Live Thread: Cavs vs. Bulls (#Bullish)
2017-12-21
On December 4th, the Cavaliers took down the Bulls in Chicago to win their 12th straight on their 13 game winning streak. Two games later, the Bulls started an impressive win streak of their own, ripping off seven in a row, including wins over some of the better teams in the EC like Boston and Milwaukee. What’s changed for the bullish Bulls? Nikola Mirotic returned after missing the first 23 games of the season with injuries suffered from getting punched in the face by teammate Bobby Portis. The two must have patched things up, since they now anchor a suddenly formidable bench unit for Chicago. Mirotic, a known thorn in the Cavs’ side, has averaged 19.6 ppg over the stretch with 7.7 rpg, while shooting a robust 52% from the floor (49% from three). The Bulls have also gotten improved play from PG Kris Dunn and SG David Nwaba since he returned from injury.
All that to say, the Cavs probably shouldn’t be sleeping on the stampeding Bulls going into tonight’s final home game of 2017. Even though Chicago played last night (and the Cavs rested), none of them played more than 29 minutes in their win over the Magic, so they shouldn’t be overly tired. Despite losing a close one to the Bucks on Tuesday, the Cavs have still been one of the hottest teams in the League over the last month, and with no games scheduled until Christmas Day, they should have no excuses for not giving maximum effort. Speaking of bullishness, the second unit should be feeling their oats again tonight after they dragged the team back from a 20 point deficit in the fourth quarter against Milwaukee. They’ll need to work hard again tonight to counter what Mirotic and Portis have been doing off the Bulls’ bench.
And, one more reason for the Cavs to feel bullish… they finally got some 5-on-5 practice time in for Isaiah Thomas (with the visiting Canton Charge) today, and he seems to be champing at the bit to get back onto the floor in game action.
Guess the G League scrimmage went well. https://t.co/fnc9ntoMRy
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) December 21, 2017
Prediction: The Bulls run wild to an early lead, but the Cavs wear them out ultimately to rope themselves a 118-112 victory.
Catch all the action starting at 7pm EST on FSO… and as always chime in here with your thoughts…
Nets update: we beat the Bulls, Suns edge Grizz. Wins:
7 = Hawks
9 = Grizz, Mavs
10 = Bulls
11 = Magic, Hornets, Kings, Nets, Lakers
12 = Suns, Clippers
Tomorrow:
Wiz at Nets
Pels at Magic
Mavs at Heat
Clippers at Rockets
Hornets at Bucks
Hawks at Thunder
Lakers at GSW
I have to be honest. I really hated on the Cavs front office this past off-season and the beginning of this season. I thought the Wade addition wouldn’t work, and the Calderone, Jeff Green and Rose additions just weren’t good at all. I was so completely wrong. Wade, Calderone, and Green have been amazing. We may have the best bench in the league.
I was not too excited at the time either. I thought Calderon, Rose, and Wade were over the hill, I didn’t like Rose, and didn’t know much about Green, other than that no one seemed to like him. However, I did think that Koby knew a lot more about these guys than I did. I was right, Koby is looking pretty smart. The only one not working out is Rose, and you can’t really call that a mistake, because we did not know that Wade would fall in our lap. If that had happened earlier, we would still have RJ.… Read more »
Wasn’t someone telling us the other day that Korver is useless on offense?
Who has ever thought that? That is insane. He was the key to those Hawks teams before he ever got here. How could anyone reasonably think that just based off his gravity alone?
Not trying to be a snitch but Leo was the one who said that, although I think it was taken out of context.
His comment, to which I responded, read something like, “If Korver doesn’t hit a shot, his offense is useless.”
I think he meant that if Korver doesn’t hit his first or second shot, he doesn’t get into a rythm and his offense fir the game takes a dive. I could be wrong.
Gravity. Even if he isn’t hitting, a smart team can still use his gravity to get other open looks for other guys. Hawks roasted people using him as a distraction similar to how gs uses curry and Thompson as distractions off ball.
Someone really said that? He’s been the Cavs second best offensive player most of the season. I haven’t seen anyone say something that moronic.
can we credit coach drew with getting wade rest in the middle of the 4th quarter knowing hed want him down the stretch. and also for playing the correct all-D lineup on the last possession. i want more coach drew rotations
Celtics lose two in a row… Bill Simmons on suicide watch…
Poor Billy. He’ll run to that trade machine and come up with some silly scenario where he sends Rozier to OKC for Paul George.
Who says no??
OK, Knicks have got this one. We have caught the Celtics in the loss column. But the dang Raptors are ahead of us.
Jason are your games time play delayed? It always seems like you’re a few minutes behind.
Only because Raps have played so few games… Cavs actually a half game closer to Boston than Toronto is…
Took Kyrie 27 shots to get 32 points… channelling his hero Kobe…
Beasley with 32 and 12…
Hard to believe the Celtics couldn’t beat the Knicks on a night when Zinger goes 0-11 with 1 point…
FFS, Knicks veering into Pacers territory. 4th TO in the last couple minutes.
That should do it! Knicks help us out…
Poor Horford choked on that 3.
Beasley to the rescue. Smart should pretty much foul out of every game he plays.
McBuckets got mugged, and the Zebras wouldn’t call it. They must fawn over President Stevens too!
I guess refs just allowing straight muggings now in the Knicks game…
I remember when that one dope used to constantly chant MVP for Kyrie, at the Q. It was probably Dredrick.
Would have been nice if Sixers could have held on to beat the Raps…
An impressive all rookie team: Simmons, Mitchell, Tatum, Kuzma, Markannen.
Donovan, Smith Jr. too.
Donovan Mitchell I meant.
Oops, Which you noted.
Dennis Smith Jr. will be on that list when healthy…
Lol… Beasley getting MVP chants…
MVP chants for Beasley
Man, I am so thankful to be a Cavs fan at this time.
Beasley is Beastly….
McBuckets!
Michael Beasley strikes again…
Did the Celtics lose yet?
Cavs 16-1 when Channing plays 11+ minutes… 8-8 when he doesn’t…
Yeah it seems to be about floor spacing for the Cavs offense
Good stat. He just fits well. We have a lot a guards/wings who are not great shooters (Shump) but good drivers and/or cutters (Rose, Wade, Crowder, Cedi).
Wow… Zinger is 0-11 against the Celtics so far tonight…
And NY has led most of the night.
Insane…
The King…
Not a good sign he’s talking about Isaiah Thomas like that before he’s even suited up…
Philly struggling without Embiid… Hope he’s back for Christmas at MSG… I’ve got tix…
Nice EG. The Big Apple for the Holidays !
LeBron 8/8 from the FT line tonight. That was big.
Raptors came back from 22 down to beat the Sixers in Philly…
22 down in the first half. Sans Embiid.
Larry Drew interview coming up next…
This is a funny stat…cuz I’d venture most teams win when they get 25+ from only two players.
Except the Pelicans and OKC…
Wiz.
Yep, them too…
Got the Bulls’ score right… Cavs let me down by a three pointer…
Good bounce back game shooting for Korver…
Wade was huge defensively in the fourth… and Kev hit some big shots… and LeBron was once again unstoppable…
EG, have you checked out a Ganley Auto Group vehicle? Maybe you should!!
And she’s got a different outfit for every commercial… it’s uncanny
Yeah, noticed that…she really wants to sell you a car!!
Now lots of time to get ready for Christmas…
Good D from Wade & Crowder to end it. Good win.
Boy that was risky wade
He’s just skilled at that…
Paid off, but that is trusting the refs in a three point game, risky.
He’s always been great at that… got no problem with it at all
He was great on d tonight and the refs held their whistles so not complaining, just pointing out the scenario.
Take your win streak and stick it Bulls…
That’s a relief…screw the Bulls…
He made them, but: Korver, Calderon, Love, Green, & Frye are all excellent FTshooters. Crowder as well.
Eh, got to get it in LBJ’s hands