Cavs: The Podcast 0028 – BS!
2013-04-11
Another bad Cavs loss means the same ol’ question – is Byron the man for the job? After the Cavs again blew a winnable game to the lowly Detroit Pistons, the question rings louder than ever. So what better way to answer than a podcast?
In today’s podcast Tom and I discuss Byron’s future, his impact on the team (specifically Kyrie, Tristan, and Dion), what his pluses and minuses are, and his general handle of the NBA game at the coaching level.
As always we’re on SoundCloud at – https://soundcloud.com/cavstheblog/0028-bs-1
And on iTunes at – https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/cavs-the-podcast/id528149843?mt=2
Enjoy!
Bill – I’m not going to list all the times I’ve been positive, and I’m not going to attack you for having an opinion on this team. What I will say is that I think, during three consecutive bottom-dwelling seasons, there should be a lot more reflection on WHY the team did so poorly than how awesome some guys on the team might be in the future. Simply writing off poor basketball because of injuries and youth doesn’t really take into account the whole story and certainly wouldn’t make for interested reading or discussion. There are plenty of reasons to… Read more »
Tom- Nice job on this one. Your arguments were well-reasoned and you made a lot of good points like Byron Scott’s ability to keep peace in the locker room and handle Dion’s personality, as well as allowing the young guys to play even if it means they won’t win as many games this year. I’m sorry you had to keep rehashing the same points over and over again trying to get through to Mallory. It would’ve been nice for the listeners, and I’m sure for you as well, to have some more neutral fans on the podcast. I think the… Read more »
If none of the kids improve for the rest of their career than perhaps they can become Herculoids someday for a meaningful two month stretch for another lottery team. Every player has a bell curve and none of the kids should be close to theirs. Kyrie has improved since last year. He was more of a finished product than any of the rest from the rip. He’s probably not going to have a massive improvement in any season. Thompson is playing light years better than he was last season. Dion has played more within himself since February. He was considered… Read more »
Of course you refuse to go on KJ, because your rebuttal is crap, just like your knowledge of basketball. I was right when I said you shouldn’t be on this blog.
I agree with Rich. We can be optimistic or pessimistic (I have doubts about Byron as well), but betting on the young guys is the only path available to the Cavs, regardless of the veterans we add in the next couple of years (unless we happen to add one particular veteran). I’ll get enjoyment from following the team, savor the good moments and flashes of growth, and hope for the best. Mallory, I think what has been rubbing people the wrong way recently is your near-outright disdain for differing attitudes on the state of the Cavs. You’re disappointed that the… Read more »
Ok, so Mallory says we shouldn’t “assume” our young guys will continue to improve. Ok, then what? If they don’t, rebuild is over. But that’s the only option here. There is no other plan because, for a small market team, it’s the draft or bust. That’s how it is. So continuing to say it might not work doesn’t change the fact that it’s the only course we have right now. Look around the league. Either you live in a destination city where Free Agents flock to you, like Los Angeles, New York, or Miami. Or you managed to hit it… Read more »
@ Hot Sauce
I hope you’re right. I really do. Yes, there are reasons to be optimistic. I have doubts about Byron Scott…but we’ll see.
Speaking of Ricky “Buckets”… http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9157873/a-look-lives-careers-controversial-nba-players-ricky-davis-lance-stephenson
Cody – “I don’t think we should assume this. ” Fair point. Mallory keeps saying this as well. I happen to disagree.
BUT, even if do we assume no defensive progress, we are a .500 team when healthy right now. If the O progresses, and we add more talent, we will be a playoff team even with our current D.
Of for chrissakes…do you understand what “anecdotal evidence” is? The Kings have had HUGE ownership issues for years. The Cavs do not. Grant has proven to be a far better drafter than Petrie. I refuse to go on. The Kings and The Cavs have nearly nothing in common.
Christ, what an awful argument!
UGH
Of course some draft picks miss. However the Cavs do not seem to have missed on their last 4 picks. I’m counting Zeller as a backup center here.
Of course it is KJ. That’s why the Sacramento Kings get every year they pick in the top 10. That’s why their defense isn’t in the bottom 20 for the past 5 years. (sarcasm) The team could get better on defense. But to assume that when the same mistakes are continually made is a risk. To assume that they won’t fall into the same pattern as the Kings is a risk….and can’t believe I’m having to explain this…. Do you seriously need me to list out recent top 10 picks that washed out? If so, you probably shouldn’t be on… Read more »
I love how my comments get selectively posted.
That’s for the cherry-picked anecdotal names, Cody. Most all of whom are from a generation of NBA players back. It is reasonable to assume improvement across the board for all our 1st and 2nd year players. Both TT and Dion showed great improvement within this season, for crying out loud! To expect some improvement next year in all phases hardly qualifies as some great leap of faith! Get real…
@ Hot sauce “and we assume the natural progression on the Defensive end that comes with age” I don’t think we should assume this. Not every player becomes a better defender with age. Jamison, Nash, Arenas, Iverson…these guys never became good defenders, neither did the teams they played on. Playing team defense is more about discipline, awareness, and communication. For as much as Byron Scott claims that he’s been preaching this, it hasn’t sunk in yet. Will it start to click next season? I hope so. But I’d feel better about it if there had been any improvement during the… Read more »
Love that SI post, Cols. I too am really excited about the Cavs’ future. The reason? There was only a 24 game spell this year where the Cavs were both healthy and had a real bench (the 24 games after the Leur deal). They went 12-12, while starting 2 rookies and 2 second year players!! Now that should get you excited! The rest of the season has, honestly, zero relevance for predicting our success next year, and assessing B Scott. Next year, if we stay healthy, we add 2 more 1st rounders, we give DW, TZ and TT another year… Read more »
From SI Cleveland Cavaliers. It’s hard to understand the talk that coach Byron Scott may be fired, as youth and injuries made it impossible to win in Cleveland this year. Yet the Cavaliers are progressing via Kyrie Irving, who became a first-time All-Star this year, and second-year power forward Tristan Thompson (12 points and 9.8 rebounds since the All-Star break). Anderson Varejao will return from injuries next season and Dion Waiters’ shooting should improve over the summer. The plan is to continue to develop the young players while holding onto cap space until the next summer of LeBron in 2014.… Read more »
My god that might have been the WORST podcast I have ever listened to. Really.
Kevin, did you see John Henson’s line from last night? Victory lap time! Haha!