guys, so playoffs are great.
I love the enthusiasm of all of the crowds. It's
the best.
Speaker 2 (37:38):
Yeah, absolutely, Jeff Turner, Orlando's television analysts joining us here
on Caves HQ presented by Betway. We'll take a quick
time out and Jim and I will wrap it all
up after this on the Medical Mutual Cavaliers audio Verse.
That's gonna do it for this week's edition of caves HQ.
Great stuff from Jeff Turner, of course. Earlier Tom Withers
(38:00):
from the Associated Press, We've set the table for you.
Game five tomorrow night. Calves and Magic, eight o'clock Tip
and Rock and Mortgage Field House Huntington Tip Off Show
comes your way at seven point thirty on the Medical
Mutual Cavaliers audio Verse. So until then, jim Elcorn saying
thank you very much for listening, and so long everybody,
Welcome to Calves HQ Playoff edition presented by bet Way.
Thank you for joining us on the Medical Mutual Cavaliers
audio verse. Now Here are your hosts, Tim Alcorn and
Jim Chones.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Problem the production studios at Rocket Mortgage Field House in
downtown Cleveland. Hi again, everybody, and indeed, welcome to the
playoff edition of Calves HQ presented by Betway. It's great
to have you with us as we kind of decompressed
tonight and get ready for Game five tomorrow night. Calves
and Magic. With the series tied at two games of
(00:42):
Peace and Jim, certainly a lot of gnashing of teeth
following the two games down in Orlando, but hey, it's
two to two, three to go with or maybe three
to go, maybe even two, but the Cavaliers still holding
home court advantage, so certainly a lot to look forward
or two. But tomorrow night is monumental.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Well, it means a lot tim to having the home
court advantage because it puts added pressure on the opponent.
You know, we did not play well and we won
the first two games at home. They played well and
won the first two games at their place, and that
fifth game can be a tricky one. But I do
(01:23):
think we're good enough even if we lose the fifth,
to beat them the last two. I honestly believe that.
I just think that it's taken us a while to
figure these things out, and in a seven game series
that oft times happened. The denominator is that they're the
four and five team. They're close. They have a little
bit different style of play, but they're close statistically, and
(01:43):
that's been the difference in the games. And you always
remember the last couple of games because we were in
Orlando and people were crying on the phone and acted silly,
and I said, oh, oh, wait a minute, this is
a seven game series. They held court, We held court.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
You know.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
Now we have home quart advantage and we have to
win two out of the last three.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
It starts tomorrow night, Game five at Rock and Mortgage
Field House. We've got terrific guests lined up to talk
about this Caves Magic series. Tom Withers from the Associated
Press will join us and we'll get the Orlando side
of the story with their TV analyst, former player Jeff Turner.
So a busy show ahead. Stay with us. Calves HQ
(02:23):
will continue after this time out on the Medical Mutual
Cavaliers Audiovers.
Speaker 5 (02:33):
They played well, you know what I mean, give them credit.
But in the first half we played really well. We
played good basketball. You know, we just didn't play well
in the second half. You know, we didn't shoot it well.
We turned it over in a third quarter six times,
I believe, two for nine from three. Like, you know,
we just didn't play well in that third quarter. And
(02:53):
you know, again, give them credit. You know, they played
with spirit, they played with energy. But we'll be better
at home.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Bickerstaff following the Cavs loss on Saturday down in Orlando
one twelve to eighty nine, and that tis the series
at two games apiece Game five tomorrow night at Rocket
Mortgage Field House. Well, Jim, I think everybody was a
little bit stunned as how things unfolded Orlando, Maybe not
(03:20):
the fact that the Calves lost to down there, but
the big loss on Thursday night and then obviously the
way things went in the second half in the game
on Saturday. But as you always say, boy, home court
means so much in a first round playoff series.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
Yeah, it does. It means a lot, because usually it's
a two to three point difference through the regular season,
and this is not the regular season because they get
a chance to strategize and plan for you. But sixty
two percent of the home teams do win in our league.
So when you do have the home court advantage, you
(03:58):
know you have to look at I think you know
all the way down the road it's gonna be a
seven game series. And the reason why I say that
is because they're so close. They have a little bit
different focus. We focus on our starters, and the strength
of their team is when they substituted go to their
veteran bench, So that in itself was a little different.
(04:18):
But these are two closely matched teams and you would
expect them to win it home. You might not like
the way that the Calves lost in or Lane, though,
but somebody on the moon would say did you win
or lose? They're not gonna say how much you lost
by So we're coming home. You know, we're familiar with
this place. There'll be an added inspiration. I just think
the Caves have an advantage now.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Of course the story on Saturday afternoon, Calves were up
nine at the half and then only had ten points
in the third, nineteen in the fourth. A twenty nine
point second half, and after the ballgame, Darius Garland was
asked to explain twenty nine second half points.
Speaker 6 (04:55):
Can't explain it. Just move on to the next and
that's what we're doing. Go back and rewatch it, see
what we can do better in the third quarter and
keep our hands up high and get ready for and
gave pop.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Now. One of the things that Orlando certainly has hung
their hat on all season long, and especially in this
playoffs series their defense. They've held the Calves under one
hundred points in all four games, under ninety in the
last two games, and Donovan Mitchell after the game on
Saturday talked about trying to run the Calves offense going
up against such a physical defense in Orlando when.
Speaker 7 (05:32):
The physicality ramps up, like we have to be able
to still run our sets and still get to our stuff.
Can't push us off our spots, and we can't settle,
you know what I mean. So in whatever facet that
means for each player is different, you know what I mean.
But I think that's that's where that comes in, you know,
being able to stick together in our and it's honestly
been our offense, you know, offensively, being able to find
(05:53):
ways to still get to our stuff even though the
physicality is ramped.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Up, Jim, is there a key to getting the offense going?
Speaker 3 (06:01):
Yeah, there is, But I think you got to look
at the matchups. They have a matchup of six four
and six ' five at the guard spot, and they're
agile and they're athletic, and they're very physical. And then
you look at their front line when they put carter it,
they're six ten across the board and all of them
have three point possibilities. So other than the physicality, we
(06:24):
have to overcome their size and their length, and we
know the formula for that. You know, get the ball
down on the floor, look for early looks, dribble penetration,
you know all those things. Maybe instead of setting the
pick the hy dribble speed at top of the key,
you do it on in the wings so that leaves
the middle of the floor open when you come off.
(06:45):
You know all those things. You know JB's going to
go through all of that stuff. But I just think
the advantage for us is just being at home. And
I know it's disappointing because the only reference we have
is those Lebron James teams and everybody they figures that
you had home court advantage you did in this thing
in four. Well, it's not like that with the four
and five team. They're awfully close. They just have a
(07:07):
different focus on how they get it done. And if
you think about it, they were third I think in
defensive efficiency. I think they were one hundred and eleven
points point something and we were one hundred and twelve
point something. So there's not much difference, especially when they
get on their home courts.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Well, for the Cavaliers, a guy that they'd like to
really get rolling tomorrow night would be Donovan. Mitchell had
the eighteen point first half on Saturday, didn't score after that,
and Donovan admitted, Yeah, he's been somewhat inconsistent this series.
Speaker 7 (07:39):
Tailor two halves. It's been like that, even when we
won the games. It's been like that, you know what
I mean. So I have to figure that out. That's
why I'm here, you know what I mean. So as
much as the success I get, I deserve the criticism too,
and I hold myself to that. My teammates probably hate
that I'm saying it, but it's just a fact. So
(08:00):
you know, you can't have eighteen points in the first
half and zero on the second and only four shots.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
Yeah, Cavaliers certainly want to see a big night from
Donovan tomorrow night when they return home, and of course
home court advantage. Cavs still with two of the possible
three games in this series at Rocket Mortgage field House,
and DG talks about protecting home court.
Speaker 6 (08:20):
I mean, that's just out of playoffs, coach. Like I said,
it doesn't start so somebody wins away game. So if
we throw the first punch at home, I think we'll
have them on the ropes. But they did what they
had to do at home. They won two big games
at home, and then they got to come to Cleveland
try to get one.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
So Jim, when you look to tomorrow night, winning at
home obviously is paramount. But how do you see this
series shifting? How do you see the momentum shifting back
to the Cavaliers on Tuesday?
Speaker 3 (08:49):
First of all, Tim, you know Donovan, you know it's
not all on your shoulders. This is a team game,
and only the best team can win a seven game series.
They've made it just Besore talking about the magic at halftime,
and our response was not good. You know, he only
got four touches in the second half, Well, somebody's got
to give him the ball. Somebody's got to run something
(09:11):
that you know that can get him free or some
kind of continuity play, you know. So it's not all
on your shoulders, Donald, and it's on all of our
shoulders because we are a team.
Speaker 4 (09:23):
You know.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
I just don't want him to overdo it and think
that he has to do it alone, because he can't,
because that's not how we became the fourth best team
in the East. It was a team effort, and so
with the adjustments have made it halftime, we just have
to be smarter and figure out ways to get him
the ball.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
There we go. We're gonna take a quick time out
on Cavs HQ when we come back. Well, a guy
that certainly has watched many Cavalier playoff encounters, Tom Withers
from the Associated Press, will join us. We'll hear from
Tom after this on the Medical Mutual Cavaliers audio verse.
Speaker 7 (10:00):
You give credit recredits to do they handled business at home?
You know, that's that's it, Like, you know, I give
credit recredits due it's upsetting that we didn't respond, But
you have to finally do it at the Grier like
we've done the first two games, as simple as that.
On the way, it'll be home early. But there's they
did it, you know for two games. We did it
for two games. That's a three nine.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
Donovan Mitchell talking to the media following the Cavs Game
four loss in Orlando. And this series is now tied
at two games of peace. Game five tomorrow night at
Rock and Mortgage field House, eight o'clock tip again eight
o'clock tip on Tuesday night with the Calves and the Magic,
somebody's gonna go up three to two in this series. Well,
(10:45):
a guy that certainly has covered a lot of Calves
playoff series over the years, now joins us on Calves
HQ two, kind of give us his insights and his
thoughts as to what we have seen in the first
four games. Tom Withers the outstanding. Right, you're a reporter
for the Associated Press, now, joins us. Tom, I mentioned
we're gonna let you try to dissect what's happened here
(11:07):
in the first four games. Well, it's been somewhat bewildering.
Just your overall analysis as to what we've seen.
Speaker 8 (11:16):
Yeah, aren't people supposed to come back from Orlando rested
and vacation with a little bit of a suntan and
maybe a little less money in their pockets. But yeah,
not an ideal Games three and four, obviously, I'll be
honest with you, guys. What kind of concerned me out
of Games one and two? While the Cavs won, I
didn't think they played particularly well, and I thought there
(11:36):
were really some moments of stagnation that we saw in
Games three and four. In Games one and two, particularly
in the second half offensively, and I know they were
playing with the lead, but it just felt like the
ball movement wasn't what it needed to be. And I
just think some of those bad habits then resurface down
in Orlando. And I'll be honest with you, guys, I
expected this to be. I picked the Cams to win
(11:58):
this in seven. I thought it would be a seven
game series. I did not expect, though, to be this
traumatic role reversal that we've seen here. We knew the
Magic would play hard at home. We knew their reserves
would be better at home. We knew their crowd would
be great at home. Didn't expect the Cavs to be
outscored thirty seven to ten and absolutely have zero answers
in that third quarter. And I know that's a kind
of a microcosm of this series in some ways, that
(12:20):
it's one team shoots well and the other one doesn't,
and that's where we're at. But you know, I think
that the good thing is is that, you know, from
a coaching standpoint, it feels like JP has had these
guys attention all year. I would hope that he still
has it. They've been a resilient group all year. They
certainly have to show some resiliency now because they could
not have played any worse than they did in the
(12:42):
third and fourth quarter on Saturday.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
Tom, I totally agree with you, especially on the first
two games. So we shot forty four percent, but we won.
You know when that happens, So you're looking at one
extreme where we struggle scoring and we still win the
two home games, and then we go there and they
blow us out, playing extremely well. Yeah, my biggest concern
(13:06):
is that their bench is playing well. Talk about their bench.
Speaker 8 (13:10):
Yeah, you know, Jim, what I what I liked in
the first couple of games here was that while while
Cleveland's bench wasn't scoring, they were doing the little things right.
Max Strews, I think at nine rebounds in Game one.
You know, Yang gave them kind of that that energy
and that little you know, that that toughness, which is
what good God, That's all we talked about since last
year with the Knicks, and I felt like that was
represented out there. But you know, Jab has decided to
(13:33):
go with a much shorter bench. He has not given
Sam Merrill. I think, you know, kind of the freedom
or what have you, the kind of the leash has
been short, for lack of a better expression, They need
to make some kind of adjustment in that regard because
Orlando's benches, those guys are playing great, and you know,
you get you know, we get one of the Wagner
brothers in the starting lineup and then the other one
(13:53):
comes in and they both kind of feed off of
each other and got that crowd going. But yeah, you know,
I think he also starts though, Jim with you know
that that first team has got to play better, right,
I mean, you can't be worried about how your reserves
are gonna step up, right, It's got to be. It's
got to be that the first five live up to
the standard that is expected. And I don't think that
(14:14):
has happened, at least not you know, not as consistently
as they've needed it for the first four games.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
That's for sure.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
Again, we're talking with Tom Withers from the Associated Press
nice enough to stop by and join us on this
week's edition of Cavs HQ. Tom. This will be Game
five tomorrow night. And they often talk about a playoff
series being a chess match going back and forth. Jamal
made an adjustment with the starting lineup when he put
Isaac back on the bench. Do you foresee adjustments from
(14:42):
the Caves.
Speaker 8 (14:44):
I don't really know if they have one to make
in that regard. To me, I think it's you know, yeah,
I mean Carter comes in, he's a you know, Carter's
a big boy and a big banger. It's more about
it's more about, like I said before those first five,
adjusting to that and know, you know, worrying about what
could happen on the week side by boxing out being
(15:04):
more physical. You know, I don't know if there's necessarily
like a chess move to counter that. To be quite honest,
I think it's again more about getting some offensive movement.
Speaker 4 (15:14):
You know.
Speaker 8 (15:15):
There have been times and Jim could speak God better
to this than I can, but some of these empty,
offensive possessions have just been maddening. And listen, I also
want to point out too that Donovan Mitchell is obviously
not himself, and while you know, he's biting down on
the bullet and saying all the right things, and I
have a lot of respect for him to not only
(15:35):
do that and be accountable, but to play through whatever
he's playing through. And what worried me, guys was that,
you know, when he came off of the week rest,
right then he gets thirty in game one, and then
I wondered how it would be with with you know,
two and three days rest in between, and we're kind
of seeing that now. And I really thought on Saturday
that he was doing a nice job, especially in that
(15:56):
first half of kind of you know, finding the quiet moments,
finding the find the quiet water in the river, if
you will, and taking some possessions to kind of pace himself.
And he hit a marvelous first half. And then I
can't explain what happened in the third and fourth quarters,
and particularly with Donovan, because he didn't have his burst,
his shot wasn't fallen. Maybe at one point they all
kind of resigned themselves to, oh well, let's get back,
(16:18):
Let's get back home and get this figured out, because
it's not going to happen today. But you know, Donovan
is not right, and I think that's maybe got more
to do with this than anything else.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Like great Insights again, Tom Wither's our guest Tom from
the Associated Press. We've got more to talk about with Tom,
so stay with us. Cav's HQ presented by Betwey. We'll
continue after this on the Medical Mutual Cavaliers audiovers.
Speaker 9 (16:48):
Through our Mindfulness Learning Space program. The Cavaliers, with support
from Sherwin Williams, made improvements to two classrooms at Wilson School,
including fresh paint, lighting, new desks, and classroom furniture. Wilson
School offers a range of services for deaf and heart
of hearing students, including interpreters who are deaf and hard
of hearing students are educated along with general education students.
(17:11):
All students are exposed to American Sign language and classes
all offer to students, teachers, parents and the community. Calves
in the Community is brought to you by Discount Drug March.
We'll be back with the second half of Calve's HQ,
presented by Betway right after this on the Medical Mutual
Cavaliers Audio Verse.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
This is calvs HQ Playoff Edition presented by Betway on
the Medical Mutual Cavaliers Audio Verse. Now back to the
second half with Tim Alcorn and Jim Jones.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
And let's not forget the dynamic duo on the other
side of the window. Senior producer Kurt McLaughlin Technical director
Marty Allen had a great guest this week is one
Tom Withers from Theociated Presso is time's nice enough to
stop buying and pay us a visit right here on
cavs HQ. Jimmy want to get things started with Tom
in our second segment.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
Thank you, Tim. A couple of things. I want to
make a couple of statements. This is the four and
the five team. If you look at their numbers before
the playoffs, they're awfully close, y and sixty two percent
of most teams win their home games, so I'm not surprised.
I thought it would go seven. I was anxiously thinking
(18:28):
of six, but I think it's going to go seven
now now it's the best two out of three. But
I'm looking at the Cavaliers and I'm looking at what
the Magic are doing. They're almost doing some high school
offense like a box in one or a Trianglar two.
Do you remember the old Trianglar two where you church
man the man and then the other three zoned? I
mean I played against Zones. I mean I never played
(18:50):
against a man the man in college, so I understand
zones a little bit. But I think that's what we're
having our problem, because we can't find a third score.
Speaker 4 (18:59):
That's exactly right.
Speaker 8 (19:00):
And and and Tim, I would be one of the
guys when Jim Jim Chones spoke up in the locker room,
I'd be listening attentively. Right, Yeah, there are Yeah, you're right.
And it's it's interesting too that they've kind of and
you know, God blessed the kid, by the way.
Speaker 4 (19:14):
I thought Jalen.
Speaker 8 (19:15):
Sucks series and season, and you know his career was
over when he got carried off the court in Game one,
so you know, props to him for coming back. I'll
tell you what, Jim. And now we see what a
defensive player that kid is. And they have really kind
of turned him loose and allowed him to, you know,
to get up on Donovan and he goes over every
screen and he's making things really hard for Donovan, who
(19:37):
I said before, I don't think is at one hundred
percent either, which doesn't help. But you're right, they're kind
of sinking back a little bit too, and and kind
of daring the calves. And if it's not going to
be off of a Darius Garland penetration or a Donovan
Mitchell penetration with a kick, the calves aren't finding any offense.
And what I think is confounded some people, Jim and
and and really aggravated them a little bit, is that
(19:59):
you're not seeing the off fence run through Evan and
Jarrett like we've seen it successfully done this year, right,
And whether that's them you know, flashing to the elbow
or whatever it is, or getting a high tich over
right right, or running some high you know, screening rolls top.
Speaker 4 (20:13):
Of the key, whatever.
Speaker 8 (20:14):
But again, I just I just feel like Donovan is
having such a hard time getting any separation even when
he's coming off of screens. And so you know, that's
a big part of it.
Speaker 4 (20:23):
And you know, as much as it I love to
see Evan slope.
Speaker 8 (20:26):
We knocked down those first two three in game one,
I was like, oh, that might not be the best
thing in the world either, because, as I've talked about
with you guys before, I still feel like the development
that Evan Mobley has to make is grabbing that ball
twelve feet away from the basket, putting the ball on
the floor and taking somebody to the rim.
Speaker 4 (20:43):
We see it at times, don't get me wrong.
Speaker 8 (20:45):
We see the times where Donovan will penetrate or Darius
will penetrate and they kick the ball inside to Evan
and he goes up strong. We don't see enough of that.
And you take the converse of that which you mentioned before, Jim,
look at the way Paulo Benkaro is playing as a
twenty one year.
Speaker 4 (21:00):
I've been so impressed with that kid. I mean, he's
said he's.
Speaker 8 (21:03):
Four he's four games into his playoff career, and it
looks like he's a ten year vet. When he comes
down with the ball, he knows exactly what he wants
to do with it. He recognized his mismatches. He backs
guys down when he needs to and then and then
goes back out and then gets a re entry pass
or whatever the case may be. So again, I think
there are subtle things that the Cabs can do to
improve this offense. I still think a lot of it, guys,
(21:26):
comes down to ball movement and movement without the ball,
and just playing more of a free flowing style that
we really haven't seen other than in you know, really
small spurts so far through four games.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
Tom throughout the year JB would talk about, Yeah, it's
a three ball league, but we play inside out. We
want that ball to go into the paint and then
spray back out, go into the paint, spray back out.
I think that's been missing in this series. Would you agree?
Speaker 4 (21:52):
Agree?
Speaker 8 (21:53):
Yeah, one hundred percent him, I do, and you know,
we all all they talked about in the offseason as well, was,
you know, increasing the volume of three pointers. And that's
one of the reasons that we got Max s Trus
and that's one of the reasons we got George Yang.
That's why Sam Merrill can have an impact as we
get deeper into the season, into the playoffs. But we're
not seen enough of that either. I mean, granted, they
(22:15):
were down, and it's hard to really look at the
stats when you're down by twenty five or thirty in
Game three and four, everything is skewed right, But then.
Speaker 4 (22:23):
We got up.
Speaker 8 (22:23):
I think it was seventeen threes in Game four, and
that's not nearly enough. And then you know, conversely, this
is an Orlando team that shot it worse than anybody
in the league. And you know, when they started Game three,
I think, oh for eight from the field, I was like, okay,
like like Jim said, I think this is going to
be a six game series. Well, they started to find
their range and they got comfortable, and they've got that
(22:44):
crowd behind him, and all those good things happened. So
you know, I think you know, my message I think
to Cleveland fans out there would be that you know, hey,
it's game five.
Speaker 4 (22:53):
This is what you sign up for.
Speaker 8 (22:55):
These are the great moments that we all missed for
all those years, and so you know, I expect that
place to be as loud as it is on a
normal day tomorrow night, if not louder. And you know,
I think there's a lot of people that walked away
from Saturday going, old boy, we're in trouble. Well you
still got you still got three games and two of
(23:16):
them are at home, and so you're you're still really
in the driver's seat, right And again It's it's amazing,
isn't it how the emotions swing and we always would
hear this from from from coaches and from players, and
but more particularly from fans, and so I know how
people are feeling. But hey, it's it's gonna be a
great time down there. And as we live through those
(23:38):
lebron years, you know these are the good old days
and you know you've got to save these team five. Man,
this is what it's all about.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
Yeah, you know people have been calling me and texting me,
mostly texting me and can we win the series?
Speaker 2 (23:51):
Sure?
Speaker 3 (23:52):
This this is this is the way series are played.
I make adjustments. You make adjustments. Home team has an
advantage and the steam advantage when they're the four to
five team. See, it's a little bit closer there. You know,
people don't understand that time now the think and I
agree with you subtle adjustments. You know, I don't think
you have to change the lineup. You might have to
(24:14):
substitute differently as far as your three bench guys are concerned,
and you might have to play Sam Meryl. But the
Calves can win this series. I know we've got the
imprint of the last two games in our mind, but
think about what we did at the first two games
at home. So you have to be optimistic, but you
also have to be realistic. You know, we have home
court advantage, and we're at home right now. I see
(24:37):
the Calves winning the series in seven.
Speaker 8 (24:39):
I still do as well, Jim. And you're right, we
can't be prisoners at the moment. And it's easy to
have happened, and especially easy to have happened when you
see a thirty seven to ten third quarter revenication.
Speaker 4 (24:49):
So sure, yeah, yeah, you know, I think.
Speaker 8 (24:51):
And to your point, Jim, you know, hey, look they
got home yesterday. You had a data kind of decompressed.
Think about it. You get back in the gym today,
you get up some shots, are feeling better about yourself.
You know your home, You're going to get a cooked meal,
You're sleeping in your own bed again tonight. Those are
all bigger things than I think people realize.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
Boy, no doubt about it. Tom. Before we let you go,
you cover all Cleveland sports. So with about two minutes,
I got to ask you about our friends across the plaza.
What do you think of this Guardian start? I know
it's a Cavs Joe, but how about to start for
the guards?
Speaker 4 (25:22):
Yeah?
Speaker 8 (25:22):
I did not have nineteen and nine on my Bengo
card for a team with a rookie manager, and you know,
a team that's been you know, all we've heard is
they can't score, they don't have enough big bats. I'll
tell you what. The thing that's really impressed me to
you guys about this group is that a lot of
them came up through the system together. So they know
each other.
Speaker 3 (25:42):
Right.
Speaker 8 (25:42):
It's not like you have a team that you're all
of a sudden integrating free agents into and hello, my
name is so and so on day one.
Speaker 4 (25:49):
Right, these guys know each other. These guys have played.
Speaker 8 (25:51):
Together at you know, in A and double A many
of them. And you know, in Jose Ramirez you have
and I don't think people appreciate it even here, you
have one of the five best players in baseball. Yes,
and I think sometimes that is very overlooked by not
only the locals and the media here, but people in general.
That kid is just absolutely sensational. You should have heard
Alex core of Boston's manager, raving about Hosey last week.
Speaker 4 (26:14):
So yeah, it's really.
Speaker 8 (26:15):
Been fun, you know, and given tim when you when
you think about the pitching issues that they've had, right,
I mean, they lose their ace for the year in
Shane Bieber and.
Speaker 4 (26:23):
Everybody stepped up.
Speaker 8 (26:24):
And that's what it's all about. And it's no different
with like we were talking about with Jim before with
the Calves. I mean, guys got to step up, right
Donovan Mitchell is struggling a little bit, then it's up
to the other guys to not only pull their weight,
but carry a little more than they're used to. So
that's what it's all about. It's been a lot of fun.
I think it's gonna make for a very fun summer here.
Speaker 4 (26:43):
Tim.
Speaker 8 (26:43):
And as we always talk about with the Guardians, the
blessing is that they play in the American League Central where.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
They get you.
Speaker 8 (26:50):
It's just like Jared said, first one to eighty five.
Speaker 4 (26:52):
I think that that's probably true.
Speaker 8 (26:53):
At the AL Central.
Speaker 4 (26:54):
You get the first one to eighty five win gets
the division. There you go.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
Tom Man, always great to have you on the show.
Just tremendous insights. Look forward to seeing you tomorrow night
here at Rocking Mortgage Field Outs.
Speaker 3 (27:05):
Thank you, Tommy, my pleasure.
Speaker 8 (27:06):
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 4 (27:07):
Guysank talk with us.
Speaker 2 (27:08):
From the Associated Press, joining us here on CAVS HQ
presented by Betway Fun stuff with Tom. We'll get back
to the Cavs and the Magic with our next guest,
Jeff Turner, television analyst for Orlando, will join us. We'll
talk about Game five tomorrow night and what's happened in
the first four, So stay with us. Cavs HQ continues
after this on the Medical Mutual Cavalier's audiovers.
Speaker 10 (27:39):
Our guys made the right adjustments and realized it was
about the body and ball movement, sharing it, moving it,
trusting the pass, and then you know their defensive effort
was it was high level and special. To hold them
to ten points in that third quarter. We said we'll
hang our hats on the defensive end. Guys realize that
we got to sit down and guard in order to
get some easy baskets in transition.
Speaker 2 (27:59):
Well that's magic, at coach Jamal Mosley. Following their Game
four win on Saturday afternoon, Cavs and Magic now tied
to two games of peace. Game five Tomorrow night at
Rocket Mortgage Field House in downtown Cleveland. For our next guest,
Jeff Turner, the TV analyst for the Orlando Magic. I'm
gonna start by saying, Jeff, here in Cleveland, everybody's saying
(28:22):
what happened in Orlando, they're saying what happened? Just the
inflection can really change that question around. But from the
Magic perspective, what happened in Orlando?
Speaker 4 (28:34):
Well, it's funny. This young Magic team, I don't even
think they know what pressure or anything is. They just
don't know what they don't know. They don't believe that
they're not supposed to win, that they don't have experience.
And this team all year has been probably ten points
better at home as far as a differential, you know,
scoring and what they give up defensively, so we figured
(28:57):
it would be better. But we're really really surprised, and
you're right, everybody was like, what happened? Yeah, it's been
a struggle to score in this series, and the Magic
found ways to score off their defense. Primarily, I thought.
Speaker 3 (29:12):
Jeff, I still can remember your rainbow left hand jumper
from the short corner.
Speaker 4 (29:17):
Nobody shoots from the short corner anymore.
Speaker 3 (29:20):
Jim Tyler isn't that same. And then I know Mosley's father,
and you know he's from Milwaukee and he went to
a great basketball school called Mesmer. I've got a little
feeling for him, and I saw where he took second
in the Coach of the Year, well deserved. I thought
you guys had a fantastic year. But I think to
(29:41):
keep it all in proportion, people have to understand that
this is the fourth and the fifth best teams in
the East, and they're gonna be close games. Everybody's gonna
win on their home court. That's just the nature of it.
But I think we have a little advantage if we
can't exploit it, and that's two out of three at home.
But this is an exceptional Magic team, especially from the
(30:03):
defensive And the reason why I'm saying all this is
to set up the question I want to ask you.
Do you believe that they can win a seventh game?
Speaker 2 (30:12):
Boy?
Speaker 4 (30:12):
You know, I think anything can happen. I think that
one thing, Jim, that you pointed out that both of
these teams are terrific defensive teams, and I think they've
got two very good young coaches in our league who
are able to make adjustments and so as you well
know that, you know, the playoffs are all about figuring
(30:34):
out ways to make shots. The one thing that as
a Magic fan, that concerns me is I think in Donovan,
you have a guy, no matter what the defense is
doing is can create his own opportunities create for others,
and I think you know, that's what happens in the playoffs.
(30:55):
So I'm glad you said these are the fourth and
fifth best teams in the league because I think Ashley
the theory is not getting enough attention for how good
it really is. I mean, you know, the defensive play
has been outstanding at both ends. I think what you
know we saw was in Games three and four, the magic.
(31:16):
We're able to find ways to score in transition off
their defense, you know, forcing turnovers, and I think that
was a big thing. But our two stars are very
young and don't have a lot of experience. You know, again,
maybe they don't know what they don't know, but I think,
you know, as you point out the edge, you know,
(31:38):
obviously with the Cavs with two of the remaining three
games at home, plus I think, you know, having Donovan
as that guy who's had playoff experience, been in big
situation gives them that. Now, can we win in Cleveland?
I think it really depends on how we do against
your backcourt, because I think that's, you know, that's been
(31:58):
the key the whole series.
Speaker 2 (32:00):
You know, we're talking with Jeff Turner. He's the television
analyst for the Orlando Magic. Former Magic player played with
Orlando back in the nineties for seven years, and Jeff,
I want to ask you about the Magic's Big three
per se these young draft picks. Of course, Polo Band
Carol number one pick in the draft last year, Franz Wagner,
(32:20):
Jalen Suggs. Just talk about the maturity that you've seen
from these guys, not only in the four games in
this series, where I think they've performed beyond their young status,
but really in just getting used to the league and
growing comfortable at the level of NBA play.
Speaker 4 (32:36):
Yeah, it is really something. I mean, when you consider
their ages, you know, they're all under twenty two or
twenty two and under. Franz and Jalen are twenty two,
and you know, Palo's just twenty one years old. Just
their demeanor, I guess it's not surprising from Franz, who's
you know, played a lot of high level European basketball
(32:56):
growing up. But you know, and Jalen has he's a
two sport guy. He's played in big games. The one
that's incredible to me is Polo Bank Carroll because there's
so much you know, you guys know is the number
one pick. The expectations are high. How you manage that?
You know, he's clearly the best player on our team.
(33:17):
You know, we run a lot through him. He's a
high usage player. For the most part. He keeps a
pretty calm demeanor. He doesn't get too high or too
low and just goes about his business. And I think
for a guy so young, it does speak to his maturity.
You know. I think a lot of people maybe discount
that from those three guys. You know, when you look
(33:39):
at lack of player experience and how young they are,
that maturity is there. But listen, Jimmy started off talking
about Jamal Moseley, the way he handles this young team
and has them playing so hard. His maturity as a coach,
you know, the first time through is just you know,
(34:00):
you can watch him from afar and you know, be
around him. He is all class is you know, just
a terrific human being and he is a great model
of what a professional should be for these young players.
And I think that plays a big part in the
(34:20):
growth and maturity of our young team.
Speaker 3 (34:22):
Yeah, I have to agree with you. Let's look at
both of these teams, you know, how are they winning.
You made mentioned to our backcourt and our starters basically,
and that's the secret to us. Our starters have to
set the table better because we're not getting the production
off our bench. But when I look at the magic,
the secret to your success is your bench. Talk a
(34:44):
little bit about that bench play.
Speaker 4 (34:46):
Really, It's been that way pretty much most of the year.
And I think, you know, going into the the playoffs,
you know, we all wondered would Jamal shortened his rotations
a little bit with minutes change, And it did a
little bit, I think in those first two games. But
what had happened, you know, all season long, is if
the starters kind of get off to a bad start.
(35:08):
I think we've got guys on our bench that have
really accepted those roles. The two primary guys I think, well,
actually three if you look at it, Markel Folks, who's
been a starter. Cole Anthony. He could be a starter,
I think for a lot of teams, but you know
he is. You know, he doesn't like it, which is good.
(35:29):
He's very competitive, but he kind of he's kind of
accepted that, you know, there's a spot for him coming
off the bench and bringing that energy and then you know,
Moe Wagner is I know people in Cleveland are not moner,
but you know the one thing, Timmy, and you know
this as being a player, like to me, I think
(35:52):
the easiest thing to do really from a standpoints of
the player is to be a starter, right, because you
warm up right and then your boom, you're right into
the game, your rhythm and everything. The hard thing to
do as is come off the bench not knowing when
usually and immediately provide energy and production. And you know,
(36:14):
you look at Mo Wagner and it's not you know,
flashing the panty. I'm all season long, he's playing about
seventeen eighteen minutes a game. He's given you you know,
he's averaging almost eleven points a game. He comes in,
but immediately he's productive and he just gives this young
team a boost. He doesn't really care about what's happening
(36:36):
in the stands. You know, he loves to motivate the
home crowd and everything. You know, he's you know what
every team needs a little bit of a guy that's
an instigator kind of You're right, you get under people,
get under people. Again, we've actually got to Joe Ingles
is one of those as well. But you know, Joe's
minutes have been down a little bit, but they have
(36:58):
been a spark. That bench has been a part for
us all season long, and I think in the you
know the tune. It'll be interesting now going back on
the road because it didn't play particularly well. I didn't
think on the road, So we'll just seem to see
if they can come up with that same level of
production we saw.
Speaker 2 (37:16):
It homely, no doubt, Jeff. This has been a lot
of fun and great insights. So we appreciate your time, Jeff.
We'll look forward to seeing you tomorrow night at Rocket
Mortgage Field House. Boy, this place should be rocking and
obviously expect a great game five, but we appreciate you
stopping by and joining us.
Speaker 4 (37:32):
Thank you. Jim. All right, guys, so playoffs are great.
I love the enthusiasm of all of the crowds. It's
the best.
Speaker 2 (37:38):
Yeah, absolutely, Jeff Turner, Orlando's television analysts joining us here
on Caves HQ presented by Betway. We'll take a quick
time out and Jim and I will wrap it all
up after this on the Medical Mutual Cavaliers audio Verse.
That's gonna do it for this week's edition of caves HQ.
Great stuff from Jeff Turner, of course. Earlier Tom Withers
(38:00):
from the Associated Press, We've set the table for you.
Game five tomorrow night. Calves and Magic, eight o'clock Tip
and Rock and Mortgage Field House Huntington Tip Off Show
comes your way at seven point thirty on the Medical
Mutual Cavaliers audio Verse. So until then, jim Elcorn saying
thank you very much for listening, and so long everybody,
Hosts And Creators
Tim Alcorn
Jim Chones
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Therapy Gecko
An unlicensed lizard psychologist travels the universe talking to strangers about absolutely nothing. TO CALL THE GECKO: follow me on https://www.twitch.tv/lyleforever to get a notification for when I am taking calls. I am usually live Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays but lately a lot of other times too. I am a gecko.