Live Thread: Cavs vs. Heat (Now With Bonus Tom Talking Cavs with Mark Neal!)
2015-04-02With the last regular season matchup between the Cavs and the Heat ready to unfold on national television tonight… the key question for LeBron (based on how the last three meetings with Miami have gone) might be “Where is my mind?”
So… which LBJ will we get for this potential playoff preview? Bizarro Tyler Durden LeBron (who we saw in his two odd trips to Miami where the Cavs lost both by an average of 12 points), or the real Narrator LeBron (who showed up for the 20 point win in Cleveland) in full on “I Am Jack’s Smirking Revenge” mode that we just happen to meet a very strange time in his life? (Maybe the presence or absence of LBJ’s close pal DWade in these games determines how these mind games go). We’ll keep a close watch on the King’s actions and body language, (including whether or not he’s calling his own plays tonight).
There’s a very real chance we may not get a true measure of how these teams stack up for this round of Fight Club though, as Kyrie (illness) is a game time decision and KLove (back trouble) is officially out on the Cavs side, while Hassan Whiteside (hand), Luol Deng (left knee) and DWade (illness) will try and give it a go for a banged up Heat team.
Miami is still fighting for its playoff life in a scrum between themselves, a suddenly surging Brooklyn squad, the Celtics and the fading Hornets and Pacers. While the Cavs have a fairly comfortable three game cushion over the Raps and Bulls for the two seed. A Cavs win could help increase their chances of avoiding a first round match-up with the Heat.
As Narrator LeBron would likely say “I’m really okay. Trust me… everything’s going to be fine…” How do you think this latest round will play out?
Also… check out Tom’s latest installment of Talking Cavs with Mark Neal at halftime! Always an excellent podcast (that’s always fresh and never stale)! Enjoy!
https://soundcloud.com/dayton-radio/tom-pestak-4-2-15
A curious no-call as LeBron is mugged under the basket after a great find by Delly from half-court.
Bron following up his miss with a board and nice flip in…
I love no headband Lebron. Anyone with me? It’s stupid but it feels like it signifies something about him.
Yes. A new chapter — hopefully for him and Cleveland.
THAT OOP! (MY COMMENT WAS TOO SHORT SO KJSDKLFDS:FJFKL:SDJSLFJJE@IJR@IOERJWE)
That oop was VICIOUS!!
The slam with one hand!
Delly to TT for a highlight reel dunk!
Man, that Delly lob to TT … SLAM!
WOW! That was some DESTRUCTION right there to end the quarter!
Cavs letting this team hang around without Wade or Bosh…
Then LBJ with the old fashioned three point play…
And Delly lob to TT… And LeBron finds JR for a 3. 8-0 run to end the quarter.
I love Mozgov. He missed a dunk and got in Kyrie’s face about getting the ball again
Holy cow! JR with the flying block helping out on a cutting Chalmers in the paint.
MOZ nearly assassinated the rim that time!!
SHUMP FEELING IT!
THE ” HEAT DEMONS ” are attacking LeBron again—-thank god for kyrie ” THE EXORCIST “
Man he runs so fast down the middle… then Shump continues his strong shooting game!
KYRIE!!!
Webber gradually coming to the realization that Kyrie is awesome.
Lebron shot selection in these last 2 possessions has been awful.
Cavs have had good stretches, but have frequently looked lost on defense over the last two weeks.
They’ve been decent tonight with some good stretches… they’re having some trouble closing out on threes so far this half.
JFJ got to the hoop! (But missed.)
Kyrie shake and bake!
Miami still passing the ball well, but Cavs hitting shots
Kyrie being Kyrie.
Cavs letting Heat shoot 55%, but still lead by 11 at half…
Guys, if you get a chance at the half… check out Tom’s awesome podcast with Mark Neal. If you don’t then make sure you check it out after the game!
Tom, you’ll never get anywhere being calm and reasonable like that.
Weird, not watching but checking the score every so often, and each time the score is at a completely different place from the last time i checked.
Delly playing awful. Shouldn’t have been left in for the final minutes of the first half.
Rotations off with KLove out…
Cavs allowing Heat to claw back in it…
Heat are a very different team with no Wade or Bosh…
SHUMP WITH THE ” PUMP AND JUMP ” —LET’S GET HIM TWENTY TONIGHT—BUILD A GOOD LEAD AND REST THE STARTERS
Cols, that Delly air ball was for you.
No one misses a shot quite like Delly misses
Shump really feeling it tonight.
hey crew… cant really watch or comment now because i have to finish some research analysis. between mind numbing pharmaceutics that treat exotic diseases but furnish “complications” to clever applications of nanoparticle sensors for next generation smart gadgets i am missing my cavs community begin buried in science.
looks as if the cavs have a fire in their belly for this one. no injuries please.
i might post or comment throughout depending on my bandwidth compliments of AT&T
Hate to see that injury on Wade. If he has to miss some games they are def not making the playoffs.
Wade goes down… ouch!
Cavs take advantage and hit a three
That hurt watching it …
Aaaaand Wade’s done for the night…
His foot just slipped out from under him… Hope he didn’t tear anything.
Least he’s walking under his own power. Still, with how fragile Wade is, would not be surprised if it was prolonged absence.
“Best ball handler in the league”
KI
TT, Shumpert, and Delly are starting to look like a better version of Glen davis, tony allen, and nate robinson from the 09 celtics.
LBJ beating the shot clock. Yep… he seems locked in…
Defense has been great so far this quarter.
Steal by LeBron and GREAT pass to TT for the transition hoop.
WOW! LBJ with the interception and TT slams it home!
Delly with the great steal on the Heat break
TT in full-on Energizer Bunny mode right now.
TT is beasting out there!
Wade and Lebron can build a house with their FT’s bricks lol.
Wade with a rare double miss from the line…
“They didn’t even notice us out there… They could score 140” – Coach Spo after the first quarter
Shump with three and steal!
Now this is the right energy. Love this kind of basketball.
Shumpert with the buzzer beater after a great first quarter!
If Shumpert can play like this in the playoffs….
Was I in time for the dribble dribble dribble take a three at theend of the half?
Actually it wound up as dribble dribble kick to Delly for three which misses but Shump grabs rebound and beats the buzzer with a nice J!
Good on Chris Webber for taking a couple opportunities already to smack down the play-calling drama.
Thank you Leon Wood!
That was a crazy mis-communication on the oop try…
LeBron appears impervious to any psychodrama so far tonight.
High scoring game so far…
It seems both teams are feeling each other out.
Mozgov’s defense in pick n roll situations is really bad to be honest.
He is a little slow to recover sometimes…
Exactly, he needs to work on that.
JR SWISH!!
Nice lefty hook by LBJ!
Well Cavs just need to finish 4-3 to secure the 2nd seed so I guess it should be more about getting better as a team.
I’m pretty sure Bill Walker changed his name to run from this memory: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IqXARlHANs
Van Gundy: If you get blocked by Szczerbiak, that should be an ejection,
one of the high points of the Cavs from the first LeBron era. Look at that bench
Looks like we are keeping the thread warm for everyone else, EG …
I think people must be resting up for the playoffs ;)
And then JR SWISH!
KYRIE!!! FOR THREE!!!
LBJ passes Patrick!
Wade just traveled and draws a foul instead.
Did look like a travel there…
JFJ… “banana in the tailpipe move” for three free ones…
YESSS!YESSSSSS!
Whiteside is still a beast… even with the handwrap…
He keeps getting inside position. Gotta try to box him out (all 7-foot 265-lbs of him) …
MOZ JAM!
Beautiful oop feed from Kyrie
JFJ gets the start for KLove… and immediately hits a three!
JAMES FREAKING JONES!
James FREAKIN’ Jones! (had to beat everyone to it)
Well done John!