Live Thread: Bulls at Cavs
2016-01-23
Game 1 of the LueBron era starts tonight. Â Also, Game 1 of the Saturday night NBA on ABC era.
Well, the Bulls have dropped six of eight and Joakim “Pebbles” Noah is out for the season. Â Mike Dunleavy is still recovering from surgery and Kirk Hinrich is out. Â Derrick Rose is a shell of his former self. Â The Bulls are hurting, basically.
Jimmy Butler has asserted himself as one of the best young players in the NBA and Pau Gasol remains surprisingly effective at age 35.  The Bulls have some pieces in Tony Snell, Taj Gibson, and Nikola Mirotic but they seem to be stuck in “6th-man” or “x-factor” type production/consistency.
Ty Lue has already stated that he will play a 10-man rotation. Â Good. Â I’d rather he just do it than signal that he’s going to do it but, whatever. Â I’m getting prepared for some awkward press conferences – Lue turned off a lot of Cavs fans today when he said he wasn’t going to be make the Cavs different from Blatt, just “better”. Â Sounds like he didn’t mean any slight by it, but…that’s a rough transcript to spin. Â He also said that he’s going to get the ball to Kevin Love at the elbow. Â If it’s not painfully obvious that this is happening in the near future, and the Cavs struggle, prepare for all the heat of this collective hot seat to cook Kevin Love alive.
I’m actually optimistic about tonight’s game. Â Let’s talk about it here. Â As a fun aside, let’s have a Lue pun contest. Â If you see a good one, just reply to the comment and award points or Schrute bucks. Â Here’s the conversion:
Cavs lost by exactly the number of free throws they missed, FYI….
FTs are a consistent issue for this team, though. Suggesting they’ll fare better if they hit more FTs is like saying my checking account balance will be much more solid if I win more the power ball more.
You can’t deny they wouldn’t have fared better if they’d have hit their free throws… basic math…
The Cavs have converted about 73% of their FTs this season. If they have a Cavs-average night at the line, they still lose by 6. That is, at best, a moral victory.
I’m genuinely curious how many points this team will score on the Spurs. Seriously, it may be 60 points…
Tough loss for Tyronn Lue. Now only 784 wins behind David Blatt in professional career victories — Anthony Lima
We are not getting the same production from Kyrie and Love as we did a year ago and that is more of a problem than the coach drama.
Kyrie’s lack of production is really hurting the cavs. I hope he gets the magic back soon.
So you fire a coach, who really milked the teams talent last year and this year, and you hire a coach who today seemed really over his head with the bizarre “10 deep” rotations, no sets and i mean NO sets, just because they were psyched out? Get a therapist on the team. I think I need a sabbatical. I am so pissed off at this team right now.
Hypothetical question, and I am not saying this happens or that I even think there is a realistic chance it would happen but what does everyone think would happen if the cavs did not make the finals this year? For instance would griffin automatically be gone, does james bolt, etc? I am not trying to be morbid, just fascinated by that scenario in a thought experiment kind of way.
Griff and Lue would be gone, but where else would LBJ go?
Lebron goes to LA or NYK. I’m not saying he does that but he could.
Probably the only two places he could…
You think Lue really? I don’t know how they fire another coach even in those circumstances. I mean they would essentially becomes the Browns of the NBA in terms of instability.
Yep… Gilbert would probably go after someone like Coach K, Calipari or Izzo and back up the truck…
Griffin is gone without a doubt if the Cavs don’t win it all. This was a huge move to make on a winning team. If it backfires like it appears it has after just one game, he’s definitely gone.
Then they bring in Coach K? /s
What happen to franchise? hahaha
Its not hypothetical at all. We are far from a sure thing.
1.you cant count on guys being healthy except Lebron, second
2.we are not THAT much better than the other East teams
3. We dont have a coach
4. We dont have sanity
More hypothetical than reality still though… I mean we’re only one game into the Ty Lue era…
I mean look I wasn’t for firing Blatt either, at least not in the middle of the season, but talent wise, we are way better than the rest of the east and I think if it got to the point that things continue to go down hill, Lue would simply go back to the Blatt rotations and plays.
If it were that easy, he might as well go to the pPopovich plays, as they are better. We are not guaranteed or given anything, we will have to earn eveything. Nobody is afraid of us. Cant you see how they play against us? Everybody thinks they can beat us. And I dont think it is that far fetched.
delly not too proud to take the garbage time shot. noone else wanted the ball. him and jr the only ones with heart on this team. and jump shots
Yeah. Love seems to always play hard.
Wish we had Campy and AC to give us a recap.
I wonder what Campy would say, “You’re absolutely right” to?
Fred. You’re absolutely right. Fred.
Um… maybe “That Mozgov winter hat looks great on you.”
Cavs played out of their normal rotations with each other. Lue tweaked that too much especially with the BIGS. Should have tried the same line-up we had in the playoffs against them. Of course that means less Love but so be it if you can get a win.
Blatt couldn’t get the players to buy into him. And that’s completely his fault, guys. Don’t you see, the coach has to coddle the players and convince them buy in. They’re not supposed to be professionals and implement the coach’s teachings. This isn’t a league of professionals you see, It’s a league of childish, petty players, don’t you see. And the coach has to get he childish, petty players to buy in. If he can’t it’s his fault, don’t you see.
(/s to like the ^999999999999999999999999999999999 power)
The offense was complete garbage… CHI is not that good of a defensive team and they’re even worse on offense.
Stop it…If the bulls are that bad, the cavs are worse.
Not tonight they weren’t, though if they hit free throws it might have been a different game.
Pau: We made them shoot a low % from the FT line.
I know most of you guys point at Kevin Love but to be honest at least he averages 16 and 10. My question is how do you sign a 8 ppg and 10 rebs per game guy to a 80+ mil contract?
Harlem Cavalier and me have been saying that since day 1… but whatever’s good for Klutch.
Just the mindset to ask for it started this bad energy.
Hey. Hey. Griff’s a genius. (Like Mike Holmgren.)
TT for 12 mil and then 6 mil to a real knock down shooter. Because right now besides JR and Kyrie (and both are just streaky shooters) the Cavs don’t have a good three point specialist to space the floor.
Like a Korver or something.
How did Gasol end up on the Bulls? Was he a FA signing? Seems like an odd fit. Would like to see him playing on the Pacers.
Announcers praising Chicago. Umm really? We just played like total dogsh*t.
They won on the road against the Eastern Conference favorites on the 2nd night of a back to back by 13 points despite shooting 43%. I think they are pretty happy with the effort they gave.
Mark Jackson is represented by Klutch, just saying.
Griff heads to his locker room towel-bin to sample post-loss zeitgeist. — Scott Raab
Well this is what we wants this team fighting to the end and not giving up right?
LeBron James franchise killer!
Holy cow this was a bad shooting night for the Cavs. Oh man I haven’t seen this kind of poor shooting since they were wide open routinely in Oakland.
Or the Portland game…
Did Shump play tonight?
Lets cross our fingers if we’re still in 1st place before the all star game.
Lue did say he didn’t want to coach the ASG… that’s one way to get out of it…
Lol, oh that actually pains me to laugh at that.
Glad they’re keeping the starters in down by 12 with less than a minute left,
If JR had hit that… Bron would have had a triple double… not that it matters…
Yeah . . . 8 assists in the first half. Finished with 9.
RJ is a DNP, Mo played 3 minutes, LeBron plays 40 minutes in a losing effort. Blatt’s rotation management sucks! Wait, what do you mean he’s not the coach anymore?
So I ask you guys how can coach Lue help his team recover their focus?.
As Coach Collins said they better stop the drama and just play basketball.
It’s all about Klutch. Klutch definitely handles prosperity well…
He’s going to have to give them tough love, I suppose, because they clearly lack toughness. I think maybe drawing up a game plan, and if it isn’t executed, bench everyone who doesn’t do it, no matter who they are.
Well, maybe the Bulls will win this game, but they don’t handle prosperity nearly as well as we do.
Their collective spirit? Forget about it!
What a weak play to finally call the foul on. Wth refs…wait til it doesn’t matter before you give Lebron free throws??
Stop complaining about the refs. The refs are the least of our problems. The least.
Cavs going to play this last minutes like a college team.
LBJ still playing like they’re gonna make a comeback.
The next scape goat is Kevin Love. Would not be surprised if they trade him.
Oh they will as Griffin is now in the hot seat. I have a feeling Cavs just outsmarted themselves to really fail worse than expected. If it isn’t broke, DON’T FIX IT!
LBJ getting some garbage points.
JR looked pissed afterd hustling to create loose ball and lebron watches it as Gibson shoots uncontested
Kyrie Irving #NBAVote
Wow…he actually didn’t get that off in time. Why the hell did they give it to him?
At this point does it really matter?
A Luedicrous shooting night for the Cavs.
well done, Tom.
Did Gibson just hit a 17 footer? Cuz he’s never done that. Literally. Probably not even in practice.
Nobody tried on that play except JR…
Maybe I’m wrong, but I feel like J.R. really connected with Blatt. Not using that word sarcastically.
That Gibson shot. LOL
Irving just passed up a wide open layup, interesting choice.
How do you NOT have either TT or Mosgov in last mins against Gasol? Lue is clueless Blatt is laughing at the bar.
Kyrie with a clear path and easy layup… passes to KLOVE for a contested 3…. guess the result…
They’ve done it all night. Passed on the good shot for the horrible one. See TT and Shump’s O tonight.
Blatt probably wins this game but the team would have been cranky about it.
Haha! They wouldn’t have handled the prosperity well.
Comments of the night!
Definitely wouldn’t have enjoyed the success…
What will come out is how Blatt had the line-ups down the very best to counter good teams. There is no room for mistakes when you have unproductive players or injured players. But Blatt could figure it out. It’s not like Blatt was an idiotic & didn’t know what he was doing during game time concerning match ups. Lue has a long way to go!
Mark Jackson quoting Shakespeare. Hire that man.
Blatt used to quote Robert Frost. Maybe we’re onto something?
LeBron has played 38 minutes so far.
He wanted this game really bad, for obvious reasons.
Drawing up the 11 pt play in this timeout
If Lue was smart, he’d just empty the bench…
Should’ve done that in the third quarter.
Taj Gibson with the dagger, that kind of night
Does anyone actually believe that this team can win a championship?
I still do… and I will until they don’t…
I do but not when they play like this. But they won’t be
I believe they can, but its going to take some veteran leadership, and they just don’t have it. Maybe Lue can do it, i dont’ know. But its not coming from LBJ.
I signed up for the psychological pain in September. I think it is possible.
It’s all about heart. Other teams have tougher minded players.
I don’t, unless there is an upset in the west…
No way, especially without a coach?!!
May require two upsets in the West.
Yes, but not more than when they had Blatt. Which is the problem with the move they made.
I don’t anymore.
If Lue can get Kyrie to play defense, I’m all in. But so far, not working.
This team makes me sick to my stomach
I think all the refs in this league hate LeBron. I would too if he was barking in my face like that.
Great point. Its been getting real old.
It’s their fault he’s barking. They give him less credibility than they do JR smith. I would be embarrassed if I ever watched game film if I were them. The Cavs front office would do well to send tape to the league office. Lebron gets grabbed, his jersey gets grabbed, his head gets smacked and scraped, his arms get scraped and pulled…it’s unbelievable how little he shoots free throws.
KLOVE with nice defense on Gasol in the post.
Good d on gasoli that time
Lebron was fouled there.
Did tyron lue just say winning a championship requires a lot of things including “other teams guys getting hurt?!!!” Holy crap batman, wtf
YES!!! THAT WAS EMBARASSING!!!! WTF?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
I mean seriously, if he is going to say bstsh@$ crazy stuff like that he needs to designate an assistant to do his press.
Now I see why he was rarely interviewed coming out of halftime.
He didn’t mention TEAM basketball and PLAYING WELL…. totally cLUEless!!!
Paging Tonya Harding’s ex-husband!
That’s a pretty realistic assessment. It’s the only way this team is winning the finals.
Man screw these refs. They are a froggin joke in the paint
Its not like a foul call would’ve helped. We’re 7 of frickin 20.
Cavs need to play defense with enough intensity to foul one player out a game.
C’mon Ty! Get your first T!
KYRIE Sucks! I’m saying it. We ain’t going anywhere playing like this no matter who the damn coach is.
That’s an overreaction, but I understand your frustration…
What the heck? Get it together man! Kyrie is insanely good…Chicago is playing well and we are shooting bricks tonight. It’s one game and it’s not over
Kyrie’s performances have been all over the place since his return. I’d say he’s still only about 60%-70% healthy.
Feels like Kyrie has barely done anything all game
I think he liked Blatt the most
He’s reverted to Tweaker Kyrie!!!!
I think Mo is the team cancer. He’s the Griffin whisperer and forced Griff to fire Blatt!
I agree that the Mo signing was suspect and I don’t like him on the team. Seems to have next to no relationship with LeBron. Why is he even here?
3 minutes, expect the cancer to spread
I think Lebron is the cancer, actually. He entitles the rest of them. If he was the leader he says he is, there would have been no problems.
5-18 from the FT line??? What more evidence do we need to confirm that this team is mentally week?
I think you mean “weak” but Mentally Week would be a good week for the Cavs to have…
Hehe exactly! Sorry!!
Bron hit the free throw!
I automatically hear the video game sound effect seeing this!
Lue forgot to tell his players to hit their free throws today. That’s bad coaching.
Oh man that looked clean but it was nice to see love playing d
LBJ 23 points on 25 shot attempts. Klutch
James is fired up, more fired up than i can remeber seeing him this season. Got that deadly serious look on his face tonight.
It’d be nice if he could translate that fire into being able to hit a shot outside of 5 feet…
I definitely want this team angry and trying to win. If they lose by a couple I’ll be happy with that effort.
LBJ tired of getting punked… gets the steal and the layup with the harm
JR smith has 10 boards. Who else wants to work hard for the Cavs?
This team is a team that can’t handle pressure. Its been the case for a while. They were under pressure on Christmas and they couldn’t hit a shot. They were under pressure against the Warriors part two, and they folded. They were under pressure tonight, and they are completely rattled.
Do you think they will fail when it matters most? What keeps you watching? For me, it’s because there’s nothing else to do. Well, there is stuff, but this is an excuse to not do those things. Which is becoming increasingly hard to defend.
You are hilarious. Did you forget their run to the finals with barely any healthy players last year? Did you forget they LED in that finals with even fewer healthy players. Did you forget that, as fun as Blatt was, this team was the best in the league DEFENSIVELY for large portions of the last one and a half seasons? Excuse my French…but **** it
Bah!!! Shut it…I meant shut it.
All good….