Preview & Live Thread: Cavs vs Warriors
2015-02-26
They say to be the best, you have to beat the best. With that thought in mind, tonight’s match-up is the biggest of the season. The Golden State Warriors come in to Cleveland with the league’s best record: 44-10 and are 8-2 in the last ten games (as are the Cavs). We all know about the brilliance of Golden State’s starting back-court — Curry and Klay combine to score 46 points and 11 assists and eight rebounds per game while posting all-time shooting percentages. But there’s more than just these two that make Golden State click.
Chris Ballard wrote a fantastic piece in Sports Illustrated on how the Warriors have gone from playoff “One-and-done to NBA title Favorites.” Ballard examines Klay, Curry, Kerr, Barnes, Iguodala, and secret sauce ingredient, Draymond Green (who is playing like the biggest draft steal of the last 10 years). The article even touches on what CtBers know is the real reason for Golden State’s success, the presence of three former Cavalier Herculoids: Mo Speights, Shaun Livingston, and now assistant coach, Luke Walton. It’s a great article and a more complete Warriors preview than I could give you.
Speaking of Draymond Green, he’s got to be on the short list for the league’s “Most Improved Player” award, and he’s angling his way to a max contract this coming summer. He’s become an unbelievably smart and competitive defender, who despite his 6’6″ size can guard players at almost every position, and he’s added enough offense that he’s not a liability on that end of the floor. But is he really that improved or is he just getting extra playing time? The showdown with Draymond and Kevin, tonight, might give us some answers.
Another candidate for most improved is the Cavs own Kyrie Irving. According to Zach Kempner at NumberFire.com, Irving leads the NBA in improvement when it comes to Wins Above Replacement. Of course, the article notes, LeBron James’ addition might have something to do with that.
Enjoy the game, tonight, and Go Cavs!
Wins Above Replacement
| Player | ’13-’14 WAR | ’14-’15 WAR (Estimated) | Difference (Estimated) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kyrie Irving | 1.45 | 13.12 | +11.67 |
| Khris Middleton | 0.10 | 11.14 | +11.04 |
| James Harden | 9.67 | 19.74 | +10.07 |
| Tyreke Evans | -0.75 | 8.96 | +9.71 |
| Anthony Davis | 5.46 | 14.18 | +8.72 |
| Ben McLemore | -4.29 | 4.10 | +8.39 |
| Markieff Morris | 3.20 | 10.81 | +7.61 |
| Lou Williams | 0.28 | 7.48 | +7.20 |
| Darren Collison | 0.82 | 7.84 | +7.02 |
| Cody Zeller | 0.09 | 7.08 | +6.99 |
| Jeff Teague | 2.05 | 8.96 | +6.91 |
| Gordon Hayward | 4.99 | 11.72 | +6.73 |
| John Wall | 8.30 | 14.55 | +6.25 |
| Tyson Chandler | 5.80 | 11.99 | +6.19 |
| Brandon Jennings | -2.82 | 3.29 | +6.11 |
| Russell Westbrook | 6.89 | 12.94 | +6.05 |
| DeMarcus Cousins | 4.45 | 10.47 | +6.02 |
| Draymond Green | 6.54 | 12.17 | +5.63 |
| Harrison Barnes | -0.74 | 4.64 | +5.38 |
| Jared Dudley | 1.93 | 7.26 | +5.33 |
Tom’s weekly segment on Dayton Sportsradio was in studio – Nate even called in! Â Listen here:Â http://www.wingam.com/Tom-Pestak-from-Cavstheblog-com-talks-NBA-Cavs-wit/17320024?pid=459695
Wow. Kerr getting his money’s worth on that T.
Why is he arguing???
Kerr with firrrreeeeeeeeeee
NICE!!!! KERR LOSING HIS COOL!!!!
Steve Kerr’s GETTIN UPSET!!
He cooled off real quick though… probably just to fire his guys up…
Nice movement by Bron inside on that one!
Great play out of the timeout well designed!!!
there we go CAVS!!!!
Can’t let Curry get that deep…
Gotta clean up the turnovers. We’ve been pretty good getting back on D and we need to gain this high pressure experience, but we gotta build on our lead(s) because GSW can light it up…quick.
Really see the contrast in ball movement between these two teams
Come on don’t look focus…. Close the half with a good run.
I meant don’t lose focus!!!!
How can Steph Curry be the MVP if he wears Under Armor shoes?
#Garbage
bogut is horrible surprised warriors play him more than lee…cavs fortunate to be up just can’t let up…warriors can really close leads fast…btw that last call was clearly out on green of warriors
He’s the only guy with size that they have… In fact he might be their only guy over 6’9 other than Festus Ezeli…
he’s useless though missed about 5 layups….they may be better running small with lee and bunch of shooters
It’s weird watching GSW play defense. Anyone remember those Don Nelson teams?
Good timeout called by Blatt…. Great timing.
Perk with a couple of quick ticky-tack fouls…
Refs way too quick with the whistle
Let’s close it out well!
And Perk with the foul away from the ball… gonna happen with him
Yeah, now that I saw the replay, he just straight shoved him.
What a terrible calll….. that was a nickel dimer.
That was Kyrie’s most embarrassing play of the season I’ll bet…
There’s that Perkins BRICK WALL Screen!!!
BEAUTIFUL SCREENS BY PERKINS!!!! HE’s A BRICK HOUSE!
He’s mighty mighty. Lettin’ it all hang out.
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! YESSSSSS!!!
Kendrick in the game!
AND setting a nice pick!!
The dude takes up a lot of space.
like cavs taking advantage of warriors 2nd unit here again have to tighten up the defense and hit the open shots
Great to hear the Q is even in playoff mode!
It is LOUD there!!!
Kyrie looked like he got fouled on that three also! Steph would’ve gotten the call… smh
We don’t need no stinkin fouls!!! The Cavs = BEAST MODE ENGAGED.
I feel like a kid at a candy store….. Love this type of games!!
if not for Cavs lazy transition defense they’d be up by double digits here…allowing way too many easy layups here….seems like love and shumpert are going through motions and mozgov can’t hit layups but at least is rebounding
Note to self: remember to breath.
Who can shoot the 3? WE can shoot the 3!
LOVE and then KYRIEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!
ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED!!!!!?????
Bwing out da secwet weopon!!! (Love)
KLUVVVVVVVVVVVV
Second time Cavs burned by the long full court pass to Green…
Moz came so close to blocking that Thompson drive
Just got home. LET’S GO!!!!
Long rest for Curry… Klay Thompson just got his first points.
Would love to see Love come alive this quarter…
IS THAT WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT???!!!
OH YEAH! WES IN THE HOUSE!!!
LBJ not moving the ball… BUT HE’S FEELING IT FROM DEEP!
WHO’S THE MVP???????? LBJ!!!!!
Warriors have played better if feels, but Cavs are up.
Kerr is really funny!
man the Warriors are so tough.
They freak me out how well they play. They’re like the Spurs but also with guys that can go into an extra superstar (37 points in a quarter) gear. [shudders]
Thank goodness they have to go thru the West!
Yeah, but we’re up by four, and still learning to play with each other.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ He’s right, you know.
yeah I agree. The Cavs look legit. I’m just saying, Golden State is playing out of the world this season.
cavs need to set up moz with that Z type mid range jumper and that will bring out their bigs and clear lane for easy shots…also lebron needs to stop this stupid bounce passes in traffic….they never work just drive to the hoop lebron….warriors have no answer
Most teams have seen the drop pass so many times that they can stop it easily every time…
MOZ is making a big difference… GS has no answer for him on the boards
How did Denver let him get away? They’ve been on a total nosedive since he left.
That’s there all night for LBJ.
Impose your will LBJ!
THAT’S more like it Bron! Keep getting inside…They can’t stop that!
The Pain Train down Euclid.
Lebron dominating the paint
This just seems like a game where Lebron will drop 40 and after the game just be like, “So who’s MVP?”
LBJ WITH A BEAST MOVE YET AGAIN!!!!
MOZ from DISTANCE!
That’s his shot!!! Like that he takes it!
Wow… that was a sick pass from Iggy…
Poor Delly….. got embarrassed on that one! HAHAHA.
Bron starting to get a little stagnant… and then he hits the three…
LBJ has to stop trying that drop pass in the lane… it rarely works these days…
Yep so predictable. Teams have figured out that is his go to on the roll pass and it seems as though half of them end up stolen these days.
It’s real hard to catch, too.
Warriors do a great job of slowing down the ball in their transition defense
I said it above, but Blatt needs to figure out the counter move to Kerr’s clever use of David Lee… chess match opportunity for Blatt…
I think TT needs to be on him… he gives up some size but his quickness should neutralize his moves/cuts.
Has to be at least 3 layups for gs. Not even sure how you stop it without a lockdown defender on curry and thompson that can deny dribble pentration on their own. i really don’t know how you defend this team because of the spacing their shooters provide. They scare me more than any other team in the nba, obviously for good reason. Unfortunately my league pass only has the backboard cam, so i cannot tell whether gs is forcing the d to break down or whether the cavs are sloppy on d.
warriors aren’t doing anything special their guys just move around a lot and Cavs are losing sight of their man, especially david lee…not too impressed by warriors but they do take advantage of other teams mistakes more than Cavs do
Negative: A little sloppy, shots aren’t falling, outside LeBron everyone’s playing tight.
Positive: David Lee had his best first quarter of the season and we’re only down 1. Also, LeBron is in full attack mode.
Past two games Kyrie is playing weird. Go back to your familiar spots and get buckets!!
Talk about a shootout! I’m betting the D gets turned up on both ends, but this is a fun game to watch!
Lebron has an absolute straight face, no smiles no nothin. Kyrie take notes
Yes…. it’s time to be about the business.
cavs getting schooled on D right now and no communication which is making david lee look legit…warriors have zero defense if lebron keeps driving and guys start hitting outside shots we can get this game….need to lock down on D rack up the fouls and make free throws
They’ve been playing good D on the other guys… don’t think they accounted for Lee since he doesn’t usually play much. That’s a total Kerr chess move and Blatt needs to figure out the counter move… Good challenge for him
Give credit where credit is due… David Lee is a great offensive player. But I agree… it’s the defense that needs to tighten up.
They have no defense down low… LeBron can score at will.
He knows it…. Bogut is their only rim protector…. need to get Love post touches.
Bogut is a statistically elite rim protector, one of the best in the nba, basically half the reason why gs is so good defensively along with the ability to switch nearly everything.
Can’t let Curry get an end of quarter three…
Good D by the Cavs on that one…
Glad to see it…. that was a barnburner 1st quarter!
Love that move by LBJ… beasted on Speights!!!
David Lee is their secret weapon… who knew?
Cavs need to adjust to Lee’s off ball movement…. Cavs are over helping a little bit on screens and are getting beat on those off ball cuts. If Curry goes for 40 let him have them but can’t give them layups.
Man these warriors are so efficient, everyone, everywhere on the floor