Live Thread: Cavs Vs Bulls, Game One
2015-05-04
What do you wear to watch Cavs games? Do you go shirtless? If so, do yourself, your family, and your friends a favor and buy an official Cavs:The Blog t-shirt. It comes in black and red. Are you wearing a button down shirt to watch the game? If so, you need to relax and get a t-shirt. Again, Cavs:The Blog has you covered, see above. And, finally, if you’re wearing a t-shirt right now, check and see if it has a word cloud on it. It probably doesn’t, so again, I refer you to above. Today is your last chance to get these shirts. Remember all proceeds go to the Lauren Hill, “The Cure Starts Now,” tribute fund. Also, check out the five on five, which was posted this morning.
The Cavs face the Bulls tonight. This marks the rare occasion that the Bulls are healthier than an opponent, as the Cavs are missing Kevin Love and Derrick Rose actually appears to be healthy. The Cavs are also missing JR Smith tonight because he decided to hit someone in the head with a closed fist. He’ll be back in time for game three.
Kevin Love provided 9.7 rebounds and 16.4 points per game this season playing 34 minutes an evening. JR Smith provided 12 points a night during the regular season and almost ten points a night during the postseason. These two guys’ scoring will be missed, but the Cavs should be able to overcome it with extra scoring from Kyrie Irving/ LeBron James and extra Tristan Thompson garbage production.
To date in the playoffs Tristan has scored 7.3 points a game to go with 6.8 rebounds (3.8 offensive boards) in 25 minutes a night. Extra playing time and time on the floor without Kevin Love will allow TT to grab some extra rebounds and score more second chance points. However, he will not stretch the floor like Love. The Cavs will have to figure that out without Big T (although, his offensive rebounding abilities may help drag opposing defenders to him because they’re afraid a free Thompson will grab too many rebounds). James Jones and Mike Miller may both see extra floor time as well as Shawn Marion in an attempt to stretch the floor.
LeBron may also see time at the power forward spot tonight to keep Timofey Mozgov and TT off the floor at the same time. This would ensure the lane stays free for Kyrie to drive and cause chaos.
I’m predicting the Cavs win this game, 112-90. The Bulls are going to let their guard down and try to rely on Derrick Rose for offense when they struggle to score. That’s a game plan David Blatt can combat. Let’s just hope the Bulls don’t realize Jimmy Butler should be their offensive go to.
And, for Cavs fans who are skeptical that the Cavs can win this series, I refer you to Tom Thibodeau.
“The way they’re built, they still can do the same things,” Thibodeau said from Bulls practice. “They have a very versatile roster. The thing that makes them so versatile is LeBron (James), and Kyrie (Irving) because Kyrie can play off the ball as well as on the ball. LeBron handles the ball so much and he can go to (power forward).”
The best part about having a big three is that when one of them gets injured you still have two superstars.
KYRIE!!!!
Why do these commentators think Noah is some stud on offense? Guy is bad.
Because Charles Barkley is his dude.
Noah already has two fouls… got to go right at Pebbles every time…
There you go…. Push the pace!!!!!!
Nice, Kyrie battling back.
HDTV is not kind to Tom Thibodeaux.
Neither has Mr Hero been to him.
Maybe that will get Ky going…
That was a good shot for Kyrie. Needs to see a shot go in the basket.
SHUMP!!
Shump is the only one who came out from the start.
Thumpert!
Cavs are ready feeling the Love’s absence. I know LeBron likes to get his teammates shots early but he and Kyrie need to get going.
This Bulls team passes so much better than I remember. They are making the Cavs rotate more than twice a possession. Also Cavs are miscommnicating on Switches. That Brooks basket was too easy.
Meh. Long series long game. Bulls are red hot. Starting Miller was a mistake.
You would have gone with Matrix?
Lol, refs going 180 the other way. Calling fouls when people graze one another. I suppose it beats not calling fouls as players get mauled instead.
Cavs have reputations as thugs now after the media reaction to Game 4 against the Celtics… ;)
I’ve been reading these Chicago shittalkers on different message boards all week. They predicted Kyrie would dump his pants. So far, they’re right!
wow really! I have to watch a little more game to say that already.
I said, “So far.” He’s not having much impact on both ends.
Meh. Chicago sucks.
1-7 right now. I don’t think he’s necessarily “dumping his pants” but he certainly isn’t shooting well.
This is where they miss JR and his instant offense from three…
most cavs aren’t getting wide open looks at all….credit bulls defense in collapsing…lebron getting easy looks to basket
Irving not really shooting well tonight. Hasn’t found his shot.
Bron needs to do this a lot more… Don’t know why he didn’t just come out in this mindset?
Back to back points in the lane with LBJ… thats what I like to see.
LeBron needs to go for 35 in this game. Kyrie needs 30. Let’s go.
Refs aren’t giving us any home cooking tonight. We need our big guns to go off.
Bron trying to force feed too much… needs to drive the ball and score some to calm guys down…
Delly comes in, bricks a wide open three, then gets burned leading to a wide open three for Chicago. Nice start!
Did you miss his layup in the lane?
We are back to the commentators supporting ref calls with reckless abandon.
Ugh. Wanted that Delly-tre bad.
Mike Miller sucks lots worse than Mozzy.
There world was rocked too by Love being out we need to be a little more positive here. Bulls are hitting everything and we will get into the swing soon.
Cavs defense is a step behind right now and when it isn’t the Bulls are sinking difficult shots. That last Dunleavy one was lucky drop.
As was the Rose three with the hand in his face.
once mozgov sits gotta start hitting some shots and rebounding much better….dont think dunleavy stays this hot and no one else on bulls really doing much….w/o dunleavy its a 2pt game and cavs are playing horrific
Here’s some more adversity for them to deal with. It will ultimately make them stronger. It can’t all be easy.
Deep breaths guys… Cavs will fight back in the second. Bulls won’t stay this hot and Cavs will settle in.
But the Cavs need to be more aggressive they need to push the pace. They are playing at the Bulls pace right now.
Cavs look out of sorts for sure. How much is the down time, and how much is not being comfortable with the new lineups — I don’t know. Looks for Blatt to tinker in the second half.
I didn’t like the offense against the Celtics either. They haven’t really impressed me offensively since the blowout against the Grizzlies a long time ago. Got by with “just good enough” the rest of the way and haven’t found that good ball movement since.
Well glad that quarter’s over.
No foul on that Irving drive? Kidding me…
Unbelievable. He was smashed on his first drive of the game too, with no call.
It’s infuriating. I already hate these refs.
sorry mozgov needs to sit the rest of this game…his play is beyond pathetic
I believe he already has 2 blocks though…
I think you’re over reacting…
Worst idea I’ve ever heard of.
he has gotten out rebounded and blocked by pau gasol…i mean gasol never blocks shots…he’s doing nothing as a big man…TT made bigger difference in quarter of time on floor
The fact of the matter is with Love out, we have no other option. We can’t cripple our front court by not playing our 7 footer.
really? HE could be better but sit? we need to relax a little
I don’t want James shooting a shot NOT in the lane…
Wow was that a foul???
Not a good start. The Bulls are shooting lights out. Haven’t even missed a three.
Butler missed one… but yeah… they’re shooting it well
Bulls going to sag off the Cavs and shut down driving lanes. Will LeBron discover his outside shot? Could be the key
We can force the issue inside. Pau is a bum on defense and Noah isn’t what he used to be. Rotate the ball and drive with a quick first step. I have faith.
Exactly, they are giving him space. The Cavs should try to push the pace everytime they get a defensive rebound.
Cavs playing the right way by going inside. Bulls start hot from outside.
Better close this quarter well.
Don’t know why Dunleavy always kills Cavs… he hasn’t missed a shot… Bulls are also 5-6 from three…
Sitting LeBron after a week of rest and the Cavs down 12 in the first quarter ?
I don’t agree at all.
Mozgov is achilles heel right now not sure whats going on but that dude is useless on floor right now
I know I’m being negative, but it’s inexcusable to look like this on offense in the first quarter after a week of rest. This isn’t just rust. This is us not running plays and being outhustled. Absolutely embarrassing effort so far.
This is fugly!!!!!!!
We’ve missed 4 buckets at the hoop already. Need to be able to finish better.
Now we’ve missed 5 buckets at the hoop. Not that they’ve all been easy, but they are shots you need to make if you want to win a playoff game.
Mike Miller?! Blatt had a week and this was what he came up with?
Well, he’s sort of comparable to Dunleavy… except Dunleavy hits shots and Miller doesn’t…
LeBron doesn’t take his first show until 8 minutes into the 1st quarter. What’s that all about?
He had a miss in the lane earlier
miller isn’t the problem….mozgov is playing horrific right now and 2 of dunleavys 3 threes were with shumpert guarding him or lack there of
Zero defense on the perimeter…
might be good idea to cover dunleavy i don’t know
I hate that we have come out flat in almost every game so far this postseason. What have we been practicing for the past week? Not running plays? Come on Cleveland, PLAY WITH SOME FREAKIN’ ENERGY PLEASE.
With that said, that was a HECK of a finish by Kyrie.
That was pretty amazing…
Hey LeBron… you might wanna wake up right about now…
No excuse for our leader to come out not being aggressive. It just blows my mind.
Bron didn’t box out Pebbles that time…
Moz! Get that weak stuff outta here, Pebbles!
Cavs missing bunnies.
Ugh. Mike Miller. Who’s idea was this?
Cavs look totally of rhythm…. LeBron and Kyrie need to be more aggressive IMO. They need to score.
Gonna need to go to TT fairly quickly to grab some boards….
when mike miller is your leading rebounder that is trouble
spacing the floor isn’t helping either Bulls definitely moving well on defense and hustling for rebounds on both ends
Mozgov looking like a big white stiff right now even Gasol is boxing him out…inexcusable
Bulls baiting Cavs into taking long threes early…
Gonna be a long night if Rose is going to hit prayer threes like that…
Why doesn’t anyone “hack-a-Pebbles”? Dude is a terrible free throw shooter…
Shump with an in-rhythm J
Wide open Dunleavy trey…
I think it’s gonna be a tight game and series. Cavs 98-94.
I respect your optimism re: the final score DW. I’m predicting a closer one… Cavs win 103-97… LBJ scores 30, Kyrie 27, Moz chips in 17…
It’s MILLER Time!
GO CAVS!!!!! I have a lot of anxious energy right now. I’m wearing a Blue and Orange CAVS jacket.