Live Thread: Nets @ Cavs
2022-01-17Good afternoon CtB!
Today the Brooklyn Nets have trekked to the shores of Lake Erie to take on the Cavs in a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day matinee. For the Cavs, this is the first in a series of games against the cream of the Eastern Conference crop coming off of a brutal road trip. For the Nets, this is the beginning of a period of time without one of their star players in Kevin Durant, who’s out with a knee sprain. Both teams will have to fight through adversity earn that W.
This game will be a very interesting chess match on the court. The Cavs’ elite defense has had trouble containing the Net’s offense. In spite of the lack of success, the Cavs’ plan to pack the paint and allow Brooklyn’s role players to fire away from three is a fundamentally sound strategy. That could change today with the recent emergence of sharp shooting rookie Kessler Edwards, who’s a 3 and D specialist shooting 42% from long range. Also, the Nets have started to mix in Day’Ron Sharpe, the University of North Carolina rookie big. Coach Steve Nash has added both of these guys to the rotation to increase the athleticism and energy of the team, as well as to make up for the lackluster performances of the Nets’ bench.
On the Cavs’ side of the ball, Rajon Rondo is out and Lamar Stevens is a game time decision. It’ll be interesting to see if teams start to heavily blitz Darius Garland to force the ball out of his hands given his recent hot streak. Today may be a game where Evan Mobley’s passing/playmaking becomes the pillar that the Cavs’ lean on.
Tip off is scheduled for 3:00PM ET and will be broadcasted on Bally Sports Ohio/Great Lakes, GO CAVS!
recap up!
This was the first time watching a game (albeit i didn’t have the cavs feed which as annoying) where it felt like the cavs home crowd played a role. It started with the REDONKULUS love over the shoulder pass and garland’s no look leave for okoro for the slam…but they made a difference down the stretch. Cavs nation has to realize what the warriors fans do…your home crowd can be like +3 wins for a talented team. We need the crowds from the 2005-2009 teams back. Get on it cavs marketing team…put maniacal butts in seats!
Watched that play during the replay multiple times. Watch closely – the moment DG knocks the ball out of the Net player’s hands from behind, he IMMEDIATELY turns and sprints to the other end. There was no certainty Love would collect the ball, or even take it cleanly, but he backed Love to do so and to QB the pass on a dime.
And you are right – that’s the kind of home court adrenalin that the Dubs have in spades.
I wanna see Cavs home court become the house of pain for visitors.
Hawks beat the Bucks. We are up to 4th.
We beat Chicago, and we are 1 game out of first, at worst. With the easiest remaining schedule in the league.
Moving sexton, aside from helping us add depth for a title run, doesn’t make a ton of sense at this point. Its possible to win it this year esp how covid and injuries but that would be because our starters balled out and KLove went supernova.
The next 2 years should be a real window though
I think it would take an absurd amount of luck for us to beat a number of teams in the east, let alone the west in a 7 game series. Regular season is one thing. Beating experienced healthy playoff teams like the bucks, nets, heat, GS, Utah, 76ers, Suns, would take a path where covid or injuries knocked out the star players for multiple teams for series we faced them and for us to remain healthy or without covid for the same series. I don’t think we’re a contender against healthy top teams yet. I think we could win a… Read more »
NOMAD – John B is thinking too hard, get him a beer!
Lol. Anything could happen in a crazy season like this, but I like to remain on even keel. Making the playoffs as a non-playin team is well beyond my expectations. Now it seems reasonable barring bad luck.
Even keel is good, but you gotta be ready when things break right, which they have. East top 6 “seams reasonable”? At the half way point, the Cavs are projected #1 East by computer modelers! Computer models might not be real accurate, but they are not chopped liver either. I say first round home court sounds very reasonable.
Anyone know how to find out what Las Vegas smart money thinks? Even money on Cavs top three in East? Actually, I don’t care what they think, I am having fun!
So at this point…things would have to go very wrong for the cavs not to finish in the top 4 just based on schedule strength. As in we would need to lose a starter or two.
I was making the argument we shouldnt bother with offloading rubio or sexton because this is NOT a title run year. We should role with this squad and develop the current end of the bench rather than chase unnecessary help. But then the homer in me said not to put voice to that thought lol.
I pretty much agree on this. Don’t make a trade unless it is really good. Especially don’t trade for anyone with “issues” that might hurt the team chemistry. The Cavs right now are a prime example of good chemistry!
No I agree and got that but didn’t really qualify my comment as such. Should have probably made the reply to more exuberant posts. No reason to trade unless you’re blown away by an offer, which is unlikely to happen.
AND YES A MEMPHIS// CAVS FINALS WOULD BE A TRULY COMPETITIVE// ENTERTAINING FINALS—-BENIFITTING NOT ONLY BOTH FRANCHISES BUT THE ENTIRE NBA——PROVE YOU CAN WIN THRU THE DRAFT AND SMART TRADING—–UNLIKE NETS// L;AKERS // ETC WHO GO THE ‘AAU ‘ ROUTE
HEY BUCKAROO —HOW IN THE HELL ARE YOU—–LIKE ALL OF US —HOPEFULLY GREAT——HEAR WHAT YOU ARE SAYING ABOUT SEXTON// AND YOU MAKE SOME VERY GOOD POINTS —-STILL THINK UNLESS A TRADE IS TOTALLY IN OUR FAVOR WE SIT TIGHT——-NOW IF HE // HIS AGENT WON’T WORK WITH THE CAVS ON A HONEST// WORTHY CONTRACT —-AND I HOPE CAVS ARE HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH HIS AGENT—–AND HE // THEY WANTS TOP TIER PLAYER MONEY THEN I SAY YES PURSUE A TRADE —–BUT IF HE // HIS AGENT WOULD AGREE TO A DEAL THAT IS WORTHY OF HIS TALENTS THEN I SAY KEEP… Read more »
NOMAD bro.. doing well.. just enjoying watching the NBA standings.. a therapy of sorts.. i was sick for the prime years of my youth with S.A.D. (standings affective disorder) as a tribe fan.. i imagine you also suffer at times as well, as an old clevelander.. i acknowledge it is a tough call with young bull, but i do think he is a hard-wired alpha dog.. one of the reasons he is so relentless.. here is hoping that all parties can be honest about the paths they are dedicated to following.. should be interesting.. as koby has recently been annointed… Read more »
You got that right!
You must be old enough to recall the days of “extended ASCII characters” art!
I once wrote a DOS era program named “NM3” that produced cool fractal pics based on math formulas. I waisted an afternoon creating a giant NM3 splash screen with ExASCII chars. I outsmarted myself by offering the user a choice of available graphics modes, and using some assembly code to query for available modes on the graphics card. Later, under Windows, when I would try to run NM3 in a DOS box, the assembly part would crash the computer.
Cavs commentary team calling Harden on his “olé defense” PML!
re sexton.. i always respected the young brother.. fearless, dedicated, tough and talented.. but i fear that he is not built psychologically to accept a limited role on this team, especially with garland on a year 3 all-star lift-off trajectory.. i think the cavs need to move him..
100%
I’m 50-50 on that outcome
I totally get this POV.
I hope you are wrong and he can adjust.
But I suspect you are right.
i would love to get LNJ back on this team.. if POR is going to blow it up, which they should, it might be possible..
I’m confused as hell. Just looked to see what time the Cavs play tonight… saw a final score. I keep looking at my clock wondering wtf happened.
oops!
Lol. Fricking bummer.
worth watching still if you can catch a replay, it was a great game.
Caught the last 5 min myself. Settling in with a coffee to watch the replay now….gonna enjoy every minute!!
I had to work, was really busy, just checking the score when I could. Finally got home with less than two minutes left. At least I was able to see a couple of the biggest plays.
CBS/NBA has an essay on the Stepian rule, and how it effects everyone this year (Cavs: not at all).
Also some midseason awards: Mobley unanimous ROY, J.B.B. tied with Billy Donovan for lead in Coach of Year, D.G. with two votes for most improved player.
who is ready for a CLE vs MEM finals.. it is on the horizon..
THATS RIGHT BUCK!!!!
maybe not this year.. but it is coming.. these franchises are both young, talented and hungry
yup… mirror images of each other from the opposite conference.
You could have gotten pretty good preseason odds betting that would be the finals matchup!
yes raoul bro.. i dream about placing a “reasonable” bet (re winning record, making the playoffs) the day after the cavs got rolled by the bulls (40 pt humiliation) on the first pre-season game..
Next year.
This Bucks/Hawks game is UGLY.
both these teams SELLING
HEY CHANNING COME OUT OF RETIREMENT AND BE THAT “4TH ” 7 ‘ :-)
ON TRADING SEXTON—WOULD PUT THE BRAKES ON THAT UNLESS IT WAS SO LOSIDED // DEAL IN OUR FAVOR—-SEXTON WITH THE RIGHT FRAME OF MIND // ACCEPTANCE TO HIS ROLE // UNDERSTANDING ACCEPTING A CONTRACT OFFER COULD FLOURISH AS A 6TH MAN ON THIS TEAM// AND HELP THEM EVEN MORE
Agreed.
Plus I fear we combine Rubio, or Cedi, or Love with him to get a higher salaried guy (Lavert, Dragic, Barnes, etc). I don’t eant to do that.
I might consider trading Rubio if I knew ahead of time it wouldn’t tick him off so he would not sign here as a FA. I want him back.
yeah, I think if there’s Rubio trade talk there’s no way there wasn’t a conversation first to make sure he was cool with what was going on, or at least informed.
What is the rule on that? Don’t you have to wait a year to come back as a FA?
Rubio could return because his contract ends this summer and because he wont get bought out like Z did(he wouldnt take one being injured).
Hey! Things are starting to break out way!
Rubio could come back, but the Cavs wouldn’t have his Bird rights so they maximum they could pay him would be the mid-level exception, just like every other team below the tax, rather than being able to overpay him due to having his Bird rights.
The Turd was -18 tonight. Game worst. Kyrie was +14.
Kyrie >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Jimmy Ratden
Playing defense is usually required for you to positively impact the game
HaHa!
My hot take of the day: DG will one day be in top 3 votes for MVP, and might even win one. Hope he does it in a Cavs uni.
I we beat Chicago on Wednesday, we’ll be, at worst, a half game out of first.
cavs odds to win the central have gone from +2500 to +1000 LMFAOOOOOOOOO
NATE A VERY GREAT POST !!!!—–MAN J.B. IS SO REFRESHING TO LISTEN TO IN HIS POST GAME INTERVIEWS—-HE IS SO IN TUNE WITH HIS PLAYERS AND THE MENTAL ASPECT OF THE GAME—-KEEPS HIMSELF// PLAYERS VERY EVEN KEELED —-
Has there been a trade rumor?
Mostly vague mutterings about LeVert. No thanks.
Hell to the no.
He doesn’t defend, is a poor shooter, and needs the ball. Plus he makes a lot.
yeah they’re looking for 2 FRPs, GTFOH INDY!!!!
That’s a clown request by Indy.
100%
im back, this is crazy
A glance at the +/- is eye opening. When your whole squad puts up -1 or better in a tight game with an excellent opponent less than 48 hours after finishing a comeback in your 6th road game on 9 days…you are officially making the leap as a team. Consistent excellence from all 9 guys.
good point!
And that nine includes Goodwin and Windler. Both made some winning plays tonight.
Goodwin played some meaningful ball. Outside of Ed Davis and Pangos, I don’t want to trade anyone. I love them all and with the system and buy in that JB has created the sum is greater than the parts.
Agree.
Does that include Sexton?
I think I would trade Sexton for the right fit, but no rush. I can’t help but think a big part of DG’s jump into stardom is because he didn’t have to share the ball with Sexton. This is squarely DGs team now. Sexton has to accept coming off the bench, if not, then move him.
19// 21 FROM FOUL LINE—MUST HAVE BEEN PRACTICING YESTERDAY !!!
We needed all of them.
Go Cavs!!!! Heckuva win