Preview/Live Thread: Cavs vs. Thunder (#CaughtOffGuard)
2015-12-17
Not yet, Cavs fans… not quite yet. Just in case you haven’t seen Kyrie Irving’s tweet from yesterday, refuting the early report that he’d be suiting up (in something other than other than his swank designer duds on the sideline) for tonight’s eagerly anticipated contest against the Oklahoma City Thunder, be advised that KI will be a spectator for at least one more game. His return is tantalizingly close, and not just to the fans, but also to Uncle Drew himself, who has reportedly continued to lobby the Cavs’ front office and coaches to allow him to return to active duty. Understandably, there’s a bit of a letdown on all fronts about this delay, especially as the Thunder come to town representing maybe the toughest test of this still young season for the Cavaliers. Not to mention the fact that his presence could have buoyed a suddenly paper thin Cleveland back court.
Also sitting this one out for the wine & gold is the recently returned Iman Shumpert. Shump was officially ruled out after suffering a groin injury in only his second game back from his season-long absence with a wrist injury. The new issue is reportedly a mild one, but the Cavs likely want to take no chances that it could get exacerbated. Iman is listed as day-to-day, although even if he didn’t have this latest malady to deal with, he might still not have been available to the team tonight… especially after other amazing events unfolded in his life today…
Congratulations to Iman and Teyana as they welcome baby Iman Tayla Shumpert Jr. into the world! (This is also the first female progeny I’ve ever heard of being named a Junior).
So, Kyrie and Shump are out, but hey, you might say… the Cavs have gone 14-7 without their starting back court so far, so why worry? Well… there’s more…
Mo Williams is also listed as questionable for this game with a right thumb sprain he sustained in the Celtics game. Odds are that Mo will give it a go, but given his near non-existent defense on most nights, the thumb will likely impact what he can do on the side of the court where he does most of his damage. Also, Matthew Dellavedova may be downplaying some injury issues as he was on the trainer’s table getting his back stretched after the Boston game. Delly also missed a practice while the team was in Orlando due to the sore back.
If you’re counting along at home, that’s two guards out and two more banged up, which leaves the Cavs perilously thin with only J.R. Smith and Jared Cunningham fully healthy to man the backcourt, and try and stop the dangerous Russell Westbrook. At least help is on the way…
Cavs recall Joe Harris from Canton. Charge currently in Calif. Cavs also announce G Iman Shumpert (groin) out tonight, questionable Sunday.
— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) December 17, 2015
But seriously… Westbrook would present a daunting challenge to the Cavs’ guards even if everyone was healthy. And, since LeBron is likely to have his hands full matching up with Kevin Durant, the Cavs may need some additional minutes at guard from Richard Jefferson as well.
The Thunder (17-8) come in on a six game winning streak, where they’ve held their opponents under 100 points in every game. They are on the second night of a back-to-back, however, and have not fared well on the road against Eastern Conference teams thus far this season, going just 1-3. They are paced by Durant (third in the league in scoring at 27.3) and Westbrook (sixth at 25.6 with three triple doubles already this season) offensively, and feature big man and defensive specialist, Serge Ibaka (seven boards and 2.5 blocks per game).
This game also represents the first “homecoming” for former Cav, Dion Waiters. St. Weirdo has been his usual mercurial self for the Thunder, coming off the bench to average 10.8 ppg, while shooting 40% (36% from three point range). Dion’s been shooting it well of late, however, and had one of his better games of the season with 18 points on 6-10 shooting last night against Portland. It’s probably safe to assume he’s had tonight’s game circled on his calendar for some time now, as if the Cavs’ already thin guard rotation needed more on their plate…
The Cavs (16-7) have been on a modest three game win streak of their own, and have held their last two opponents to 76 and 77 points respectively. Cleveland’s front court will need to shine tonight to compensate for their back court deficit. It will be key for LeBron, Kevin Love, Timofey Mozgov and Tristan Thompson to come up big, and make the Thunder work hard on defense. Hopefully, Moz can continue his recent resurgence in the middle, and take advantage of Enes Kanter and Stephen Adams.
The probable starting lineups are… for the Cavaliers: C Timofey Mozgov; PF Kevin Love; SF LeBron James; SG J.R. Smith; PG Matthew Dellavedova. And for the Thunder: C Steven Adams; PF Serge Ibaka; SF Kevin Durant; SG Andre Roberson; PG Russell Westbrook.
Game time is 8 p.m. (EST) and it will be nationally televised on TNT.
This is likely to be a tough test for the Cavs, but even with their depleted guard situation, I still think the wine & gold will be able to defend their home turf against the potentially weary Thunder. Cavs win a close one 107-104…
GO CAVS!
Yes I WENT CRAZY!! My voice is gone from yelling. It was an incredible game and all I can tell you is LEBRON IS KING! WOW, he was ferocious in every aspect. 4th quarter To run with the speed, the strength and plowing through OKC bodies slam the basket(with no regard to human life) and get the an one BROUGHT DOWN THE HOUSE! The crowd was on their feet repeatedly in that quarter chanting MVP MVP MVP to Lebron. He had an absolute electrifying performance. He looked fantastic. We had our doubts on TT after he 1st half and then… Read more »
Whoops I guess that was a lady not a guy. My bad.
It was Jason Days wife
It’s big news over here in Oz, headline news. Freight train runs through national hero’s wife.
We couldn’t tell from lower 200 section the person was a woman Lebron was over there a lot very concerned . We selfishly hoped it wouldn’t get into his head to finish the game. And something like that a huge celebrity’s wife, (which most of us did not know) he was able to mentally focus to seal the game. How did he do it?
I don’t get the boos for Dion. I’m glad he ended up on a good team.
I feel the same way too. But like I said, many of the boos (from our section anyways ) they just mimicked what others were doing It’s funny how some assume , “oh he left our team for the Thunder” They did not know he was traded. I do believe it got to him. He did love it here.
ESPN, TNT, and NBATV need to STOP playing Laker games. They’re an embarrassment. Kobe stinks and I don’t care watching them get blown out by another bad team like Houston.
Delly 10 assists 1 TO was huge tonight. Also played some intense defense the whole night
No one can beat His team Ian rid 7 game series.
Nope. I tried looking at it for a couple minutes, and I got nothing.
no one can beat this team in a seven game series
Man what happened to Ty Lawson?! He used to be one of the most exciting players to watch. Now he’s just straight garbage offensively.
Man…I just realized I hate the rockets so much I am cheering for the lakers right now. That means I REALLY hate the rockets.
They are a bowl of turds. It’s pretty crazy when Dwight is one of your more likable players. And he’s actually played fine this year – it’s the rest of thos scrubs that are the problem.
Brian Windhorst @WindhorstESPN 3m3 minutes ago
LeBron James said he was told Ellie Day was doing well after courtside collision.
Nice… that was a violent collision… someone mentioned that it was probably her hitting the floor that was worse than the initial collision.
That’s good news, thanks.
Blatt also made a savvy move by putting JR and RJ on Durant defensively after the 1st quarter. It freed up LBJ to roam and also preserve his energy for the offensive end knowing the load he’d have to carry because of all the guards being out.
DJ Augustin and St. Weirdo did NOT come to play tonight. Combined 2-12 FG, 3 assists in 35 min combined.
Neither of them was up to the task once our intensity picked up on defense. Neither has that playoff level competitiveness.
Credit definitely goes to the Cavs’ defense…. really put the clamps down in the 2nd and 4th quarters.
Deangelo Russell will be a nasty problem to guard in two years when he can shoot the three as well.
He has fantastic vision/anticipation. Problem is, they have to get some shooters and slashers around him.
They have to get rid of tens of millions of dollars in 5 years beyond the tail end of his prime Kobe first lol.
HAHA yep… that MIGHT help… Oh, and you forgot B. Scott as well HAHA!
Any word on whether Kyrie plays Sunday?
Time to get Kyrie back with two gimme games before the big showdown next Friday
Man what a great showing by the Cavs. Even Jared Cunningham contributed in a positive way.
Cavs role players shine when the core is having a good day. Give MDN that kind of shot regularly and he’ll post some nice stats. Let Delly cut to the hoop and he’ll find TT 2-4 times a night.
Rockets just DESTROYING the Lakers… embarrassing that Lakers are on TNT at all… Kobe retirement factor…
The Lakers can cure even this stinking Rockets team.
Jason Day is Australian (Delly factor), his wife is from near Mansfield, and according to Wiki, they live near Columbus. Because what professional golfer wouldn’t choose a cold-weather climate?
Jason Day is the man… One of my favorite golfers…
The Golden Bear has always called ohio home.
Day and his wife rep Ohio hard… Jim Nantz always mentions it on CBS broadcasts.
Day is a big time Browns fan, for some ungodly reason…..
HAHAHA… that is kinda weird… It’s strange that Columbus is closer to Cincinnati than Cleveland is (I’m pretty sure), yet there are waaaaaaaay more Browns fans in C-bus.
It’s because the Browns have been a presence in Ohio a lot longer than the Bengals. Fandom tends to get passed down through the generations within families.
That definitely true, especially with the Browns. It’s a birthright, not a bandwagon type situation HAHA!
Had to follow on the internet, but I’ll watch it later. Really good win with Shump and Mo out. Looks like TT had a really good game, outside his bobble near the end of the game. Hope Jason Day’s wife is okay.
You’ll see when you watch it… it was less TT’s bobble, and more Westbrook fouling him (with his foot) and LBJ not paying attention…
I don’t think you can put it on Lebron though. Under the basket you don’t pass the ball to someone 2 feet from you. Hand it off, call timeout or take the foul.
TT looking like $85 Million tonight…
Hell, I’d go ahead and say he looked like an even $100 mill tonight.
85 is good enough though
He looked like Dennis Rodman. Like the spitting image on some of those offensive miracles.
way more O than the prime rodman
Prime Rodman would have loved receiving Delly lobs too
I don’t think Rodman skied like TT. He was a below the rime dude. Survived on positioning…king of it
TT doesn’t really sky…jumps more far than high.
IDK I think TT gets WAY above the rim. I didn’t see Rodman doing that later in his career.
Reminds me of the ‘Major League’ home run; Too high???? No, too far.
LoL People said remarks like that Evil Genius on the money as it pertained to the 1st half. Left us wondering and it changed by game end.
Gotta love this team!
That run at the beginning of the 4th quarter was crucial… RJ and Cunningham had huge threes…. I’m sure there were other key plays but those are the ones I remember. TT getting offensive rebounds.
Great team win. Everyone contributed something (except Andy maybe, who only played 4 minutes), even Love who had a rough game, had 5 assists and a couple steals.
No Kyrie, No Shump, No Mo. KLove only 11 points. Cavs still win
No Dion. No Grant. Merry Christmas Cavs Fans!
Total great team effort and KLOVE got a jet three at the end.
6 players in double digits, 32 bench points, 12 3’s, 29 Assists, Lebron with 11 AST and Delly with 10. 3 double doubles for Lebron, Delly and TT
Those are golden state esque stats
Never doubted they’d pull this one out…
That’s ok, I doubted enough for the both of us, lol.
Can see the fellas worked on some new handshakes with all those days off..
You can tell all LBJ has on his mind right now is Jason Day’s wife… really hope she’s okay…
Dellovawin.
Great win………..
Great win. 29 assists. Held OKC to just 6 made 3’s.
Lebron was sleeping on that inbounds play. TT has 11 Offensive rebounds with a total of 15 rebounds for the game.
WHO NEEDS A GUARD ROTATION?
FINALLLLLLLY Go Cavs, good win
Yes what a game w 3 guards out and one playing hurt enjoy the rest cavs
LeBron got lucky there. He was wide open.
Whew. That was a hell of a game.
CLF was right on the money!
Oh, damn CLF… didn’t see the foul… oh well…
HAHAHA… DANG IT! Hey we were right though! Got that cover!!!
No OT please come on cavs
Thompson fraid to get fouled and the ball ends up getting turned over tskkk
Tristan…should have worked on those free throws while waiting out training camp ya terd blossom
6 seconds, GOTTA foul here.
TT started to call timeout, then tried to ditch the ball to LeBron, with the unfortunate result.