Live Thread: Winning Ways, Turkey Days, and Hawk Daze
2024-11-27What can I say. The headline rhymes and the picture is of the venerable turkey hawk. Just sitting here on Thanksgiving Eve at the North Canton Winking Lizard waiting for the Cavs to tip off. I’m thinking of all the things for which I’m grateful. It starts with my family, gainful employment, friends, and health. Pretty high up on the list are all of you, and the ability to root for what seems like a decent set of dudes on the Guardians and Cavaliers. The Cavs being 15-1 and looking like the best regular season team I’ve seen since 2016 is something to give thanks for too.
When it comes to the Cavs, the depth has been something to behold. When then the season started, Ty Jerome was no higher than ninth on the depth chart and his health was firmly in the “nice to have” category. Of late, Ty Has been the Cavs’ Manu Ginobili: a super sixth man who can play three positions, pilfer the ball at will, and is just as good as any starter.
Ty is putting up 32/10/5 per hundred possessions with 3.2 steals and a net rating of +14.7. He’s helped the Cavs weather the injuries to Caris LeVert (who’s also been fantastic) and Dean Wade. In the last four in games, Ty has started two and is averaging 22/5/2 in 28 minutes, and frankly playing like an all star. He was key to dismantling the Pelicans and Raptors as no bench in the NBA is prepared to have a mix of Luka and John Stockton coming at them off the bench.
Meanwhile Donovan Mitchell does not have to carry the load every night, but he’s there if you need him. In fact of the Cavs rotation players, the only blemish has been Three Gorges Niang, who was a 1-13 disaster against the raptors. Fortunately, he’s been the lone thing to complain about, with a juvenated Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley filling in the gaps.
Speaking of which, Dean Wade, Caris, Max, and Emoni are all out tonight with only Cody Zeller on the out list for the Hawks. We shall see what Trae Young, the NBA’s biggest fraud, has in store for Cleveland, and if the lack of whistles the Cavs have contended with remains a factor. Happy Thanksgiving, and go Cavs.
Just don’t have it tonight.
Niang has been absolute cheeks.
Get Niang out of there!
Don’t like this lineup RN
Fuck these refs
Niang is trash tonight
I hate these refs! They’ve got money on the Hawks.
I didn’t see a foul there.
Nice defense Tyson
There ya go Mitch!
Holla.
Need to step up defensively to close this game out.
Nice drive Merrill. Solid close. Let’s hope they can in pull this out.
Dumb foul, ty.
Too many guys are off tonight
Thanksgiving Eve. Sometimes these holiday games favor the road team.
That and complacency. Maybe losing a few will sharpen them up.
Ball don’t lie.
Ball don’t lie
These refs stink!
Niang is useless.
Is someone gonna guard Hunter at the 3
I have no idea what we are trying to defensively.
The Hawks don’t look like a team that’s bottom 10 in 3 point percentage
Risacher is a menace
Great close by Mitchell and Mobley
OMG that Mitchell move.
Mitchell is lazy tonight
Jfc
Off night for Mitchell
Defense be shit
Mobley!
Boy that looked like a goaltend.
More bullshit from the Hawks
Darius rights the ship
Keep shooting those 3s DG!
Does anyone other than me think that cpg and garland should not be in the game together
Put in Ty for CPJ
Not a great game by any stretch but still have a lead
Cavs playing a lineup that’s probably never played together before
Too easy for Trae.
Spida is gassed
Lol. Clint Capela spooked.
Cavs finally sub Niang for Tyson.
And CPJ for Sam
Stop fouling 3 point shots
Sam’s shot isn’t falling but his floor game is fine. Can’t say the same for Gorges
Well I guess Merrill/Niang heard my complaint
Niang and Merrill minus 18. Went away from inside game. Don’t understand the defense philosophy anymore.
I don’t think it’s Sam.
Hawks taking Trae off the floor while the Cavs put Niang on is a problem.
Need to have a shorter leash on Niang and Merrill.
Horrible close to the quarter. Was up 19 and now it’s tied. Hawks on a 24-5 run.
Oof. This is brutal. Hawks shouldn’t figure out that Trae is unplayable
Merrill needs to find his shot
There goes that lead
Refs trying to keep the Hawks in this one.
That was some bullshitm
Barely got him, but this isn’t getting reversed
Is Quinn Snyder wearing fake glasses?
Atkin’s n having none of that bullshit. Very quick to after Atlanta fouled their way into a three.
IC3!
I’m kicking myself for not going to this gamem
TyTyTyTyTyTyTy
GEM3!
Or G3M!
Trae frauds his way for two
Man, they looks sharp
Sweet roll and catch, ice.
Daniels is a nice pick up for the Hawks.
God I love busting up the Hawks
go Cavs!
Nice start!
OMG. What a great fast break.
D showed up, but sloppy so far.
Let’s go Cavs. I know it’s a beautifully large number, but it’s 17-1. Enjoy the Lizard!