Live Thread: Cavs vs Wizards
2016-02-28
The Cavs look to bounce back from Friday’s loss in Toronto, as they conclude their two game mini-road trip with a stop in Washington to face the Wizards. It’s every NBA player’s least favorite game — the 1pm Sunday matinee — but the John Wall/Kyrie Irving match-up will be a good test to see if the Cavs have anything in the works to keep opposing point guards from consistently having career nights against them.
Also, earlier today, the Cavs announced the signing of guard Jordan McRae to a 10-day contract. From cavs.com:
McRae (6-6, 185) was a 2016 NBA Development League All-Star this year after appearing in 29 games (all starts) for the Delaware 87ers and averaging 23.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.7 steals in 35.5 minutes per game. Against the Canton Charge on Jan. 26, he scored a D-League record 61 points on 21-34 (.618) shooting from the field, to go along with 11 rebounds and seven assists in 46 minutes. McRae also had two 10-day stints with the Phoenix Suns this season, appearing in seven games with averages of 5.3 points and 1.4 assists in 11.7 minutes.
Originally selected as the 58th overall pick out of the University of Tennessee by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2014 NBA Draft and traded to the Philadelphia 76ers on draft night, McRae played professionally in Australia in 2014-15 before joining Delaware for the season’s final 13 games. McRae will be available for today’s contest at Washington and will wear jersey number 12.
Go Cavs!
Update: Then, there’s this…
LeBron will not play today. Just resting.
— Jason Lloyd (@JasonLloydABJ) February 28, 2016
Richard Jefferson will start in place of James.
And the bad part about getting blown out without LeBron is that he will feel like he needs to take the team back over, hijack the offense, hog the ball, jack jumpers, etc, which isn’t when the Cavs are at their best. The Cavs are best when they all buy in, use LeBron where he’s best and the ball is moving. Like when the Cavs blew out Memphis the second game of the season and they actually ran a disciplined offense. But this is what the players wanted, to fire Blatt and get rid of the authority that would help… Read more »
Well as far as titles go…. Warriors are playing beyond super human talent.. Now, reality is settling in on the current state of Cavs.. and there is a concern with the way they have abandoned defense that they will have challenges in the Eastern COnference Finals against Toronto.
They seem to have a serious case of “been there, done that”. In actuality, only Lebron has been there, done that. Everybody else should be busting their behinds out to get to his level. Lebron has reached the finals for six straight years, the Cavs only did it last year. Yet, looks like a team that is full of itself thinking they will reach another gear in the playoffs. I am starting to hope for them to lose before the Finals, because we will get blown out in the finals anyway and maybe, just maybe we will come back a… Read more »
Yeah right, let’s rather have Kyrie continue his winning ways. That way we’ll have another top draft pick in future seasons top come.
I hope Kyrie’s brand is doing okay!
28 pts, 6 assists at this point (would probably be a few more assists if the team didn’t shoot 39%). Probably didn’t suffer as badly as others’
There is a reason why the Cavs were a perennial sorry ass lottery team in three seasons Kyrie was top dog. He is nothing more than a stat padder on a bad team.
Kyrie Irving for Ramon Sessions
Maybe this team really is 100% LeBron. What has David Griffin created here?
Whether it is the players who won’t let themselves be coached, or the coach who can’t get through to the players something needs to change cause the cluelessness of this team is shocking.
No clue on defence. No clue on offence.
Mindless basketball. Just embarrassing
I just can’t believe this! Cavs fire Blatt, team’s defense death spirals & Cavs on the verge of losing #1 seed. What was Griffin thinking?? Perhaps Blatt couldn’t get Big 3 to listen but he damn well got the rest of the team to. No one is listening to Lue and they are losing games they shouldn’t because of all things… Defense. Cavs land is exploding at the absurdity.
Blatt got fired because he completely lost he locker room. Nobody liked him. He was arrogant.
Who Cares?? At least we were winning and #1 seed. Now we have lost our defensive power and #1 seed. Now these complainers will see unhappiness in losses. Warriors laughing at the spectacle
The players are the arrogant ones, Cols. They didn’t buy into an offensive system that worked and didn’t respect his accomplishments in the playoffs. They didn’t give a great coach his chance to maximize the talent of the team, they were the stubborn ones.
One player. The rest of the players followed that one players lead.
Oh wait. Maybe two players because there were also stories about how the players were upset that Mo was relegated to the bench after KI came back and wasn’t getting pt. How weak.
Sure seems like Lue ‘has’ the eam to me….or not…
Wizards have so many injuries even their bench coach is wearing an eye patch.
Wizards in the bonus with 10 minutes left in the fourth. Laziest defense I’ve seen since the dark days.
Wow Delly looks so sad and defeated that no one wants to play with any heart or hustle. Must be killing him.
Yeah.. Can’t win games with the rest of the team mailing it in on defense.
This team defence is an embarrassment. Think I might quit watching games until the playoffs cause it’s pathetic.
And we are losing by 26 to a team below 500 overall and at home. This one is beyond embarrassing.
The Bulls just beat this team without Rose, Butler and Mirotic. Look at us? Embarrassing
Ugh. I don’t mind losing. But two
Losses before the podcast spells doom to my
Ears.
It’s funny that you’re more concerned with the podcasts, then the performance of the team.
I’m not worried about this team Because I was alive in 2015 and witnessed what this team does once the playoffs begins.
But it ruins my day when I listen to a podcast about how horrible the first place team in the East is. By people who were also alive in 2015 but seem to have no memories beyond the most recent Cavs game.
If you were indeed alive in 2015, then you must remember how much better we were playing last year at this time with Blatt. Don’t write science fiction, Cols
Well if you were alive in 2015, then you’d realize that the Cavs didn’t play this poorly, without any effort, as they approached the playoffs. They looked like a team that is locked in, and frankly undefeatable. I’m starting to question if they will even make it out of the Eastern Conference.
Yep, because every season plays out exactly the same. Not even sure why the regular season is played. This first place team is horrible. The second place team as people who were alive in 2015 remember, were a more confident bunch and no one was worried at this time last year. Wouldn’t be surprised if Lue wasn’t invited back next year, if James is totally second guessing to “come home”. He thought winning one for the land would cement his legacy. He was right but in the wrong direction. This team does not like each other and it’s gotten worse… Read more »
Probably because this team doesn’t look anywhere near as consistently good as that team did at this point last year. They will no doubt get up for the playoffs. But this is the point they actually need to start rolling like they did last year. Remember they started rolling right before the all star break and were tremendous and dominant to an extent for the entire second half of the season. They were already playing tremendous by the playoffs cols. They did not just throw on a switch during the playoffs last year no matter what you think you remember.… Read more »
Uh oh, time for the PANIC because someone might say something negative about the Cavs…
Jordan McRae to fire his agent for hooking him up with the Cavs.
Yeah. Sucks playing for a first pace team.
Might not be in first place for long bro. Sorry couldn’t resist, but yeah everyone gets your point.
How is the team this bad without LeBron? Having Love and Irving has to make the team better than this. (The Warriors sure didn’t look this bad when Curry was out, by the way).
They did look this bad when they were missing green in Detroit tho
Not having a gameplan other than Lebron is an all-time great and will bail us out game in game out sure helps. The game plan this game is feed Love in the post, which they stopped doing after the first quarter, and give Kyrie the ball and let him go to work and play defense if you feel like it. Shocking, but they have blown us out.
Talent wise they are not. Mentally they are. This team is mentally weak. Some games and losses annoy me. This is one of them. I do not mind losses if I see at least one half of solid effort and smart play. I wanted/expected to see something from these guys without LBJ today. After all, where is their pride? After today they will be 2 and 11 with out him. Pathetic. The rest of this group is not that bad talent wise. But apparently they are that mentally weak. Do these guys just want to be known as the Lebronettes?… Read more »
I respectfully disagree. In toronto we tried to play D, but we couldnt, which is somewhat acceptable, today we havent even tried. Since they made some tough shots in the first and got some cushion on the scoreboard, we just stopped playing.
Effort is the number one factor in good defense though. Without effort, good defense is impossible. That was my point about the Toronto game, at least the effort was there.
AC: Is there any pride out there?
Only the Cavs can transform Otto Porter into Stephon Porter.
As in Stephon Marbury?Yeah, he is a legend in China.
Yeah. That’s something I should say!
Alright, I’ve seen enough.
Genius move firing Blatt! If I’m Gilbert, I give Griffin the pink slip at seasons end, which may be in April.
We fired Blatt when we were number one in the East. If the Raptors win tonight, they’re only going to be one game back.
I remember Saturday afternoon girls’ high school basketball games could be pretty bad . . . . . but not this bad.
Good thing this happened after the trade deadline.
What’s our record since AV left? Chuckle.
You still think this doesn’t need a change in the off season U Dog?
Mike Podracky – Uh. Uh. Hmmm. Maybe. Maybe not.
This team is lost!
Time to rest Kyrie and Love too? Let’s see what Jordan McRae can do.
What is the Cavs just forfeit so everyone can rest? Not much heart or fight being shown.
The defensive coach just said that our offense has to be our defense.
Yeah I saw that… There you go… The mentality is they don’t have to play defense. WHat idiot hired this guy?? Griffin’s homersim to Suns is just stupid.
For real? I thought this was a Sasha Pavlovic-inspired joke.
No he actually really said it.
And now I want all the Lue/fire Blatt defenders to remember what kind of basketball this team was playing last year around the same time of the season. If Lue is holding his players accountable or has made the team better in any conceivable stretch, I cant see it. I see the players having taken complete control of the team and giving a crap whenever they feel like it. Alas, bad habits are built and it will be that much difficult to “turn it on” in the playoffs.
That said, I am not so confident we will make it out of the East again.
100% agree. That accountability crap is so garbage!
One thing I’m jealous about on other teams is their ability from their BIGS to get easy baskets in the paint.
Should JR go Draymond Green on everyone and fight them??
Cavs beat OKC twice with no Kyrie and Shump but can’t even beat a sub .500 team without Lebron. Maybe, it’s time some of you Kyrie lovers and Lebron haters get a much better perspective.
I think you’re addressing a very small group.
Small group maybe, but they sure are the loudest and quickest to diss Lebron on a bad play and praise to high heaven Kyrie on rare good plays.
just a weak team
When has the CAvs done well with no center? That’s on Lue.
Our defense took off last year when we had an effective Mozgov as rim protector – he has been all out of sorts this season.
Well team defense is a collective effort here. Mosgov is hardly the only problem of why they have slid off to abysmal
It’s amazing how we can’t seem to consistently get the concept of reflexively rotating over for weak side help defense. It’s nice when we have Mozgov to help cover for guys getting beat off the dribble
Nice take by Kevin Love and great hustle to get back
So damn lazy at defense. Everyone looking at each other
Oh man…we look so outclassed. It’s unreal how we can rotate beautifully on one possession, play team d, and then when they set more than one pick, we get crushed. Hate watching from up high cuz you can really see the trouble coming
Lol at Lue’s comments re: Lebron’s minutes:
“He didn’t want to come out,” Lue said. “He didn’t want to come out. I should’ve got him out, but he didn’t want to come out. As the game started down the stretch getting close, I said I’m going to get you out for a couple minutes. He said, ‘No!’ He went crazy. That kind of has something to do with sitting him today, an early game at 1 o’clock.”
Hmm An interesting way of benching er or “resting”
Coming from the guy who supposedly has more control over the players than Blatt
Getting that sick feeling, firing Blatt was catastrophic mistake seeing how this defense is a shell of itself.
Agree. It’s hard to believe how much our defense has regressed. We are even worse on pick and rolls, and rim protection has disappeared.
Agree with the comment about how important LeBron is on the defensive side of the ball. He is after all, an all-time great. Would be in everybody’s all-time starting five. But as an aside, if you watched the Warriors last night, you see something that has never been seen before in basketball. As big as Cavs fans we all are, you really have to marvel at what Curry is doing. Doesn’t mean we can’t beat them, which we can, but sometimes you have to tip your hat to greatness.
I am sorry but I cant imagine a way we can beat them the way they are playing. True, a lot of time between now and a hypothetical final, but the only team that is somewhat suited to stop them are the Thunder and they will probably lose to the Spurs before they have a chance to face them.
I have to agree in this snapshot in time. Our Bigs aren’t anything close to OKC’s. And our defense has horribly and embarrassingly left us.
Jesus! We can’t get easy baskets like that?? If they lose this game, David Griffin should be fired! Because Cavs will lose the #1 seed. Defense, something they use to be good at has died
Oh, Shumpert…
I need a nap. This game is making me drowsy.
Nice attack, Kyrie!
The clock is ticking on these cavs. Playoffs will be here far sooner than we think.
Cripes. He was completely out of control.
This game shows how valuable Lebron is on the defensive end of the ball. He singlehandedly raises the athleticism of the team on another level. Outside of him and few exceptions we are so unathletic.
Effort can make up some athletic deficiencies but we aren’t bringing that focus.
I know and I totally agree with you, but on some occasions it just isnt enough.
John Wall running it down our throats and we have no answer
Lue continues to look overmatched as a head coach.
Jefferson trying to rile up the troops in the huddle
You expect him to outcoach Randy Whitman?
Wus foul by TT. Grab him for crying out loud. The hands of stone are as bad as ever too.
Lol. That was some horrible transition D.
Cavs playing like they have senioritis lately. Did not expect this after the ASB. Not many more games to round into playoff form.
Tristan Thimpson really can’t protect the rim
Why don’t you give him a back massage next time TT.
JR, point guard is not an experiment I enjoy.
AC doesn’t like the Cavs spirit.
Mozgov’s handle continues to impress.
Jeez, timo. That was turrible.
Cavs look like garbage!
Gonna start calling Channing Frye, “sleepy.” In so many ways he’s the second coming of Sam Perkins.
Matthew got hammered on that last drive.
Delly the only one with energy this game. Everyone else seems like they’re sleepwalking
Put Love in the post every time the Cavs have the ball. Park Smith or Frye or Delly and the corner when the double comes and kick out for automatic points. Then have Kyrie up top as a bailout plan. Lue needs to realize that they’ll eventually need to double Love, so make it a point to constantly feed him
Haven’t watched the Cavs live lately, but I agree that they do not take the next step with Love in the post. They just pass it to him, and then it is 1 on 5. Too easy for the other team to double him and defend. Why not have other players get into position to punish the defense when they do double team Love?
The Wizards have some good spacing and hit some tough shots, the turnaround by Gortat after some excellent post D by TT or the Beal corner three, but generally we seem bored out there. Especially the slow as molasses close-out by Jefferson on that Anderson three was very telling.
Eh. That was awful.
Channing Frye is clueless on d, and even more clueless on offense
Not a lot of defense being played. Can’t give up 35 to the Wizards in a quarter. Time to fire the defensive coach.
Dibble penetration, bane of our defense
Lot of off ball movement on that play! Actually ran a play and Delly hits a 3!
Cavs look good…missing bunnies. Love needs to stop fading away and bait Morris into fouls
Wizards broadcast just mentioned Delly came into the game. First thing they said was “he can shoot the lights out.” Delly doesn’t seem like your typical “shoot the lights out” shooter lol
He made like 6-90 in warmups haha. He’s a gamer
Love has great footwork in the post – but does seem to get pushed around a little too much
Nice 6 point swing there for the Cavs
At least 40% Cavs fans to start the game. Not full yet tho
Look for Kyrie to test out the long range early. If he has it going we could be in for a show.
At game today with my pops. We’re carrying crazy ctb karma. Two things amaze me seeing Cavs live: how few shots James jones ever misses in warmups, and how kevin love is not really that big for a big man and still manages 10 boards a game. Gonna need 30-15 from him to win today
People should be on high Kyrie alert! 50 points in play!
Enjoy the game.
No Lebron today. Cavs 2-10 without Lebron the past two seasons. Makes sense to rest him after he played the entire second half Friday night. Let’s see how Lue’s rotations plays out tonight.