Live Thread: Cavs Vs Jazz
2015-01-21https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7skO-5VDNVU
Remember that shot? Remember the night Gordan Hayward looked better than LeBron James did? Let’s hope the Cavs do. This game is a great chance for the Wine & Gold to avenge an early season loss where they played so badly that they made 32 free throws and still never had a sizable lead.
During their last meeting, I raged about David Blatt’s trapping defense, which allowed the Jazz to shoot 50.6% from the field. I also ranted about the isolation play by Kyrie Irving and James that resulted in six assists….for the whole game….zero for Irving. And, oh yea, Kevin Love let Derrick Favors absolutely destroy him. Kevin looked like Favors shot him with a beam that actually transported his physical body into another dimension.
Tonight, I know two of those three things will be changed. Blatt has finally reworked the defense into something more conservative that favors the athletically challenged, and the iso play isn’t exactly as prevalent. Kyrie is even playing some defense now, which just didn’t happen early on in the season. LeBron is caring too and not just stopping on court to observe and make coaching notes. Kevin, prove me wrong about your defense, so all three of my gripes can be addressed.
Progress has been made, Cavs fans. This game should be a show of it.
I’m picking the Cavs to win, 123-98.
LeBron James is going to play after fighting the flu on Tuesday, and Kyrie is probably playing even though he missed shootaround today because of feeling sick. Iman Shumpert may return today or Friday.
Quinn Snyder will be played by Matthew McConaughey in the movie.
For sure. He’s definitely got the hair for it
Watched McConaughey in Contact last night. It’s the exact same coif. And Quinn looks as burnt out as Matthew in Mud tonight.
But I will take holding the opposition to 20 points a quarter and 31% shooting any day of the week…
More of that Cavs lack of clock awareness. After getting the O-rebound, Tristan watches as Kyrie passes up an open shot to wind the clock down. ShotClock/GameClock differential is less than 3. Everyone on the Cavs clears out anticipating Kyrie to dribble the clock down. Except Tristan, who sprints up to set a pick with 14 seconds left on the SC. Kyrie decides, OK, I guess buddy ball dictates I go to work – tosses up an almost airball and Utah gets the ball back with 12 seconds left on the game clock.
SHAKING MY HEAD
Yeah there was some serious hero ball going on in that final 30 seconds. Starting with LeBron then to Irving.
If not for FT woes, Cavs would be up 20
Nice play at the buzzer, even though JR missed.
Agreed. Let’s put this game away in the third and hopefully the starters can sit the fourth quarter.
LBJ with a nice referee job on that charge
Good to hear LeBron tell the refs the correct call.
Bron now shooting 60% from the line…
Every other team in the league has to be pissed at the Nuggets for giving the Cavs a center.
Two first round picks is not exactly giving the Cavs a center… but I get your meaning…
Gobert just saved himself from getting posterized by the King…
I love that Mozgov challenges every shot. I just hope he doesn’t end up in foul trouble every night. We need him.
No reason for that LeISO that time. Nice defense by TT though
Okay, I love Andy V as much as the next Cavs fan, but I gotta say that I’ve never seen him change the game the way Mozgov can. I can’t wait to see them play together next year, but it’s no longer hyperbole to say that MozGod is the best center Cavs have had since Z. And he’s also the most imposing one they’ve had since Daugherty. IMHO
Young z at least.
But even Z didn’t have the girth that Moz does. Big Brad is the only one I can remember that took up the same amount of space. He wasn’t always the toughest guy, but he could change shots just by his position in the lane. Z had really long arms, but he couldn’t push guys around as much…
Daugherty was bigger than Andy but played a lot like him, as a positional defender more than a shot blocker. Moz may be unlike anyone the Cavs have ever had as a defensive center.
Have they ever had a defensive center like Moz?
After a little bit of a lull, they’re bringing the good defensive energy again as the half draws to a close.
Moz went straight up on that awful call
This Cavs team looks a lot better.
YES YES YES YES!!!!!
TouchDown with the reverse hammer!
Kyrie with the good D
LeBron looked pretty healthy there.
Nice D by KLove on Favors there
Dante Exum must be embarrassed by the dialogue he had to say in the NBA 2K15 game…
Who the heck is Joe Ingals? I thought that was the dad on Little House on the Prairie…
Man, the only thing this team needs to practice now is free throw shooting.
LeBron with the air mail freebie.. Gotta work on those free throws!
Love to see KLove and Moz fighting for rebounds
Gobert’s arms are like 10 feet long…
I REALLY like Mozgov’s ability to move laterally so quickly. Makes a real difference
Oh Delly… you gotta shoot that ball
Just AWESOME defense being played by this unit on the floor right now! 24 second violation after a desperation airball! I LOVE it!
Why are they playing so much defense? It’s like they’re playing with million dollar effort.
MOZGOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Really limits what teams can do when they see Moz clogging the lane… Lots of outside shots and contested ones
How does Marion do that? A hard sling with backspin to deaden it off the glass.
No one can be told what the Matrix is… you have to experience it for yourself….
Only part of LBJ’s game that hasn’t come back yet is FTs
Did JR untie LBJ’s shoes during the quarter change?
WOW! WOW! WOW! MOZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!
Good first quarter. I know it’s already been stated but this team looks much better with a center.
There’s no denying that he just changes shots and shot selection for the opposition. I don’t think I’ve seen many uncontested layups when he’s been on the floor.
Cavs with some SOLID defense in the first quarter. Nice to score 30+ and hold the opposition to just 20…
JR Smith ladies and gentlemen.
EARL THE PEARL! Man he doesn’t seem to miss in rythym jumpers
“Shot clock becoming a concern”: Those are words Fred should never say when JR has the ball.
Wow, that was a total bailout. Thanks Utah!
Remember how the Cavs PA announcer would actually say “THREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeee. BOOBIE!” Does he use nicknames for any other Cav since Gibson?
Only for Andy. I’ve heard the occasional “Wild Thing”
Irving with ridiculous defensive energy. Must have had a B-12 injection.
Sudafed muscles maybe??
Wow, so this might be Matrix’s final season. Be nice for him to finish out with a ring…
If it was two years ago, that give and go to Matrix would have been a dunk. That was a pretty play. At least KLove finished it with another nice pump fakery
Looked like he took three steps and was still only halfway down the lane.
That FT from JR looked like a fadeaway…
Those were some ridiculous numbers Fred mentioned earlier about Mozgov from the Bulls game–the Bulls were something like 6 for 20 in the paint and 1 for 9 at the rim against Mozgov.
Love’s shot still off…
I read an interview with Mozgov (I think Sam Amick, USAToday) where he seemed ambivalent about the move to Cleveland, mentioning that he was happy in Denver, even if he looked forward to the opportunity in Cle. The article went on to mention how Gallinari, Mozgov’s best friend on the team, mentioned that Mozgov might be the only foreign player to come to the NBA and have his English get worse. While I’m sure thats playful ribbing more than anything, it made me wonder, is Vitaly Potapenko still with the team? Having a Russian speaker around (Z probably speaks Russian… Read more »
Nice steal by JR! Gobert won’t be a factor if Bron keeps driving at him like that
Good mismatch for LeBron.
Kyrie didn’t look sick on that long bomb. Also looks like LBJ can go to the basket at will against this team…
Does LeBron even know the play calls?
Good iso from LeBron in the low post, finding Love cutting.
Good ball movement early… 4 assists on 5 baskets
I’m no fashion junkie, but I’m not feelin these green Jazz jerseys…
NICE transition D! MOZGOV!!
LOVE that they are pushing the ball so hard!
Lebron seems to rearrange his under armor a lot. That S on his chest must be getting heavy
He DOES do that a lot I’ve noticed…
Thought maybe he just shaved his chest hair or something…
MOUNT MOZGOV making a difference!
WOW! Kyrie with some superior hustle on D!
Nice hustle KING! And KLove for THREEEE!!
I like the Kyrie off the glass shot!
JR without hesitation
I think Burkes is done for the year so we won’t have to worry about him.
Not gonna lie. Excited about Gobert Vs. Mozgov. Should be a fun battle of enormous humans.
I want to see LeBron posterize Hayward.
I want to see Mozgov decapitate Hayward…
Go Cavs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!