Podcap: Cleveland 98, Indiana 85 (or, Cavalanche!)
2022-02-07Sunday night’s win over the Pacers looked anything but assured for Cleveland as they started out ice cold from the floor, just 4-23 in the first frame, ending the quarter down 27-12. Having just had their starting wing, Caris LeVert traded to Cleveland, literally while he was in the locker room suiting up to play Cleveland, Indiana played from the tip like they had nothing to lose. The Pacers would end up leading by as much as 20 early in the second before the Cavs climbed the mountain on their way back single digits for the next 20 minutes.
Then, a rifle cracked. Cedi Osman sniped a triple to start the third quarter, and triggered a Cavalanche. Kevin Love, Cedi, and Rondo combined to sink the first eight triples of the period and gun their way to a 19-0 run to bury the stunned Pacers. The wine and gold never went back to collect the dead.
To celebrate the Cavalanche Comeback and the newly acquired LeVert, the CtB faithful squeezed into the podcast studios. Nate Smith, Elijah Kim, Tom Pestak, and Chris Francis kicked it off by holding a (Kevin) Love fest for what we’d all just witnessed. After breaking down the game and the Cavalanche, the guys got into the LeVert trade and broke down how he helped the Cavs, how he fits their timeline, and what other moves the Cavs might have considered or what they may be considering still.
The CtB brain trust tried to nail down the origins of the Cavs’ 90’s mascot, Whammer and played a game of “who he play for?” with an early aughts Cavs squad. Tom penned an ode to Bill Fitch. Eli (the Korean Channing Frye) regaled us with the details of his Sunday night pick-up glory. Tom and Nate traded epic tales of bureaucracy and wisdom, and then the old men sang the praises of the OG computer store, Micro Center. What a night. What a win. What a trade. What a season.
Listen below, download the full audio file, or check us out on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn, Spotify.
Sources: Los Angeles Lakers feel urgency to make changes as trade deadline nears (ESPN Feb 9 3:42 am)
i love a good laugh with my first cup of coffee in the morning..
i know the solution !!! just trade russ to PHX for devin booker.. easy fix
Which Caris Levert will we see over the next week? The one who scores 18 points and gets over 4 assists a game? Or the one who gets 1.5 stocks a game and manages to somehow, someway, be more efficient than usual when he plays on a winning team?
cmon yall…this is fixin to be so effing fun
I’m optimistic. admittedly I am usually optimistic, but this year I am often right!
enjoying the truly astounding stupidity of non-CLE nba front offices.. sacramento.. portland.. WTF ??!! i do feel the pain of those poor fan bases.. now that is true clinical depression territory..
I can’t even imagine being a Kings fan.
I’ll give you the Kangz.
But I thought Portland did OK in the McCollum deal. The Powell deal was awful. But at least you know which direction they are going: shed salay, build around Dame & Simons.
I have no idea WTF the Kangz are doing. Flailing.
y.. the powell-covington affair is unspeakably horrific.. the mcollum deal is still weaK imho.. together just pathetic.. if i was a portland native (and captive homeown fan) i would be in very bad shape.. once you let this stuff into you being it will work like a drug (high highs and very low lows) unless you take steps to maintain control… the kings haliburton thing is insane.. but their are incompetents scattered everywhere throughout this society.. the game is rigged
now you know why they riot in Portland all the time
Bucks shooting like 68% at half. Up 78-56 on the Lakers at half.
haha Tom I grew up a fellow Daytonian (grew up near Xenia and my brother still lives in Dayton…ask for Taylor at Coco’s…he’s a hoot and helluva waiter)…I thoroughly enjoyed your participation in the last podcap. You made me a little homesick for Dayton…place gets a bad wrap. But only from people who have been there lol.
Thanks Scotch – now I’m trying to remember what I said about Greene county in the last pod…
I’ll have to check out Cocos! Right now my favorite food is a burger from Slyder’s tavern in Belmont. It’s a cool little bar with Cleveland sports stuff all over the walls
Nuggets have 83 in the Knicks, at halftime.
The East has their 10. The order might flip around, but the Wiz, Knicks, Pacers, Pistons, and Magic are done. Det & Orl still trying. Other 3 are actively tanking.
FANPOST
Thoughts on the Levert TradeBy xfl2001fan on Feb 7, 2022, 6:48pm CST +
rather sobering reflection on levert (and sexton).. worth reading..
my response would be.. for what he cost, the risk was reasonable, and the upside is significant.. he appears to be a humble (and therefore coachable) fellow.. he has talent.. he has produced at a mid-to high level in the nba for many years,, he is a pro.. there is space for him on almost every team.. i think he can become a better, and more dangerous, team player playing with a special young crew competing for post-season success, this year, and into the foreseeable future.. it’s what every legitimate non-check cashing pro signs up for.. relevance during their career..… Read more »
i like it
My initial thoughts on this trade were very similar. And I did not like giving up 2 top 35 picks in this year’s draft. However….on LeVert, I’d respond like this:
1) Criticism too focused in TS%. LeVert is 81st percentile as a P&R ball handler in the association. Further, of all high usage guys, I think only 4 have a lower TO rate (AD, Porzingas, DeRozan, Booker). So yeah, the TS% is low, but the TEAM points per possession is high with him at the controls. And that is the better measure.
2) He is a frequent and efficient driver. Driving 16 times a game & shooting 50% on them.
3) With our defense, we do not need an uber efficient secondary playmaker. If the offense is close to average with Garland out, that is a win.
4) Rubio’s TS% is worse that LeVert’s. 48.8% to 53.0%. Sure, Rubio is a better defender and passer, but his TS% stinks, and he helped a ton.
5) He has familiarity with Allen. Everyone says he is a great guy. If there were effort/ball higging issues, I think Allen would have said something to Koby.
6) Ohio guy. Pickerington (Columbus) high school. Went to Michigan. Northern Ohio perfect for him.
7) If things go sideways, we are not stuck with him. His contract is expiring and tradeable. Ditto Sexton if he signs a reasonable extension.
8) For NOMAD: 38% on spot up 3s.
yep, that was sobering. all the more reason for not being a starter.
Morris cheap shot on Morant tonight. Ejected. Suspended hopefully.
Embiid, after a great game, bricks a stupid 3 down 3 with a minute left, picks Paul’s pocket, then throws the outlet out of bounds.
the east is open for business.. no one is unbeatable.. phx just beat plili.. with embiid feasting
Suns on a b2b, too.
If Harden & Simmons stay put, yep. Wide open.
If the Bucks get Lopez back. Or GSW & Phoenix, is a different story. Or the Clips with PG13 & Kawhi back. Maybe even Denver with Murray back.
the cavs, luckily, got the bucks’ attention.. now, with levert.. no one is really going to want to face this team.. they will all want someone else to do the job for them.. within a few weeks they may be really be chewing teams up..
I still think we are not real contenders quite yet. Though with LeVert, we are closer.
Aside from Love & Rondo, we have no Finals experience (OK, Cedi, but he hardly played). I don’t think anyone else has been beyond round 1, at that is JA and LeVert.
Big ask to ask a bunch of playoff virgins to win it all. Not realistic in my view.
they are capable, with some luck, in winning 2 series, depending on the draw.. if that happens,, ya never know.. pretty special team.. think ’80 olympic hockey.. hey.. miracles happen
True enough.
I just think, from a GM/front office perspective, it is a year or two early to o no push all your chips in.
I am not giving up 1sts (or high 2nds) for a rental (Schroeder). Now, if we could land a guy who would stick around for a while…..different story.
in total agreement.. no problem going into battle with this group as currently constituted.. this situation is a dream.. going to be very enjoyable (even with some disappointment, which is always part of the gig..
with buck on this.
also:
Cavs are the youngest team, and getting better by the minute.
they will get some experience in round 1, need it in round 2.
hopefully Mobley can be rested up and past the rookie wall.
who stays healthy and who doesn’t down the stretch is always a major factor.
great point. in the NBA young teams NEVER win, sure they could make a nice run but it takes veteran experience on top of insane talent to get there. I am totally ok with that, even if we lose in the first round i think this season will be seen as a massive success. With that said, I also believe we could make a run at the Finals. It will depend on matchups and health but experience is the big factor which we just do not have yet. Next year?! OMG look out league, ya’ll be put on notice
the yt video “caris levert talks trade to the cavs..” very impressive young man.. outlook even brighter than i thought..
would phx move peyton ? having an off year, but he has a decent long term record.. he is a pro.. and getting the minimum
PREACH IT BUCKAROO—-PREACH IT !!!