Live Thread: Hawks @ Cavs, Game Three
2015-05-24
I hate memes more than anyone, but I’ll be darned if this doesn’t sum up game three.
We can almost taste it. That is, everyone except for Tom (love ya, buddy).
In our email chains since game one, I will openly admit that pretty much everyone involved in C:TB has spent far, FAR more time talking about the Warriors than the Hawks. Actually, I’m not sure I can remember a single instance of any of the bloggers discussing the Hawks for any extended period of time.
But, and I don’t think I’m too far off-base here, I’m guessing that’s where most Cavs fans are right now.
Really, is that surprising? I think we can be forgiven if we’re not terrified by the name “Kent Bazemore” in the starting lineup. Nor are we intimidated by a hobbled Demarre Carroll. Long, long gone are the days of us worrying about Kyle Korver going off, and it would appear that the offensive rebounding tandum of Tristan and Mozzy are too much for what we can now understand to be an undersized Hawks front court.
Still, it seems naive to look too far ahead. For one thing, a year ago even being at this point seemed way outside the realm of reality – maybe it’s time to enjoy the trip we’re on. For another, the Hawks certainly aren’t dead yet. Just ask the Clippers.
Finally, there ain’t no way ANYONE is matching up with GS with a hobbled point guard. Fingers crossed that brace works, Kyrie!
I don’t want to be a Debbie downer – I still have complete faith of where this is going. JR is the man, TT and Timofey are WAY more than we thought they were, and Lebron is finally back to being Lebron; those things (especially the last) will always give the Cavs a chance. I’m just here to put it all into perspective – lets not get ahead of ourselves, take this one day at a time, and enjoy awesome basketball as long as we can.
And for God’s sake, lets pray Draymond Green can’t shut the King down in a seven game series!
http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2015/story/_/id/12947907/2015-nba-playoffs-lebron-james-says-matthew-dellavedova-undeserving-bad-rap
Delly getting a full article on ESPN. He’s having himself a playoff run lol
I was reading thru some of the national comments and it seems pretty unanimous, Delly is a dirty player… what a joke. Oddly, out of all of the comments I read, this one disturbs me the most:
CavsFanInNW
2 hours ago
On a side note, Jeff Teague is one heck of a basketball player. Showed a lot of heart (unlike Irving). I’d take him on my team any day.
Is this real? A supposed Cavs fan says Irving showed no heart? Woah.
Delly is Bill Laimbeer, apparently
He should do a Geico commercial or something with Laimbeer just to screw with people…
http://espn.go.com/blog/cleveland-cavaliers/post/_/id/973/lebron-pulls-out-customary-playoff-heroics
Article up from Brian Windhorst
Great game was watching the last lay up Lebron he got hit twice no call. I say this to make the point that being a Star player guarantees you no favoritism despite all the rhetoric I have been reading on the Hawks blog.
Ethan Strauss
@SherwoodStrauss
I wouldn’t take the Cavs lightly as a Finals opponent. Defended like crazy in the playoffs + got those 3s up
Here’s the best meme I could throw together this late:
It really is a damn shame. Love the meme, it’s so accurate!!!
Nicely done…………………..
Cavs on a 5 game win streak, Havent Lost in 2 weeks (Since Friday May 8th). Feels great to have this nice feeling after each game the Cavs win.
Perfect analysis –
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=kGAcFqJZs18
OMG, I love this video and posted it one time on fb on this Cavs conspiracy post. This video is da realest ish I’ve seen all night. Thanks for the link!
Yes, thanks for the link, Arch. Delly did absolutely nothing, and unless he mouthed off after having an elbow thrown at his head, the technical was a joke.
I like the way Teague played and handled himself after the game. He didn’t make excuses nor blame Delly.
I like Teague a lot. It’s probably time for him to grow into a leader there. That team lacks a real leader and he’s the best guy to do it. He’s got a really bright future.
I still can’t believe horford’s said “he’s gotta learn” like it meant something profound. Delly is annoying to a lot of players, but on the play in question there isn’t a lot of room for horford to argue his case. Even ESPN has picked up the “horford shouldn’t have been ejected call” but they keep replaying the damning evidence from the baseline view. How the heck do they think delly planned korver’s ankle injury? Wait for a loose ball that moves straight for kyke’s ankle? Give me a break al. You lost control for a moment just like onlynik did.… Read more »
Kyle’s* and anyway…I just can’t believe what sore losers we are facing after them getting gifted the cavs minus two of their best players. They clearly haven’t been to this level of competition yet. It shows far too much
Beautifully put.
Just like the Bulls, who had their best chance ever to beat Lebron…and blew it. They were classy enough not to blame anyone else but themselves though.
For me, opposition that turn into crybabies just make the wins sweeter – it means they have been beaten physically and mentally.
Great team win again tonight, 4 players had 5+ field goals made other than Lebron, great distribution. We out rebounded Hawks by 14 and still got more assists (24-20) than the “passing team” Hawks.
Barry is spot on with the tech in Delly – it’s conspicuous language.
It is really kind of amazing that Delly is a national story now. Kenny, Charles, and Shaq spent like 10 minutes talking about Delly after the game. Think about that. Incredible.
It’s hilarious. I never would’ve expected it.
I bet Australia is LOVING this. They watch rugby over there. Nothing Delly has ever done could possibly be misconstrued as “too rough” in their eyes
@ChrisBHaynes: JR Smith walked in postgame area and requested mic to ask LeBron James a question. Was respectfully denied. Would have been classic moment.
DELLAVEDOVA ON HORFORD EJECTION
Matthew Dellavedova when asked about Al Horford’s comments that he has a “track record” of dangerous plays: “I would disagree with that. I was boxing him out and you can see from the baseline view he’s pulling my left arm down.
Lebron picking up for Delly with a great answer
I used to really like Al Horford, but I lost a lot of respect for him tonight. Came across as a sore loser and a crybaby. His sister didn’t help either.
Who cares if people spin a false narrative about Delly — he’s not getting suspended and he’s going to keep making plays that help the team win. All other opinions can be routed directly back up the opiner’s pie hole.
Except the false narrative can affect how opponents play and how officials call games.
so players and officials will believe the narrative spun on Twitter and through the mouths of TV analysts and then target Delly?
Less rough plays have caused crazy overreactions. So…yes
It isn’t just Twitter and talking heads. The Hawks are spinning the same narrative, and the officials’ explanation of the T on Delly reinforces it.
I don’t think players will “target” Delly, but when the Cavs play the Hawks and Bulls, they may be chippy with him and overreact to anything that comes up.
If he gets a rep with officials, it could influence how they call him. I don’t think he has one yet, but tonight’s T and the statement on it are bizarre. It’s like the officials were listening to the TNT announcers.
LBJ and Delly on the podium now…
LeBron James in the Park Ranger hat tonight.
Delly looks tired and kind of down, but maybe that’s just from playing so long and hard tonight. His voice sounds alright, anyway.
Nice finds Nate thanks
Just heard that on NBA TV. Actually like what Barry had to say for the most part. Didn’t make silly vague accusations like “he’s gotta learn!”
He’s gotta learn what? Not to get under my skin.
Mike Dunleavy and Brent Barry are defending Delly and criticizing some of the “rhetoric” about him coming from unnamed parties.
Terry Pluto: “The Hawks blame Dellavedova for Kyle Korver’s high ankle sprain. Dellavedova was on the floor for a loose ball and rolled under Korver. I don’t think it was done with intent to hurt Korver. Dellavedova spends more time on the floor than a little kid pushing his favorite car around the house.”
http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/index.ssf/2015/05/cleveland_cavaliers_move_one_g.html#incart_river
Just a word to the wise, fellas: ignore the media on this stuff. The tougher we play, the better we are, the more irrational hate we’ll get. Miami got a lot of irrational hate, much of it from me. You’ve got to let it go. We’re in it to win it, let the talking fall off your backs. We don’t need anyone else to love us. Its really amazing what this team is doing down Varejao, Love, and KI. really amazing. Think about this: the only guy on our starting five tonight that was on the starting five at the… Read more »
Nicely said,
Don’t want to jinx it, but I would be happy if they reach game 6 in the the finals and I’d be excited for next year without any serious disappointment..
A hell of a run this season and postseason have been!
I’m so glad they clarified. Like when delly’s arm was being pulled free of the shoulder, did that influence in any way his ability to avoid horford’s knee that he grabbed in a very clearly faking an injury kind of way after the play”
Chris Haynes @ChrisBHaynes
LeBron James and Matthew Dellavedova will be on the podium tonight. This will be Delly’s second time at the table of life.
“Delly: what were you thinking when you tried to take Horford’s knee out?”
Lol. “Well, uuuhhhh, I was trying not to dislocate my shoulder. A buddy of mine told me it hurts. So I instead stuck my chin in the way of horford’s lbow”
I was honestly thinking that the whole team should be on the podium tonight. That was a helluva game. Best LBJ game I’ve ever seen. Not in terms of pure production or talent, but in terms of will and heart. He played his guts out tonight, in a way I haven’t seen him do before in Cleveland. Makes me think he means it that he wants a championshio for the town.
Where do these guys all get their Amish hats from?
Did TT really only have 2 offensive rebounds?
And only 7 total… seemed like much more than that…
That is what I was thinking, it seemed like that was the only praise we got from the tnt chumps was TT on the boards. How about the one 3 from bron on the stats. little would you know it was dagger!
Lebron returned the favor and took his usual rebounds away from him, Game 2 TT=17, Lebron 9 / Game 3: TT=7, Lebron 18
The most amazing thing about all this Delly stuff is that most of the people talking about him still can’t say his name right.
Jim on WTAM1100 just nailed it re Delly (paraphrasing)”
“A lot of players resent a player of lesser talent playing at their level and beating them. Because it’s all about effort – it doesn’t matter what your talent level is, believing you are better means nothing. Delly has to play like this, he is not athletic, does not have a great level of talent. But I want a guy like him on my team.”
DaMarre Carroll needs a new haircut. His haircut is to crazy for this league. It’s a brotherhood!
Asking Carrol now straight up , Is Delly a dirty player ?… He’s saying Delly dived for his feet.
My gosh even though we won a big game, that play will be everywhere, I don’t self want hear the media untill Tuesday!
So maybe tomorrow somebody will ask Horford if he realizes he pulled Delly down and if that changes his opinion of what happened.
I don’t think anyone wants that story, let them talk, meanwhile nobody questioned the olynik yank. Wtf
Exactly, it wasnt even reviewed. Just showed my brother the video and first thing he said was that Kevin Love held Kelly’s arm first so he dont see the big deal about it. Tskkk. Everyone against the Cavs
Now DeMarre crybaby Carroll is whining.
The Hawks are a bunch of crybabies! And that includes their wives too! Sore losers!
But they had the best record in the east. They deserve to win! Lol no heart and lousy fans.
SHUMPERT: WE COULDN’T STOP PLAYING
Iman Shumpert on the Cavaliers’ Game 3 win: “We just couldn’t stop playing. We missed out on a lot of opportunities to close the game … but guys made plays. LeBron played huge.
Bazemore at the podium, he wanna be a star, answer tough questions after a tough loss
I always felt if nobody has a lot of questions your not that important! Sorry kent
Coach Bud, a question: if he hit him in the shoulder, but was trying for the head, is THAT an ejection?
And I’m someone who thinks that should have been just a flagrant 1, btw.
Horford shouldn’t be surprised if he pulls a player down that he lands on his legs. Thought he did a nice job in his interview, though.
What a game.
Another thing. Given the way Delly’s arm was being locked up, if he would have tried to pull his arm out and not continue in the direction he was being pulled, he could have suffered the same fate as Love.
@AnnaHorford: At the end of the day, we still don’t live in Ohio so it’s a good day.
Al Horfords wife is now trolling Ohio.
Down 0-3….how does it feel, Anna?
Im over those comments like GA is a great place to live. Give me a break
Your husband at least has a career in the WWE Anna… LOL
LOL! Extremely well played!
It’d be funny if Horford signed with the Cavs some day. But then, Anna would probably be long out of the picture by then.
You made me want a Twitter account and I’m 50! Nice work
Haha nice! Correction: it’s his sister not his wife.
It is very rare when the basketball statisticians don’t even try to compare someone’s game to another’s. Lebron literally just had the most spectacular game in nba history statistically speaking
Excuse me…playoff history
I put it #2 in the pantheon of LeBron games, behind the 27 straight in Detroit.
I mean… that last three… I’m still rewinding and watching it…
This was twice as important and thus twice as good. In my opinion we have a better chance to win the championship this year than we did that year.
Atlanta coach looks beat up! time to go home and get some rest for next year Coach
Horford says Delly went after his legs. He refers to Delly’s track record. “This is not the first time he’s been involved in things like this.”
Asked if he’s referring to the Taj Gibson and Kyle Korver incidents, he says yes.
Like the Korver thing was anything but random. Either player could have avoided it by not going for the ball, I suppose.
Not to mention that if Horford hadn’t pulled Delly down into his legs, Delly wouldn’t have hit his legs.
“He’s gotta learn. I’m mean, he’s a competitor, it was not malicious, but he’s gotta learn”.
Learn to be as soft as you Al?
These damn reporters does bun me, whole narrative is Delly being a dirty player
Reporter: Do u think Delly is a dirty player?
Horford: He plays hard , he dont think it was malicious but also saying that Delly needs to learn this is a brotherhood etc. Horford saying he went for his legs (thats what he told the referee) (via NBA TV)
This Delly narrative is going to be beyond tired. He was ‘involved in three plays’ because he goes to the floor a lot, and he’s going to be involved in more plays like that. I thought Ernie made a good point in that the Gibson play was the only one he saw a problem with. That’s the only one that wasn’t just a random collision.
Going to be this crap the entire next week at least.
Chuck to Kenny: You smack me three time you gonna be looking for a new co-host.
You could tell Chuck was actually getting angry with Kenny and the other TNT guys who were going after Delly so irrationally.
Love Chuck… He’s the first TNT guy to admit that Horford locked up Delly’s arm.
Barkley telling the truth about Delly. Kenny is an idiot
I agree with Ernie. Of the three, the only one I had a real issue with was the leg lock on Gibson. I can;t believe the Korver incident is even in the discussion.
Barkley sticking up for Delly.
Barkley and Shaq. They also gave Danny Ferry credit which I was glad to see. He did the best gm job i’ve ever witnessed
I guess they’ll start calling him the Aussie Assassin…
Horford stopping short of calling Delly a dirty player. Saying he plays hard, but needs to learn where the line is… whatever Al…
horford for sure getting a suspension once NBA office re-watches replay and sees him drag Delly down and then forearm in head
game was way too close and Cavs have tendency to let teams back in but…
hell of a close out by Lebron and a win is a win
gotta finish em off Tues nite…no excuses
GO CAVS!
Al Horford looks choked up. He wants to say Delly is a dirty player but he want say it.
Horford admits he made a poor decision. He thought Delly went at him, but he should have handled it better.
Aldridge pushing the Delly bad guy “dirty player” narrative with Horford, but Horford takes the high road, but warns Delly that everyone looks out for everyone.
He was choosing his words carefully….
The NBA Network crew manages to discuss the Horford-Delly thing without calling Delly dirty.
Sorry I missed that …
And Miller ends the game by finally mentioning giving the cavs credit for playing down two key players.
Unreal game by James.
MILESTONE NIGHT FOR LEBRON JAMES
Tonight LeBron James …
Passed Jason Kidd for 2nd-most playoff triple-doubles (12).
Tied Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for 3rd-most 30-point playoff games (75).
Passed Karl Malone for 6th on career playoff points list (4,782).
Man I love this team. They have so much grit and determination. Kind of similar to the buckeyes when everyone doubted them
Was just checking a thread I read with fans of various teams, and the majority seem to believe Dellavadova is one of the dirtiest players in the league, and intentionally tried to hurt Korver. So definitely get ready for that narrative.
That is so wrong, all he did was dive and roll to protect himself and keep the ball. Nobody thought a thing about it until Miller chimed in tonight Let em talk Curry will be afraid then
I agree, but just saying what people are saying.
I know you do just venting, sorry MikeO
If Korver wasn’t 120 years old, he could have gotten his leg out of the way in time.
Sorry to post a camcorder video of a TV, but this is the angle that shows how it went down tonight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGAcFqJZs18
(Not my video, by the way).
Pretty much makes it clear, thanks!