Live Thread: Cavs Vs Jazz
2015-01-21https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7skO-5VDNVU
Remember that shot? Remember the night Gordan Hayward looked better than LeBron James did? Let’s hope the Cavs do. This game is a great chance for the Wine & Gold to avenge an early season loss where they played so badly that they made 32 free throws and still never had a sizable lead.
During their last meeting, I raged about David Blatt’s trapping defense, which allowed the Jazz to shoot 50.6% from the field. I also ranted about the isolation play by Kyrie Irving and James that resulted in six assists….for the whole game….zero for Irving. And, oh yea, Kevin Love let Derrick Favors absolutely destroy him. Kevin looked like Favors shot him with a beam that actually transported his physical body into another dimension.
Tonight, I know two of those three things will be changed. Blatt has finally reworked the defense into something more conservative that favors the athletically challenged, and the iso play isn’t exactly as prevalent. Kyrie is even playing some defense now, which just didn’t happen early on in the season. LeBron is caring too and not just stopping on court to observe and make coaching notes. Kevin, prove me wrong about your defense, so all three of my gripes can be addressed.
Progress has been made, Cavs fans. This game should be a show of it.
I’m picking the Cavs to win, 123-98.
LeBron James is going to play after fighting the flu on Tuesday, and Kyrie is probably playing even though he missed shootaround today because of feeling sick. Iman Shumpert may return today or Friday.
Although, with the recent play of JR, you’ve got to wonder if adding a potentially rusty Ray Ray (with no disrespect to his legend intended) is necessary at this point? Couldn’t they use one more big body instead? They needed one more when Andy went down and they’ve replaced Andy with Moz. They’re still one big man short IMHO.
I agree. I’ve never been that excited about adding a 39 year old Ray Allen. But when you have Leb, Love, Kyrie, and Ray that equals championship.
Wonder if that’s what Lebron referred to in his post game interview. I don’t remember the question but he said something along the lines of we have another piece to be added soon. Could of been referring to Shumpert though.
Yeah, he was referring to Shumpert I think. Although, in light of the Ray Ray rumors… who knows? I suspected that was part of the reason why he went to Miami for part of his recuperation…
He also went for the HGH.
Ouch. Was he working out with A-Rod and Barry Bonds?
@TheKennyRoda: Sources: LeBron made recent pitch to Allen http://t.co/REpcEHXFNb via @espnnba
Cols may blow a gasket if this happens. #Klutch
GET EXCITED COLS!!!!
If it happens… it’s definitely going to happen during All Star Weekend like I predicted… ;)
Whoever links the Mozilla interview gets an EG T-Shirt.
Yes someone, please, really would like to see that
I can’t stand Houston and kind of like GS, but I almost want Houston to beat GS so they don’t rank 1st in every category.
Yeah, that’s not going to happen. GS is just in a different league right now…
Quinn Snyder – “We just played the world champions and the hottest team in the league,” Snyder said. “We have to be honest with ourselves. We didn’t play very well and we’re having a tough time scoring. I’m going to object to the idea that losing to San Antonio and Cleveland on the road is like the sky is falling.
Did he say it like McConaughey in those Lincoln commercials?
To repeat an earlier post:
Is it okay to say that Kyrie has worked himself into being a “very good” defender and it has actually become fun to watch him play defense? I can’t remember another player transforming himself on defense like Kyrie has this year.
Can someone win the Most Improved Player award if they’ve already won an All-Star MVP?
I think he has definitely become at least a plus defender, which is saying something considering the lows he has been to on that end of the floor. I will reserve “very good” for playoff point guards. He did annoy the crap out of Chris Paul. Will be interesting to watch him check Westbrook again. His consistency of effort is a pleasant surprise though.
Westbrook is incredibly athletic. Remember when we thought Dion could be like Westbrook? Or was that just me?
John Wall just air balled a potential game winner.
Dion is gonna win it for them.
Paul Pierce is #Klutch and he still spits in LeBrons face.
@Mark25Price: Headed to Cleveland 2morrow. Hot @hornets take on surging @cavs at the Q on Friday. Be there! Always fun to go back and see everybody!
I wish Mark Price was on this coaching staff. I still love that guy. Class act
Charlotte is hot, after beating Miami tonight, they have won 8 of last 9.
Really? Did they trade Josh Smith too?
No, but they FAILED to trade the Ear Whisperer, and he’s been back and healthy
Haha the Ear Whisperer. That image has been so overplayed.
Lou Amundson started for the Knicks tonight and played 24 minutes. Amare Stoudemire did not and played 16 minutes.
I don’t know why they keep playing Carmelo 40 minutes a game…
Because he wants to play in the All-Star game. Then I bet they shut him down for the season. Although 40 minutes?!?!?!?!?
And against the 86ers? I mean I get that he’s against tanking, but come on Melo! That’s just ridiculous
Phil should make D Fish suit up as punishment…
“Best big I’ve played with since Z” – LBJ on Moz
They should ask LeBrob how he can play for both Cleveland and Miami the same season. #Klutch
Well I disagree with Lebron. And I certainly know more than he does. Surprised he would say that considering Andy is his good friend. Nonetheless, it really gives us something to look forward to having Andy and Mozgov play together next year. That’s going to be great.
It was slightly out of context because he said he’s played with great big men like Bosh and Kevin (can’t remember if he mentioned Andy), but he was really talking about honest-to-goodness big bodied 7+ footers and he said Moz was the best since Z.
Andy is great, but he’s not the presence that Moz is on the floor. Cavs haven’t had a big body like him since Daugherty.
No disrespect to broken-down-2010-era-Shaq
Moz has done well. No doubt. I just don’t want to be irrationally exuberant over someone that very few basketball fans in the country even knew about and was essentially traded because a low first round rookie was playing well. I’ve loved what I’ve seen so far, but . . .
ESPN just said the Cavs are 7th in the East losing a close one tonight. What day is it? Did I travel through time again?
Think they meant the Heat. They just got confused as to which team Bron is on…
LeBron should quote HST to ESPN.
Nope. He went with a Chris Berman quote instead. Said Kyrie on that one play was “Bumblin, stumblin, rumblin…”
Waiters just had a nice chuck for OKC.
Appropo of nothing, kind of surprising timing for Matrix to announce he’s retiring at the end of the year. Can Miller and Jones be far behind?
I don’t think Jones is here next year. Miller can re-up, and I imagine he will if LeBron resigns. #Klutch
With the Matrix retiring, one of two things can happen:
1) He can slow down and fade away knowing the end is near.
2) He can do all he can to make his last year as great as possible.
3) He can play the way he’s been playing along.
I forgot to say – there are three types of people in the world: Those that can count, . . .and those that can’t.
Kyrie looks really happy. Sounds like his nickname for the big man is Mozzy…
Or Blatt could drop some Ricky Gervais (David Brent) – “People see me, and they see the suit, and they go: ‘you’re not fooling anyone’, they know I’m rock and roll through and through. But you know that old thing, live fast, die young? Not my way. Live fast, sure, live too bloody fast sometimes, but die old.”
LBJ interview up next with Kyrie to follow…
I was wrong. Kyrie and then LBJ on post game…
I want to hear Blatt drop some Hunter S. Thompson in his next presser – “Miami is an ugly word in Cleveland. Nothing in the world compares to the joy of beating those hateful swine from Miami.”
JR on just missing the dunk on the near-alley-oop of the year “Sorry dog, I’ll get it next time…”
JR being interviewed by Fred now
Cavs just 5-24 on threes tonight. Love 1-7 and JR 2-11, and they STILL won the game comfortably
Couldn’t watch the postgame anymore, Had to switch to Wiz/Thunder.
Blatt is dropping Robert Frost lines in his presser!!!
Jeff and Campy reporting that this is the first time in team history that they’ve had all five starters score at least 15 points in back to back games… Impressive
I heard – since 1993.
I think they had three guys with double-doubles against Chicago (Kyrie pts & assists). That’s got to be rare, too.
Actually, 1993 was the last time they had all five starters score at least 15 just once. Doing it in back-to-back games (Chicago and Utah) has never happened before in franchise history…
Did anyone see how many minutes TT had tonight? I didn’t feel like I saw him that much tonight.
Only 19, but because Moz and Kevin were playing great together. He still had 4 pts and 2 boards and was +14
Tristan needs a slight break (a la Lebron). He was getting hammered and worn out since Varejao got hurt. Mozzy is known for being foul prone, so TT will get his time in.
Well. Considering that for much of the season the Cavs could muster only one good quarter per game, these past two games have been very positive steps. And from a fun standpoint, the open-court highlights are more like what we were hoping to see from opening night.
In these games it also looked like they got the ball to Love more consistently for good open shots. Because they haven’t done that very well for most of the season, it’s not really a surprise that his shot didn’t click right away. But if they keep it up, he’ll start hitting soon.
Get ready for a lot of And-1 screams from Dion on Sunday. Maybe Russell Westbrook can insult some more reporters in his post game presser?
I still like Dion, but I hope Mozgov screams “и один” (“and one” in Russian) when he takes his head off on his first drive…
Yeah I like Dion also. I would have given him a C in my mid season grades tho.
I think Kyrie is going to be up for that battle.
I hope so. I really need to beat Grover13 this week ;)
I have a feeling Mosgov won’t be doing any interviewa for awhile.
I hope not. He’s the best.
I hope they let him too.
They should ONLY let Timo do the post-game interviews. Marshawn Lynch should HIRE Moz to give his post-game interviews for him…
I have fun because the team is really team. – Mozgov
Cavs with 15 steals! Also 24 assists on 42 buckets
I can’t wait for the thunder. Charlotte has “trap game” written all over it though.
Yeah, they owe the Cavs one. But if intensity stays up, they should be okay. They held Bulls and Jazz to 39% combined the last two games…
I’m not sure which of these stats is more impressive… Kyrie with 5 steals or JR with 7 boards
Really pumped about JR’s play. He was going after so many rebounds and can play great D in the passing lanes. And to think he was a salary dump.
AND he moves the ball on offense too. Well, sometimes. He’s decisive, and he makes good entry passes.
Is it okay to say that Kyrie has worked himself into being a “very good” defender and it has actually become fun to watch him play defense? I can’t remember another player transforming himself on defense like Kyrie has this year.
Can someone win the Most Improved Player award if they’ve already won an All-Star MVP?
The Mosgov interview was awesome.
Oh, man. League Pass cuts out as soon as the game ends.
“Special? I don’t know what special. We just play basketball.” Awesome!
“We play basketball for Pottsylvania! We play for Fearless Leader!”
Oh man. He’s already my favorite interview on the team.”Allie: we must stop Moose and Squirrel! “
LOL!! I want to favorite that comment!
Did he mention Boris and Natasha?
This needs to be the graphic for the recap DW!
http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/b6/e3/6d/b6e36dd4aec423be75b2532bf36f7220.jpg
YES! MOZGOV POST GAME INTERVIEW!
That made my night.
Cavs are going all the way!! lets freak out in a different direction now!
Good to see LeBron staying away from any extended stretches of bad iso ball tonight. And he set up several times in the post and elbow, where good things happen.
He definitely made some terrific entry passes tonight. He seems to be getting a good rythym with both of the new guys
Great revenge win for the Cavs! They really looked like they were having fun out there!
Do you start Shump with the way JR has been playing?
Tough call. Think you bring Shump along slowly. If it doesn’t affect JR’s psyche too much, I think it’s better to have his insta-scoring punch off the bench though, right?
Wizard of Moz is a dumb nickname. I like Mozilla or The Iron Curtain
Wait, who called him that? Fred?
Fred mentioned it sort of like he had heard it from someone else.
I hate it when Fred tries…
How about Mozlotov Cocktail
If he plays like this all year he’ll get a drink named after him.
Haha not a drink, as in Molotov Cocktail: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molotov_cocktail
Man, that Haywood shot is still in the air… lol