PodCap: Cavs 121, Hawks 118 (or, Christmas Comes Early)
2019-12-24The Cavaliers don’t play on Christmas Day this year… but the holiday celebration came early with the longest winning streak the team has enjoyed since some guy named James was stuffing stat sheets like stockings two seasons ago. The wine & gold had one of their highest scoring first halves in a while before having to once again hold on for dear life as a sure lead dwindled in the closing minutes… this time against the fairly hapless Hawks. The one down note was that Jordan Clarkson was shipped off to Utah prior to the start of this one… although Captain Band Aid will be receiving the early gift of being the sixth man on a contending team with the Jazz.
To break down the festivities, Nate, Ryan Yankee and EG congregated around the yule log with some egg nog and cookies. We discuss tonight’s contest, the state of the roster post JC departure, and whether or not new Cav, Dante Exum, will make any sort of impact. We also give out our annual Santa’s Wish List items to all the Cavalier players and front office members. Ryan apparently has a LOT of pH balanced water to give away, Nate went more traditional, and EG… well, let’s just say EG probably just stands for Evil Grinch for this one.
As always, check us out below, on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Tunein, or Spotify.
Exum’s really the perfect fit for Sexton or Garland as a 2/3 perimeter player. Honestly, I think they see him as a player like Delly, but with more raw talent and athleticism. The question is if they can turn him into a 35% 3pt shooter… I think he’s gonna get offense like Cedi does, off of drives and stand still 3s. He’s a 77% career FT shooter, so I think they believe the fundamentals are there to develop a standstill 3pt shot. Also, a name I’ll drop from the college ranks to pay attention to: Tyrese Halliburton… not sure if… Read more »
Yeah, I think Exum is a decent bangle for the Cavs…at the least, he can play perimeter defense, and has some size…assuming he can stay on the court…Clarkson is a better player, but you have to roll the dice on guys like this if you’re the Cavs…
Err, decent ‘gamble’…not sure where ‘bangle’ came from…
LOL @ spellcheck.
I think people are discounting the fact that Exum won’t demand the ball to be effective on the offensive end, will not be a ball hog, and has ball handling and a little drive and finish capability. It will really give Sexton, Garland, and Porter a chance to show what kind of playmakers they can be… also I think he’ll keep the front court guys happy with his passing.
Also, I think the Exum pickup is a sign the FO is thinking about fit and culture, he’s a team first type of player.
.. AGREE WITH YOU MIKEO——ONLY SOLUTION TO THAT …………….” MORE BEER PLEASE ” : ) ———–REALLY LIKE THE TEAM THE MAVS HAVE ASSEMBLED
Not a day goes by where I don’t think about if that Nets pick had been a bit better and the Cavs were in position to get Doncic…
Don’t think like that. Unhappiness guaranteed.
Hope everyone had a good holiday!
Not expecting much fron Exum offensively. But should help on D.
What does everyone think of my all star game idea: 28 all stars: top four vote getters are captains and everyone picks six more guys, live on Friday. Everyone gets reversable jerseys (big merch sell for nba). On Friday, both teams play back to back: first team to 50 or whoever is ahead at the end of two 10 minute halves wins. Champs play Sunday in same format. Winners get $1 mil plus another mil for their charity. You could do the same format for rising stars on like Friday morning w/celebrity game. Saturday still has skills, dunk, and 3… Read more »
I think the concept of having to win to progress to the next round, and all that this entails – kudos, cash for charity etc – has merit. It might actually make players try, particularly on the defensive end.
SIMMO I SHARE YOUR “‘OPTIMISM” —–OF COURSE I AM ALWAYS OPTIMISTIC / HOPEFULL CAVS CAN DISCOVER ” LIGHTNING IN THE BOTTLE ” WITH SO CALLED REJECTS — AKA: LAST YEARS HOPEFULL WAS ” MARCHEESE ” —WE ALL KNOW HOW THAT TURNED OUT —-MAYBE DELLY CAN HAVE SOME POSITIVE ” AUSSIE ” INFLUENCE
Since Ryan asked my thought on Dante, here you go: I was bullish on Exum when he was drafted TBH, having followed his career for a while at that stage. It wasn’t really touched that much in the podcast, but his NBA career has been stalled primarily due to constant injury. Since his rookie year I think he’s played around 30% of the games he would otherwise have been eligible to play, including missing entire seasons along the way. I just don’t know how a pro athlete in any sport is expected to progress at all under those situations. I… Read more »
Thanks for the Aussie insight!
Some stuff I’ve heard elsewhere and some I haven’t, so Im quite glad I asked.
Clips played a crappy first half and win…I think they are clearly just better right now…we’ll see what FA moves happen. And if the Lakers get a key injury, they are done.
Yep.
Skip Bayless logging on to talk about LBJ and clutch free throws…again….
It wasn’t the FT shooting, it was him going too passive, taking too many jumpers, and passing too much instead if teying to finish inside.
LeBron does this a lot in the regular season. LA needs another reliable shooter so the kickouts yield more points. Also, against elite defenders (Giannis, Kawhi, PG13), Bron is not so dominant finishing inside. So he attacks less.
Yes, it was all of that. My comment was in real time as he fluffed some FTs at the death. I could hear Skip chuckling and typing as it happened.
Kuzma is so Jordan Clarkson 1.000000359bv2 that it’s scary…
If this is going to be another game where Danny freaking Green hits every 3 he takes I might break my tv.
SIMMO —I AM IN THE SAME ‘FOOD COMA ‘ ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD : )——–INTENT ON BEING THERE _ ( FOOD/ BEER COMA ) –FOR THE DURATION !!!!!!—-HEY BUCKAROO I AM DRINKING ONE -( OR 2 ) FOR YOU : ) —-COME JOIN US AGAIN !!
Well I’ve been going hard at Xmas festivities here in Australia for 15 hours now…time to let the food coma take me over. Might listen to a little of the pod as I drift off. I wonder what effect that will have on my dreams. Hmm, maybe better not.
Merry Xmas CTBers!
Happy boxing day!
So Simmo, we need your national expertise on the Dante Exum trade! You are our big insider for the continent/country.
Merry Christmas ctbers.
Nate, I assume you meant the video tunnel looked like Fremont Street in Las Vegas, right? (At least that was the reference I made in my article)
Beale street is in Memphis, isn’t it?
Yeah. Freemont.
Haven’t had a chance to listen, but will be listening tonight. Merry Christmas to all the regulars here, and especially to all the writers/ podders. It’s a great site, and community. I am almost unreasonably excited about Garland’s and KPJ’s future together…when I watch KPJ, especially, I see a guy with what seems like almost unlimited potential. And he seems like he’s getting better in some respects every game. It’s so nice to see a guy who plays long…he looks like a colossus out there sometimes. I see a truckload of vicious dunks in his future. Henson has been a… Read more »
Was at the game. Young may be the worst perimeter defender in the NBA. Porter played some fantastic d at times and overall had a great game. I swear he had a block. He is a pretty excellent finisher. Had some good drives. Think he is shooting about 75% at the rim which is elite, especially for a guard. Just needs to go downhill all the time. Henson has been a revelation on d. If he stays healthy he is a huge plus for covering out leaky perimeter d. Sexton has been on fire of late from floater range and… Read more »
I’m looking forward to the chance to going back to the “Fieldhouse” since the pre-opening tour. There were definitely a lot of interesting new food places and if they haven’t skyrocketed the prices since I was there then many of the prices were borderline reasonable (considering the location, of course).
As for basketball, I live how he keeps showing all different types of flashes of really being the steal of the draft. Once he started having his first “breakout moments” a little while back he just keeps having more and more of them.
I have been on the KPJ hype train since last April. Still on it. He has shown more than I thought he would thus far. Most of his weakness, passing, defense, etc have actually been strengths at points. The shooting needs to come around, but he is further than I anticipated with everything else.
As for prices, can only reference Michael Simon’s place which was there before the renovation. Last night it was like 11 bucks for a polish boy and 11 bucks for a Fathead IPA. Alcohol is absurd, but not surprising given it’s a sporting event.
I defintely learned about KPJ from the rest of you guys here as I don’t follow college much. He is absolutely a fun rookie to root for and helps add bright spots to the season even when the Cavs aren’t on a 3 game winnong streak. As for food, I just remember getting a pizza from somewhere that was both really good and a full one person meal for about 10 bucks. Alcohol is of course highway robbery, but that is to be expected…but if you can get a satifying meal for about 50% more than a fast food restaurant,… Read more »
WILL THROW THIS OUT THERE– THE YEAR DANTE WAS DRAFTED ——-THERE WERE A FEW HERE –( ME INCLUDED )– THAT WAS TANTALIZED BY DANTE’S HIGHLIGHTS WE SAW ——SLIM POSSIBALITY OF THE CAVS EVEN TAKING HIM AT # 1 ———–JUST SHOWS HOW ” UNSCIENTIFIC ” —” CRAP SHOT ” THE DRAFT CAN BE
………..AND FRIENDSHIP : ) !!!
Happy Holidays guys! Thanks for another year of readership and listenership!
WILL BE TOO BUSY TOMORROW —SO HERE IS WISHING ALL MY CTB BROTHERS A VERY MERRY / BLESSSED / SAFE CHRISTMAS ——————-YOU GUYS HERE AT CTB GIVE ME THE GIFT ” THAT KEEPS ON GIVING ” ON A DAILY BASIS —-MUCH APPRECIATED !!!!!1
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and your fam, Nomad!