Recap: Phoenix 107, Cleveland 105 (Or playing the part of Luke Walton last night was non other than C. Miles)
2012-11-10
C. Miles
26 points… That’s a big lead to blow. Blowing a lead that big turns what should’ve been a success into a failure.
The First Half of this game was a revelation: a clinic on what the Cavs can do when they’re engaged on offense and defense and their shots are falling. Kyrie directed a symphony of layups. Daniel Gibson was shooting like it was 1997. Alonzo Gee was posting up, defending, driving to the basket, and running the floor.  Samardo Samuels was effective off the Bench, and Waiters was the balling like the best rookie in the league. Cleveland had a 26 point lead at one point, but towards the close of the half, started to wane: their intensity on both sides of the ball dripping away.
The 2nd half was where things fell apart. When the Cavs came out lackluster, the 13 point halftime lead faded quickly. Samardo Samuels had the rare double dribble called for a second time in the game against the Cavs. The 3rd quarter cut the lead to 7, with the Suns chip chip chipping away, and the good guys settling for a lot of traded baskets.
Then… the end of the bench came in to blow the lead and reset the game to a 10 minute fight. C.J. Miles was… atrocious. He established a new statistic: PVRDLP: Points Versus Random D-League Player. His count this game: -4. The Cavs guards couldn’t get around screens. Boobie Gibson lost the ability to guard anyone. No one got back on defense, and the Cavs defensive philosophy was exposed. The Cavs help a LOT — too much. This will be explored more in detail on this blog later, but the Cavs run a high risk/high reward defense: lots of trapping on pick and rolls, random double teams. This can lead to turnovers, but also to wide open shots, especially against a team that passes as well as Phoenix.
The Cavs found ways to lose this game: taking their foot of the throat of the Suns, Andy’s bad shooting, not getting back on defense in the 4th, and the escaped sanitarium patient who kidnapped C.J. Miles, put on his jersey, and snuck in the game. This mental patient was so delusional that he thought he could shoot. Andy was taking shots that have been falling earlier this year, but his outside shooting fell back to earth, and the 17 footers weren’t dropping. Also, his defense was well, not Anderson Varejao quality defense.
Dion Waiters tried his best to win this game in the fourth for the Cavs: running the backup point when Irving was on the bench and eating Hobbits raw when he was playing two guard: shooting, driving, looking like he was made by Saruman in the pits of Orthanc to destroy whoever came across his path. He and Alonzo Gee Shagrat (his Uruk–hai name – I can’t give up in this metaphor) rebuilt the blown lead to 7.
But Phoenix could not miss, and the Cavs inability to get back on defense kept hurting them. Down 3, in the last 20 seconds, the constant flopping by Phoenix finally drew dividends when Goran Dragic was shot by an unknown shooter from the second floor of the book depository and Kyrie Irving got called for an offensive foul that should never ever be called in the last twenty seconds of an NBA basketball game. Kyrie looked like he was pressing though: unable to quite deal with the fact that it was Dion who kept the Cavs in the game, and not him. At the end, the Cavs blew 10 seconds while down 1 chasing Sebastian Telfair around, trying to take an intentional foul. Kyrie had the opportunity to foul him and seemed to think it was someone else’s job, taking a half hearted lunge at Bassie while KI’s feet were trapped in cement. Also, he coughed the ball up 7 times this game…
So I’m not impressed with B. Scott so far this season. He seems a steady as she goes guy: a guy who won’t make changes mid game, or without 2 or 3 games of evidence. And his situational coaching has been Mike Brown-esque… Casspi should have been playing in the second half. Miles needs a stint on the pine. In trying to save Miles’ confidence, Scott’s destroying the Cavs bench.
The Cavs were only in the position, down 2, to win or tie because of a ridiculous fadeaway by Boobie to cut the lead to 1 with 14 seconds left, and a brick at the line by Telfair, but that lost 10 seconds hurt badly. KI took the inbound with 2.9 seconds at the top of the key, tried to do some behind the back magic, and then clanked a 3 pointer. In two games with last second inbounds shots, Milwaukee and Phoenix, I’ve not been impressed at all with Byron Scott’s calls. At the Bucks, the inbounds defense was terrible and situationally obtuse. In the Phoenix game, the inability of the Cavs to realize that Phoenix had a foul to give seemed daffy. Then not running a play with some screen action going to the basket with enough time to get a putback in case of a miss, seemed like a bad idea too. And I’m just sayin’… as hot as he was, maybe Neon Dion should’ve been taking that shot.
Yeah,we might just have two Alpha Dogs.
Saint Weirdo
I don’t mean to come across as worried, per se, just uncertain. I’ve been big on Waiters since before the draft, and always considered him as a guy with a floor of above-average starter…so i’m not wondering whether or not he’ll be good, I’m wondering whether or not he’ll be great.
Nathan
Please stop worrying and just enjoy how great he’s been?
Yeesh, there was just as much uncertainty about Irving last year yet I don’t remember all of these worrywart type of comments. As soon as he played we were like, yeah he’s awesome.
I’m thinking the same thing about Waiters, yet we get these weird comments.
And yes, the St. Weirdo nickname is dumb and childish. Just because a guy wasn’t considered the #4 pick coming out does not diminish his current play.
Yeah Nathan but what if the nickname sticks and Waiters is the first one? Wouldn’t it kind of not make any sense anymore? Why don’t we hold off on nicknames until we find out which it is.
Don’t worry, Casspi will play and people will be reminded how awful he is and then it will become it isn’t Byron Scott’s rotations that are the problem. It’s the completely void of talent bench that is the problem.
My comments aren’t appearing and I don’t know why :|
But Saint Weirdo so perfectly captures the uncertainty about him. Will he be a bench gunner like Jason Terry? Or is he a future all-star? Is he about to regress to the mean, or is he about to figure out the drive-and-dish game and become even more deadly? I can’t tell if I’m watching a saint destined to lead Cleveland to a championship, or just a weirdo toying with me by shooting lights out the first 6 games. Did I mention he’s off to a really weird start? He’s made 16 3’s in his first 6 games. The previous all-time… Read more »
Also, @rodney, you realize the Blazers are also 2-4 with a slim-to-nil chance of making the playoffs in the middle-heavy west, right?
@ Cols I agree. But if the blazers make the playoffs It will be really hard for waiters to pass him. DW will have to be the best by a lot to get the ROY award because Liliard an Davis had the preseason hype and therefore all the voters will want to make their preseason predictions right. It kinda reminds me of the BCS
Dion really should be #1 on all of the rookie rankings. I get the Lillard love, but he’s shooting like complete crap. Waiters is killing it offensively and showing why the Cavs were smart to take him #4. Also showing why Hollinger had him ranked as the best SG in the draft.
This season is great so far. We are seeing some awesome play from both Irving and Waiters. That more than anything else is what will drive this team going forward. So having those two play great from the outset really is a great sign.
Yeah, something Waiter related is easier, and doesn’t feel condescending. Garcon, perhaps? Really, it just doesn’t matter – He doesn’t NEED a nickname, because his name lends itself to a lot of puns and fun jokes before you say it.
“TIP YOUR WAITERS, DION WAITERS WITH THE THREE”
I have to chime in on this one…the saint weirdo name is stupid. We don’t call Irving Skyrie even though it’s cool. The only one on this team that gets a nick name is Andy because he is the wild thing period end of discussion. I also seem to recall us having bad luck with a certain someone with a nickname that left us a couple years ago. The saint weirdo nickname doesn’t even rhyme and isn’t funny nor is it a term of endearment or a hint to his style of play. I don’t think he’s weird maybe if… Read more »
PLEASE stop the St. Weirdo stuff. How can a grown man take himself seriously when he knows a blog is positing this kind of childish garbage? I have heard the comparisons to D-Wade….think Wade would have benefited in his early years from a nickname like this? Why not simply “The Waiter”? He’s already serving us some good basketball. Let’s appreciate it instead of trying to be clever… or just identify him as Dion Waiters and leave it at that. This site is a good exchange of ideas that are posted by well-informed, passionate fans. There is no need for foolish… Read more »
No joke, I visit this site less and less because of the use of “Saint Weirdo.” Petty? Absolutely, but it’s the truth.
I’m probably in the minority here, but I love Saint Weirdo. Although I do have to agree that this recap had way too many metaphors and such flying around…
Dion has been great this season. That is all. Really bright future with him and Kyrie.
I just feel like Bill hit the nail on the head with it – It feels like a moderate insult.
@ hugh thanks for the update and glad to hear it. Thats exactly what i wanted to hear. I actually don’t mind saint weirdo as long as it doesn’t catch on. If a few people here use I don’t mind. I do think we need another nickname that could be universally used.
I can tell from these posts that I am obviously in the minority here, but I like the “Saint Weirdo” nickname.
Agreed the Saint Weirdo nickname should stop. So what if you can rearrange his name to spell it? It seems a bit degrading and uninventive. I think we can find a better nickname.
Not mad at a 2 point loss. Sucks to give up a big lead but this season is about developing players and getting one more high draft pick. If we’re going to lose games. Might as well be on missed buzzer beaters and made buzzer beaters by other teams. Keep the spirits up but get a good draft pick
Agreed, Jherm.
Three-on Waiters if he’s on from the arc, Waiters Gon’ Wait if he’s merkin’ in general. Doesn’t need a perma-nickname, especially since Saint Weirdo doesn’t make a lick of sense to me
@ rodney mac
Dion was both. He was taking good open threes (not just chucking like the LA game and having them go in). He drove the hoop numerous time, and made some sweet lay-ups, floaters, and also got to the line. This game was the kind of thing he was drafted to do: score in numerous ways without needing to be set up by Kyrie
Hey I didn’t watch the game so can someone tell me was duo just hot or was he attacking the rim like the monster he was advertised to be. This 3 point shooting is awesome but I’m worried he might just be hot. Also I was never down on Dion @kj. Also David thorpe has Dion @2 and Little Z @5 on his rookie rankings.
Yeah, i dont understand the whole St Wierdo moniker. Im not a big fan. of the name. The player Im pretty excited about. Not excited like Im convinced he will be a star excited but excited like He has the potential and has a few giant games way early in the season excited. So, time will tell but so far he looks like he could still be a star. alpha dog? I dont think either player cares about that. They both know they are the best on this team by a long shot (maybe Andy) so there is plenty of… Read more »
By the way, the reason Kyrie looked so out of it last night was because he was probably still feeling the lingering effects of his food poisoning from a few days ago. He was obviously gassed in the fourth quarter, and he just didn’t have the stamina to do much other than occasionally attack the basket. I also don’t really think Kyrie or Dion cares who scores the most points. They just both want to win. Remember during the Clippers game when Kyrie nailed that dagger three even though Dion had the hot hand? Dion didn’t seem to mind. His… Read more »
Agree with a lot of your thoughts Nate, but the idea that we’d give the ball on the last possession to Dion over Kyrie at this point is ridiculous. Kyrie has been an absolute assassin in crunch time in his young career, to the point that I actually believe that we are going to win every close game. I’m as excited about Waiters as the next guy… huge fan. But not giving the rock to the team leader who doubles as one of the best scorers in the NBA would anger me.
@Carter TOTALLY AGREE about not enough attention being given to Dion in nearly all the media! Perhaps since Kevin and I were the (only?) ones keeping the faith on here post-draft about Dion we can have a victory lap post soon?? Haha!
And for the love of Austin Carr, how many of us have to publicly object to y’all calling Dion “St. Weirdo” til you, ya know, like, stop?? I don’t know what your problem with Byron is either. It’s early and guys have to be given a chance to work out their shit on the court. This is the kind of tough love I think this ridiculously young and inexperienced team needs at this moment. We’ve lost 2 road games by a bucket and beat the Clippers on the road. Perspective, please. Also, your mind-reading of Kyrie is not helpful not… Read more »
Yeah, this on was a little forced. And not enough people were nearly excited enough about Dion’s performance. Validating himself every day. Next year, these will be wins. Right now they’re just too young.
Yeah – at the time I assumed Kyrie knew he couldn’t foul so that he could be on the floor for the last play. This is one strange recap. I appreciate all the great, slightly experimental writing here, especially Colin does an awesome job of being interesting while informative, but for recaps, accuracy would be appreciated over wild assertions. For instance, where did you get Kyrie being pissed he didn’t bring the Cavs back into the game from? The fact that he looked as if he really wanted to score at the end of a tight game? Well, no sh*t… Read more »
Uh….
kyrie had 5 fouls and didn’t want to foul out.