Podcast Episode 133: Easter Surprises
2017-04-16https://soundcloud.com/ctb-5/episode-133-easter-surprises
One game into the 2017 NBA Playoffs, things are playing out pretty much as expected… unless of course you’re a Celtics, Raptors or Clippers fan and you find your home court advantage got cracked like an Easter egg. From a Cavalier perspective, Game 1 against the Pacers might have been a wee bit more fragile than we hoped for, but still a close win is better than a close loss. Nate and EvilGenius hopped into the podcast booth tonight to revisit some of the finer points of Saturday’s Cavs matinee playoff debut. We also discussed the curious absence of Iman Shumpert from the rotation, whether or not this season’s malaise has seeped into the fanbase, and cracked open the other first round series… some of which have provided early surprises. We even speculated about why missing out on the number one seed might have been a good thing for the Cavs, and why the Raptors should really be fearing the deer right about now. Catch all of this, and some bonus discussion of David Griffin’s future in this episode…
As always, you can hear us above, on Soundcloud, iTunes, or Google Play.
Paul George for me I thought is smarter than criticizing CJ Miles for taking last shot. Here from ESPN: — According to ESPN Stats & Information research, George is 2-of-31 in his career on shots to tie the game or take the lead in the final 15 seconds, a total that surely includes plenty of desperation attempts but still reflects how difficult it is for a star to score in these situations on a defense stacked against him. The Pacers didn’t execute well enough after George gave up the ball, but an open shot from a role player is better… Read more »
When George gave it up to Miles, he then squirted free and there was plenty of time for CJ to toss it back to him for what would have been basically a catch-and-shoot three. I think that’s a better look than CJ’s shot; however, CJ didn’t necessarily know that was the case in real time.
I don’t know how Paul George’s comments help the psyche of the team. I like Lebron;s comments better.
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“I talked to CJ about it,” George said following the team’s 109-108 loss. “In situations like that, I gotta get the last shot. I was asking for it. CJ took it upon himself.”
Lebron: “So if you’re the best player on the floor, that doesn’t mean you have to take the shot. I think he made the right play, and you live with the results.”
I totally disagreed with that on the pod. Didn’t think was getting it back in a good situation.
AGREE WITH YOU JAMES ( ON .IT. ) —-UNFORTUNATELY THE GRIEF WILL HIT HIM LATER / AGAIN PRAYERS GO OUT TO YOU AND FAMILY ——-JUST THINKING TODAY ( AT MY AGE AM STILL CAPABLE OF DOING THAT ON OCCASSION )—–EVEN THOUGH THE CAVS HAVE GIVEN US REASON TO BE PESSIMISTIC / FRUSTRATED / GLOOM AND DOOM —–THINK WE ALL NEED TO FORGET THE REGULAR SEASON AND REALLY CHANNEL OUR UPMOST POSTIVE ENERGY / VIBES FOR THE CAVS ——THINK THEY CAN FEEL THIS EMOTION AND FEED OFF IT —ALSO ” WEAR THE ORANGE ” !!!!—-IN THE LAND….DEFND THE LAND ” !!
You are right. And, where is Cols when we need him? I hope he is not hiding under the bed because he thinks Nate and WF are picking on him. That is where my dog Brutus goes when there is thunder.
Welcome back NOMAD! You were missed.
That had to be the toughest Lent ever for you NOMAD…
Disagree about this being the hardest game for IT. He will still be completely in shock and so I think it makes it easier to kind of just focus on “she would want me to play” and fight to make her proud. Game 3/4 will be really tough. By then it will maybe begin to sink in that she’s actually gone, forever, and maybe he begins to consider how utterly pointless these games are in the big picture of life. Tough crowd, perhaps down, outside his local support network and with his whole family grieving together.
That is what I thought.
In regards to Cavs fandom, I think a lot of it could be frustration with how the regular season went. The Cavs played light hot garbage down the stretch. Because of that, like the team, fans didn’t have a chance to build up some momentum heading into the playoffs. I’ve heard a lot of people who are casual or less-than-casual NBA fans tell me that the Cavs look like a one-and-done team.
The other half of the casual fans are still operating under the assumption that Cavs vs GS round 3 is a forgone conclusion.
I think that there is a good chance of that, but it is by no means certain. I am bummed that everything working smoothly is a distant memory.
I stand by not wanting to face the Bucks in the playoffs. I think they will push their series to seven. I also think that they are built to really make the Cavs frustrated. Their length, defense, and constant energy is like the opposite of the Cavs. We will see.