Live Thread: Cavs @ Pacers, 11/16/16
2016-11-16
Half of this rivalry will not be playing tonight, unfortunately.
This Wednesday night, in their second back-to-back of the season, the Cavs will be traveling one state to the left to play the first of four contests against the Central Division rival Indiana Pacers. Sporting a 5-6 record, the Pacers are looking to climb up to .500 as they set their sights on a second consecutive playoff berth after finishing as the 7th seed last year. Tonight’s 7:00 EST game could very well be a preview of an early-round matchup for the Cavs in the 2016-17 playoffs, so be sure to tune in!
Unfortunately for viewers, it appears that coach Lue has decided to give LeBron James his first bit of rest this season, as LeBron will reportedly be sitting this one out as a healthy scratch. Gotta keep an eye on the finish line, right? In addition to James, Cleveland’s JR Smith will sit out a third straight game nursing an ailing ankle. This will be an important test for the defending champs as they continue to build their identity when playing without LeBron — the Cavs are 4-15 in games sans the King since he made his return two seasons ago. It will be interesting to see if the Cavs’ Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love can lead the team to what a tough road victory against what figures to be a strong Pacers squad.
On the Pacers’ side, backup PG Rodney Stuckey has been ruled out due to a hamstring injury that has kept him from playing for the better part of a month. Indiana is currently 5-1 at home. The Pacers’ Paul George leads the team in scoring at 21.0 PPG. After missing most of the 2014-15 season with an injury, George returned to the fold last year to reclaim his status as a legit 2-way superstar, and he has continued to excel in this young season as well. Cavs fans will also see a familiar face starting at PG for the Pacers — former Hawk Jeff Teague, who was brought to Indiana from Atlanta during the offseason. The Cavs will have their hands full trying to contain this new-look Pacers crew at less than full strength.
Should be good one. Go Cavs!
We are shooting 38.7%. Pacers 50%.
Play some defense please
Not until the weather gets warm again…
Great minds think alike.
No defense until playoffs. Its the new rest.
That Frye layup was the first points by someone other than KI or Love.
In this half.
That was a terrific pass from Ky to Channing!
KLove with the bailout THREE!
How is it possible that the Pacers keep peeling the ball away without fouling? Are they that good, are the Cavs that weak or are the refs that blind?
A combination of all of the things you suggested lol
I thought Ty wanted these guys to play with pace, no?
Kyrie keeping them close…
He’s going to need to go for 50 for them to win this one.
60
More Beat on Shump night – , 1-5, 2 points, 1 assist, 3 turnovers. -11 in 18 minutes.
Channing not making even his open looks tonight…
Wow that foul call. Incredible.
Not sure why Love isn’t back on the block.
These phantom foul calls drawn by PGs driving and losing the ball are annoying…
“Tell me about it.” – Shump.
Good one, JoeyB.
It’s about that time…. http://www.pleasestopdribblingShump.com
It’s always that time. Anytime the ball doesn’t carom off his foot I’m shocked.
Also – can we actually register that domain and have it be a loop of all his unforced errors?
Set to Benny Hill, of course.
Also possible – we don’t score another point.
Second Half prediction: Third quarter is competitive, maybe we even take a lead. Then tired legs and heavy minutes take over and defense falls apart in the Fourth. Pacers by double digits. And zero craps given by anyone. RINGZ.
http://o.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/GLOB/crop/2363×1270+0+860/resize/604×327!/format/jpg/quality/85/http://o.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/adam/69180086b46bfc14e362336fd70101eb/140868285.jpg
Thank you, EG. I think that’s the first time I’ve smiled in a week. A more civilized time.
I do miss Johnny…
If you want to understand the impact of Lebron, just watch Channing Frye tonight. Playing with Lebron, he is burning lava, the stretchier of stretch 5s, the best role player L ebron ever played with and so on. Without him, he is a slow-footed sharpshooter, a liability on defense, looking close to being over the hill as he did in Orlando.
It is a back to back also… but yes, LBJ makes a difference when all CF has to do is basically hang out by the three point line…
I think RJ is done. He probably should have retired. I get why they wanted him back, and don’t have a problem with him signing. But I think he used the last of his fumes last year and it would be a shock if he has meaningful minutes in the playoffs. Birdman, Jones, Dunleavy are probably in the same boat.
I think we should slow down on who is done or not (except for Birdman-he may retire midseason). Experienced players such as Dunleavy and RJ know their bodies and when to get in top form. It’s not as if we need them on a nightly basis, anyway. We at least have to give them the benefit of the doubt.
Well, maybe I should qualify it with this: Without LBJ, those players wouldn’t be playable anymore. Certainly not on a contending team.
These are 2 completely different things. I agree though.
Love, 17 points, Irving 14 points, Liggins 4 points. No one else with more than 2.
Not really a surprise though… No LBJ means that guys like TT, Channing and Shump don’t get fed in the right spots on the floor…
Not a surprise at all. Just noting it for the record. We often convince ourselves we have decent depth, but we really don’t. After our top six players, there really isn’t much there. And without LBJ, a lot of our guys are just mediocre. Frye, Shump, J.R. – those guys are much less useful without LBJ on the floor.
Although, the entire gameplan revolves around LBJ, so it’s a bit less overt than that I think…
Perhaps. But it just underscores what a phenomenal talent he is. He can take someone with one useful quality and below average everywhere else, and make that player useful. I’m enjoying watching him get older, because he has to use his elite intelligence more and more, and its awesome.
On a statistical note, with LBJ not there, we are spotting roughly 50 points to the opposition
Irving and Love 13-24
Everyone else 6-23
Such a bad shot choice there by RJ… would have been cool to see that last Frye heave go in…
Some numbers so far as Cavs make improbable run to cut deficit. 8 assists to 9 turnovers. Kyrie and Kev 31 points. Everyone else 12.
LIGGINS!!
Love is just a completely different player than two years ago. I mean, he’s back to the player he was three years ago. He’s finally both healthy and comfortable. That championship improved his mental state more than anyone on the team.
Teague was an all star last year. Over Ky. Remember that.
Unconscionable…
Liggins with some great D there!
Kyrie and Kev nail back to back treys to pull it close again…
Liggins looks like the best of the end-of-the-bench guys. Plays in control and within himslf. Takes great pride on his D. Also, I love Thad Young;s game.
Agree on Liggins. He’s useful. Felder got game but needs work. McRae….4A
Kinda like that. 4A McRae
That was an unfortunate four point swing… McRae actually made a good pass to TT, but he just couldn’t finish…
How did the Cavs win 30 games with Kyrie and TT as the best players on the team? These guys look lost without Bron. Like they forgot the playbook.
I’ll tell you how: Alonzo Gee.
I really kind of hate Jordan McRae. I know he’s Orange Mamba and all, but he serves no purpose on this team – a score only shooting guard.
McRae shoots way too early in the clock…
macrae shoots way too _________. We could spend all evening filling in that blank.
They may not be good for the NBA anymore, but we have a helluva old man YMCA team: Jefferson, Dunleavy, Birdman, Jones.
I hope they try some defense today?
What is this, the playoffs?
That dunk by TT. Wow! Play of the day, calling it now.
Kyrie channelling his inner JR…
https://vine.co/v/5TJ3jwg0jPe
Am I crazy, or is it much harder to win without Lebron on the floor?
You’re crazy…
Ky gets on the floor for a loose ball… then KLove triple cuts it to two!
WOW! TT!
https://vine.co/v/5TJ3BpOpQzY
TT struggling from the line this year…
I guess those flashes of perfection last year were not sustainable.
He should try shooting them with both hands…
Great two man game between Ky and KLove that time…
Kyrie might have to score 60 to win this…
Any minutes that Channing plays where he’s not averaging a three shot per minute are wasted minutes…
In Games like this one tonight Kyrie and Kevin should try harder but they never do. It would be hard for Kyrie to get an MVP if he can find a way to win games like this one.
Hopefully Ky can hit this Tech…
Frye says get that weak stuff outta here!
Birdman looks 55 years old. Yikes!
So does Al Jefferson…
True. He has missed 2 layups he made a career off. I think he is done.
Apparently no Dunleavy tonight either…
He’s recovering from those two baskets he made last night.
Good God Birdman looks like total garbage
Transition D a problem right now for the Cavs…
KShrimp jumper!
McRae is not good at finishing….
Killer Shrimp! A little out of control but playing his heart out! Love him!
K2Zero is my hero…
Amazing how the Cavs can’t get open looks from 3 with LeBron out
KShrimp drawing fouls!
Birdman sighting! NOMAD will be so happy…
Let’s see a throwback TWolves KLove night. 35 points, 20 rebounds.
Channing really shouldn’t put the ball on the floor against smaller players…
Two quick fouls on Kyrie leads to a KShrimp sighting!
Seems like the game plan tonight is (1) shoot 50 threes and (2) ….
I mean they’re giving it down low to Love almost every time right now…
True. I’m being a teensy bit dramatic.
This is not going to go well
And now the Cavs are…
Pacers missing a lot of shots… fortunately for Cavs…
Kevin Love in the post is awesome to watch…
Shump and RJ in the starting lineup…
I hate life
Why? Election?
Maybe Kyrie will drop 50 to make you feel better…
That 3-14 record without Lebron has got to bother Kyrie, Kevin, and the rest of the gang.
I’m with LeBron… exhausted from last night’s game…
Glad LeBron is taking the night off. Rather him not have to run n gun after last night. Well done TLue.