Live Thread: Heat @ Cavs
2017-11-28
The Cavs made quick work of the 76ers last night and play host to the Heat at the Q in less than an hour. Another win tonight would be the ninth straight for the Cavs. If the Heat win, it will be their fourth straight.
If the early season is any indication of the Cavs’ performance tonight, Miami has a great chance to get the upset. Cleveland has yet to win the second game of any back-to-back this season. The team is clearly playing better, but they are still older and have made a habit of not showing up in situations like tonight.
The Heat are led by Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside. Dragic is a very solid guard who can carve up defenses by getting deep into the paint on pick and rolls and keeping his dribble live without much of a challenge. He’s getting 19.2 points a night to go with 4.6 assists and 41% shooting from deep. Whiteside is a pick and roll finishing specialist and one of the better rim protectors the league has. He’s getting 1.64 blocks a night, and averages 12.6 boards and 15.2 points. He leaps at shots for blocks, but has gotten better at deterring shots near the rim throughout his career.
Seeing as this is a Cavs blog though, I have to mention that the Heat feature Dion Waiters at shooting guard. Dion is one of the more polarizing Cavs of the past couple years, and if you were to ask him he’d probably tell you he’s one of the best Cavs of all the years the franchise has been around. He’s confident. And, he does damage, albeit, inconsistently.
He was instrumental in the Heat ending Boston’s win streak last week when he dropped 26 points and six assists. He had this monstor dunk on Kyrie in the fourth:
I’m picking the Cavs to win tonight. Every thing seems to be going their way right now. Miami is well coached and they have some very solid players, but they lack the overall talent to beat Cleveland. The Cavs bench should easily feast on the Heat’s and provide a cushion if anything goes bad for the starters. I’m picking the Cavs 114-98.
Cavs have played solid ball since Nov 7. Even the lone loss since then (4 point loss at Houston) wasn’t a poorly played game.
I did not see 9 in a row coming.
Just for fun, next 7 for Cavs/Bos.
Cavs: @Atl, Mem, @Chi, Sac, @Ind, Phil, Atl.
Bos: Phil, Phx, Mil, Dal, @SA, @Det, @Chi.
The last two games are the start of a 4 game homestand, Dec. 9-16, with no back to backs. Lakers & Jazz round it out.
Seems like an ideal target for IT’s return. No travel. Ability to practice.
next few games coming up could / should allow the cavs win streak to reach 12 ——here we come ky / celts
Pending Sac game, wins:
3 = Bulls
4 = Hawks
5 = Mavs
6 = Kings (v Bucks)
7 = Nets, Grizz
8 = Suns, Magic, Lakers, Hornets, Clips, OKC
With Conley out the Grizz will struggle. Hopefully he will be back soon in 7-10. Clips are hurting with Blake out 8 weeks, PBev out for the year, & Gallinari & Teodosic out as well.
I think both can reel the Nets back in eventually. Suns & Magic worry me. I think the Mavs & Kings will catch them soon.
I didn’t know you could eject a player on one T?!?!
I didn’t either
28 minutes and the win. Thanks ref. I’ll take it every single game of the regular meaningless eastern conference season.
Get that weak stuff outta here, ref. If you didn’t like the “air punch,” call a T then. Don’t do a mental accounting where LeBron sorta has a T but it’s your secret so he doesn’t know to back off.
And of course, this description of what LeBron did is exactly how Draymond reacts to every call against him.
Wade said that he’s only had one ejection in his 15 year career. And it was against the Cavs at the Q. PB&J!!!
I don’t understand how in a blowout game we don’t rest our starters a bit more and bring in the rookies and you by guys. If they’re not going to play – put them in the development league.
Because we screwed around & let them vut a 34 point lead under 20 by the time Bron got tossed and then to 13 with plenty of time left.
dwade will buy some fine wine for LeBron tonight and all will be good—–man we need to keep dwade healthy !!
agree with ty’s ‘ no stance –support”–in post game—–good opportunity to voice your opinion of lack of fouls called against LeBron that should be called –send a message out there ———so last week we / I thought crowder had ‘turned the corner “—these past 2 games have me back being somewhat concerned
D was fine last game. Good this game as well aside from the foul trouble.
IT’s return should help him.
LeBron says he has said the same thing to officials before…
I am more annoyed Lue didn’t support LBJ post game. Not very smart
I don’t think Lue was being serious.
Heat should consider starting Adebayo… dude didn’t miss a shot or a FT… 7-7, 5-5… 19 points in 18 minutes…
LeBron was ejected on the first T. There must be a very short list of words that will make that happen — Webber and Isiah were hinting at one in particular…
You mean the one Dray uses in every sentence?
That Moondog half court behind the head shot…
https://twitter.com/NBA/status/935699112275709953
Because it helped Lue manage LeBron’s minutes.
+1
they worked out a deal at halftime!
Ty Lue did not even know what James said, and he supports the ref? Also Dave McM pointed out to Lue that James had only been to the line once, but Lue just blew that off. Nice job supporting your star Lue
I think he was being facetious because he doesn’t want to get fined for being critical of the ref…
Yep. Lue is going to let Bron make his own case. He is right about not getting enough calls.
Maybe you are right EG, but he should have gone Steve Kerr and paid the fine.
That’s just not Ty Lue’s style… and probably never will be…
I listened to Ty tonight, and I thought he was kind of funny.
Wow… JR played 42 minutes… could have used Cedi for some of that…
Yeah what was Lue thinking on a b2b. JR had no legs under his later game jump shots.
Windy says IT set to start 3 on 3s & Cavs have internally moved up his return date to mid December.
Be hilarious if cavs match celtics win streak down the road
Next 9: at Hawks, Grizz, at Bulls, Kings, at Pacers, 76ers (b2b), Hawks, Lakers, Jazz.
We win by 11. 9 straight.
well that was an annoying quarter to watch. wonder why lebron didn’t play
Are you joking?
Well… 75 point first half allows you to bleed off points and just score 33 in the second…
A good move by Zizic… just didn’t fall in…
We either ran out of gas or basically stopped playing with 7 left in the 3rd save for that flurry after James got tossed.
Def ran out of gas with b2b and 75 point first half…
Cedi finally gets some run…
Maybe he can become the fifth Dinobot…
If we stick with the Dino = old angle, it should be Calderon.
True
Lue seems content to just roll with the Dinobots + JR… with just 2:30 to go… probably an okay plan
Return of the Cedi
why no cutting anymore?
Because we learned to love ourselves and that it’s not our fault
Cavs not running offense. Taking first open shot.
Wade a little shot happy. Work the offense.
Wonder why no Kev return?
chemistry with this lineup isn’t there. i think it’s smart.
Dude has 38 points and LBJ has been ejected… you find a way to get him back in unless he’s injured…
Hopefully a stinger and nothing more serious from his two collisions. He was really shaking his left arm after someone landed on his shoulder in the third quarter.
JR’s touch is off from three this half…
Oh no Channing!
moondog just dropped a backwards half court shot like it was nothin. pure swish
Maybe bring him up from the g league?
Olynyk looks like an amish transvestite
Lol
?
close range pipe!!!
http://www.teamdemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MeanGreenMachine.jpg
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/520e6843e4b08bbe8921e8c5/t/54dad02ae4b0d304c26995e1/1423626282305/?format=500w
JR with a terrific drive…