Live Thread: Cavs @ Nets (#LotteryLuck)
2018-03-25
The Cavs have a chance to double their good fortune today in Brooklyn when they take on the Nets. Not only can they continue to build their own chemistry with their increasing numbers… but they can also help add to the number of ping pong balls they might receive in this summer’s draft lottery.
The odds of winning shouldn’t be that hard, given the disparity of talent available between these two teams… yet, the Cavs already handed the Nets one of their 23 wins almost exactly five months ago. It was against a much different looking Cleveland squad for sure… but even the other two meetings were closer than they probably should have been. That’s because, despite their own injury issues, the Nets have scratched their way to a lot more victories then many expected. They’ve found some useful pieces in guys like Spencer Dinwiddie, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Caris LeVert. Also, D’Angelo Russell is back and putting up solid numbers. Brooklyn reached an easier stretch in their schedule the last week or so, winning two in a row against fellow lottery players Dallas and Memphis, before blowing a 23 point lead to Charlotte and losing a tough one to the Raptors on Friday.
Though Jeff Green did not make the trip (flu), with Larry Nance, Jr. (who will get the start in place of Green), Rodney Hood and Tristan Thompson back, the Cavs should have enough extra bodies to keep their modest winning streak going. The team is also still without Kyle Korver and Cedi Osman, as well as head coach Ty Lue, but otherwise is finally having some decent luck staying together. Their chemistry on the court is still a work in progress… but they have the ultimate trump card in LeBron James, who’s notched two of his 16 triple doubles this season against the Nets. Odds are that we may see yet another one today from the King. LeBron needs only 28 points to lock down the 10th 2,000 point season of his amazing career.
Prediction: The Cavs play ping-pong with the lead early, but ultimately scratch off the Nets to keep their winning streak alive, 128-112.
Also, if you haven’t been following commenter Jason’s fine work in the threads to keep you up to speed on how the NBA Lottery teams are lining up… the Nets currently have the sixth worst record in the League, and have around a 21% chance of winding up with one of the top three picks in the draft. Let’s hope the Cavs can help continue to improve those odds…
Catch all the action starting at 1pm EST on either FSO or NBATV. And, as always… chime in here.
Albert/Joey back in the news:
https://www.mlb.com/news/albert-belle-arrested/c-269704250
Melo really sucked last night for the Thunder, and has been pretty bad all year. I still get cold shakes thinking about the Love for Melo trade possibility. You think TT’s contract is bad? It’s a gem compared to Melo’s $27 mill opt in next season, or whatever it is…
That was a totally insane idea at the time. I and many others ridiculed it in the comments of CtB.
I toyed with it but only from the standpoint of “we’ll take his Contract to get porzingis” blockbuster. Fortunately, that didn’t happen.
If true this explains everything. TT playing with a partially torn calf.
Doesn’t explain the coaching staff playing him over Zizic. Heck, they’ve even played him over Nance a few times.
Not if they are trying to get him up to speed in case they meet teams with big centers in the playoffs.
However, this would not make any sense if he cannot get better without surgery or long rest.
Personally, I would be playing ZZ. They presumably figure they can switch to him on short notice.
If the Rockets can find a way to beat the Warriors maybe the Cavs could win it all. Or maybe I should say the Cavs would have a better chance against the Rockets than against the Warriors obviously. My only worry with the Cavs is that if they have to go to a seventh game in the road in the playoffs how will the role players perform in that type of atmosphere. We know LBJ will go nuts like always but will the role players show up??????
I will go with “Better Chance”. There was always a decent chance. Quit looking for stuff to worry about. The Warriors are finally getting plenty of problems themselves this time. Portland might beat them too.
https://twitter.com/thefarmerjones/status/978042328974807040?s=19
dubs getting a beat down from the jazz——knicks winning today gives them some ‘breathing ‘ room from the nets
Really hope GSW gets Utah first round. Utah is a tough team. Minnesota is a soft, pushover.
agree—sixers are going to be a ‘tough ” out in the playoffs—–mentioned before the aqusitions of —illysova/ bellineli strengthen their bench/ rotations
Don’t look now, but the Sixers are crazy.
Redick, Belineli, Ilyasova, Covington. Wing shooting around Embiid + Simmons is kind of nasty. Just think if Fultz can play. Gonna be tough to hold them off for 3rd.
Kings had the lead at half. Only 33 pts after in a loss.
Still, any Nets loss I will take.
Who has the most playoff 3s. Hood, LBJ, Love, Korver or Smith. The winner is Smith by a large margin.
It’s actually LeBron by a large margin. 331 for LBJ and 244 for JR
Even though i don’t care for TT. The Cavs will need his physicalness and if Jr. Smith isn’t making 3s the Cavs will not make it out of the second round.
Ahh kinda wrong on both counts.
Yeah, we can definitely use Smith if he’s making 3’s but with KK and Hood, he’s the 3rd man out.
As far as TT, he’s a bench warmer on a crappy team.. should not even be on this Cavs’ roster the way he’s been playing ALL year. And specially now that we have all seen (and I’ve said since the first day of the season) that Zz is 10x the player TT is.
I agree with JRL, I wish I could find a way to get ZZ’s stats from let’s say his last 8 games with the Cavs and compare them with TT’s stats for the whole season and I bet there’s going to be a huge difference in PPG and BPG.
I believe Zz was averaging double digits in points in his last 3-4 games at least.
I still don’t understand why the coaching staff will play TT over him.
Actually, when cedi is back JR shouldn’t sniff the court.
Don’t fool yourselves, these numbers are not coming from playoff teams. The playoffs are totally different.
Can you please elaborate?
And goodbye Grayson Allen…it’s been lousy…
Horrible call against Duke.
Haha…megadouche Grayson Allen misses the winner at the buzzer — to OT!!
Should’ve gave it to Bagley for the last shot!
OH YEAH GOOD TO SEE HOOD HAVE A DECENT DAY —-GO KINGS VS CELTICS
just came in from my grandkids —whew I am tired —–WTF —-WHY DIDN’T ANTE PLAY THAT IS—- TOTAL B.S. —–GLAD FOR THE WIN BUT C’MON MAN —YOU ARE GOING TO LOSE WHAT YOU HAD IN THAT KID—CAN UNDERSTAND MINUTES TO T.T. TO EVALUATE —BUT NO MINUTES FOR ANTE — I DO NOT UNDERSTAND—-OK I AM DONE RANTING –AFTER ALL THIS IS PALM SUNDAY —–I AM GOING BACK TO MY GRANDKIDS AND ENJOY THE REST OF THE DAY / WEEKEND
Man. bagley doesn’t work very hard to get open. But man can he get up.
He’s kind of a man amongst boys, but not sure what kind of pro he’ll be. Ideally I’d want him at center a lot, but no way he can do that for a while, if ever…
Not big on him at all. Hyped up with a lot of hot air.
He got a ton of easy buckets this year.
Lol. Actually totally think hell be MUCH better pro, but it will take a bit of coaching. He reminds me a bit of Kawhi but a better leaper. IMO, hybrid of young Shawn kemp (even got that sleepy game) and Kawhi. He’s gonna be a beast.
I think TT is playing for 2 recap reasons;
1. His salary
2. He has been with the team longer
Other then that I don’t see what the coaching staff sees that makes him a better option then ZZ offensively or defensively. ZZ is 100 times a better option offensively. At this point when TT is on the court the Cavs are playing 4 on 5.
Cant Zizic have a few min to stay in game shape?
JRs minutes should be gonzo once Korver and Cedi come back
Ya and green will be back
LOL… I missed this…
Nice post game interview with Rodney…
View of the dagger from down low starting at about 0:27…
Where is the nets pick holding in the order of worst teams?
6th at the moment. Wins:
19 = Suns, Grizz
21 = Hawks
22 = Magic, Mavs
23 = Nets
24 = Bulls, Kings
26 = Knicks
Not bad Mayb we’ll get mikal bridges
Good day for the Nets pick!
I hope it gets better. Maybe Sac can nip the shorthanded Celtics. Would love it if they drop a couple in a row here.
They still have the Jazz, Bucks, Wiz, and Raptors twice. The wins vs OKC & Portland dimmed my hope we could catch them. We likely will have to win out to do it & hope they start to run out of gas playing shorthanded.
If we can make it so they need that last game vs the Nets it would be great.
Well, Green & Korver should be back in a game or two.
Sadly, it seems TT has taken Zizic’s minutes. But not unexpected.
Clarkson is Vinnie Johnson.
Still kind of inexcusable not to use Zizic at all…
Nets do go small. Against teams with legit bigs, I hope Zizic has a place.
Criminal. There is little probaility tt helps us win in playoffs. Zizic might, and needs the run.
Whew!
1) Bron with 37/10/8 on 14/19. 2 TOs.
2) Love with 20/15/4 on 3/6 from deep.
3) Hill with 17/4/5. 3/5 from deep. 1 TO.
4) Hood 16/3/3/1/1. 6/12 & 3/6 3s.
5) Clarkson 18/1/0 on 6/12. Tunnell vision.
Nance had a tough night. Jose a positive +/- despite 1/6 shooting. TT did have 10 boards.
Lebron hill hood clarkson -great games! Love also really solid hated his 4 to though, he also played really solid interior defense today
G hill looks like a new man . It’s great to see. All started when Larry drew took over. Not sure though if it has to do with lue
If No tt and jr we would’ve been in good shape throughout the game
To be fair… TT had a nice stretch (for the most part) to start the fourth… had 10 boards again…
Good point EG. Some nice D. A couple O boards & a putback.
I would love for TT to get his mojo back.
Guys I don’t know how it’s possible to be optimistic bout tt! Who looks at a stretch of 4 min in 1 game and thinks poapositive about such a idiot
Just saying he had a stretch where he resembled his old self is all… not declaring he should be getting a ton of minutes… But honestly, it would be a tremendous boost to the team if TT could have even one such burst per game…
listening to John and Jim Chones as I was driving. Arrived home with 3 minutes left and the game on the dvr. Jim Chones is a TT fan-boy. He likes him and his effort. Chones is an honest broker. Watching the last 15 minutes of action and TT passed my eye test. There was the one Dinwiddie blow-by but overall he was solid and great on the glass. I like Z 2.0 and his time will come. Z2 plays at the level of a successful pick in the 6-12 slots most years. He will be needed against Toronto.
Got it , I just really can’t see the silver lining with him , it won’t matter how much he personally does , his mere presence on the floor kills and sabotages a clean smooth play offensively and basically defensively too.
Bron giving props to the group that started the fourth and to Rodney in particular…
Bron’s only 3 eas that 30 footer.
That was closer than it should have been… predictably…
Hill to the King, baby.
Wow. Terrible shot. Great shot.
Stop milking the clock.
Nets have made 16-35 threes… Cavs still need to do something about the perimeter D…
True, but the Nets are a three happy team…
James with the moonshot dagger!!!
THAT’S the Rodney Hood jumper I fell in love with.
Hahahahah. Carroll Might be the league’s worst flopper.
30 for Joe. 11-14.
Hood for 3!
Ok. That was Korver – esque by Joe.
He should aspire to that…
Love with a 20/15 game…
Rondae a lot over aggressive
Nets: “Help us Joe Harris… you’re our only hope…”
Honestly though, so proud of that guy.
RHJ gets away with soooooo much contact
Yep….
Hill to the King!
I saw what you did there…
Bron just picked that LeVert pass out of the air like a bullet…
Rondae Fallis Jefferson
Rondae Phallus Jefferson.
Nice flop Rondae… jeez
Hood looking good in midrange after beauty Hill to James oop. Cavs up 5.
Exactly.
That JC dunk…
Rodney looks MUCH better than he did before the time off.
Hood!! Nice! The Cavs need him to be aggressive.
James! That’s levitation, Holmes!
Bron back. Man, Love missed that bunny to put us up 3 & then glass issues.
THAT was pretty!