Live Thread: Cavaliers @ Blazers
2015-12-26
The Cavaliers look to get back into the win column against a fading Blazers squad. After watching Christmas Day jumpers continually clank off the rim in Oracle Arena, the Cavs assume the law of averages will balance things out in Portland. It’s hard to imagine a repeat performance from behind the arc. If shots fall for Cleveland, it will be bad news for Terry Stotts.
Despite featuring one of the highest scoring backcourts in the NBA, the Blazers have struggled to win games. C.J. McCollum has developed quickly into a deadly offensive player. The third year guard is playing 20 minutes more per game than he did last season. In his 35 minutes, McCollum is hitting 40% of his threes en route to a cool 20.1 ppg.
Though he works hard, he is undersized for a shooting guard. Combined with Damien Lillard, this is the worst defensive backcourt in the Association. Lillard continues to be Steph Curry Lite on the offensive end and Mo Williams Lite on the defensive end. To put it bluntly, Lillard is an abject travesty on that end of the floor. DRPM hates him. To be fair, poor defensive teams drag down DRPM numbers, but Lillard has been consistently awful throughout his career. (note: How is Wiggins so low on that list? There is some ammo for the Wiggins haters.)
Terry Stotts continues to baffle the NBA by bringing Ed Davis off the bench. I understand the desire to get Noah Vonleh some meaningful minutes, but wouldn’t it be more reasonable to let Vonleh compete against backups? Davis has been the Blazers’ best big man by a mile. Pairing Davis and Mason Plumlee can crowd the paint, but it still doesn’t make a lot of sense to throw Vonleh to the wolves. Meyers Leonard hasn’t helped Stotts space the floor as he has been a catastrophe for Portland this season. He was my dark horse for MIP this season. His 25% shooting from deep isn’t about to win him any awards.
Kyrie Irving seems to enjoy his battle with Lillard. Here’s hoping Uncle Drew starts to “get buckets”. Some pickup ballers put up more resistance than Lillard. Now is the time.
[Editor’s Note: Due to the time difference (middle of the night in Europe) Ben had to write this early and schedule it to run later, and was likely asleep before it was officially reported that both Kyrie (scheduled rest) and Damien Lillard (plantar fasciitis) will miss tonight’s game. Please adjust your expectations and wagering accordingly.]
Delly should be getting more money. Ridiculous how he’s only on a million he’s always the only one that gives 100%.
Also Kevin Love is one of the most overrated players I’ve ever watched. Cavs made a mistake getting him or should i say lebron did. Wiggins we miss you!
Re: Delly – totally, and if he continues this way it’ll happen. Re: Love – I’m still undecided. One thing bothers me – and someone else posted a comment here which rang true to me – when he is lining up to shoot from outside & a defender closes in on him, he bails way early, and when subsequently moving inside is not very efficient. I wish he would shoot once in position more. He ain’t short & it takes a fair bit to block his 3 ball. And hey, maybe draw contact/foul? Surely worth trying, since his current alternative… Read more »
Horrible game… No pride. No balls. No leadership. I hope that Uncle Gilbert gets involved in this mess and let’s players know that heads will roll if they continue to play like this. This wasn’t on Blatt, although he isn’t even the head coach of this team anymore, this was all on the players and it starts with LeBron. His leadership on the court is questionable and his skills are diminishing. He IS NOT what he used to be, but only 75% of it. Unfortunately he thinks he still has the body strength, athletism and shooting skills, but they are… Read more »
Oh and by the way please don’t come up with the “oh it was a back to back situation” . The Spurs and Heat played back to back too and they took care of business.
Cavs are overrated as %$&#…
Holy moly this is depressing. We might as well have forfeited. I’ve never seen less effort put into the offensive end. Defensively, unfortunately, I have seen worse from Cavs teams in the past. This is one of those games that can be a real turning point in either direction. Hopefully it is the kind where we rip off 18 straight
I missed this, but an understandable reaction from Shump given his shoulder injury with the Knicks last year.
Dave McMenamin @mcten 12m12 minutes ago
Shumpert gets called for a T for shoving Meyers Leonard after Leonard pinned his arm while fighting for rebound position.
Good night guys. Let’s hope this turns into something positive…..someway…. Somehow.
Might be time for a trade if this road trip doesn’t pick up.
Who do we try to move? Where can we upgrade?
Dion might be available…
Cavs need more guys with pride and with some interior defense. I don’t know. But Love is just UGH right now. Maybe Love for Chandler and Markieff.
Love’s not going anywhere. Chandler is ancient and going to have his last ok year this year. Markief makes zero sense on this team cuz he can’t shoot that well. I agree it seems like we need to make a move. I just can’t think of any besides “play Kyrie Irving into shape” that are viable.
Lol Love is not the problem on this team
Just don’t see any eye of the tiger.
38 paint points!!! Are you serious!!!!
Time to go bowling in Phx again. Man this game sucks.
UGH. Mo, TT, James Jones lineup: 3 on 5 on defense, 4 on 5 on offense.
You know it’s bad when the FSO broadcast’s featured highlights are of plays made by Portland.
Let’s have some more video reviews, please, in a 30-point game!
Wow. Ridiculous call there.
What just happened? All i saw was RJ shooting and making a three then James Jones gets a technical for? What? Going arounda boxout?
Prettty much, yeah. With a little more zest than usual by JFJ.
I should have known with how my day has gone that I should have just never turned this gaame on. Its been a rotten on since 7AM. I’ve had enough. Good night everyone. Hopefully we put our big boy pants on for Monday’s game.
I wonder what will be the excuse after this one…..
We should have the right to punch Lebron in the face for every word he will while doing interviews after this game.
Lol a bit extreme but I get your point. But it will be very stoopid if he again tries to act like it doesn’t matter again.
I’m sure the excuses will be legion, but the fact is they didn’t show up. Plain and simple. I was expecting a loss, but not this kind of loss.
Don’t know why Jefferson didn’t set up in the left corner for a three on that break. Overpassing…
I hate plumlee.
If we don’t stop playing like this you will end up hating every player in the league.
Refs making calls now under the assumption that the Cavs suck. (Understandably.) Hard to get the benefit of the doubt when you’re down by 30-plus.
F**k injuries. I don’t want them to rest the main guys early. Have self respect and finish this fighting. They’ve brought this to themselves. Blatt have balls and don’t rest Lebron. I don’t care for the next game!!
Haven’t seen interior defense this bad since the pre-Mozgov days.
I’m really starting to believe that the Cavs need to trade for a really good shooter. A 3 point specialist.
No Contact there at all. Anticipation call.