Podcap: Memphis 132, Cleveland 121 (or, Tower City Tipoff)
2021-10-21Nate Smith and Chris Francis hop into the CtB podcast resort studios to break down the Cavs’ opener: a tough loss against the Memphis Grizzlies who were led by the ridiculousness of Ja Morant (37-6-6) and the rebounding of the stout Steven Adams. Nate and Chris break down this game from every angle including J.B.’s “Tower City” experiment, featuring Lauri Markkanen at the three, the brilliant Jarrett Allen, and the promising Evan Mobley. CtB, never strangers to controversy, wade into the the strange closing lineup, Larry versus Lauri, and whether the Cavs are putting themselves in position for success.
For a nice coda, Nate and Chris also do a little “around the world” of the NBA, including waxing poetic the greatness of Giannis Antetokounmpo, the somewhat surprising spryness of the Golden State Warriors, and whether the Lakers or Nets should be concerned. And as always, stick around for a hilarious “pitches” segment, because CtB is nothing if not fun!
Listen below, download the full audio file, or check us out on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn, and Spotify.
just posted live thread if y’all wanna hop on over!
Hope everyone is doing good. I used to drop in during cavs-dubs rivalry. I occasionally do drop in to read the articles here even though I don’t post as I am not a cavs fan. Mobley is future star, hope Cavs build around him and Garland.
Someone made a comment here few days back on how Dubs left out Wiseman from warriors rotation. Wiseman is out of rotation because he is injured. He is very much in warriors plans to use him this year and warriors fans are high on him.
I like your team this year, even setting aside Klay, because he’s a wildcard, and could go either way. (and setting aside Wiseman as well) Agree about Mobley. He has really surprised me – I was high on him, but he looks a lot more NMBA ready right now than I would have imagined. I like Jarrett Allen, and really like Okoro, Mobley, and Garland. Just going to take their lumps like all young lineups do in the NBA. Cavs aren’t far from being really interesting, but probably not quite this season.
Hey WarriorsFan! good to see you pop in!
That was me about Wiseman LMFAOOO didn’t know he was injured, yikes if true… he was an abject disaster last year, although I see the potential if he actually puts it together.
Anyone catch D’Ernest Johnson’s reaction last night to hearing Lebron gave him a shout-out. Pretty priceless. Congrats to him on that game last night, hope the young guy gets paid.
now that is what i am talking about !! there is talent out there.. that young brother was undrafted and just put on a clinic.. he is a game-changer (literally and figuratively).. uncle buck has those youtube vids in his hall of fame.. that is the stuff that makes pro sports somewhat redeemable.. were you watching kolby ?? he needs to play EVERY game.. and get at least 10 touches per game.. play him as a receiver.. whatever.. just play him.. he is electric !!
Why is Rubio not starting along with Isaac Okoro??? The defensive effort against Ja would’ve been much more effective. Even Pangos in place of Sextons minutes would’ve been an upgrade. He got beat badly. I hope the front office and JB watch film and come to their senses, but I’m not holding my breath. Trying to stay positive one game into this season.
Because the cavs are worried about Sexton’s ego and/or Koby is worried about his trade value. It’s dumb.
I’m pretty low on Sexton’s D, but he’s probably prime Tony Allen compared to Pangos on that end…
A likely guess is that Plan A is for Sexton to get better with experience and Plan B is for him to show a glimmer of potential so he is worth more in a trade. Either requires a lot of floor time.
Given that the chances of the Cavs going anywhere this year in the playoffs is ZERO, sabotaging the future to get a couple more wins this year is not such a good idea.
He would be more useful, look better, and have more trade value if he is showcased as a dynamic sixth man that actually helps a team win though.
agree on that. that is the most likely role for him to ever be relevant.
who is the bigger ex-dukie check-cashing slouch.. justise winslow or jabari parker ?
Mavs-Hawks on TNT a pretty classic matchup…
got damn ATL with the beatdown, Cam Reddish en fuego and their whole bench looks better!
JALEN JOHNSON!!!
looks to me like 3 games (out of the next 20) through the end of November may be realistically winnable.. 1 of 2 against charlotte, and 1 vs detroit and orlando.. tough schedule..
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder recently signed for five years and $172 million.. cavs could have had him, and they would be in an entirely different (and much better) situation than the one they find themselves in.. but kolby is kolby.. which is to say, lacking..
Oh geez. I’m over that
SGA didn’t want the Cavs to draft him. If they had drafted him, he may well have been long, long gone by now.
This is the rumor. But also rookies are locked up for basically 6-7 years. They don’t really have leverage other than to just not play in the league. Which I doubt any one and done would be willing to sacrifice 3-4 years just to not go to a certain team.
They can take the QO. If the Cavs had taken SGA and he had done that, the narrative would have been ‘Cavs = usual sharkshow, WTF did they take a player who didn’t want to be there??’. I didn’t have an issue with them taking Sexton for just that reason.
Pretty certain a rookie on the rookie scale does not have an option to sign a QO for a single year. Minimum two years with team option for year 3 and 4. NBA CBA: First Round Pick finishing a rookie scale contract — A first round pick’s salary in a regular Qualifying Offer must (generally) be an amount equal to his fourth year salary increased by the percentage called for in the rookie salary scale. But the CBA includes detailed exceptions to this general salary rule depending upon whether the first round pick meets one of the “starter criteria” in… Read more »
QO only after finishing rookie scale contract.
from the ringer article on best young players on each team in NBA.. [sexton].. “has the worst defensive metrics of any player over the last half-decade.” wow.. seems like we are not imagining the deficiencies.. he needs to be traded.. he is worth a haul that can actually help win a games on a regular basis, by feeding the towers..
if he’s that bad who is going to trade for him? think the Cavs figured that out this past summer that if Sexton is involved in trade it involves other players on team and a draft pick and Cavs didn’t budge…would like to see him in bench role like Crawford or Lou Will and see what that brings to team…he’s not starter material but can score.
sexton will gladly embrace a 6th man role on a contender (doing it on the lowly cav-nots, after being the alpha dog just ain’t gonna happen, at least not happily and successfully).. he can come of the bench and do his max effort spark plug thing.. contenders who need that spark will pay accordingly.. cavs need some taller stable mid-level talent who can defend and hit some 3s.. just like the young low-pick dudes from memphis (bane and melton) who lit up sexton and garland last night.. talent is out there.. cavs need to lose the front office that wears… Read more »
right. the theory that other teams won’t notice Sexton’s liabilities is about as likely as teams not realizing that Ben Simmons is a head case. Sexton has value as a hard working volume scorer, and also as a part of a potential trade.
Please JB, never leave Lauri out there when someone like Morant can just abuse him. This was clearly a game where Okoro should have played 40 minutes. He’s the only guy on the Cavs who can even slow down someone like him.
i guess bitterstuff and kolby believe, or have been instructed, that when dan pays a bro $65 million on a 4 yr contract, his ass better be on the floor..
To be fair, Ice picked up fouls early and often. Screwed up the rotations. Lauri had zero fouls.
Evan Mobley looking good out there. The shooting touch, the ability to finish and the defense. If he has the intangibles and the will, we will have our own Giannis. Home grown talent that will take us on the next level.
I think he will be a solid player! He reminds me of like a Boris Diaw 2.0 with a better shooting stroke. I can get behind this. But his guards are not getting the ball when he cuts or post ups as much as we could’ve used. I was really impressed with his first game.
watched highlights on youtube – ja morant looking really good – Cavs once again letting screens get set and then guards already out of position — same stuff as last year – grizz were on fire from 3 most of game – think first half they were over 50% – lot of wide open shots for them – offense can score but defense a hot mess out of the gate – just one game so not worried about rotations or what new guys did – but rubio mobley looked good – markkenen struggled a bit – garland ice cold to… Read more »
MORANT WILL BE IN TOP 20 IF HE CONTINUES TO PLAY LIKE HE DID LAST NIGHT// TOP 15 IF HE DEVELOPS A CONSISTENT 3 PT SHOT——–AGREE WITH CLF// TOO EARLY TO ‘TOSS LAURI UNDER THE BUS ‘—–MOBLEY IS THE REAL DEAL/// NEED TO WATCH HIS MINUTES // THINK 37 MIN’S IS TOO MUCH FOR HIM THIS EARLY—–HOPING CEDI CONTINUES HIS STOUT PLAY——RESIGN RUBIO RIGHT NOW –HE IS A VETERAN COMPOTENT THAT THE CAVS NEED ——-THANKS GUYS FOR ALL YOU DO !!!!
JB played Mobley heavy minutes in preseason too…
agree on Mobley but honestly he is like one of our best players already so if we want to be competitive we need him to win!!! but, much rather see him around the 30 minute mark