Preview & Live Thread: Cavs vs Warriors
2015-02-26
They say to be the best, you have to beat the best. With that thought in mind, tonight’s match-up is the biggest of the season. The Golden State Warriors come in to Cleveland with the league’s best record: 44-10 and are 8-2 in the last ten games (as are the Cavs). We all know about the brilliance of Golden State’s starting back-court — Curry and Klay combine to score 46 points and 11 assists and eight rebounds per game while posting all-time shooting percentages. But there’s more than just these two that make Golden State click.
Chris Ballard wrote a fantastic piece in Sports Illustrated on how the Warriors have gone from playoff “One-and-done to NBA title Favorites.” Ballard examines Klay, Curry, Kerr, Barnes, Iguodala, and secret sauce ingredient, Draymond Green (who is playing like the biggest draft steal of the last 10 years). The article even touches on what CtBers know is the real reason for Golden State’s success, the presence of three former Cavalier Herculoids: Mo Speights, Shaun Livingston, and now assistant coach, Luke Walton. It’s a great article and a more complete Warriors preview than I could give you.
Speaking of Draymond Green, he’s got to be on the short list for the league’s “Most Improved Player” award, and he’s angling his way to a max contract this coming summer. He’s become an unbelievably smart and competitive defender, who despite his 6’6″ size can guard players at almost every position, and he’s added enough offense that he’s not a liability on that end of the floor. But is he really that improved or is he just getting extra playing time? The showdown with Draymond and Kevin, tonight, might give us some answers.
Another candidate for most improved is the Cavs own Kyrie Irving. According to Zach Kempner at NumberFire.com, Irving leads the NBA in improvement when it comes to Wins Above Replacement. Of course, the article notes, LeBron James’ addition might have something to do with that.
Enjoy the game, tonight, and Go Cavs!
Wins Above Replacement
| Player | ’13-’14 WAR | ’14-’15 WAR (Estimated) | Difference (Estimated) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kyrie Irving | 1.45 | 13.12 | +11.67 |
| Khris Middleton | 0.10 | 11.14 | +11.04 |
| James Harden | 9.67 | 19.74 | +10.07 |
| Tyreke Evans | -0.75 | 8.96 | +9.71 |
| Anthony Davis | 5.46 | 14.18 | +8.72 |
| Ben McLemore | -4.29 | 4.10 | +8.39 |
| Markieff Morris | 3.20 | 10.81 | +7.61 |
| Lou Williams | 0.28 | 7.48 | +7.20 |
| Darren Collison | 0.82 | 7.84 | +7.02 |
| Cody Zeller | 0.09 | 7.08 | +6.99 |
| Jeff Teague | 2.05 | 8.96 | +6.91 |
| Gordon Hayward | 4.99 | 11.72 | +6.73 |
| John Wall | 8.30 | 14.55 | +6.25 |
| Tyson Chandler | 5.80 | 11.99 | +6.19 |
| Brandon Jennings | -2.82 | 3.29 | +6.11 |
| Russell Westbrook | 6.89 | 12.94 | +6.05 |
| DeMarcus Cousins | 4.45 | 10.47 | +6.02 |
| Draymond Green | 6.54 | 12.17 | +5.63 |
| Harrison Barnes | -0.74 | 4.64 | +5.38 |
| Jared Dudley | 1.93 | 7.26 | +5.33 |
Tom’s weekly segment on Dayton Sportsradio was in studio – Nate even called in! Listen here: http://www.wingam.com/Tom-Pestak-from-Cavstheblog-com-talks-NBA-Cavs-wit/17320024?pid=459695
#SAMSON WITH THE MOVES!!! Nice dish!!
Great inside passing from Shump!
Sounds like Kyrie will return…
Allie sez Kyrie will return.
Four fouls on Draymond…
Want love to take him on the right block and get a 5th. Or just get nice looks to wide open passes to 3’s
Delly beats Barbosa 1 on 1!
RUDY RUDY RUDY CAN’T FAIL!
RUDY RUDY RUDY WITH THE SICK FADEAWAY!!!!!
Delly getting freaky!
Delly going to use up all of his fouls trying to stop guys on fast breaks after turnovers…
Push the lead Cavs!!!
BEAUTIFUL OFFENSE>>>> INITIATED BY RUDY!!! THE MVP LBJ WITH THE FINISH!!!!
Can’t stop LBJ in the lane!!!
GREAT ball movement and play to start the 4th quarter. Love it!
I just looked today to see how many games Kyrie usually plays before going down for the season. It has increased every year. If the trend holds he will be done during the first round of playoffs.
Kyrie back out on the bench at least…
Glad to see him there. The grimace look though makes me think his night is over.
Just hope he can play tomorrow night against Indy…
HOW MANY TIMES IS MARV GOING TO MENTION HOW COLD IT IS IN CLEVELAND?!
So here is my bias regarding movies. Less high speed collisions and war stuff. More things like dinner with Andre stuff. The high tech I think is the easy route. Give me art Hollywood. Back to the cavs.
HAHAHAHA….. Nice take, Chemist!
Seems like the Cavs are holding everyone to 42% shooting these days. Even the Warriors…
who knows if lebron plays entire 4th here team does have game tomorrow but it’d be nice if other guys step up and make shots to put this game away…..12pt lead can def increase
If Kyrie doesn’t return… LBJ will most likely have to play the whole fourth…
He’ll play his normal 4th quarter minutes unless we’re up 20 with a few minutes left. No reason to save anything for tomorrow’s game unless the game is out of reach. We’re playing the “best team in the NBA” tonight.
God i hope irving’s injury isn’t serious
What happened with Kyrie?
Was holding his shoulder…
Worried it looked kinda like a dislocation… hopefully it was just a cut.
I hope Kyrie isn’t hurt too bad… looked like his shoulder was hurting… went to the locker room…
cavs losing the long rebound battle…really need to get those loose balls…warriors getting lot of 2nd chance points on those instances…..lebron shooting 58% from field…thats insane
Offense looking stagnant, what i always fear when they rely too much on james for sustained periods.
Yet they still have 90 points through three against the “best team in the NBA”
True. Need to come out and try to put their foot down in the fourth qtr. happy with 3q defense, tho it does seem the refs helped a bit, but i will take it
If LeBron wasn’t in video game mode then it wouldn’t be this LeBron-centric. I’m not worried at all. The guy is having an insane game. He could easily hit 50 tonight.
Provided he can stay hot. If they focus on covering him, hopefully he passes and we convert the open shot.
Bingo, Gordon… he is feeling it so he’s taking the shots…
THey’re playing the matchups…. which is what they ought to do. Need to exploit the Love matchup, but that’s really nitpicking.
All good points, just being paraniod cleveland fan.
No worries John b…. I can understand that!!! HAHAHAHA!!
I don’t know why the Warriors complain about not getting to the line… when they get there.. they miss…
Cavs need to get back inside on some drives…
TT fulFILLING YOUR REQUEST!!!
TT SAVING THE POSSESSION!
Come on don’t let them back.
Thompson starting to get hot… Cavs need to get on him…
LBJ GOING VIDEO GAME!!!
HE’S ON FIREEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!
Kyrie getting too cute there… Livingston has some length…
#Herculoids
Agreed…. moved the ball beautifully las couple of possessions.
What in the name of samardo Samuels is wrong with me. I never would have thought Ray Allen was such the passer.
Here comes LBJ again to wreak some more havoc!
Wow, Kyrie has 20. Very quiet 20 (except for that beautiful layup).
Haha Perk is averaging a foul a minute….4 minutes played total, 4 fouls
That’s what we got him for… he’s doing his job ;)
The consummate thug
It’s about time for Love to hit a 3 . . .
dont understand why cavs are leaving barnes wide open unless they are letting him score and try to stop curry and Klay
Technically, he’s playing the 4 when he’s out there, so it’s either TT or Love having to go out and guard him…
Get Love some touches.. Post him up and play off him.
KYRIDICULOUS!!!!!!! NOW YOU SEE ME< NOW YOU DONT!!!
Kyrie among the trees!
Kyrie with the SICK finish!
Can’t leave Barnes open for that shot…
LBJ on the bench. Let’s move the ball some. And protect it.
Or let Kyrie score.
Great correction there U-Dog HAHAHAH!!!
TT in. All the rebounds belong to us.
LOVE IN THE PAINT…. nice touch!!!
Get Love working down low!
KLOVE in the POST!!
Because GS is rattled I think we need to smack them upside the head with Love in the post.
They are used to guarding him at the 3 pt line. Get a few quick buckets with Love down low. Make their heads spin!
Great point Gordon!
I LOVE Moz’s yellow shoes!
Smith playing like a defensive stalwart since the trade. He’s been fantastic.
So much to Smith’s game that we didn’t know about.
Yes he is…. good catch Gordon and JB225~!
The Warriors are rattled…
Nice dish by Kyrie!!!! MOZGOD WILL NOT BE DENIED!!!
Andy looks like Andre the giant with that hair and sport jacket
THAT WAS A FOUL!!!!!! WHAT A RIDICULOUS MISSED CALL!
Come on Kyrie, gotta hit that dagger!
That Kyrie three would have brought the house down…
Strong defense again tonight boys.
They feel us on defense.
GSW can’t handle the heat U-DOG!!!
MEET THE REAL MVP STEPH!!!!!
GREAT HUSTLE DEFENSE CAVS!!!!!!
Cavs up by 14. TNT announcers are totally oblivious to that fact.
Marv Albert doing what marv Albert does.
Saw luke Walton. I hope he gets a chance to move up the ladder and head coach one day.
LBJ IS EN FUEGO!!!!!!!!
JR has played great defense on Thompson. Have to give him credit.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME>>>>>?????? LBJ LBJ LBJ!!!!
ON FREAKIN’ FIRE
LEBRON!
I smell a blow out … of Kerr’s o-ring.
JR now has FOUR STEALS!!!
And it’s the DEFENSE that’s making us so freakin’ good! I absolutely love this.
jr smith is playing hell of a game without scoring….this should be noted in recap whoever is writing it!
Kyrie’s gotta move the ball
YOU WERE SAYING CHARLES, KENNY AND SHAQ?????
MVP!!
I LOVE that heat check shot from almost half court. Hilarious. Love it.