{"id":17777,"date":"2013-02-20T22:12:15","date_gmt":"2013-02-21T06:12:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cavstheblog.com\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/?p=17777"},"modified":"2013-02-21T05:14:39","modified_gmt":"2013-02-21T13:14:39","slug":"cavs-105-hornets-100-a-running-diary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cavstheblog.com\/?p=17777","title":{"rendered":"Cavs 105 – Hornets 100: A Running Diary"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

"Bring it Uncle Drew". "Young blood, do you even know what I'm capable of?"<\/p><\/div>\n

The Cavs represented themselves well in front of a national TV audience and (more importantly) a very enthusiastic home crowd. \u00a0I could get used to this script. \u00a0Act 1: Cavs come out with a purpose and a dedication to the defensive end. \u00a0Act 2: Cavs offense looks like a well-oiled machine. \u00a0Act 3: Cavs show off the bright spots and ugly warts of being a young team, putting on a clinic in the first part of Act 3 before reverting to stagnant iso-ball and chaotic breakdowns on defense. \u00a0Act 4: Cavs bench holds the line, Uncle Drew brings em home to MVP chants. \u00a0Yeah, I could get used to that script.<\/p>\n

Overall, I was very impressed with the tone the Cavs established at the outset and carried through until Buckets Unlimited\u2122.\u00a0They came out with a purpose, particularly at the defensive end. \u00a0I’ve been one of the Cavs’ most vocal critics, citing a lack of defensive intensity, cohesion,\u00a0commitment, etc. \u00a0Tonight was like watching a different team. \u00a0A few notable examples: Kyrie was fighting picks all night. \u00a0Over, under, through the woods, whatever. \u00a0The rest of the Cavs were making a concerted effort to identify pick and rolls before they developed, and anticipate the direction of the penetration. \u00a0They were very successful to that end. \u00a0They also did a nice job staying home with the scouted 3-point shooters. \u00a0At least 4 times I noticed the Cavs’ defensive big man hedge on the pick. \u00a0Thompson, Zeller, and Speights all did it on occasion. \u00a0Tristan was particularly effective, as he showed so strongly he forced the ball-handler to retreat halfway to the timeline before he hustled back and the Cavs were able to regroup. \u00a0This was a staple of Mike Brown’s “little engines that could” defenses,\u00a0particularly\u00a0when Zydrunas was hitting his twilight years. \u00a0It’s a very effective\u00a0maneuver\u00a0and it’s been missing since Mike Brown left. \u00a0On offense, the Cavs were stagnant at times, but they showed a committed to attacking, despite the Hornets length inside. \u00a0Dion Waiters and C.J. Miles in particular were super effective at slashing into the teeth and finishing despite a crowded paint. \u00a0The scoring was balanced – everyone that played contributed. \u00a0The bench guys did what we’ve come to know and love, and Kyrie put on an offensive clinic from the moment he re-emerged in the 4th.<\/p>\n

The format for this recap is going to be a running diary. \u00a0I admit that this might seem clunky or hard to read, but honestly, I’ve noticed how much more excited I get about individual moments in real-time than when I’ve had 48 minutes to let the “nuance” and “balance” and all those horrible things cloud my hyperbolic judgement. \u00a0The reality of this team is, they are young, and promising. \u00a0Game recaps need not be (individually) characteristic of the season, the team, or the trajectory. \u00a0Each game is its own story, and it’s worth diving into all the highlights and lowlights. \u00a0So I present my running diary – and of course more over-arching analysis during timeouts and halftime. \u00a0Love it or hate it, just let me know either way.<\/p>\n”]\"\"<\/a>\n

1st Quarter<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cavs win tip \u2013 Tristan jumps out of bounds to save ball.\u00a0 Ball swings, Gee hits corner 3.\u00a0Great start.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pick n foul-line-extended pop for Zeller (more his range than the 20 footers). <\/span>Drains it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cavs defense force two straight out of rhythm Js to start game.<\/p>\n

Cavs anticipating screens and ball movement early.\u00a0 (good sign)<\/p>\n

Waiters goes strong to the hole! (EXPLOSIVE)\u00a0 Jon Barry likes the Waiters draft pick.<\/p>\n

Tristan Thompson with a beautiful step through move that draws a whistle (boooooooo get that\u00a0prescription\u00a0checked ya bum!)<\/p>\n

Kyrie fighting under screens early (another good sign)<\/p>\n

Waiters another drive \u2013 gets into teeth \u2013 nice interior pass to Zeller who flips it in.<\/p>\n

TT tosses in an OLD SCHOOL Jump Hook!\u00a0 Throwing it DOWNWARD towards the net.<\/p>\n

Oh my TT\u2019s handle.<\/p>\n

NO is a \u201clong\u201d team.\u00a0 OKC being the original \u201clong\u201d team.<\/p>\n

Alonzo Gee has a very strange shot.\u00a0 Some of his threes look like Bill Cartwright\u2019s free throws.<\/a><\/p>\n

Kyrie tried spinning curve-ball bounce passes twice already in the 1st<\/sup> quarter.\u00a0 Pretty low-percentage pass. \u00a0He might have to learn how to pass with his left. \u00a0We already know he’s basically\u00a0ambidextrous\u00a0with his shot – but he likes to bring it back to the right side to pass.<\/p>\n

Tristan working hard to get shots at the rim \u2013 but he’s pressing a bit.\u00a0 Needs to get comfortable and get that euro-touch back.<\/p>\n

Cavs being kept off the O-boards.\u00a0 Every possession is 1 and done.<\/p>\n

Bill Cartwright hits his second 3.<\/p>\n

This is a real man\u2019s game in the 1st<\/sup>.\u00a0 Intensity is high \u2013 every shot being challenged.\u00a0 Lots of blocks and body checks.\u00a0 Kinda jarring after the all-star game.<\/p>\n

Kyrie hits his veteran Andre Miller bank shot.\u00a0 Then gets doubled, finds Luke Walton who finds Speights for the money 17 footer.<\/p>\n

Cavs trapping now. \u00a0I really like that they\u2019re mixing it up. \u00a0And that was maybe the 5th<\/sup><\/em> travel called in this game.<\/p>\n

Jon Barry laughs off LeBron to Cleveland rumors – says people can keep dreaming. [ok?]<\/p>\n

Kyrie shows Barry why any free agent should give Cleveland a look \u2013 just a sick dribble move and floater.<\/p>\n

Cavs use their FOUL-TO-GIVE!!\u00a0 (don\u2019t even care that Ryan Anderson hit a circus 3).\u00a0 Byron Scott gets a huge air high-five from me for that quarter.\u00a0 Cavs played very well at the defensive end, mixed up their D, used their foul to give, and Kyrie played with an intensity on D that I haven\u2019t seen from him in a while.<\/p>\n

2nd<\/sup> Quarter<\/strong><\/p>\n

Herculoids\/Speights cowboys in.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Whoa \u2013 don\u2019t talk about the video of that Shaun Livingston injury. \u00a0Yeesh that makes me more queasy than the blood donation\u00a0questionnaire.<\/p>\n

Walton backdoor pass to Livingston drains 8 footer.\u00a0 I love the Herculoids.<\/p>\n

Brian Roberts? I feel like there is a Brian Roberts in every professional sport.<\/p>\n

C.J. MILES puts his head down and does his best Dion Waiters impression.\u00a0 Jon Barry remarks how C.J. Miles played well early this season, which proves that \u2018early\u2019 is a relative term.\u00a0 And yeah, he\u2019s right, at this point, December was early in the season.<\/p>\n

Walton with another gorgeous pass.\u00a0 Doesn\u2019t lead to a bucket though.\u00a0 Pelicans defend the rim pretty well.<\/p>\n

Wayne Ellington can shoot.\u00a0 I really love his game – hope he\u2019s a Cav for a long time.\u00a0 It\u2019s very valuable to have role players that know their role, and fulfill their role.\u00a0 It\u2019s not an easy job in pro sports to be that guy, the pinch hitter you can count on etc etc.\u00a0 You see lots of guys make a career out of playing within themselves and leveraging their talents \u2013 as opposed to trying to be dynamic scorer. \u00a0[Heed Baloo<\/a>]<\/p>\n

C.J. Miles goes strong AGAIN this time with a soft high layup in traffic.\u00a0 Roger Mason!\u00a0 Wow I remember him draining wide open 3s all night long for SA after the trade from Wash.\u00a0 Didn\u2019t even know he was still in the league.\u00a0 Feel like he had a negative PER or something a few seasons back. (checks bball-ref\u2026nah 7.2)<\/p>\n

Austin River is like a 3rd-<\/sup>world-orphan-man\u2019s Kyrie Irving.<\/p>\n

Was that the 9th<\/sup> travel called?<\/p>\n

C.J. Miles is playing like a man possessed – Jumps passing lane, throws down monster 2-handed dunk.<\/p>\n

Waiters having a REALLY great game so far.\u00a0 He just hit a step-back, contested 2 but unlike every other step-back, contested 2 this was actually a good shot in rhythm.\u00a0 C.J. Miles just swatted a ball out of bounds. (!) \u00a0Seriously that dude is ridiculously athletic.\u00a0 He\u2019s just too nice of a guy.\u00a0 Someone needs to disrespect his family\u2019s honor or something \u2013 he needs a mean streak. \u00a0@RichMcCreedy the floor is yours…<\/p>\n

Waiters hits another long, contested 2.\u00a0 But it was end of the shot clock and it was in rhythm.\u00a0 Well done, FREON.<\/p>\n

Tyler boxes out Geico Caveman and the refs correctly call an over the back.<\/p>\n

Tristan doing a good job getting in position \u2013 just tossing up bowling balls.\u00a0 Cavs working really hard on D but a great defensive possession ends with Tyler Zeller getting pump-faked out of his shoes. \u00a0He really has poor lateral quickness. \u00a0And Zeller turns it over…<\/p>\n

Byron Scott calls a \u201cquick\u201d timeout off two bad Zeller possessions.\u00a0 B Scott winning me over this game.<\/p>\n

The play is getting physical and the onus is really being put on the refs, and I feel like they\u2019ve gotten almost every call correct, even if they are being a little overzealous with the traveling calls.<\/p>\n

Just did a bball-ref check of Brian Roberts.\u00a0 Here are some interesting tidbits.\u00a0 He\u2019s a 27 year old rookie from Toledo.\u00a0\u00a0 He\u2019s hit 51 of 55 FT this season, which is eerily similar to C.J. Miles’ 50-54.<\/p>\n

Dion tries a hurry-up offense and draws a non-shooting foul.\u00a0 Shoots after the whistle and drains it. \u00a0He is engulfed in flames right now.<\/p>\n

Cavs playing really good D right now.\u00a0 As usual, the starters are a little bit stagnant \u2013 iso-oriented on offense, but they are attacking the rim which is always good.\u00a0 TT with a nice boxout draws free throws.<\/p>\n

Dion pushing in transition off a steal, and Anthony Davis spikes it so hard into the ground they might have to replace some hardwood at halftime.<\/p>\n

Kyrie with just a DEVASTATING pump fake dribble drive \u2013 Gee hits his 3rd<\/sup> triple. \u00a0Cavs end half up 2. \u00a0A very solid 2nd quarter, Cavs played that half like they have a good in-game coach. \u00a0Have I given you a clue?<\/a><\/p>\n

1<\/span>st<\/sup> Half Analysis:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Cavs came out focused and determined in this game \u2013 which is commendable.\u00a0 As a fan, it\u2019s really fun to watch a team compete on defense.\u00a0 They were even mixing up their coverages.\u00a0 During a recent podcast, you may have heard a 9-hour-long back and forth between Mallory and I about the offensive style\/execution differences between the starters and the bench.\u00a0 If you happened to remember my analysis, this half is very characteristic.\u00a0 The starters like isolation.\u00a0 TT likes to face up and take his man to the hole, Waiters likes to explode to the rack, Kyrie as we all know is one of the top 5 one-on-one players in the NBA right now (prediction, he will go down as a top 5 ALL-TIME one-on-one player alongside Michael Jordan, Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant and an old timer that I\u2019m overlooking because\u00a0I’ve\u00a0only seen grainy highlights of a few playoff games.)\u00a0 At any rate, the starters are fairly good in transition \u2013 Kyrie is ridiculous in transition (he\u2019s always ridiculous), Waiters is learning how to finish in traffic, Alonzo Gee is certainly better suited to some chaos which may help him get open, and Thompson and Zeller run the floor very well.\u00a0 The second unit, comparatively, is much better at executing half-court offense.\u00a0 They showed that in this half.\u00a0 Luke Walton is the half-courtiest of players, and Wayne Ellington and Shaun Livingston really understand how to use screens to create spacing.\u00a0 Walton is an elite passer and Speights is really a dynamic half-court scorer for a big.\u00a0 That high release allows him to score from a lot of different \u2018pops\u2019.\u00a0 C.J. Miles showed up in a HUGE way in that half.\u00a0 [We interrupt this half-time analysis to point out the Pacers are up FORTY on the Knicks right now and it\u2019s only the 3rd<\/sup> quarter]\u00a0 C.J. Miles is 3 of 3, has 2 boards, a NASTY swat, a steal, and is +7 in 9 minutes.\u00a0 About all you can ask for.\u00a0 The Cavs bigs have struggled so far against the length of the Hornets frontcourt.\u00a0 Al-Farouq Aminu is listed as 6’9″ but he looked silly-long on a few blocks.\u00a0 Just checked his measurable \u2013 he is not human.\u00a0 He has a 7\u20194\u201d wingspan?\u00a0 Laaaawd have Mercy.\u00a0 Between him, AD, and Caveman Lopez, this team can protect the rim.\u00a0 Tristan was pressing a bit in the 1st<\/sup> half and wound up 1-5, as did Speights.\u00a0 The good news is the Cavs interior D has been making life difficult for the Hornets bigs as well, and both teams are protecting the offensive glass.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been pretty agnostic about Byron Scott since he was hired, but he has earned some brownie points with me tonight.\u00a0 Besides the Cavs coming out focused and competing hard on defense, there were a couple \u201cgood coaching\/awareness!\u201d plays in the first half.\u00a0 The Cavs used their foul-to-give with a few ticks left in the 1st<\/sup> half and even though Ryan Anderson took exception and hit a circus buzzer-beater after the inbounds \u2013 it was nice to see the Cavs do a \u2018veteran\u2019 thing.\u00a0 B Scott also called a super quick timeout after a sequence where Tyler Zeller got burned trying to close out on a pump fake, and then turned it over right away at the other end.\u00a0 Not used to seeing that, a lot of times he lets his young guys hit rock bottom. \u00a0Good to regroup the troops and halt any momentum the visitors may have gathered.<\/p>\n

3rd<\/sup> Quarter<\/strong><\/p>\n

Robin Lopez comes out with two nice post moves from the left block.\u00a0 Monty Williams calls him \u201cthe most coach-able player he\u2019s ever had\u201d.\u00a0 I\u2019m sure Robin appreciates the atta-boy.<\/p>\n

Waiters with a huge GTWSOH chase down on Austin Rivers.\u00a0 Both teams starting the 3rd<\/sup> with intensity.<\/p>\n

Kyrie with a filthy crossover and J and then one of those traffic layups that only he can pull off.\u00a0 Fans getting into the game.<\/p>\n

TT block-fouls Anthony Davis and I swear before the whistle he put his hand up like \u201cI got him\u201d.\u00a0 The Cavs are a bunch of gentlemen I tell ya.<\/p>\n

Tyler Zeller quietly having a decent game. \u00a0Has bounced back from an early blown dunk and is switching like a madman on defense. \u00a0Fairly effectively too.<\/p>\n

TT MEETS LOPEZ AT THE APEX!!\u00a0 GET THAT WEAK STUFF OUTTA HERE!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Cavs continuing with some supreme defensive intensity.<\/p>\n

LOPEZ MEETS TT AT THE APEX!!\u00a0 (TT FOULED)\u00a0 (…but having trouble at the line tonight)<\/p>\n

Tristan showing how far he\u2019s coming, thrashing about among the long-johns for a man\u2019s rebound and draws another trip the line.\u00a0 His FTs look flat but he finally hits one.<\/p>\n

Cavs show a full court press.\u00a0 Byron +1.<\/p>\n

Waiters not too bad at the falling-8-feet-to-the-side jumpers when he\u2019s inside 17 feet.\u00a0 He\u2019s still engulfed in flames tonight. \u00a0He cares not for the Cavalier jersey-burning stigma. \u00a0– and THERE\u2019S the bad-Waiters shot.\u00a0 NBA JAM rules trump logic \u2013 Freon is neutron star hot right now.\u00a0 Monty Williams calls time.<\/p>\n

[GASP] A LUKE HARANGODY D-LEAGUE COMMERCIAL! [re-inserts jaw]\u00a0 And it\u2019s freaking AWESOME!<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=8sF8Z9kehY0<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>
\nTristan with a great job attacking the PnR ball handler and then retreating.\u00a0 Austin Rivers making some creative buckets.<\/p>\n

Alonzo Gee finally misses an open 3.<\/p>\n

Waiters is having such a great night.\u00a0 Blows by transition defender and realizes he is way out of position \u2013 but finds Zeller following the action with a crazy twisting pass.\u00a0 Alonzo Gee steals inbounds pass (this defense!?)<\/p>\n

Cavs playing some really good D and Hornets just being patient and finding ways to make shots after the first few options break down.<\/p>\n

Cavs with a couple defensive breakdowns \u2013 looking like the 3rd<\/sup> grade soccer defenders suddenly.<\/p>\n

Alonzo Gee should probably come out of the game now.\u00a0 Cavs 11 point lead evaporates in a hurry.<\/p>\n

Tristan just wants it more.\u00a0 3 towering bigs all over him and he just keeps on going strong.\u00a0 Going back to the line after the timeout.<\/p>\n

I remember when Chad Ford described Austin Rivers as [paraphrasing] a guy that thinks he\u2019s Kobe Bryant but has the game of Ricky Davis.\u00a0 (BUCKETS!)\u00a0 He\u2019s looked very good in this game.\u00a0 NO caps off a 10-0 run with a steal and a vicious flush.\u00a0 (The Rivers exchange between Simmons and Ford is biting.\u00a0 http:\/\/www.grantland.com\/story\/_\/id\/8100861\/ford-vs-simmons<\/a>)\u00a0 Refs still calling travels.\u00a0 Cavs in a rut right now.\u00a0 Hornets have all the momentum – they look bigger, faster, stronger and they are out- executing.\u00a0 I\u2019m starting to get a sinking feeling those free throws are going to haunt the Cavs when this one is all said and done.<\/p>\n

Kyrie makes a tough blowby layup look easy and does it with enough time for a 2 for 1.\u00a0 Then Kyrie gets a little too dribble happy, and NO smartly doubles him with about 2 seconds left – he\u2019s forced to give it up and the buzzer goes off before the eventual C.J. Miles shot.<\/p>\n

4th Quarter<\/strong><\/p>\n

Roger Mason is ALIVE.<\/p>\n

C.J. Miles makes a bad shot.\u00a0 He\u2019s now 4-4.\u00a0 Cavs need to start executing and getting some easy baskets again.<\/p>\n

Cavs have done a good job making sure Ryan Anderson doesn’t get good looks.\u00a0 In general\u00a0they’ve\u00a0done a good job chasing 3-point shooters off the line.\u00a0 C.J. Miles follows up a heat check 3 that he missed with a LeBron-esque power drive and finish.\u00a0 Geez.\u00a0 And Miles throws up another<\/em> heat check!\u00a0 He\u2019s not getting cheated out there.<\/a><\/p>\n

Cavs have made 3 more shots than the Hornets but are only 6-15 from the line (Hornets are 14-16).<\/p>\n

Cavs have on at least 3\u00a0occasions\u00a0tonight had the big hedge<\/strong> on the PnR, stopping the penetration and then retreating quickly enough to recover.\u00a0 Maybe digging into the Mike Brown archives in the underground bunker at the Q. (Same bunker where the aliens that took over LeBron\u2019s soul in the Celtics series are buried)<\/p>\n

Cavs getting quite frustrated with the ball-possession calls in this half.\u00a0 At least 4 times guys were genuinely convinced it should have been their ball.\u00a0 Brian Roberts with a layup that makes contortionists cringe.\u00a0 Kyrie back in.\u00a0 UncleDrew time? \u00a0(7 minutes left Cavs down 2)<\/p>\n

Brian Roberts bodies Kyrie \u2013 which seems like a smart thing to do since you can\u2019t back off him, and Kyrie spins around him and pops one in while getting fouled.\u00a0 Tie game: 79 all.<\/p>\n

Cavs playing super small right now, trying to spread the floor for Kyrie (seems to be working) but the Hornets are trying to create mismatches at the other end (also working).\u00a0 Kyrie got caught in no-man’s-land on the switch and eventually Tristan had to leave his man to stop an easy dunk.<\/p>\n

TT with a nice job forcing Lopez into a tough hook shot and then immediately turns to box him out.<\/p>\n

Kyrie just destroyed whatever member of Kingdom Animalia that just tried to check him.<\/p>\n

Oh and Kyrie with a PUJIT from 27 feet.\u00a0 BOTTOM.\u00a0 Lot of time left but Cavs have taken over the momentum behind Irving\u2019s prodigy-enous scoring. (the fusion of prodigenous<\/a> \u2013 a word that Uncle Drew’s contemporaries probably used to describe him and prodigy \u2013 which is what Kyrie is.)<\/p>\n

Kyrie grabs a rebound, goes coast to coast through 9 guys and lays it in softly despite going full speed.\u00a0 Oh, and then he takes a charge.\u00a0 MVP chants coming?\u00a0 Caveman Lopez fouls out.<\/p>\n

Kyrie defers to Dion who is on the weak side and has a flat-footed defender just staring at him.\u00a0 But Freon freezes up before kicking it back out to Kyrie with 2 seconds left.\u00a0 But after a shot with 0.6 that captures iron, the Cavs get the ball back.\u00a0 This time Dion spins past a double team, kicks out beautifully to Kyrie who somehow misses an open 3.\u00a0 Cavs get 2 more offensive rebounds and I can\u2019t even keep up – this game in frenetic.\u00a0 But Kyrie just did a sick inside-outside dribble and up-and-under scoop for another layup.\u00a0 After Anthony Davis\u2019 first basket, Kyrie draws a foul on a pull-up.\u00a0 THERE\u2019S THE MVP CHANTS.<\/p>\n

Cavs up 9 after the free throws.\u00a0 I think the Cavs have made the last 10 or so free throws.\u00a0 Anthony Davis with a tip-in off an Austin Rivers drive.<\/p>\n

Cavs not exactly looking like the Spurs right now but there is a spring in their step as the crowd is really taking them home.\u00a0 They are getting all the rebounds and Kyrie is just securing the livelihoods of \u2018ankle doctors\u2019 everywhere.<\/p>\n

After a NO 3, they foul TT, who’s 3-10 tonight at the line.\u00a0 Rubber rims the first one in.\u00a0 Nails em both.\u00a0 Earning the right to be on the court in crunch time.<\/p>\n

(Beaver) DAM.\u00a0 Ryan Anderson hits a 3. \u00a0Four point game with 40 seconds.\u00a0 Ellington does a good job avoiding the foul before passing off to Waiters.\u00a0 Rook\u2019s turn to hit some pressure free throws.<\/p>\n

Calmly nails both.\u00a0 Cavs are now 18-28 from the free throw line.<\/p>\n

Brian Roberts drives unimpeded for a fingeroll.\u00a0 Wayne Ellington again does a great job getting across the timeline and drawing the foul.\u00a0 And swishes both free throws.\u00a0 I see what\u2019s going on here.\u00a0 Cavs purposely letting NO score instantly to pad their FT stats.\u00a0 (Or maybe just going for Chalupas?)<\/p>\n

Roberts hits a long 3 and this is the longest minute in NBA regular season history?\u00a0 Ellington back to the line.\u00a0 Drains em both.\u00a0 Cavs were 6-15 from the line and have since gone 18-19.<\/p>\n

Game finally ends.\u00a0 Really strong all-around game for the Cavs, who beat a team playing better as of late.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=8DnKOc6FISU#t=13s<\/p>\n

Final Thoughts:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Everyone played well tonight. \u00a0Some fans on twitter were expressing boredom in the game or pointing out a lack of execution by the Cavs. \u00a0I disagree. \u00a0This game had a very different feel to it than most Cavs games. \u00a0The Cavs did the little things to stay in the game when the offense went stagnant. \u00a0They played hard for 48 minutes and were rewarded with a W. \u00a0Now, I’d like to gush about Kyrie Irving a bit.<\/p>\n

I could probably write 10,000 words gushing about Kyrie Irving. \u00a0But I just want to point out a couple things. \u00a0The guy who, in my opinion, has the best handle in the entire NBA (yes, even better than CP3) just WON the THREE POINT CONTEST<\/strong>. \u00a0Steve Kerr made a comment after Kyrie drained back to back corner 3s in the actual all-star game that “3s aren’t<\/em> even his specialty”. \u00a0And I totally get that sentiment! \u00a0Look at the rest of that field! \u00a0Other than Steph Curry, who can shoot off-the-dribble almost as seamlessly as spotting up, the rest of those guys are in the NBA <\/em>[dramatic pause] <\/em><\/strong><\/em>BECAUSE<\/strong> spot-up 3s ARE<\/strong><\/em> their specialty. \u00a0Matt Bonner is in the NBA<\/strong><\/em> because he makes almost half of his spot-up 3-point shots. \u00a0As I anxiously waited for the 3-point contest to start I thought: “Kyrie is the best scorer of this bunch, but he’s lethal when he uses his dribble to create rhythm for himself. \u00a0He’s really not a spot-up 3-point shooter.”<\/em> [Incidentally Reggie Miller echoed this sentiment during Kyrie’s first round] \u00a0And he went out and almost broke the record…on National TV<\/a>.<\/p>\n

People are running out of ways to describe Kyrie Irving. \u00a0He’s not even 21 and the comparisons to other players are already becoming meaningless. \u00a0We’ve already established he has the best dribble in the NBA, and he just won the 3-point contest and is a legitimate threat to be a 50-40-90 guy<\/a>. \u00a0 I’m gonna add another\u00a0accolade. \u00a0When Kobe Bryant started slowing down he was lauded for things like “footwork” and “precision” and “creativity”. \u00a0Lots of subjective terms that indicated it was very difficult to keep Kobe Bryant from getting to the spots he wanted to get to and getting the shots off that he wanted to get off. \u00a0I’d like to submit, for your approval, that Kyrie Irving, is the most “creative” 20-year-old scorer the NBA has ever seen. \u00a0Many players have been more athletic, more explosive, more savvy, or whatever. \u00a0But what Kyrie is doing is unstoppable. \u00a0You back up? \u00a0He’ll drain a 30 foot buzzer beater.<\/a> Body him up? \u00a0He’ll spin right around you (like in this game) and make you dizzy<\/a>. \u00a0Get happy feet? \u00a0He’ll break your ankles<\/a> and unlike Iverson he’ll drain the mid-range shot. \u00a0But it doesn’t end there. \u00a0In Transition? \u00a0Devastating.<\/a> PUJITs? \u00a0PU3ITs?<\/a> He can split double teams. \u00a0He’ll throw in soft floaters, layups from every angle with either hand, including those patented up-and-under layups with crazy english. \u00a0He’s got inside-outside dribbles, euro-steps, and THIS<\/a>. \u00a0And the ones that always make me shake my head are those leaning bank shots<\/a>, when that’s the only angle the defender gives him – he can kiss it softly off the glass. \u00a0There’s like 5 guys in the entire NBA that even attempt that shot.<\/p>\n

He’s the most creative scorer I’ve ever seen play in the NBA. \u00a0Admittedly, I’m not a big Kobe Bryant fan, and I feel that many of the game’s truly great players leveraged a few (effective) go-to moves. \u00a0Kyrie’s like an all-star pitcher that has total command over 10 different pitches (if there ever was such a pitcher). \u00a0Every time you watch him it’s like “how’s he gonna figure this one out” and more often than not, he does. \u00a0And this is from a guy that has only played 105 NBA+College games combined. \u00a0It’s been said, but it bears saying again. \u00a0“What’s not to like?”<\/p>\n

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The Cavs represented themselves well in front of a national TV audience and (more importantly) a very enthusiastic home crowd.…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-17777","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-recaps"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cavstheblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17777","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cavstheblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cavstheblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cavstheblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/86"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cavstheblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=17777"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/cavstheblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17777\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17797,"href":"https:\/\/cavstheblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17777\/revisions\/17797"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cavstheblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=17777"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cavstheblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=17777"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cavstheblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=17777"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cavstheblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcoauthors&post=17777"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}