Podcast Episode 96: The Postseason Begins
2016-04-19https://soundcloud.com/ctb-5/podcast-episode-96-the
Hey folks! We’ve an action packed pod for your listening pleasure. Nate Smith, David Wood, Tom Pestak, and Elijah Kim (the voice of @CavsTheTweets) all squeezed into the podcast studio to discuss Sunday night’s Cavs game: LeBron, Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving, Cavs’ defense (and lack thereof), YOLO Pistons’ shooting, and Tom’s 2009 playoff demons. We also took a look at the other series around the league and gave out a bevy of awards for the regular season. We can be heard above, on Soundcloud, and on iTunes.
There’s lots of auxiliary content for this pod. Here’s our postseason voting, and first round playoff picks. And here’s the Kevin Love save from last night (at 2:13).
https://youtu.be/wbLPHvyLmS8?t=133
And – for what it’s worth – here’s Froggy Fresh.
I was glad SVG got fined for criticizing the refs. Did that happen in 2009? I do think there is an attempt from both VanGundy Brothers to keep complaining like a drippy faucet on “Woe is me, Lebron gets all the calls” Keep saying it enough times ( like political agendas) , it works. There was a good point on here that Pistons don’t have the star power like Howard had back then. I also think calls have enormously fallen away from Lebron than it was 4 years ago. That crown of Ref favortism is now Steph Curry’s. You can… Read more »
In general, Lue has to find lineups that can effectively hide Kyrie. By going with Love at the center, it opens up another place in the lineup for a guy who can actually guard the PnR. Shump and Delly are both tough enough to battle the occasional big in a switch situation. Both guys are much better than Kyrie on-ball. Love, Bron, Shump, Kyrie, and Delly might be the best way to maximize offensive firepower without giving up too much on the defense end. Keep Delly or Shump as the primary on-ball defenders, hide Kyrie on a wing and switch… Read more »
I watched LeBron closely when he was guarding Morris, and he just shut him down. Agree with your five man lineup above. My favorite defensive moment of Game One was KLove defense on the island against Jackson. The bench gave KLove a lot more love after that clock violation.
Great Post! Although against a Golden State, that Delly/Shump/Kyrie trio suddenly looks really small.
Good post, Ben, as usual. Looks like the Cavs can defend this Pistons team, not sure about things going forward.
I like the ideas. I am concerned playing Love at center for too long will wear him out on the offensive side. I’m more worried about this game than the one in Detroit. Cavs have that tenancy to relax too much.
Just curious, there is a reference in the podcast to Stanley “The Hot Plate” Johnson. Was that meant to be Vinnie “The Microwave” Johnson who was coincidentally also a Piston? I can’t remember a Hot Plate in the NBA but that’s a damn good nickname.
So I screwed it up. I was thinking of Clippers and Minnesota center, stanley Roberts, who had that nickname.
Ahhh. I remember that guy. So, hot plate wasn’t in reference to his shooting so much as his eating habits?
Wasn’t there a John “Hot Plate” Williams? Not our Hot Rod, but another NBA player actually named John Williams?
Its high time the blog gets renamed to Colstheblog and leave it at that. Readership would drop by 99% but hey, at least those who are left can cater to him all they want.
Goodbye CtB. Plenty of other blogs out there with more intelligent and knowledgeable debating/comments and not have to deal with an idiot fan.
Does he really bug you that much that you’ll deprive yourself of the rest of the great content on this blog? Personally I think he brings a refreshing insanity to the proceedings. Fanaticism if you will. Without Cols who would be here to stem the tide of Kyrie hate and Lue bashing?
Speaking for myself, yeah the constant “look at me” posting takes away a lot of the enjoyment. Still will read the articles and listen to the podcasts, but tend now to skip over the comments section – just look at the comment stream on this article!
Agree with everyone. It ruins an important part of the website, which is the reader comments section. There are a lot of knowledgable and thoughtful readers of this site, and I enjoy reading their analyses. Its a shame that one guy can sabotage all of this.
Also agree. The comments often seem to revolve around one single unhinged narcissist rather than a interesting community of commenters.
I’m not a Cols hater by any means but it sometimes does get distracting. Now, I’m not a regular poster but I do read the blog daily and have been doing so since the day “The Decision” aired, and the non-stop commenting takes away from the entertaining/educated conversations. I’m sure if I was to meet him in person at a local bar while watching a playoff game it would be all great but here it does go a bit over the top. Please Cols don’t take this personal and do provide your ever positive take on the Cavs, we definitely… Read more »
I agree that the excessive comments detract terribly from a superb blog. I made a “New Year’s resolution” yesterday not to read or comment on anything with his name associated with it. The problem (I would hope the moderators consider this) is the rampant spamming of virtually everyone’s comments on occasion who dare to disagree with his utopian view. Gets very tiresome.
This is over-reaction. Cols isn’t so bad guys. He makes it fun. Don’t take things so seriously.
Agree with BelieveLand. Cols is a great part of this blog. Don’t take him too seriously. He is just bringing an over-the-top element, which serves a purpose. Especially when us Cleveland fans often slide into dark/paranoid places.
I know those other blogs. You won’t beat this one! People are respectful to each other & will acknowledge other points of views. Other blogs are more like an insult fest of a Gang of 5. They are really immature. Cols just gets excited to comment after the podcasts. You are more than welcome to comment just as much . We’ll listen! He gets a fair share of criticism as well. He’s been a long timer on here and a part of CtB personality. It’s very diversified of competing ideas on here but with respect! Just take a little break… Read more »
At 21:25, Nate gives up the game. Im’ seriously still smiling about it. I think I’ve listened to that section of the podcast 7 times now.
I stayed a whole week on that chair when we had our twins, Tom. It’s rough.
What a shame. These kids never had a chance in life.
Nate is too much of a hipster to enjoy Sierra Nevada. Their Beer Camp was tremendous. Actually the whole tropical IPA genre of beer has been a fun new thing to enjoy.
These are getting really long for me to live blog. I can still do it, but I fear it may be upsetting the other commenters to come here and see a bunch of Cols comments (that are all correct and on point, but still).
whenever people muse about the effect Cols has on the blog (and whether or not we should dole out bans and punishment) I think of Gandalf’s prophecy about Gollum. “My heart tells me Cols has some part to play, for good or evil, before this is over.”
Also, replace the first line with “He escaped the dungeons of FearTheSword?” “Escaped? Or set loose?”
You mean his role is to leap into the pits of a volcano screaming “they SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!!!!!!!” the moment the Warriors finish their sweep of the Cavs?
Bite off Nate’s finger during a podcast and both of them are rolling around trying to grasp the last bottle of some microbrew infused with comet dust and the subtle aroma of unicorn farts?
In case there is any confusion. Gif is G like in Ga. Not Jif
Thank you for this.
I do not know who froggy fresh is either.
Delly is shooting 27% from 3 since mid-March.
that’s really bad. I hope he finds his stroke soon.
Westbrook was awesome Nate, stop.
Braymond should not be all nba
Cols ballot
MVP – 1. Steph, 2. Leb
Rookie – KAT
DPOY – Avery Bradley, 2. Braymond, 3. Kaw
Coach – 1. Spoelstra 2. Pop, 3. Carlisle
Most improved – 1. Steph Curry 2. Delly
6 man – 1. TT, 2. Barton
Luke Walton All star – I do not know what this means, but if Delly wins I’m assuming it’s biggest weight loss
Bismack sucks
The G in gif stands for graphics. So by rights it should be gif with a hard G. And yet the guy who created the format says it’s jif like the peanut butter.
Yeah, but that guy is wrong. It’s G like in Garage
It’s just like Dr. Seuss. He actually pronounced his name like “Soise”. No, no, no, sir. You are Dr. “Soose”.
Did he really? That is funny.
Atlanta-Boston, they both suck
Miami-Charlotte, they both suck
Toronto-Indiana, suck
GSW-Houston, GSW domination, they do not suck. Hopefully Curry’s ankle is more injured than we think
I really should be on these podcasts.
Tom, don’t pay a therapist. Go get a MMJ prescription.
Good call on Wade, Tom. You are correct. If Leb flopped like Wade he’s get many more calls.
Tom IT ISN”T 2009!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OUR SECOND BEST PLAYER IS NOT MO WILLIAMS>!@#$@*($U@#(P
I think you need medical marijuana.
No Tom, quit being worried about gund. Why are you so scared of that guy?:
Lue was great in game one besides not playing Frye over Moz and the first minute of the 4th quarter.
Yes, there’s no reason to play Moz over Frye.
Leb-Delly PnRs are pretty good. And Delly has been terrible at shooting lately.
Again, Nate is correct, they are Gifs with a soft G, not JIFs,. Although I think the actual technically correct answer is Jif. But that sounds dumb.
I really like the section where we talk about how awesome Love and Leb are.
Yes, that save by Love was amazing. And yes we can totally run him as the five.
And nobody should be worried about the HAwks.
Can we please talk about Kevin freaking Love? Oh now you are, thank goodness. The guy was awesome and all this podcast has done is bash Kyrie and prove that Nate was sandbagging us all along.
Yeah, that layup by LeBron was awesome when he posted up Jackson.
Nate is correct about being a better below the rim finisher he’s ever been. No, I Don’t wish he was in the post more. We need to keep him fresh.
This is the best version of Leb we’ve had since he came back to Cleveland, no doubt about that.
Yeah, OKC didn’t win. That’s what being outcoached looks like. Lue is a much better coach than Donovan.
How many teams in the eastern conference have had a better record than the Cavs since Feb 28th which is a weird day to pick?
Four, but it doesn’t matter because the playoffs are a different anaimal as even Nate admits.
Nate, do not ruin your careeer podcast by gushing over Miami.
nate, for the third time is correct. The East is much more difficult and deep than the west. Geez, this is like Nate’s career podcast.
Steven Adams shot was waved off, BTW.
The Cavs didn’t lose in 2009 becuase they beat up on lesser opponents, but because that team sucked outside of Leb.
Tom is giving the Pistons way to much credit.
Maybe Drummond doesn’t get rebounds because TT owns him, like I pointed out earlier this week and you all made fun of me.
That OKC game was amazing. Rick Carlisle is a great coach. He’s part of the the Spoelstra-Popovich-Carlisle tiumverate of great coaches.
Yes, this was the Pistons best shot. They suck
I cannot believe that Nate is now on the playoffs are a different animal bandwagon. This is a ridiculous comment because I’ve been saying that all year and Nate’s been saying I’m wrong all year.
Or maybe that was Tom. Did Tom fool me into thinking he was correct when Nate’s been right all along? SMH, I do not know.
Tom, stop bashing Kyrie.
Boom again! Way to go Nate. Of course they’ve been sandbagging the entire year. And yes, I did have to change my underwear after that comment.
Dude I knew it. I’m sitting there in shock thinking “oh wait until Cols hears this”
I’m rewinding (makes no sense anymore, I know) to find it again. You need to time stamp that.
21:25. NATES BEST COMMENT OF ALL TIME
Boom. Nate, way to drop the hammer on Tom’s Kyrie bashing. The Cavs cannot win the Finals without Irving. Score a huge win for Nate and a huge loss for Tom for trying to pander to the anti Kyrie special interest group at CtB.
I sound like a sleezy politician!
Oh goodness, LeBron is not to blame for Kyrie’s lack of defense. Leb has earned the right to coast when he feels it isn’t worth it.
Tom is correct and Nate is wrong as usual. It’s Cavs the Podcast.
Also, listen to them on 1.5 speed it makes it a much better listen, that’s what I do.
I love Tom’s whoop whoop at the beginning. I haven’t finished it yet.
I don’t know if I was trolling as much as commiserating with you on the eerie similarities to 2009, Tom… lol
Great pod guys!
You weren’t too hard on Kyrie. His defense was a D-minus in this game. Jackson had a couple drives with no picks where he was in a different area code by the time Kyrie started to lope after him. That would be embarrassing effort for a pickup game, not to mention a pro in a playoff game. On SVG working the refs, Lue has to push back. Here’s an easy talking point: LeBron took 10 shots in the paint in the first half and never went to the line. Does anyone think he really wasn’t fouled on ANY of those… Read more »
It’s nuts that anyone thinks Leb is treated like MJ or Kobe were. Leb gets almost no calls.
Wade is really the poster child for getting calls.
Hopefully Wade comes to Cleveland next year as part of team Banana Boat. Along with Chris Paul.
Bollocks. James gets away with as much fouling as anyone in the game. He uses his forearm in an illegal way almost every drive. It all evens out.
I’ve been reading a the Detroit Pistons blog comments… boy is that interesting. They give themselves an awful lot of credit. Many of them are pretty sure they will win the series… They were/still are very upset at the refs.
“I say gee-off-free”…close to a real PML event here.
Best part of this pod for me was the short section in which you guys were discussing the live OKC loss. Which leads to me to wonder…
Is there any interest (if possible) in the CtB team streaming live commentary for a Cavs game some day? I’d actually pay to listen to that.
Wow that sounds like a lot of fun for us. Not sure how entertaining it would be for the user community. But we should look into that. The key would be synchronization. I was watching a (legal) stream through Time Warner and I was about 45 seconds delayed.
Nice pod! By the way, the 30 for 30 advice from Tom is spot on. My wife has a watched a few with me and she LOVES them. It’s very surprising as she is not a sports fan at all.
RIGHT?!?!
Wow, haven’t thought about Froggy Fresh in a good 5 years. Thanks for starting my day off right, CtB. Mike is such a BA. Onto the pod.
Agree you can’t play Irving 35-40 minutes against a quality point guard. Delly needs more time at the point for both defense, and the P/R to LeBron. As stated in the podcast, why can’t Irving run the Delly/LeBron P/R play? LeBron is deadly off the ball. If Irving is on fire like Game One, his weak defense becomes masked. I hope LeBron keeps yelling at KI on the court. Perhaps there can be improvement by Irving on defense as the playoffs continue. We need him.
Nice pod, half an hour too long as usual! Great work. I would not imagine that Lebron is that bad posting up. I thought his passing would make up for the somewhat lack of post moves and footwork. But as a roll man he is THE beast. He can make shots and passes on the move typical roll men would not even dream of making. So, more of that please! As far as Lue is concerned, I am very worried about him being outcoached the rest of the way. Detroit doesnt have the talent yet, but the Hawks and the… Read more »
Why couldn’t the Cavs get a team like Houston in the first round? Harden’s defense is an embarrassment to professional sports.
The whole Houston team is an embarassment to professional sports. And I would not like for the Cavs to face such a joke of a team at any point in the playoffs. Nothing to gain and a lot to lose. Plus, they could get complacent, as this team has a habit of getting, and this is not the time of year to get complacent. Also, it’s not as if Detroit is some kind of powerhouse. They will just get us ready for the Hawks in the second round, maybe just a game later.
It’s too bad the Jazz didn’t get the 8th seed. They worked harder than lackadaisical Rockets.