Live Thread: Cavs @ Lakers
2024-12-31Good evening CtB and Happy New Year!
The Cavs are in Hollywood to take on LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers to ring in the 2025. The Cavs are coming off of a convincing win against GSW last night in San Francisco. The challenge tonight will be withstanding a possibly locked-in King James. Winning tonight would secure a winning West coast road trip and continue the Cavs’ dominance over the Western Conference this season. Go Cavs!
Tip off is scheduled for 9:00PM Eastern time and will be broadcasted live on Fanduel Sports Network.
BUTLER SUSPENDED / 7 GAMES——WILL PROBABLY BE TRADED BEFORE HE PLAYS FOR HEAT AGAIN——- STAY AWAY FROM HIM
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It’s gonna be difficult to trade that contract.
KYRIE OUT TONIGHT—— SICK
GREAT POST s BY OUR EDUCATED CTB BROS ( ALL STAR VOTING). ALL STAR GAME IS SUCH A JOKE—- AS A PLAYER I WOULD CHOOSE TO STAY HOME/ FAMILY/ FRIENDS/ R&R 👍🏀
It used to be must-see TV back in the day. Guys would even D up some.
But this generation turned it into a joke. I could get 20 these days, maybe 30 if I hit a couple threes.
It was always overshadowed by the dunk and 3P contests.
I been skipping the game since 93. Even when I am in the ASG city I’ll buy Saturday night tix and skip Sunday.
As for fans, rookie Yao won the fan vote over prime Shaq so it’s been whatever for a while
ESPN picked up the Cavs-Thunder game next week. It’s gonna be lit!
Wife and I are going! We are driving from Boston on Tuesday. GO CAVS!
Good representing Charlie!
that’s a long ass drive!!! be safe!
I’m driving up as well.
Windy on the Hoop Collective Pod today discussing Cavs.
ALL STAR VOTING IS BS !!!! —— DG GETS NO RESPECT——“ LIGHT THEM UP “ YOUNG MAN !!!
all star voting by fans is BS in all sports, with major issues: (1) big city teams get most of the votes, (2) it mostly reflects star level from a few years ago, (3) it can be manipulated by social media, etc. the usual excuse “the game is for the fans, so they should decide”, is total BS. the players and coaches should get AT LEAST one half of the say. the fans and media should get less. most sports have an additional issue: player injuries if they play hard. baseball is about the only sport where they can really… Read more »
Ball is a joke at #1. NBA.cim sorts the voting by fantasy points. The guys with the most fantasy points appear at the top of the ballot. You have to scroll down for other guys.
And as a PolSci nerd, for reasons that defy explanation, ballot position impacts outcome.
Our team is more balanced, while other teams are more lopsided. The loosided guys put up bigger counting numbers & usually get voted in.
I believe the fan vote only counts for half of the voting. Players/coaches get the other half. They should make it so the fan voting only gets a quarter of the tally.
agree with Arch!
It’s laughable that LaMelo Ball is leading guards in the East.
Generally, fans are pretty stupid, or they’re trolling the vote.
That is nuts.
Also, why are all these players that have barely played leading in votes. Banchero has played 5 games.
You should have to play a minimum amount of games to get on the ballot. PG and Embiid should be disqualified.
Because people vote stupidly.
There is ample evidence for that.
Spot on 😂
Jimmy Butler wants out of Miami. And no, I wouldn’t give up much of anything to get him.
absolutely. no one should give anything for him — his pay level is way above what he is worth at this point, and he is an obvious head case. getting JB would be like the Browns getting Watson.
He can rot. The Heat would be fine if he was good.
Check this out:
https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/43263225/nba-jimmy-butler-trade-buzz-intel-next-heat-saga
Play the video interview (5 good minutes) with Windy. Sounds like he is starting to believe. Accordingly, he thinks they should start thinking about/exploring the possibility of a move for a big wing. Not do it, but think about it if a title is a real possibility.
so Windy now knows half as much as the typical CtB participant — BFD.
writers love trades because it gives them something to write about, but they are generally clueless. the same thing is happening right now WRT the Guardians — they are bemoaning the lack of blockbuster trades and FA signings and oblivious to small smart moves that have improved the team, stockpiled prospects, and cut the payroll.
I can tell you did not watch it. Or at least it sounds like it.
He wasn’t saying we should make a trade, he was just becoming convinced we were legit contenders. And as a legit contender, his opinion is you have to do due diligence when a ‘chip is within reach.
Good numbers on the defensive uptick recently. Well worth 5 minutes.
He’s saying the same thing on the Hoops Collective Pod. He’s more impressed with this recent stretch, than the 15-0 start.
you are right, i didn’t watch it — rarely have time to watch podcasts. but, if Windy is just now figuring out that the Cavs are a serious contender, it doesn’t sound like he has much expertice to offer.
NCAAF: the four top ranked teams do not reach the semifinals. teams 5, 6,7, 8 make it.
Including the best pro team in Ohio. Go Buckeyes!
By betting favorite, the favored team has won every game, I believe. I think ND was favored?
good point. an issue is really how the 12 teams were seeded.
Minnesota’s coach suuuuuccckkkkss. They had the Celtics caught and on the ropes and then did squat with possession after possession. Boston is not playing well lately
AGREE WITH MOST OF YOUR POSTS RAOUL ( BAKER) —- BAKER DID LEAD THE “ CLOWN FROWNS ) TO PLAYOFFS / HAD AN ALL PRO SEASON—- PLAYED INJRED HIS ENTIRE LAST SEASON WITH BROWN s —- “ HAS NOT “ FOLDED UNDER PRESSURE/ LISTENED TO WRONG PEOPLE/ PLAYERS—— SHOULD HAVE GIVEN BAKER 1 MORE YEAR —- INJURY FREE—- EVALUATE THEN MAKE A DECISION/ WANTED TO “ SAVE “ MONEY NOT SIGNING BAKER TO AN EXTENSION——- GOOD MOVE SAVING THAT MONEY SO WE COULD SIGN “ WHAT —WTF – SON “ 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
NOT GIVING UP A WHOLE LOT——- KA WILL FIND A PLAYER IN THE 2nd ROUND OR AN UNDRAFTED PLAYER 👍👍
Basketball Reference now gives a 98% chance that the 2025 first-round draft pick Cleveland must give to Utah will be pick #28 or later. And a 99.7% chance it will be #27 or later.
so sad for Danny Ainge, the boy genius.
last summer the Jazz press were singing “Happy Days Are Here Again”, excited about all the lottery picks they would get when DM left the Cavs.
Considering Tower City is signed through until the last unprotected pick to Utah in 2029, all it takes is one of DG or Donovan to extend one more time and Koby will have pulled off a massive heist.
ALL. BAKER HAS DONE THIS YEAR IS THROW FOR 39 TD ‘s AND 4,200 YDS ——— SO GLAD WE LET HIM WALK AND WE SIGNED “ WHAT -SON “
Baker was cut by multiple teams. it is not uncommon for QB’s to finally get it figured out on about the forth or so try. even Darnold has finally shown some promise.
WHAT A FRIGGIN BUTT KICKING BY THE O-H-I O BUCKEYES——- “ THE “ MRS NOMAD IS ALL PRIMED FOR SOME “ VICTORY “ CELEBRATION——- MIGHT DO A LITTLE “ BUTT SMACKING “ MYSELF 🤪👺👿👍
Jaden Ivey getting taken out on a stretcher. Looks like he broke his leg.
GO BUCKEYES 👍—- FINISH AT THE START OF 3rd QTR
NOMAD bro.. buckeyes remembering the sad encounter earlier in the year.. taking care of business in pure uncle buck manner.. place boot on the neck, and apply pressure until the surrender.. you will have lots of energy later this evening for the victory dance with the mrs.NOMAD.. enjoy dude..
LIKE ANY TEAM—— DONT WANT TO JINX US ——- HEALTH/ STAYING MAJOR INJURY FREE IS A KEY
HOPE I AM WRONG—— STILL CONCERNED—- “ SLIME DOG SILVER “ WILL DO WHATEVER HE CAN TO MAKE “ LEBRON – LAKERS “ COMPETITIVE——- THINK THE LAKERS ARE GOING TO MISS DELO ‘s SCORING / BALLHANDLING
might be, but they will have a tough time cracking the top 4 in the West.
Replace Max Christie with comfortable DFS they might have been close last night.
Rui was awful too. I think they are a good draw from the WCF if LeBron and AD are engaged for 48. They weren’t far from taking Denver last year
LeBron is done as a top tier player. Period.
He can still put up numbers and be good in stretches. But this is the 2nd year in the last 4 where the Lakers are better with him OFF the court. And not by a little.
If LeBron is one of your top 2 players, you don’t have a shot. Now, as the #3 or #4 guy willing to play as a stretch 4? That could work. Hard to manage at $50 mil per.
I’ll predict the Cavs’ regular-season record ends up at 67-15. Here’s why:
Having played only the Celtics twice and Knicks once so far makes it a wild guess as to what’s going to happen in the remaining 11 games against top teams.
good analysis.
although I think expecting a 36% wins against the top teams is a bit low. The Cavs and OKC are clearly the best teams in the league, and perhaps 7-4 is a reasonable guess.