Podcast: Talking Cavs with Mark Neal
2016-01-29https://soundcloud.com/dayton-radio/tom-pestak-from-cavstheblogcom-talks-all-things-cavs-with-mark-neal-on-dss
Joined my buddy Mark to talk about David Blatt’s demise, the chemistry (or lack thereof) of the big 3, musing on a CP3 for Kyrie trade, Kevin Love’s evolution, the Tyronn Lue era, the purity of baseball, Kevin Love puns, the Cavs defense slipping a bit of late, the terror that is the Warriors, playing off the ball, and Blake Griffin – overrated and underrated.
Just ran into ex Cavs coach David Blatt at the mall in Atlanta. “I’m just going to kick back and figure out the next thing to do,” he said. — Vaughn McClure
Why all the sudden is everyone listening to Windy? He has been irrelevant pretty much until Blatt got fired and now has descended on “The Land” in a cloud of smoke and Poof!! 24/7 trolling has begun with Vincent Price laughter.
How you doing TV? Good to see you back!
Pretty sore. It’ll be another week until I can drive but I’ll be ok. Thanks for asking.
Why is everyone so offended by Windy. I really don’t get it? Do people think he’s making **** up?
All due respect Arch . Been pretty silent on the plethora of Windy posts from you for the past 2 weeks. People don’t mind a couple comments here and there but you have really gone overboard. So given that, people tend to get annoyed because you are beating us up with the barrage of negativity from his posts. I’d rather hear your take more, Arch. I respect your opinion more than his.
Overboard?!?!?!?!? I mean I find his insight pretty fascinating. If that’s the case, then I think this blog needs a shrink!!!!
Please keep them coming Arch. They’re very helpful as I don’t have enough time to come up on that info myself.
I’ll hold off on the overly negative ones. I think today’s “Hey Windy” was actually an aberration anyways. He usually doesn’t rant that hardcore on the Cavs.
I believe the Cavs still have a chance to win it all but I also understand that they will have to increase their level of play a lot from were it is now.
The Cavs need to take the challenge defensively from now on to not get beat of the dribble and not play down to their opponents and just play the right way.
If Ty Lue can make this team reach their highest level they could compete against whoever comes out of the west.
Great convo as always with Tom and Mark Neal! This may be an unpopular POV, but I don’t think KLove got snubbed for the All Star team. He’s not having a better year than the three front court reserves that got picked… Drummond, Millsap or Bosh. Who would he replace? I’m fine with both Love and Kyrie missing the ASG this year… maybe it will motivate them and give them an edge… However, I do think that either J.R. or Delly (or both) should get picked for the three-point shootout… Kyrie should get picked for the skills contest… And Much… Read more »
I think some of the advanced stats show that KLOVE is really good for this team, despite the ongoing narrative that Cleveland can’t use him right. I don’t think it’s a big deal he was left off the All-Star roster, but I think it’s a bit absurd that Atlanta had four players last year when they led the East, granted one was added due to injury. And Miami gets two, when once again their team could miss the playoffs entirely as 7th seed. I know it’s not exactly a fair process, cough cough Kobe. Or even cough cough DWade. Anyways,… Read more »
Not saying he’s not good for the Cavs, but not as good as Bosh or Millsap so far this season: Bosh (19.2 ppg on .476 shooting) and Millsap (18.0 on .492 shooting) are the second and third highest scoring PFs after Anthony Davis. Love is 7th at 15.7 on .418 shooting. Love’s main All Star cred comes from his elite rebounding (10.8), although both Millsap (8.8) and Bosh (7.6) are not slouches themselves. Still, Bosh and Millsap have both been great for their teams this year. Fan voting aside, Bosh is much more deserving of ASG than Wade. And Millsap… Read more »
How many outlet passes to Lebron for dunks did Bosh or Millsap have? I thought so. /s
Based on individual stats, I understand why Love wasn’t chosen over those guys this year. But then in the same regard the Hawks should have only had one all-star last year. It’s not a big deal. All-Star games are stupid anyways. Chuck away Kobe!!!!
I can’t really argue the Love thing, either…he was borderline, and didn’t quite make it. I don’t care about the All Star game at all, although of course it’s important to the players.
Kevin Pelton makes a good case of why Kevin Love is an all-star on the Lowe post. He is dropping a Kevin Love article on Saturday.
Wow, Windy spitting hot takes this morning. I’m really glad dealing with this Cavs team isn’t my job.
I’ll get around to Tom’s and Windy’s pods later today but I did just read a Jeff Van Gundy quote that more or less said, if the coach had to be fired, Kevin Love wasn’t voted an All-Star, Kyrie and Shump missed almost half a season, and LeBron is the sole All-Star on a team on pace to win 60 games, then LeBron should be MVP. What a good case.
Not gonna happen. Blame for Blatt’s firing dooms LeBron’s MVP candidacy. Probably not deserved, but there it is. Also, his outside shoot being weak and his defense being off hurts him.
To play devil’s advocate: Fair or not, the media is laying significant blame at LeBron’s feet for Blatt’s firing. The only way that could NOT significantly hurt his MVP chances is if the Cavs go on an absolute tear for the remainder of the season because Lue is such an incredible coach. Also, LeBron has done very little to get Love playing to his potential, and on the other hand, Curry’s presence elevates the game of his teammates dramatically (though I realize a lot of that has to do with coaching). Maybe if LeBron made a better-faith effort to get… Read more »
Without Curry, the Warriors would be toast. You can not win with Draymond Green or Klay Thompson as your best player. That team is Steph Curry first, second, and last.
Disagree! That team is still crazy good without Curry. Maybe not an favorite to win the title, but definitely a really good team. They out score teams when Curry and Green sit.
They do, but it wouldn’t last long. If they had to go the next 30 days without Curry, by the end of it everyone would be calling the Warriors overrated.
If I could figure out a way to move Kyrie for C.J. McCollum, I’d do it in a heartbeat. Cavs would need to get back more salary, draft picks, and pieces though. Kyrie for Paul makes sense, but Doc would never do it. I still think the Cavs could’ve traded Shaq for Chris Paul and Peja when George Shinn still owned then (then) Hornets.
I like CJ McCollum, but come on…. I wouldn’t trade him for Kyrie.
I would seriously consider it. But it’s not going to happen, so pointless to talk about, really…
I was all in on any trade that would bring us Paul in LBJ’s first go round. I was kind of surprised it never happened.
I don’t buy it that Kyrie does not like LeBron. The two of them look like they have a relationship that everyone else on the team would be envious of, so it seems far fetched. But if he’s got the sources…
I don’t think he said that he didn’t like LeBron. The takeaway I got was that I think he is just frustrated playing with him. And that not everyone loves playing with LeBron. But in LeBron’s defense, as Windy pointed out, would you prefer to finish your season in April Kyrie?
Yeah he still needs to grow up I guess. Remember him when he was “disinterested?”
Windy SANG KYRIE’S PRAISES all last year. He repeatedly said that Kyrie was inredible and playing with LBJ, and adjusting his game. He said Kyrie looked up to LBJ and learned from him.
I think a lot of what Windy says has some truth to it. But he tends to over-dramatize, which makes me discount pretty much everything he says.
Yeah, Windy lurves his drama, no doubt about that. Last season was the first time I liked Irving…he was genuinely really good for most of the year after being more of a selfish me first guy prior to that. This year, so far, he’s just been bad, for the most part. I understand he’s coming off of an injury, and he may be a different player come April, but I’m not totally banking on that, either. If he still is playing like this in the playoffs, Cavs are in big trouble.
The thing that Windy pointed out was that if Golden State wasn’t playing at this historic level, these issues with the Cavs would be much less of an issue. They are still a great team as it stands.
I don’t think most of us needed windy to say that. 12 losses at this point, 3 to the two other great clubs.
Windhorst: Cavs are shopping for a wing player… Not looking for a star player… But I didn’t think they would fire Blatt, and with another blow out loss, who knows? They are talking to people about Mozgov. A classic example would be Koufos, who is from Glen Oak, maybe that’s a deal they would consider.
Windhorst: Teams are calling Cavs about Mo Williams.
Wow, really?
I’d trade him. Crowded backcourt.
What teams need PG’s. The first one that comes to mind is the Bucks, and that is Mo’s old stomping grounds. I’m not sure what the Bucks would have to trade with us, or what we would want for Mo?
I disagree with Windhorst’s opinion that Mozgov is definitely better than Koufos. Their career numbers are pretty similar. Timo’s one clear edge is in free throw shooting, but remember that George Karl played Koufos over Mozgov when he had both in Denver.
BTW… Nice work Tom. I always enjoy hearing your Thursday radio spots.
Thanks, Arch.
It’s fun doing them – glad you enjoy it!
After your comments, I think I would agree with you on Blake Griffin. I don’t think I would trade him for KLove at this point.
Windhorst: PJ Tucker, who lives in Phoenix, knows that Cavs are interested in him, and he would love to play on the Cavs, as he was showcasing himself the other night.
I think the Suns auditioning for a Cavs trades failed. I would not trade significant assets for those guys to come over and play 10 mpg.
Mo Williams, Timo Mozgov and the Haywood Trade Exceptions for PJ Tucker, and Tyson Chandler.
As I said the other night, there’s nothing Chandler does that Mozgov can’t do better. Chandler’s basketball IQ may be a bit higher, but he’s fading physically, and you can’t play him with TT at all.
Moz is a better player than Chandler this year. Unless Mo is confirmed to be a cancer I don’t see why you give up your 3rd PG with injury prone KI always bump away from going down for the year.
But if Mo isn’t going to play and the Cavs are searching or a wing that can play both sides of the ball, why not? Chandler may also play better on the Cavs. He’s having a bad year, but he played very well last year. On this team, I’m sure he’d play better than in Phoenix. I doubt it happens, because I don’t see Gilbert wanting to pay the taxes on his salary for the next 4 years.
Doesn’t work. Chandler’s salary is too big.
That’s right. Trade exceptions cannot be combined with players.
Windhorst is going rage quit on ‘Hey Windy’ —-
Windhorst: When Kyrie signed, he didn’t sign to play with LeBron
Windhorst: Kyrie gets frustrated when LeBron complains about missed defensive assignments, when LeBron is lagging on defense
Windhorst: Pat Riley had LeBron’s back last night in a speech in Miami… and Riley noted that all good teams (Cavs) go through these type of problems
Geez.
EVEN DELLY….
Hey Windy Bombs —- Windhorst: From what I understand, Delly is pretty upset from how his contract situation played out… but Delly is a true pro and will never let it affect him. Windhorst: LeBron is generally hurting from people calling him a coach killer Windhorst: Kevin Love still isn’t happy about he is being used. Windhorst: Kyrie clearly isn’t in Love playing with LeBron, he tries to make the best of it, he doesn’t like it how the team believes the more you pass the better the team goes, he thinks it’s an affront to him Windhorst: Mozgov is… Read more »
The Cavs need Moz this year. I wish the Cavs or the rumor spreader would stop worrying about his value next year.
One word: WindBAG
Delly sure signed fast for someone who didn’t like his deal.
Since he was restricted, he didn’t have that much choice. It’s going to work out for him, though, because he’s going to get some really good offers this summer.
The Griz are looking to move Courtney Lee and Jeff Green. I’m not sure what we could offer for either of those players, but I think they would be good additions. Lee is a career 38.2% 3-point shooter.
He isn’t an improvement over Shump or JR or Delly so that leaves MDN and JFJ. Who would the Cavs trade? I don’t see a trade for a guy that will DNP most nights.
I think this would have to be a multiple team deal. I’m not sure how it would work, and I don’t know what the Griz are looking for? I think that a major trade will happen before the deadline though. And I sort of feel like the Cavs may be involved. But that is just a gut feeling.
Good pod but to reach the conclusion that the Cavs have no shot at winning the Finals because A.) the Warriors or Spurs locked up the West spot B.) there is no scenario where the Cavs can beat those teams is panicky. The Cavs have played decently against both clubs in at least one match up (both on the opposing court). The Cavs still have a shot against the Spurs this weekend. We have no idea what West teams might panic and make a big move by the deadline. OKC and LAC are prime candidates due to Durant’s contract and… Read more »
I hear ya Dave. When I saw they don’t play well together I mean their on court chemistry. I’m not referring to the Cavs W/L ratio in games they are healthy. Maybe it’s more appropriate to say they don’t make the game much easier for each other than it already was – and in Kevin Love’s case maybe a bit more difficult to find a rhythm. Unfortunately the expectations are championship or bust whether or that’s fair to the team or to us fans that like to enjoy basketball for basketball’s sake. Firing David Blatt was more of a panic… Read more »
I meant more about the attitude towards the Spurs/GSW. I heard you advocating keeping a clear head when talking about Love trades and the like. I agree there is risk switching coaches. I hope the Cavs grow with Lue. I don’t have a fear they will regress but more wonder if the growth will be enough. But there’s still a chance! January is pretty far away from the playoffs.
The Big 3 have a net rating of over 12 when they play together. I would say their chemistry is fine. The issue arises when one or more of the Big 3 is not on the court (Kyrie and Love together sans Lebron is particularly bad).
I take back all the things I said about you being negative. ??
If that’s what it takes to get you to come around, KJ. I’ll gladly be that guy
I vote for the butt stilts.
Hmmm….interesting you mention this because out here some are saying that the two losses to GSW were more likely to be outliers than an actual indication of how good the Cavs really are. Expect a much tougher matchup in the finals.
I’m all in on Kyrie for CP3, but I don’t see the Clippers doing it.