Live Thread: Cavaliers at Spurs
2015-03-12
The wine and gold visit San Antonio, looking to follow up on an impressive win Tuesday night in Dallas and push their record to 2-0 on their current four game road trip.
There’s never any shortage of intrigue when a LeBron James-led team faces the Spurs. Whether you’re flashing all the way back to the 2007 Finals or have more recent memories — the Ray Allen shot, the Spurs dissection of the Miami Heat in last year’s Finals, Kawhi vs LeBron — this is a match-up with some meat on its bones; one that might be a bit more than just “the next game” for the Cavs star forward. Even with James’ notoriously short memory, he only needs to look back to November 19, 2014, to when these two teams met in Cleveland, to find some extra motivation. That game ended with James dribbling the ball off his foot in the final seconds before he could even attempt a shot and the Cavs fell to the Spurs 92-90.
In that game, the Cavs were led by Anderson Varejao’s 23 points and head coach David Blatt went with an eight man rotation, that saw Dion Waiters, Tristan Thompson and Joe Harris as the team’s lone reserves (not counting the two spot minutes from Will Cherry).
The Spurs are playing like the “same old Spurs” again, but this is a very different Cavs team.
Of course, you’d expect all that to mean that Spurs coach Gregg Popovich would rest his entire starting five in tonight’s nationally televised game. Apparently not. Both Tim Duncan (hyper-extended elbow) and Manu Ginobli (illness) are expected to play for the Spurs.
Enjoy. Discuss. Go Cavs!
For some pre-game / half-time listening, check out Tom’s segment this afternoon on Dayton Sports Scene:
https://soundcloud.com/dayton-radio/tom-pestak-3-12-15
agree with you peter —epic game—have watched twice again already—-will watch it again later !!—–would love ( and true nba fans would also ) a playoff finals between these 2 teams
I really wish there was a like/dislike button on comments
THUMBS UP – you can do it long form
Kyrie the first player to score 50 against a Popovich team.
That is one of the most entertaining basketball games I have ever seen.
And it is top3 in Cavs games I’ve seen: LeBron G5, NoRegard Game. Unbelievable game, Barkley wasn’t exaggerating.
Is Kyrie the best offensive player in the NBA? He shredded everyone on the Spurs, even Kawhi.
I really feel like Kyrie is the best player on the Cavs right now. I love LeBron, but when Kyrie decides to go, he can do whatever he wants.
I’m not afraid to say it, too.
I still cant believe we won and they shot 56%. Freaking 3s baby
Meanwhile, in an alternate universe, SportsCenter has a vote for the day’s top play that does not include Kyrie. Was it all just a dream?
KKKYYYRRRIIIEEEEEEE!
Biggest win in a long long time. I really thought they could catch them if they just kept playing hard. LeBron feeling mighty good about comin home, tonight. Spurs tortured us with the pick and roll all game, eventually Cavs just decided, screw it, we’re switching every time. Didn’t work very well, but the cannons were firing! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
You could tell by LBJ’s reaction when he hugged Moses after his interview that he was glad he was hugging this not yet 23 year old instead of DWade… You made the right choice King!
This was an absolutely great game by both teams. Supernova performance by Kyrie. Glad to see that he now has the best and 3rd best scoring outputs in franchise history.
Range of emotions: realized I didn’t record the game: sad Panda.
Realized that NBATV is showing the game at noon tomorrow, and set it to record: Happiness.
I’m sure it will be an instant classic NBA hardwood game on ESPN as well…
TNT’s replaying it after the post-game show.
Anyone see that the top four highest point games in Cavs history were 1. Kyrie Irving (57) 2. LeBron James (56) 3. Kyrie Irving (55) 4. LeBron James (55)…. Livin’ thru Cavs history.
About one of Kyrie’s drives, Matt Winer on TNT says: “He just beat every Spur who ever played in San Antonio.”
Kyrie was a perfect 7-7 from three! That’s INSANE
take a pic of that stat sheet. Unbelievable! My great grandkids some day will have to look at this and listen to me go on and on
We just hit 700!!
Shoe was on the other foot with Kawai missing those free throws…
Totally reminded me of Game 6 of LeBron’s first championship when Ginobili Missed those threes and Ray Allen hit that corner three…
Was gonna say the same thing, Nate.
Second championship though right? They beat OKC for his first.
Right. Yeah. It’s all blurring together.
Eh, you’re excited. I actually made that comment because I was doubting my memory. Like you said, its all a blur.
Kyrie completely bailed out Blatt who fumbled his way through most of the fouth. wow.
Enjoy the win Nate.
I normally defend Blatt’s benching of Love in the 4th (it seems to be an injury thing…Kevin’s back looks tighter and tighter as the game wears on…it never changes)…but tonight was Kyrie’s “i might be the best player on this team” game. He is sickeningly cold blooded. I probably woke my neighbors when Kyrie hit that buzzer beater.
My wife’s response to the win, “Kyrie just made himself the most eligible bachelor in cleveland.” Perhaps the most logical response.
Your wife’s a smart woman!!! HAHAAHAHA!!!!
yeah I like the fact he goes with what works and the 4th is the only qtr we won. except of course overtime as well
I know I woke my wife.
Not a more well spoken star than Kyrie…
Now I know why he went to DUKE!!! HAHA!
Really feel good for Kyrie!! #getbuckets
First thing out of his mouth was giving credit to his team. Even after he went 7/7 from 3 and basically fought for every single point he got.
“Those are some great guys in the locker room. Those are my brothers, I’ll go to war[work?] with them anytime.”
Spurs thought they had it won.
Poor sad Nate. The cavs are great. Deal with it.
Was more that the Spurs lost it than the Cavs won it.
Enjoy the win Nate.
Absolutely wrong. Cavaliers took this game from San Antonio. Cavaliers simply refused to loose. playmakers made plays.
I know I think that makes it so much more enjoyable Because I was happy even if they loss on the fts.
So glad I have tomorrow off and got to stay up and fully enjoy the end of this. What a back and forth game. Kyrie is stellar.
Good luck to Robert on this recap… it might take 5000 words to cover it…
I’m glad I live on mountain time.
I am loving pacific time as well. Holy moly what a game. Love the Cavs
Somebody has to fix LBJ’s free throws. Its just stressing me out man.
He was 7-9 tonight. What do you want?
We got the bad JR today. What a dumb foul there.
He just didn’t want the game to end.
Is JR capable of not fouling a 3 point shot.
Aw come on JR… tough night for him…
You know what’s nice – the people of San Antonio know they’ve just watched something amazing. I bet they’re not even mad.
You’re absolutely right. They have great fans.
Bernard King is the last to score 50 against Spurs in 1984
We’re gonna have to start calling Kyrie “Moses Cleveland” cause he just parts the seas and leads his people to the promised land…
You just won a free year of CtB for that comment.
That’s a good one +2 for you, EG.
Ha! That tip in still fell for the Spurs. Even in their death throws the Spurs have some magic.
Kyrie just made me having to wake up at 4 AM for a flight seem like a joy.
Good luck trying to fall asleep.
He’s one of the league’s best bargains right now.
I am NEVER deleting this game from my DVR
Keep in mind that all this was possible because Leonard missed two FT before Kyrie’s final three in regulation. Thanks, Mr. Leonard
We call that “pulling a Ginobili”
I thought it was “Going Arenas”
Chuck saying best individual performance he’s ever seen. Holy Cleveland!
There’s no FSO post game show tonight is there?
Game should be replayed in the wee hours on TNT. And maybe on the NBA Network in the next few days.
Worth every million of somebody elses money
HAHAHAHA that’s awesome
Greatest regular season game I have ever seen in my life
Kyrie putting the league on notice. This dude is going to be a monster in the playoffs. Can’t wait.
You are right about that. He has really shown that he is not afraid of the big stage.
57 for Kyrie!!!!!!!!!!!!
57 pts after going for 55 is amazing. He is such a stud
This is amazing! Kyrie is incredible!
KYRIE GETS THE RECORD!!!
I’m quitting my job and becoming a Kyrie groupie. Sorry, kids, Daddy lost his damn mind.
^^^^^^^^ AWESOME!!!
Can I join you?
im getting chills
Yeeessss! One of the greatest game I have ever seen. LeBron feeding of Kyrie’s great shooting. I’m keeping a copy of this game for sure!!! Go Cavs!!!
lol this is absolutely amazing! they thought they had it! Great road game performance
This game will be talked about for a very long time…
OK, I think they thought the Cavs were in the bonus when they weren’t, which is why they took Kyrie off the line and took the point off the board. LeBron redeemed.
So how about those isolation plays for Kyrie and LBJ???? Anybody mad about them still?
love it! got to practice it to perfect it. This team is so good
You win, Gregg HAHA!!! Practice does make perfect!!!
Most of the action in overtime has been out of late in the clock isolations that were set up by ball movement.
So they’re still isolations, right? HAHA… I’m just messing with y’all.
Yes, I am, but I’ll save it for another night. It won’t survive a 7 game series, but when a guy is hot like that, let it go.
really! we wont have to rely on it all the time but you do what you need to win.
http://grantland.com/the-triangle/hero-ball-is-awful-except-when-it-works-because-then-its-the-best/
ONE. MORE. STOP.
Well, I think LeBron knew what he was doing when he said he wanted to come back and play with Kyrie.
A maddeningly frustrating game for most of the 2nd half and Kyrie made it all good for us. I have such a happy joyous feeling right now. I know its not over but hell, what a great game.
Honestly, win or lose it was a dazzling performance down the stretch. Mostly due to the level of talent that is on that court right now. A LOT of good basketball players on the court.