Links to the Present: Win Streaks

Each week there is a ton of NBA media pertaining to the Cavs and the league in general that deserves recognition. A lot of it goes unread because there just isn’t enough time to keep up with it. Don’t worry. I’ve got you covered with six to eight notable reads/videos (the last two reads are up in the air just like the Cavs bench production this season) from the past seven days to get you through the weekend feeling entertained, caught up, and much smarter. I’ll throw in Earl’s Pearl of the Week and some other features to add to the entertainment.

Instead of distributing favs, likes, and pipe, via DM, he [J.R.] could escape on a scenic day trip to Amish country, where bearded farmers who look like Mark Eaton furrow the fields.

But on to more pressing matters. Right now the Hawks hold the longest win streak in the NBA at 19 wins. The Cavs are plowing along though with a ten game win streak of their own. Both of these teams are in the much weaker Eastern conference; however, each of them has faced their share of Western foes and been successful in their own way. The Hawks have a 13-2 record against the West, and they have looked dominant for much of the season, while the Cavs have an 11-11 record against the West side. Recently though, the Cavs have earned eight of their last 10 wins against the West.

The games before the All-Star break are going to determine if these teams both remain in the conversation about who is the best in the East. The Hawks have been there and are there now, while the Cavs are staring up at them prepared to climb the win streak ladder. They each have six games left till the All-Star break, but the Cavs have the easier of the two schedules playing just two playoff teams, the Clippers and Bulls. The Hawks have to test their luck against, the Warriors, Grizzlies, and the Wizards.

A few Cleveland wins would send them into the break on a sixteen game streak. That could make the them the talk of sports blogs and garner pieces like this ESPN 5-on-5 that is discussing the Hawks viability as contenders. Fortunately for the Wine & Gold, no ESPN pundit believes that the Hawks win streak is going to continue into the break. The stage is going to be clear for Cavs talk.

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There is even a break down of how the Hawks have won these 19 games by Kevin Pelton for ESPN Insider. They’re doing it by playing on both sides of the floor and having lots of above average guys.

The 10 most similar teams to the Hawks’ combination of offense and defense, relative to league average, include a pair of recent champions: the 2008-09 Los Angeles Lakers (who ranked third in offense and fifth in defense) and, fittingly, last season’s San Antonio Spurs (third and offense and sixth in defense).

Naturally, Atlanta has been even better during the streak, ranking third in both offensive rating and defensive rating in that span. Just six teams in post-merger history have maintained a top-3 combination over a full season.

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The Hawks’ starting lineup has been predictably terrific, outscoring opponents by 11.0 points per 100 possessions this season. Yet Atlanta loses little when head coach Mike Budenholzer goes to his bench. In fact, the Hawks are slightly better (+15.2 points per 100) when one of their starters is on the bench. They’re nearly as good (+10.0 per 100) with three starters and two reserves.

It’s too soon to really look at the Cavs streak this in depth, but that isn’t going to stop me from doing so. Over the past three games, the Cavs have ranked number two in offensive efficiency and number seven in opponents points scored per game according to teamrankings.com.

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Eye Candy. This video still hasn’t gotten old.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcNGt2CRzzw

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Waiting For Next Year has a discussion up about whether or not Kevin Love should be rested for a few weeks to regain his mojo. I’m going to post Will Gibson’s answer because he mentions Ja Rule. Any Ja Rule references get automatic re-posts from here on out.

I would love the Cavs to sit Kevin for a week or two, as I think injury is the greatest reason for his poor performance. Relatively poor, I should say, as the guy is still putting up 17 and 10 a night while adjusting to life in an ensemble cast. He’s been shooting like a rifle with a broken sight, but a back injury will do that to you. To borrow from the great philosopher Ja Rule, pain is Love right now.

I’m in the camp of not resting Love right now. The team is starting to look dominant, and I fear that continuing to look that way without Love on the floor would make reincorporating him into the offense even more difficult.

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Being a Cavs fan means always expecting the worse. Although, I’m slowly outgrowing that line of thinking this season. Yet, if somehow the team ends up with a number one draft pick, I want to be prepared (that might actually be impossible or at least highly unlikely at this point even if we were to lose the rest of the season). Draft Express used some SportsVu data to break down center Duke prospect Jahlil Okafor.

The one thing that really sticks out in the analysis is that Okafor gets 52% of his touches as a post up. Kevin Love is surely jealous. Also, what NBA player do you think has gotten more than 50% of their touches in the post. It has to be a guy like Shaq or a big from the 80s, right?

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Zach Lowe has an interview with Orlando big Nikola Vucevic up for Grantland. I particularly enjoyed how honest he was in his answers. Is that a foreign thing? These are his thoughts on his post defense and rim protection.

I’ve gotten better each year. It’s going to come with experience — learning from my mistakes, watching film, seeing what I’m doing wrong. I need to make a lot of improvements in that area. As a big man, it takes time. You can’t just stand in the paint. You have to move. I sometimes react late to the ball, or I’m a little late moving from the weak side.

I’m obviously never gonna become a Dwight Howard or Andre Drummond or DeAndre Jordan that goes and blocks a lot of shots. But I need to be a better presence in the paint. I do think my one-on-one defense and my defense in the post has improved.

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Jan Hubbard praised Kobe Bryant’s effort on the basketball floor for Sheridan Hoops. Hubbard considers that his contract might be unreasonable, but also points out that Kobe might have a little bit left in his shooting shoulder when he returns. There’s also the very scary point to be made that Kobe might still be the best player on the Lakers.

The criticism that he has been guilty of trying to do too much is valid. But look at the talent surrounding him.  What would you rather do if you were Kobe – go one-on-three, try to create your own shot or toss it to an open Nick Young (.373 shooting percentage this season; career .424)?

Kobe has earned $63,583 per point he has scored in the past two years. Hubbard pointed out that’s he has made 55 million and scored just 865 points over the past 24 months, and I did the math.

Earl’s Pearl Of The Week

Kyrie Irving is going to be Earl’s Pearl of the week. Kyrie had a 55 point performance against the Blazers last Wednesday to get the Cavs the W. He took 36 shots and made 11 of his 19 threes on the night. He even scored 16 of the final 20 points in the fourth quarter. He shot the ball with no regard for human life or people that might have to string together a highlight video which would be abnormally long. J.R. loves shooting and loves Kyrie for shooting 19 threes in one game.

Kyrie is also getting the bottom line of the week for that double dime performance and has earned quote of the week honors too.

Kyrie said his 55 point explosion was “a total team effort.”

J.R Smith knew otherwise.