Preseason Podcap: Atlanta 109, Cleveland 93 (or, the Waiting is the Hardest Part)
2017-10-05https://soundcloud.com/ctb-5/podcast-episode-146-the-waiting-is-the-hardest-part
Photo: Joshua Gunter, Cleveland.com
With a wistful nod to the recently departed Tom Petty, we embark with the newly constructed Cavaliers on the (seemingly never-ending, but at least a bit shorter) pre-season campaign. In their first of five warm up games that don’t count, the guys in wine & gold red and yellow trimmed tighty-whites (which actually didn’t look half bad), took on the erstwhile Atlanta Hawks and their lone remaining peroxide patched, hookah bar brawler of a point guard, Denis SchrÖeder.
The initial results were promising, as the new starting five (minus a certain kid from Akron) featuring big men who can shoot and guards who can’t, almost blew the hapless birds out of the building, constructing a 21-7 lead halfway through the first quarter. Then, Ty Lue (in an obvious nod to the start of the NHL season) proceeded to hockey line switch to his second line. Newcomers DWade, DRose and Jae Crowder flashed some of the skills that make you glad they’re a part of the team. Other fresh faces like Jeff Green, Cedi Osman and the cajoled senõr himself, Jose Calderon, weren’t quite as impressive.
Still, it was just one game… and a pre-season game with no LBJ at that… but, the second half was a nearly endless quagmire of hoisted shots, an absence of recognizable sets, and more hijacking of the offense than you might find in your average G-League game (coming soon to a few select candidates). Most of this was perpetrated by the Cavs’ third team unit, while the Hawks starters (looking at you Kent Bazemore) took out some of their anger at being left behind on a lottery team. The results weren’t pretty… but will be long forgotten soon… unlike the incomparable Tom Petty.
We went four deep on our first podcap of the new season, adding our newest member, Matthew Murnan, to the mix along with Nate, Sam and EG (#shademaster). We get into the details of this game and some predictions for the playoff teams in each conference, and also highlight our expected surprises and disappointments of the coming season. Not to mention plenty of discussion surrounding Iman Shumpert’s possible injured foot and TT’s adjustment to being a sixth man (and expecting dad).
You can listen listen above, on Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts or Google Play.
ROLLL TRIBE!!!! Awesome game!
1 MORE TO GO!!!!
2 MORE OUTS!
Wow that 29 pitch appearance by miller may comeback to bite us. Definitely won’t be pitching tomorrow now. That Headley AB was huge in just pushing his pitch count up there.
He was a little wild, but I think he’s used to getting some of those lower pitch calls.
Definitely could have had a few on the corners.
3 More Outs! Let’s get this Cody!
wow. what a great appearance by Cody
HELL YEAH
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!
Sweaty palm time!
man I’m nervous
Well that should do it for Miller
Come on Miller!
Yep. Tito knew what he was doing, I guess. Bauer was electric. Miller is back.
This team can still get stronger. Brantley. Clevenger or Salazar as 4th starter over Tomlin.
https://twitter.com/BenAxelrod/status/916122296078790657
Looks like the Andrew Miller we all know and love.
that’s how you come on in relief. 4 pitches – 2 looking strikes at Fastballs, hook for the K
that was about perfect from Bauer
Hell, I would have taken the 5 and 1/3 no hit no run ball against that lineup.
Brilliant performance by Bauer.
Can’t ask for anything more. Tremendous performance against that lineup. Now the bullpen needs to hold it. Can’t waste a start like that against the Yankees.
Wow, I thought Bauer wouldn’t come out for the 7th. Save his pitch count to preserve him for a possible game 4 start. I guess not. Or his count is so low it doesn’t matter.
Why didn’t Uershela run to first on that SO/Wild Pitch?
Man on 1st. Can only do the strikeout/wp thing with 1st base open, I believe.
Really. Didn’t know that.
SICK!!!!!!!!!!
Wow! Bauer is lethal!
Jay Bruce with another great at bat and JRAM with some serious baserunning.
Jay Bruce and Bauer are the MVPs of this game.
Tribe making the least out of the most. Bad baserunning from Santana on Urshela’s single. Lindor whiff’s on 3 pithces. Kipnis can’t take advantage of being ahead in the count. Bases loaded with O outs = 1 run. Loaded with 1 out = 0 runs. Yikes.
man this game could have been blown open. Some bad at bats with bases loaded less than 2 outs.
Yeah Lindor looking human.
Pressing. None of those swing and misses were anywhere near the zone.
https://twitter.com/FearTheSword/status/916108424563261442
Nice ;)
Smoltz is the best. And he just said he never played on any teams with this kind of top to bottom pitching.
I like him as a commentator but that 1995 team might be the greatest staff of all time considering the era.
Yeah Maddox, Glaven, and Smoltz were filthy.
I dunno – this staff is insane.
https://twitter.com/FOXSports/status/916106215356112896
https://twitter.com/SportsTimeOhio/status/916105515960197120
BRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Damn, strikeout & Judge gets 1st on the WP. Time for a DP.
Are you behind on the action?
As incredible as they have been, we need to remember the Tribe are down 3 starting field players (Brantley, Zimmer, Diaz). Really wish we had Diaz in the 8 hole instead of Perez in the 2nd.
Two bad calls on J-Ram that at-bat.
It’s a really big strike zone. To be fair he called that really high breaking ball a strike against Judge.
https://twitter.com/MLB/status/916100076736565249
https://twitter.com/Buster_ESPN/status/916099134066700288
That Kipnis catch was pretty incredible.
https://twitter.com/clevezirm/status/916093763826614272
https://twitter.com/JoeW6_/status/916076858999037954
Arod picking Yankees in 5. Shocking.
How does the cheating, lying, A-Rod even have a job. Or Big Pappy either. The Big Hurt should smack both those cheaters in the nose. You know he wants too. Sad that Fox couldn’t find two non-cheating ex-players to comment.
With Shump out 7-10 days and Lue saying Cedi out Friday with back spasms, it will be interesting what Lue does with the second unit. James was full go today so the starters will be in place. Assuming: Rose, JR, James, Crowder, Love. 2nd unit will likely contain Wade, Korver, Green, & TT. Will Lue play Holland as the SG? Could insert RJ at the 3 and Korver at the 2? Personally, I think two of James, Love, Wade, Rose (& IT) should be on the floor at all times. So I don’t like this hockey subs thing. But if… Read more »
https://twitter.com/ZackMeisel/status/916020987832934400
Whose your starting line up for your least favorite Cavs?
PG: Shump
SG: Larry Hughes
SF: Earl Clarke
PF: Boozer, or Jeff Green
C: Ryan Hollins
Notable mentions: Ricky Davis, Kay Felder, Andrew Bynum, Manny Harris
Think Bynum has to be a starter…he’s just that good…
Absolutely! Bynum tops Hollins by any measure. Hollins was merely worthless. Bynum was way beyond that.
https://twitter.com/Reflog_18/status/916015584608792576
Well, shucks…
https://twitter.com/joevardon/status/916004670354714624
East: Cavs, Wiz, Raps, Celtics, Bucks, Heat, Pistons, Sixers
West: GSW, Houston, SA, OKC, Denver, Blazers, Clippers, Wolves
Book it.
I like the Bucks a lot this year to be the second best team in the conference. Celtics drop a bit as you have. Wizards in the same spot. Same with the Raptors.
Yep. I think Giannis is the second best player in the East.
Agree with most of Arch’s list.
East: Cavs, Raps, Wiz, Celtics, Bucks; Heat, Pistons, Charlotte. (If Embiid was playing I eould take Philly).
West: GSW, Spurs, OKC, Houston; Clippers, Blazers, Wolves, Nuggets. (I want to pick Memphis badly but cannot until Parsons proves he can still play).
Forgot about the Blazers. They could snag that last spot.
https://twitter.com/TheRealJRSmith/status/915943620389343233
My rankings:
West –
1. GS
2. Spurs
3. OKC
4. Houston
5. Wolves
6. Nuggets
7. Clippers
8. Memphis
East –
1. CAVS
2. Bucks
3. Wiz
4. Toronto
5. Boston
6. Heat
7. Pistons
8. Philly
Boston should be higher, maybe 2-3. They do have talent and I don’t see Toronto/Wiz being better.
Agree that Green & Shump would be better if they would stsy in their lanes. Or rather, what we think their lanes should be. When I hear Lue laud Green’s shooting or describe how we are going to get Shump more involved in running pick & rolls I think the problem lies with Lue mischaracterizing their roles.
I hope JRL’s analysis of them trying to wow the coach yo make the team is true.
Right. Occasionally I worry that Lue ain’t right. This fantasy that Shump and Green can play is an example. Obviously, as HC, it is his job to take up everyone, but he appears to believe it.
ESPN just can’t help themselves:
https://twitter.com/ESPNNBA/status/915969982030401536
Is it me or does Kyrie’s little smirk annoy others as well? Cannot wait gor the Cs to finish 5th.
https://twitter.com/Yankees/status/915951257952690176
Yankees now trolling. How will LeBron respond tonight?
I don’t hate Tavares. And have no problem with him on the team, but there’s just not enough room on this team.
2 way player as a project I have no issue with it. No way does he make the top 15.
“Atlanta Hawks and their lone remaining peroxide patched, hookah bar brawler of a point guard, Denis SchrÖeder.” ———– Great Line!
At my age, if I get in a bar brawl, it had better be a hookah bar. Them stoners are real slow.
BTW, nice Tom Petty reference in the title, Nate. I nominate Free Fallin’ to describe Shumpert’s career trajectory. And Don’t Come Around Here No More for Jeff Green.
I nominate “Yer so bad” for Shump, Green, and Felder.
“Don’t Come Around Here No More”? “You Got Lucky”? Too harsh? Should we save “You Got Lucky” for Kyrie?
Good choice for Irving!
If Kay Felder, Shump, and Jeff Green were starters, and LeBron, nor Love were on this team, I don’t think I’d watch the season.
YEAH THE MAIN ( POSSIBLY ONLY THING ) GOING FOR SHUMP / GREEN IS YOUTH / ATHLETICISM —–THE MIGHTY QUINN WOULD FILL NICELY IN THAT BACK UP ( 3RD PT GD ROLE )—-NOT SURE I WOULD KEEP JOSE RIGHT NOW —ROLE THE DICE WITH ROSE / WADE / LEBRON AND HOPE- ” I.T.”- WILL BE BACK IN JANUARY
JRL YOU ARE DEAD ON WITH YOUR ANALYSIS OF SHUMP / GREEN /—–PLAY YOUR ROLE —KNOW YOUR ROLE —–PLAY TO YOUR STRENGTHS ( WHATEVER THEY ARE ) AND YES YOU PASS THE EYE TEST —-MORE IMPORTANT YOU ACTUALLY CAN BE AN ASSET TO THE TEAM
On the plus side, the first unit looked really good. Wade, Crowder, & Rose especially.
They did. I can’t wait to see Crowder and LeBron play together. I think they will complement each other nicely.
PERKINS BEST YEARS ARE WAY BEHIND HIM / CANNOT USE THAT ROSTER SPOT WITH HIM– ( “‘ZZ” CAN FILL THAT ROLE MUCH BETTER )—SHUMP DOES NOT HAVE THE MENTAL TOUGHNESS —HE HEARS WHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING / THINKING / NOT TOUGH ENOUGH TO PLAY THRU IT –GET BETTER—JUST SEE REGRESSION FROM HERE ON OUT / HOPE I AM WRONG !!
Green & Shump are really the only guys we have who do dumb things consistently. JR has his moments but is really pretty sound most of the time. Still, Shump is 26 & Green 30 & both guys are so much more athletic than a lot of our older guys (Frye, Korver, Calderon, even RJ). Tough decision. I would keep Frye for his shooting & locker room presence. Ditto RJ.
I would cut Green (Lue won’t), Calderon (possible if Wade is our PG#2), or Shump. Too bad we just didn’t sign Cook last year.
I think Jeff Green will make me yell at the tv as much as Shumpert if he plays a significant role on the Cavs. Only Shump can injure his foot trying to dunk just a few minutes into the first pre-season game. I think last year’s poor play in the playoffs and scrutiny/criticism Shumpert has faced is in his head. I think further regression is what lies ahead. Welcome Matthew !!
I would say he won’t see the court much, then I remember Lue is the head coach, and he probably thinks Green is somehow good…
I think so too. He seemed, just like Green and Felder, to be trying to “Wow” coach Lue. If he/they had just played to their strengths (although I have no clue what Felder’s are), they would passed the eye test.
Shump’s sole purpose should be to play defense and attack the basket on a smart pick and roll. Green should be defense/rebounding and a simple, opened shot. Neither one should be dribbling the ball and trying to play ISO. Neither one is good enough for that.
Felder has no reason to be in the NBA.
Thanks Man!
https://twitter.com/World_Wide_Wob/status/915772385072054272
http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=yczk3d76 Add in the BKN pick and wait until IT can be traded and I do this trade
Conley is great but that trade is terrible. You’re basically exchanging the Kyrie package for a 30 year old PG who makes $30m a year.
I don’t think it really is the Kyrie package. Crowder is MUCH better than Shump and on a cheaper contract, Zizic gives us youth and is on a rookie deal as opposed to Channing Frye who, while I love him and his contributions is making over 7 mil a year and won’t see the court during the finals. I’ll give you IT being the same but Conley is a SIGNIFICANT improvement over IT and Kyrie on the defensive end of the court. He’s older, yes, but not too old. I’d make the trade if Conley is available.
Speaking of Boston and them being good/bad. It’s hilarious that the whole time Kyrie Irving was on the Cavs he was, narratively speaking, way overrated. A lot of those big talking head guys were analyzing Kyrie saying that he wasn’t even top 5 as a PG. But now that he is on the Celtics, they are suddenly going to be challenging the Cavs because Irving… Ya, right.
I hope we aren’t actually thinking about keeping Perkins. They can’t be considering that, right?
If they make a big trade, it might work.
PETER THANK YOU FOR THE “KY ” UPDATE—-HOW SOON INTO THE SEASON BEFORE THE ” BELOVED ” CELTIC FANS TURN ON KY—-AND HE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT !!
As soon as Kyrie goes back to his recidivist ways and then he’ll tell the world how it all came down crushing to him!
ONLY GOT TO SEE THE 1ST HALF —–WOW THOUGHT J GREEN MIGHT SURPRISE ME ( CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG ” ENCHILADA ” WAS MUCH BETTER– –WTF )—-JOSE SHOWED WHY HE CAME CHEAP —-SHUMP WILL ALWAYS BE SHUMP ( WISH WE COULD HAVE PULLED A TRADE BEFORE ALL THE GM’S WISED UP TO WHAT KIND OF PLAYER HE IS / ALWAYS WILL BE )—-KSHRIMP PACK YOUR BAGS FOR EUROPE —-LIKE WHAT I SAW IN CEDI —–I WOULD KEEP HOLLAND OVER SHUMP —-“ZZ” IS GOING TO BE A NICE SURPRISE ( MY NEW DELLY HERO )—-HE IS A TRUE ”… Read more »
Ya, Jeff Green was awful. As far as the back up back ups go, I actually liked what I saw from Zizic and Osman. Both of them seemed to have trouble finishing around the rim but that will come. Both look like they have pretty good footwork. Especially given Zizic’s size. He seemed to move pretty well down there. I think both could be big pieces in a season or two.
Shameless disclosure. I hate-watched Kyrie’s Celtics preseason debut and I “liked” what I saw. I mean this guy who expressed his profound desire to play point guard took the very first shot of the game (he missed!) about 15 seconds from the opening tip. To his credit, he played his part in the Celtics’ nice motion-heavy passing game in the early goings. I could be wrong but the Celtics’ main facilitators were Al Horford and Gordon Hayward. Kyrie was rested a little early and returned with about 2 minutes to go in the first quarter to quarterback the reserves. The… Read more »
I hear you Peter, I watched it too and must admit I wasn’t wishing him many buckets. Yeah he looked rusty but still hit some sweet shots and moved like the Kyrie we knew so well. While a lot of the breakdowns while he was distributing were missed shots by teammates, I did have to chuckle when he decided to do it all himself, started his triple crossovers to the oohs and ahhs of the crowd (we know he craves this) and then clanked the shots. I am more amused at people saying they will be best in the East,… Read more »
It’s possible that Kyrie eventually proves us wrong but for now, there is no evidence that he is a legitimate point guard. He is definitely a fabulous shot maker but he has yet to show he can run an offense on a consistent basis. Danny Ainge said he will be a much better passer with Celts but to me, the jury is still out. I mean, at the start of the second half, Boston fielded an all reserve five against Atlanta’s starting five. Marcus Smart who is supposedly more of a combo guard , quarterbacked the Celtics and actually facilitated… Read more »
Sssshhaaaademasterrrrr!
Does the lettering on Love’s jersey look a lot smaller than that on Crowder’s jersey or is it just me?