Recap: Cavs 114, Thunder 104 (Or, amazing happens when you least expect it)
2014-02-26The Cavs put together their best game of the season, and absolutely dominated the Thunder in the fourth quarter, coming from behind to give OKC its third loss in a row at home, something that hasn’t happened in a very long time. This was just an incredible game.
First Quarter:
Russell Westbrook started off the game with a couple mid-range Js. Spencer Hawes canned a 3 off a Kyrie drive and kick. Jarrett Jack also hit a 3, which is a welcome sign that he even pulled the trigger. Kyrie hit an ankle-breaking step-back J and followed that with a pretty layup (counted due to basket interference). After a steal, Kyrie tried going coast to coast and was blocked by Ibaka. Then Ibaka blocked Tristan on a floater attempt. Steven Adams blocked Spencer Hawes (blocks are fun, I wish the Cavs did it more often). Jarrett Jack made three shots in the quarter and Kyrie was ultra-aggressive. Hawes and Deng hit spot-3s. The Thunder’s transition D was awesome but the Cavs were able to get dribble penetration and hit the pops. The Thunder seem unfairly long and athletic. I know this is old news (like 5-year-old news) but they provide a stark contrast to the Cavs collection of undersized, less-athletic (by NBA standards of course) players. The Thunder are second in the NBA in blocks and the Cavs are third last. The Thunder broadcast crew highlighted a sequence where on back to back possessions, Perry Jones was quick enough to stay in front of Kyrie and force him into a bad shot and then to keep Tristan Thompson from dribbling into his sweet spot on the block. (Thompson was forced to pass out). After one, the Thunder led 27-26. The Cavs hung around thanks to some outside shot-making (seven jump shots made).
Second Quarter:
The Cavs bench really brought the defensive intensity to start the second quarter. Not that the Thunder bench is terrifying, but the Cavs only allowed six points in the first five and a half minutes. Tyler Zeller’s active hands netted him two steals. The Thunder checked their starters back in and reeled off eight straight points thanks mostly to Serge Ibaka blocking everything and also throwing down dunks. Right about the time I starting feeling a looming blowout, Kyrie Irving rallied the troops. He found TT for a dunk, hit a deep three, and then got to the line for two freebies. Then after missing a deeper three, he cut to the hole and received a nifty pass from TT who had corralled the offensive rebound. KI twirled and flipped a reverse layup over the outstretched arms of the Thunder. It was really awesome to see not give up on the play. Then Irving made a sweet steal, anticipating a Westbrook pass, and the Cavs actually ran the court and finished. Luol Deng was forced to slow up and back down his man but Hawes kept running and Deng found him for a lay-in. (Always reward the big man!) The Cavs started playing with more confidence at this point. Deng hit a no-hesitation 20-footer (credit Hawes with the dime), TT popped in a no-hesitation floater (Jack with the assist), and suddenly the Cavs had a five point lead. After a Westbrook 3 to quell the 13-1 run, Spencer Hawes participated in a tip-drill around the bucket and was finally rewarded with a nice feed from Luol Deng (a shot-pass). Hawes followed Kyrie’s lead and flipped in a reverse to avoid the block party. Unfortunately, Durant and Westbrook scored five in the final 30 seconds and the Thunder went into the locker room up by one: 52-51. Still, great quarter by the Cavs. It’s unfortunate that Westbrook drained both of his 3s. The Cavs forced 12 turnovers and did pretty well on the offensive glass. Hawes, Jack, and Kyrie played particularly well in the half.
Spencer Hawes – American Swag.
Third Quarter:
After starting 3 of 4 from the field, Jarret Jack missed five straight jumpers, bringing his shooting down to 3 of 9. (He missed two straight to start the third.) The Thunder canned two more 3s, one from Durant and one from Sefolohsa. Hawes made an extremely lazy pass that was not only tipped but tipped and stolen by Steven Adams. Westbrook warped to the hole and put in an uncontested layup, and then Ibaka hit a 15 footer. Mike Brown took timeout, as the Cavs had given up 10 points in three minutes. Once again, the game started slipping away. After a nice pump fake to create some space, Luol Deng missed a zero-footer. I apparently don’t watch as much basketball as I think because I thought Dick Bavetta retired. He didn’t. He’s as animated as ever. Steven Adams threw an uncontested layup 2-feet wide of the rim drawing an interesting response from the crowd. Westbrook hit ANOTHER 3 which had to be demoralizing. Scott Brooks apparently found TT’s floater demoralizing because he took a timeout. If I’m a coach and my team has made 6 of 8 non-Steven Adams shots, I let em play through it. But I think it was just psychological warfare. Popovich likes to call timeouts when his team gives up that layup in the midst of a 24-4 run just to make a statement. BUT GUESS WHAT SCOTT BROOKS. ON THE NEXT POSSESSION, TRISTAN THOMPSON MADE ANOTHER FLOATER. AND THIS TIME YOUR BOYS FOULED HIM. AND HE MADE THE FREE THROW. SWISHED IT ACTUALLY. CALL TIME OUT AGAIN! (he didn’t)
Durant got a backdoor alley oop which must have made Mike Brown consider taking a rage timeout. But Hawes drained another 3 (his third of the night). Nick Collison was called for goaltending and disagreed so he earned a tech to go along with it. After the 3-point-play the Cavs cut the lead back to three. But wow, Collison is not a guy you want to anger. He somehow tipped in a miss at the other end that seemed impossible given his positioning. Then he drew a charge on TT. Then Nick scored in the paint. He also dove on the floor and got a burn on his elbow on the next possession. Geez. Luol Deng earned some free throws to calm the Collisanity, and Jarrett Jack sorta broke Reggie Jackson’s ankles and gently tossed in a floater. (Where’s THAT been hiding?) Then Deng made a nifty move underneath to pop one in, avoiding the block. That cut the lead to one before Reggie Jackson hit a 3. (The Thunder were 10-18 from 3 at this point). Jeremy Lamb almost broke the backboard attempting a transition floater. I could vividly hear someone yell “ah hayell naw” as soon as he threw it at the hoop. Credit the Cavs for once again fighting through what looked like a looming blowout. They finished the quarter down just four, 76-72.
Artist’s rendition of Scott Brooks at least five times tonight.
Fourth Quarter:
Jeremy Lamb hit a 3 (of course) to start the quarter. After a miss, Alonzo Gee grabbed a board and drove left. He hit Tizelle with a sweet bounce pass. Collison had no choice but to foul (he fouls hard). But Tyler hit both free throws. After a missed 3 (finally!) Matty SuperDOVA got the ball on the backboard before Ibaka could swat it. Goaltending. At the other end, Ibaka put on a Melo jersey and did a triple jab-step jumper right in Bennett’s eye. Then then Thunder got lazy and SuperDOVA drove and found Zeller who popped in a lefty layup. Scott Brooks took another rage timeout. Alonzo Gee fought with Kevin Durant for a rebound off a free throw he missed. Then the game started getting physical with bodies flying and the ball being kicked around. Eventually, SuperDOVA hit another baseline floater to TIE the GAME. Of course Derek Fisher can never die and hit a 3. But Tyler Zeller answered by driving through two defenders for the lefty layup. (Big time play during a crucial part of the game for a sophomore.) After Durant free throws Kyrie hit a wide open spot 3 off an aggressive drive by Alonzo Gee. Then after a sweet chase-down rebound by Gee, (he was everywhere!) Anthony Bennett hit a 19-footer to give the Cavs the LEAD.
Finally, Gee picked off a pass from Fisher and drove all the way in for a slam!!!!! SCOTT BROOKS IS RUNNING OUT OF RAGE TIMEOUTS! Out of the timeout Ibaka got a slam off a nice feed from Durant. Kyrie said screw it I’m shooting (SIIS) and rattled in a 28-foot 3 from the top of the key. (Similar to those game winners he hit last season). Westbrook got to the line on a dubious call and then Tyler Zeller was unable to convert on some pretty give and go action with Kyrie. Then the zebras called a travel on Delly that made no sense and screwed the Cavs out of another Kyrie triple. After Ibaka blocked Deng and Westbrook drove for a layup, Kyrie blew by Westbrook, drew contact from Ibaka, and earned free throws even though Ibaka spiked the ball into the deck. The crowd didn’t like it. It was certainly not a call the Cavs would have earned at home against the Raptors. Durant and Jack traded 3s as the clock approached the four minute mark. Jack caught the Thunder sleep walking and snapped a pass to Kyrie who quickly (like Steph Curry quick) released and drained the 3. Then, Spencer Hawes pump faked a 3, drove all the way to the paint and flipped in a floater!! Scott Brook only takes rage timeouts. After Durant rattled in a J, Kyrie barely grazed the rim. But TT went in between four Thunder players to steal the rebound. The ball got kicked back out to Hawes who drove AGAIN and floated one in AGAIN — this time with the left hand! SPENCER HAWES, AMERICAN PATRIOT. After another monster rebound from TT, this one at the defensive end, he found Kyrie driving for the and-1!!! This got Dion Waiters to tweet about it in jubilation.
This put the Cavs up nine with under a minute and a half remaining. After Westbrook missed a 3, Jarrett Jack came down and hit a tough, contested floater – giving the Cavs an 11-point lead with under a minute. WOW! Both teams traded free throws the rest of the way and the Cavs slayed the dragon: 114-104. The Cavs dropped FORTY-TWO fourth quarter points on the road, on the second night of a back to back, missing their top three players in terms of +/-. Un-be-lievable!
The Goods:
-Alonzo Gee. He. was. PHENOMENAL. He may have only played 11 minutes, but the Cavs were +7 during those minutes and he was directly involved in the segment of the game where the Cavs turned the tide early in the fourth quarter. He fought for extra possessions. He drove and made a sweet dish to Tyler Zeller that netted four free throws. Gee earned his own free throws on a nice drive (he made the first, missed the second but fought with Kevin Durant to get the ball back). He drove and collapsed the Thunder defense before passing out to a WIDE OPEN (could not have been more wide open) Kyrie Irving who canned the 3 to tie the game at 86. Alonzo swooped in out of nowhere to grab a defensive rebound from the waiting arms of Kevin Durant and after the Cavs took the lead on a Bennett J. No. 33 jumped the passing lane on Derek Fisher and drove all the way in for a slam to put the Cavs up four. It was just a huge sequence and it really put the Thunder on their heels. His aggressive play was much needed and I don’t think the Cavs get this win tonight without Gee going into Beast Mode. Great game ‘Zo.
-Kyrie Irving was sensational tonight. From the opening tip he was looking to attack attack attack. He’s been fighting hard on defense the last few weeks even if it’s not obvious but he’s had some tough shooting nights without the floor spacing that Miles and Waiters provide. Tonight Irving’s J was soaking wet. He finished 10-19 from the floor, 4-7 from deep (shoulda been 5-8), made all seven of his free throws, dished out nine dimes, had five rebounds and four steals. Thirty-one points for Uncle Drew tonight, and an epic fourth quarter.
-Jarrett Jack had his best game in recent memory. Something got into him and he took 7 threes (amazingly, a season high). He hit three of them including a HUGE, contested 3 right after Kevin Durant had hit a 3 at the other end to give the Thunder a 2-point lead. Jack finished with four assists to only one turnover and was +11 in a gritty 39 minutes of work.
-Tristan Thompson had a somewhat decent if not quiet night but came alive and made some critical plays when the game was in the balance in the fourth quarter. TT had two assists and two rebounds, and each was huge. He had the dish that led to the aforementioned Jack triple, and his offensive rebound late in the quarter led to one of Spencer Hawes’ floaters which turned a four point lead into a six point lead. Thompson really had no business getting to that ball – he fought with four Thunder defenders to snag it. Double-T finished with 11 points, 11 boards, and five dimes.
-Luol Deng is still struggling to find his place in the offense but that didn’t deter him from being aggressive tonight. He had trouble finishing at the rack but he got there eight times which showed a willingness to attack. Luol did an admirable job keeping Kevin Durant from getting to his sweet spots (almost as admirable as the Thunder guards)
-Spencer Hawes hit some pretty big 3s to shock the Cavs’ offense throughout the first three quarters. But his two driving floaters late in the fourth were amazing. With Kyrie Irving and Jarrett Jack taking turns draining 3s, the Thunder worked so hard to close out on Hawes. He put the ball on the deck, drove, and flipped em up and in – the first with the right, the second with the left. Eighteen shots seems a little steep on most nights but the Cavs needed his offensive firepower tonight. Spencer finished with 19 points and seven rebounds in 32 minutes. He’s really looked great in a Cleveland uniform.
-Anthony Bennett played a limited role but when he was on the court he did good things. He followed up a miss with a tip in and of course hit the jumper that gave the Cavs the lead late in the fourth quarter. +7 in 12 minutes? Yes, please.
-I’ve been really impressed with Tyler Zeller this season. I highlighted his improved shooting numbers (image is from a tweet a few weeks back) from every area on the court earlier this season.
But Zeller has been doing more than just shooting well. He’s fighting down low, he’s cutting into the open spaces on the court, and he’s really giving the Cavs a boost with his play around the basket. He was +11 tonight in just 17 minutes. He hit two big free throws in the fourth quarter, and had a couple nice steals in the second, when the Cavs defense suffocated the Thunder for a stretch.
-SuperDOVA has been pretty ordinary lately, hurting the Cavs by taking but not making many open 3s. Tonight he abandoned the outside shooting for some nifty forays to the rim. He popped in a few floaters including one that tied the game at 81 in the fourth. Matt added some nice assists after dribble penetration and he was robbed of another huge assist when he drove and found Kyrie Irving spotted up for 3. Valiant effort tonight by Delly.
-Mike Brown. Gotta say, Mike must be doing something right lately. The Cavs are giving effort on defense for 48 minutes. Tonight there were at least three occasions when it looked like the Thunder were going to blow the roof off. Only, they never did. The Cavs kept fighting, kept executing, and never lost their composure. It was a great win and hopefully it leads to even more confidence for him and the team.
Jack doing his best Amir Johnson impression.
Other Thoughts: I’ve stayed clear of the Russell Westbrook / Kevin Durant usage fight that has really engaged certain spheres of the NBA sub-culture. Never felt like my fight. But now I have Durant on my fantasy team, I’ve seen the Thunder a lot this season, and I’ve seen what he can do when the offense runs through him. I’m not saying Durant should be putting up 30 shots a night. No, actually I am saying that. Look the guy scores effortlessly. It feels like an effective offensive strategy is to let him take 28 foot heat checks. At the very least, with his improved passing, he should not being going three or four possessions in a row without seeing the ball. Westbrook is a stud, but so is Dwyane Wade. The Heat really took off (and won two championships) when Wade started deferring to LeBron. It may have annoyed a few folks when some half-court slug fests started smelling like the ol’ Cleveland teams, but the point is you can WIN THAT WAY. You can win with a transcendent star that is surrounded by players that compliment that player. You don’t need two dueling banjos to win a title in the NBA, that is like the third greatest lie after Kobe being labeled “best on the planet” during the Beijing Olympics and the national media saying LeBron didn’t have enough help in Cleveland. The Thunder were dominating teams with Westbrook in a suit. It’s not because he’s not better than Reggie Jackson, it’s because Durant was basically in video game mode from tip to confetti. He should never, under any circumstance, seem half invisible, like he was tonight. Reggie Jackson is just as guilty. Ten shots in 24 minutes…bro, do you even pass?
Update :In case you read my last recap. My wife heroically delivered our second child (once again without drugs – she’s tough). We now have two girls, Gwendolyn and 3-day-old Catherine. Winnie’s floor game is more polished but we need to have patience with the rook. Thanks for the kind words in the comments of the last recap. They meant a lot to us.
When waiters, miles, and Andy get healthy the true challenge for Brown begins. I think in the past Mike has coached better when he’s had less options to go to. 07 snd 08 he coached better than you could ask for. In 2010 I think he struggled to use his bench effectively. I think it might be best to leave hawes as the starter and move Andy back to the bench; since the starting lineup without hawes is pretty deprived of shooters. Jack and Deng can shoot but aren’t good enough floor spacers to really make room. Then you run… Read more »
Wow, they can play with any team if they all pitch like they did against Tunder , another word play as a team. They played to their potential and it paid off. Cavs seems like having Tunder’s number , let’s hope they can built on it and put some smile on our faces. Go Cavs.
I really can’t wait to see what Dion does once he actually gets to play with a big who can space the floor. He can beat anyone off the dribble as is, but he often ends up running into a clogged lane. Hawes is talented and has been one of the better stretch bigs in the league for awhile now. I still don’t understand Simmons and Lowe lambasting the Hawes deal. He was the best player traded at the deadline, and as much as you can make an All-Star team out of guys drafted in the second round over the… Read more »
Yes, Hawes was having a career year PRIOR to being traded…
And he’s big, too.
Not really, Rodney. He’s been a solid all year, until the beginning of February. Look at Hawes’ November: 15.9 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.8 blocks, and .512/.474/.722 shooting splits in 33 minutes a game. Yes, Philly upped the pace, but we’re talking about a center putting up those shooting numbers. You’d think if he was out of shape, that pace would have dragged him down. Early on, his PER was up over 17. January, his shooting numbers dropped, and February, the suckiness of Philly affected his play. I admit, I weighed the stinkbomb he submitted against the Cavs too… Read more »
OK Hawes has been awesome but I think the case is being overstated. Great trade but the trade would have made no sense when Andy was healthy. Also I figure he’s got to be playing way over his head.
Yeah. Just think if Griffin had been able to pick up Thad Young and Harrison Barnes at the trade deadline. Dude.
If the Cavs make the playoffs, Hawes will make himself a lot of money. The Cavs really really ought to try to get Thad Young this summer instead of re-signing Deng. It’s clear, watching Hawes and Turner, what a train wreck Philly is and how much better their players perform after departing.
I think we can beat most teams when Kyrie plays like he did last night.
Is it fair to make Spencer Hawes – Marc Gasol comparisons? Because if so, Gasol was worth close to two 1’s a year ago. We got Hawes for two #2’s? Like NOMAD said – it would be a Griffin coup if he resigns! If the comparison is valid, the team should certainly have attained playoff status going forward (once everyone is on the same page).
Can someone make that comparison for me?
Nono no no… TristaN Thompson… TNT… Canadian Dynamite.
Nickname for Tristan – DDT … Double-Double Tristan
KJ killing it today! I’ve always like Hawes a lot – he’s an underrated big due to, like everyone has noted, his passing and shooting. Most guys of Hawes’ size, as long as they don’t actively avoid contact, can be decent defenders due to the height advantage. Hawes has the added value of confusing defensive sets by pulling bigs out of the paint. Because of his agility/speed he often beats those big men to the perimeter or outside the paint, giving him an open shot. If the shot isn’t there, he’s a good enough passer to hit the man cutting… Read more »
I’d much rather pay Hawes 9-10 million a year than Deng.
The thing that caught my eye this game was the passing. This by far was our best passing game of the season: quick cuts and passes, continuous movement, give and go, etc. Was definitely an improvement from the usual dribbling around the perimeter and chucking up a long 2 at the end of the shot clock. With Hawes on the floor, we definitely have more spacing to have more movement – definitely hope we can resign him at the end of the year! Can’t wait for Andy to get back. Oh, I can just see it now – Andy cutting… Read more »
if Griffin can keep producing trades like the Hawes deal he could be g.m. of the year—hawes has some very unique talents for a big—3 pt shot/ passing/ basketball i.q.—–has already meshed well with the team—it appears griffin makes trades for players that will fit/ mesh with the system vs grant ” just making trades to make a trade ” mindset—-like amico said —” BUCKLE UP CLEVELAND—LET’S ENJOY THIS RIDE TO THE END “—–BELIEVELAND
cwzagger – just FYI, Austin Carr frequently refers to Thompson as “double T” several times each game.
Okay Sorry about that Nate I will email you in he future on comment monster. Thanks for telling us.
@Kj- Just read the Amico article you referenced. I actually do agree with the article conceptually, except for one significant oversight: all the stats he quoted in support of his argument are full-season stats. He then makes a casual reference to the recent six game win-streak, without noting that virtually all of those same statistics improved in support of those wins. Since that time, the offense seems to pass the eye test as well, as the Cavs are looking more and more like a professional basketball TEAM. The impact of Hawes- and subsequent success in cutting to the basket- are… Read more »
Tom: not sure if you’ve called Tristan Thompson “Double-T” before, but does that not sound like it has the makings of a clever nickname for TT? Double-T gets double-doubles… TTx2… T4… T2 (squared)… 2xT… T2T… TD2… you see where I’m going with that…
And congrats again!
What do we do now that we’re clearly on the road to the finals? I don’t know what to do with my hands.
I told you guys the Cavs play the Thunder well, we’re 3-1 since we’ve gotten Kyrie.
I think Delly brings so much to the table for this team. He was a great addition. The guys are really coming together and playing well, it is great to see. Hawes has fit right in so quickly, it is hard to believe. Zeller looks great, Irving is looking to pass and shoot when open. He has finally found the right mix of passing and shooting. Thompson is giving us good inside work.
Great game and great recap Tom!
Great game by the Cavs. Really fought back against a good team. I think Westbrook killed the Thunder in the 4th quarter. He is one of my least favorite *star* players to watch, and again he killed their team when it mattered. Stats, sure he gets those. But watching the game, I think the Thunder are better off sitting him.
Sorry about the comment monster, today, folks. It seems especially hungry. I’ve rescued what I can. When you’re having problems, it’s often preferable to just drop us an email and let us rescue it, rather than re-posting a bunch of times.
At the end of the 1st half with the clock running out . . . Westbrook at the top of the key . . . sizes up Kyrie and hits a deep 3. Was that not identical to the shot that Kyrie hit against Westbrook at the end of the game to beat OKC last year? Was Westbrook trying to send some type of message? Did not Kyrie respond?
I tried a different email, same thing it didn’t post.???
Okay Comment monster is back at it. I have submitted the same comment at least 4 times and nothing.
All the back door cuts were beautiful. Add passers like Deng and Hawes and all of a sudden everybody knows how to cut to the basketball. Dion will learn when he comes back. It’s like they know how to play basketball now. They didn’t only play hard last night. They played to win. In the mid 4th, when it was still close, you could see they “believed” and just went after OKC. Deng did a nice job covering Durant (as did Gee). Durant did seem agitated. Kyrie took the Westbrook challenge. Hopefully, Jack is now beginning to find his place… Read more »
Grizzlies are on the backend of road back to backs, so that should help.
Jack is right about the team just being concerned with themselves and not other teams in the standings. Atlanta is in free fall, going 1-9 in February and now beginning a six game road trip. 4 games sounds like a lot, but that ground could be made up by March 8th. The Cavs and Hawks do play one another the last week of the season. Glad the team made a conscience effort to go for the playoffs without handcuffing themselves by giving up premium future assets. Hopefully Dion will be back for the matchups against the Grizzlies and Spurs and… Read more »
I count getting fouled sometimes. When that foul is as hard as collisons foul was tonight I count it. Deandre Jordan isnt going to go hard enough to dunk the ball if he’s clobbered like that. Not saying he cant get stronger and tougher I just think that people say tall people should dunk more incorrectly. When you dunk the ball your exposing it for a shot blocker much lower and sometimes longer than need be than if you just use the glass. I understood why zeller didn’t want to dunk that ball he just needed to make a move… Read more »
@Rodney “going hard” when your 7 feet tall is dunking it. He did that twice against Tor. He did not dunk tonight. He is able to do it but *still* goes softly too often. I recognize and celebrate his clear improvement but he has to get tougher. Faster.
Anyone notice Gee’s black eye? Which game was that?
1 more thing. Bennett is closing in on Mclemore in PER. He also has climbed to 3rd last among rookies! Baby steps
Zeller went hard on 2 occasions. 1 he nearly as crushed by collison on. The occasion that AC referenced I thought needed a pump fake and pivot more than a dunkface but to each his own. Anything would have been better than his left handed finger roll attempt from under the rim.
Congrats again!! SInce our Herculoids 3 (Dion, Andy,CJ) have been out ; I had to find ways to stay interrested in watching Cavs play through these losses and Jack’s horrid play (But not today!). I’ve been watching Zeller improve immensely without much local notice in the past month. He is a legit source where cavs can get points in scenarios like this. And How can you Not use him when Cavs get into the Bonus early in the 4th and he’s been 87% at the Free Throw? He’s been more consistent away from the rim than some of the other… Read more »
Sorry for the run on sentence. Bottom line is Rondo for Westbrook would help both teams. But it would have helped both team more 2 summers ago when the Harden trade went down.
I just am glad they are playing “the right way.” They have been since the Grant firing. They’re playing .700 basketball since then and clearly Brown is getting through to them. I disagreed with Amico’s article yesterday ripping Brown’s offense cuz, as anyone who watches closely knows, most NBA teams run the same sets. I made an extra point of watching the Thunder tonight to see if they ran anything that the Cavs don’t and well, they don’t! Lots of P&R out top with guards and a big. Some down screens down low and on the baseline and that’s about… Read more »
Great write up Tom. I didn’t see the game but I’m going to go watch that 42 pt 4th. 100% agree that westbrook hurts that team. Its about the only team in the NBA besides the Heat he doesn’t improve drastically but he doesn’t help them win imo. I thought they (OKC) should have traded him for Rondo (Rondo is 5 million per year cheaper then Westbrook and only 3 mil more expensive then Kevin Martin was so it helps the cap situation as well) instead of trading Harden and I still think they should do it now . That… Read more »
Mike Green on Mike & Mike characterized Cleveland as a pathetic basketball town. I wonder what he thinks this morning?
Kyrie either assisted or scored on half of the shots in the fourth. It was the best game from him in a while. He even looked excited to try and step up against Westbrook most of the night coming above the three line on defense.
This is definitely a game where I doubted Mike Brown every step of the way…especially when we came out of the locker room super flat to begin the 3rd qtr and should have lost traction but somehow stayed in the game. I mean we had to shoot the lights out in the 4th to win but we knew we’d have to shoot the lights out at some point to beat the Thunder. Deng played really good, physical, annoying, obnoxious defense on Durant, who looked out of sorts and pissed the whole game. The weird part is that the Cavs haven’t… Read more »
Collison got a technical because of a weird rule that if a player touches the net while the ball is in the air, it is a goaltend and technical. The technical free throw wasn’t because he like blew up or disagreed.
Thanks, Eli. Didn’t realize that. On TV they just said he got T-ed up and it showed him looking upset.