Live Thread: Hornets @ Cavs
2016-04-03
The Cavaliers square off against the Charlotte Hornets for the fourth and final time this afternoon in a game that is more important than it may seem at first glance. The Hornets are currently tied with the Atlanta Hawks for the third seed in the Eastern Conference, but are a mere half-game ahead of the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat. A loss to the Cavaliers would drop them into a three-way tie with the latter two teams and give the Hawks the lead for the third seed in the East. This could also potentially affect the Cavaliers as they will play the winner of the series between the fourth and fifth seeds, provided they hold onto the top spot in the Eastern Conference and win their first-round series.
While the Cavaliers hold a 2-1 series lead this season, the Hornets have played them tough. In particular, point guards Kemba Walker and Jeremy Lin have combined to average 32.7 points and 10.3 assists against the Cavs this season. Head coach Steve Clifford has done a tremendous job of molding the Hornets into an effective unit, and they currently rank in the top ten in the league on both sides of the ball. This is undoubtedly the best Hornets team since Michael Jordan became involved with the franchise, and if the chips fell the right way for them, they could surprise in the playoffs.
For the Cavaliers, the goals are fairly simple. Kyrie Irving needs to get back on track on the offensive end, as he’s shooting just 29% from the field and 25% from three over his last five games. The defense also needs to continue to tighten up. While it has improved a bit the last few games, the Cavaliers are still prone to giving up large runs, as seen in Friday night’s game against the Atlanta Hawks. Finally, a win today would give the Cavs a three-and-a-half game lead over the Toronto Raptors with just five regular season games remaining, all but clinching the top seed in the Eastern Conference for LeBron James and company.
Be sure to tune in to Fox Sports Ohio or WUAB Chanel 43 at 3:30 to see if the Cavaliers can win their third in a row and 55th game of the season, and be sure to share your thoughts here at Cavs: The Blog!
Bailout call for Kemba…
Jesus. That was a horrific call. double dribbled twice.
Batum out for the game.
Man are they dishing up the calls for Kemba. Meanwhile LBJ with no free throws.
LeBron and Love each with a few no calls. Refs really not respecting them today.
After the LeBron-Love two man game wasn’t working, they get the ball to Delly who initiates the offense and ends with a Love bucket.
Why does nobody move without the ball when Love gets the ball on the block? Everyone just stands there. I hate it!
Here come the hanging heads
Zeller locking down Love in the post somehow
Super nice chase down by Lee and Kemba heating up. Cavs gotta nip this in the bud.
Delly is such a good rebounder. Cavs should seriously consider bringing Kyrie off the bench. Offense runs when Delly starts.
It’s not the worst idea, but the media would have a field day. I think maybe they try implementing more of Kyrie with the second unit, but still start him. Just make a sub early in the 1st quarter. I don’t know…
They could implement something similar to what Miami did with LeBron and D Wade early in the first and second years. I remember when LeBron and Wade really didn’t have chemistry together so they used to play them separately for long stretches until the fourth.
I wish Lue had the stones to do as you suggest. It would make the team better. If Havlichek came off the bench, so can Irving
Worst idea ever.
I just hate when players like LeBron and Love don’t get blatant calls.
I’m really looking forward to the podcast after this week. Lots of good wins.
Nice jinx.
Double screen for JR
LeBron makes a Saint Weirdo memorial long 2.
I didn’t mind that one. Rhythm shot with under 5 seconds.
I have been hard on KI, and we need his shooting. But I sure don’t miss Dribblemania today. 20 assists on 26 buckets.
The only problem with Irving is he’s missing shots he normally makes.
And he plays terrible defense too.
A shooting slump isn’t the only problem with Irving. The main problems are: 1) bad defense, and 2) wrecking the flow of the offense.
Wow. Garbage call.
Haha. Great pass by Delly.
Cavs can put the Hornets away if they start strong in the 3rd. Looking good so far.
This is probably my favorite time of the year. Late fall is really nice as well.
We’ve secured the #1 seed. So despite all the downcasts, this team has the 3rd best record in the NBA, the best player in the NBA, and the easiest path to the Finals. Pretty great season.
We haven’t secured the one seed yet
There is fact and reality, and then there is Cols.
James looks like he’s the real MVP once again. Definitely affects the game more than Curry.
LeBron’s last shot of the half:
Cavs up 58-42 at the half, with 18 assists on 24 FGs. Shooting 60% overall and 8-14 from 3.
Everything is awesome.
LeBron and Love are a combined 13-16 for 29 pts, 6 reb, 7 ast
It’s tough to beat this team when those two guys are playing this well.
Love and James have great chemistry when they are the big two on the court together.
I feel like basketball can only have a big 2 at most. There isn’t enough of the ball to consistently have a statistical “big 3”
I’d disagree. One of them has to be big enough to come off the bench or embrace a defensive mvp role with Being a third banana on offense. Manu did the first. KG and Duncan did the latter.
I agree with you. One of the three will always have to become a glorified role player. That’s what I’m saying. To my knowledge no team has ever had three players average 20+ points a season. By “statistical”, I meant offensive stats, buckets.
Mo looks healthy again. Could be big in the playoffs.
The more 3 pt shooters, the better
Yep
Tristan be like…
http://static.tumblr.com/uu3hclf/hy7nlg1ca/blog_title.jpg
Delly needs to stop throwing the ball away. I’ll take his 6/2/4 line though! Our ball movement is amazing so far.
TT a beast today.
I really hope this is just completely moronic thoughts on my behalf, but sometimes I feel like Kyrie and K-Love going down in the playoffs made us better last year……
Nope. We were killing it with those two in the first serires
Remember how the offense was Lebron barrelling in every play because they had no other scorers.
The team defense on the perimeter is good today. I hope Irving can step it up in the playoffs, since his matador defense won’t cut it.
It has been reported in several places that when Kyrie was sidelined after game 1 of the Finals, the Golden State reaction was that their job just got harder.
Kevin Love came to play. This is big.
Thanks for all the vines, Phil. I love to be able to relive the game as I watch it at the same time.
No problem…
About time Delly got going. He’s been low key awful on offense lately. But they will need him for the playoffs so good to see him playing well.
Why don’t you make the same comment when Irvin goes 5-23,? Cols I don’t dislike you, but this is why you have little credibility.
Because we’ve seen Irving dominate. No one can guard him when he’s going. The Worry with Delly is that the league figured him out.
But it isn’t just one game for Irving. He shot only 29% from the field and 25% from three over his last five games. Has the league figured him out?
Personally, I think his off-court situation is in his head.
Everything is Awesome.
You realize why? Cause Kyrie’s not playing. Delly started.
Consider what you are arguing. Kyrie is a max player for a reason. We need him for the playoffs. Please stop trolling this blog.
I love Delly’s deep knee bend on those catch and shoot threes
http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0509/3821/products/037_thumb_c0474357-17dc-44be-8ce8-23d964a3ef04_large.png
Delly working out to make that shot go:
http://chrismccombs.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Screen-Shot-2013-06-25-at-2.47.32-PM1.png
Hornets intimidated. Punched in the mouth with no answer.
In the first half against Atlanta, it was one of the few times all year that the Cavs moved the ball as well as they are right now in this game with Kyrie on the floor as well. Hope he’s taking this in.
Delly threeeeeee!
Frye has fit this offense like a glove
We are clearly capable of tremendous ball movement. When we move the ball like this (and like we did in the first half against Atlanta), I think we are the best team in basketball. It’s just a question of whether we choose to do it for 4 quarters.
The Hornets make it too easy for Mo:
Delly dime for a deep Fryed left corner three!
wow great ball movement to get frye the corner 3
Lin with several pivot feet
The refs were distracted by his hair.
Refs were disgusted by his hair
So glad this team wasn’t smart enough to keep Biyambo. Would be so much tougher to score on with a shot blocker.
Shump finally playing w the fire he talked about at the beginning of the season.
Maybe his baby has started sleeping through the night.
Most dynamic Shump has looked on offense all year.
Cavs closed that quarter fantastically. Great gang rebounding plus really good angles on p/r defense. Pushing the p/r to the wings so they can ice.
10 assists in the 1st. Keep it moving
They may approach Nomad’s magic number by halftime.
Mo actually stayed in front of Lin on that drive
Love has been getting into playoff mode too!
Loves goes 4-4, 2-2 from deep in the first quarter:
JR teardrop from a few moments ago:
Great gang rebounding.
Broken link…
I like the intensity. Good practice for the playoffs.
It’s laughable how few foul calls LeBron gets inside. It’s absolutely insane. They blatantly smack him every time.
Who is going to rough up one of Charlotte’s guys after Love got crushed? Mozzy?
Delly
Like JR getting boards so far
Love and Lebron getting whatever they want so far. Go Cavs
Thanks Phil I’m stuck w listening on radio
Glad to come off the bench for Evil :)
Lol I was wondering if anyone woils step up. Shouldn’t of questioned it,
Excellent crisp passing and movement by the Cavs the last couple possessions.
Shut up, Podcast. Go troll somewhere else.
I don’t think insults are warranted.
I will be most interested to see if the ball moves better the entire game with KI resting the ankle. I wish the ankle was rested in the second half against Atlanta.
Agree with every part of this comment.
Al Jefferson is out for Charlotte.
I hope the focus is on defense in this game; play like they did in the 1st half against Atlanta.
Kyrie questionable with a sprained ankle. If I was a betting man, I’d say he sits. No reason to risk further injury at this point in the season.
Jordan has done a pretty good job with this team.
Has he? Or in your infinitely tiny mind, are you correlating his ownership success to his playing days? I’ll assume the latter.
By the way, before the last 30 games, when was the last time a Jordan owned or gm’d team was successful? And don’t say the 90’s even though we all know thats where you’ll end up with this.
Podcast – that seems a little unwarranted.
Why?
He hijacks every single thread with his repeated idiot speak and never lets up. He’s incapable of understanding nuance and varied degrees of observation. Only a small minded person sees things in such absolutes. Toddlers and grade schoolers have more variety in their thoughts and observation skills.
Cue the same comments we’ve all seen thousands of times already about Andy, Delly and Eurogenius once the game starts. And don’t forget the guarantees!
I just don’t think insults are warranted. You’re allowed to not respond to his posts.
What insults? The entirity of all his posts show that he is just that. The truth is not an insult.
You’re a troll. A worthless little troll.
I just don’t think insults are warranted.
Can’t wait to the podcast to hear about how the Cavs suck so bad.
Cavs suck so bad.
There, now go and repeat your broken records elsewhere for at least one day. Or go pass out in a drunken stupor.
Doesn’t matter which as long as its one of those 2 options.
Man, the podcast is pretty upset about Cols.
Gotta get Cols and The Podcast on a podcast. Break out the virtual octagon!
You woudn’t want him on a podcast because as soon as someone says something counter to him, he will not have anything to say. Silence will not work on a podcast, nor will throwing a “Delly is fat” out there to quickly change the topic. And when someone counters that, he can’t just skip to “Frye was the best pickup ever. Griffin is great. Grant was the worst.” That simple mindedness will allow everyone to give him a pass on a blog. He’ll be seen for what he is on a verbal format. But yah, get him on a podcast.… Read more »
The Podcast has become sentient. I blame Nate.
(I do agree with The Podcast here, though)
With a 3 game lead over TOR and TOR not doing themselves any favors, I wonder if Lue rests a guy or 2.
I wouldn’t rest yet. Its really a two game lead because TOR owns tiebreaker. And Charlotte will beat us if we rest LBJ. I guess we could rest Love.
Could rest Kyrie and win more
Not in the playoffs. What part about developing young players by, you know, letting them play through their trouble is so hard to understand.
Is this the playoffs? When did they start and did everyone miss the memo? What part of making the same mistakes over and over again your entire 5+ year career is hard to understand? Did he not play thru his trouble against Houston, against the Nets. The freaking Nets! How many more losses should be allowed against the dregs of the NBA while a veteran NBA player learns how to play the game he’s played his whole life? Its something anyone with an IQ say above 30 should be able to see and not argue against, let alone argue against… Read more »
And anyone who understands the nuances of the game can at least open their eyes to the rationale behind allowing Kyrie to play through his struggles against Atlanta. Sorry, but you can’t play the nuance card but only for the argument you want to believe. At the end of the day, you have to understand the intricacies of competitive sports and also acknowledge that players are human beings. Getting benched can have a negative effect. You also have to consider the possibility that his teammates, namely LeBron James, will get on him hard after that game behind closed doors, and… Read more »
“Cols is simple minded.” Good, glad we agree. Although why did you have to speak on his behalf? Because he has no other form of communication except Cavs are great, GS sucks, role players are worthless, we lost because that one play in that one quarter didnt go our way, if it did we win in a blowout. Btw, did you see Lebron getting on Kyrie on the bench? Looked like Kyrie had tuned him out and wasnt interested in it. JR sitting in between them looked like he’d been thru this many many times and was also over it.… Read more »
Way to be a total clown and misquote me. You’re wrong, and you come off sounding like a little baby.
You’re not intelligent enough to understand what I’m saying. You’re actually dumb enough to believe I’m saying Kyrie needs to learn the game of basketball? You’re the simple minded person if that’s what you take from what I’m trying to explain to you.
You’re not worth my time anymore. Good luck.
How much does cols pay you to speak for him? I know his mental capacity doesn’t allow for big words or understand how to provide substance beyond someone being sucky or awesome. Definitely doesnt allow for a rational counter argument but if I were he, I’d get a new public defender.
Screens at 3:30am here in Australia’s West. Will have to catch the replay. Enjoy, everyone – hope you get to discuss a solid display from the Wine & Gold.