Live Thread: Cavs @ Mavs, 1/30/2017

(That’s Ember Moon, nee Athena, who is not only the dopest human alive, but also from Dallas. There’s always context in these videos of mine, except for when there isn’t.)

Alrighty folks, quick little one-game sojurn for the Cavaliers as they go to Dallas before their date with the Timberwolves back at the Q Wednesday night. Kevin Love didn’t travel with the team due to back problems (hopefully those get better soon), but in somewhat of an unexpected twist, Ty Lue told ESPN.com’s Dave McMenamin that both Kyrie Irving and LeBron James will play tonight.

After a no-good, very bad start to the season, the Mavericks are starting to pull things together — they’re 6-4 in their last 10 games, and woke up this morning just 4.5 games back of the 8th spot in the Western Conference. (Of course, they’re only two games ahead of the Lakers, who are currently dead-last in the West. This is kinda why nobody is willing to give the Cavaliers a point guard for free right now — not many teams have given up on the season altogether yet.) Former Warrior #4 option Harrison Barnes is currently leading the Mavericks with 20.4 points per game on 47.3% shooting, and the team plays a grind-it-out pace — they’re dead-last in the league at 96.9 points per game, but hold opponents to just 100.1 points per game, good for 4th in the league.

Here’s what I’m looking for tonight:

— LeBron is starting to get more aggressive in terms of doing his work before the catch and getting easy baskets on deep-post touches or off-ball cuts — more of that, please.

— Kyrie is not only making everything that leaves his hand, but his passing is starting to get back to its pre-hamstring injury levels — more of that, please.

— The OKC game was a MASSIVE step forward for the Cavs in terms of stopping dribble penetration — I don’t care if this team scores less than any other team in the league, more good defense would make me very happy.

— Settle down and wait for those open 3s to come to you, Kyle Korver. You don’t need to quick-trigger these contortionist looks off of down-screens to make an impact. Look at Shump — the looks will come if you read the penetration from the primary ballhandlers and stay patient.

— Alright, Kay Felder. My adopted son, my Oakland Jesus, my Sun and Stars. My wish has come true and you’re the point guard of the second unit now. Please stop making this a Monkey’s Paw thing for me. You led all of college basketball in assists last year, and showed great playmaking instincts early this season — let’s try to get back to passing tonight.

— Tristan and LeBron, you make your free throws. YOU MAKE YOUR FREE THROWS. Also, how about 3 turnovers or less tonight, LeBron? You know, just for the fun of it?

— Shump, keep not missing 3s. It’s really a helpful thing when you make over half of your 3s.

Alright campers, I’ll be back later tonight with the recap — you night owls will probably be the only ones to catch it when it gets up, but the rest of you will have it with your morning coffee.