Live Thread: Cavs @ Grizzlies
2015-03-25
The Cavs are facing a team going the opposite direction of most NBA teams. The Grizzlies play at a bottom five pace (92.1 possessions per 48 minutes). They run the ball through two true post behemoths, Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. And, defensively, they hold teams to 95.2 points per game, which is second in the league.
Memphis has won their last three games just like the Cavs. Tonight there are two groups of guys I’ll be watching:
1. Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol Vs. Kevin Love, Timofey Mozgov, and Tristan Thompson- Can the Cavs bigs stop the Memphis guys from scoring without getting into foul trouble. The one nice part about this matchup is that Love should be able to stay on Randolph if he plays his mid-range game. Gasol might be able to just outsmart Mozgov down low and confuse him when he starts passing out near the foul line.
2. Tony Allen and Mike Conley Vs. LeBron James and Kyrie Irving- Conley is able to appropriately funnel guys where they need to be for one of the Memphis bigs to shoot some shots down. Tony Allen can simply make Kyrie and LeBron miserable whenever they touch the ball. Who will Allen cover? Will Allen be moved onto Kyrie if Kyrie starts playing video game ball?
I think this game is going to be decided by how fast it’s played. If the Cavs push and play their pace, they will win. However, if Memphis gets the game slowed down, it will be a battle between Grizzlies post play and Cavs shooting. Memphis can get points in the paint (46.8, which is number one in the league) when the game is slowed down to half-court play. The Cavs can’t get paint points against a set Grizzlies defense, so they would have to rely on their 3-ball. Fortunately, they make that shot. The Wine & Gold are first in that area since January 15th. Memphis also gives up a middle of the pack 23 three point attempts a game and eight makes a game.
What are your thoughts?
How do they call that a jump ball when Gasol had as much of JR’s body as he did the ball? smh
And JR won it!
Cavs playing TOUGH inside so far…
It looks like we are actually running an offense!
I’m with you Tom…it is slower but not too slow and both teams are executing and not going one on one. I’d like to see even more offense run through klove. He’s a very good passer
that pass to Kyrie on the downscreen was nice
KY-RAINBOW THREE!
Ball don’t lie…
JR SWISH!
Man, that Gasol turnaround is tough to stop…
This is a fun game to watch. That Mozgov 1-handed dunk brought me out of my seat
I love the way that they are playing right now. Memphis has also missed some easy buckets around the rim tho.
Irving with the kiss off the glass. Cavs by 8.
Kyrie going all Hans Gruber and decides to “Shoot the glass!”
Lack of movement that time forced the low-percentage Shump outside shot…
MOZ! Back to back great inside plays!
Just an observation… but it seems like LBJ does more of the “stanky-leg” and pull up when TT is under the hoop to clean up the trash…
You might be right about that, at least two so far since tt has been in.
The Memphis color man, Sean Tuohy (of Michael Oher/”Blind Side” semi-fame), said Delly can play for anybody.
MOZ-BLOCK!
I love how Delly looks at his shoes before he takes his threes. Way longer line check than average.
Koufos has no shot against Moz… very glad we got the latter and not the former for two first rounders…
Delly with some confidence!
Fred: Delly Trey BBQ style!
DELLY TREY!
Man, LBJ’s shoes are fly tonight.
Don’t you have to hit a couple before you take the heat check?
LBJ feelin it from three!
LeBron is ballin’!!!!
this memphis crowd is annoying…boos on every whistle against grizzlies….hasnt been a horrific officiating game so far….surprsingly
Very interesting move by Blatt using Perkins
Two early fouls on LBJ…
Cavs doing a solid job on D, holding Griz to 40%… although, 16 of their 19 points have been in the paint…
decent first quarter but rather ugly for both teams see how this next one goes and if low scoring physicality continues
Kyrie taking a page out of LBJ’s book… dribbling out the clock and taking a contested drive… They’re just not going to call a foul on that play at the end of a quarter on the road…
That was a fun first quarter. I think Perkins will start to get additional PT, now that they can squeeze in practice. Interesting that TT didn’t play at all in the first Q.
Unbelievable move by Kyrie. Unfortunately, the refs refuse to call fouls for him. Imagine how good he’ll be when he starts getting “star” treatment?
Kyrie heating up. Love hot. Let’s go!
Lazy transition D
Kyrie finally gets by Conley
Love looks really spry. This extra rest is benefitting the team.
AWESOME move inside by KLove!
Good movement and nice feed by Shump.
solid physical game so far…cavs need to penetrate the paint and pass it out…that should get grizz off kilter
Kyrie having trouble getting inside tonight…
Yep… Jeff Green can still fill it up…
Shump has such long arms!
Perkins getting some early run.
AC and Fred just talking about it… but it does seem that switching up and putting Love on Gasol and Moz on Z-Bo has caught Memphis off-guard so far…
KLoves defense has been really good.
I LOVE that the Cavs are looking to run… good sign for the pace of the game…
GREAT pass by Moz to LBJ for the JAM!
Memphis arena playing the Pulp Fiction soundtrack.
Kevin Love enters the Brendan Haywood derby. Could be stiff competition tonight.
A TD pass… to nobody…
Nice play after the time out.
Both teams pretty sloppy right now. Love’s defense has been solid. Only that spin move by Gasol was a “dang” moment.
Tony Allen with the Brendan Haywood pass of the night so far.
Looks like he was hurt on that play.
Smart play by Kyrie… need to get a foul or two on Conley to get him out of his shirt…
Big-time adjustment by LeBron from dunk to bank shot on the bump by Gasol.
That was a pretty athletic move…
Both teams pretty sloppy with the ball… good defense too
A couple turnovers early on lazy passes by Love and Moz.
Mozilla is making some boneheaded plays.
Kyrie caught on Gasol: Now THAT’S a mismatch.
That was a weird turnover by Moz…
What the hell Moz?
KLove FEELIN IT!
KLove hitting early!
Blue unis in the house!
This is really their last big test. After this, there isn’t much to play for – the second seed is basically wrapped up, even if they go .500 the rest of the way against inferior competition. I hope they really bring it to test their playoff resolve. Memphis is a proud team that will be geared up to take down the favorite out of the East.
Fred and AC just strolling the streets of Memphis…
It’s go time! I’ve never been to Memphis, but would definitely like to visit.
Cavs won the first meeting, but Griz didn’t have Z-Bo or Tony Allen. Conversely, the Cavs still had Dion (who went off in the fourth and scored 21 overall), and Andy who also had a good night.
Think you’re absolutely right about pace, David… Cavs need to be able to push the ball and get the Griz out of their comfort zone. Should be one of the last real “all-out” games of the season (other than maybe the game against the Bulls on 4/5). Should be a close one, and another test for the Cavs against a top 10 defense. If the threes fall, Cavs win 102-97… if they don’t Griz win 92-88… or something like that…