Links To The Present: “Quit Talking and Play Ball,” Edition
2017-01-31
After a few terrible weeks for the Cavaliers, the lone bright spot is that Kevin Love will play in the 2017 NBA All-Star Game alongside LeBron and Kyrie. However, loss after loss, I’d say I was more excited to hear the news about the Indians hosting the 2019 MLB All-Star Game at Progressive Field; first time since ‘97. A bit dramatic you might say, but after losing 7 out of the last 11 games, the Cavs are starting to dampen my spirits.
After reading an article on ballislife.com, I couldn’t agree more with LeBron when he said,
“It’s been a sh***y 2017.”
Just when I thought the rollercoaster ride in the west was over, it looks like it made its way back home to the east and carried on into the start of the year.
During this ride, The Cavaliers lost to the Spurs, Kings and an Anthony Davis-less Pelicans. They could have easily beaten all three of them, especially in overtime. They got a much-needed couple of wins against the Nets and Thunder, but lately, the Cavs have been so out of whack.
Being so dependent on LeBron, Kevin and Kyrie can take its toll on the entire team. The loss of J.R. has thrust back-up players into the starting rotation, and the addition of Korver has seemingly been disruptive. Guys like Liggins, McRae, and Felder are not being put in positions to succeed.
Now I don’t necessarily agree with the other half of what LeBron stated in the earlier link above, that they need a playmaker. The Cavs have enough players with great potential and just need to learn how to make it work. Is adding another playmaker really going to move the needle? Possibly, but I think they simply need to quit making excuses and work with what they have because they have enough. Having that addition could just create another disruption like the addition of Korver, especially if the addition is required to run the offense. Time, practice, and some better health may be the Cavs’ only friend.
To add to the roller coaster ride James went to management to increase more of the pressure.
I not mad or upset at management cause Griff and staff have done a great job, I just feel we still need to improve in order to repeat…
— LeBron James (@KingJames) January 24, 2017
if that's what we wanna do.
— LeBron James (@KingJames) January 24, 2017
Cleveland.com’s Terry Pluto says it best, “The Cleveland Cavaliers need to shut up and play ball.”
In other links..
- IF The Cavaliers decide to gain a playmaker, who should David Griffin target?
- According to Skip Bayless, LeBron is the reason behind the Cavs’ slump. Is he?
- Some of you may have your question answered. Cavs shoot down potential Love and Anthony trade.
- NBA All-Star rosters 2017: Starters, reserves, MVP predictions and reaction.
- Cleveland Cavaliers honor fallen Police Officer David Fahey before Wednesday’s game against Sacramento.
I really enjoyed this article because it’s got my attention some thing that really stood out to me was the loss of jr Smith and how it negavily empacted the team for longer period of time
Got my CtB T-Shirt yesterday! I had to pick it up from the PO so it took a bit longer! I will be wearing it at the game tonight! Thanks CtB, love it!
[IMG]http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Christian+Eyenga+Cleveland+Cavaliers+v+Boston+kssZPB2aegdl.jpg,[/IMG]
Remember him?
We need to stop complaining about the best player in basketball wanting the team to be/get better. Who cares how much it costs Uncle Dan, he is a BILLIONAIRE?
Gotta say NOMAD convinced me to look into Moreland’s highlights. They guy is a mobile defender and has a soft touch around the rim. With KLove out I see zero reason he shouldn’t be at least getting a trip up I-77
Because of the way the NBA rules work, it is a major flail to bring up a player too soon. This is slightly similar to how a MLB team can only bring a minor league player up so many times.
Will the new CBA change this at all? I know there is a lot in there about making the D-League more like a true minor league.
The new CBA does allow for 17 man rosters with the last two bench spots being “floaters” who are on the team but can move freely between the D-league affiliate and the main squad.
YEAH JUST SAW THAT —–BARON DAVIS IS INTERESTED —THINK MARK PRICE / AUSTIN CARR / LENNY WILKENS ARE IN LINE TOO ——DON’T COUNT OUT THE BIG “O” EITHER —-WOW TO THINK AN UNDRAFTED PLAYER FROM AUSTRALIA NAME ” DELLY ” HAS CREATED ALL THIS STIR
https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/status/826616421907996672
” MY MAN MORELAND ” 33 MINUTES —15 REB’S / 6 STL’S / 6 BLOCKED SHOTS —–ISN’T THIS ALL WE ARE ASKING FOR IN A RESERVE BIG —–DON’T WORRY ABOUT SCORING ( ALTHOUGH HIS POST GAME IS BETTER THA T.T.’S ) JUST BE A RIM PROTECTOR AND REBOUND——WITH KLOVE’S STATUS THIS WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO GIVE HIM A ” CUP OF COFFEE “——I KNOW EVERYONE IS TIRED OF ME ” HYPING ” UP ANOTHER D-LEAGUE PLAYER– AKA; -SEE YOGI FARRELL
DO NOT AND I REPEAT ..DO NOT TRADE SHUMP FOR DERON WILLIAMS !!
Agreed
Agree with NOMAD and Cols!!!
SPEAKING OF TERY PLUTO –HE IS COMING TO A LOCAL CHURCH AND SPEAK—-ALL THE PROCEEDS GOING TO HELP LOCAL TROUBLED YOUTH —–A CLASS ACT AND A BIG ADVANCED THANK YOU TO TERRY !!!!
that’s awesome – I’m trying to arrange for Terry to do a podcast with us
Any thoughts on getting Jason Lloyd? Either would be great
Approaching the All-Star Break, I’m tired of a few things: – the First-Take-ization of the basketball discourse (please, more analytics, 10x less of the soap-opera/WWE style bull**** which is genuinely uninteresting) – constant trade talk (occasionally interesting, but it is usually just dumb, I would 10x rather see discussions of the division the Cavs are in [what is it called again?] and its long-term trends, how to beat Andre Drummond for years to come, Stan Van Gundy’s nightmares, Delly in the city of Milwaukee, why the Cavs have a tough out with Chicago, yet more matchups, etc.) – cap talk… Read more »
Did you come here by accident?
If this for me, then no — I’ve been reading CtB since probably 2009 (which is possible, right?), commenting every so often in recent years.
I agree with all of this. Thank you for contributing
Same here. I completely agree on everything.
Good thoughts except Dan Gilbert is hardly a bore. What he has done for the Cavs aside, Gilbert is the major player in the redevelopment of Detroit and puts his money where his proberbial mouth is there too.
Fair point — I haven’t been downtown Detroit in years so his impact there is still hypothetical for me, but I aim to remedy that in the next year or so. The whole “Detroit/Buffalo/Pittsburgh sucks, Cleveland is great” mentality that I and probably some other Cavs fans have is misplaced. In a sense we’re all in the same boat (including the multimillionaires, including the players, including probably Erie, PA although I would not admit this in any other forum!) I suppose.
CBS now saying the Cavs trying to trade Shump for Deron Williams. No. Way.
That’s ridiculous. If they trade Shump’s contract for anything, it’ll be for something good, not some buyout.
I disagree. LeBron’s only sin is that he wants to win. He’s never been involved in any scandals or done anything wrong off the court. On the court his leadership has led to 6 straight Finals appearances. He’s earned the right to speak out against people who couldn’t come close to his record or his talent.
I am not bad rapping LeBron, who is likely the best player in BB history, and maybe any sport, and generally an excellent all around person. But like everyone else, LeBron has some problems, which are an issue right now. LeBron is wrong in faulting the FO for not producing a miracle. You can’t expect them to get the supersleeper FA (Yogi) every year, and they have no trade assets and have spent way more money than anyone. Barkley is totally right in pointing out the obvious. Most sportscasters would never point out obvious errors on Tom Brady or LeBron,… Read more »
Maybe if Dirk would speak out more and force his GM to get good players they’d have more than one title. LeBron’s leadership has been so much better for his teams than quiet Mr. Dirk.
Are you under the impression that GM’s don’t all trade weak players for good players because no one suggested it to them?
A big problem for the Cavs is that LeBron wants all the money, and also all the best players. And he blames others for problems he created.
He creates no problems by getting paid what he deserves (actually, he’s worth way more than that max contract).
Probably yes. With a maxed out cap, though, the team cannot just go out and get good players in the current situation. They don’t have the cap space or the assets to get anyone at all useful. That won’t change with far fewer teams trying to dump salary on the trade market. Thus with JR Tristan getting huge Klutch contracts, LBJ cannot complain about the talent on the roster. No one is blaming those guys for getting paid, but they probably wouldn’t be getting paid like that without being clients of LBJ’s company. Therefore it is undeniably hypocritical to criticize… Read more »
I am happy that those guys got paid. They deserved every cent. If you think Tristan or JR is being overpaid, then I’m not sure you have looked at how cheap their contracts are compared to their talent.
The market disagreed as the rest of the nba didn’t take a flier on either.
Part of that could’ve been because they were Klutch clients and knew they were going to resign with Lebron and the Cavs so why waste their time. There might have been more serious offers had there not been such a strong and obvious reason to stay beyond just the value of their contracts. Then, Klutch used its Lebron ties to drive up the price. But we really didn’t get to see what the market value of those guys were because we scared away the rest of the market.
Possible, but we will never know. I don’t think any serious NBA fan can actually believe TT is worth the same as Draymond. As much as I despise the Greem, he is an all star and an all nba defensive player. Same thing with JR. Not sure he will be worth that much in another year. He will be nearing the tail end of his career in all likelihood.
Apples to oranges, but all things being equal I agree. It’s hard to compare NBA contracts vs value because there are too many factors that go into each particular contract. Examples: NBA rules, Free Agents available, shortage of a specific type of player, team needs, salary cap changes. One thing is similar between Bray and TT, both teams desperately need what they bring to the table.
I see his perspective. He’s a big part of the NBA’s marketing genius and huge leap in popularity here and abroad. He wants the players to get paid and supports them getting a piece of the pie. I think if you got Lebron alone and he was completely honest he’d give up his salary in a heartbeat at this point if it mean’t bringing in a player to turn the tide on beating the Warriors. The frustrating thing for him is that because of his status in the NBA to do so would lower other contracts and be frowned upon.… Read more »
Most players in the NBA are all about winning.
You like his comment about Barkley??? Barkley told the obvious truth and LeBron attacked instead of shutting up. That just hurts his legacy.
Yes, I like that he fired back at Barkley, no I did not like his initial comments, but I don’t think it’s respectful to call Lebron James “whiny” on National TV, nor question his competitive drive when he leads the NBA in minutes after the miles he has on his legs.
Lol, most people think being about winning is a slogan or a t-shirt, or even showing up and doing biceps early at the gym to prove your commitment to fitness. No, most players aren’t about truly winning, I’ve seen it a hundred times in real life, people talk all day about success, but run away when the stuff hits the fan. Winning is a way of life, it’s not a common character trait.
Other than not being able to sign another key role player!