Cavaliers (1-3) at Celtics (3-1) Eastern Conference Semifinals Game #5 5/15/24

[mobilija]

The fact that they announced it early tells me it's somewhat serious for Mitchell. Meaning he's probably done for this series regardless, though it may not matter anyways since they are down 3-1. It's felt the same way with Jarrett Allen, no concrete updates and always "questionable".

Agree. I do not think we see Mitchell nor Allen in this series. Might be the last time we see Mitchell as a cav.

Might've also been the reason why LeBron was at the game the other night. Privately recruiting him to Lakers lol.

Or vice versa, maybe Lebron returns to Cleveland.

Which team is better? Add Lebron to Cavs or add Mitchel to Lakers?

[celticinorlando]

Athletic wing Caris LeVert is questionable with a left bone bruise for the matchup at TD Garden on Wednesday night.

Tim Bontemps
@TimBontemps
None of the questionable players — Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert — are on the court as the media is let into Cavs shootaround this morning.


Dean Wade is also not right playing thru a bad knee. Wade is on a minutes restriction and is dealing with “a couple tears here and there” in his knee.

As for Mitchell, we know he is out tonight but this quote from him sounds like he is done for the series:

There’s also not much optimism out of Cleveland that Mitchell will be available to play in Game 5 according to the star who told Fedor, “It’s not just the calf strain. The calf can lead to an Achilles and then things get much worse.”

[Vermont Green]

Which team is better? Add Lebron to Cavs or add Mitchel to Lakers?

Not really a debate for a game thread, but I would say Mitchell to the Lakers results in a better team than LeBron to CLE (assuming no other pieces move, which probably can't happen).  Anthony Davis is much better than anyone on CLE so that big three would be the biggest.

[theswitch]

Stay focused, play to your potential, and try to wrap this up in three quarters. Ideally Al Horford is only required for 20-25 minutes and you can give Luke and Xavier some more run to rest Al's old legs.

[GreenEnvy]

If Mitchell, Allen, AND Lavert are all out, the C’s really need to wrap this up by halftime or halfway through the 3rd.

No playing around. Rest is the goal now. Lock in for 24 minutes, and coast the second half.

[celticinorlando]

Cavs starting 5 looking like

Garland
Strus
Okoro
Wade
Mobley

Thompson, Morris and Merrill would be all that is on their bench.

Wear them out.

[Surferdad]

Cavs starting 5 looking like

Garland
Strus
Okoro
Wade
Mobley

Thompson, Morris and Merrill would be all that is on their bench.

Wear them out.

I know LeVert is banged up but Niang too?

[celticinorlando]

Cavs starting 5 looking like

Garland
Strus
Okoro
Wade
Mobley

Thompson, Morris and Merrill would be all that is on their bench.

Wear them out.

I know LeVert is banged up but Niang too?

He’s available but hasn’t been getting a lot of run. Maybe he will tonight but he can’t guard anyone

[Who]

The fact that they announced it early tells me it's somewhat serious for Mitchell. Meaning he's probably done for this series regardless, though it may not matter anyways since they are down 3-1. It's felt the same way with Jarrett Allen, no concrete updates and always "questionable".

Agree. I do not think we see Mitchell nor Allen in this series. Might be the last time we see Mitchell as a cav.

Might've also been the reason why LeBron was at the game the other night. Privately recruiting him to Lakers lol.

Or vice versa, maybe Lebron returns to Cleveland.

Which team is better? Add Lebron to Cavs or add Mitchel to Lakers?

LeBron for Garland in a sign and trade

G: D Mitchell
G: Strus
F: LeBron
F: Mobley
C: J Allen

That would be an awesome team.

LeBron might struggle with two non-shooting bigs though. He has historically.

I don't see how LAL could get D Mitchell without giving up AD. They do not have anything else valuable enough to make it to the table for D Mitchell.

[FLCeltsFan]

Official Report
Crew Chief - Tony Brothers - If there is one referee that strikes fear into every fan base when they see his name, it is Tony Brothers. He was recently voted the 2nd worst referee in the league by a poll of NBA players. Only Scott Foster was voted worse. Brothers has a home win/loss record of 39-31. The Celtics are 6-4 in their last 10 games with Brothers. This is his first game with the Celtics in the playoffs. The Cavs are 7-3 in their last 10 with Brothers, including the 104-103 Cavs win over the Magic in Game 5. He calls 49% of fouls against the road team and 51% against the home team. He can be good and he can be very bad.

Referee - David Guthrie - Guthrie has a home win/loss record of 23-36. The Celtics are 7-3 in their last 10 games with Guthrie as a ref, including the Game 2 loss to Miami in the first round. The Cavs are 7-3 in their last 10 games with Guthrie. This is Cleveland’s first game with Guthrie in the playoffs. He calls 53% of fouls against the road team and 47% against the home team. In last year’s Finals, Guthrie was seen encouraging Michael Malone to challenge a call against the Nuggets which has caused some controversy.

Umpire - Ben Taylor - Taylor has a home win/loss record of 30-20. The Celtics are 7-3 in their last 10 games with Taylor, including their Game 5 win over the Heat. The Cavs are 8-2 in their last 10 games with Taylor, including their Game 2 win over the Magic. He calls 47% of fouls against the road team and 53% against the home team. Last season, after several complaints from players about Taylor’s officiating, he was removed from crew chief position and was used only as crew for the rest of the season.

[celticinorlando]

Ugh. Tony Brothers

[mef730]

Official Report
Crew Chief - Tony Brothers - If there is one referee that strikes fear into every fan base when they see his name, it is Tony Brothers. He was recently voted the 2nd worst referee in the league by a poll of NBA players. Only Scott Foster was voted worse. Brothers has a home win/loss record of 39-31. The Celtics are 6-4 in their last 10 games with Brothers. This is his first game with the Celtics in the playoffs. The Cavs are 7-3 in their last 10 with Brothers, including the 104-103 Cavs win over the Magic in Game 5. He calls 49% of fouls against the road team and 51% against the home team. He can be good and he can be very bad.

Referee - David Guthrie - Guthrie has a home win/loss record of 23-36. The Celtics are 7-3 in their last 10 games with Guthrie as a ref, including the Game 2 loss to Miami in the first round. The Cavs are 7-3 in their last 10 games with Guthrie. This is Cleveland’s first game with Guthrie in the playoffs. He calls 53% of fouls against the road team and 47% against the home team. In last year’s Finals, Guthrie was seen encouraging Michael Malone to challenge a call against the Nuggets which has caused some controversy.

Umpire - Ben Taylor - Taylor has a home win/loss record of 30-20. The Celtics are 7-3 in their last 10 games with Taylor, including their Game 5 win over the Heat. The Cavs are 8-2 in their last 10 games with Taylor, including their Game 2 win over the Magic. He calls 47% of fouls against the road team and 53% against the home team. Last season, after several complaints from players about Taylor’s officiating, he was removed from crew chief position and was used only as crew for the rest of the season.

It's really sad that we have to worry about who the officials are.

Mike

[SHAQATTACK]

Official Report
Crew Chief - Tony Brothers - If there is one referee that strikes fear into every fan base when they see his name, it is Tony Brothers. He was recently voted the 2nd worst referee in the league by a poll of NBA players. Only Scott Foster was voted worse. Brothers has a home win/loss record of 39-31. The Celtics are 6-4 in their last 10 games with Brothers. This is his first game with the Celtics in the playoffs. The Cavs are 7-3 in their last 10 with Brothers, including the 104-103 Cavs win over the Magic in Game 5. He calls 49% of fouls against the road team and 51% against the home team. He can be good and he can be very bad.

Referee - David Guthrie - Guthrie has a home win/loss record of 23-36. The Celtics are 7-3 in their last 10 games with Guthrie as a ref, including the Game 2 loss to Miami in the first round. The Cavs are 7-3 in their last 10 games with Guthrie. This is Cleveland’s first game with Guthrie in the playoffs. He calls 53% of fouls against the road team and 47% against the home team. In last year’s Finals, Guthrie was seen encouraging Michael Malone to challenge a call against the Nuggets which has caused some controversy.

Umpire - Ben Taylor - Taylor has a home win/loss record of 30-20. The Celtics are 7-3 in their last 10 games with Taylor, including their Game 5 win over the Heat. The Cavs are 8-2 in their last 10 games with Taylor, including their Game 2 win over the Magic. He calls 47% of fouls against the road team and 53% against the home team. Last season, after several complaints from players about Taylor’s officiating, he was removed from crew chief position and was used only as crew for the rest of the season.

It's really sad that we have to worry about who the officials are.

Mike

TP

[SparzWizard]

Expect rigged game tonight from Tony Brothers, favoring the Cavs.

[Redz]

Celtics are 15.5 point favorites in a second round playoff game.  That’s pretty nuts. 

Take care of business.  Cleveland is waving the white flag.  Don’t accept it.