Live Thread: Cavs vs. Rockets
2018-02-03
With trade winds swirling and the Cavs struggling, one of the NBA’s top three teams drops into Cleveland to take on the Cavs. The Rockets are 8-2 in the last 10 games, and Harden has been especially prolific. Tuesday, he posted the highest scoring triple double in NBA history, notching 60, 10, and 11 against the Magic. The Rockets are tough, and they’ve been known to drop a game or two due to lax defense. If the Cavs are to win, they’ll need at least adequate defense, and some superior offense.
The Cavs do have an opening with the Rockets missing one of their best bench guys in Eric Gordon. If the Cleveland can capitalize, and the bench unit can top the Warriors, the starters just have to hold them to a draw. Key for the Cavs will be controlling pace and limiting turnovers, which they – and especially LeBron James – have been particularly bad at. A further Key? Figuring out who the heck Isaiah Thomas is going to “guard.” The Rockets start a very big lineup of Chris Paul, Harden, M’bah-a Moute, Ryan Anderson, and Clint Capela. I guess you put him on Paul or Anderson and hope for the best.
We’ll see what happens. I was confident when I started this recap. Not so much now. Let’s go Cavs.
What’s our record for worst defeat ever?
55 points — lost to the Lakers 112-57 in the first season after LeBron left.
i think losing to that lakers teamthat had fouled out was worse
Agreed. That was tragicomical…
Oops–it’s me.
Burn it down. Keep Love & the picks. Keep Cedi & Zizic. Korver. Green if he wants to stay. Ditto Frye. Calderon in case we pick a PG.
If Bron wants to stay, fine. If not, thanks for the memories. Everyone else can go or ride the pine.
Totally agree.
When do they try?
wish the fans would boo them out of the stadium
Right now the Cavs are the worst team in the NBA. Not a hot take, it’s the fact.
How does Ty Lue have a job.
Exactly.
LeBron nor even trying on D.
Rarely see a game where LeBron is just not making his mark on the game – seems OK with deferring tonight despite the score
It’s going to happen as long as Thomas is playing.
Yup, the team’s issues run much deeper than just IT… but as you’ve said before, none of them can even be addressed as long as IT is still around.
jr would need to hit like 10 more in. a. row to even get this back to single digit deficit
Lol…even the Kings compete better than this…
Don’t think the Cavs hit 90 tonight unless Frye or Korver get hot for a few minutes…
BLOW IT UP !!!—-WHERE IS CEDI ?—-ANTE (DOWN IN CANTON WTF ) —24 PTS / 18 REB’S / 3 BLOCKED SHOTS —WHY ?? TY WHY ?/
cant risk cedi – gotta play bron 38 min and make sure guys like jr and jae and tt get their mins
IT Might be the worst player in the league.
There’s no “might”
In two months he may or may not be, but right now he is. And Lue is playing him big minutes for some reason…but hey, CavsDan loves him…
Lol. Thomas. STOP TAKING THE PULLUP THREE IN TRANSITION!
TT on Harden working out real well
Harden drives on TT, no one even moves to help.
IT lol…lmao…
If Thomas is getting minutes after trade deadline, this season is over.
With DG running the show you can take it to the bank.
I would take Felder over IT right now…not even joking…
Agreed.
Tuned in with 8:15 left in the second. Yikes.
Tuned in with 8:15 left in the second. Yikes.
Lol. Thomas.
Both teams are missing their #2 scorers.
Good point…we’re lucky Gordon is sitting…he usually lights up the Cavs…
ryan anderson with his first career rebound
Without Love, the Cavs do not have the scoring to hang with teams like this…
CP3 is awesome.
We could have had him. Luckily we got IT.
Might want to stop driving on capella
Wish the Cavs had freaking Capela…
Or Gerald Green.
Only a miracle would save this team.
The Cavs are barely a 5th or 6th seed in the east right now. This game is over…. I’m out.
Dude, we are 2 games up on #7 after tonight. Bet we get to #7 by the AS break.
With TT in, this is the most laughable lineup…
Look, with Love out 8 weeks & IT not 100% we will be lucky to make the POs. Detroit is in 9th and we are 5 games up on them after tonight (Det won + Cavs loss).
Rockets could beat us by 40 if they wanted.
https://twitter.com/cavs/status/959972830036164609
okay lets get it down to 10 before the half!
Or down to 20 at least
Tyronn Lue saying Rose needs to play more today. This man is trying to get fired.
Cavs may lose this one by 40 if they don’t start making buckets…
This is a murder.
Rose and IT look like the Keystone Kavs
Jeff Green at center in this lineup? With IT, Wade, Korver and Rose.
Yeah, this lineup is gonna bleed…
https://twitter.com/cavs/status/959970252015788032
Channing got lost on some p/r, missed threes, and Isaiah Thomas led to a twelve point rockets lead.
The non Isaiah parts were OK.
The Cavs look 50% more competent when IT isn’t out there…he’s brutal.
100%
Loathe that shot Green just took…
Me too. Way too many contested Js early in shot clock.
nothing worse than jeff taking a mid range 2 besides for shump taking it
Off the dribble, too…I think he shoots about 20% on those…
Come on channing. You have to play the p/r better.
Mark Jackson’s an idiot. Harden initiated that tangle with a blatant push off. great D, Jeff.
If Isaiah Thomas wasn’t playing, this would be a good game.
Shut up Marc Jackson
Lol…take that you massive turd…
Gerald Green was available for three months…
Wait till the Celtics trade for Tyreke…
James-to-Wade Kraken! Though Wade on his creaky knees doesn’t make that cut at near LeBron’s speed and force.
Still times his cuts as well as anyone in the league though.
Did anyone expect that Isaiah jumper to go?
Whyyyyy IT, why.
Isaiaugh
IT working on another sombrero from 3…
Freaking Tony brothers.
Whoo! Cavs D forces a turnover.
JR 0-4 from three in the first 6 minutes.
3 of the 4 were as open as practice
lookin good cavs
Best back court in NBA versus the worst. Isaiah and JR have been awful.
Not near enough shooting in this lineup, and IT just blows…
the golden turd
This is gonna be ugly…
What kind of film does Harden have on people? He gets fouls no one else does.
Where was the foul?
TT can’t score on Harden in the post. After the o-board, IT misses a hurried contested 3.
What’s with all the contested Js? Move the ball.
Nice D by Tristan followed by an awful shot by IT
What’s worse, Players Only or Mark Jackson?
We got this fam
Keep the Nets pick. There is no one we can get that is worth it. And by worth it I mean: A) Be under contract for a while, & B) Give us a shot to win a title. All the transcendant guys aren’t moving: Durant, Curry, Harden, Bron, Russ, Kawhi, Giannis. The semi-transcendant guys are also off the market: CP3, Kyrie, PG13, Davis, Butler, Boogie. The solid all-star level guys appear are also off the table: Klay, Dray, Aldridge, Griffin, Wall, DeRozan, Embiid, Oladipo, Porzingas, Lowry, Horford. Who is left that moves the needle? Lillard? Keep the pick. Hope we… Read more »
Don’t think the Nets pick is going anywhere…only way I can see that is for some deal for Lillard or McCollum, or some convoluted likely three team trade involving Kemba Walker and a bunch of other guys that transformed the team. I doubt those type of deals are out there, and even if they were possible somehow, I dont think this FO would find a way to make them happen.
Eric Gordon not Aaron Gordon.
Thanks
Prediction: Pain.
Houston has no problems. This will be over early.