Podcap: Cavs 107, Bucks 102 (or, Measuring Up)
2019-03-21The Cavs had another growth spurt as they inched closer to respectability with an entertaining victory over the team with the best record in the NBA tonight. Granted, the Milwaukee Bucks were sans their Alpha and Omega, Giannis Antetokounmpo, yet the wine & gold still did what the purple & gold couldn’t the night before. For once, the Cavs were the healthier team, as Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson and Larry Nance, Jr. were all back on the floor… while the Bucks were down to just eight able bodies. Still, it was their fourth straight win at home over a team that’s either in or just on the fringe of being in the playoffs.
To give some context on where these young Cavaliers are and how they stack up vs. expectations, Nate and EG hopped in the booth for a few measures of time. We got out the yardstick for the Young Bull and his new Cavs rookie record for most consecutive 23 game performances, used a compass and protractor to fully appreciate how well this squad are running their fast breaks lately, and took a look around the Association to see where some old friends might be falling a bit short. We cap it off with everything from the ever expanding MCU to Nate’s difficulties crossing the border. The takes are measured… but the clock never is…
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ALABAMA LOOKING TO BUY OUT AVERY JOHNSONS CONTRACT——-SO ANYONE WHO MAY HAVE BEEN ON THE ‘AVERY ” BANDWAGON FOR A POTENTIAL CAVS COACH———–JUMP OFF THAT WAGON QUICKLY !!!!!!!!!!!
I was so concerned that the cavs were going to catch the Bulls within the next 5 games after we throttled the Bucks in the first half. After we won, i was more concerned. After the bulls won, I was still concerned. But then, like you and EG, Nate, I looked at the structure of the draft again. The cavs need to get as much confidence as they can going into the offseason…and they already should have a ton. Sexton is a legit closer right now…Clarkson should be moved because he is fun but he thinks he is as good… Read more »
Interesting thoughts. Nurkic isn’t going anywhere though
dude is a top 20 nba player right now in terms of Rpm.also, Larry Nance is gonna be an absolute bargain as a starting center. no need to move him.
I don’t think he meant trade Nance. I think he meant if the Cavs built a team with 2 smaller guards they would be similar to Portand and while they have Nurkic we have Nace in that role that can do similiar things but Nance is also able to hit 3s.
Ah. Yes. That makes more sense. Also, that team with Nance/Love/Cedi/Nwaba/ is insanely fast getting into the break and still being able to shoot at the top 6 positions.
Zion is the pick at 1.
Morant is the pick at 2.
Barrett is the pick at 3.
After that, it is muddled.
FWIW, barkley prefers barrett to zion (in interview with dan patrick)
If you can name me the last time Barkley was right about a player-vs-player comparison, I’ll take his comments under consideration. But Barrett doesn’t seem like he’d be a top 3 pick without being at Duke. Whereas Zion would be a top 3 pick at Wilberforce in the podunks of Ohio… Barrett may well turn into a nice NBA player…maybe he has a better career than Zion. But it won’t be because he is a better pick. Zion’s upside is Lebron like…and Barrett’s upside is maybe slightly under Wade like? Which is to say…one can be a generational talent. One… Read more »
Barkley can be an idiot sometimes. This is one of those times.
He dies not like Zion because he could be a better version of Barkley.
Yeah, I have been periodically in Barrett’s camp, but only as a “if we don’t get Zion”-option. Zion’s ceiling is just way too high. However, I’ll maintain that should we not get Zion, I will be still pretty excited to watch either Ja Morant or RJ Barrett in a Cavs uniform. The question becomes now, with the progress Sexton has made this season, how does Morant fit next to the Young Bull?
Anyone else kind of impressed with the supporting cast on Murray state? The Shaq Buchanan kid is an alley oop waiting to happen. Brown can shoot it a bit. Howard is small for a post guy but also 295 lbs. They seem pretty hyper athletic. Could see them beating FSU if Morant continues to find guys
They have some guys. I had them beating FSU and losing next round.
You got Syracuse beating them? Dunno much about Baylor, but if Syracuse beats Baylor, I could see that. That zone is a major weapon against a team like Murray State. Not sure they have the shooters to beat it.
Oh nevermind Gonzaga would probably face them. Yeah I don’t think they beat Gonzaga.
Same MikeO.
Morant is two assists shy of the tournament record.
HOPE MURRAY STATE HAS A LONG RUN IN THE TOURNEY TO GET MORE ‘VIEW ‘ TIME OF MORANT ———-DOES NOT FORCE THE ISSUE —–PLAYS A VERY SMART GAME———–ATHLETIC ENOUGH –(SIMAILAR TO YOUNG BULL ) –IF DESIRE IS THERE TO BE A GOOD DFENDER ——–NEXT GAME HE MIGHT GO FOR 30 PTS / TAKE WHAT THE DEFENSE GIVES / ALLOWS HIM
Not so much worried about his desire to be a defender…he is 6’3″ (if that), and combined with 6’2″ Sexton that is a seriously undersized backcourt in the NBA.
Sort of like the blazers.
I think he is legit 6’3″ though.
https://twitter.com/TheSteinLine/status/1108858975943045121
MORANT NOT HURTING HIS DRAFT STOCK AT ALL
I think he and Sexton would be a defensive sieve together, but I’d be okay getting him…love his offensive game…
Plus obviously he is a playmaker, but man his turnovers this year are a bit concerning to me. Granted he is the focus of that offense.
MORANT PLAYING A VERY EFFICIENT / SMART GAME——-YOUNG BULL WOULD LOOK NICE “OFF ” THE BALL WITH MORANT AS PT GD
Morant pretty much living up to the hype this game. Playing a little like a much more under control Trae Young who facilitates more than looks to score.
#32 from Murray State has the Rerun build from What’s Happening…
This dude is next level… lol
WOW! Had no idea this was how he felt… but I respect his love for the game and the underdog!
The joke will be on him when Magic brings in Melo…
Lol! Wow, no way! I always figured that dude was typical Hollywood Laker fan. That is some hardcore trollery!
So if you can between, say, Jerry Stackhouse as coach next season or Larry Drew…which do you prefer? In this case, assume EG favorite Longo is gonzo…
What’s Stackhouse’s deal? D league coach? No nothing about him as a coach. I still think the cavs should shoot for the moon and go for Messina.
Won D league COTY in ’17 as head of Raptor D league team.I think he’s a Grizz assistant now. He has a rep as being very capable at player development. Someone is going to hire him before long.
Well this team does need strong player dev.
The announcers always pronounce it CONN-uh-ton. I have no idea how he pronounces it.
JIMMER!!
Good for him.
Glad to see the podcast broadcasted in different platforms. I hated the old setup.
Haha. Glad you approve.
Ha! It was just difficult to listen to on Android OS.
KNIGHT IS PLAYING SOME GOOD BALL LATELY——-HAVING HIM HEALTHY / PLAYING GOOD BALL IS ALMOST LIKE THE CAVS AQUIRING ANOTHER 1ST ROUND PICK THIS YEAR ——A PLAYER WHO CAN COME IN AND HELP / PLAY IMMEDIATELY ——————-DO WE SIT KLOVE THE REST OF THE YEAR OR AT LEAST FOR EXTENDED TIME ………………..CAVS HAVE SOME INTERESTING DECISIONS THIS OFF SEASON —- DRAFT PICK / COACH/ COACHES / WHO TO SIGN OR LET GO / POSSIBLE TRADES / WHO TO POSSIBLY PURSUE IN FREE AGENCY ………………………..CAN’T WAIT TO TUNE IN TO MARQETTE/ MURRAY ST TODAY
Knight was a good player but his injuries derailed him. Hopefully he stays healthy and understands the opportunity given to him. I’m sure being on the sidelines for so long, he pictured what it could be to be gone from the NBA as others have. Another example is Carmelo Anthony, a once top 5 player in the league, now can’t even be a bench player even though he’s not yet wasted physically. If you are Knight, you are looking at the Carmelo situation and wondering, “Am I next?”. This type of thinking, along with having guys like Nwaba and Delly… Read more »
I mean Anthony is not playing because of his d and his style of play as much as anything else. Knight has a place in the league as a backup pg. There is no room for a one dimensional guy like Anthony that wants to iso and shoot 20 footers all day and who is also awful on d. That style is not a winning style in today’s game.
I think Melo will fit like a glove in the Laker system, especially once they bring in Jason Kidd…
I know what I’m referring to is that seeing a once Top5 player not be given a contract to be a bench warmer has to resonate with an injury prone guy like Knight, which will make him appreciate this opportunity even more.
Got ya. Hope so. I think IT is an even better example of a guy going from MVP candidate 2 years ago to a guy going out of the league at the end of this year in all likelihood. ESPN had an interesting article about just how far he has fallen.
I’m still firmly in the “Don’t shut Love down for the year” camp. 1) With his soap box on mental health Love has been doing a lot of good in the league and has sought out professional help for himself. He is a basketball player, he said himself that is a huge part of how he identifies himself. He has also said that one of the roughest parts of this year was that he felt like he lost his identity when he was unable to be with his team. Now that he’s playing he is more joyful than I can… Read more »
(Continued) He is also playmaking and handling the ball more than in the past here. The biggest additions to his game have been at the perimeter. He’s taking 3s off the bounce, he taking 3s off of screens a la Korver, and taking more long 3s Essentially Love is developing the tools that can allow him to continue to shine into his 30s and throughout his contract by adding skills that will survive the physical costs of aging in the NBA. So while he is not learning and developing like the young guys are, he is still putting his time… Read more »
This is my favorite post ever.
Unfortunately this comment system makes it hard to tell if you’re reply to my reply or Nomad’s post, but I’ll risk narcissism and say:
Thanks!
And Nomad will thank you, but much further up the page! :)
JUDE TOTALLY AWESOME STUFF !!!!! : ) ———WHY CTB IS BY FAR THE BEST BLOG AROUND !!!
Thanks! Agreed. That’s why this is the only place I can comment regularly without tearing my hair out!
Nice recap, as usual. I also have a couple thoughts to share from watching Young Bull and the rest of the team, especially since allstar break and the return of Love. For all the ways that we are glad YB is different than Kyrie I think it’s equally awesome that Sexton’s dad seems like a great supporter, adviser, and influence. So glad Darnell Sexton isn’t the “you deserve your own team and should be self centered and distant from your teammates” like Kyrie’s dad who seems to be living his nba dreams vicariously through his son all while encouraging him… Read more »
Continued… 11. Clarkson…Captain Bandaid who seems to love both the game and his teammates more than anything else. He may have moments where he plays in an iso bubble, but watching him interact with his teammates shows the brotherhood he feels with them. Look no further than JC basically nominating Delly to join Mensa with the amount of times he’s credited him about how smart he is and how he see’s things that amaze everyone and make the games easier for everyone. 12. Chriss…well Im still not sure if he’s an NBA player but Ill give him some points for… Read more »
…any team that didn’t respect Lemon Inc. Is risking a major sour taste left in their mouth. And the way LBJs Lakers have done this year Im sure they’d rather be eatting Lemons than what they’ve actually been forced to eat this year (see “fecal imagery”, see also “Lakers were swept by the freaking KNICKS!”) I don’t know if LD will continue on as coach after this season or if that woild be good or bad for the Cavs in the long run. I also don’t know if all the guys I mentioned will be back next year either. No… Read more »
Great stuff, Jude!
Post(s) Of The Year.
I’m disappointed that I didn’t write this myself, since I agree with every word.
I’m going to have to get to the podcast just so I can read your work, Jude. Thanks for contributing.
Thanks guys! I appreciate it! Brevity is not my strong suit, so sometimes I feel like I need to purge a bunch of the thoughts that are rattling around up in my head. I’m glad that you enjoyed it. If it hadn’t beem for this site I would’ve lost my mind this year because of all the gatbage reporting elsewhere, so Im always thrilled if I can give back a little.