Live Thread: Cavs vs. Warriors (or 25th on the 25th)
2017-12-25
We’re here, folks. The day the NBA season really starts is always December 25th. It’s the one day of the year that the NBA owns the national sports landscape, and it’s usually filled with playoff previews. Today proves no different, with New York and Philly having tipped off at noon and Philly edging ahead by eight with two minutes left as I write this. Of course, the Cavs are taking on the Warriors at 3:00 in what will be the 25th game between the two teams since LeBron’s return to Cleveland.
SB Nation’s Tim Cato had a great breakdown of the 24 games of the rivalry over. Of course, we know which game ranks number one, and surprisingly, last year’s Christmas day game ranks number two all time.
I’ll the Steph Curry mouthpiece toss for my number two, but that’s neither here nor there. Important things to note: today’s game is usually the only meaningful one between the two in the regular season, because the MLK day game is usually a blowout. But with Steph missing today’s contest with an ankle injury and Isaiah likely back in the fold for Cleveland, MLK 2018 might end up being the best regular season game yet between these two.
The Cavs are rolling heading into this one having won 19 of their last 21 after starting the season 3-5. At 26-7, the Dubs are no regular season slouch either, though to be fair, both teams’ December schedules are pretty soft. Cleveland will have their (mostly) full compliment of players, excepting Derrick Rose and Isaiah Thomas. Iman Shumpert is also listed as out. For Golden State, Shawn Livingston returns to wreak havoc from midrange, while Kevon Looney and Zaza are listed as probable.
Other news of note: no special Christmas day uniforms from Nike (SB Nation’s Tim Cato again), as Cleveland opts to wear its black. I predict an all-time performance for the King to give him something to celebrate before his Napa Valley “mini vacation”, and the Cavs winning 122-112 somewhat comfortably as the Warriors are too slow awaking from their Christmas slumbers.
Refs really influencing this game down the stretch…agree with JVG again…
Two fouls on Durant. Bullshit
OMG these no-calls on Durant…
Kevin Love not in for a key defensive rebound he only has like twenty.
JVG is dead on about the ridiculous replay delays…
Off iguodala
These boards…that’s how you lose…
Durant mugs James
Ridiculous
Foul, no call…
Whew. Was it off Iggy’s noggin?
Don’t think so…
How did the Warriors get someone like Bell? Front office is just incredible.
More like cheap and incompetent Bulls FO…but yeah, smart to target him…
Criminal that GS just buys a young player like Bell…screw the Bulls…
Despite all the negatives, we are in it. Dang, Kev needs to make that.
Great save Wade!
12 min. 6 rebs (2 off). 2 pts, 0-4 fgs for TT.
The long Jae two pointer, but a solid game from him
James worst defensive game since October.
Two big shots and the Cavs right back in it. Best thing the Cavs could do is let the Dubs get up nine and relax!
Love & Crowder are keeping us in it.
JR really invisible…
KLove is ballin
James with some comically bad D & a comical TO.
LeBron playing like crap. TT is useless against this team. Wade/LeBron playing 2 on 5. Blah…
TT has earned us several possessions on offense and cleaned the boards on d. He’s been useful
I don’t think Frye would had been worst. Plus Frye can shoot.
I thinkfrye should see the court but I don’t pretend he can rebound at all
TT is useless on O. Can’t finish vs this team. Take him out.
What is with all these iso Js?
some of it is good D to be fair
trade TT – hes over
We can’t Finish at the rim at all tonight. Too soft
Cavs playing soft tonight.
Too much iso. James has been mostly poor.
It is time for the Kevin clock to ring
Wade shooting way too Many Js.
That Livingston runout was all LeBron
That bray three was huge suckered Bron on it too.
A necessary time out.
Lean green. LeBron weak on the boards and D.
Green isn’t in this game mentally
Agreed.
Not sure Bron is either.
Wade, JR and Green 1/16 and we are down 4. They cannot possibly that bad in the 4th. I hope
Too many quick shots. Work the offense.
What is about the warriors that makes it so challenging to finish at the rim?
They have a lot of plus defenders who have length?
They have a lot of defenders with reputations for being good so they don’t get fouls called?
Man. Jeff Green missed about five bunnies. That’s the big difference on this game.
We cannot finish at the rim for beans. We’ve left at least 20 pts on the table.
LeBron just seems off. Hopefully saving it for the fourth.
Or for June
The missed layups are death if this team today
Green not helping tonight
Doing a lot of bad Jeff Green stuff today…
I mean…Durant clearly missed the ball on that crowder layup cuz the ball went to the hoop. So what did he hit then? Did he break the sound barrier? Was that the noise?
Crowder throws up some weak finishes.
By the letter of the law that’s not a good continuation but they’re almost never that ticky tack on the footwork.
Bad closeout by Durant. Nice play by crowder
feed love until they prove they can stop him —will set up LeBron driving
Another hilarious garbage call…
Although at least contact on that one…
Dubs have too much length for all these sloppy drives and desperation passes…
agree with Jason –give frye a chance
keep working KLove, Keep working
Dubs are soooo much better protecting the rim. I am real close to saying Durant >> James.
Haha you’re drunk. Durant has Draymond as his protection, and Lebron has kevin Love. Huge difference
Too much egg nog
bro come on, we share a name you cant say crazy shxt
Lebron playing rushed. They are defending him perfectly for old Lebron…making him jump shooter. Too bad he’s not shooting well
LeBron sloppy with the ball when he gets in the air
Warriors have done a pretty good job defending Lebron today.
LeBron is playing poorly. Another jump in the air TO.
yeah and hes been pretty absent on D and Boards
http://cdn.edgecast.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/10680/ss_1d11b280a15c9c416e211596560c3cb940ee4a26.1920×1080.jpg
Crowder & Love have been good.
Silly foul from Jose. Make him make it.
So many offensive rebounds.
Cavs lack looking for love. Finally.
If we can get away with Love at C, why not Frye? Makes no sense.
Rebounding
Kev on cue.
JR needs to stop up in the second half too. Can’t have your starting SG go scoreless
Warriors didn’t shoot that well either to be honest. We could conceivably continue to shoot terribly. Gotta make it up at the free throw line or this could get outta hand
Yeah, they missed a lot of shots…
only 5 assists blah – thats not our new style. old iso cavs but without magnum KI to fill in the scoring
And the bench just shooting 17%. Lue will just not play Frye even a few minutes
only 5 assists—bodies / ball NOT moving—plus we can’t make a shot—-still only down by 2 — I will take it —–DO NOT let the dubs ‘JET ‘ off to a double digit lead to start the 3rd qtr