Live Thread: Cavs vs. Bulls (#UnderTheWeather)
2017-01-04
First it was the injury bug… then the food poisoning bug… and now the flu bug is ravaging the Cleveland Cavaliers. Living in a predominantly warm city for the last two decades, I’ve forgotten just how much the cold weather can wreak havoc on the immune system… and how quickly and inexorably the viruses can spread amongst family, friends and teammates (especially with all the intricate handshakes and hugs). Who knows if there’s a patient zero in the Cavs locker room, although chances are they got it from the Celtics as Tyler Zeller and Marcus Smart both had it bad when the Cavs played them last week. The latest victim is LeBron James, listed as questionable for tonight’s game against the Bulls. It already claimed Channing Frye, and may have also latched onto Kevin Love following his bout with some sea bass that didn’t agree with him.
Bottom line is, once again an already thin Cavs team will be even thinner tonight. In addition to LeBron still being of questionable health and status (he’ll reportedly go through pre-game warmups before making the decision), Kyrie Irving is still dealing with the after effects of a sore hamstring and is out. Love has also been ruled out with his illness. Add the big three to the list of injured Cavs, and the wine & gold have almost as many players out as available tonight. But, at least Mike Dunleavy will be back… looking to use his fork for a revenge game against his old team.
The Bulls aren’t particularly healthy (in a different way) coming into this second game against the Cavs. They were 11-7 after beating Cleveland back on December 2. Since then, they’ve gone just 6-11, and are suffering through some lingering knee issues with Dwayne Wade, some fairly expected attitude issues with Rajon Rondo, and now have a seat hotter than a water bottle for coach Fred Hoiberg. It’s all led to some rampant speculation about the Bulls being a seller in the coming months before the trade deadline.
I’m not going to hazard a guess at the starting lineup, because it will probably be more fluid than cough syrup going into the start of the game. Catch all of the action (but hopefully not the flu) on ESPN tonight at 8pm EST.
Prediction: If LeBron plays, the Cavs will get a feverish victory… 109-106. If not, the Cavs will cough up another loss without their leader.
Feel better guys!
Any chance in hell we can snag bogut from dallas?
Doesn’t seem too likely….but that would be a good get…
Not while they’re still in playoff contention.
Warriors look terrible. Same old over passing and turnovers. They are not making it out of the west. And even if they do Cavs look like the better team
You’re so cute.
Cols! Where you been? We were about to send Nate and a couple St. Bernards to search in case you were stoned and buried under a snowbank in the Rockies. Here is as headsup: TheOtherJason is challenging your title as CtB chief insulter, badrapping the Mamba about a dozen times per day. You better drink some coffee, fire up the keyboard, and show him who is boss!
Jeez. Didn’t realize Gibson was 9-10.
We are being understandably hard on McRae despite his offense, but given Shump’s experience, he has been a bigger disappointment when we needed scoring.
I see Shump as someone who can be (at times) very good in a role. When he is put in a position where he has to be a lot more than that, he generally fails spectacularly.
Definitely agree with this MikeO.
More Felder! trade McRae as soon as a viable option presents itself and pray the league is only watching him on offense. Nice comeback with Lebron on bench was fun
They can trade McRae for JJ Hickson….NBA/ China league trades are allowed, right? Right??
Hickson sucks.
So does McRae – fair deal!
Order #1 for Griff. Make a highlight video of McRae’s scoring skills to sell with other GM’s come February.
Gritty game from the Cavs.
Your “gr” got spell corrected from the “sh”
Nah. They gave it their best shot. Gritty. Can’t win them all. I’m eagerly
Awaiting all the panic.
Nobody panicking around here… just want guys to get healthy so they don’t have to rely so much on D-Leaguers and vets…
And that was not their best defensive showing…
Everything is awesome.
Everything will be once guys are healthy
Cavs almost won that down three starters. I love this team. Easily the best in the NBA.
LeBron made a layup with 6:48 remaining to cut it to one… he made another layup with 1:17 remaining… the only other bucket…
McStake playing James 37 minutes?
Totally. LeBron should’ve sat a few more minutes. He screwed up the rhythm of offense and defense when he came backm
Agree. Felder just stood there after James returned
I’d be happy to rest Lebron all throughout the 4th.
Yeah. Screwed it yo by scoring and rebounding and assisting.
Yep, you didn’t watch the game Cols.
Another McLoss against the Bulls…this one was very predictable, anyway…
Not with the way we started off the first 8 mins..
Didn’t think they could maintain it….were going to give too many minutes to bench warmers and scrubs…
Sure. But I think we’re on equal stance all game since Wade is unhealthy, and the talent gap of players available tonight isn’t one sided for the bulls even when Lebron is under the weather. We gave them a lot of leverage aside from being undermanned.
Would like to replay the game with the Cavs up one and no charge call against LeBron
McRetire already…
McReally should’ve sat LeBron.
McReplay exhaustion.
So how bad is Kyrie’s injury?
I’m guessing it’s a pulled hammy, hard to say how bad or not so bad it is…
I do wish the team would be more direct on the injury particularly since Lue called it a cramp. Tough to watch another game with Liggins/McRae as the starters. Delly has been out with a bad hammy too
First it was a cramp, then it was from a collision with LeBron. Which is a head-scratcher — I’ve never heard of a hamstring being part of a collision.
Will Jordan be McReleased?
Trade him for a box of McNuggets…
Five orange jerseys just watched Butler take that to the hole… game over man
Probably over nowm
At least the Cavs competed tonight. I would still like to see the Cavs win the next 2 against these Bulls.
On the Cavs local broadcast, Fred said Dunleavy is definitely available to play. Wonder then if he ever plays much again?
McRay Liotta…
That was a McReach
McCrae and Liggins not always so good.