Live Thread: Cavs vs. Wizards
2015-12-01
I realize that not everyone who reads this blog is a fan of all Cleveland sports. In fact, I know many of you live in far reaching places around the country and even the globe, and have rooting interests elsewhere for other sports. But for those of you who are still recovering from last night’s latest Browns debacle… take heart and embrace the above banner. Though it looks like it might be a while longer to wait for a Superbowl (or at this point even a playoff) contender, there’s nothing like seeing the King and all of his men in action to clear one’s palate and memory banks. And, fortunately, we don’t even have to wait a full 24 hours, since the Cavs play host to the Washington Wizards tonight at the Q.
The Wiz (6-8) have fallen on hard times lately, and come to town on a four game losing streak, including a tough 84-82 loss on Saturday to the Raptors on a Cory Joseph buzzer beating triple. But, at least it was an improvement over their previous three games where they lost by an average margin of 21.3 points. It doesn’t get easier for Washington tonight, as they take on a Cavs team that’s beaten them 12 of the last 16 in Cleveland, and is 29-1 at the Q since mid-January.
The Cavs are coming off of a buzzer beating thriller of their own on Saturday against Brooklyn when LeBron hit a spectacular running jump-hook with two seconds to play to keep them a perfect 9-0 at home. The wine & gold have won five of their last six, and look push their home winning streak to double digits against the Wiz.
Cavs probable starting lineup: Mo Williams, J.R. Smith, LeBron James, Kevin Love and Timofey Mozgov. Wizards probable starting lineup: John Wall, Bradley Beal, Jared Dudley, Otto Porter Jr. and Marcin Gortat.
In other Cavs’ news, David Blatt was named the Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for October/November, after leading the Cavaliers to a 13-4 record. This is the second time Blatt has earned Coach of the Month accolades (March 2015) as he becomes the fourth coach in Cavaliers history to win the award more than once, joining Lenny Wilkens (three times), Mike Fratello (two times) and Mike Brown (five times). Blatt is the first coach in Cavaliers history to win the award within the first month of a season.
Even with the recent troubles of the Wizards, expect this to be a fairly competitive game, as the Wiz are yet another young team gunning for the reigning EC Champs. The Cavs should ultimately pull this one out though somewhere in the neighborhood of 103-95.
GO CAVS!
11 of Jason Lloyd’s 24 thoughts were on Mozgov. I feel that is appropriate.
ROCKETS SAID TO BE SHOPPING TY LAWSON–WHAT IS THE FEELING OF THE CTB BROTHERS ON THAT
Don’t like it and don’t think we need that just need kyrie and Shumpert back. Bigs seem to be biggest concern
I’m gonna nope all over that.
Rather have Delly
There’s no way the Cavs could get him… the price would be too high.
CAMPY’S / A.C.’S COMMENTS ” THIS SHOULD BE A WAKE UP CALL ” —-I THINK THIS IS A CAMOUFLAGE STATEMENT THEY BOTH KNOW THE REAL PROBLEM IS WE HAVE DIFFICULTY WITH VERY FAST / PENETRATING GD’S AND ATHLETIC / PHYSICAL BIGS —-KY / SHUMP SHOULD HELP WITH THE GD. CONCERN —THE BIGS IS WHAT GRIFF/ LEBRON / STAFF NEED TO START EVALUATING /LOOKING ( YOU KNOW LEBRON REALIZES THIS ALSO —THAT UNTIL WE SHORE THAT UP A NBA TITLE MIGHT NOT BE ATTAINABLE )—–SORRY IF I SOUND SO NEGATIVE / PESSIMISTIC BUT EVEN IN OUR WINS WE HAD PROBLEMS IN… Read more »
This one is on the whole team. Coaches. Players. Everyone. Not Ready.
Tip of the cap to the Wizards, who were the Phoenix Suns of old reincarnated. Wow. Pace and pace.
Mozgov is not going well, for sure.
Worst game in a year.
We have a serious (or worrisome) Mosgov problem. It is absolutely ridiculous the Wizards basically had an open runway to the hoop dunking and getting easy bunnies. Mosgov issue seem more mental than physical. He is dropping passes, not where he is suppose to be, unaware of the plays in place. He gets frustrated from the get go on the offensive end and just falls apart on the defensive end as well. Tonight, we looked like that horrid team from a year ago when Varejao went down. Blatt had to tweak so many unsuccessful line-ups until Mosgov arrived. During the… Read more »
I think you have to move Moz to the bench, hopefully it helps him get more comfortable. I’d move Mo to the bench too
He just needs his confidence back along with just getting pissed off. I don’t like the kinder and .Mr. Nice Guy Mosgov. Mo and Delly are splitting mins evenly. Delly needs to get more offense going and he did tonight. Mo needs to watch his turnovers (and he did) get better defending and he needs to push the pace. Mo strolling the ball down court is not a good thing
Keep the minutes as is. I think Mo will be able to guard back ups more. I’m a big believer in once a guy gets a few to go its way harder to slow him down but if he starts rough defense gets easier. Its basically what happened. Wiz got the rim for easy points. Cavs missed bunnies and everything went to hell
i like this theory
I tend to agree. He just doesn’t seem right. While we can take solace that our guard situation will get stronger when KI and Shump return, we can’t say that about the bigs….there’s no one waiting on the sidelines to come in and help (I think Kaun may not be as ready as we thought for the NBA). Moz is struggling and none of our other bigs are rim-protectors.
Andy is ready, they are just sheilding him from another injury. If we needed him he could play 25 minutes a night
Lloyd reporting his knee is still an issue but Mosgov is toughing it out, It’s getting to him
Cavs need to statr Delly and TT. I get the logic of starting Mo and Moz and trying to have some punch on the bench but you can’t let guys like Wall get easy points to start the game. And maybe Moz will find some confidence plaing weaker opposition because hes a shell of himself right now. Verging on unplayable. Its obvious that Andy is the better option but the Cavs are trying to keep him healthy.
On the bright side Jefferson played a very strong game on both ends after some weak games I thought
Blatt should go with RJ over James Jones. Jones can make an occasional 3 and that’s about it. He doesn’t do mid-range shots, drive to the basket or defends all that great. RJ is def an upgrade. But in all honesty this wasn’t why the Cavs lost no more than Mo’s defense. Mo didn’t really have a bad game. This game was lost by failure to protect the paint and allowing Wizards to dictate the pace.
I’m not blaming Mo, but he had no ability to slow down Wall. Wall got to the paint whenever he wanted. Wall will get to the paint against anyone, but you have to make him work for it. Especially since he came in struggling I thought this was a big deal. And Moz not offering anything in help made it worse.
Definitely agree about RJ over JJ. I think once Shump comes back RJ will take over for JJ. Its just that right now hes playing minutes as the backup 2 and Blatt seems to be protecting him and Andy
Unfortunately, no one stopped Wall including Delly. I did see Delly help defend a lot tonight We needed 1 person at all times on him.
Wait wait. This is just sad.
Lakers lost to the Sixers. Kobe going 7/26 just to get 20 points. With 17(!!!!!) of them taken from 3. And just made 4.
Man smh..
I’m no lakers fan, but I need to punch someone in the face if there’s ever a ever a reasoning for that. 17 3pta..
Yeah… he hit his first three, so he thought “heck, maybe I can still do this!” Then proceeded to go 1-14 from three the rest of the game… If he hadn’t of already announced his retirement, he might have had to after this performance…
Who’s more delusional Kobe or Byron? Byron says “there will be games like that, where you just live and die with it, hopefully you live more than you die” Does he realize Kobe hasn’t shot 50% in over a year?
Byron needs to be coach for life for the Lakers. I love him there.
The Cavs totally got caught off guard by the Wizards pace and couldn’t recover and is becoming more obvious that MO is a huge liability on defense. The Cavs guards are getting break down consistently on defense forcing rotations not in the Cavs favor.
We all knew Cavs pace was too damn slow. You want to compete with the Best and that’s the Warriors you better put on your running shoes and step it up. Wizards exposed the Cavs.
AGREE WITH YOU RUNNING JUMPER /KEEP IT IN THE LOCKERROOM —-EVEN A.C MENTIONED OUR INABILITY THE ENTIRE SEASON TO DEFEND THE PAINT ( SUPPOSEDLY MOZ’S STRENGTH ) STILL GOT THE HEYWOOD CONTRACT TO GO GET AN ATHLETIC BIG ——-COULD BE UGLY THE NEXT 2 GAMES —ANTHONY DAVIS/ WHITESIDE ——OUCH !!
I think they may need to use The Contract to get a big, if Moz can’t return to last season’s form.
Sixers win by 12.
Oak can celebrate by driving 108 mph to the clubs, and then get his drink on and pick fights with scumbags out on the street. Good times!
If the Wizards can consistently play like they did tonight, they are going to win a lot of games.
They have shown that they can’t.
They got up to play the Cavs… had looked terrible thus far this season…
That is an insane pace! You do that night in and out; they will have injuries. The thing that really bugs me the most is they are a 1 trick pony. Driving to the hoop and repeat. That was it for the most part and the Cavs just punched their frequent flier pass as they blew by them in the paint. Thank you and come again? What was that?
Looks like EG cab fly his Laker flag proudly tonight. They are taking a huge step towards retaining their #1 draft pick.
LOL… I’d never have one of those…
I’m glad Delly was in shape for this one :). Too bad it’s all for not.
Lebron.
Please don’t say anything to the outside media after this game. You played garbage on this one, all of you did. Keep this inside the locker room. It’s not a good time to call a meeting because you played trash too they might tune you out on this one, which could be bad going forward. Be with them on this. Don’t call them out like you the only one playing hard out there. Lift the spirit of the team up and step up the next game. Again be with them on this.
Yes, agree with this.
Agree. Just put this one behind you.
Jefferson, Andy, and Delly played good games. JR struggled shooting but was ok. Everyone else blew
Outside of Delly, horrendous three point shooting night.
IF MOZ IS HURT THEN SIT HIM—ISN’T THIS WHY WE GOT —-WHAT’S HIS NAME ( ALMOST FORGOT LIKE BLATT HAS ) SASHA LET HIM EARN A LITTLE OF THE 2 MILLION —-THR BIGS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE A STRENGTH FOR THE CAVS / THERE IS SOME CONCERN RIGHT NOW
Agree with this. It’s a question to me why Sasha can’t see the court since he knows how play for coach Blatt. And Blatt knows him well too. And he ain’t no rookie. That guy I think can play now even for spot minutes to nurse Timo.
Cavs got some stops… just couldn’t score…
Yeah, definitely had a chance with three minutes or so.
Or Lebron got weird and tried to get fouled instead of finding the hot shooters
How many bunnies is Bron gonna miss?
Cavs should trade Mo for a second round draft pick.
Now I don’t know if this is frustration, sarcasm, joke or what.
JR, Delly and JFJ from 3 are better options than LeBron driving tonight.
He’s missed a ton at the rim tonight. Granted they haven’t been easy looks.
Delly working his ass off on D.