Cavs: The Podcast 0010 – SUMMER!
2012-08-06
I’m drenched in sweat. It’s humid and New York City smells terrible. I leave for work and instead of seeing families walking to school I see unhappy business men and women dressed in clothing far too constricting for the weather. Also, I can’t find an NBA game for the life of me.
That’s right folks, it’s the SUMMER! Sure, the NBA isn’t in season, but that doesn’t mean John, Kevin and I can’t chat about all that’s going on.
On this issue of Cavs: The Podcast Kevin Hetrick, John Krolik, and I discuss all the offseason fun, including the 2012 NBA Draft, the potential for an Andrew Bynum Trade, Alonzo Gee, and the Olympics.
Heads up, I had some technical difficulties at the beginning. Apologies.
As always, our podcasts can be found on iTunes at http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/cavs-the-podcast/id528149843 (there’s a slight delay here)
Or at soundcloud at http://soundcloud.com/cavstheblog
Enjoy!
Interesting article on JVs struggles:
http://aol.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2012-08-06/olympics-2012-jonas-valanciunas-toronto-raptors-lithuania-coach-kestutis-kemzura
No I think it’s funny and somewhat alarming that a blogger is being so much more reasonable than the COACH.
Just kidding…
I really like Waiters. Until he plays an actual NBA game though, I want to communicate reasonably tempered expectations. My strange compulsion to try to justify what I’ve previously written makes that difficult sometimes. Then I write long comments of minimal consequence, which eventually beget more long comments. It is a viscious cycle.
Yeah which, no offense, but I’m not sure you rebound enough for the position to be in D Wade’s class
Tsunami,
Coach Scott called me the next D. Wade?
I love how Kevin is working so hard to qualify his remarks so that no one gets this impression that he actually thinks Waiters is the next Westbrook and our coach is calling him the next D wade…
I wonder if TT would ever play for team Canada. Some day we could perhaps settle this debate.
I think we’ll know who’s better between Jonas and TT by the mid part of next season. Based on stats alone I would take Jonas, but because TT has been playing NBA level competition then you have to give him some additional ‘padding’. The question nobody knows the answer to is how much do you add to NBA stats or take away from other league stats to actually ‘equalize’ the disparity in the different levels of talent two players are playing against. I would also say that there is a difference between an NBA player who plays mainly against second… Read more »
… isn’t a definitive proof of anything.
KJ, the argument that one has done something in the NBA and the other hasn’t means we should rate Hollins over Anthony Davis, and is thus a completely useless argument for projecting how players will do in the NBA. If you would take Hollins over davis then you have no business paying any attention to basketball. Look, I’m not saying that Jonas will be better than Thompson, I’m just saying that he is actually playing for a competitive team so his minutes are getting limited (thompson wouldn’t get many minutes on a good NBA team at all, at least not… Read more »
@Kevin Hetrick, The on paper comparisons between Westbrook and Dion make sense. But if you watch them play, they have totally different games. When making comparisons to predict future success, doesn’t it make a lot more sense to compare players with similar skill-sets on the floor? Perhaps people just haven’t really watched these guys play, or don’t quite understand the ridiculous, freaky nature of Westbrook’s game and athleticism. I am, in no way, dissing Dion in this situation. It just seems that comparing the two is about as useful as comparing Dion to a tweener 4/5, or tweener 3/4, who… Read more »
Ben, First, I understand you are not dissing Dion. In your original comment, you mentioned James Harden, which obviously cannot be construed as a bad thing. I’ve watched a decent amount of Westbrook and a handful of Dion Waiters games though. I understand that Westbrook is fast and an explosive athlete, but coming out of school, both players were most effective taking the ball to the basket. Sure, Westbrook used awesome speed, while Waiters used shiftiness, solid ball handling, power, etc. But both were more effective going to the basket than shooting from range. According to draft express, both players… Read more »
Thompson probably will be playing in the Olympics in four years. There’s a pipeline coming out of Canada with Andrew Wiggins being the big ticket after Thompson, and Joseph. It’s ridiculous to compare Jonas and Tristan until we see both in the NBA…For a few years. Chad Ford said on the BS report that Jonas’ agent didn’t want him going to Cleveland so he wouldn’t commit on when Jonas would be able to come over to steer his client to Toronto. I’m all for the 23 and younger rule because it would make Olympic basketball more compelling. Rooting for Team… Read more »
@R 100% agree. IF it weren’t for the gold medal race with China I wouldn’t be rooting for the US basketball team in men’s or women’s. I don’t like half the players and I always love to watch giants fall. So I awkwardly root for the US but know that I’ll actually be happier if they lose
@Matt – If TT was Lithuanian, he would be playing in London too. Your point makes no sense.
@Matt yr damn right it’s apples and oranges cuz TT has played against, you know, actual NBA players for 66 games unlike Jonas. And TT has played in a summer league unlike Jonas. So, I agree let’s all stop comparing Jonas and TT. One has actually done something in the NBA and one has not…
Rooting for team USA is really awkward simply because of the talent disparity. Would you root for this team if they played in March Madness 2012 or the Big East for a season?
It’s like rooting for a high school team to win the little league world series, or any other similar talent disparity you can think of.
It would be so much more entertaining to see Varejao/Nene/Barbosa or ANY of the other teams pull off the upset of the century. Brazil winning the gold would make me infinitely happier than the foregone conclusion.
I don’t want Kyrie playing off the ball too much. Getting to the rack and finishing is his bread and butter.
Westbrook is one of the most athletic NBA players ever. Yes, I understand that Waiters sneaked up on everyone’s draftboard in the same way, but if we want to compare him to a Thunder player, we should call him a right handed James Harden. He doesn’t have the great size that Harden has, and his stroke isn’t as far along, but he ability to play on ball and split the pick and roll is similar. Expect Kyrie to play off the ball a lot with the two of them in so we can utilize Kyrie’s great shooting ability and rest… Read more »
Ben, I agree with your sentiments about Boobie and Pargo / Sloan, and mainly about Waiters. The Waiters – Westbrook comparison I offered on draft day was somewhat intended as hyperbole, to pre-emptively rebut the “it’s the end of the world!! What have the Cavs wrought!!!” exaggerations that I anticipated. Certainly, if I was offered the bet, “want to put $100 on Dion Waiters being on the 2016 Olympic team?”…I would pass. So I guess any Westbrook comparisons are strained. That said though, at the risk of continuing to dig a “Dion Waiters is the next Russ Westbrook” hole, that… Read more »
Tristan looked good in Summer League play against teams that could easily beat Tunisia. Just sayin’
Whereas Thompson is currently tearing it up over in London right now huh? Apples and oranges Spots, apples and oranges.
Let it be known that Valanciunas is struggling mightily in the Olympics [based on what I’m reading]. He didn’t even score a single point against Tunisia and earned himself only 12 minutes even though he started. Can’t say I can name a single player on Tunisia. How’s he going to do well against NBA talent?