Live Thread: Nets @ Cavs
2015-11-28
The Cavs pulled out a tough win last night against the Hornets. Tonight, they face the lowly Brooklyn Nets, who have won just three games this season. Only one of them was a road game. The Wine & Gold have yet to win both games of a back to back. This is their best chance to do so.
Let’s play a game. Can you name the starting five of the Nets? If you aren’t a die-hard NBA fan, you’re going to have a tough time doing so. Right now, Jarrett Jack, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Thaddeus Young, Joe Johnson, and Brook Lopez hit the floor first for the Nets.
The Cavs should have no problem grabbing a win tonight. The Nets have just two players that would see the floor on the Cavs, Lopez and Jefferson. Every other player on their team would have a hard time just making the Cavs this season.
Brook Lopez is a very talented scoring center (20.1 PPG), but he is a below average rebounder and rim protector, despite getting averaging 2.1 blocks. He gets just 8.3 boards a night . If the Cavs run a small ball lineup, whoever is at the five will have a second Thanksgiving feast courtesy of Lopez. And, Lopez is already sorta in the Cavs’ pocket, as he is quite friendly with the Moon Dog.
This is dirty pool @cavsmoondog. I hope you all choke on that popcorn. #IThoughtWeWereFamYo #ForAllTheEdMikans pic.twitter.com/oCRXoKiKlD
— Robin Lopez (@rolopez42) March 18, 2015
Hollis-Jefferson is a rookie and likely the only player Brooklyn has with any upside. He’s shown that he’s a capable wing defender and will hopefully develop his scoring skills as he ages.
I’m picking the Cavs to win, 123-99.
Playing Mo and Jefferson at the same time is turning into a defensive nightmare. Jefferson plays some really undisciplined defense for a vet. Chasing Bargani off a deep mid range two immediately after gambling for a steal he had no chance at was one iteration tonight. And when you combine that with Mo its a disaster since when you play with Mo it like playing 4 vs 5. You need to be on your rotations. Getting Shump and Irving will help the defense so much. RJ playing the 3 and maybe some 4 will be a big improvement over what… Read more »
I’m very much a layman when it comes to advanced stats, but if you look at the Per-100 and Advanced boxes here: http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CLE/2016.html?lid=standings_team it looks to me like people are seriously exaggerating how much Mo is hurting our defense. He gets a Defensive Rating of 105, the same as J.R. (Delly has 106, which can’t be such a huge difference). He has 0.3 defensive win shares, and that’s the same as Delly.
Someone let me know if I have no idea what I’m talking about, though.
Mo plays great when he plays with TT, Delly, and Lebron. And he does that alot. Thats unit covers for alot of his mistakes. Its when he plays with other liabilties, or just average defenders that he gets destroyed. When he gets in a PNR with TT and Lebron on the floor they can cover for him. Thats why its smart to look at combinations, it can show you if this person is getting carried or is he holding his water in multiple combinations. The tiny URL for your query is:
http://bkref.com/tiny/Tkpmi
Looking at 3 man units its the same thing. RJ and Mo are together in 3 of the 4 worst units. But if you look at the top they both appear once there too. I think its that they are playing with the Delly, Lebron, TT combination that in 200 minutes is giving up a paltry 89 pts per 100.
That 89 per 100 possession is the best by 3.1 points in the NBA. And per 48 minutes it goes down to 84 points. Best by 6 points. This is with 200 minutes played.
It couldn’t be the best unit in the NBA playing 3v5 on defense–we have some good defenders, but not THAT good. This seems to suggest that Mo and RJ are able to turn up the intensity in important situations.
Are you factoring in his turnovers? It’s a problem especially in close games. As long as we don’t have Kyrie and SHump, games are going to be tight like this. Defense is so key in wins. It’s really THAT tight, no room for mistakes.
One more turnover on average than Delly gets. Mo has had more usage for a lot of the season, too. I don’t think that’s such a huge issue.
So I wrote this before looking up what 2 man combo with a 100 minutes played gave up the most points per 100 possessions. Answer: Mo+RJ 113 points per 100 possessions 150 minutes played. RJ+JR 112 – 115 mp KLove+JR 110 – 300mp JR+Mo 109 – 192mp Whats strange though is that the 2 baest 2 man combos are Delly+Mo 89 pts in 105 mp Delly+ RJ 91 pts in 234 mp Delly is in all the top 5 combos. But funny to RJ and Mo at the top. Though those are thee only appearances in any of the top… Read more »
Probably because Delly and Mo play alot together in the 4th with TT and Lebron. Not sure how to explain the RJ one
Last game, Blatt went with RJ over Love in 4th quarter. Lloyd’s last article on Love’s defense “”Love played the entire third quarter and the Hornets shot 53 percent. He didn’t play the fourth and they shot 26 percent. Love has often admitted he’ll never be a great defensive player and the Cavs needed to crank up the defensive intensity ” Cavs have some defensive issues on a couple of the players. They seem to know what defensive schemes they need to go with to get wins. Remember we still don’t have Kyrie and Shump., defense is KEY. In close… Read more »
So the refs at the end let LBJ dictate the game… SMH
first he holds Brook’s arm and complains and gets the Offensive foul call against brook
then he slaps brooks arm and face … and not foul call
Must be nice to be a superstar. Saw this on the Nets blog I simply replied that their are questionable calls throughout almost any NBA game but in this one the Nets took 24 foul shots, and the Cavs took 17.
Playing Mo and Jefferson at the same time is turning into a defensive nightmare. Jefferson plays some really undisciplined defense for a vet. Chasing Bargani off a deep mid range two immediately after gambling for a steal he had no chance at was one iteration tonight. And when you combine that with Mo its a disaster since when you play with Mo it like playing 4 vs 5. You need to be on your rotations. Getting Shump and Irving will help the defense so much. RJ playing the 3 and maybe some 4 will be a big improvement over what… Read more »
Cavs losses have come from the Bucks, Raptors, Pistons, and Bulls. And all these loses were close to being wins. I think if they hit FT’s at an average rate they’d have 2 or 3 additional wins.
Ouch, that one hurt so good. Great shooting by KLove really saved their bacon tonight. Beautiful sequence by LeBron to win it. Crazy up and down game with lazy dumb plays and passes and lots of hard work in the 4th.
Sweet!
Jarrett Jack’s shot was late, as the replay showed. So even though it was close, it still wouldn’t had matter had it went in.
JR interview is funny!! Reporter: What thoughts were going through your mind when you fouled Joe Johnson at the end? JR: On No If we lose this game everybody is going to say it was Jr. HE kept saying on Lebron’s last shot, “Please go in, go in”
This was a very tough game back to back and shooting like garbage. Found a way to get it done!
AGREE WITH YOU ARCH (BLATT ) !!
@FearTheSword: Kevin Loves last 8 games are 23 points, 11.6 rebounds, 53% from the field and 52% from 3. ::flame emojis::
Now that’s all-star KLove.
I agree with Blatt, in that I hate how the media tries to pin Blatt against the players with what they each say. It’s total BS. Joe Vardon loved to play this game last season for some reason.
It’s good he called him out on it.
Though it was Lloyd’s question. I think he was directing it towards other reporters. It’s their job is what they will say.
GREAT DAY– BUCKEYES POUND “THAT TEAM UP NORTH ” AND THE CAVS WIN / EXCITING FINISH —YES IT IS TIME TO MAKE A CHRISTMAS ALE RUN —–WELL DESERVED TIME OFF FOR THE CAVS / THEY NEED IT / SHOULD HELP COME NEXT TUES NIGHT
Washington in Tuesday, and the Wiz are playing terrible. I’m still trying to figure out why people think John Wall is a top 3 PG?
His stats? His defense? His ability to take over games? His stats? His defense?
I’m not sure if you’re advocating for or against him?
For him lol. Not performing like he did last year but thinking he’s a top 3 point guard last year would not have drawn any eyebrows from basketball fans.
Yeah I’ve never thought he was better than Kyrie. He’s good in a position that’s evolved whereby more is expected as far as shooting percentage. And if he’s too 3, who’s he better than Westbrook or CP3?
Wall is top five imo.. Steph, Russ and CP3 are 1, 2 & 3.
Kyrie and Wall are interchangeable in 4 & 5..
He has proven to be a better defender than Westbrook (and Kyrie) and he is as good as passer as Chris Paul and a better finisher at the rim. There are pros and cons to all four of them.
I’d maybe put him at 5 —-
Curry
CP3
Westbrook
Kyrie
Wall
Delly :)
Delly lol. There’s something we can agree on for sure. I am loving his foray into the surprise triple btw…the one he drilled tonight in the fourth was a godsend.
4th Quarter Line Ups!
Love this team so much.
Toronto also won at the buzzer…crazy night so far
Undefeated at home and to go 13-4 in November, without your starting backcourt, and with other players in and out of the line up… Well not too shabby!
Exciting Finish!! You knew it was going to be Lebron dribbling to the ticks like a time bomb for the basket for the WIN!!
My mom like, u ga have confidence in ya boy !!
Wow. Jack’s heave at the buzzer almost went in.
we woulda went from 100-0 real quickk, when I saw it hit the rim I was like :O
A win is a win, even if it’s against a 3 win team!
Good night Nets!!!!!!!!!
Haha that was a 1965 game winner from Lebron.
Me and my mom just scream out in da house. My mom like, das why he’s the man !!!
Hookshot for the win! And that’s why that wasn’t the worst foul in the world ;)
Kraken for the win plz!!
JR for win – prediction.
Or LeBron!!!!!!!!!
I didn’t know we could call a timeout with the other team shooting freebies. Hoping for a Lebron to smith assist for the ballgame
|Cmon JR! Two fouls on the jumpshot in the last minute. SMH
The Cavs look like crap. They deserve to lose.
That wasn’t even a banana in the tailpipe. JR just collided with Joe Johnson to give him three freebies.
He’s still gotta knock down 3 pressure free throws, not the worst foul in the world
It’s pretty dang high up there on the list.
Three free throws for jj
Ugh! Don’t foul in the 3!!!!!! Free basketball?
What do you know, JR. Heads up play.
Lebron makes em when they count!!
Doin his best shaq impression
Lebron’s Tough Mentality!! Just WOW!
Amazing…we have to win it w free throws
Lebron best make his free throws
Thatta boy, King
Johnson missed a shot he normally hits, Lebron’s gotta knock down some free throws
Was saying the same thing, we got lucky cause it rolled out
Please make your damn free throws Bron!
Blatt going with Jefferson for Defense
Really wish Delly had been the one to shoot. Bron’s form looks rough
Yeah he’s way off this year.
Lots of LeBron ISO right now.
which doesnt surprise me, if the Cavs actually pass da ball around in da last few minutes of close games , it would be different
TT big finish on the lob from LeBron despite a foul. But he misses the FT, natch.
LeBron working the Delly Lobba to TT.
Lebron instead of trying to ref the game how about clean up your turnover game.
Lots of sloppy play tonight.
Is that our first timeout in the quarter?
Gonna need a Christmas Ale to calm the nerves after this one!!
Let me get a breathe here!
Without Mo we are getting killed.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
JR smith w the play of the game
JR hounding Joe Johnson frustrates him into an offensive foul.
Bad mechanics on that wide open 3 by Lebron.. every time you see Curry get a guy on a bird, he’ll square his shoulders up and knock it down. Not sure why he wanted to add some style poitns
JR is really clutch on defense sometimes.
@oldseaminer: Crazy but true: Cavs just playing Mo to buy minutes for Delly at this point. Mo is worthless on D.
Move the damn ball Lebron!!
And make your free throws plz lol
Cavs look gassed!!!!!
Big time 3 by Lebron to bring it to 83-79
Need a line up change here.
If Mo’s not making shots he needs to be pulled.
Can’t wait to have Kyrie back. Might take him a while to find his role, but he is a total game changer. And he ups the fun factor for everybody
Need some aggression from our superstars on the offensive end
These damn refs! You would think we were playing away
These refs apparently don’t watch Draymond Green set screens.
Nice assist by Delly……. It would be nice if the Cavs can build a lead.