Cavs: The Free Agent Stock Watch (Eastern Conference Semifinals Edition)
2016-05-12
Mongol General: Conan! What is best in life?
Conan: Crush your enemies. See them driven before you. Hear the lamentations of their women.
— Conan the Barbarian (1982)
It’s a little disconcerting, but for once the Cavs and their fans are pointing the business end of what is best in life at the other guys, as we revel in the Cavs’ utter annihilation of their NBA enemies to date.
Unfortunately, it looks like at least one or two of the remaining Conference Semifinals —especially the Eastern Conference Semifinals (or as I prefer to think of it, “we went to a NBA playoff series and a snuff film broke out, and what died was our collective enjoyment of basketball”) — are each going to go six or seven games, and we socially enlightened types at C:TB can only sit around listening to the lamentation of the victims in Detroit and Atlanta for so long before we start feeling awkward and self-conscious. Besides, it’s the Internet age and people don’t have the attention spans they used to back in the Cimmerian days of yore (which based on a history I have pieced together mainly from ogling the sides of airbrushed 70’s vans as a pimply youth, I understand have taken place during Age of Iron Undergarments circa 250 A.D.).
So, welcome to a new feature, the Cavs free agent playoff stock watch! I am your host, the Motley Cav. At the end of each playoff series, I will take a look at the postseason performance of each Cavs rotation player who will, or can, become a free agent at the end of the season. I promise to apply the kind of cold, steely quantitative objectivity and insight that makes Wall Street such a can’t fail enterprise. Okay, not a great or even not terrible example. All stats come courtesy, of course, of Basketball-Reference.com.
In no particular order of priority or importance, let’s start with . . .
LeBron James (Stock Symbol: LBJ)
Contract Status: UFA (player option)
P/E Ratio (season/playoffs): 27.5 / 25.1 PER
Volume (season/playoffs): 35.6 mpg, 27.2 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 6.9 apg, .588 TS% / 38.3 mpg, 23.5 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 7.3 apg, .555 TS%
Performance Against Market (PAM) (season/playoffs): +9.1 / +8.3 BPM
Yield (season/playoffs): 13.6 / 13.3 (extrapolated) Win Shares
Historical Quote: “Warren Buffett told me once and he said always follow your gut. When you have that gut feeling, you have to go with, don’t go back on it.”
Credit Rating: AAA+ stable
Price Forecast: 2 years, $65 million with player option for 2nd year
Trending: Steady
Recommendation: Strong buy — let’s not overthink this one.
The only question with LeBron is that given his age, mileage and how good the Cavs have become, whether he might start to consider cashing in on a long-term deal soon, rather than relying on these year-to-year specials that give him maximum flexibility, leverage (and of course, raises). I don’t see it happening this summer, but I would not be surprised, should the Cavs win a title either this season for the next, if he went in for a long-term max deal after 2017. I mean, we all like having options, but do any of us really need better options than “guaranteed $240 million”? I am thinking at some point soon, even the King will decide the answer is “no.”
J.R. Smith (Stock Symbol: WTF)
Contract Status: UFA (player option)
P/E Ratio (season/playoffs): 12.4 / 14.8 PER
Volume (season/playoffs): 30.7 mpg, 12.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.7 apg, 2.0 3pg, .542 TS% / 35.0 mpg, 12.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.6 app, 3.9 3pg, .692 TS%
PAM (season/playoffs): +1.3 / +5.6 BPM
Yield (season/playoffs): 5.5 / 9.2 (extrapolated) Win Shares
Historical Quote: “Best part of the lockout the gold diggers don’t get that money.”
Credit Rating: A+ positive short term, BBB negative long term
Price Forecast:4 years at $60 million, team option on 4th year
Trending: Up in a vertical line
Recommendation: A cautious buy, but only given his stock couldn’t possibly rise any further (right??).
Yes, I know I am talking about J.R. Smith, a player with, shall we say, a checkered past. This was the guy the Bulls traded for and then traded away over an offseason in 2006 without even bothering to give him a proper workout with the team, and also the guy that the Cavs got at fire sale prices in the first place because Phil Jackson thought he was a 2016 Ty Lawson-level team cancer.
At the same time, we are conducting a playoff stock watch here, and right now J.R. is going Books-a-Million in 1998. Steph Curry, the only unanimous MVP in history, led the league during the regular season with a .669 TS%. J.R.’s playoff TS% is .692. Two players in the NBA put up 9.2 WS (J.R.’s extrapolated playoff WS) this season, Paul George and Damian Lillard. J.R.’s playoff BPM of +5.6 would have been good for 10th in the league in-season, just behind Draymond Green (+5.9) and just ahead of Paul Millsap (+5.6).
Obviously I am not claiming that the sample size is large enough for this data to mean anything other than he has been playing out of his mind over the past eight games, but that’s what we’re here to talk about at the Motley Cav. In any event, if he keeps any semblance of this up, Earl Joseph Smith III will be due some serious cabbage this offseason. Yes, he will be on the wrong side of 30, but he has a game that would seem to age well. With the cap going up to possibly $100 million+ for 2016-17, if the Cavs don’t sign him to a big, fat deal they may come to regret, some foolhardy team certainly will (“I throw in truckload unfiltered Marlboros and apartment quadrangle in Sarajevo!”).
Vivek Ranadive, busy at his day job to earn the money he will use to overpay a player who will not help his team. Don’t get cocky EG, I agree with Nate — it definitely could be J.R.!
And so, I would guess that the bidding for Smith’s services in the offseason will start at three years and $13 million a year, more if he continues to play anywhere near this well. Even if J.R.’s game falls into the Springfield Mystery Spot from here on out (by no means an inconceivable happenstance) even then it’s hard to see Smith not getting at least Shump money (4 years, $40 million). I mean, Shump got Shump money, and he’s Shump. The Cavs will have to swallow hard (heck, given the way their luxury tax bill is spiraling out of control, Gilbert probably needs a swig of Pepto-Bismol to sign the player per diem checks at this point) but they really should match any semi- unreasonable offer J.R. might get, given their lack of options and the fact that he has been arguably their second best player this postseason, and that is definitely not for a lack of candidates fighting for that distinction.
Matthew Dellavedova (Stock Symbol: OZY)
Contract Status: RFA
P/E Ratio (season/playoffs): 11.3 / 15.6 PER
Volume (season/playoffs): 24.6 mpg, 7.5 ppg, 4.4 apg, 1.3 3pg, .527 TS% / 15.9 mpg, 5.9 ppg, 3.6 apg, 0.8 3pg, .543 TS%
PAM (season/playoffs): -1.6 / +2.1 BPM
Yield (season/playoffs): 3.8 / 6.25 (extrapolated) Win Shares
Historical Quote: “I’m pumped to announce my partnership with Cleveland Coffee Company and the creation of our new unique blend of coffee called G’Day Mate!”
Credit Rating: A+ positive
Price Forecast: 5 years, $75 million
Trending: Positive
Recommendation: Hold.
The day is about to get a lot more g’ for Delly, according to the Motley Cav.
I assume many if not most of you are flabbergasted at my price forecast for Delly, but hear me out. Not that you will necessarily like or agree with my rationale, but I think it is a thing that could happen.
With the aforementioned massive cap increase for next year (and more increases on the way) meaning an extra $800 million to $1 billlllllllion dollars to spend on a finite pool of available players, and 20+ teams around the league with cash but no chance of landing an impact superstar free agent, some perfectly nice role players are in for epic overpays in the coming offseason. And who is a nicer perfectly nice role player than Delly?
Quietly, Delly has been very effective so far, playing fewer but more efficient and productive minutes than during the regular season. His playoff TS% of .543 isn’t mind-blowing like Smith’s, but it’s within shouting distance of some pretty decent young point guards (Kemba Walker .554, Eric Bledsoe .557) and better than Reggie Jackson (.535) and John Wall (.510). Oh, and regular season Kyrie (.540, but let’s give him a pass since he struggled coming back from injury). Delly’s extrapolated playoff WS of 6.25 and BPM of 2.1 are also solidly better than his regular season numbers, and if he could build them out in a starter’s role with extended minutes he would be very competitive in those metrics with Tier B point guards around his age, e.g. the Bledsoes, Walkers and Jacksons of the world. Given the potential for some remaining upside and the fact that even in a glue guy role Delly is almost certainly going earn up some significant part of any contract he gets, it’s hard for me not to see some GM taking a flyer and throwing big dollars at him. Remember, Jeremy Lamb (not Lin, Lamb) is getting $7 million a year for 3 seasons from the Hornets starting next season, and he is potentially worthless. Do the math, if a guy whose floor is “worthless” is getting paid $7 million, why would you not pay Delly, whose floor is $7 million a year quality backup, the $7 + $7 and get to $14 million with him? The value equation is basically the same. Not to pick on poor Shump again, but Shump is getting $10 million a year. Terrence Ross signed a 3 year, $31.5 million extension that kicks in 2016-17 onwards. If you ran a basketball team, would YOU feel bad about giving Delly a slightly bigger annual dollar contract than Terrence Ross when you have $30 million more cap space per year to play with anyway? I am thinking not.
Delly is an RFA so a team like the Pistons, Rockets, Grizzlies, Kings, Bucks et al. that wanted to pry Delly away from the Cavs would have deliberately make an overpay, and to do so frankly would be a no-lose situation for teams in the East. If Cleveland matches, they manage to maintain roster status quo, but are looking at a truly astronomical luxury tax bill in 2016-17. If the Cavs do not have the stomach to match, a $5-6 million/year overpay on a player for a small market team will be a drop in the bucket going forward, as discussed above. I mean, if you think that Stan Van Gundy is not sitting around at home right now, his mind furiously racing about how much money he can throw at Delly on July 1 and whether or not there is a way for him to murder Reggie Jackson and get away with it, you are crazy. Or my fictitious version of Stan Van Gundy is crazy. Or I am crazy for saying any version of Stan is secretly plotting to murder Reggie Jackson. Anyway, I am sure of two things – one, Delly will not be driving a Mazda in the Fall (unless he just really, really wants to, I would have to allow) and two, I am very curious to see how this all shakes out for the Cavs. I would of course hope the Cavs match any offer for Delly, but there is going to be a point where the cap hit becomes just too painful for even an owner as held hostage by LeBron generous as Dan Gilbert to match with absolute impunity.
Timofey Mozgov (Stock Symbol: MIA)
Contract Status: UFA
P/E Ratio (season/playoffs): 14.6 / -8.2 PER
Volume (season/playoffs): 17.4 mpg, 6.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 0.8 bpg, .593 TS% / 6.8 mpg, 0.0 ppg, 0.3 rpg, 0.3 bpg, .000 TS%
PAM (season/playoffs): -1.2 / -8.5 BPM
Yield (season/playoffs): 3.7/ -1.03 (extrapolated) Win Shares
Historical Quote: “I am hungry for the Brew Garden.”
Credit Rating: BBB- negative
Price Forecast: I dunno, what is the current dollar-ruble exchange rate?
Trending: Flatlining
Recommendation: Donate your shares to charity and get a tax write-off.
We’ll always have the Brew Garden.
What a difference a year makes. Had Timo hit free agency last season, I think a very nice contract in the multiyear, $10+ million a season deal would have definitely been in the cards after his redemption year and yeoman’s playoff showing. However, this season was a lost one for the big Russian and the playoffs have been a complete disaster for him personally, if not for the team. Frye and TT are simply much better fits for what the Cavs are doing these days, and Mozzy even when he sees the floor seems tentative and demoralized. He’s still relatively young (29) and probably at this point is best off taking a 2-year deal in Europe, licking his wounds and planning a 2018 comeback.
Mo Williams (Stock Symbol: TPE)
Contract Status: UFA, player option
P/E Ratio (season/playoffs): 12.4 / 11.0 PER
Volume (season/playoffs): 18.2 mpg, 8.2 ppg, 2.4 apg, 0.9 3pg, .527 TS% / 4.3 mpg, 1.7 ppg, 0.0 apg, 0.3 3pg, .500 TS%
PAM (season/playoffs): -3.3 / -1.6 BPM
Yield (season/playoffs): 1.1 / 0 (extrapolated) Win Shares
Historical Quote: “I couldn’t think of no better job that I could do right now and still have the fulfillment and making the amount of money that I’m making, to be honest with you.”
Credit Rating: BB- stable
Price Forecast: Picks up player option for 1 year, $2.2 million
Trending: Down
Recommendation: Sell, divest, transfer, assign, convey.
Not much to say about Mo. Unlike Mozzy he hasn’t been particularly terrible during the playoffs, but with a shortened bench and generally good roster health he hasn’t been needed. During the regular season he started strong but struggled with injuries and inconsistency thereafter, and nothing he has shown since then or during these playoffs gives me any reason to think that he can be a useful piece for a championship contending team like the Cavs going forward. I have to assume that Mo will pick up the extra year of his deal since it gives him a few extra dollars over the league veteran’s minimum that he otherwise would draw, and given the Cavs’ truly dire cap situation I wouldn’t be surprised if they ship him off to some bad team with cap space for a traded player exception, just for the luxury tax savings. I think Mo still has something to offer to a team like the Sixers or the Magic as a veteran off the bench on a cheap contract, but the playoffs have only reinforced my notion that he is nothing more than an insurance policy for this particular team, and pretty crappy insurance at that.
James Jones (Stock Symbol: JFJ)
Contract Status: UFA
P/E Ratio (season/playoffs): 11.6 / -24.0 PER
Volume (season/playoffs): 9.6 mpg, 3.7 ppg, 1 rpg, 0.9 3pg, .580 TS% / 4.5 mpg, 0.0 ppg, 0.5 rpg, 0.0 3pg, .000 TS%
PAM (season/playoffs): -1.0 / -28.6 BPM
Yield (season/playoffs): 1.2 / -1.03 (extrapolated) Win Shares
Historical Quote: “I told J.J. as long as I’m playing, he’s going to be around . . . I’m going to make sure I got a roster spot for him.” – LeBron James on James Jones
Credit Rating: Junk but backed by AAA+ guarantor
Price Forecast: 1 year, veteran’s minimum ($1.6 million projected)
Trending: Are you kidding? Read the quote from LeBron. JFJ don’t have to trend.
Recommendation: I would say sell, if it were not for the lock-up order from the CEO.
James Jones just keeps on JFJ’ing, albeit he is getting a little worse at it all the time, hitting the occasional 3, playing a little D, and being the Cavs’ human victory cigar. His playoff stats this postseason are negligible . . . but it really doesn’t matter for LeBron James’ personal security blanket, does it?
Given Jones makes the veteran’s minimum I can’t see the Cavs finding any pressing need to replace him at the back of the rotation, on LeBron’s behest. Unless Jones retires, which strikes me as a possibility if the Cavs win the title this season, I believe he will be back for one more season.
Richard Jefferson (Stock Symbol: RFJ)
Contract Status: UFA
P/E Ratio (season/playoffs): 9.7 / 12.4 PER
Volume (season/playoffs): 17.9 mpg, 5.5 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 0.9 3pg, .585 TS% / 14.3 mpg, 4.5 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 1.0 3pg, .720 TS%
PAM (season/playoffs): -0.8 / 1.7 BPM
Yield (season/playoffs): 2.7 / 3.75 (extrapolated) Win Shares
Historical Quote: “North Carolina, Duke, Arizona and Kentucky are all Nike schools, so if you are going to a top program, most of them are Nike.”
Credit Rating: BBB positive
Price Forecast: 2 years, $6 million
Trending: Up
Recommendation: Hold.
Yes, but don’t get too excited. It isn’t by much.
Jefferson signed with the Cavs for the league minimum hoping to win another ring. He has been a pleasant surprise in the playoffs, providing quality rotation minutes and displaying a very high level of competency in the 3-and-D role that JFJ only fills as a memory these days. Jefferson has been an offensive terror in a limited role, with a torrid .720 TS% including 60% from three. Given how well he has filled the poor man’s Bruce Bowen role this postseason while staying in excellent shape, I can see some mid-tier playoff team looking for veteran wing (the Pistons, Hornets and Raptors come to mind) being willing to give him a bit more in terms of years and money. I think the Cavs would be wise to match whatever he gets within reason, but but given the Cavs gruesome luxury tax situation I don’t think it would take much to outbid them on Jefferson. While I would be sad to see him go, I am reasonably confident Griff will find a suitable replacement for less money if that is the case. In Griff I trust.
“Believeland” is the 30 for 30 topic on ESPN tomorrow.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFVMxHDzhzM/?taken-by=matthewdelly
Can we take some time to analyze this photo:
1) Clearly this is someone’s half-furnished mansion in Westlake
2) Orange Mamba is wearing leather pants
3) Shump is wearing suspenders
4) Kaun is creep AF
5) If you looks closely JJ is worried about creepy Kaun
6) Dahntay is dressed like a seaman (seaminer?)
7) Channing and Kevin drinking whiskey? LeBron drinking wine? No other drinks except Mamba.
8) That light fixture is terrible
9) Kyrie looks like he’s going to a gay biker bar
10) Delly as usual is just darn happy to be there
Mo Williams wearing a painters cap?
He’s moonlighting. It’s the only way he gets into the paint anymore.
Nice.
RJ just got off work at blockbuster
Tristan not quite ready for the shot. Hilarious.
Are those galvanized darts on the table?
All great points, but 8,9 and 10 are especially dead on.
The light fixture, the bare walls… This is the apartment of someone who doesn’t expect to be back next year.
JR checking his phone to see what’s up with the ladies
No. 9 is the funniest thing I’ve read all week
Nice article. I think JJ should retire, and if not the Cavs should let him walk. They need to get younger at the back of the rotation. Same with Kaun. At this stage I don’t see the need to carry guys that can’t contribute.
I think Kaun is signed for another year, so they would have to buy him out or trade him. Either seems likely now that Blatt is gone. I agree there is no need to keep JJ on as a player, but LeBron really loves him so unless JJ wants to leave I’m not sure the choice is Griffin’s.
As least THE Cavs are 4th or 5th on this list Most wins without making NBA Finals, per ESPN Stats and Information: 1972-73 Celtics (68-14), 2015-16 Spurs (67-15), 2006-07 Mavs (67-15)
Didn’t really get to see any of the GS-OKC games during the regular season… who do the Warriors primarily use to defend Westbrook?
Don’t know about every game, but pretty sure they had Klay on Westbrook almost all the time on the games I remember…
Two rookie head coaches now in the Conference Finals…
And last year had two rookie head coaches in the Finals.
FWIW: Warriors were 3-0 against OKC this season. They won at home by 8 and 15, won at OKC in overtime.
And the OT game was where Curry made the ridiculous bomb from 30-plus feet for the win.
Although I do believe the Warriors win, the Thunder were a much different team in the regular season.
The duo of Kanter and Adams will create a lot of problems downlow, specially if Bogut is still hurting.
Great conference finals for sure :)
Not sure OKC can play Kanter and Adams the same time vs. GSW. They will run out their lineup of death which means one of those bigs has to guard Barnes. If they can punish GSW for going so small great, but no one has been able to do it yet.
Still think the Warriors get to the finals, probably in 6, but if the Thunder can play physical D like they did the last couple of games, they have a good shot. Of course they are going to get screwed by the refs, most likely, since the Dubs opponent generally does, but I was really impressed with them in that series. Best hope Westbrook plays within himself, as much as is possible. Happy to see the Spurs at least fight back after the horrendous first half. They really need some spacing in the offseason…Mike Conley would be such a good… Read more »
Would love to see Steven Adams pummel Draymond
Let’s set up a GoFundMe in advance to pay any fines Adams might incur.
I would like to see Adams foul Curry hard a few times when he drives to the hoop. I would contribute to a GoFundMe for those fines. And I would donate double if Adams knocks the mouthpiece out.
Looking forward to seeing Adams get physical with Bray….Bray can handle it, he’s a big boy, but still….looking forward to it.
Adams would probably get suspended indefinitely for laying a finger on Curry.
Thunder better bring it next round.
Western Finals start Monday. Four days off for Curry and his knee…
Well, well, well. Some vindication for the Thunder. Every year I predict that the Spurs will fade in the playoffs because its a young man’s game. Sometimes I am right about this. Winning in the late rounds is so much about desire. Let’s hope the Cavs have it.
I used to straight up hate the Spurs. They grew on me over the years, but they did used to be thugs, too. Still, I rooted for them hard in 2013. If this is the end of an Era, they went out swinging.
Thugs? Which NBA do you watch? Spurs have been all class for two decades. Bowen was a bit rough at times when he guarded the opponent’s best wing player (great duels with him and Kobe). But the only downfall with the Spurs was how hard it was to follow them at times because they were a complete snore-fest.
Oh how easily we forget. This probably cost Phoenix the series. Also one of the dumbest decisions of Stern era. http://www.nba.com/news/spurssunssuspension_070515.html
Actually, probably cost Phoenix a ring. https://www.google.com/search?q=suns+suspension+spurs
Robert Horry being a holistic reflection of the Spurs? That’s about as left field as it gets.
Love it!
That’s a great team shot. All In for sure.
Love it, all 15 guys
I want McRae’s red leather kicks.
Hahha please tell me thats Dellys sad little apartment where he cooks ramen to stay afloat on his paltry salary
More likely he is existing on shipments from Australia of Vegemite, smeared on wonderbread from the nearest RiteAid. It’s what I did when I lived in Cleveland.
Vegemite is a superfood, by the way.
End of an era for Spurs I think…
I think so too. It will be hard to see Duncan and Gino making a big impact from here on out if they were to come back next season.
Spurs have to be perfect from here on out… And Westbrook just daggered.
And if it wasn’t… the Westbrook three was…
I also just realized Steven Adams is only 22… has a very similar impact to the Thunder like TT has for us.
Gotta Lil more nasty in him.
And more size: 7-0, 255.
That was the game right there… Duncan blatantly got fouled, no call, and Durant finishes on the other end with a dunk.
Did he? Never saw a replay.
Billy Donovan needs a panic button…
http://understandinghumandesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/panic-button.jpg
Mark Jackson: “You can’t just change the rules…”
JVG: “I just did!”
Roberson just blocked that Kawhi shot out of the gym!
Thunder should go to LBJ’s patented prevent offense…
Yep… drawn and quartered…
https://twitter.com/kpelton/status/730949158102663168
This would be an all time best comeback. Spurs showing a ton of heart, and of course OKC somewhat let up. Can’t think they will totally gag.
Wow… Roberson had about a 5 second look at that three before bricking it… #LetStWeirdoShoot
https://twitter.com/ElusiveGin/status/730947735789035520
Now that is a rough get. I’m already pretty impressed with how far theyve gotten already. Especially considering they are doing so with St. Weirdo and other ill-fitting pieces on their roster.
Someone needed to take a Delly foul to stop that break.
Don’t look now, but sa clawing back.
And on the back of 65 year old Andre Miller no less!
In the East I hope the Raptors win that series. I would like to see the young Cavs play at the Raptors gym so they can get a taste of how loud is going to be if they make it to the finals.
The last time the Cavs played there they choked and their crowd was part of what disrupted them IMO.
“Jesus, everything ends badly, otherwise it wouldn’t end.” – Cocktail
Bye-bye Duncan/Ginobili/Parker.
I don’t hear no fat lady.
I’m baffled at the complete disparity of talent between these two teams. The Spurs literally aged before our eyes in this series…
http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t362/silicon-p/Post4/tumblr_mfdyw2HUJ61qzk44io1_500_zpsvb5crrz0.jpg
Great stuff RJ! As for the Spurs…
Check out @oldseaminer’s Tweet: https://twitter.com/oldseaminer/status/730943231928602624?s=09
Man it’s like CtB needs a nightly live thread now! We just like to watch the NBA with each other!
Yes sir.
I appreciate the regular commenters and their insight. Thanks amigos!
I agree, I always come on the blog to comment on other games, this is the place to be
I really need to go to Live Thread Anonymous…
EG is to blame. He made the first Spurs/OKC comment.
Agree Tom. It would be great if there was a “room” for us all to check into to live chat. I think, as demonstrated beautifully here, there doesn’t need to be a preview or workup of any kind for non-Cavs games.
Just leave the door open….
Lol Dion! As great as the Thunder are playing, Dion always has to have a Dion moment.
I saw him driving and just knew something was going to happen, stream sticked and saw after it was a turnover lol
Kind of like the regular season when Shump dribbled too much.
I hope they give the thunder a few days to rest before facing the Warriors.
Thunder vs Warriors should be entertaining. Maybe the thunder can punish the Warriors down low with Katner, Adams and Ibaka hitting the glass hard but when the Warriors go small I’m not sure the thunder can match them.
The Warriors also only just finished their series yesterday. Rest time will be pretty equal.
I agree with you and the thunder with good rest should give the Warriors a great series.
WOW I LOST MONEY ON THE SPURS / OKC GAME TONIGHT –OUCH !!–( NEED TO DRINK MORE BEER OR SELL MORE HPS OR BOTH )——LATE GETTING IN ON FREE AGENCY ( GREAT ARTICLE )—BEIEVE WE HAVE TO GAMBLE ON J.R. AND QUITE POSSIBLY ” OVEPAY ‘ HIM HE HAS PROBABLY BEEN OUR M OST COSISTENT PLAYER THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE SEASON ( AND SOME OF THOSE REALLY UGLY LOSSES –HE WAS BASICALLY THE ONLY PLAYER OUT THERE WHO GAVE A S H -T )—DELLY I THINK WE CAN GET AT SOMEWHAT LOWER PRICE 5 YRS / 60 MILLION —-ARE THERE ANY… Read more »
So did Skip Bayless…
Hey Draymond… doesn’t look like you have to play the Spurs anymore…
http://a.fssta.com/content/dam/fsdigital/fscom/Buzzer/Images/2016/05/04/050416draymondgreen.vadapt.664.high.18.jpg
after allowing 31 points in da first half, they let up at spurs had 34 in the third quarter, if they defend in the first few minutes of the 4th and extend the lead they will be good, I don’t trust the spurs
What I would give to go against Dion in the finals.
This is like the Boobie Gibson Game 6 after the LBJ takeover in Game 5 that pretty much ended the Pistons’ run…
This beatdown is epic…
The Cavs should learn from this thunder team, the Spurs blew them out by 38 in game one of this series and they (the thunder) just took that hit and learn from it and now if they hold the huge lead they have right now they will complete a huge upset.
The Spurs look really old…….
Why do you mention the Cavs? Thunder’s response in this series is very admirable but the Cavs haven’t showed any sign of lacking resiliency. Especially with what they went through in the playoffs last year.
That looked maybe like offensive basket interference… but it was still a big throwdown from Adams…
The Spurs have no ball movement. I can’t believe I just wrote that.
Well Spurs Lite (Hawks) turned out to be frauds last season, Hawks Heavy (Spurs) turned out to be frauds this season.
The Force is strong in you young Leonard, but you are not a King yet. Not by a long shot.
This is actually eye-opening how out-matched San Antonio looks. People have been saying Spurs are too old for like the past 5-6 years. That they won’t be able to bring it again next year. Hence making assumptions. But the Spurs would always come back and prove the world wrong.
But now it’s different. Now the product on the court itself looks out-matched. This is not an assumption. It’s an observation. It is over. Father time has finally arrived.
How ironic, if LMA had stayed with the Blazers they might have been better than the Spurs. Certainly going forward.
Wonder if LMA will question his decision after this series is over?
Hmmmm, debatable. Even for going forward. If Pop doesn’t retire any time soon, no way Portland is better.
“It’s gonna be a slaughter!” “That’s the spirit!” “No! OUR Slaughter!”
http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s–vrbq45zq–/c_scale,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800/1340734867190718611.jpg
interesting to follow Skip Bayless’s tweets as this demolition ensues.
Kawhi the “superstar” sure hasn’t shown up tonight…
For comparison’s sake, here are LeBron’s stats in 15 elimination games: 31.9 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 6.6 apg
At 10/3/3 midway in the third quarter for Leonard, LeBron’s numbers are safe. I never realized Pop is 2-10 in close out games on the road.
Hope Windy is right. Hope Thunder are able to challenge the Warriors more than anyone else in the West.
Stunning the Spurs only scored 31 pts in the first half. Cannot see them coming back. At least they unraveled against OKC and not GS.
Wow. This is murder.
End of an era.
http://image.blingee.com/images10/content/output/2007/5/8/128758843_ca3aac61.gif
game aint over untill its over, look at what happened to Clips at home to close out the series … with the Spurs u just never know until the clock is at 0:00
Sure seems over…
It really is shocking how iso-heavy the Spurs have become. Not used to seeing them have trouble scoring the ball.
Aldridge needing the ball in the post has changed the ball movement somewhat I think. Our ball movement is better now than the Spurs.
Yeah it has changed the dynamic. But maybe they had no choice but to go to this? Lot of these guys that were effective 2 years ago: Diaw, Mills, Ginobili – are really having trouble.
Also shocking to see OKC playing some semblance of effective defense…
Doris Burke just asked Pop what happened at the end of the first quarter… Pop’s response: “We substituted and it went to crap.”
Laughed out loud at that comment. EG, if the Spurs lose, won’t they usurp the 66-16 Cavs as the highest win total team not to win the championship?
That’s a terrific observation Mike!
No. 1 is the 1973 Celtics — they won 68 games, but lost to the Knicks in the ECF after Havlicek got hurt. If the Spurs lose, they’ll be tied for No. 2 with the 2007 Mavs, who lost the 1-8 first-round matchup with the Baron Davis Warriors. Then the 2009 Cavs.
Thx for the reminder!
Superb writing and analysis. Love JR’s stock symbol: WTF!!! The symbol for Moz could also be SMH.
This was a highly creative, amusing, and informative post. I imagine you spent a lot of time writing this up, so thank you!
Amen to that. Great work RC
There are those who would call Cavs fans fools, but you’re no fool, RC, you’re a Cavs fan, and no doubt a motley one.
Shakespeare in the House! Me likes.
Alas, this could be offered as proof the monkeys can indeed imitate Shakespeare. RC referred to himself as the Motley Cav, and I, being aware of the Motley Fool stock website, riffed on that, being completely unaware that the Motley Fool Folks were riffing on none other than the Bard himself.
So I am ready for the next time my wife criticizes me. “No, Honey, I am not wasting time on CtB, I’m **learning**.”
Seems like we’ll need to trade Shump to keep JR and Delly. I’m OK with this course of action
Not sure why you think that, unless you’re just talking about Dan’s stomach for spending. The salary cap doesn’t come in to play for either of those guys. And even if we resign J.R., its not long term. Shump is on a (relatively) cheap 4 year contract.
We’ll need to be below the line by year after next, no way Dan is paying the heavy repeater taxes that start kicking in
Pure unadulterated awesome, RC! Well researched and very entertaining! (even though I still don’t think JR is a Joerger guy which will trump even crazy Vivek – at least for one off season).
J.R., Rondo, Boogie = homicide. I mean, when J.R. is the sane one…
Also, great writing. This was a joy to read as well as being well informed.
Resigning Delly is a must for next season regardless of how the rest of the playoffs pan out. I agree with your valuation of him here but actually think other teams won’t be as high on him for the simple fact that those without stars are not going to benefit nearly as much from what Delly brings a team, and those with stars either don’t need or can’t afford to over-pay for him. I think he ends up getting bid up a few million a year by the market and we end up matching at 5/60ish.
The new Utah sleeved jerseys are amazing….MLS jerseys
Reminder.
https://twitter.com/tompestak/status/617884433824260097
Great stuff, RC. Very entertaining read.
Delly’s deal will be this team’s version of the Hot Rod contract: Grin and bear it. (And Dan G. will be asking Griffin how it got to this point.) He’s too valuable to let walk. Think of Eric Snow starting on the 2007 Finals team. How much better is Delly?
He’s definitely better than E Snow in 2007. Defensively they were perhaps similar in effectiveness, with Snow possessing quick hands and Delly being a very intelligent help defender / nose-for-the-ball type guy. But teams quite literally (as in, no hyperbole here) did not bother covering E Snow at all when he didn’t have the ball. As in, he could stand 12 feet from the basket near the baseline and no one would cover him. And every now and then that was the Cavs best offensive option, because their offense was so bad, and he would receive the pass, and you… Read more »
Perfect description of Snow. He and Ira Newble probably shot about 25% on those wide-open 15-footers that teams were happy to concede. And Larry Hughes! Gawd, what a team.
Cleveland is the perfect place for Delly precisely because he doesn’t have to create here. If he and his agent realize that, maybe they’ll try to work something out. But I doubt it. He’ll probably have to hit the market to establish his value. And then anything goes.
I think you’re right on with this Tom, however, I can see a number of teams looking at their roster and thinking Delly would upgrade their PG position as a starter. If there is one thing GMs have proven, its that they’re happy to hand out terrible contracts for players that don’t fit their team. (I just want to point out that I used there, they’re, and their in one sentence correctly)
PFTCommenter would be so proud!
I have no idea why the Cavs couldn’t come to an extension with Delly last year. Everyone except Cols knew he would outplay any contract in the 4 years 20 million range that was being tossed out at that time. I think you are on point with 5/75 for him. Someone will be willing to pay that for a PG who has shown he can run any offense, hit threes, play defense, and of whom every coach raves. He has also improved his game every year he’s been in the league. There will be a team, and maybe more, who… Read more »
This is excellent. Nice piece. I am depressed about Moz. I think however, someone will sign him to at least 20 million three years, or something (as opposed to the 4 year 80 million he was in line for with the same performance as last year). He’s 7 feet tall, has a history of rim protection, a decent midrange shot, and is only going to be 30 next year. Someone who misses out on a top free agent with new money under the cap will sign him hoping for a big bounce back year from surgery/mental something. I honestly wouldn’t… Read more »
I feel like this entire piece needs a response podcast dedicated to it. Like a narrative reading it and everyone providing commentary
Financial Quote: “Best part of the lockout the gold diggers don’t get that money.”
lmao
Whenever J.R. Smith writes his autobiography, I will pre order it. He brings me constant joy.
“A Pipelayer’s Guide”
Yeah that would be a best seller