Recap: Cavs 105, Hornets 95 (Or, Cavs Dodge a Pair of Baby Bullets)
2010-02-23
Overview: In an up-and-down game, the Cavaliers managed to survive a 37-point outburst from rookie Marcus Thornton and hold on for a 105-95 win. LeBron James had 20 points and 13 assists, and Antawn Jamison added 18 points in his first start as a Cavalier.
Cavs-Related Bullets:
Full disclosure: due to an unfortunate scheduling situation, I have Spanish class from 4:00-6:00 this semester. This means that I end up watching the first half of most Tuesday/Thursday games on archive. During class, I keep up with the game thanks to quarterly text updates on my phone, which say the score and leading scorer for each team. These were the two text updates I got during class on Tuesday (which I checked at appropriate stopping points during class):
End of 1st- CLE 28 NO 16
NO: D COLLISON – 4 pts, 2 reb, 2 ast
CLE: A PARKER – 6 pts, 2 reb, 0 ast
At this point, I was feeling pretty nice. The Cavs had gone back to dominating the first quarter, Jamison in the starting lineup worked like a charm, and the Cavs were spreading the ball around nicely on offense. Then, about a half an hour later:
End of 2nd – NO 56 CLE 53
NO: M THORNTON 23 pts, 2 reb, 1 ast
CLE: A PARKER – 10 pts, 2 reb, 1 ast
At this point, I may have started choking on my own tongue. It was not a fun final 20 minutes or so of class.
Pretty much every quarter was its own story in this game. Let’s take a look at what happened:
-In the first quarter, the offense looked beautiful with Jamison in there. Right out of the gate, Jamison slipped a pick and knocked down a jumper, then got Morris Peterson to close out on him and found a wide-open AP in the corner for three. Mo was setting up angles and finding guys inside for finishes. Jamison was going to work on the block and having success. The offense was clicking, and LeBron wasn’t even doing all that much.
The team even played well after Shaq went out, going on a 10-2 run to end the quarter. Help-and-recover D. Smart passing on offense. Almost everything was in the paint or a wide-open three for the Cavs in the first quarter. It looked like the mini-losing streak was about to become a distant memory.
-Then came the second quarter. And Marcus Thornton. Thornton is lightning-quick, and capable of stopping on a dime and nailing pull-up jumpers. When he’s hot like he was tonight, he’s the perfect player to exploit Shaq defensively. Against quick guards, Shaq is forced to concede the pull-up or risk a blow-by. Most guards can’t beat you with pull-up jumpers from the zone Shaq concedes, but Thornton sure seemed up to the challenge on Tuesday night. What made matters much, much worse was that the Hornets were consistently able to get Thornton the ball in the open floor, where he was all but unstoppable.
After Cavs misses or turnovers in the second quarter, Thornton went 7 for 7 from the field. After dead-ball situations (two Cavalier makes and one traveling violation), Thornton was 1-3 in the second quarter. Thornton added two more buckets after New Orleans offensive rebounds to cap off his monstrous quarter. After watching that quarter from Thornton, the smoke monster on LOST no longer seems difficult to stop.
The weird thing about the second quarter is that the Cavs weren’t doing all that much wrong. The Hornets went into a zone, and the Cavaliers did exactly what they should do, which is give the ball to LeBron in the high post and spread the floor with three-point shooters. The defense collapsed, LeBron found wide-open shooters, but the shots didn’t go in. With some of the best looks they’re going to get all year, the Cavs went 1-6 from beyond the arc in the second quarter, and three of those misses led to Marcus Thornton baskets on the other end.
-In the third quarter, LeBron and Shaq decided to have themselves some fun. They went at the basket aggressively, and every field goal in the quarter was scored or assisted by Shaq or LeBron. The Cavs also started making cuts at the rim against the zone rather than flaring out for three-pointers, and even got out on the break a couple of times themselves for easy layups.
The Cavs shut down Thornton in the third quarter by not giving the Hornets any opportunities to run. After Thornton came into the game in the third quarter, the Hornets only received the ball three times in a live-ball situation. The first time, LeBron stole Collison’s pass right back to end the possession. The two times the Hornets got defensive rebounds while Thornton was in, he scored on the ensuing possession. Those were his only two baskets of the quarter. Admittedly, one of those baskets was set up by a nice half-court play that freed Thornton up for a three off a double screen. But you’ve gotta admit that’s a pretty interesting stat all the same. You hear all the time about good defense leading to good offense. In the third quarter, good offense led to good defense for the Cavs.
-In the fourth, the Cavs continued to get good looks but miss them, missing two open threes and five shots at the rim in the first half of the quarter. Emeka Okafor did a good job of contesting everything at the basket for the Hornets, but those are still shots the Cavs should have converted.
Thornton had nine points in the final quarter. And yes, all of them came directly after Cavalier misses.
After an ugly stretch where the Cavs completely forgot how to attack the zone and allowed the Hornets to tie the game with 4:37 to play, the Cavs’ money players took over. Mo finally showed up to the party, getting just a little too much space from his favorite spot on the floor and draining a huge three to break the tie. On the next time down, Delonte came from behind to block Thornton’s jumper, trailed the break, and hit an absolutely massive three to put the Cavs up six.
After two missed free throws from Shaq and a lazy turnover by Mo, LeBron took the game over. The Cavs scored ten points on their final three possessions of the game, all of them set up or scored by LeBron. James found Jamison with a bullet of a mid-air pass after a post up, got an and-1 after catching the ball coming full speed from the weak side, hit a dagger three, and found Andy for a layup that put the icing on the cake. LeBron’s good.
Other notes:
-Antawn’s going to fit in just fine. I love the way he cuts off the ball, he’s a crafty finisher around the rim, he was making the correct pass, and he gives the Cavs another offensive look when they feed him in the post. Oddly, the thing I like least about his game is probably his outside shooting. I love that he stretches the floor, but don’t feel confident that he’s going to knock down the jumper when he gets it. His outside shooting numbers have never been that great, and he was only 2-8 on outside jumpers tonight. And all of his looks were pretty darn good. I like the idea of Antawn making jumpers much more than I like Antawn actually shooting jumpers. On the bright side, I really thought he was doing a good job showing and rotating back to his man on defense. I think he’ll be very solid as a system defender in time.
-Games against the Hornets and the Grizzlies always put me in a bad movie mood thanks to The Wicker Man, so I’m going to let an elected official sum up Mo’s performance from the field tonight:
Yeah, Mo’s had better shooting nights. The good news is that very few of his shots were forced. Also, Mo did do a good job setting up angles and penetrating the defense, which is something only LeBron’s been able to do for a while. The offense does run better when Mo’s in there. He just has to get his shot back. Playing Boobie probably would’ve been the better move for tonight’s game, but giving Mo a long leash was probably the right long-term move. Hopefully the one three Mo did hit will help him get his confidence back.
-Another great game for Shaq. He played extended minutes, and looked equally comfortable catching any pass around the basket area and finishing or destroying his man if they left him in single coverage. Shaq’s beasting.
-Five players played 30+ minutes tonight, and LeBron played 44 minutes. Think Mike Brown wanted this losing streak over?
-On a related note, Powe dressed tonight but the game ended up being too tight for Leon to make his Cavs debut. Looking forward to when it does happen.
Alright, that’s all for tonight. Until tomorrow, campers.
I think Boobie needs to get minutes. He’s been devastating from 3 all year and his defense has been pretty OK. Last night would have been a good night for him, especially since he’s one of the few Cavs comfortable shooting 3s despite a hard close out – which was pretty much every three the Cavs took when NO went into that zone. Maybe MB is just trying to get more burn for Mo to get him in synch. I thought Jamison did a decent job in isolation defending David West but it was obvious he was lost when he… Read more »
What was Andy thinking when he tried to do one of those fade aways from the post? Now that the Cavs have Jamison, Andy is never going to play in a frontcourt that doesn’t have at least one legit post player (assuming he never plays at the same time as Hickson). Andy should never be going back down low again. Let Shaq go to work. Let Jamison work his magic. Hell, let Powe go down there if Brown ever decides to play him. Just do not ever let Andy try to post up again. (I don’t even care if he… Read more »
Stephen, because he saw how terribly Delonte was defending Collison in the first half. If Delonte was going to get torched by Collison, might as well leave him there and not put him on the really really hot guy.
I think Mike Brown has started to figure out his playoff line up…and much to the dismay of many people, it isn’t going to include Gibson and Powe. However, I ask if they were included, then who do you exclude? If you’re playing Powe minutes in the playoffs, that means that Andy is getting less of them. If you’re playing Gibson, that means Mo and West are getting less minutes when both are better overall players? MB did a lot more adjusting last night then people are giving him credit for. He put 4 different defenders on Thornton and people… Read more »
Why did it take Mike Brown so long to realize Delonte is without a doubt the best suited to shut down Thornton when he was hot? Delonte is probably the Cavs best defender, can run all day, has active hands, and is long for his height. Thornton started to struggle when d west was trying to shut him down.
You think Thornton tore us up last night? They better figure it out before they play Nate Robinson tomorrow night in the 2nd quarter. He’s 100 times better scorer than Thornton.
I don’t understand why people say the issue of trying to find minutes for all of these players is a “good problem to have.” If the problem is never solved, then will it then still be viewed as good? A problem is a problem, and until Mike Brown and the team figure out who deserves to be on the court during the stretch before and during the playoffs, this will not be something to be viewed as good.
Jamison is really starting to pan-out the way we hoped he would. I don’t like him or Bron taking too many outside shots, but I realize they have to as part of their game. The threat that they will take it, makes them harder to play off of when you’re also worried that they’ll drive by you. Hickson and Andy are no threat to a defender from the outside and that’s what allows people to play off them and close down the lane for easy points in the paint. Jamison makes the game easier for Bron than Hickson/Andy and Bron… Read more »
Another game where the Cavs coasted for 3.5 quarters before blowing out the other team at the end. Good trends: Jamison tearing it up (+18), LeBron’s passing, Shaq being agressive, Andy being Andy again (playing next to Jamison helps), and a Moon sighting. Bad trends: Zombie Mo Williams, Mike Brown not adjusting to the other team’s hot scorer until he’d dropped 20 in a quarter (and still getting another 8), LeJack forcing 3s, and no lineup creativity from MB. Jamison has something only one other outside shooter on the Cavs has: the ability to absolutely blow by a guy, if… Read more »
How about that monster dunk by Tawn on the break with LBJ? AND the foul? That strong finish helped assuage my fears about Jamison being too nice of a guy.
Andy did it too last night – a throwdown dunk when he didn’t actually have to do so. Good to see — we need more of that “I’m a shove this ball down your throat” malicious energy on this team.
I agree so much about that LBJ 3 at the end. As he was driving down the floor and then kind of hung out behind the arc you could just tell he was about to do the typical Bron and throw one up…And I heard myself begging andpleading him not to, but in the end he doesn’t dissapoint. I do feel that he really has to cut down on those type of 3’s, especially early in the game. He loves to either take the ball up court and then for no reason what so ever, even when he is not… Read more »
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@SoDark – yeah, the coach who DNP-CD’ed Z on one of the most important nights of his career saved the debut of someone who’s been on the team for half a season to be against his old team…actually that does sound like MB. I was apparently wearing wine and gold colored glasses regarding Mo’s defense until recent posts made me take them off. *ABORT! ABORT! PUT GLASSES BACK ON!* In other words, sweet jesus Mo sucks on D…I was actually calling for some Zombie Boobie at the end of the game…only to have Mo break the tie with that 3.… Read more »
The interesting thing about Jamison is that while he’s not terribly efficient on outside shots, his ability to hit them (or at least his reputation to be able to do so) helps out the entire offense. We saw that vividly in this game. Double teams are late getting to Shaq and LBJ because the opposing PF can’t leave Jamison to take a mid-range shot as they could JJ or AV. Guys like Mo and AP get more open threes because their man has to close on Jamison when the defense breaks down. Like LeBron, I wish Jamison would take fewer… Read more »
During the broadcast the announcers (don’t remember which one) said something like this was an audition for the playoffs, meaning the heavy minutes and short rotation. Was it more of that, or more of MB wanting to get that streak over with? Like Bradley, I was skeptical of this trade before it happened, but I’m liking it more and more. Jamison is indeed a craftier, but less athletic, Hickson. Having a veteran presence that’s so similar to his game should help him a lot. I’m just wondering if the short rotation means he’s pretty much done for the year, or… Read more »
Well, I was getting depressed over the Jamison move and wasn’t pleasing the locals when I vented here (nowhere else to vent), so I didn’t feel like posting anymore, but Rich and A both have called for me. Honestly, considering Jamison’s damage was mainly done from cutting, and only went 25% on jumpers, blew a couple of helpside plays, and only grabbed 6 boards in 37 minutes, J.J. Hickson probably could have had the same game (J.J. loves to cut), and we could have seen Powe tonight. Powe’s my boy. But whatever. I just want to win a title. I’ve… Read more »
Does Jamison seem like a more polished, Hickson? crafty finishing, good cuts, moderate jump shot ability, and slightly bigger physically…
and Jamison has 2 more years, or 1? Good influences for Hickson.
Where’s BradleyH?
@Todd – I totally agree. He looks a little lost on defense when he needs to be a help defender (I thought he did a nice job on David West) but he fits like a glove on offense. Hopefully the only outside shots he’ll take are the REALLY wide open ones and the rest will be those baseline drives and creative up-and-unders around the basket.
I took Spanish in HS, this is about all I know now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7io6a6a1qY
I think mike brown intentionally saved powe’s debut for the celtics
Another good game for Jamison. I love how he managed to get open under the basket so many times and finish. Like John, I find it odd that I’m more appreciative of his ability to move without the ball than I am of his ability to stretch the floor.
Krolik can you take my online spanish 204 class for me in the summer? I really really hate it.