Live Thread: Cavs @ Thunder
2016-02-21
The Cavs are in Oklahoma City this afternoon to take on the Thunder. The Thunder are coming off of a three point loss to the Indiana Pacers. They gave up 34 points in the fourth quarter.
OKC is currently 3rd in the Western conference with a record of 40-15. They are a middle of the pack team defensively, according to points allowed giving up 101.9 a game. However, they limit teams to an average of 22.4 threes, which is seventh in the league.
They have been on fire offensively this season. They’re scoring 109.9 a night, which is second in the NBA.
Today’s game is going to be all about individual matchups for the Cavaliers. The Thunder’s offense is reliant on isolation play and drive and kick action. Can LeBron slow down Kevin Durant? Will Kyrie match Westbrook’s energy? Can Love keep Ibaka off the boards, while still getting his own points?
The Cavs must come out on the defensive end. Durant is averaging 27.8 points (3rd) this season and Westbrook is putting up 24.1 points (7th) and 10.1 assists a night. If the Cavs stop those two, even just slow them down a little, the game will be very winnable.
This should be a great Sunday Game. On a side note, who else loves day games for the NBA? I feel like I’m cheating the system when I get to watch pro level ball before 7:00 PM.
Iman Shumpert is a game time decision, and Channing Frye still hasn’t been cleared to play. OKC will be without Andre Roberson.
Presti should get canned for trading for Waiters and signing Kanter.
He should get fired for trading Harden
Signature win for the Cavs. I would give a game ball to about five players (Lebron, Love, JR, Jefferson, TT, and probably Delly).
I loved this game. Steady production and great rotations on d. Best second half of the year
I never saw OKC as a legit contender. Overrated team!
Don’t have a system. Have top heavy talent, one of the best starting lineups in the league minus Waiters but they underachieve. Did under Brooks, continue to under Donovan. Coaching matters in the NBA. Recruiting matters in college. But in the NBA xs and os matter.
I think the Cavs are really just a terrible matchup for them. They play much better vs OKC
A Kaun sighting?
Prob a good time to take out LeB and Love.
I’d trade Kyrie before I’d trade Love.
I’d rather just keep them both lol
Me too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’d trade Irving
Anthony Davis has 52 points and 19 rebounds. He’s definitely NOT on Waiters island.
Waiters for Shump, JR, and a first rounder. Griff should be investigated for extortion. That trade doesn’t seem possible.
Kyrie needs to become a shooting guard.
He needs to learn to play off the ball like Curry. He’s not very effective without the ball in his hands.
I sure agree. No Harlem Globetrotters today, and much less iso.
Durant just caught the Zika virus from Waiters island as he bounces it off his foot out of bounds.
Is Waiters the worst two guard in the league?
Lots of flopping by Durant and Westbrook.
You’re not kidding. They look like verajao
A flagrant? God I hate this team.
Wtf is this? Illegal D?
If they call a friggin flagrant…Westbrook deserves the best actor Oscar.
Mozzy keep it shut it was a foul
Timo with a foul and a tech.
Westbrook and Delly are BFF’s.
Is it really a no look pass when you’re running the baseline and the only people in the direction of your no look is the crowd?
Yeah, good point.
Still an awesome pass.
Oooo. That was a look away pass to Jefferson from Lebron!
Cavs rotations defensively have been so pristine. Great discipline, great energy. The stretch run is here. Playoff preparation has begun.
I didn’t realize that old bag on the sideline told LeBron to “suck it up”
A week off helps. That’s for sure. Everyone seems rejuvenated. Kevin Love taking his all star snub out on the Thunder.
So is JR for the 3 pt snub!
Pace, pace is the key against these high powered teams…Not fast
F’ yeah! Lebron to Jefferson for the dunk!
Oooeeeeeee RJ reverse slamma jamma!!!!!!!!!
This is a great game.
I agree Arch! This is going to be a good run to playoffs.
I haven’t seen Joey Crawford in awhile. What’s he up to?
big take away from this game…since its pretty much over…is the free throw shooting of Cavs….the best I’ve seen from them this season in limited viewing of games
T.T ALREADY WITH A DOUBLE / DOUBLE—–LEBRON ON COURSE FOR POSSIBLE TRIPLE / DOUBLE —-LOVE MIGHT GET DOUBLE/ DOUBLE —-NOT BAD PRODUCTION FROM YOUR “BIG 3 ” OH THAT’S RIGHT KY IS OUT —–O.K CAVS LET’S FINISH THIS OFF THE RIGHT WAY SO WE CAN ALL GO CELEBRATE —–THE LAST 2 GAMES I AM GLAD WE DIDN’T TRADE ” THE MOZZILLA ” EITHER
Mozgov has the hands of a doll
think Channing Frye will replace Mozgov in rotation..most useless 7 footer since Desagna Diop
Cavs shouldn’t even bother fouling Waiters.
This might be the first game of the year where the Cavs have honestly started their offense as soon as they’ve crossed the half court line. It’s funny how much easier it is to beat a scrambling defense.
Anyone who thinks okc is a playoff threat or that KD isn’t going to strongly consider walking should watch this game. Billy Donovan is awful.
Love is punishing right now. Early on he had trouble when KD got switched onto him, now he’s destroying him.
Bucks have released F Chris Copeland, league source tells @clevelanddotcom. — Chris Haynes
Is he good? What are his strengths?
I don’t know. I think he got stabbed last year tho.
Seems like a legit strength.
Oh yah. Maybe we don’t need anyone else on the team who has a tendency to get lost in the nyc night life
the Thunder failed to realize the Cavs are playing with one guard this game and all forwards haha
Wow love is showing so much this qtr. What a beast
This might be his best game of the year.
This is the Minnesota Love. he is getting more touches with Curly Neal out. And I do like KI.
I agree! Displaying so many skills. Like how hubie mentioned we give enough to credit to bigs who avg 10+ boards. Not easy but we have it all the time
Waiters Island got some radioactive waste on it, some zika virus, a zombie outbreak, various somali pirates working using it as a a base – netw3rk
That is a dagger shot by LeB.
He’s great. So is Thompson. So is Irving. But not Eurogenius.
Did Cols hack your account?
James w the dagger!
OKC will go down as a great time they just isn’t great enough…have no idea why donavan is keeping Waiters on floor…what a train wreck
Cavs playing great but okc is just a disaster this quarter: Dion, fouls, freezing out KD, terrible D by anyone not names Russell…
Love is really battling physically.
Kevin Love posting up on every play since Cavs got in bonus.
Kevin Love an animal on the boards this game.
OKC is too poor defensively to have a shot at SAS, let alone GS.
Man this is such a good game by many players. Love is eating them up right now w fouls.
This might be the best Cavs game of the season. They are unreal right now.
I did not want to jinx myself but was thinking the same thing.
It also helps that they aren’t on Waiters Island.
This is unbelievably tough yet disciplined play by the Cavs.
A little chippy today.
LOLLLL Waiters……….oh man
Saint weirdo. MVP.
Waiters is 0-13 today.
Waiters is a train wreck!
What a contest by Delly.
Hahaha. Was someone in the comments dogging Kyrie for having the flu?
I love how much Cavs fans hate having great players.
Ladies and Gentlemen, your player of the game, JR Smith!
JR is on fire!!!!
What a sequence by JR Smith. He is playing incredibly well right now.
I love watching JR play this year. Dude has that rotation down pat against the picknroll. Knocking down the fast break three was just gravy
Wow. Waiters didnt want a wide open spot 3. J.R. wanted a step back transition 3. Good trade.
Yes it was even straight up but oh yeah we got shump too
Holy smokes, Waiters is unbelievably terrible. It’s really incredible.
Wow swish with the ? Why was I not invited? Love his shots
JR with an eff you basket
Terrible officiating. The intent was clearly to prevent the layup.
Yeah that was a clear path if there ever was one.
Waiters is just awful!
That was horrendously beautiful, capped by the JR three!
We’re the only team that gets hosed on clear path.
Cavs in the bonus early!