Podcap: Cavs 140, Wolves 138 in OT (or, How You Remind Me)
2018-02-08https://soundcloud.com/ctb-5/episode-159-or-how-you-remind-me
After reaching the lowest depths of doubt, denial and depression Tuesday in Orlando, the Cavs returned home and played possibly the game of the season in reminding us how good they can be when they try. There were contributions up and down the lineup in this unbelievable overtime shootout thriller with the Timberwolves, that saw both teams combine for an NBA record 40 (!!!) three pointers. LeBron James also reminded us of just how great he is… notching yet another triple double with 37 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds… the last few of which vaulted him past Zydrunas Ilgauskas and made him the all time franchise leader in all three categories. Yet, he saved his best for last… draining a turnaround jumper over Jimmy Butler as the final buzzer sounded. It was arguably his greatest game winning shot in a regular season game during the LeBron 2.0 era.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_INxiCKALLQ
It was great to see LeBron smile again. It was also great to see the Cavs free Cedi Osman from the bench, as he came up with some terrific and much needed hustle and defensive ability. But, did it change the narrative going forward? Will it be a turning point in the season when we look back? Does it alter what the Cavs do in the next 12 hours or so with the trade deadline looming? To try and answer some of these questions, as well as thoroughly break down this dramatic and genuinely enjoyable victory, Nate, Tom and EG piled into the booth to chop it up.
And, if you’re wondering about the subtitle of this podcap… well, you’ll hear the inspiration for it pretty quickly as you tune in. As always, you can listen above, on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts or Google Play.
Enjoy, and GO CAVS!
Podcast posted…
Oh No Lebron made Shaqtin the Fool twice this week. Don’t worry Embid won on a crazy hook shot style 3 pointer attempt .
https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/961815428707307520
https://twitter.com/dmacalaca/status/961782268669804545?s=17
I guess NOT! I’m usually loopy and embarrassing to my family under anesthesia.
Man, if this is real, probably not, but if it is, that is brutal. Like Cartman licking Scott Tenorman’s tears after feeding him his parents in chili on Southpark. Cold blooded.
Poor guy!! You are usually High and Happy with anesthesia . That’s really bad he had the opposite reaction. Maybe we can convert him to be a Cavs fan since he loves Hood.
Podcast up!
SWEET!!!
YES!!!!
It’s up now in a new post…
What was up with David Griffin tonight? LoL He was tweeting like a drunken sailor happy for Cavs & Altman. He’s still very much a fan!
For all the buzz OKC gets for hammering the Dubs, they are now in a 5 way tie in the loss column, for 5th-9th out west. Tied with Denver (missing Millsap most of the year), NO (now without Boogie), Portland, and the absolutely injury riddled Clippers who were without Griffin for a large chunk before they traded him. Only 3 up on Utah who have won 7 in a row.
5-5 in their last 10, same as the Cavs.
They would be the best 8 seed in a long long time.
The regular season nowadays is just weird. It probably has always been this way and we as cavs fans are just now noticing…but assuming fully healthy squads, there really are only a few contenders a year. Boston is being referred to as an elite team because of their record, but they are about as elite as Atlanta was when they won 60+ games and got destroyed in the playoffs.
OKC isn’t good because of their record, they’re good because in the playoffs you need experience and talent, and they have both.
Yep, agree entirely.
Their weak link is Melo, but if they can shut down the warriors for a number of games, then they are ok. Their d is their key.
From Sam Amick, “Here’s all you need to know: The behind-the-scenes reaction from James’ inner circle was a resounding thumbs-up, meaning first-year general manager Koby Altman should take a bow.” Bingo bango donezo, right….?
Cavs will win the championship this year. I’m calling it!!!
On the last podcast, you had an all smiles team.
How about an all hustle team? How great would it be to have Varejao, Delly, and Cedi on the same team together at the same time?
Are George, Kuzma (second year next year), Lonzo, Ingram, Randle, Williams, KCP, Deng enough to lure LBJ? I mean talk about contending 3 years down the line if at all. Banking on Lonzo or Ingram becoming stars. Ooof. I love Kuzma, but I think he is what he is at this point.
All time great day in CtB-Land! I cannot find a single thing to disagree with! Everyone here is on the money!
I had been irrationally optimistic that some way to get a better team would be found. Now I am irrationally optimistic that the Cavs can give the Warriors a series. Who will be the first to stand and say the Cavs will win it?
I won’t go that far, but I think they could win 2-3 games now, which is more than the zero or one I thought they could win after the Kyrie trade and in general very respectable. Enough I would think to keep LBJ. If they get a top 5-6 this draft…
And podcast is coming tomorrow, Saturday? I know y’all just did that, so absolutely no rush. Just, in the words of chain restaurant investor/franchisee and mediocre rapper Rick Ross, everyday I’m wondaring, everyday I’m wondaring. Everyday I’m wondaring, wondaring.
They haven’t commented in a while, and they mentioned during the post-Wolves podcap that they would need to do an emergency podcap regardless of what happened today.
Something tells me they are recording right now.
And let’s hope it gets as long in the tooth as possible
Probably right. I should also say not Rick Ross’s words but rather parody (without humor)?
Just tell me. I am already at a bar celebrating with some friends that quasi-like bball (in the south, non-professional sports state, even more a non-bball state). I go thru long periods of non-posting, but when I do it is usually out and about, resulting in the same effect as people texting during dinners/drinks with friends. In other words I get yelled at for being on my phone despite never doing that besides cavs related things.
I am so pumped.
If Woj is right and there is a big cash crunch next year, he said teams will be able to land GOOD players for the mid-level. Or maybe even vet min. That would be huge.
I am beyond pumped. Feels like a new season. Can’t wait to see the new team in action. Noting the CtB trio have gone a bit quite, do I sense an epic podcast on the way?
You guys said everything already. I’m just here to share with you the excitement the deadline brought us. I’ll make my opinions some other time but I’m sending a much needed applause to Dan, Koby and everyone in the front office!
Let’s go Cavs!
Listening to the Ringer NBA podcast and they actually give the Cavs/Altman/Gilbert lots of props.
Is it Simmons? Because earlier he was crapping on the Cavs deals. But Simmons is a moron, too.
No, not Simmons.
Simmons has become all rep and no substance. May as well frame all of his analysis in the pointless and unsubstantial, “how does this trade make Boston better, or how does it make Boston’s path easier.” He is the Tommy Heinsohn of national media. No worthwhile or accurate analysis of anything because of the green visor in front of his eyes.
Let’s go Cavs!
I cannot wait for Sunday…it would be awesome to trash the Celtics…unlikely with so many new parts, though…
Yhey’ll win. Lebron wants to now.
I am very happy. Got home from work around 8pm and wow!!!
https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2018/2/8/16991762/cavaliers-trades-list-isaiah-thomas-george-hill-rodney-hood
Didn’t see any of it coming!!! Very happy and proud of you, Altman!
https://twitter.com/kobebryant/status/961780638968721408?s=17
we should not give jr any more than spot minutes, – now that we gutted most old/moody/lazy/low energy guys, hes basically the only one left like that . he doesnt bring energy on either side of the floor, his occasionall big shooting games dont come anywhere near making up for that. hes detrimental to what we need to do now (always was ) but now we have plenty of good options to take his place. anyone argue?
I think JR will play better. He’s a guy that I think thrives when the environment is right.
the pile up on JR is a bit much.
He looked great against the T’Wolves.
I will. Hood just got here. JR had a darn good run in the POs last year (50% from deep) and came up clutch in Game 7.
He is a much better shooter than Osman & Korver should not play too many minutes to wear him out.
JR should start for now. If Hood blows our doors off, perhaps we switch them. JR still should get rotation minutes at a min.
Zach Lowe, describing the situation Cleveland found itself in after the unprecedented move in free agency era of Durant going to the warriors: “The Cavs had limited means to replace them, and last season’s runner-up team at full throttle was as good as almost any team we’ve seen in the past 15 seasons. They weren’t as good as the peak Kevin Durant/Stephen Curry Warriors. So what are you supposed to do?” On point. Durant changed everything and made history. Competition went out the window. You do what you can to compete, but knowing that there has never been anything like… Read more »
Also a time without free agency until the big O.
Lowe, the one guy I respect more than any other in NBA journalism and analysis is about as high as me on this day. Mainly, “The Cavs did the best they could, and they have a chance to be an injury away to Golden State again.”
I agree. If they get lucky in buyout season, they have a shot. Just depends on how the pieces fit, but guys like Hill and Nance will almost certainly fit.
Hill is a PG who is good off the ball. Good fit for LeBron. So is Hood. Nance oozes team first play. Not a great shooter. But a much better finisher than TT. A tad quicker if a little lighter. May struggle next to Green or TT. Should be holden with Love. Clarkson is the wildcard. Hopefully most of the 3s will be spot ups. Hopefully he becomes less a chucker and more a penetrator/finisher. One last thing, I don’t think we have a guy who thinks they need to shoot a lot, but is inefficient & takes shits from… Read more »
Golden not holden. Dang tiny phone keyboard.
Yawp. Also, Nance can at least hit the occasional 16-18 footer.
Altman with his comments today about the new guys and culture and fun and LeBron last night talking about the purity of Cedi’s game and his playing the right way sound like they’re reading out of the same book.
https://twitter.com/talkhoops/status/958594488133447686?s=17
That literally made me LOL.
Going forward, that might be the best sign to indicate that a player is about to be dealt…
Me too. Lots of funnies on Twitter today!
Rodney Hood’s ticket to Cleveland was slapping the cell phone out of that guys hand…
It helped, no doubt…
Jason not to mention but MOST IMPORTANT —WE CHANGED THE LOCKEROOM CULTURE —GOT -GOOD CHARACTER PEOPLE —-WE ARE ALL GOING TO FALL IN LOVE WITH “JR “—(THAT IS NICNAME FOR LARRY NANCE JR )
https://twitter.com/ChrisFedor/status/961767894626590721?s=17
https://twitter.com/ChrisFedor/status/961777744290951173?s=17
https://twitter.com/CBSSports/status/961785861082816513?s=17
This is awesome.
Couldn’t have asked for a better sports day…I’m excited about the Cavs again… and Carolina beat Duke!
Magic beat the Hawks by 2.
https://twitter.com/Steve_R_Walker/status/961768104945692672?s=17
Both Altman & Gilbert deserve a lot of credit. 1) They both realized the IT/Crowder thing was not working & moved on instead of being stubborn and refusing to admit that they did not fit and/or are not fit and likely won’t in time for the POs. 2) They shipped out the drains and hopefully got some fountains. 3) Gilbert took on a LOT of future salary in Hill and Clarkson. 4) We got younger. We got taller. We got quicker. We got more athletic. We got better shooters. We got guys we can retain. We got better on D.… Read more »
Agree 100%
So happy we were able to get rid of IT. What a “drain.”
Agree. So much addition by subtraction.
If you said this morning that we would be rid of IT, Rose, and Shump, I would consider today a success regardless of what we received in return.
As it turns out, we got some great additions, too!
Good Clarkson highlights from a few weeks ago. These guy’s jobs just got so much easier.
https://youtu.be/Va93He9Gzjo
agree mike on Kolby’s comments —“fountains / drains ” think we might have underestimated him—-his stock as a G.M. took a leap today and yes give Gilbert credit / applause for AGAIN opening his wallet !!
I think we will see a productive JR.. He has Lebron all to himself now. BFF’s lol
JR has been better of late.
amazing IT / HIS AGENT already “talking “—-“-I am not coming off the bench”—-yeah I want to see them play lonzo behind I.T. —–LAVAR would be on the 1st flight to L.A ——-whatever the outcome to this season / LeBron’s decision —-you have to give credit to Kolby / Gilbert for making these bold trades in an effort to ‘right the ship ‘/ give us a chance / an not giving away the future —-giving us hope —-GREAT JOB !!!
https://twitter.com/mcten/status/961782746443141120
How many players do we have for that game if none of the new guys is cleared yet?
I count 8…not counting Holland who will almost certainly play…
I really hope it’s a repeat from a few years ago when we played the Lakers.
They had eight players and all but four fouled out.
And the Lakers still won…
10 counting Holland & Perrantes: Calderon, JR, Bron, Green, TT + Osman, Korver, & Zizic.
IT being the Lakers starting point guard brings me great joy…
This is so true…I really can’t wait for the Cavs/Lakers game now.
Maybe we will see dual storylines between IT’s leaked story about a players-only meeting where he and Luol Deng gang up on Ball and Kuzma and Lavar Ball’s opinions about all things IT.
I particularly like Altman’s comment that “…you always want more fountains than drains.” Rose, IT and Crowder could have drained all the Great Lakes in the Midwest alone. That comment was about a hard of knock against this trio as a GM can somewhat diplomatically make.
They were just terrible together. Crowder surprised me the most. It’s like he forgot he’s a big a$$ dude and can get to the basket. Too often, he just settled for jump shots to see them brick. There wasn’t that defensive presence to make up for what he lacked. I totally expected Rose to play 1-2 games , sit on injured list for weeks and even just disappear like he did with Knicks. IT was always going to be a gamble. But it sure was much worse than any of us expected!
Oh yeah you forgot to mention Shump. Didn’t see that coming either to this level.
Yeah ….the thing I’m most bummed about is Crowder. He had a rough ride during the trade & transition, losing his Mum etc. I was sure he was going to fit in & play even better than last year. Goes to show there are no guarantees.
I think he was bad for the Cavs, although he can do a decent job defending Durant, but he may be a good player for Utah. They are way more similar to the Celtics, systemwise, than the Cavs…
Altman said he expects the new additions to join team in Atlanta Friday. He didn’t know if any of them would play that night, status of physicals, etc…
Altman saying the right things about the player movement and LeBron. We didn’t know at the time just how impactful Moz, JR and Shump would be. Obviously there were many doubts about JR. The four players acquired today look more certain to improve the team than what was done with the overhaul in 2015. Not to mention we jettisoned more negative players too, which wasn’t even an issue in 2015.
Kind of an issue with Dion that year.
https://twitter.com/AmicoHoops/status/961781301216010240
He’s like the fans…
https://twitter.com/twithersAP/status/961780906829795328
https://twitter.com/AmicoHoops/status/961780620665016320
Great analogy.
https://twitter.com/AkronJackson/status/961780740928212993
https://twitter.com/twithersAP/status/961780054593286144
The most annoying comments about this trade deadline have to do with how the Lakers are now going to have room for two max players, and one of those players is (obviously, duh) going to be Lebron. Really? Remember back in the big free agent extravaganza of 2011 and the Knicks positioned themselves to get James & [insert all-star here] and the media just sort of assumed that “of course James is going to sign with this (awful) Knicks team along with another superstar!” And the Knicks were able to swing for the fences and get…Amar’e Stoudemire. Does anyone really… Read more »
You’re forgetting they have IT…they are the most dangerous team in the West now…/s (most unnecessary /s ever…)
True. I stand corrected.
After IT gets his Brinks Truck, I’m sure Lebron, PG, and another superstar will all take discounts to play in LA together.
https://twitter.com/twithersAP/status/961778913402871809