Live Thread: Heat @ Cavs
2021-12-13Good evening CtB!
Tonight the fans are in for a treat, with the Miami Heat coming to town to face off against the Cavs in a early season playoff preview. The Heat will be without their best player, Jimmy Butler, but Kyle Lowry is an NBA champion and ultimate competitor. The Heat also have young stars Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, both of whom with Finals’ experience and are looking to make names for themselves as All-Star/All-NBA players. Also, the Heat surely are trying to establish themselves as real championship contenders along with Milwaukee and Brooklyn. The Cavs have thrived in challenging opportunities, so the opportunity to usurp the team ahead in the standings seems like the perfect bait!
The Cavs will just be without young guard Collin Sexton, but will have all other hands on deck. Supposedly Dylan Windler had a great game in his Charge assignment, so it’ll be interesting to see if Coach J.B. Bickerstaff sees a chance to exploit that newfound rhythm.
This will be a classic “strength vs. strength” game with the Miami Heat’s top 10 offense going against the Cavs’ top 5 defense. In another contrast of styles, the Heat sacrifice size to put more shooting and offensive play creation on the floor. Can the Cavs’ size dominate the game? That’s really the only question because when they impose their will on the game, the Cavs play championship caliber basketball.
Tip off is scheduled for 7:00PM ET and the game will be broadcasted on Bally Sports Ohio/Great Lakes… GO CAVS!
Cavs have opportunity to be Hawks from last year. Scrappy team that could shoot/rebound/play good defense and make it far. Yes its still very early and lot can happen, but watching them reminds me of Hawks run late in regular season and playoffs. Still would like to see them play true contender again…Bucks coming up later this month. Think that will be true litmus test. Felt last game, Bucks kinda toyed with Cavs and Ginanis said ‘enough’ and Cavs had zero answer. This upcoming game is in CLE so should be very interesting. Also when does NBA flex games? Cavs… Read more »
WATCHED GAME LAST NIGHT —COULDN’T WAIT TO GET UP AND WATCH REPLAY—THIS TEAM IS SO MUCH FUN TO WATCH ———” MORE BEER PLEASE—SNAP–CRACKLE AND BURP “
What a nice game by the Cavs. Doing the little things: taking care of the ball, hitting free throws, defending, and just managing the lead and riding the hot hand.
Only 3 teams in the east are above .500 in their last 10. Cavs (8-2), plus the Nets and Bucks both at 7-3. Now, a lot of squads have been shorthanded, but kudos to us for TCB and moving up the standings.
Anyone watch the post game presser? JB say anything about no Cedi?
https://twitter.com/AmNotEvan/status/1470586076754583554?s=20
He is either ignorant of thie team’s talent (unlikely) if he thinks its a good idea for Garland to average 35 mins a game this year….or he is a very insecure coach who is winning for the first time and doesnt want to lose a couple to integrate the 10 man rotation we should have.
I think he probably doesn’t want to mess with success. Which likely means a tight leash and short rotation. I sort of get it. I think they probably have benefitted from shorter rotations, but he definitely could pull guys earlier, eg when they were up by like 20 the last few games prior to this one. He seems to want to stretch leads and pull guys at the end as opposed to having a looser leash when they’re up big.
Yes but that’s where I think he underestimates this team’s talent. I dont worship Pop in the same way a lot if nba fans do…but one thing he was amazing at was minutes. By the time the playoffs roll around those mins in garland and Mobley (especially Mobley) will have taken their toll. This team is good enough to win on the road in the playoffs if healthy and rested. We can afford to lose a few games figuring out how to play 10-11 players.
That was when TD, Parker, & Manu were older.
Ain’t nothing wrong with 22/23 year olds playing 35 minutes a night.
FFS, Chamberlain one year played every second of every game. With no TV timeouts.
I get it…i get it. Duncan played almost 40 mins a game some years early on. But that was in the slowest paced era of the NBA ever. And also…Russell played in the fastest paced era ever so far. but minutes matter over time for most players. and also…it matters that you have backups that know their role and have played meaningful minutes by the time injuries (or more likely this year covid protocols) happen. JB is setting us up for failure during the early 2022 season when we have injuries or covid problems. There is zero downside to figuring… Read more »
hope he figures that out soon
He wants to keep one of Garland/Rubio on the floor at all times.
Plus, since they are the only two guys we have (sans Sexton) who can handle the ball, sometimes they have to share the floor if JB wants 2 ballhandlers, or eants to utilize DG off-ball for spacing.
I get that it works. Im not disputing it. But what makes Lebron and Jordan and Kobe outliers in the modern NBA is their load while still producing. Whereas 99% of nba players are not able to produce during the playoffs after overly heavy usage during the season. But even if they do in one season…injuries find their way in over the next couple. Oladipo, Brandon Roy, Justice Winslow, and bunches of other examples seem to point toward minutes mattering long term. But even short term…you can look at the cavs 1st and 2nd splits…and 3rd and 4th splits. Even… Read more »
Bucks lost. 76ers getting smacked in Memphis with Embiid sitting out. Charlotte getting blown out. Wiz down double digits to Denver.
Gaining ground on lots of eastern teams tonight.
Low key expecting Cavs to start pulling away and challenging top 3 seed.
For sure possible. Bulls & Hornets have a ton of guys out at the moment. Bucks are down Lopez, DiVicenzo, and now Middleton. Philly is getting nada from Simmons, Nets nada from Kyrie. Heck, we are without Sexton.
Yup, yup, Harden and KD are playing a shit ton of minutes too because they don’t have kyrie.
Plus there’s so much untapped potential left to mine because the guys are so young and new. They should keep improving the more situations they see.
Damn, just heard Khris Middleton might’ve hurt his knee… sincerely hope he’s OK. I f******* hate knee injuries.
ugh that sucks. That team is so fun to watch when at full strength.
Will kill their chances to beat the nets or Miami in the playoffs if it is.
Damn, I really like Kris. Hope not too serious.
Sounded like a hyperextension.
yup, heard the same…. those can go two very different directions no pun intended LMFAOOO
our assists were down to a paltry 24 tonight…though at 105 points that’s fair i guess.
Free throw shooting again won the game for us in the end. +12 from the stripe (and 17-18 to boot!)
Assists gonna be down when free throws up.
let’s hope someone makes an offer for sexton that makes sense.. this team can play in the conference finals.. not sure they win, but they can get there.. they need a tiny bit of low-friction help
yeah, that’s the real conundrum… there’s really nothing out there that could make you pull the trigger yet.
Well, maybe. I think Bucks + Nets are heavy favorites for that. A fully healthy Heat squad + Philly (if they get something for Simmons) are all likely ahead of us.
But if we can turn 3 draft picks, Sexton, and an MLE into some wing help, another ball handler, and a playable backup C with girth, we are in business. Especially if DG, Mobley, & Ice continue to improve.
We probably aren’t getting past a bucks, nets, or healthy Miami team with Butler and Bam in a 7 game series. I’d worry bout the sixers and Embiid manhandling JA and Mobley in the post and getting them both in foul trouble.
Late arriving to finally read the prose in this post — well done Chris, you absolutely had it right, this game had a playoff feeling to it.
thanks Adam!!! yeah the all the real teams are gonna start winning in bunches now… Miami was clearly out for revenge and the Cavs withstood the test, passed with flying colors quite frankly.
let the good times roll.. the cavs will be the most frightening team to face in the playoffs.. like shit-in-your-pants scary.. but for now.. let the good times roll..
Kudos to PJ Tucker for a great game, he ends the game with 23 points on 5-8 shooting from three and 9 rebounds. Strangely enough those are precisely also Kevin Love’s numbers! I sense an equilibrium in the force
Though it is weird to say, I kind of think PJ’s big night is a sign of growth for us. In the past, we’d have let Lowry/Herro/Robinson go nuts to compensate for Bam/Jimmy being out. Lowey had 20, but did not go nuts. But we were not gonna let him + Herro/Robinson beat us. Credit to Tucker for making his 3s and beasting on the glass.
right on — Markkannen had quite a few excellent defensive possessions working against Kyle Lowry. Mobley is getting defended by some pretty big names in the league, Tucker was making him work
great point Jason… defensive discipline takes a lot of energy but the Cavs are giving it!
LMFAO two old men duking it out for old times’ sake!
JA and/or DG in the all-star game and winning it. Mobley in the rookie game and winning MVP. Love at the 3pt contest.
We need to be VERY WELL represented in February!!
there was a funny moment in the most recent Brian Windhorst podcast (not recommended!) where he blithely said “Darius Garland isn’t playing in the All-Star game” and then very quickly corrected himself to admit that it is actually possible
PREACH IT RJ!!!
notch the W, joining the Four Horsemen of Brooklyn-Milwaukee-Chicago-Cleveland at the top of the conference, would love to keep this going, well done Cavs!!!
THATS RIGHT ADAM!!! HOME COURT ADVANTAGE HERE WE COME!!!!
boom! I like this fighting for home court stuff instead of scrambling around hoping for a play-in game, certainly they have made a massive separation from the basement of the East and any kind of lottery discussion. It is great to see this team playing well even when Mobley is not having his best game
Bucks are losing in Boston by 10, mid 4th.
If they lose, we are 1 game out of 2nd.
Hope they rebrand the Cavs to start the new era. Need some better jerseys! 🙏
Agree. Some tweaks is ok starting with a more traditional or professional fonts and numbers. Retain the color scheme.
This new era will be legendary it should have trademarks on everything that will last and have tradition. Jerseys, court and overall branding.
feels like they dispensed with the unmatched letter graffiti font on the black jerseys of last year? also waiting for a bright yellow jersey to appear, hasn’t happened yet if memory serves
God, I hope that is sarcasm.
I love the jerseys/court we had tonight.
The ones tonight are the only good jerseys
Up to 4th in the standings.
Who would’ve thought!!
Wine & Gold winner!
Love, Okoro, & Allen starred in this one. Markannen OK. DG a bit subpar. Mobley off on O. Tucker & Lowry good for them.
I wonder what is up with Cedi. Injury. Trade? He did not hit his shots, but not appearing in the 3rd was weird.
No no no for a trade. This team needs to be intact the rest of the season until next. Let it be. Do not rush any upgrade
A win is a win is a win is a win.
Let’s go Cavs!!
No Bam, no Jimmy, I get it, but that was a dogfight….good win…
At 3 pm I was having hernia surgery.In/out, 8 pm Nashville time,,,,,Watching a Cavs team close out Miami.Miracles all over.
Hope the recovery goes well Steve!
Man,I’m on the mend already,and watching this Cavs team morph into a winner is helping too,Thanks!!!
Glad you’re OK Steve!!! Rest up!!!
All is well,thx
Good to hear, keep us posted!!!
COVERED THE SPREAD, DEFENSE IS CLAMPS
HELL YEAH LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
JA with the coffin nail…
DG hitting TO mode. Gotta get his 5.
WTF??? HEAT ARE CAMPING IN THE LANE!!! CALL THREE SECONDS REF!
felt like more whistles than usual on the Cavs on the offensive end tonight
RUBIO WHAT A PLAY!!!
WTF IS THAT CALL????
Playing Love that long without Cedi for his outlet passes is criminal
JA to the rescue…
JA DRIVE AND FINISH!!!!!
Good TO JB.
Too early for celebration mode.
JB tried to ride that group too long
Nah. They were cooking. After the TO/score was his first chance to stop it.
Attaboy Kev
gotta go quicker Love, turn around shoot.
Pretty cool to have a team with a target on its back tonight still come away with a win assuming they seal this one
Magnificent KLove! MVP in this game, Okoro is playing extremely well too, great team performance so far
K love like your big brother showing up at the playground just in time to kicki some bully’s ass
<3
Love is all you need.
Following yr comments at work (naughty), but can’t stay away from this team right now!!!
LMFAOOOOOOO there’s no snitches in here Simmo!
It’s so nice to see Love engaged.
One of Mobes’ rough games, and DG hasn’t been great, but Love and Okoro picking it up…
Lov3!!!!
LOVE RED RED HOT!!
THEY CANT STOP LOVE!!!!
Riding the vets home
RUBIO DANCE TO THE HOOP!
LOVE ON A HEATER
This is now 2 heaters vs the Heat. He had, what, 22 down there? 20?
Great point, glad he holds a grudge!!!
LOVE IS DOMINATING
LOVE TO MOBLEY EASY MONEY!
They didn’t give Mobley a block under the hoop earlier. My man’s strugglin but don’t kick him while he’s down!
Ice & Love b2b triples! Back up 11!
DG TO LOVE TWO MAN!!!!!!! RAGE TIMEOUT!
OKORO MAKES THEM PAY!!!!!!
total game changer
He’s been doing it tonight….hope it continues…
Just such a waste for us not to use our whole team.
good minutes from Stevens,
The KLove hustle to close out on that corner 3 was pretty encouraging to see
damn great pass DG, love has to catch and shoot that.