Cleveland Cavaliers’ Toughness QUESTIONED After Pacers Debacle | Can It Be FIXED?!
On this episode of Locked On Cavs, Danny Cunningham (The Inside Shot, Cleveland Magazine, 92.3 The Fan) critically examines the Cleveland Cavaliers’ recent playoff shortcomings and the potential off-season changes needed to enhance their performance. The discussion begins with an analysis of the team’s disappointing playoff run, questioning the current roster’s composition and the future of the “Core 4” players, including Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Darius Garland, and Jarrett Allen. Cunningham highlights the necessity for increased toughness and mental resilience, comparing the Cavs’ attributes to those of the Indiana Pacers. The episode concludes with a focus on off-season priorities, emphasizing the importance of adding veteran presence and players who can contribute both toughness and shooting ability, all while navigating financial constraints.
Check out Danny’s Substack, The Inside Shot: https://theinsideshot.substack.com/
Email the show: LOCavsmailbag@gmail.com
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!
Prizepicks
Now’s the perfect time to join. Download the app today and use code LOCKEDONNBA to get $50 instantly when you play your first $5 lineup! That’s right—no need to win to get the bonus, it’s guaranteed. PrizePicks—Run Your Game!
Click Here: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNBA
Hungryroot
With Hungryroot, it’s like having a personal shopper and a nutritionist all in one. For a limited time, get 40% off your first box and a free item in every box for life! Just go to Hungryroot.com/lockedonnba and use code LOCKEDONNBA.
CarGurus
Buy or sell your next car today with CarGurus at CarGurus.com to make sure your big deal is the best deal.
WayFair
After the holiday hustle, there’s nothing like giving your home a little TLC. Give your home the refresh it needs with Wayfair. Head to Wayfair.com right now. Wayfair. Every style. Every home.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4k
Did you know your Fire TV is also an Xbox? Turn any TV into your gaming and entertainment hub with Fire TV Stick 4K devices — no console required. Head to Amazon.com/firetvlockedon to get started. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription and compatible controller required.
Door Dash
Sign up for DashPass and when any player scores 50+ in a playoff game, DashPass members can grab a free 3PC Crispy Tenders Combo from Wingstop the next day, with a $20+ order and code WINGSTOP50. That’s DashPass: your door to more savings, more flavor, and more ways to win. Terms apply.
Valid only at participating Wingstop locations. Fees (including service fee), taxes, and gratuity still apply. Orders must have a minimum subtotal of $20, excluding taxes and fees. Offer valid on 4/15/25-6/22 /25 or while supplies last. Valid for one (1) promotional redemption per customer. DoubleDash promotions apply only to your DoubleDash add-on order, not your primary order. DoubleDash orders are not valid for the purchase of alcohol. No cash value. Non-transferable. Discount applies to subtotal only; does not apply to fees, taxes, and gratuity. Not valid for pickup. Limit one per person. Not valid for the purchase of alcohol. Fees, taxes, and gratuity still apply. Must have an active DashPass account. Use promo code WINGSTOP50 to redeem. See full terms and conditions at drd.sh/qnAXuU
Monarch Money
Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at monarchmoney.com for 50% off your first year.
Gametime
Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.
FanDuel
Right now, new customers can get TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in BONUS BETS when your first FIVE DOLLAR BET WINS! Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started. Bet with FanDuel—Official Partner of the NBA.
FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)
Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…
🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOCavs?sid=YouTube
Locked On NBA League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft, WNBA & More
🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNBA
#Cavs #ClevelandCavaliers #NBA
10 Comments
You can't teach toughness.
JB was fired for playing injured Donovan too much. Donovan had no business playing that many minutes. The coach is the leader of the team. If they're soft, have no momentum and are too injured to play You have to do something not just stand there with your arms crossed. Donovan should have subbed himself out. I blame both of them.
Toughness is an intangible. Either you have it, or you dont. Cant be taught
Guy doesn't understand what a playoff riser is or what toughness is…lmao
Donovan needs to start up a Fight Club. There you go, toughness resolved. 🧐
Teaching toughness either you have it or you don’t the team is small there nothing in the front court Allen is backup Mobley learning how be offensive player he needs to go to the dreams camp in Houston if Cavs had a halfway decent backup center wade might be a little better the photo you show of the 4 duplication 2 small guards 2 skinny powered and center no offense
My instinct says you can't teach toughness, players either have it or don't. But Carlisle has instilled a toughness in the Pacers. He demands it from his team and part of their identity. 😊Atkinson is a great mind and a likeable guy. But the Cavs are soft.
“Unfair to question Evan Mobley” is where the problems begin
I agree with Danny here. Someone like DFS is exactly what we need. JA is the better player in a vacuum but I think we would be a much better post season team with a guy like DFS instead of JA
The Cavs don't need to break up the team Kenny Atkinson needs to break up the starting lineup that's it that's all and of course guys need to stay Healthy and hopefully avoid injuries at the worse time of the year which is playoff time. Donovan and Darius games don't compliment each other's game they both are more impactful when it's just one of them on the floor and Kenny Atkinson never gave a large sample size of how the core 4 and Hunter starting would look or allowed them to build chemistry defensively and offensively together to start off games so now we don't know how that looks. Analytics might have said Max starting at the 3 was good but to me all I thought was the Cavs are undersized at 4 positions to start games so if they're not going to start fast offensively they are going to struggle against certain teams defensively and offensively to start games! The Cavs have the players on the team it's on Kenny Atkinson to figure out the best lineups going forward and that should never include a world where Max Strus or Sam Merrill never starts any game at the 3. I don't believe 29 other NBA teams or coaches would ever start Sam or Max at the 3 to go along with an already undersized backcourt and undersized center because it would lead to an early exit in the Playoffs!