Live Thread: Jazz @ Cavs
2015-11-10
The Utah Jazz visit LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavs tonight in C-Town. The game is set for 7:00 PM and can be seen on Fox Sports Ohio or NBA League pass.
Utah has won their last two games and is 4-2 for the season. They have a strong defensive identity holding opponents to a lead leaguing average of 39% from the field for just 85 points a game. Rudy Gobert is their center piece averaging four blocks a game.
The Jazz will be starting Raul Neto (PG), Rodney Hood (SG), Gordan Hayward (SF), Derrick Favors (PF), and Gobert (C). The Cavs are starting Mo Williams, J.R. Smith (probable), LeBron James, Kevin Love, and Timofey Mozgov.
If the Cavs want to silence the Jazz tonight, there are a few things they need to think about.
1. David Blatt cannot let Rudy Gobert stop guys from driving. If the Cavs settle for jumpers and get cold early, the game could get out of control.
2. The Wine and Gold should consider playing small ball. If Gobert is going to protect the rim, let Kevin Love shoot threes and elbow jumpers.
3. The Jazz are last in the league for assists with just 16.5 a night. The Cavs should make sure it stays that way. If the Cavs can play honest defense, Gordan Hayward and Derrick Favors will have to beat them. I like that scenario.
I’m predicting the Cavs actually run away with this game. The Cavs have started three games in a row slowly. I don’t expect that trend to continue. The Cavs should also try to ratchet up their D and muffle any attempts by the Jazz to go on mini-runs. The Jazz defense may be one of the best, but you still have to outscore an opponent to beat them. I’m not sure the Jazz can do that against a top five offensive team that defends.
BOX OUT……..
Klove read my Wiggins tweet and is LOCKED IN.
Not sure why Mo didn’t oop that one.
KLove draining it!!
Love is really stroking it tonight.
That was a bad call against AV!
The Cavs are seriously turning every missed shot and to into a fast break or semi-transition play. Guess this a game they’re on for.
They are certainly not playing bored.
The Cavs look good!
RJ was great on that Delly Trey. As the ball was going around the horn to him, he acted as if to shoot to keep Delly’s man from beating the pass. He stopped and Delly stayed open. Heady play.
great ball movement tonight. 12 assists already on 15 makes.
This is their calling card this year… awesome passing and sharing the ball…
Yea, we kinda missed JR, lol.
And JR looks like he kinda missed being out there!
DESTRUCTION! JR!
Delly Trey followed by a JR smash!
Delly playing like he wants the MVP trophy.
Its his to lose.
LOVE the passing!!!
Their coach reminds me of Christian Slater, circa 1992.
Quinn Snyder is looking more and more like a creepy serial killer as he gets older.
Jazz commit a lot of fouls…
The Jazz really protect the paint well. At least the Cavs have the 3 ball going.
Utah is Looooooooong.
Just how they drew it up.
Utah is great on defense, but their offense is bottom 10 in the league.
Give em a point guard and they’ll be deadly. Hope they don’t poach Delly.
If we let Jerry West sign with someone else…. Just give him the Max Dan.
Huh “The max Dan, just the Max.” I like it.
Little sloppy at the end and with turnovers, but a productive 1st Q
Getting destroyed on the boards.
Yea 7 offensive rebounds for them. Cavs did have 4 themselves tho.
Um… the rebounds are even at 11 a piece?
Yikes, Andy. That was… Not good.
Andy having no clue how much time is left on the clock might be last remnant of young Andy.
It was the exact same shot as the elbow J, except he wasn’t anywhere near the elbow.
He got the ball with 2 seconds left… what did you expect?
AV sighting… nails the automatic elbow j…
The end of quarter execution left something to be desired.
Seemed like some miscommunication. Hard to blame on AV though… Delly got him the ball with little time and lots of pressure…
AV could wear out anyone in a game of Horse from that spot.
I know. As soon as I see him standing there and no defender within 2 feet I’m like Shoot it!
Rudy in beast mode. That guy has put the work in the weight room, that’s for sure.
He still only shoots 50% from the line though… Future “hack-a-candidate”
What the hell did Tristan do to his hair???
Should have been an and-1 for Mo there…
Mo has his shot going tonight.
WE ARE SHOOTING 70 % AND ONLY UP BY 4 PTS—–TO’S AND GIVING UP OFF REB’S ONLY THING KEEPING THIS GAME CLOSE
Looks like the ball hit the rim.
As long as Cavs keep the rock moving, and force Utah into a lot of reacting, they’ll be good. I’m loving how much Love is looking to get deep and find the cutter. J.R. is really looking to pass too.
Delly developing that skyhook. Do we have comparisons with him to Abdul Jabbar yet?
I think Cols is digging that up
Delly’s offensive development has many around the league making comparisons to Jerry West.
That pass from KLove was Globetrotter-esque!
Fill it up Delly!
Also, tristan does what everyone should do when they get tailpiped – fall down hard on the shooter to prevent a shot going up.
too much turnovers this early
Not crazy about all the midrange Js, even though they are falling right now.
If KLove and LBJ are hitting from outside… going to be real trouble for Utah…
Love and LeBron both find their shots and it’s a wrap.
Love heating up!!!!
Love the aggressiveness…
Klove with the triple
VALUE THE BALL / POSSESSIONS !!
Like what I’m seeing on offense. Just need to cut on the TOs, and dumb mistakes.
Part of that is Utah is good on defense. They are a legit team on the rise. Like what they’re doing there very much.
True but I’ve seen two passes to guys that didn’t know a pass was coming to them (Mo, LeBron).
LBJ heating up from 3 would go a long way in a game like this one.
Bron gonna abuse Hayward tonight…
Come on Mo, Head on a swivel with LBJ
Mozzy a little too springy for his own good on that one…
If Gobert develops a 15 foot range, he’s going to be brutal.
THAT was a HELLACIOUS throwdown by LBJ!
OHHHH MYYY GOSHHHHHH, DAMNNNN
WOWWWWW!!!
Mo Gotti shot looking healthy so far…
Can’t be sloppy against this Jazz team…
LeBron has been cherry picking a lot this year right?
Seems like it…
Come on LBJ, that’s a bad pass and you know it.
He was trying a lot of those early last season.
I’m on a delay, obviously.
Yeah… League Pass is slow tonight for some reason…
Welcome back JR!
Welcome Back JR !!
Jinx!!
Gobert makes Moz look small.
Has Favors taken the most underrated title from Conley?
I wish Gordon Hayward was on the Pacers the night they word the Hoosiers uniforms.
This is going to be an ugly grind out game for the Cavs…. Let’s hope JR, JJ and all of the Cavs long range shooters come ready to play.
Probably nobody will read this but Wiggins has really improved and I wonder what if…..
that 4th quarter from Wiggins in ATL was real good, was really rooting for him,
Exactly he has really improved and he really looks confident out there.
I’m very happy with Love. All the best to Wiggins, but I’m not going to wish we had him for another four years.
my league pass isn’t letting me watch. Just audio. Is this game on in LA?
Aha. Just started working.
Blatt: Timo’s a character… He’s probably already making a commercial about his 3 point shooting.
Next Windy piece: How Timo doesn’t just consider himself a “Stretch 5”
So that is Gobert just standing there? Wow. He is a very large man.
I’ve got a bad feeling about this one. I think the Jazz will be up for it. They are trying to make a name for themselves and show that they belong in the playoffs. They play tight D. We’re on the last game of a homestand, having won a bunch in a row. J.R. is back, probably some rust. If I was betting I’d probably take the Jazz, especially with the line.
Sharps would agree with you, late betting coming in with UT covering the spread and on the under.
I will say that there are two things working in the Cavs’ favor with the late action.
1. The late action on UT will make Vegas a winner if Cavs cover… favorable position for Vegas.
2. When money is 50/50, I always like taking the superior team… love it when it happens, because you’re riding the big horses to safety in those scenarios.
I agree in general with you though, I think UT will be a strong challenge tonight, hence my prediction indicating a defensive game. But I think the stars for CLE come thru to cover.
I also had some trepidation, but when the NBA leaguepass stream just kicked in here, they were playingMichael Jackson “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough”. My 2 yr old daughter stopped crying and started dancing. Good vibes now :)
Almost time to climb the Stifle Tower…
Your numbers for tonight:
CLE is a 6pt favorite against UT, with o/u @ 187.5. The money on the line is split 50/50, with the under being the smart money on o/u.
I’ll take CLE in a low-scoring, defensive affair 97-90 over UT.
Give me the Cavs -6 & the over