Live Thread: Cavs vs. Rockets
2018-02-03
With trade winds swirling and the Cavs struggling, one of the NBA’s top three teams drops into Cleveland to take on the Cavs. The Rockets are 8-2 in the last 10 games, and Harden has been especially prolific. Tuesday, he posted the highest scoring triple double in NBA history, notching 60, 10, and 11 against the Magic. The Rockets are tough, and they’ve been known to drop a game or two due to lax defense. If the Cavs are to win, they’ll need at least adequate defense, and some superior offense.
The Cavs do have an opening with the Rockets missing one of their best bench guys in Eric Gordon. If the Cleveland can capitalize, and the bench unit can top the Warriors, the starters just have to hold them to a draw. Key for the Cavs will be controlling pace and limiting turnovers, which they – and especially LeBron James – have been particularly bad at. A further Key? Figuring out who the heck Isaiah Thomas is going to “guard.” The Rockets start a very big lineup of Chris Paul, Harden, M’bah-a Moute, Ryan Anderson, and Clint Capela. I guess you put him on Paul or Anderson and hope for the best.
We’ll see what happens. I was confident when I started this recap. Not so much now. Let’s go Cavs.
I’m so glad I haven’t watched these past few games. A total embarrassments. I can’t believe Lue still has a job.
I don’t blame Gilbert for ANY of this. He doled out more money than any other owner in basketball – then turned the team over to LBJ (and to a leader extent, Gilbert).
Undoubtedly, there were glory years that thrilled us all. But decline is an inevitability.
I’m shocked most by the vitriol of the fanbase. Blogging is destroying our culture.
Unhappy fans have been around way before blogging became a thing. You do know this is a blogging site right?
With no vitriol, I blame Gilbert for blowing up the front office the summer before LeBron’s free agency.
Things might not have been better with Griffin, but they couldn’t be worse. Griff probably wouldn’t have made the Boston trade, for starters.
Whatever Gilbert saved by not paying Griffin, the franchise value will drop by a far greater amount if LeBron leaves. That’s the big picture on Gilbert not being smart.
If LeBron leaves on Gilbert for a second time, it will be like Art Modell firing Paul Brown and driving Jim Brown into early retirement.
Yep, absolutely agree.
Thanks for hiring Griffin.
Thanks for sitting on Kyrie’s doorstep and paying him the max. Thanks for being humble enough to bring LBJ back and giving him freedom.
Thanks for Kevin Love & paying others more than that deserve and winning a championship.
But we all knew at the time that overpaying LBJ’s guys and giving him freedom would create a salary cap situation that would lead to our eventual demise – leaving us only with the ability to put a finger in the dike.
But we got a championship and it was worth it all.
All that can be true, and last summer still was a catastrophe. Griffin was trying to do more than put a finger in the dike before he left.
Those accomplishments you mentioned happened when Griff was GM.
Right.
I started with “thanks for hiring Griffin.”
I put the Cavs success more on LeBron and Griff then Gilbert. Watch this franchise plummet into irevelance when LeBron leaves.
Kyrie looking more and more “woke” as every day passes
Woke up early this morning, excited to log onto ESPN and find out which Cavs players had been traded and for whom.
Alas…I cried a little looking at my phone, went back to bed and kept dreaming of a Cavs team that was fun to watch. But then Tyrone Hill showed up in my dream and his scary face made me scream and wake up again!
They could use Tyrone Hill now. They need some steel.
no trades are going to right this ship—might as well accept it——LeBron is gone —–this season is gone —–BLOW THIS FRIGGIN THING UP ——-REBUILD WITH YOUNG / ENERGETIC / HUNGRY BLOOD ——–I AM DONE ROOTING FOR THIS TEAM ( WON’T ROOT AGAINST THEM—WON’T ROOT FOR THEM )—YES GILBERT HAS SOME BLAME BUT YOU CAN’T EXCUSE LEBRON EITHER ———BAD PART ABOUT THIS– LEBRON WAS PROBABLY GOING TO ALLOW THE CAVS TO “SIGN AND TRADE HIM—-GET VALUE FOR HIM —-NOW WITH THINGS GOING LIKE THEY ARE HE IS PRETTY MUCH GOING TO SAY ” SCREW YOU “!!!!!—–SOOOOOO SAD !!!!——-BROKE MY LENTEN PROMISE… Read more »
I’d try to get Lebron to waive his no trade clause and blow it up. Buyout Wade and DRose. Tank…this team isn’t coming out of the east.
It would be great if LeBron would.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lHs-libqjv8&time_continue=9&ebc=ANyPxKrTSJ_JZa0nHnw4XGpq9z86H_aH47DVPxl3lTzTA_8qabDn12Gj4nn4FH-RYJU8eAcqjhS9_raiwE5IFSLbhstPuw5jYg
Not the first time I heard that the players hate each other. Maybe it’s time I start rooting for another team.
IMO… this should be the lineup: Starters: Calderon, Wade, LBJ, Love, Frye… they’ll suck on defense, but they’re vets and can shoot. 2nd string: IT, Korver, JR, Cedi, Green… make IT the main shooter/playmaker for the bench. JR, Cedi, and Green will get open shots. On defense, they can switch on the perimeter at least. Crowder should come in if Cedi or Green can’t make open shots. TT should come in if rebounding, defending, and size up front is needed. That’s a solid 12 man rotation. Both lineups are meant to maximize offense with enough spot up shooters. You got… Read more »
That starting lineup would probably be better than what they are currently doing (‘The Dead Lineup’), but I think it would be so bad defensively…also, I think they need to really watch Wade and Frye’s minutes (and also Lebron’s to some extent, although Lue doesn’t seem concerned about that)…
No question… they’d be bad defensively, but you’d hope they could at least play smart team defense being all veterans with high BB IQ.
I agree too… definitely need to watch their minutes. They’ll just have to play small ball a lot… which could benefit their defense a little bit at least on pick and rolls.
https://twitter.com/WindhorstESPN/status/960008499139923968?s=17
It’s a shame that something really is rotten in Denmark. Sad.
Seems like the whole damn team, including the king has been poisoned.
IT is now under 24% on threes, averaging 6 attempts a game. That was especially egregious before Love got hurt.
https://twitter.com/netw3rk/status/959979546782003201?s=17
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert sat in his usual baseline seat near his team’s basket for much of the first half of this latest debacle.
He was gone before the halftime buzzer sounded, before the Houston Rockets’ lead was up to 26, and before the Cavs were soundly booed off the floor.
https://twitter.com/joevardon/status/959996289466454016?s=17
Dan created this mess. He should have to watch it. Of course he’ll just go hide behind his checkbook.
He’s probably warming up the Brinks truck…
He’s having a rough couple of weeks. The Cavs, and he threw a tantrum after Amazon didnt include Detroit on its list of potential locations for a new HQs.
Maybe Gilbert can find another midget PG?
That’s not quite official enough to be the kiss of death. When Gilbert gives a public vote of confidence, Lue will be gone within a week or two.
Yeah then bring him back in a year and a half, signing him to a 5 year 30 M deal, only to fire him mid-season.
It was only a matter of time till Dan turned back into a Comic Sans D-Bag. It’s in his nature.
His post game comments left alot to be desired….
So what’s lebron’s intent here? Embarrassing Gilbert? Getting Lue fired? Showing the public he has to leave? He was heading for an MVP award a month ago. Can’t see it now. What’s the endgame with this trolling of professional basketball?
Part of me hopes he does leave, and wants Gilbert to drown in his own GM fantasy camp. I want Gilbert run out of town!
Meanwhile the freaki Celtics are working on trading for Tyreke AND Lou Williams…that would fix their scoring issue when Kyrie sits…
Firing Griffin will go down as one of the worst moves in history. Not paying a guy who built a championship team while forking over 2.5 million for the rights to draft kay felder…he’s so far out of his depth it’s mind boggling.
No argument here. Griffin wasn’t perfect, like every other GM isn’t, but he was a very competent professional.
(In before GRIFFIN WAS PART OF THE PROBLEM HE SIGNED TT TO THAT TERRIBLE CONTRACT!!!11!)
Had to.
I’ve figured it out! We just need to make a deal with Minnesota for Muhammed. And trade with the Clips for Deandre. Trade a draft pick or two for Tyreke Evans and work a trade for Tyson Chandler. Take on Noah’s salary and get NY’s draft pick. Then trade it for Lou Williams. Team issues solved!
Actually that sounds not awful.
Man, TT starting has really helped the defense.
On the bright side, we could have 2 lottery picks.
That’s not a bright side, with Gilbert running the show.
Cavs play next 4 of 5 on the road before the All Star break. Including games @ Boston and @ OKC. They shoukd straight up sit Lebron. Let him rest before break. Clear his head. Vanish during trade deadline. Come back fresh, engaged, and hopefully with a whole new ITless lineup. Just sit the freaking man.
Some teams are fun to watch even when they are losing. Some past Cavs teams have been that way. This team makes me sick to watch. I hated IT’s game before, got roped in to thinking I might actually enjoy him on the Cavs. I want to punch myself in the face.
been awhile since I’ve seen an ‘elite’ team crumble like this, i know rockets are good, but yeesh, that was beyond pathetic
elite? you kiddin right?
Making multiple finals in a row would be elite…that’s where I was heading
i literally watched 5 minutes of this game….unreal how far this team has fallen….it would be beyond miraculous if this team snaps out of it and makes a run in playoffs
Osman with a couple f-lue layups
“f-lue” is genius
CEDI !
CEDI!
2 games up on 7th. 5 games up on 9th.
Are we down 40 yet?
Fire Lue. Hire Van Gundy. At least he will reward effort & bench guys who are lazy.
Bron should not be first team NBA this year: Durant & Giannis.
Cavs do not appear to be galvanized…
Cavs do not appear to be alive
I wonder if Comic Sans Dan will write a sequel to his book of “Isms”
I would take Swaggy P over IT.
Held them under 100! (Through three quarters…)
TT cuts it to 28!
I wonder what propaganda that little Trump-Loving Napoleon will push out post LeBron. “Hey guys check out Manny Harris, he’s from Detroit!”
HEY LET’S HAVE ANOTHER TEAM MEETING AND ” CALL OUT KEVIN ” FOR NOT PLAYING AGAIN——DEEP DOWN KEV’S HAS TO BE EATIN THIS UP
Have missed this whole game to this point and can’t say I’m sad about that. But I have a question: Nomad – I thought you were taking a break?
Lent hasn’t started yet.
You all will get to see Cedi in the 4th, anyway…
root of issue is lue!! not lbj effort- thats just a result of all the problems that we have because of all the pathetic cLUEless coaching and rotations,
It’s more a product of terrible team construction, which was very predictable after last summer…
if u wanna look at it like this -fault on whoever put lue in charge , wweve got the players to be top 3 team in nba and a trip to finals for sure, just look at 18 -1 streak
That streak was against the weakest part of the schedule all season, and included a lot of close games. They have zero chance with Lebron not trying and IT playing 30+ minutes a game.
It’s also on Gilbert dumping Griffin and bringing in a character scourge in Rose and the worst nba trade since garden to rockets.
I AM ROOTING FOR THE ROCKETS TO WIN BY 50–TY GETS FIRED—THEY BLOW THIS SINKING SHIP UP —–I WANT TO WATCH GUYS PLAY HARD / ENRGETIC / PASSIONATE / FUN BASKETBALL —–EVERYTHING WE AREN’T RIGHT NOW ——THERE IS NO FRIGGIN RIGHTING THIS SHIP WITH THIS PRESENT ROSTER / COACH
As long as Dan Gilbert owns this team you’re eyes are in for some hurting.
You’ll get your passionate basketball next season with IT at PG and Crowder prowling the paint, nomad…
I just hope IT continues to get boo’d, after his Brinks Truck, and demands Comic Sans Dan to trade him.
IT will be happy with Cavs, he has a great relationship with Dan…
That should do it for Lebron…double figures…
Lol. Totally obvious James was gunning for his tenth point.
it’s amazing some ppl here don’t get it.. Bron WANTS to lose badly…. he does not want to win tonight or any other night… until FO does something.. he knows this current team has no future…
https://twitter.com/oldseaminer/status/959985601893294080
I hope he does indeed sell the team.
JVG DEFENDING I.T. ( WHEN FANS WERE BOOOING HIM ) – IF HE WAS A G.M RIGHT NOW– WOULD HE TRADE FOR HIM—-HIGHLY DOUBT IT / I.T.
I told my girlfriend before the game that I’d be thrilled if they were within 20 tonight. What was I thinking Lolol
If you swapped IT with Curry, would GS make the Finals?
No. Not with Houston out there. But Kerr would be smart enough to cut him.
I think they would stil make it if they sat IT and played Swaggy P at PG…
For the first time, I think Lue may get fired…
Cavs fans booing Isaiah. Even the myopic aren’t blind.
We could’ve freaking had CP3..
Holy shit, it’s time to bench them all. Just send a message. Get Cedi out there to bring some energy.
Bet as soon asLebron gets one more point, he’s done for the night…
I was just going to say that. Keep the 10 point streak alive. He should be ashamed of his effort. He is the leader and he needs to start playing hard and chewing the other guys out for their slap dick effort.
you don’t get it? Bron wants to lose badly… he’s not playing hard on purpose..
I don’t buy that. He never wants to lose. He’s not playing hard for sure.
THIS TEAM IS A JOKE –TY IS THE LEADER —–STILL NO CEDI –WTF —-GO SEND A TAXI FOR ANTE / CANTON–GET HIM UP HERE TO PLAY THE 4TH QTR
PLAY CEDI YOU STUPID COxxxxxKER
ALONG WITH TY AS COACH OF THE YEAR —–IT –COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR —-CEDI ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Van Gundy standing up for Isaiah. Barf. Isaiah shouldn’t even be on the floor, let alone starting
Chris Paul must be laughing every time he sees TT on him…
Dan Gilbert, GM of the Year /s
Rockets starters will get a lot of rest…and my god, IT SUCKS!
I love the word “nadir.” Are we there yet? Someone please say yes.
i am at the epoch of my incredulity
Jae with his toe on Line. Classic.
Haha Ryan Anderson with an eff you three.
STILL THINK BILLUPS HAD A GOOD IDEA WHAT THIS SEASON WAS GOING TO BE LIKE—–DIDN’T WANT ANY PART OF THAT –WHEN HE WAS BEING CONSIDERD FOR THE G.M. JOB
Yes. This.
Kyrie knew too.
WE ARE GOING TO GET TAKEN “TO THE CLEANERS ” IN ANY TRADE —–OTHER TEAMS ARE NOT GOING TO HELP A DESPERATE CAVS TEAM—BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE TRADES AND GET RID OF THIS DEAD WEIGHT / I THINK AFTER TONIGHTS GAME YOU WILL SEE THE FRONT OFFICE DECIDE WHICH DIRECTION THEY ARE GOING TO PURSUE—-BLOW IT / REBUILD OR TRY A BIG TRADE FOR BIG NAME PLAYER IN HOPES IT TURNS THINGS AROUND ( GOOD LUCK WITH THAT )— I AM ” ALL IN ” FOR BLOWING IT UP
Rose and Billups aren’t completely right. The main problem is Lue. He won’t give minutes to the guys that hustle: Calderon, Osman, Frye, Korver, Wade…. these are the guys giving consistent effort.
He’s been giving minutes to Korver, Frye, and Wade. Cedi and Calderon won’t be able to make up what garbage the starters are putting out there. I agree with Billups – LBJ’s body language and effort is horrendous.
i agree that lue is the prob , frye osman korver wade should be getting bulk of minutes in the game jr tt ect should be given just a couple no more than that , btw you cant have jr and crowder in starting lineup
root of issue is lue!! not lbj effort- thats just a result of all the problems that we have because of all the pathetic cLUEless coaching and rotations
best power move EVER – sit lebron the whole second half so he loses his consecutive double digit scoring game streak. omfg that would be amazing
Yeah right.
AGREE WITH JASON—–IF LBJ CAME OUT AND SAID GO AHEAD AND TRADE ME—YOU GOTTA DO IT —-THIS TEAM HAS ” CASHED IT IN “!!!!—–BLOW IT UP —REBUILD WITH SOME ENERGETIC / HUNGRY PLAYERS AND MAKE BASKETBALL FUN TO WATCH / TALK ABOUT AGAIN !!!
Basketball won’t be fun again Post LeBron. Maybe Dan Gilbert can vye for a 27-game losing streak?
Wonder how much Gilbert is going to pay IT this summer? One Brinks truck or two?
id pay IT with a sock of rusty pennys to the hip
jalen rose is still awful
Instant mute when he comes on.
They even have the guts to put on the City Edition jerseys tonight and then go on a performance like this?
Ugh this is ugly.