Live Thread: Grizzlies @ Cavs
2022-01-04Good evening CtB!
The Memphis Grizzlies travel north to the shores of Lake Erie to take on the Cavs in a NBA mid-season showcase with two of the most exciting, young playoff teams. Part of the reason for the excitement surrounding both teams is that both teams feature two of the most exciting, young point guards in the NBA in Ja Morant for Memphis and Darius Garland for the Cavs.
While Morant has established himself more quickly in the NBA landscape with his breakout performance in last year’s playoffs, it appears DG has overcome his college knee injury to put himself in the conversation among the game’s best young point guards. Both players are a coach’s dream. They play the game the right way, prioritizing team success and winning above individual stats and accolades. The key to both of their success stories has been the unselfishness with which they approach the game, while also being able to get a bucket whenever they want. As a basketball fan, this is a dream matchup and one that could go down history as an all-time rivalry.
Both teams come into the game with their stars on the court, though both teams also continue to deal with many question marks as to who’s available on a night to night basis. The Grizzlies’ injury report is too long to list, but suffice it to say they could be either at full strength or a very skeleton crew. The picture is a little clearer for the Cavs, with DG and Dylan Windler probable to return tonight. The Cavs will be missing Isaac “Ice” Okoro, Rajon Rondo, and Cedi Osman along with the usual suspects.
As far as how the game will unfold, tonight’s game is a contrast of styles with Memphis’ high-powered offense against the Cavs’ vaunted defense. The first matchup between the two teams was a barnburner, with the Grizzlies lighting the Cavs up 132-121. Hopefully the Cavs have revenge on their minds, but the task will not be easy as the Grizzlies come to town red-hot on a five game winning streak, best in the Western Conference.
Tip off is scheduled for 7:00PM ET, and the game will be broadcasted on Bally Sports Ohio/Great Lakes, GO CAVS!
Not really a fan of RJ Barrett, but he really stinks tonight…
‘DITTO” WHAT ALL OF YOU HAVE POSTED ——WILL KYRIE PLAY AGAINST THE CAVS HERE AT HOME OR WILL HE ” CHICKEN ” OUT AGAIN AS HE HAS ALWAYS DONE IN THE PAST —-
Knowing KI, I think Chicken is on the table…
Anyone else sickened by all the love for Kyrie returning? Sure, he probably has the most insane handles of all time and hit the greatest shot in Cavs history, but the Nets’ reversal sends such a bad message about vaccination. Also, I can’t stand that Kyrie’s an irresponsible egomaniac who thinks he’s a philosopher and a leader when he’s really just a chump and a poison. I will never get over how many titles we could have won if he was willing to be LBJ’s #2 instead of thinking he could be “the man” and then proceeding to surround himself… Read more »
Agree with all points. Like most people, KI is a mix of good and bad.
KI is the most tired ‘personality’ in sports. Hope for nothing but losses for him.
HaHa — me too. I was bummed to see him win last night. KPJ also had a moment last night.
Totally agree worldbfree. For my money, the NBA should make the vaccine mandatory. Celebrating Kyrie sends all the wrong messages.
I am currently optimistic that Rondo can command respect on the second unit. Have been over and over and over the games just before and just after rubio got hurt. It wasn’t rubio’s shooting that got us through wins…it was his gravity. Rondo can hit catch and shoot threes at a 30% clip. He can create layups for himself or floaters for himself at a similar clip as Rubio. He is not Rubio and never will be. but he can be something Rubio wasn’t…he can be literally nasty. I abhor patrick beverly cuz i think refs give him the gary… Read more »
100% Scotch. I also think that he’s grown into a maturity where he’s nasty on the court but a leader in the locker room.
Sure, there’s a version of this that goes south, but I think it’s a great move (until proven wrong)!
I am also optimistic that it can be a good thing. We will see.
He’s generally been good as long as the team is competitive/in playoff position. Could be really good if we see Playoff Rondo come to fruition. He’s also not afraid of anyone or high pressure moments
Kyrie is back for the Nets with KD, Durant, Mills
Blake, and Aldridge all gos.
Down 17 late 3rd to a Pacers team missing Brogdin, Lavert, Duarte, Lamb, and, still, TJ Warren.
Lance Stephenson has 28.
That turned around fast…zoinks
D LILLIARD OUT NEXT 3 GAMES—-MAKES THAT SUNDAY GAME WINNABLE
I COULD SEE US GOING 4-2 ON THIS ROAD TRIP OR I CAN SEE US GOING 2-4 –( OR WORSE ) —IS RONDO GOING TO JOIN US OUT WEST ?
Cavs continue to compete hard and play hard but its apparent they struggle against the Grizzlies and have no one to defend Morant. Garland is close and Mobley will get there but Ja was best player on the court and thats what really matters. Cavs getting there but missing a reliable second guard is still hurting team. Props to that G-league dude trying his best but if that is only option as backup guard or two guard then you wont win. Case in point the turnover at end that sealed the win for Grizz by Ja.
If JA was defending DG on the last possession idk why JB didn’t do the same with DG from prior. DG might be turnstile but that experience will be beneficial for him win or lose.
This was a very predictable game. The cavs have continued to build leads against even really good teams because they have a certain rhythm…but against elite teams like the Griz they lose the end of quarters instead of win them. This was Rubio’s niche…keeping defenses off balance during times of the game when rhythm is interrupted. Rondo has big shoes to fill. He might be ideal for it though while Garland is on the court. Playing Garland off ball is a trump card when you have 3 other 6’10” and above players to keep the defense working. Garland off ball… Read more »
Rubio was such a savvy veteran stabilizing force, gritty down the stretch when it’s tight, timely with his defense…. I don’t know how we replace that? But if Rondo still has some fire in him and wants to prove something then he might strangely be the perfect answer to the loss of Rubio. He’s been all those things, don’t know if he’s any of those things anymore.
yup, unfortunately a lot is riding on Rondo right now in terms of Cavs’ playoff chances.
you’ve written this a lot already and i dont disagree….why i was surprised by contract extension. I still think this guy has lot to prove still and this was a game against elite opponent that he messed up via questionable coaching decisions.
I actually haven’t been writing that this season much. He’s been much improved at game management and details like challenges and oob plays. But putting Goodwin on the sideline in that situation was one of those “attention to detail” things that used to bite him a lot the previous couple seasons. Rubio also covered a lot of sins for them. But two mistakes cost them a chance at that game (wasting the challenge so they couldn’t review the Ja hook play, and putting Goodwin on as inbounder). I also wondered if Stevens was hurt as he was wearing a back… Read more »
I still don’t know about oob. We’ve had a lot of 5 second violations or nearly 5 seconds and actions that go nowhere. His cultural/motivational attributes are what got him the extension. Challenges have been better.
JB sucked tonight. Over played Goodwin and didn’t play Stevens down the stretch to rough up Ja. Bad challenge. Late with timeouts when Memphis was making runs…. That said, Memphis is really good, we made them earn it.
damn, JB having Goodwin out there instead of Windler or Stevens or hell even Wade. Pangos at least practiced with the team… just a bad bad decision.
Well…that is exactly the situation we miss having Rubio for…freaking frustrating
100%
Question is will Rondo be able to make that type of game situation easier to handle? It seems like he would
We need to use the DPE and sign a real player now that Rubio & Sexton are out for the year.
Not doing so is costing us games.
Who are you going to sign that is going to help you win games?
That sucked…winnable game…
Tough one to lose
Why didn’t we challenge that? Oh yeah because we waisted it on nothing.
you can’t challenge a no call.
OMG he took 5 steps.
But he’s a STARRRRRR….
NBA reffing is a joke.
I’m baffled by JB’s coaching here. Why wasn’t Kevin Love throwing that inbound?
Need 2 triples now.
Game over. Goodwin the wrong kind of goat
JB’s bugaboos coming back to haunt him: bad challenges, running guys into the ground, and turnovers on oob plays.
Welp that was a horrendous TO
WTF, JB overplayed his hand with Goodwin IMO
Should have had Windler or Love in for him…
And we don’t get a shot.
Missing Kyle Guy.
Jfc
Killer TO…Morant shoved DG on the drive to the hoop, but they aren’t calling that…
Nooooooooo
Killer shot. Stevens must be hurt or he’d be playing right now.
Ja being Ja.
We don’t need a 3.
Wasn’t that a travel ?
did you think his foot touched the ground?
it was damn close if not.
Yes it sure looked like it, replay didn’t show but I bet it was super close
Allen got away with afoul, but I don’t care.
DG needs to win this for the Cavs…
MOBLEY is clutch.
Mobes ties it.
MOBLEY FINISH
DG pocket passing >>>>>>>>>>
MOBLEY.
Hell yeah
GOODWIN WHAT A PLAY!!!!! OK YOUNG MAN!
too bad JB wasted his challenge.
If we had our challenge we could use it now. JA clearly hooked him. F@#k
Harden move there by Ja to “draw” the “foul”…
c’mon JB Goodwin getting eaten alive man.
BIG SHOT LAURI!
Or not.
Goodwin can’t shoot. Gotta put love in for lauri.
Yes…
Nice pass, though.
LAURI CLUTCH
We need something at the basket.
Big 3 Lauri…
MOBLEY BLOCKED THAT SHIT!!!!!!
My god, Mobley…
Good gamble with zero team fouls.
Goodwin can’t hang with Ja there.
who can?
great point, will say that size seemed to bother Ja early on.
Is Stevens hurt?
IDK, just wondering too.
loose ball, turnover bad stuff.
DG HUGE FINISH!!!!! CLUTCH!!!!
That was enormous.
D freaking G…
Lauri with an awful turnover.
SG & SF are still open. SF more than SG
DG gonna have to take us home with JA & Mobes.
Mobley calming things down.
How could we be the tired team? They played last night for pete’s sake.
DG first game back from COVID.
Love not used to playing 30 minutes a night.
yup, lot of COVID guys sucking wind IMO
I think we are running out of gas.
Good TO. 7-0 Grizz run.
I hope Cavs have the juice to finish. Heavy minutes for our finishers.
Good. Timeout.
dammit, DG couldn’t finish and it leads to transiton, rage timeout.
F, Love wide open just missed.