Live Thread: Cavs @ Jazz (#BackToBacksAreWhack)
2016-03-14
The Cavs finish up their four game run through the West Coast with one last stop in Salt Lake tonight against the Utah Jazz on the second night of a… you guessed it… back-to-back. For all the talk of the League trying to reduce the frequency of back-to-backs during the NBA schedule, this will be the Cavs’ 14th double-dip so far (with three more to go before the season comes to a close), and fourth just in the last two weeks. On the plus side, Cleveland has a 9-4 on the second nights of back-to-backs. They’ve had some of their worst defeats (the Portland game comes to mind), but also some of their biggest victories (like San Antonio) in them. On the minus side, it can’t be easy to get up for games on consecutive games… especially at the end of a roadtrip, against a team that is struggling to make the playoffs. Maybe the schedule-makers, or Adam Silver will find ways to trim the number back next year, but for now the Cavs will need a good effort to avoid one last potential pot-hole on the road before heading back home.
Fortunately, LeBron has fared pretty well on the second night of back-to-backs in his career…
Tonight will be @KingJames 224th game on 2nd night of BTB..his average of 27.8 is slightly higher than career norm..only Kobe 28.1 is higher
— Fred McLeod (@CavsFredMcLeod) March 14, 2016
And, the Cavs have built some terrific momentum over the first three games of this trip through most of California. Hopefully, they can continue their red-hot shooting from beyond the arc, so they don’t have to deal as much with the “Stifle Tower” Rudy Gobert in the paint. One guy they definitely won’t have to worry about is Jazz star and leading scorer, Gordon Hayward, who is going to miss this one with plantar fasciitis.
The Cavs probable starting lineup will be: Kyrie Irving, J.R. Smith, LeBron James, Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson (who reportedly gets the start tonight). For the Jazz: Shelvin Mack, Rodney Hood, Joe Ingles, Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert.
Game starts at 10:30 p.m EST (for you night owls)/7:30 p.m. on the west coast. All the action will be broadcast on ESPN and Fox Sports Ohio, and can be heard on WTAM 1100.
Prediction: Weary from the back-to-back at the end of a long road trip, the Cavs let the Jazz play things close until the second half. Cavs find a way to win and head back to Cleveland for some home cooking 99-87.
Cavs shot so many threes because they didn’t have the energy to penetrate and absorb contact with the way the game was being called. Cannot fault them for this at the end of a long road trip. Rested, with practice, and a proper game plan, this team is a different animal. That’s always been the case for the last two seasons.
Look, I didn’t make the Live Thread intro all about back-to-backs for no reason… however, it’s games like this that will make me cringe if the Cavs wind up losing the number 1 seed to the Raps… just sayin’
Its bothersome because we tried to win it at all, instead of smartly resting players. This was a loss waiting to happen, and there was no point in pushing it. Number one seed is not going to matter against the Raps. I mean, last year Atlanta crushed the regular season and we swept them. The only thing that matters about the Raps’ seeding is it will determine on whose floor we win game four.
Man, I need a break. I’m sounding like Cols, but much more literate.
Houston beat memphis by 50 tonight. Memphis is still better. Washington, a team that is barely alive, beat Detroit by 43. OKC beat a hot Portland team by 30. Atrocious CHI beat Toronto, the hottest team in the East. I take a lot more from the way they play games when they’ve had at least one day off against a team that has had a day off and the development of scheme and rotations. This game tonight told us nothing useful, other than what we already know about back to backs and high altitude – its a recipe for losing… Read more »
Yeah Cavs were tired tonight. Didn’t want to work, so they jacked 3s.
I thought LeBron played the best tonight. But he also got a little too 3-happy down the stretch.
Too tired to drive and get hacked with no call.
Okay, I feel like Cols or something. This game meant nothing. 1. We have no threats in the East, even if Toronto had won tonight, which they didn’t. 2. They were on a 4 game west coast trip. They were on the second night of a back to back in which they were playing a 4000 feet difference in elevation. Three time zones away from home. On a weekend when they lost an hour due to daylight savings. 3. In the playoffs, they will never play back to backs. 4. In the playoffs, they will never play a team at… Read more »
Agreed. This game had no significance. I’m proud of this team regardless.
I like the ball movement. The effort on defense. Over the past week, they’ve made some serious strides. Their mentality has improved greatly.
They played the Lakers and Kings, two of the worst teams in the league. They cruised by the Clips and was playing a below .500 team without their best player and down two starters. It was not some murderers’ row they faced down on this road trip.
They played well against a very good team, won some easy games they should, lost a game they didn’t have to. Not alarming but not progress.
Cavs are just so inconsistent man…drives me crazy…
Meanwhile… GSW just hit 60…
Good. I hope they’re fighting to the end to get the record. They have been playing closer and closer games. Every team brings their A game. Their point differential is worse and worse, even though they are winning. You can see and hear it is taking a mental toll on them. They have to go 14-3 to get the record. That’s going to be hard, plus two games against San Antonio. A team that has a better differential and knows the regular season means Jack. I care not for GS’s record breaking regular season.
I’d bet on them to get it… Also, their bench would have won them a game like tonight’s…
True. But I’m fine if they get it. It bothered me for a little while, and then I had to ask myself if it was more important to me that we win a title. The more effort they put into the regular season at this point, the more of a physical and mental toll it will take. Say they get it: so what? They’ll feel like they achieved something. But they wont’ have won anything that matters. They won’t have rested up so they’re ready for San Antonio and OKC. Maybe it won’t matter, but I’d rather have them doing… Read more »
LBJ averages almost two more minutes a game than any Warrior…
I know. Its why it drives me absolutely nuts that we play him at all in games like tonight, much less over 36 minutes in ANY game. He shouldn’t be playing more than 34 minutes except in exceptional circumstances.
Although, at least in his case, he is pretty aware of what his body can and can’t do and knows how to prepare for the playoffs. But he got tired last June. We should be much more focused on having him fresh for the playoffs. Use round one to get him up to speed on anything he’s missed. Think about it: Who needs the least amount of practice time on this team? Who can learn any new play in his sleep and execute it perfectly? And who is the absolute only guy on the team we cannot do without? I… Read more »
I thought they were going to get it, but I’m not sure now. Iggy being out for a couple of weeks witb the ankle may cost them enough games to just miss it.
Cavs are just so damn inconsistent…drives me crazy
So what’s up with TT? did he get hurt? Why wasn’t he playing in 2nd half?
He was getting worked… not very effective and gave up a few key fouls trying to get boards.
Love has put together a string of some bad games.
Love played really well in second half.
And he had 2 points in the first half. Only had 12 for the game.
So he didn’t have a bad game. He had a bad first half. It became a game again because of him.
As someone who is supposed to be part of a big 3, it was a bad game. He was also -4, which wasn’t as bad as Kyrie’s -17.
Just poor coaching should’ve gone with backups extensively… No way LBJ Kyrie or love play morre than 25/30 min with pop coaching
We should have rested the big three and gave them this one.
Yes and yes. Its just terrible managment. and, to add insult to injury, it reduces our chance of winning the next game. The older you get, the longer you take to heal. The taller you are, the more injured you become from flying so often. Its just dum dumb dumb.
Not really sure why I made myself stay up for that pile of crap…
Ah, could careless about this game. Back to back, last game of road trip. Opponent is an irrelevant team, would be lucky to make playoffs. I’m proud of the Cavs, they showed grit, fight, tried to come back. They’ve come a long way in the past two weeks.
I’m 100% in this boat. They shouldn’t’ve even played LBJ. Lue will probably say he considered it again. There is no reason, none, to play the most important player on the team, who is 31, on the second night of a back to back having flown through three time zones in three difference cities in less than a week, with the final game being at high altitude. No reason to play him. One day, this kind of BS will result in a torn ligament in the 36th minute, and the season will be over.
They are 7-5 in their last 12, that’s progress?
They got too many points in the paint earlier. Cavs fell in love with their crappy 3 point shooting. Why is Tristan on the bench in clutch? Please rest Love more when he is like this.
The one almost sure bet in NBA basketball is betting on Utah or Denver at home when they are playing a team on the back end of a back to back…
As bad as the officiating was, so was the Cavs offense tonight. Lue also had some interesting rotations.
Yeah…I wasn’t sure why he didn’t do the usual rotation that has been working lately unless guys were gassed from the elevation…
You might have something there.
10-42 from three… just inexcusable…
Excuse: tired legs plus high altitude with no time to rest or adjust to the air. Not surprising at all. I’d bet its common if someone had the time to look it up.
Feast or famine. Against the Clippers we could not miss.
I’m telling you, going from sea level (LA) to miles above sea level is a huge adjustment. They had no time to acclimate. It screws you up. I take nothing from this game.
Doesn’t explain why they jacked up 42 threes…
If I was Lue, and thank god for us all that I’m not, I’d have let them bomb away all game. You too, Moz. No use working too hard on a game like this. Rest Love and KI and LBJ (all dealing with assorted injuries and healing) and let James Jones, McRae, Mozgov, Frye, and Jefferson bomb away. Rotate in Shump and Delly (J.R. should get the night off too, he’s over 30 and has played a lot of minutes). Take 100 threes. Who cares? Shoot 30% and you score 90. We scored 85 tonight. What’s the difference?
That’s it Lue. Keep the starters in. They could use work on exhausted fourth quarter of back to backs for the playoffs. /s
Everyone shot like crap. No buttons for Lue to push on offense. No guards on our side could play d without fouling. Games like this must make our playoff opponents salivate.
Our opponents probably know that they’ll never see this team, i.e., on the second night of an away back to back. That never happens in the playoffs. Its why its so stupid in the regular season. Just causes injury and bad basketball.
And that should do it.
Just got on here and not sure if it’s been talked about but these refs are most definitely Mormon…There’s always some bad calls but this game has been atrociously one sided…Am I crazy?
I agree with u eg… Should’ve pulled starters once the lead became double digits. Exactly what popovich would do
Pop would not have played a single player over the age of 30, because he reads science.
Ok that made me chuckle
Lue could have done a better coaching this half.
OK horrible call. You don’t call that in the last minute of a tight game.
You do if you’re on the take… /s
LeBron retreating for a 3 out of the timeout was not a good look.
This game isn’t tight.
The fall away three was not it.
Love should have taken the three…/s
Another crappy call by a crappy officiating crew!
LeBron shooting off balanced 3s wouldn’t be my first option.
Oh, come on!
Something interesting – Kaun has 1 point but hasn’t played one second of game time.
Kyrie scored 6 with less than 40 seconds last year. It’s possible.
And who is shooting?? Not Kyrie
Not sure why the play out of time out was for LBJ to take a three with so many better options on the floor. Like, you know, literally every other player on the floor.
Hubie Brown absolutely loves when the Cavs lose…I’m pretty sure he wants to make out with Rudy Gobert and Ingles too, or really anyone on any team playing the cars…
Cavs not cars…
Does Hubie just only root for underdogs?
Need to drain some 3s now!
Could have used that rebound.
Writing on the wall now… Sluggish play early in the game No Tristan to get O-bounds
What’s up with TT? Did he get hurt?
Ugh!!!!!!!!!
This game isn’t fun!
At least you’re not Channing Frye… or his giblets…
I totally forgot that J.R. is the King of too little too late 3 pointers.
Nothing changed,,,, Refs going after Cavs more
Cavs just wasting time… Lue should pull the starters…
Nah, I think they are practicing for the playoffs.
20 minutes ago.
They just need a couple shots and they’re in it…and there’s one from JR.
11 minutes of real time to decide that… smh…
Anything that results in Sasha Kaun having to come off the bench to shoot techs is worth it, imho.
Utah shot one free throw. So only one T on Frye, but he was ejected? Did he have a T earlier in the game?
Yep. 2nd quarter I think
Yes.
Still believe the NBA needs to clarify its rules surrounding elbow contact. Little consistency call to call. #HoopIdea – Pelton
The elbow swing which resulted in a technical on JR, and this most recent elbow…Yeah.
Kaun calmly splits a pair lol
What the heck, I’d like to see the Cavs try to win this.
Insult to injury… Kaun gets picked to take the throw…
By whom?
What is going on here?
Why is Sasha taking free throws??
Opposing coach gets to choose player off the bench
That is hilarious. I love this rule. We need more of it.
I literally HAVE Never Heard of that!! LOL
Opposing coach gets to pick on a Flagrant
As an NBA fan, I’d love to call for a full investigation into how the league has been officiated this year…
I concur completely! They are awful!
Lyles is gone too!
Frye is gone!
So is Lyles!
What is this? CSI???
If they call that a punch by Frye, it’s a joke. It was after they were separated.
Plus Lyles pushed him first.
This is awesome. As the end of the season gets closer, we need this toughness, mentality. Frye big ups to you
https://twitter.com/mcten/status/709600164130893824
Hoping this galvanized the Cavs to play hard for a win….. Maybe..???
Just keep bombing from three. They’ll go in or they won’t. Don’t exhaust yourselves trying to win a meaningless game.
Geez Stealing some Thunder away from some hope I was trying to spread..
https://vine.co/v/iwrOKzQFjWH
Apparently Lyles did that to Frye twice.
Yeah that’s why Frye escalated it a bit more than usual. Such a jerk
Man that’s such a POS move. Get that kid outta the league
Double technical?
Fred drives me crazy on quick to judge Frye
Frye lost his cool.
Wow…they catch Frye and may not even punish myles
Lyles will get a suspension or a fine by the league for that nutt shot!
Chris Paul never does.
Oh man, I am loving Frye. This guy is awesome
Frye should be gone
So should Lyles for the elbow to the groin…
How do you figure? It’s a T on Frye for the head butt.
Yeah it’s that kind of game.
I think Frye might have swung on Lyles… Punk move by Lyles though…
Yeah it’s TNT kind of game.