Live Thread: Kings @ Cavs
2024-02-05Good evening CtB!
The Cavs welcome the Sacramento Kings to the shores of Lake Erie for a major cross-conference battle between two of the best teams in the NBA. The Kings and Cavs are trying to stay locked into playoff positions and improve their seeding in their respective conferences. For the Cavs it would be a solid home win, for the Kings a confidence boosting road win against the hottest team in the Association. Note to Adam Silver: this should be the nationally televised game!
Tip off is scheduled for 7:00PM Eastern time and will be broadcasted live on Bally Sports Ohio, Go Cavs!
Starters are gonna have to carry em. Merrill’s gravity getting dudes buckets tho.
Okoro has been huge this half.
Martin was out of bounds!
LT up
really very much want to play the Heat in the first round.
I don’t. I want no part of playoff Jimmy & Spo best of 7.
Philly with a healthy Embiid and Miami are the teams you want to avoid Rd1. Barring an injury, Celts, Cavs, Knicks, Bucks seem pretty safe in the top 4.
yeah. I seem to recall the #2 team didn’t do so well with Miami last year.
I think the Okoro trade talk is mostly smoke given his play this year. Wade, too. Why would you trade Wade for DFS given his better defense, similar 3pt %, and five additional inches of height?? Man, though, Koby must regret not signing Okoro to a rookie extension over the summer when we could have kept him at a much more affordable number than we’ll have to pay to keep him in RFA this summer. Defenders like him with stellar reputations as a teammate don’t come along often. Someone’s going to offer him real money, especially now that it’s been… Read more »
My guess is that most or all of the Okoro trade talk was people just trying to make up something to talk about. Proposing trades is a big part of many small sports fan blogs, etc., and they seem to be tossing them out there all the time, mostly wacky.
there’s that one cavs blog that does like three a day lol. King James Gospel maybe?
right. they would be a lot better if they waited until they had something to talk about instead of printing mindless yammering.
I think the wave, assuming Mitchell resigns, is probably to get off of LeVert, elevate CPJ to the bench PG / scorer, and slot Ice into that 15-17m a year slot. If Mitchell asks out, I think you can do some shuffling to keep Ice paid.
I agree 100% on the clickbait trade articles. We are not trading Okoro or Wade. I am sure Milwaukee would love it if we did, but we are not gonna.
I do not really see us moving off any rotational piece this summer, save maybe Niang. Though playoff performance will inform that decision.
We are entering a phase where we go into the tax to contend, not get rid of quality players to stay under it. Plus, we don’t have the draft capital to turn LeVert/Strus level guys into a star.
My guess is that Okoro and Wade are still with the team after the trade deadline, but I wouldn’t 100% rule it out. I haven’t really been paying attention to the trade chatter at all but I wonder about Okoro and the fact the he wasn’t resigned. If Ice is looking for a number the Cavs know they aren’t planning on meeting, that could be how they deal with it. Sort of like what they did with Sexton, take care of it with a trade. I could see them targeting someone like Royce O’Neale, someone they’ve been rumored to have… Read more »
Sexton wanted more than he was worth. I imagine all agents press their players to demand as much as they can, but some are probably more reasonable. Need to get Jose Ramirez to start hanging out with the Cavs!
calling it “smoke” implies that the FO was behind the talk. I doubt that. The talk more likely came from the clueless, same as the “trade JA” talk that was so common not that long ago.
“Why isn’t LeBron James aging?” on yt.. a must watch.. superman playing chess against the checkers players.. simply a marvel..
Oh, he’s aging.
The Lakers are .500.
No Country For Old Men
Why did his former teammate who is a client of his agency get popped for PEDs? Why did his son have a heart attack at 19? The world may never know.
Pleasant beach community comment
interesting point.
PHX: 114
MIL: 106
Bucks now tied with Knicks, 1/2 games behind Cavs.
2 games back in the L column.
Honestly, I think it is us & the Knicks for 2nd. And to see if we can pass everyone out west.
exactly what I think!
Minny loses in Chicago in OT, OKC loses in Utah.
The Loss Column:
12: Boston
————
15: Clippers
16: OKC, Minny, Denver, Cavs
17: Bucks (at Phoenix sans Dame & Brook)
18: NY
19: Philly
We’ve only lost 16 this year? To this suffering fan it seemed like more. :)
you need the Raoul plan: forget the losses and only remember the wins!
BUCKAROO — GOOD HEARING FROM YOU—- I DONT SALUTE TO “ THE “ MRS NOMAD— IT IS MORE AN “ IDOLIZING BOW 🙇♀️ “ —- 🤪🤪👍👍
gotcha.. make sure you keep that patton helmet strap tight..
CAN YOU SAY WTF / WTF / WTF😡
NOMAD bro.. when you stand at attention, and salute the mrs NOMAD.. is this a military salute ? or a brothel salute ?
FWIW, on the all-star snub for Allen:
1. 38-12, Boston: 2. Tatum (St), Brown (Reserve)
—————-
2. 38-15, OKC: 1. SGA (St)
3. 38-15, Minny: 2. Ant (Res), KAT (Res)
4. 34-15, LAC: 2. Kawhi (Res), PG13 (Res)
5. 35-16, Denver: 1. Jokic (St).
6. 32-16, CAVS: 1. Spida (Res)
7. 33-17, Bucks: 2. Giannis (St), Dame (Res)
8. 32-18, NY: 2. Brunson (Res), Randle (Res-Inj)
9. 30-19, 76ers: 2. Embiid (St- Inj), Maxey (Res)
10. 29-20. Kings: No one.
11. 29-21. Suns: 2. KD (St), Booker (Res)
12. 29-21. Pelicans: No one.
Dame is a starter I believe.
Thanks, Arch!
I let my subconscious feelings about that take over. ;)
Trae Young and Scotty Barnes named All-Star reserves. Can you say OVERRATED?!
VERY SIMILAR TO MY “ HONEY MOON “ NIGHT WITH THE MRS NOMAD TO OUR PRESENT “ ROMANTIC “ ENCOUNTERS—— ENJOY THEM EQUALLY 👍👺——— “ THE “ MRS NOMAD IS STILL WAITING FOR THE 1st ENJOYABLE ENCOUNTER 🤪🤪🤪————“ MORE BEER 🍺 PLEASE “
“ MORE BEER 🍺 PLEASE “ FOR ARCH / NATE ——-SOME VERY SOUND—-VALID OPINION s TO MY POST———- I GUESS I COULD ENJOY BOTH EQUALLY 👍🍺🏀———LET s MAKE IT HAPPEN “ YOUNG “ CAVS
I HEAR YOU ARCH —- VALID POINT 👍
Normally not a huge fan of these guys but some really good stuff in this discussion. Cavs talk starts ~37 minutes in.
DO NOT WANT TO TAKE AWAY ANY OF THE JOY / EXCITEMENT OF THE 2016 / LEBRON TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP—— BUT I AM ENJOYING WATCHING THIS YOUNG TEAM BEING ASSEMBLED/ MATURING/ WINNING TOGETHER—-IF/ WHEN THEY WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP— IT WILL HAVE MORE MEANING/ MORE APPRECIATED THAN 2016 ———-STAY HEALTHY/ STAY HUNGRY 👍🏀
Not for me. 1st championship in 59 something years. First for the franchise. Coming back from a 3-1 deficit. That’s hard to beat.
Agreed
Though also. Not everything is a contest. I can love both things without having to rank em.
also agree!
CtB has been in a really agreeable mood lately!
two other good points!
good point.
The new national narrative is: The Cavs are (really) good, but let’s see if they can do this in the playoffs. And to be honest, it’s a fair comment.
I just hope we get an easy opponent in the first round.
What’s interesting is that’s not applied to the Kings or Grizz, who lost to arguably worse teams than NYK (would argue Knicks were better than LAL or the Ws last year, and they are way better now).
The Thunder and Timberwolves also have something to prove
After last year, it is fair. I mean, besides TT, Merrill, and Jones/Jerome with GSW (maybe), our core has never been past Rd2, and sime not that far.
And beyond the players, can JB actually coach his way through a playoff series without being too predictable or panicking and shortening his bench? He’s as big a Q mark as the players, maybe bigger.
I see the “new national narrative” ripping off our season preview where we said the same damn thing LMFAO
Totally fair.
THANKS JASON— I DID OMIT WADE S. / ICEs CONTRIBUTION s ———— WOW NOT IN THE TOO DISTANT PAST WHEN BOTH MOBES / DG WENT DOWN AND JA JUST COMING BACK—— THERE WAS SOME “ CHATTER “ OF TANKING/ PURSUING A LOTTERY PICK —- MY HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED 👍🏀
ha-ha! good memory. I wasn’t in favor of tanking, but I acknowledged that it might be the way to go.
at that time, things showed little sign of falling into place, players were not living up to our expectations.
It’s why you need patience with young teams and coaches. Panicking at a few adverse events – even when the adversity goes for seven or eight months – is bitch made.
The course set with the Mitchell trade was correct. JB may not be the right playoff coach but he looks like a top 10 coach in the league, much closer to 1 than 10.
Can’t wait for what’s next. Wish we had OKC again.
right.
in the history of building a top sports team, there are many cases of dumb desperation moves that should have never been done.
Fat Shaq! Jamison! (sort of) Larry Hughes! Rodney Hood!
I’ll defend the trade that brought in Clarkson, Nance, Hood. Koby pulled a lot of strings that I didn’t think he could pull (getting rid of dead weight). It was desperate times.
Yeah, I’ll defend it too. Was the best bad solution, and I liked the player archetypes. It’s just rare that you make a trade and every player underperforms your vet min FA Jeff Green.
Well, they were smaller than Strus, Caris, & Sam form deep.
Here’s a hypothetical question for the commentariat, interested to know your thoughts:
Had the Cavs not had to deal with any injuries at all this season, do you think their win/loss record would be better than it is now?
Lower.
It forced us into a new way of playing and unlocked Mitchell at PG. JA levelled up. We found Merrill. And CPJ. Wade and Okoro as starters have gained a lot of confidence. JB still goes to the Spida, Strus, Okoro, Wade, Allen lineup at 6 min in the 1st & 3rd quarters.
We are 19-4 since their injuries. Yes, the schedule has been softer, but damn. DG and Mibes ate fitting back in with the team, not the other way around.
good point
I think not. The adaptations they made forced JB’s hand and they’re playing more free and open.
Exactly.
Lower margins of victory but I think you’d still be seeing more Cavalanches as they kept playing faster. Chones (who is back, yay!) said it would take 40-50 games to get the style right in October.
Would guess maybe we would have dropped a few more cupcakes playing with our food though. That’s the big difference.
And would Merrell have found the minutes to pop out.
From Kings Herald on construction and fit.
I will say this, while I agree the Celtics may be a bridge to far, they do show some weakness mentally at times, and I am not convinced Zinger will be 100% healthy.
I don’t fear these deer, even with Rivers at the helm.
With Embiid out, Philly is gonna free-fall in the standings, who knows when he will be back. 9 weeks and the season is over.
That leaves NY ti battle for a spot in the ECF. They buried us last year and are better now. OG and DiViCenzo and Hart help them, and Brunson is magnificent. Losing Randle is a blow. But he should be back. How effective will he be?
For me, I’d put Boston first, then a gap. Then NY & us. Then Mikwaukee. Philly jumps back in if Embiid is healthy and back.
They buried us but they don’t have the same interior depth with Randle and Mitchrob out. Harty is still susceptible to foul trouble and their bench isn’t nearly as good as before the trade. The Cavs depth can give them fits. TBF, Brunson is playing very well and their starters are solid.
OK, NYK buried us last year. They MIGHT be better than they were last year. But the Cavs are a LOT better than last year.
OG made life a lot simpler for them on offense but RJ and IQ are really good creators, so they lose something significant there when things tighten up. DDV and Grimes been pretty good there and shown a lot though. Perhaps a wash.
My gut is that if we can guard Domas and Fox we can guard JB and Randle. I’m not sure they can guard all of our weapons but let’s see. (should not doom whatever happens that first week of March)
It sounds like MitchRob will be back for the post season. Need TT to juice up to prepare for that battle.
might be a gap after Boston right now, but if the Cavs keep playing at this level, that gap will shrink and it will be a toss up.
I think the Cavs will match up better now with Strus here and MitchRob gone. OG is good but only pulls down 4.5 boards / game. Strus and Wade will man up on the Knicks wings. I’m sure Brunson will get his but its not going to be easy.
Nate, has there been a Werthian perspective in recent days? Would love to hear what Ben thinks of team roster / pieces at this point & future.
You’re on the same email chain I am. :D
LeVERT / SAM MY MAN 6/8 FROM 3s —- 26PTS / 35 MINUTES OF PLAY—— THAT IS SERIOUS BENCH PRODUCTIVITY
Wade and Okoro 4/4 and 16 more.
THOS” STRUS STEALS “ AGAINST SABONIS WERE IMPRESSIVE/ HE BRINGS SO “ MUCH TO THE TABLE “
MOBES COULD EASILY HAD 10 MORE PTS ——- MISSED ABOUT 5 “ AT THE RIM “ ATTEMPTS—-JUST “RIMMED “ OUT ———WATCHING REPLAY AGAIN THIS MORNING 👍🏀
Watching for first time right now. That 1st quarter, hoowee!
Most fun quarter of the year imo. Crazy how we took every crazy three and just kept pushing
AGREE—-WAS A GREAT “ BEDTIME “ STORY WATCHING THE REPLAY—HORROR STORY FOR THE KING S ——GO TO THE BEACH KOBY —-I WILL JOIN YOU AND SERVE YOU…….” MORE BEER 🍺 PLEASE “ !! ——GO CAVS
No more than 33 minutes for anyone.
Bucks have Suns then Wolves…
I saw that too. It will be great if we can win while keeping everyone’s minutes down! Everyone will be fresher and less likely to get injuried.
There’s so much more shooting on this year’s team versus last year. The spacing is so much better and there are so many options on offense. Even though we don’t have many 2-way players, the offensive diversity makes us a vastly better team than last year.
so many things have fallen into place for the Cavs in the last month or so! and they have some serious depth!
gotta admit, I am starting to think of bigger things than just not getting embarrassed in the ECPO again.
Just finished watching the replay. So much fun.
Strus bombing away finally got the night he deserved. Caris with another great game.
Cavs moving into the league’s elite group.
Koby should just go to the beach, because at this point there’s no need to make any moves.
right. right. right. right!
What a fantastic night! Cavs beat a great team…and every other West team beat (or is beating) the East team they played!!
Cavs movin’ on up…rest of East slidin’ on down!!! Go, Cavs, go!!
Great game. Just finished watching. CAVALANCHE!
Absolutely murderous game. So many good things. DG getting into it.
Niang been buttcheeks for a few games
yeah, but Niang had a few really good games when they needed him. guys like that, you gotta cover even when they are bricking, because one good look can flip the switch into don’t-miss mode; like Strus tonight.
yup, if you have enough trick or treat guys, it’s diversified and fine
Guy behind Campy Russell with a sign “IT’S A CAVSLANCHE!!!”. Would have got a workout tonight.
COULDNT WATCH/ JOIN IN IN THE FUN—— DAMN😡—- GREAT TO SEE “ STRUS IS LOOSE “ – HE NEEDED A GAME LIKE THIS——-APPEARS DG “ ADJUSTING “ RATHER WELL——- WILL WATCH REPLAY—— YOUR POSTS AT LEAST KEPT ME “ INVOLVED “ —- MUCH APPRECIATED—— YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST ………….” MORE BEER 🍺 PLEASE “ FOR ALL OF YOU
DG had one goof turnover but otherwise he was good on D and solid. 11/5 I think
Injured riddled Mavs beat the 8njury riddled 76ers by 16 in Philly.
The 76ers are gonna be in play in territory in a hurry. They have played a top 3 easiest schedule so far (Suns, Bucks).
👀 look out…
it’s like on the interstate; we just worked our way through a clump of slow drivers, and now can pull away, and gain on the leader!
Super fun game!
58% FGs. 56.1% on triples (23 of 41).
Only 64.7% on FTs.
With Embiid out, the only tough games on the foreseeable future schedule are suddenly not…
The Nets have been better lately. Chicago, too. Those are not gimmees in the road. The Nets game is a b2b for us.
But we should be favored every game into the ASG. I mean, 2/22 vs Orlando, 2/27 vs Dallas. 3/3 vs NY. 3/5 vs Boston. All at home.
Our roadies thru that span: Wash, Brk (b2b), Tor, Phil (b2b), Wash, Chi (b2b), Det.
If we really make some hay thru Feb and can beat the Knicks, that 3/5 Boston game could be real interesting.
good eye!
Niang with the zoo crew where he belongs.
I don’t mind him eating some innings to keep Wade & Mobely fresher. And every once in a while he goes on a heater.
But come PO time, he’d be the leading candidate to get reduced/no minutes.
Yeah. It’s where I’m at too. Plus he’s the enforcer with TT out.
right, which will get him and TT PO minutes if things get ugly.
Cavs in second place with this win!
Our depth just killing rn. Just no drop off when we sub. So many solid pieces fitting together nicely
Mobley is the best backup center in the association, and Mitchell the best backup pg.
My man gave Javale the BLUES
yep.
haven’t heard much lately from the people who used to go on about Koby being an idiot.
Seven Cavs in double figures… Merrill one away…
Fun as hell game. Cavs had an answer every time Kings threatened
What. A. Win!
Sam with a triple. Niang scratches finally.
Sam Merrill is pure…
CPJ, Merrill, Wade,,Niang, Jones.
Cigar lit.
CPJ in the game…
👏👏👏
Caris with no mercy.
Impressive win by the Cavs!
Just tuning in …. Wow!
What’s been the story of the game?
Cavs have shot 56% from deep…
I trust JA to make midranges more than anyone else on the team lol…
He is usually straight up & down. No leaners.
I love JB challenging stuff up 21 with 4 min left.
Hornets within 4 of Lakers. 40 seconds leftcwith the ball.
🗡️ dagger
Good call Donovan
Watching the Kings’ broadcast. They’re making excuses now for their impending loss (tough schedule, etc.) Sorry boys!
They are on a long road trip.
Apparently they went 5-2 so not too shabby.
Smart to.
Lol
Sabonis and Huerter both traveled.
And missed.
NICE PASS CARIS TO STRUS!
Strus moving without the ball.
Strus so active…
I like monk.