Live Thread: Cavs vs. Pacers (#NoFoolin’)
2017-04-02
The month of March was no laughing matter for the Cavs. In fact, the 31 day stretch… populated with 17 games, including 12 on the road and five back-to-backs, must have seemed like one long set up for the worst kind of April Fools joke. But, it’s over now. The Cavs got back on the winning track to close out their forced march through March with a win over a significantly depleted Sixers squad. Now, they look to extend their fortune on the second game of a three game home stand with the Indiana Pacers in town. Normally, early April would be a prime time for fooling around with lineups and getting extra rest for starters, yet the wine & gold find themselves in the thick of not only jockeying for playoff position, but also still trying to get a rhythm going for all of their new pieces.
The Pacers, once firmly in position for the sixth seed in the EC, have fallen apart a bit of late. They’ve lost three in a row, and are just 3-7 in their last 10, dropping into a tie for the seventh/eighth spot with Chicago and Miami. They’re still powered by their star forward, Paul George, but he’s openly questioned the team’s sense of urgency as they stumble towards the end of the season. Indiana did, however, bring back their former resident prankster and ear whisperer, Lance Stephenson, on a three year deal.
Pacers finalizing deal with Lance Stephenson after waiving Rodney Stuckey. @ShamsCharania & @WojVerticalNBA report. https://t.co/INIqsUoMWW pic.twitter.com/d7Io6CnoJ1
— Ball Don’t Lie (@Balldontlie) March 29, 2017
Did the Pacers sign Lance with the expectation that they’d wind up meeting the Cavs in round one? Possibly… although it remains to be seen if the two teams will finish the season in the requisite seeds that would result in that matchup. The Cavs have won the last two meetings with the Pacers after dropping the first one this season. Cleveland should have everyone available with the exception of Kyle Korver (foot) and Richard Jefferson (knee tendonitis). The Pacers will likely be without Al Jefferson (ankle) and Glenn Robinson III (calf).
Cavs probable starters: Kyrie Irving, J.R. Smith, LeBron James, Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson. Pacers probable starters: Jeff Teague, Monta Ellis, Paul George, Thaddeus Young, Myles Turner.
Prediction: Cavs don’t fool around with the Pacers, and get April rolling with a 112-106 victory.
Catch all the action on Fox Sports Ohio starting at 6pm EST.
Captain America civil war is good.
Eh… I liked WInter Soldier better.
Hey boys I’ve been busy but I caught this one. LeBron ripped TT and it was a bad look but, sure enough, on the next play TT busted the PnR and chased his new assignment across the slash from block to net with more speed than he had all game; the ribbing worked. I’ve seen plenty of evidence that no one not named LeBron pulls LeBron out of games; still unconvinced Lue sets his minutes at all. Lue is on record saying as much, and LeBron has said that he doesn’t mind playing big minutes. Doesn’t make it right but… Read more »
LBJ also publicly apologized for doing it during his post-game interview with Allie…
Also the right move. Again not a good look but it worked on the court. I’m happy to call out LeBron for the end antics but I thought those two plays and the exchange between were interesting.
As long as it helps focus them and they get the W, then it’s all good…
Paul George has always been streaky- capable of monster games but often has too many subpar performance. It’s why he is just a career 43% despite being touted an MVP candidate in the last few years.
Wow, quite the game. Bad FTs and awful play by Shump almost cost us the game in the 4th, but great work by KLove in the 2nd OT brought it home. JR looking better and better. Nice work to overcome hot shooting by CJ and PJ.
The two,guys I watched the game with and I wondered how bad does Shump have to play to lose minutes? I think he is there
I think when Korver can go there is no way he is on the floor in the 4Q.
Astoundingly, Shump had the best +/-.
LeBron’s Free throw looks like a trebuchet.
http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view8/20151116/5268457/trebuchet-o.gif
Trebuchets are slightly more accurate though…
Cavs did a decent job defensively on everyone not named Paul George. And let’s be clear: pg13, a 90% ft shooter went 1-2 to allow for double ot.
Following a not called five seconds call and a shot where he wasn’t touched and flopped…
Can we get an alcohol report Nate?
I had four or five beer las plus a bottle of win r
http://ih0.redbubble.net/image.310842867.4069/gptr,x1000,front,black-c,220,210,245,320-bg,ffffff.u1.jpg
He needs to get pulled off commenting and charged with a BUI. Blogging Under The Influene
Influence
Bah. I don’t drink at games. Way too cheap for that. Who pays $9 for a beer?
Me
Rich college kids at spring break.
By coincidence, I happened to read a long interview today with the president of the company that imports many Mexican beers (Corona, Modelo, …) and makes some US yuppie beers. He totally admitted that beer prices are all a marketing scam, and the big money is in arbitrarily anointing some random brand as a top end brand, charging a ton, and having a marketing campaign to convince people that it is special. He pointed out that that is exactly the same thing Budweiser, Coors, etc., did 50 years ago, and the same trick is still working.
I think that game define grit. Of course Nate ways theyzr
This should be a big confidence booster for Nate.
This should be a big confidence booster game for KLove and JR…
True. KLove’s best game since he returned by far, and same for JR.
Need to win those Atlanta games to knock them back to the 7/8 seed… Pacers/Heat/Bulls are all annoying potential first round matchups…
TT’s terrible free throw shooting almost cost us the game too
Yeah, but TT was just 2-4… and he’s never been a good FT shooter…
True. Probably too hard on him
I’m gappu
Nate needs to come through with a good post t
Someone has to fix LeBron’s Free throw stroke. It might be the worst I’ve ever seen it.
What a game. Best part was Love and JR coming up huge to lose the deal.
And Leb!!
Leb was outscored 16-0 by PG-13 in the overtimes until that last three he made…
I think you meant “close” but I blame your phone… ;)
why did this game go double OT? is defense still shitty or did Pacers go nuts? are pacers in playoff hunt….Cavs really not putting teams away
Because LBJ went 6-12 from the line…
well there ya go
And PG-13 got a gift call by the ghost of Tony Brothers at the end of regulation
And Irving was 5/20 from the field
Derrick would have been great against this team. Need his young legs out there
And Liggins on Miles
Uh oh L3b with 52 minutes
And this hasn’t matter forever so why would it matter. Is.
We needed two OTs to get our two straight wins.
Everything is awesome. Nate got s great game.
Cols is our capacitor
Huge win, now rest Lebron Tuesday.