Links to the Present: Cold Edition

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 notable reads/videos from the past seven days to get you through the day 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.

This edition of links is called “Cold” because it’s just cold out today. I woke up this morning and read Andrew Schnitkey’s “While We’re Waiting” column on Waiting For Next Year. He notes that today is the coldest day of the year yet in Ohio. I, living in North Carolina, obviously thought that this cold would not reach me. Yet, it has. I checked my email and learned that it’s panic time in my little city. My work is having its second snow day in a week, and the rest of the city is equally troubled. I must note these two snow days have occurred because of six total inches of snow over ten hours. It’s also 24 degrees here. The South isn’t Northeast, Ohio, weather-wise, but I’m still going to pretend it is. So, if you’re inside because of the elements, enjoy these distractions because you have nothing better to do. If you’re somewhere warm, enjoy these pieces because you truly care about the NBA and the Cavs.

Back to Mr. Schnitkey’s piece. He details the transition that David Griffin has made from asset collection to actual team building.

Every player Griffin has brought in has fit a specific need for this team. Sure, individually it might have looked like the Cavaliers lost those trades. But the moves were made with an eye on team building instead of asset collection. I don’t know Griffin personally, but I bet the idea of “value” wasn’t front and center. Instead, it appears to have been all about improving the team. JR Smith has given the team another shooter and a free spirit without being a distraction. Iman Shumpert gives the team perimeter defense, something that was sorely missing. Shumpert is also a capable shooter and has fit pretty seamlessly into the offense. Mozgov has brought interior size and rim protection, all while helping mask Kevin Love’s struggles on defense. Mozgov’s presence also has helped free up a little more spacing for Love on offense.

I miss Dion Waiters the most I have missed a Cavalier in a long time, but sometimes, emotions and upside have to be forgotten for a team’s benefit. Mr. Schnitkey’s column also keyed me into a great piece about Rihanna’s winning effect on NBA teams. Check out the slide show presentation at Triangle Offense.

Unfortunately, Rihanna’s braless pink wig outfit hasn’t made a trip to Ohio or anywhere outside of Florida, NYC, or Los Angeles. Fans can hope though.

While Rihanna is smoking hot figuratively, stats are figuratively pretty cold (it’s all about numbers, right?), so it makes sense they get some mention on a cold day, if only because of the word play. Kevin Pelton of ESPN released rankings for the most analytically friendly teams in the NBA. The Cavs are ranked seventh. This is thanks to David Griffin. The Knicks are thirtieth and Dallas in number one.

In Jackson’s first season in charge, New York has been an embarrassing flop, in part because the Knicks have completely reversed their style of play from two seasons ago. The 2012-13 Knicks won 54 games and set an NBA record for 3-point attempts and makes. This season’s Knicks lead the NBA with the highest percentage of shots from midrange, giving New York the league’s least efficient shot distribution.

While it’s fun to hate on the Knicks, they gave the world this gem. Look at these travel aliases from their 2012-2013 season.

Thank you, Jordan Zirm of Complex for posting these. As a fan of Full House, I approve of calling Iman John Stamos. However, the Cavs fan base should consider calling him Jesse instead. For those of you not in the know, Jesse is the character Stamos played on Full House. Iman sings (well raps at least) just like the great Jesse Katsopolis (click the link if you want to see an amazing music video). And, while I’m at it with the Full House references, I’m going out all out and throwing this thought out there: Timofey Mozgov should starting doing the uncle Joey “Cut it out” hand motion whenever he blocks someone.

Somehow, there is more Knicks stuff today. Look at the fourteen faces of Andrea Bargnani by Ian Levy of Hardwood Paroxysm. Ian’s collection of faces is an art project better than anything at the Tate Modern right now. Here’s his artist statement:

In the case of Andrea Bargnani, studying the face and the faces reveals the spectrum of humanity and deep truths about the cavernous capacities of the human soul.

Jason Lloyd has a down and dirty fact for Cavs fans through the Akron Beacon Journal. Mozgov is changing the Cavs defense:

Prior to his arrival, opponents shot 63 percent within five feet of the basket, ranking the Cavs 29th in the NBA. In 21 games with Mozgov, the Cavs are 17th. And in their last 16 games, when the defense really started to play the way coach David Blatt wanted, the Cavs rank 10th.

Shawn Marion is also going to be out two weeks with a strained left hip. If this troubles you, the Cavs now have their own beer to calm your nerves, which will be available from Strongsville brewery The Brew Kettle in the next month. It is a session IPA.

The beer will be available in 12-ounce bottles with the label featuring the team’s wine and gold colors. The name of the beer comes from the Cavaliers’ slogan “All For One, One For All.”

Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com has this to say about Kendrick Perkins signing with the team:

Perkins is expected to sign with Cleveland today for the 10-year veteran minimum, pro-rated from $1.45 million to reflect this late point in the season. He could join the Cavs tonight in Auburn Hills, Mich., though his availability for the game is questionable.

To wrap up the links today I’m finally posting a Nick Young video again. A win is a win no matter what.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4p3XY3wmkaQ

Earl’s Pearl of the Week

Isiah Thomas earned an ejection in his first game with the Celtics. During the fourth quarter of an eventual overtime lose to the Lakers at the Staples Center, he threw the ball down after getting called for an offensive foul. Then he rolled the ball menacingly towards the ref. He promptly received two technical fouls and was ejected. Thomas had 21 points for the night. This ejection was a classic case of Isiah setting the bar low, so he could always look better. If you show up late on your first day at a new job, management will always expect that and be excited to see anything different. Way to work the system, Isiah.

Bottom Lines of the Past Few Days

James Harden scored the line of the past few days less than 24 hours ago. He had 30 points shooting just 7-20 to go with 11 rebounds and ten assists. This triple-double put him in good company:

 Harden’s four triple-doubles have all come in the past three seasons, and all have been in games in which he scored at least 20 points. His four 20-point triple-doubles tie Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant for the most in the NBA over that span.

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Fun stats: J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert have been doing their best Tony Allen impressions the past 15 games. J.R. And Shump have caused opponents to shoot below their average overall field goal percentage by 9.7% and 6% respectively. Tony Allen has influenced opponents’ shooting by 14.6%. While Allen is influencing opponents’ shots as a whole more, J.R. and Shump are actually defending the 3-line better than him during these past 15 games. Smith and Iman are reducing opponents’ shooting percentage at the three line by 9.7% and 13.7% respectively. Allen, on the other hand, has allowed the opposition to make .7% more long balls when he is on them.