Podcast 291: Cavilyear in Review
2023-05-14Our silent mourning for the 2023 Cavalier Season over, Nate Smith, Elijah Kim, and Chris Francis broke our vows and shuffled into the the podcast booth to break down this wild ride that was the Cavs’ season. The guys look over the year everyone had and try to figure out who’s going to stay, who’s going to go, and who the Cavs should bring in. Who would fit well under the Cavs’ idiosyncratic coach? Who improved? Who didn’t? What do the next few years look like? The erstwhile podcasters take stock of it all.
[Editor’s note, this podcast was recorded last Wednesday night, but due to some technical issues wasn’t able to post till today. Content, aside from some commentary on games in progress, is all still very topical.]
As always, listen below, download the full audio file, or listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn, or Spotify.
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NBA opened investigation in ref Eric Lewis supposed Twitter burner account 😂
Lowry on a stinker.
Cavs have until June 29th to pick up Cedi’s $6.7M option, or it’s expected he will leave the team.
It sounds like the FO is split on if they want to bring him back.
They should trade him to a team that wants to dump salary if they don’t want him.
I think they should keep him, because I’m not sure they can get much better in FA
I am kind of with you on that. don’t want to make a move just to make a move.
First whistle I’ve seen for Miami in a while.
sad.. i guess it was too sweet to be possible
Turnovers flowing. Hard to compete when one is hemorrhaging.
Miami right in this. Real question is if they start love.
Super-quick timeout there. Boston terrified of giving Miami a sniff. Understandable.
Bron had a torn foot ligament???? yeeeessssshhhhh
I’m annoyed by him. Shut up and go home. You lost. Stop trying to steal the Nuggets’ thunder.
dunno that he is stealing it. anyway, after your last game is the usual time to reveal injuries.
Yeah there’s nothing odd about the timing
he needs surgery and sit out a LOT of next season. he ought to sit out all of next year and then see who drafts Bronnie. that will make for one weird draft!
Gabe Vincent out after rolling the ankle. Tilts further to Boston making it to Miami again.
That was scary looking.
I’m predicting the Celtics win game 5 in Boston, then Miami closes them out at home in 6. It’s nice to see somewhat of a pulse , in what has been a snoozer of a conference finals.
Miami choking up a little. That’s a shame. Looks like the brooms are not required.
Solid play by Boston. I hate to say it, but if there’s a matchup where a team could come back from 3-0, it’s this one.
Agree. Would be great if they were one-and-done though 😁
that’s OK, the Celts fans will get to see the end on Thursday!
KLove in the finals should humiliate korbles and butterstuff.. so hoping for the sweep.. the UnD’s are playing well..
I think it will probably humiliate KLove more than anyone else. But the Heat have to find a way to overcome his minutes and get one more win first.
Miami should have got Kev off the floor much sooner. He should only be on when RWIII is on.
Don’t be a hater! His gravity is key – ECF MVP
I don’t understand why you think this is funny. Kev’s useful and he was as much better than the alternatives on the Cavs. I never said he was the second coming. Not everything has to be the best or worst thing ever.
Agreed, but Spo made a rare mistake starting him in the 3rd quarter last night. His slowness was a not insignifcant part of the C’s making their game changing run.
True… But a lot of this was just a huge swing in three point variance.
He’s not that useful or productive! Every third game he makes 2 shots and another good play and we act like it was some big mistake to let him go and now he’s (functionally) an eighth man being carried by the Heat.
More useful or productive than the guys the Cavs played instead of him, but I’ve already show you evidence of this multiple times. You take it as evidence that I’m arguing he’s the best thing ever. Kev’s an elite defensive rebounder who can stretch the floor and play at slightly above average level for his position in the aggregate in 20 minutes or so a night. So yes, 8th man for an eastern conference Finals team. The Cavs could’ve used that. But I got it. You think he’s the worst player ever, and that I’m dumb to think he’s not.
agree.
but he wanted to leave, and did in fact wind up with a better chance of making it to the finals. can’t blame him.
he’s been extremely butt all year. before that, he had a bit of a nice bounceback and was a solid locker room guy.
the idea that it’s some embarrassing lack of judgment to let a bricky old player walk to play younger guys is crazy: that’s basically GM 101. Unfortunately, the young guys were also extremely butt, but the choice between Wade and Love and Stevens at backup 4 is…grim
Everyone pretty much likes Kevin despite his complications.
It is not his fault that some seized upon his leaving as evidence for their very contentious pet theory. This put him in a bad spot WRT comments. I would be happy if we agreed to a 90 day embargo on mentioning Kev.
it’s that. it’s the pet theory. the dude is just a guy: letting him go isn’t evidence that the FO is incompetent or even average IMO.
conceding that he’s better than the G-League finds he was playing over here? …fine. with the core 4 playing the way it did it wouldn’t have mattered if he was Dennis Rodman coached by Pop.
You’re so close to getting it! It’s right at the edge of your brain! Maybe the core would’ve played better if someone could box out, grab some damn rebounds, add some spacing, and be an offensive connector for 20 minutes a night. It’s almost like you could help a team on the edge get to the conference Finals doing that.
i’ll agree to the 90 days.
I don’t think there’s any way the Celtics survive down the stretch.
I hope not.
But, as I think you said elsewhere, if ever a team has a decent shot at coming back from 0-3, this is it.
Step #1 is the biggest, and the Celts did it big time. They will probably be favored in games 5 and 7, so game 6 (if it happens) will be huge.
Also while Denver should go into next season as the favorite, the West otherwise looks wide open. The Warriors dynasty has run its course, and the Grizz and the Suns both have issues to deal with (Ja, Ayton stealing money). And the East was stronger overall this year. So if the Lakers can resign Rui and Reeves, why not run it back?
what’s the deal with Ayton stealing money? I missed that
He’s maybe overpaid I think is what man is saying?
OK, I thought maybe he got stealing the tip jar at a coffee shop or something.
Anton has been considered an underachiever for years. Physically and athletically he looks like the prototype of a dominant center, but he’s always been just “ok.” My impression from Suns-related media and the blogosphere is that the way Cavs fans felt about Jarrett Allen in the Knicks series is how Suns fans have felt about Ayton for about 3 years now. Remember the Suns-Warriors first round series, Ayton got benched towards the end and spent the last game in street clothes grinning while his team was run off the floor?
So having fired Monty, they’ll have to least consider if they should trade him or if it’s best to try to make it work with Ayton going forward, which may depend on whoever takes over as HC.
Ayton is kind of an eye of the beholder player. I really like him but I can see why the fans are annoyed. He’s like a Wiggins version of a center: has all the tools and athleticism but just the whole not equal to the sum of the parts
you need big balls to deal with the check-cashers.. few have the set necessary for the job
Would definitely do that! The training camp with all the new guys should be super helpful:l there’s still a lot to unlock from Beasley, Vando, etc
Yeah although he said he has a “lot to think about,” he’s still so good I’ll be really surprised if he retires rather than waiting for Bronny to enter the league. The crazy thing is he was playing hurt the whole postseason; I assume he’ll have surgery to address his tendon injury. His pre-All star game stats were easily first-team All NBA caliber: 30/8.4/7, shooting 51/31/76. His 3pt shooting comes and goes but otherwise he’s still a top-ten player if he doesn’t have to play 40 minutes a night.
CAN LEBRON RETIRE FOR A YEAR AND THE SIGN WITH THE TEAM THAT HETS BRONNY COULD SEE LEBRON TAKING THIS YEAR OFF TO BE AT ALL OF BRONNY S GAMES —————THE MRS NOMAD “ SUMMER HONEY DO LIST IS KICKING MY BUTT 🤪” ———- ANYONE WITH FREE TIME COME ON OVER FOR “ MORE FRIGGIN BEER 🍺 PLEASE “ ——- GO HEAT FINISH THE CELTS OFFF 👍
They suggested that scenario on the radio today.
But doubt he does this… he’d be leaving lots of $
probably.
but for LeBron, anything that elevates his legend will probably lead to more money down the road.
and, ya know, once you have your first half billion, maybe your priorities change? anyone have first hand experience?
NOMAD bro.. i thought you were going to sponsor the CtB HORSE contest.. with free RR
LeBron: 40/10/9. The old guy went down swinging.
Wonder who is the oldest guy to get 40 in a playoff game?
Gotta be Bron
also my guess.
too bad it wasn’t 40/10/10, which would be awesome if this turns out to be his last conference finals game.
His comments postgame were interesting… “got a lot to think about” in relation to the game.
there’s no way Bron doesn’t do the giant retirement thing like Kareem and Kobe did (only on steroids)
given his history, you could see this as pushing the Laker FO, but i don’t know what else they can do. this (WCF) might be the ceiling for the Lakers no matter what.
I don’t think he’s retiring, especially after a performance like that. I think he still wants to play a year with his son.
Good. I won’t have to watch douches like Schroder snd Reeves flop and flail through any more games. Although LeBron gave them s run for their money tonight in that category.
LeBron back to back flops…
Guess Cavs shoulda signed Tristan instead of Danny Green??!?
TT bringin the D! Straight outa the time capsule.
Nice third, Nuggs. Now close out these fools.
The Celtics needed a MERCY RULE in Game 3! 🗣️ – Stephen A. | First Take
interesting take on celtics front office and udoke “situation”..
i have always likes broussard.. watching a well-coached TEAM pass beautifully and embarrass a high-priced high-pick-based ego-driven opposition is an enjoyable experience.. one of the vids cited riley’s mantra on the “disease of me”.. heat with butler, adebayo and the un-drafteds is really spectacular (and hard to accomplish).. if you don’t have a nose for under-the-radar talent (and can’t even get a #5 right) you are at best mediocre, especially when it matters..
FIRST THINGS FIRST |”Celtics are DONE” Nick reacts Heat on brink of NBA Finals after beating Celtics
#5 is the spot where shit gets weird. DG was great, Okoro is a role player. Love and Rubio and Boogie were #5s, but the #5s were awful for five years after JV in 2011.
It’s actually low key incredible that we rebuilt to 51 wins never picking higher than 3.
(Wade and Diakate and Stevens are great finds fwiw)
perhaps they should be allowed to play
It is crazy how the Heat have won every single NBA championship since Riley became the GM.
riley has been involved in 25% of the nba finals (according to kellerman).. the dude has his bona fides.. koby and bick ? not much.. they have accomplished what exactly in their careers ? heat are playing great ball when it matters.. cavs ? again, not much
He’s a genius. It’s why the Knicks have all those rings and why Bron stayed a Heat for life
Yes, they weren’t allowed to play. Except for the games they started
I agree that is hard to understand. I thought that Diakate would be a rotation guy by the playoffs.
I think they just liked Wade more: I like him too, but I think you can move him and get Diakite more of a chance. Or play both.
It feels like we will have a lot of different and interesting ways to fill out 7-11 on the roster, both internally and externally. Hopefully guys already in the program can step up
Recommended reading: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/35799683/oral-history-2023-nba-draft-lottery-lebron-james-carmelo-anthony-chris-bosh-dwyane-wade
not my favorite sports mouth.. but this is good (although tatum and brown are dress-wearing impostors)
THE HERD | “It’s OVER!” Colin Cowherd puts the end for Celtics season after lose to Heat in Game 3
if mazzoulo “butchered the meal” what did bickerstaff do ? serve up day old fish and send everyone to the ER ?
yup! Colin is always obnoxious, and usually right.
Ya
pretty sure the Dubs won a couple in there. Also the Cavs, Bucks, …
This just in: Carmelo announces retirement.
Did anyone know he was still playing?
He wasn’t playing
Waiting for an opportunity that never came. It’s hard to hang em up. He was a pro his last couple seasons. Stopped bitching and became a role player.
I respect that.
tatum and brown (1-7 and 0-7 on 3s) both crapping the bed in stereo, with big al bringing up the rear.. sublime.. go heat.. awesome to see what un-drafted players can accomplish in a truly professional organization..
Good chance Heat sweep. This feels like a sweep game tonight.
Vincent can do no wrong!
Tatum still jawing at the refs from the bench. All class.
They should trade him for a real baller and playmaker like, say, Jordan Poole.
When Mazzula gets interviewed at the quarter break, Spo should run out and pull his pants down. Might as well.
Kinda feel for him with the players he has to work with.
Oh, those players are numbskulls, no doubt about that…
Time for Tatum to just launch lazy brick threes the rest of the game. That’s who he is.
Bill Simmons must be enjoying this display of hoops by the Heat. Happy for him.
One senses your enjoyment, MikeO 😂
same
Keep chucking those bricks, Big Al. It’s a delight to see.
Celtic players constantly appealing to the refs while they get their asses spanked red. Mentally weak. And dumb.
This series is over IMO!
will be a shock if it goes five.
Smart is such a dumb player. Fits right in with that team of dumbasses.
And as if to prove your point…
This isn’t really that competitive.
Really enjoying this Celtic game early on.
Boston waiting for Heat shooting to cool off.
67% shooting 👀
Great early stretch for Love. Hope he’s ok