Live Thread: Cavs @ Spurs (Manu Time)
2019-03-28
The Cavs are in San Antonio tonight for their 76th game of the year. It’s a special night too. The Spurs are retiring foreign basketball savant Manu Ginobili’s jersey.
Hailing from Argentina, Manu’s game transformed how future guys in the NBA would play the game. Whether it’s how Kyrie Irving finishes below the rim and messes with how the ball spins, or James Harden‘s euro step move, Manu is the man who made those moves standard. He was also the epitome of team ball. Manu was never a full time starter or finisher for the Spurs, but he never complained. Whatever Gregg Popovich asked of Ginobli, he would do it. That’s not to say he was some robot. He is regularly known as the player who could play by his own rules under Popovich. He’d regularly gamble for steals, a big no-no under Gregg.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tzrJqC0778
Manu earned this jersey retirement by any standards. He was a part of the original “Big Three” featuring Tim Duncan and Tony Parker. He was a four time NBA champion and was Sixth Man of the year in 2008. His career year came in the 2007-2008 season when he averaged 19.5 points, 4.5 dimes, and 4.8 boards. He hit 2.1 3s a game that year at a 40% rate.
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Anyways, back to the game. This game means something for the Spurs. Depending how things shake out, the Spurs could end up in the fifth seed. They’re just two losses back from the Jazz right now. So, they will be trying. The Spurs are fully loaded tonight and the Cavs are missing just Matthew Dellavedova and John Henson.
Three Things to Watch
- Collin Sexton is going against an easier than usual guard match up tonight. The Spurs’ guards are competent, but they aren’t world beaters by any means, and Sexton should be able to get his against any of them. Let’s hope the game is close, so Sexton gets more practice closing tight games.
- LaMarcus Aldridge will be squaring off against Kevin Love most of the night. This is the game of the finesse bigs. LMA is having a great season though, and scored 48 points in a win of over the Celtics just a few days ago.
- Appreciate the cutting the Spurs do. I’d venture to say they run the most backdoor cuts of any team in the association, and the way Popovich uses DeMar DeRozan and LMA to facilitate from the elbows is a thing of beauty for any basketball fan to watch.
The Spurs are a real team fighting for a playoff seed. This game means something for them and this night means something for them.They’ll be giving it their all for Manu. I’m picking the Spurs, 110-101.
Regarding CBB, I really like how Culver looks for shooters when he’s near the paint. He’s also BIG…I think he’s listed at 6’6″ or 6’5″, he’s way bigger than that. Maybe the 6’10” projection is realistic…
We could’ve should’ve won this anyways, and I know it’s better we lose…
…but I’m still really steamed that we were blatantly officiated out of this game.
That really really hurts my ability to enjoy the game. My only complaint about Drew is that he doesn’t step up and call out the refs when things are that lopsided. The Spurs were on the winning side of a bunch of “mistakes” and Pop was still jawing at the refs down the stretch.
That push on Cedi to miss the layup was big. It probably got in his head too and he started trying to do too much down the stretch.
Agreed.
I usually put a lot of weight on plus- minus, however, tonight Chriss was +5 and Sexton was -13. Chriss is a one man tank.
We make too many dumb plays to beat good teams.
A real PG would help. Not a conbo. A real PG. We miss Delly.
Sexton is still learning, in the end he might not be a true point guard, but my guess is he’s going to get stronger, more skilled and smarter this summer and become a hell of a ball player.
We score twice in a row off actions to get Love in the post. Then with a chance to take the lead:
Cedi passes to no one and goes iso on a pull up J.
Awful O.
I keep forgetting it’s best we don’t win. Damn this team competes.
Damnit Cedi, that was a boneheaded shot.
It sure was.
who is better long-term fit on cavs? zion or ja?
Zion is one size fits all.
Barrett.
Cedi having a tough night
Big game for spurs down the stretch and Cavs are hanging.
Another one out on Aldridge but they keep it and then score 3.
yay.. chriss made a pt..
Bertans can really shoot.
just another worthless 2nd rounder
Chriss is…….not good.
if chriss cant make it on this team.. he is toast.. sad.. he needs to be in therapy
YOUNG BULL MIGHT BREAK 30 PT BARRIER TONIGHT !!
REF’S VERSION OF ‘TANKATHON “
Cedi gets shoved. No whistle. This is bad.
Aldridge gets away with pushing Love during a shot…later it’s off Aldridge’s hand and they keep the ball anyways…
What the hell? Is one of the refs his uncle or something?
These refs are trash! More Aldridge bs, then Derozan gets fouled, dribbles again before shooting, and they call it continuation.
IS ANTE HURT OR IS DREW JUST DECIDING TO GIVE HIS MIN’S TO “STARQUEESE ” —-CAVS GOING TO GIVE “STARQUEESE ” EVERY CHANCE THE REMAINING GAMES TRYING TO PROVE WORTHY OF A ROSTER SPOT NEXT YEAR————CAN YOU SAY G-LEAGUE / CHINA
Sexton is only going to get better.. cavs lucked out being at #8.. they were pretty much forced to take him.. which is a very good thing.. elite athleticism plus elite shooting skills = gold
3 for 3 on 3s.. i am telling you all.. this dude is going to be a top 3pt shooter.. this is not an aberration.. the sample size id large enough.. skeptics are going to eat crow rather shortly
Eh. I’m skeptical. I don’t love his form (it’s not awful but it’s a bit winky). Tatum had a great year shooting last year and he dropped 7% this year.
SOME GREAT GAMES TONIGHT / NCAA TOURNAMENT / MAN IF B CLARK FROM GONZAGA WOULD DROP TO THE HOUSTON PICK –I WOULD BE ALL OVER THAT—-BUT THAT AIN’T HAPPENING —KID IS A “POGO ” STICK—–GETTING READY TO WATCH ANOTHER POTENTIAL CAVS PICK/ CULVER– TEXAS TECH
At least we’ve landed some nice punches in the first half. Now the test is if we can weather any halftime adjustments Pop cooks up.
What the hell is up with Aldridge and the refs? He pushes our guys when they are driving and shooting but no whistle. Then on offense he reaches out shoves guys and were get called for phantom fouls.
Sexton is turning into a cold blooded scorer.
Knight in shining armor!
Last game it took Love 13 shots to get 10 points.
Today he did it already with 4 shots.
KLOVE MAKING UP FOR THE OTHER NIGHT ——YOUNG BULL CONTINUING TO IMPRESS
Pretty good start all around.