Live Thread: Cavs at Bulls
2015-02-12
The Cavs and Bulls were coronated early, and have spent the season looking up at Toronto and Atlanta.  In spite of injuries, chemistry issues, and uneven play, both teams are in a position to compete for the Eastern Conference Crown.  Tonight, the Cavs try to continue their march into the All-Star Break on a scintillating stretch of offensive dominance.  The Bulls will play without Most-Improved Player Candidate Jimmy Butler, and the Cavs will not have Kevin Love at their disposal.  In a game featuring LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Derrick Rose, this contest may be decided in the trenches:  Pau Gasol has turned back the clock and Timofey Mozgov has sped it up to a place few thought possible.
I’ll post this later in the weekend, but since it’s already online, sink your teeth into my studio appearance on Dayton’s Sports Scene. Â We get into all sorts of cool topics and I even took some calls.
https://soundcloud.com/dayton-radio/tom-pestak-2-12-15
LeBron with 5 of the Cavs 8 TOs.
Way too much iso on this team man. Good run to get back in it at the end of the half though.
Great finish by the small ball line up… got this game to within striking distance. LBJ and Irving need to pick their game up in the 2nd half. Defense needs to pick up as well.
I guess it could be worse.
believe griffin / staff are going to use this game as a true evaluation game on what needs they have to go aquire —a back up big and back up pt gd—it is obvious we are very thin on our depth chart ( with love out ) on reserve bigs that can give us quality minutes
Maybe LeBron should stop turning the ball over. It’s absurd!
5 TO, -19 maybe he’s having a bad day.
At the other hand this game is exposing the Cavs need for another big. Maybe sign an old vet. Since it seems Blatt has given up on Haywood.
Haywood no longer has any business in this league
A new Kyrie Irving commercial.
They are clearly resting guys and not even going to try to compete this game. Going through the motions.
Cols, I don’t think you understand basketball. Stop being a blind fan and learn how to critically think and observe. Simply saying the same thing over and over regardless of the situation adds nothing to the conversation.
if we keep it under by half then i call that a win….the TOs killing us this half and kyrie has done little to nothing
Chicago should be up more considering how the half has gone so far.
Alright maybe we can cut this to under 10 by the half.
We really need to improve the depth on this team. Especially down low.
Nope. There is only
Like 5 minutes available to a big man. Haywood can do that fine.
????? I’m sorry Cols but I think you are delusional
I like the fact that Blatt’s playing Jones… made a three, dished to Shumpert for a three.
The energy level they bring playing at home versus on the road is quite a difference
if you’re gonna go small need to run offense and get points cuz they can’t do much on def side of ball with bulls height and length
I like this small ball liine up… taking advantage of the mismatch on JR, have some three pt shooting in Shump/Jones/JR/Irving.
This is the bad side of running ISO all night with your 2 best players. When they are not hitting their shots you’re doomed.
That happens once every 8 games or so? I think that’s pretty great.
It seems that way but that is the same reason why the thunder look great during the reg season and then suck come playoff time.
Cavs are, to a man, getting dominated physically. This could become a blowout quickly.
If Kyrie not LeBron can’t get going this is gonna be a long game.
If Kyrie and LeBron…
James Jones back from the dead.
It’s all about the defense… can’t guard anyone so far, just no energy. Sucks when they’ve had a day off, and we’re down a man playing a back to back.
team looks tired and not focused at all…lebron shooting way too much as well…this could get ugly quickly…cavs need nice run here to end half
We’ve gone cold. Sucks.
21 foot iso jumpers will do that #LebronIsoIsMostEfficientBasketballPLay
Those aren’t ISO plays. FYI.
They’re stupid plays! It would be one thing if he was hot.
They aren’t ISO though.
I think Cols is the only person on this planet that thinks LeBron is playing good right now.
What is up with Lebron? Seriously? Anyone have thoughts?
They’ve won 14 out of 15. I’m going with nothing is wrong. If they win 7 out of every 8 games they will win it all
Nothing wrong. We have been playing like this, just haven’t been going against a good team like the Bulls.
We’ve beat the clippers. The thunder during this streak. Nothing is wrong when you win that many games in a row. Panic!!!
Noah could leave a slap mark on somebody and insist he didn’t foul.
JR is playing smart and all, but he is passing too many open looks.
Ugh. Delly is terrible in this game.
Tony Snell…geez. Dude playing like Russell Westbrook
It’s easy when you are guarded by delly. He cannot stay in front of anyone. Great help defender terrible man on man.
well his defense on LeBron has been smothering.
Haven’t seen Delly burned – saw Aaron Brooks make a ridiculous shot over him.
I suppose that turnover was Delly’s fault too, huh, Cols?
Yes agree Reggie LeBron is really lazy with his passes.
This is why Marion hasn’t been getting minutes lately.
Geez another bucket on delly
Geez, another LBJ miss.
That jump ball crap pisses me off.
God. Delly cannot stay in front of anyone.
Stop Trolling the MVP.
This Bulls team is really no Match for us. If we meet in the playoffs we may win in4 or 5.
I think you’re watching a re-run Cols. This game is on TNT.
Lebron 4 turnovers leading to 10! points. Has a plus/minus of -12 in 12 minutes. Please de-activate Chill Mode. Thanks.
Fun game so far. Too bad love is out.
latest Lebron turnovers are difference in this game right now…gotta play clean here
That’s not a jump ball!
LeBron and Gasol are killing us.
have feeling this game will run similar to 1st meeting between teams
I know he’s the best player on the planet and everything, but with Lebron out they go on 6-0 run and the ball is moving. Why bring him back in for last minute? He is a genius passer that should not be turning it over like that.
Mentioning LeBron’s career assist totals is analytics? Um, okay Reggie.
Can’t stand Reggie Miller as the color analyst… Wish Barkley was keeping him in check!
He also said that a wide open three from JR was a bad shot. JR takes bad shots sometimes, but that’s not one of them.
I love this team!!! Lebron 9 points and looking good. Thompson dominating. Kyrie hreat
Nine points and three turnovers all leading to points. Is there an icon for “rolling my eyes all the way back in my head at Cols ridiculous narrow-minded obsession with point totals?”
Offense is playing decently without Love, it’s the defense that’s struggled so far. Need to buckle down and put some pressure on them!
And the Bulls can thank Lebron for that 5 point swing
lebron must have water or slimy substance on his hands he loses the ball so much when driving past a pick into the paint
Typical Lebron, TO and doesn’t run back on defense!!
LeBrons handle hasn’t been so good.
Love TT’s dunk in Gasol’s face… Can’t stand Gasol, respect his game… but never liked him haha! I like his brother a lot better.
look at that!! make shots bulls missing and we are right back in it!
Hmmm, seems you may have stumbled onto an effective formula. Make shots while your opponent misses them. Thank you, John Madden.
reading that in john madden voice makes it even better post hahaha
Blatt with effective rage timeout
Great drive and pass by JR, Matrix with the easy look.
The usual concern in second night of home/away back to back: lack of Defensive intensity and settling for long jump shots. All a symptom of being tired and lacking focus.
Cavs need this one. Been playing too many soft teams
yeah between this game and the Pacers game – good for them to remember what a tough team looks like.
Gasol on fire and nothing happening on offense….kyrie with very slow start again…was same way last night
Going to go captain obvious here. Smith needs to drain lair of 3’s tonight.
I hope he stays aggressive tonight, need his scoring.
Gasol is killing us.
We’re getting killed in transition.
4 turnovers lead to 7 CHI points. CHI with zero turnovers. Exact opposite of recent Cavs winning formula.
The defensive intensity isn’t there… plus they aren’t recovering after doubling Rose on the pick and roll. Hopefully they’ll start buckling down.
TT is ok as starter but Love would’ve spread this offense out more…see how Blatt handles the rotations tonite
Total lack of help defense for the Cavs. LeBron kinda going through the motions. Tristan’s got a tough cover tonight with Gasol.
lebron in chill mode haha
Most definitely, hahahaha!
Agreed… they’re doubling Rose, and not rotating.
I think he is checking out because we already know exactly how he feels about all star weekend.
kyrie getting abused by rose right now…like the 1st meeting between the teams
Absolutely critical tonight TT and mosgov don’t get into could trouble tonight.
Mozgov with sick lefty dunk!
He has the range we used to see from Z too!!
Indeed he does! He’s got an all around game!
Mozgov stops the bleeding. Everyone who said the Cavs gave up too much for him — looking stupid now.
Media was critical. Especially since Daryl morey in Houston fleeced okc for harden. Lucky for us blatt had the inside dish on timofey
Some bad defense early on. And LBJ turning it over as usual.
Two minutes in, we’re on pace to win 192 – 72.
K Love out with corneal abrasion.
going to be a tough one…. wondering what the rotations will be as a result of Love’s absence.