Podcap: Cleveland 114, Boston 113 (OT) (Reputational Gravity)
2022-11-04Chris Francis and Nate Smith jumped into the podcast laboratory, and then subbed in Elijah Kiim in the second quarter. Eli quickly coined the subtitle of this pod: “Reputational Gravity.” The Cavs have a lot of it right now, getting respect from around the association as they’ve ascended to top three in net rating. The term also applies to the respect Cavs’ shooters get (or don’t get) even when they’re not hitting their shots, which opens up the floor for the rest of the team. The trio break down this topic and so much more as they recap the Cavs’ thrilling victory over the Celtics.
Our Newtonian trio takes you through every part of the Cavs’ rotation, paying special attention to Donovan Mitchell’s defense, Caris LeVert’s similarities to Ricky Rubio, Darius Garland’s defensive skills and shortcomings, and DG’s otherworldly passing and shooting. What ails Isaac Okoro, Cedi Osman, Kevin Love, and Jarrett Allen? What’s got Donovan Mitchell playing such good defense? Which lineups are working the best? Are the Celtics worth worrying about in the east? It’s as in-depth a look at a 24 hour old game as you’ll find anywhere.
In the second hour, the gents discuss reputations of a different nature, notably Kyrie Irving’s and the NBA’s. Our NBA Science Academy scholars ask “Where is Adam Silver?” “Why is Kyrie such an oppositional dope?” “Is the NBA discipline committee basically Charles, Shaq, and Kenny?” It’s an in depth look at narcissists and bad faith actors. Fortunately, our men of letters wrap this one up some solid recommendations, and shout out some of the giants on whose shoulders CtB stands.
Listen below, download the full audio file, or listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn, or Spotify.
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I think Nate is in “we got fleeced” territory on the Celtics.
Trade Brown? You are nuts.
Utah’s play and Lauri says there’s still a possibility we got fleeced.
Disagree with the gang on Boston. They are two OT losses from being 7-1. Despite changing coaches, losing Williams and Gallanari, and the Udoka + Brown/Kanye situation.
The Celtics are the second best team in the East, with Williams. Outside of the Bucks.
Nate: they signed Gallanari to play the 4. He is already out. As is Williams. If those guys are healthy, they have a fantastic 9.
LT up
Lineups thoughts.
Mobley expansion needs to happen more with the second unit.
Allen misses DG a lot. But agree with Nate. Last year was ridiculous, however. As I said earlier, Mitchell needs to learn how to use him more.
Okoro. He cannot play big minutes next to EM & Mobley. But if you surround him with 3 shooters (Love, Wade, DG, Mitchell + LeVert/Cedi) and a big, I think it can work.
I want to see a big game from Cedi and Love tonight.
No Garland or Mitchell tonight. Neto will play. LeVert to start at PG, with Okoro and Wade with the starters.
Ouch. Well, gonna need big games from Mobley & Allen. Along with LeVert, Love, Wade, & Cedi. Gonna need 3 of those guys to contribute.
Duren is out for the Pistons.
So:
LeVert, Okoro, Wade, Mobley, Allen.
Neto, Cedi, Stevens, Love, Lopez.
LeVert has the lowest 2PT% of any high volume player in the association.
No where to go but up!
I know lineup stats & on/off are fun, but the sample size is too small to mean much.
Remember WHO those limited DG, DM, CL, EM, JA minutes are against (Toronto & Boston).
On the lineups, the reason we have only 1 50+ min linep is that we’ve had 3 starting lineups.
1) DG, DM, CL, EM, JA.
2) DM, CL, IO, EM, JA.
3) DM, CL, DW, EM, JA.
And JB has rode the streaky. Cedi/Okoro played a lot early. Wade more lately.
Astute stuff on Mobley (my ref rant is over) and Mitchell’s D & floor game.Agree 100%.
On Mobley, it is gonna take a while for him to get integrated more. Working out the Garland/Mitchell dynamic is priority #1 for the offense. I saw a quote from Mitchell saying he has never played with dynamic bigs before. Guys who can do more than dunk an alley-oop. He has to learn how to feed/use JA/EM better. We will get there.
The Cavs got a HUGE break on Tatum’s dunk. Stop whining about the refs. NBA officiating has been bad for decades (watch Fletch).
Memo: traveling hardly ever gets called.
You guys whined about the refs and did not mention Allen obviously fouling Tarum?
Tatum did not just want a call, he got fouled. Period. If you guys cannot acknowledge that, you are becoming Tommy Heinsohn’s. You are better than that.
Let me try and be the voice of reason and push back on the “refs are bad” takes. The game is super hard to call in real time and has evolved to a stratospheric level of athleticism. NBA refs are constantly graded by video and subject to challenges and video overrules during the game. Check out Michael Lewis Against the Rules podcast (season one). I think there are some unwritten rules that refs follow, and one of them is that in the final possession you aren’t getting a call unless it is super obvious AND it affects the results of… Read more »
JUST THROWING IT OUT THERE —THERE WILL BE SOME “MINOR BUMPS—INJURIES–AKA: TONIGHT POSSIBLY “—-NOT TRYING TO BE NEGATIVE—WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL BE THE CAVS LONGEST LOSING STREAK THIS YEAR—I WILL SAY 3—DEFINETELY NO MORE THAN 4
Spida is deservedly #3 on NBA.com’s MVP Ladder, behind Giannis & Luka.
https://www.nba.com/news/kia-mvp-ladder-nov-4-2022-edition
Anyone want to be in camp “we got fleeced” anymore?
Nate? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?
I know there will be bumps and we won’t win 6 of 7 for the entire year, but still a smashing start with DG missing most of it.
the first reaction for most in any trade is “we got fleeced”.
after reading up on DM, and the reaction from NBA insiders, I got on board in about an hour.
and it has totally exceeded most expectations.
YIKES–DG/SPIDA/ ETO ALL MIGHT BE OUT TONIGHT —–HAVE TO LET THE MRS NOMAD KNOW I MIGHT ” HAVE TO SUIT UP ” TONIGHT —DUST OFF MY 3 PT SHOT ———ANY POSSIBALITY WE COULD CALL UP SAM MERRILL OR IS HE NOT ON A 2 WAY CONTRACT
RAOUL—BUCKAROO—–AGREE WITH BOTH OF YOUR POSTS PERTAINING TO —KRA-RIE ——WOULDN’T TAKE HIM BACK EVEN IF HE BEGGED TO COME BACK !!
Here’s the link to the artist if anyone wants to listen: https://waterfrontdining.bandcamp.com/
My provocative statement of 22 11 04: Kyrie might have played his last NBA game.
This is his last year on the contract, and it looks like the current issue (and, what next?) could drag on all year. The chances of getting anything of value from KI are slim.
If I was the owner, I would have had enough of this sh!t, and would pay him off and give him until 4:30 to get his stuff out of the building.
there is a stanky odor associated with kray-rie at this point.. and he does tend to leave steaming piles behind him wherever he goes.. he is a one-man firing squad.. i have no interest in watching him bounce a ball..
Well, he did issue an apology after the suspension was announced. So, he is not TOTALLY insane.
I love the way this team is constructed. We have two elite rim protectors to play the post and two elite playmakers to play the point. We can always have at least one of each on the floor at all times. Everyone else on the roster can play somewhere in between, which gives us huge flexibility and we can mix and match depending on the situation or whoever happens to be hot that night. I don’t even think we need a designated starter for that last position. Just put in whoever counters the matchup you’re seeing that night, and by… Read more »
Cavs will continue to exceed your lowly expectations and go 4-1 on road-trip. This team isn’t here to keep their head above water.
4-1 is also my guess
If everyone was healthy, I’d go 5-0.
LETS GOOOOOO
Oh man Nate…I lost track of Mr Robot in the 2nd season too. Thanks for the heads-up.
It’s a good binge.
Do it Simmo!!!
Biggest issue with Kyrie? He does not understand his influence, and the implied responsibility that this entails.
As Nate said: A Child.
Looking forward for the load management game!
Good chance both Garland and Mitchell AND Neto are out tonight, which presumably means we’ll be seeing PG LeVert, Okoro, Mobley, and Cedi. Not looking forward to this…
Never know, we might see good Caris and good Cedi!
The future of this team is great and I look forward to catching every second I can of their development, win or lose.
What I want to see is Monster Mobley.
Seriously, Mobes should be the 3rd in line to be fed. Really want him to be Duncan-esque for us.
Oh yes. While this should not be the focus until he is up to it, certain games where key players are out (like this next one) should be used to work on Monster Mobley plays.
yeah i agree with this, he needs to be the third option.
Nate — typo in the text above “respect from around the lead” should obviously be “league”.
Looking forward to listening to the pod.
Thanks, Charlie!
We are going to face a back to back after Detroit. I don’t like losing but if I were the team, I’d rest DM and DG, then limit the minutes of our twin towers against the Lakers. I’d rather take the night off against them as the Clippers is a better barometer game. Lakers suck atm anyways.
Win in Detroit then go 3-1 in the California road tour.
Yes, but both games are in LA. No travel.