Not A Recap: Cavs 130, Wizards 122 (or, All The Points)
2017-11-04
Point Guard? Point Forward? Point Man? How about just Point Machine… that’s what happened when LeBron James went all destroyer of worlds against the Washington Wizards on Friday night. The Chosen One has always had a knack for providing exactly what his teams require in their times of need… and after losing four straight while struggling to defend and score… he decided to just score all the points. LBJ tied the franchise record (and came just four point short of his own scoring record) as he manufactured 57 points on an otherworldly 23-34 shots. Only two of those were from beyond the arc, and he was a perfect 9-9 from the free throw line. He also added 11 boards, seven assists, three steals and two blocks to his dizzying performance, while limiting his turnovers to three.
Sadly, as sometimes happens here at C:tB, our staff had a multitude of other obligations on a Friday night, so apologies for both the missing Live Thread and delayed/truncated recap. I’m only just now catching up with LeMachine’s performance on my DVR, so I’ll add any other thoughts after I watch it.
In the meantime, in case you missed it too… here are all of LBJ’s highlights and all the points…
Other highlights:
Derrick Rose and Jae Crowder were the King’s primary backup, scoring 20 and 17 respectively. Rose looked a lot better in his third game back from his ankle injury, and Crowder seemed rejuvenated in his return to the starting lineup.
The Cavs still gave up 122 to the Wiz, but seemed to defend the perimeter a bit better, giving up only 11-28 threes. They allowed Bradley Beal to go off for 36, after shooting his mouth off about how the Cavs were trying to “duck his team” in last year’s playoffs, but they were able to limit John Wall (although his shoulder injury might have also had something to do with that).
The bench was solid, but lost the point battle 41-22, primarily because Kelly Oubre knocked down 5-7 from downtown.
The starters were all perfect from the line (24-24). In fact Jeff Green was the only guy who missed (2-4), so the team really earned it with the freebies.
JR and DWade continue to struggle shooting the ball, but there weren’t many shots to go around with LeMachine taking almost half of them on the night. Kevin Love also had a substandard night by his measure… not quite getting to his usual double double (11 & 8).
On the surface, it’s at least a step in the right direction for the previously directionless Cavs. LeBron can’t/won’t score 50+ a night (even though he became just the second guy to do it in his 15th season in the league other than Kobe), but seeing him get back on track should help open up the previously stagnant offense. Now, if they could just start fixing the defensive side…
What is wrong with JR and Kev? Seriously I hope Kev is injured or something he looked so slow last night and his defense was horrific. And JR is just worthless – not taking shots, dumb fouls, etc.
Hope they can fix their problems cuz Im all aboard the Rose and Green train.
I didn’t think KLove played badly. “West Coast Cav”got it right commenting on the last article I think – Love pretty much stood on the 3 pt line & watched LBJ destroy the overmatched Wall/Beal, rather than take on the Gortat PnR.
JR tho….hot mess. Saw a slight improvement in his D, but still a long way off last year’s form.
Windhorst hinted that JR may be battling a back issue, and I hope that’s true, because he’s been terrible.
I’ve heard that more than once.
I think love is better at the 5 as long as it isn’t against bruisers like Gortat and as long as the Cavs can figure a better p and r scheme than switching or hard showing with love. Would be nice if any of our guards fought over the top of high screens. Really the only way you can hide love on a p and r. Against guys like Wall or guys that are not the most consistent shooters I would think love soft showing and dropping back would be the best bet. Obviously that won’t work against guys like… Read more »
https://deadspin.com/rambling-flat-earth-truther-suggests-tyronn-lue-lacks-1820143009
The comments are amazing
https://twitter.com/MZavagno11/status/926884003654848513
Genius. Pure genius. When are they building a statue for President Stevens?
Now Bill Simmons loves the totally new Kyrie…
I don’t think his offense was the issue with the Cavs style of play at least in the playoffs. He did torch curry playing iso. I will be interested to see how Hayward fits back in who was not an iso player and benefitted from disciplined offense in Utah.
I think his d was the issue and it appears he has gone full force turnover mode gamble which clearly is working or at least what Boston wants because they have the youth and mobility to make up for it I guess, at least thus far.
It was a great game by LeBron and totally needed. It would had been a sour locker room had they lost 5 in a row, specially to the Wiz who will undoubtedly be a playoff team. Rose played great in the first half but was out of sync in the second. I’m hoping he can sustain that first half energy for full games once he’s 100%. Also, can’t wait for IT to be back so Rose can move to his designated spot with the second unit. Crowder and Green did good. I was happy to see them play D more… Read more »
Even as the Cavs Warriors were keeping their foot on the gas in Game 5 it was utterly clear that no one could stop LeBron from getting whatever he wanted.
It’s weird – LeBron is 60% the athlete he was in 2005-2012 but he just knows how to score now. He’s pretty much unguardable. Problem is the Cavs can’t defend anyone at all.
Hopefully with more games/practices together they can figure out how to help and recover and start chasing teams off the line.
I also like some of the things Rose is doing.
It seemed to me they did much better contesting or at least making an effort at the three point line. Their pick and roll defense is a problem and Beal torched guys off the dribble a number of times. They did well with Wall, but they have matchups where they will simply get beat time and again just based off some of our perimeter personnel and Love’s mobility.
They showed IT working out before the game, but still haven’t given a timetable on his return. I wonder if he would be able to return in early December?
So far I am not that impressed with Marvin Bagley in his first two preseason games versus Northwest Missouri State and Bowie State. He put up big numbers against a tiny lineup versus Bowie State, 11/20 for 25, but judging from the clips I have seen, basically all came on open dunks or alley oops. When he was actually in the post in both games he looked incredibly raw and was pushed off his spot by smaller guys a few times. This was illustrated by him having trouble finishing basic jump hooks against guys around guys 5-6 inches shorter. He… Read more »
I’m not putting much stock in NW missouri and Bowie state.
Sure, but I would expect him to obliterate 6’6″ guys in the post even in preseason. They were playing Duke physical.
Also I should mention part of my skepticism is based off watching Towns/Embiid scouting clips in high school where both seemed far more polished. Despite Embiid’s inexperience, he was the best player on the court in game versus Wiggins in high school and flashed the dream shake twice during that game. Bagley has the athletic ability to be like Davis, but Davis seemed to have much more a knack for rim protection coming into Kentucky.
We will know more in the next few months obviously.
After watching the game this morning on my DVR, I have to say I was really impressed by Rose in the first half, both offensively with his quickness and finishing, and on defense by being active on John Wall… The second half was just an absolute domination by one of the greatest players I’ve seen in the game… When his post game is working, he’s simply an unstoppable force…
Roses ceiling is Kyrie without a jump shot. He doesn’t have the handles but is better at straight line driving I think. Not quite the finisher. Equally bad at passing
Optimist hot take: 3 weeks into the season after an uneven start and without our starting point guard…LeBron revealed LeBron 3.0 to the world and showed us how he’s going to chase Kareem for #1 points all time.
Optimist hot take 2…LeBron was waiting for right time to reveal LeBron 3.0. We know he was going to do it on the road and basically had to be in Boston, New York, LA, or Washington. Washington came first.
I think that the Wizards’ organization has been Lebron’s personal punching bag for over ten years, starting with Gilbert Arenas.
We should thank deshawn Stevenson for lbj’s 13 year grudge. Yeah, remember that guy?
He must be related to lance
Hehe, never thought about that. That would be weird and would maybe say something about that family.
This was pretty funny.
https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/five-years-calling-him-overrated-deshawn-stevenson-wants-174223245.html
Never heard about this at the time.
LET’S HOPE THEY COME OUT WITH THAT SAME ENERGY / FIRE / SENSE OF URGENCY ON SUNDAY——DO NOT “LAY AN EGG ” AT HOME AGAINST THE HAWKS
ALL I CAN SAY IS THANK YOU LEBRON —–HOPING ROSE CONTINUES HIS CONSISTENT PLAY —–CROWDER WITH POST GAME INTERVIEW WITH ALLIE ADMITTED HE IS TILL TRYING TO GET HIS COMFORT ZONE / FIGURE THINGS OUT —” YOU WILL KNOW WHEN I DO —NOT EVEN CLOSE TO MY ABALITIES ” / THAT SOUNDS ENCOURAGING —I AM SOMEWHAT WITH NATE ON GREEN — BUT EVERY GAME THAT HE CONTINUES TO PLAY SOLID I AM INCLINED TO RESCIND MY DOUBTS —HE COULD BE A HUGE PLUS —-STILL WANT TO “FREE CEDI ” TO SEE WHAT HE CAN BRING ——–BELIEVE CHARGE PLAYS TONIGHT –RECAP… Read more »
I’m out of town this weekend. But soon I’ll hit a game.
I see Bill Simmons is all in on Kyrie now, after calling him a good stats on a bad team guy for most of his career…how utterly surprising.
What a great game to watch! I thoroughly enjoyed Lebron’s magnificent performance and was jumping up and down rooting for him to keep scoring there at the end. I would have liked for him to have gotten one more point.
The team played pretty well, too.
Somebody please help me with this post. I thought my reading skills were really good, actually very good. I just read 2 minutes ago, that the CAVS played 10 players last night, and the bench scored 22 points. Please help, is my reading still very good or not? THE CAVS NEVER NEVER PLAY THE BENCH PLAYERS OR THAT MANY BENCH PLAYERS IN ONE GAME! The Golden State Warriors do, but the CAVS did last night? WOW! I know this is a lot to take in with all my writing, but this is very unusual! This will go down in history… Read more »
Lue has been playing 10 guys more often than not this season… not always for big minutes, but he did get Zizic on the floor for 7 with TT out, although failed to get Cedi any minutes…
It was only the last two games (Pacers and Knicks) that he only played nine… although I guess the two before that (Pelicans and Nets) he just played Channing 5-7 minutes… still
Lots of encouraging signs from this game. Wade’s fit is still a work in profress, but the team looked more in sync tonight.
We’re fortunate to be able to watch the best player ever. The fact that he’s still pretty easily the best player in the league in his 15th year is unbelievable
Good recap. I missed the first half. All James in the second with small sides of Crowder & Korver.