But one thing that can't be shared in stills is the Cavs pre-game intro -- including a 3D floor which is the coolest thing I've ever seen!

 

Cleveland Cavaliers ‏@cavs  9m9 minutes ago

Miss the moment? Experience tonight's 3D #CavsOpener intros from @TheQArena. #AllForCLE

 

https://amp.twimg.com/v/a9850290-d4b8-4024-9b9f-d0233fc45506

the nike poster that you can get at the end of the video is just excellent and is making its way up around all my work stations around town.

 

fyi it says just do it with no annoying corporate swoosh, so its a good inspirational fit for at work or for anywhere.

Everyone knows I'm not into sports of any kind, and a) I thought the ad was awesome and b) the 3D floor was AMAZING.

Looks like Lebron will be endorsing a certain local Fortune 500 insurance company!

Hey with all these posts about the activity downtown yesterday, I'm wondering how the game itself turned out?

Hey with all these posts about the activity downtown yesterday, I'm wondering how the game itself turned out?

 

Nice...

Hey with all these posts about the activity downtown yesterday, I'm wondering how the game itself turned out?

 

Nice...

 

Joking aside, they have a chance to quickly change the storyline tonight by going on the road and beating the team that will likely be their biggest challenge in the Eastern Conference.

They looked a little rusty shooting but a nice win in O.T. against a very good Bulls team. Tristian Thompson had TWELVE offensive rebounds tonight and one of them followed by a slam pretty much sealed the win for us tonight.

Nice win

Great win on the road against our main rivals in the Eastern Conference this season! And this Cavs' team doesn't yet know how to play together as a team. Lots of individual play from some great players. But when they can anticipate each other's moves and tendencies, and move the ball around better, this team is going to be so much better than the sum of its parts. I'm so happy we got this win. By the time we play them again in January, this Cavs team is going to be even better.

 

And I'm liking this team's camaraderie!! LeBron James jumps on Kevin Love's back and screams after the Cavs' big win in Chicago -LOL!

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10202170367815538&set=vb.1679206713&type=2&theater

I really hope Mike Miller gets more P.T soon because we will need his 3

We needed that... Gotta give K-Love his due.  In this very tiny sample size, he's given us some nice D while his shot's clearly off.  So far, he's considerably better defensively than given credit for, at least rep-wise -- hustling, breaking up plays and taking charges.  It's always great when a player is a major contributor even when he's not hitting his shot.

One little tid-bit not getting much play in the media is that LeBron's back is still at only about 75% and it is really hurting his lift/explosiveness.  Luckily, it is a muscle issue which should clear up shortly, not a nerve or disc issue which would be more serious.

Sam Amico put LeBron's back at 85 percent. Woj put it at 90%.... Ok seriously. :) His back isn't fully there. This four-day hiatus should help.

 

Although he looked pretty good jumping on KLove's back after the big win! ;)

James back has to be bothering him. No excuse for Kyrie and Waiters who were trying to run offensive plays only for themselves and then forcing shots or turning the ball over was pathetic. That's not just bad habits. That's bad basketball.

James back has to be bothering him. No excuse for Kyrie and Waiters who were trying to run offensive plays only for themselves and then forcing shots or turning the ball over was pathetic. That's not just bad habits. That's bad basketball.

 

This was tough to watch.

 

I probably shouldn't watch sports as much as I do. 

Well the quietness of this forum speaks volumes.

 

The Cavs only point guard is out for 4-6 weeks.

Yep. The lack of assists says all you need to know about how well this team is embracing Blatt's move-the-ball offense. I never realized how bad Kyrie's and Dion's habits were until this season. How does Kyrie play with LeBron and Love and have ZERO assists?? He does realize he plays POINT guard right? Too much one-on-one hot-dogging. So much for sacrificing for the whole of the team. What a waste of talent.

How does Kyrie play with LeBron and Love and have ZERO assists??

 

Anyone have an answer to this? Anyone???

 

I could suit up and have at least one assist.

 

Granted I wouldn't have scored 30 points haha.

Anyone have an answer to this? Anyone???

 

I could suit up and have at least one assist.

 

Granted I wouldn't have scored 30 points haha.

 

No, but the TEAM might have won the game.

Luckily, I have been overwhelmed lately with other stuff and fell asleep before I had a chance to watch the last two games.  Regardless, I am not panicking one bit.  If they are still playing like this 20 games in, then I'll start to be concerned.  I always expected some growing pains and was never in the "70 win" boat.  It is much more important how they end the season going into the playoffs (YES, they WILL make the playoffs) then it is how they start the season.

 

The lack of assists last night is baffling.  Keep in mind however that there are plenty of games when Kyrie would have 10+ assists if guys simply made the wide open shots he gave them.  I'm more concerned about the lack of production from Dion, Miller, and Marion.

In minor defense of Kyrie, when you have LeBron James on your team, there are many times when LeBron handles the ball, brings the ball up the floor and runs the offense as a "point-forward" would do -- even though he posts-up way more than during his previous Cavaliers tour.  But Kyrie has ZERO ASSISTS over the past 6 quarters where he has hoisted 70-odd shots, which is inexcusable.  We are only 4 games in, but given the training camp and preseason, you'd have thought Kyrie and Waiters would have begun to ease out of those old bad habits, esp given the extreme talent level on this team (with LeBron and Love) and with LeBron acting as teacher -- well, at least attempting to do so.

 

Contributing to this car-crash of a season roll-out are David Blatt's horrible rotations.  For some crazy reason he has decided to shorten our bench as though we are heading into the playoffs, and guys like Harris, Haywood and Jones aren't getting on the floor at all (we did have a very brief Haywood citing at the tail end of the 1st half of the Portland game, even though, honestly, I don't think he played even 30 seconds -- but there's no evidence at all that he's hurting).  As Jason Lloyd pointed out, Blatt's attempt to enhance the D by starting Marion at the 2 failed horribly, with the young, inexperienced (and Lottery-bound) Jazz shooting nearly 60% in the first quarter... I would much rather use Marion to spell LeBron at the 3, because even though Marion's shot isn't what it used to be, he's the best fundamental defender on the team at the moment... Let Dion stay in and let LeBron take him under his wing.  If he doesn't listen to No. 23, ... then bench him.  Otherwise Blatt is just hurting both Dion and the team by dog-housing him...

 

Also, with Delevadova unfortunately out for probably 1 1/2 months, I'd really like to see Joe Harris get some PT and, thus, experience.  Harris has shown he has a super sweet shot.  Unfortunately Delly's injury should force us to use him, but fortunately this is all very early, so Blatt should take advantage of it and get Joe in there...

Agreed on Harris.  Matter of fact, I might've tossed him into the starting lineup last night over Marion if Blatt really wanted to try something different at the 2.

i was hanging out late last night watching the win over the nuggets. it was a 180 from the 'kyrie game.' everybody contributed and ball movement was pretty good. even electric at times, ie. the highlight lazer half court pass by lebron to tristan and also a lot of final push stuff by everybody at the end of the 4th quarter. the nuggets are not that great of a team, but it was good to see the cavs do what they need to do it at last. it was the first time i felt long stretches where they were locked in with each other, which of course is what they need to do and is what lebron has been harping about and rightly so. the only downside was maybe the shooting could have been better. anyway, the game was fun and was well worth going out and staying up for to catch.

i was hanging out late last night watching the win over the nuggets. it was a 180 from the 'kyrie game.' everybody contributed and ball movement was pretty good. even electric at times, ie. the highlight lazer half court pass by lebron to tristan and also a lot of final push stuff by everybody at the end of the 4th quarter. the nuggets are not that great of a team, but it was good to see the cavs do what they need to do it at last. it was the first time i felt long stretches where they were locked in with each other, which of course is what they need to do and is what lebron has been harping about and rightly so. the only downside was maybe the shooting could have been better. anyway, the game was fun and was well worth going out and staying up for to catch.

 

Seemed like there was good rapport last night. Very "team-like." Seven players in double figures!

 

Dion stepped up the defense when it counted most. And classic, unstoppable LeBron when it counted most. Stretches of cold shooting for sure. But they held together.

Hey, what's this I hear that Kevin Love now wants to go to the LAKERS?!

^The Cavs have the most media attention on them right now when compared to any other team in the league.  I wouldn't put too much into what are rumors being put out there by another team.  I've seen some point to the 2-3 start as proof that Love wants to leave.  There's two problems with that line of thinking:  1) The team knows that it has to gel some more, and 2)  We're only a few games into the season!!  Kevin Love wanted to come here for the chance to be on a team with true potential to pull off a championship (not two, not three, ok, I kid).

 

Sportswriters live to beat up on Cleveland.  It's like a national past time for some, and the season just started.  Don't sweat it. 

Nice game tonight. It's starting to come together. They chipped away at the lead and didn't give it up after they took it. NO forced them to finally play D as a team.

 

Kyrie was hot in the second half.

 

Anthony Davis is looking like the real deal for The Pelicans.

Anthony Davis IS the real deal.

 

All free agents and future free agents want to sign w/ the Lakers. It's just the way NBA rumors work.

 

I didn't expect we'd see Lebron/Kyrie/Love all kick it into gear in the same game so soon.

you should watch the whole cypher thing at the bottom of the link because its just fantastic, but anyway, if you go to 12:30 mark you will find that eminem has something to say about cleveland and lebron…and fair warning yes its offensive:

 

http://pitchfork.com/news/57397-eminem-raps-ill-punch-lana-del-rey-right-in-the-face-twice-like-ray-rice/

GREAT game last night.  The Pelicans came in shooting the lights out..... on fire from downtown.  It is hard to stay with a team which is shooting like the hoop is 10 feet wide, and with a player (Ryan Anderson) who is having one of those games he might have once or twice in the entire season.  Last year's team would have gone down by 20 and folded.  This team never let NO get away with the lead and made some fantastic runs to steal the show in the end.  Each of the Big 3 took turns being dominant.  Kyrie was at his best.  LeBron was fantastic, although he still looks somewhat limited due to his back.  Love played solid, but he can be even better (only 5 rebounds).  He had a tough draw, as AD is going to give PFs fits in this league for years to come.

 

I'm loving what I'm seeing out of TT in short stretches.  He is using his energy really well and it seems like he actually improved his vertical a bit.  Kid is soaring for those dunks and rebounds.

 

NO's top 6 (Asik, AD, Evans, Gordon, Holiday, Anderson) can play with any team in this league.  If they get more bench help and can stay healthy, watch out.

 

Hey, what's this I hear that Kevin Love now wants to go to the LAKERS?!

 

What you hear is the sound of a Bulls beat writer sending out click-bait........ and boy did he get the fish to bite.  His website/advertisers are happy with him.  Tomorrow it will be that LeBron wants to join Carmelo in NY courtesy of Frank Isola.

^ agree. If Kevin Love is stupid enough to leave money on th table to join a lottery team, i wouldnt want him on my team anyway.  That being said, he isnt that stupid.  The guy made it clear he wants to win and wants stability.  LAL doesnt offer that.  I recall hearing a story that he would definitely go to Boston and not here a while back....media can be pretty pathetic at times.  I dunno, last night looked like a happy group to me.  the Lakers are taking more heat than any NBA team right now

^^Also, notice how none of the major reporting sources picked up that story?  Actually, based on the junk ESPN has been throwing against the wall since Lebron returned, Im surprised they didnt try to run with that story.  But nothing from them, Sheridan, Woj, CBS, etc. 

^No..... but the second tier sites (PBT, Basketball Insiders, etc) all saw the value in the bait and spread it through the twitter-verse, with the caveat that they thought it was unrealistic (but still worth reading!)

Stunning that The Big 3 combined for 86 points. Last year they collectively averaged 81, albeit on separate teams. The thought was these guys had to sacrifice some production by playing together. What if these guys actually produce more by playing together because the sum may be greater than the individual parts? Now that would be incredible and possibly not implausible.

^plus 22 rebounds and 21 assists.

 

Kyrie, btw, has only one turnover in each of his last four games.

Last night's game is a preview of what this team can really do and it's exciting to see them coming together so soon. Not sure if this is going to be what we see from them consistently, or if it's just a flash, but either way that's why this team was put together like this. I think the pieces of our "Big Three" have the chance to be better overall and more complementary to one another than what Boston had and what Miami had. We have three guys that are essentially interchangeable parts and really good no matter what role they're taking on.

 

Beyond the Big Three, I want to see more of Joe Harris. He was only 1-4 from long-distance last night, but this kid can shoot, and when the Cavs drafted him (before LeBron agreed to return) I was bullish on his potential. He has a chance to be another big-time perimeter weapon that our distributors can take advantage of.

Invisible mustache sharpening would totally be believable enough if Kevin Love could just keep it cool.

^ ha - how about that!

What's the big deal?  Sharpening your mustache is now legal in at least three states and D.C.

Great win last night, coming back from 18 down in the fourth.

 

Interesting observation was Joe Harris playing the crunch time minutes at SG, nearly the entire 4th quarter. Word is that Marion is essentially a placeholder in the starting lineup and Joe is pegged to be our starter at the 2

Until about 10 minutes left in the game, nearly everyone on Twitter was rightly ripping the Cavs for no defense, no chemistry and no energy. I would really love to see the Cavs play most of the game the same way they played the last 10 minutes.

 

And I used to listen to what LeBron had to say merely because he was a great player. Now I listen to him because he has become wise and not just about basketball.

I think the boys are still learning to play as a unit, in the past Kyrie had to carry the team, now that he has support I'm not sure he knows how to distribute and run the team.  I think it will be al ong while before we see a cohesive unit like we witnessed the last two seasons of Lebrons Cavs 1.0

 

It wasn't ugly, but a "W" is a "W" and I'll take it in the long run.

Great win last night, coming back from 18 down in the fourth.

 

Interesting observation was Joe Harris playing the crunch time minutes at SG, nearly the entire 4th quarter. Word is that Marion is essentially a placeholder in the starting lineup and Joe is pegged to be our starter at the 2

 

Joe needs to start so Marion can relieve LeBron and, hopefully, begin curbing these 40-minute nights of his.  Marion's more of a natural 3 anyway, who plays close to the rim defensively and offensively.  I've felt from the beginning that Harris has poise and toughness, esp for a 2nd round rookie.  He's a bigger guard- 6'6" and can stick the 3... I think this can also free Dion to lead the 2nd unit and get more PT, esp in the 4th Q, which he hasn't been getting.  Plus I think it will help him to be paired with Marion on that 2nd unit.  At this point Mike Miller is totally useless. Not only isn't he shooting -- he usually takes 1 or 2 shots per game -- he misses them when he shoots them.  And last night, he even threw in a key turnover...

 

To me MM is the odd man out of this lineup, not Waiters, as many in the media are saying....

 

I also want Blatt to let Waiters play his game.  He's not a natural catch 'n shoot guy, but is most comfortable in the open court.  That's not saying he shouldn't play within the team concept, because he shoot ... and sometimes, doesn't.  But Blatt shouldn't try and shove a square peg into a round hole... Plus, in a pinch, Dion can play the point.  Last season, there were games were he out-assisted Kyrie.

I also want Blatt to let Waiters play his game.  He's not a natural catch 'n shoot guy, but is most comfortable in the open court.  That's not saying he shouldn't play within the team concept, because he shoot ... and sometimes, doesn't.  But Blatt shouldn't try and shove a square peg into a round hole... Plus, in a pinch, Dion can play the point.  Last season, there were games were he out-assisted Kyrie.

 

That's more perception than reality. Dion shot 42% on catch and shoot 3s last year. The coach should absolutely force him into more of those shots.

Dion's issues with staying on the court this year have more to do with defensive lapses than shortcomings on offense.

I also want Blatt to let Waiters play his game.  He's not a natural catch 'n shoot guy, but is most comfortable in the open court.  That's not saying he shouldn't play within the team concept, because he shoot ... and sometimes, doesn't.  But Blatt shouldn't try and shove a square peg into a round hole... Plus, in a pinch, Dion can play the point.  Last season, there were games were he out-assisted Kyrie.

 

That's more perception than reality. Dion shot 42% on catch and shoot 3s last year. The coach should absolutely force him into more of those shots.

 

The Coach shouldn't force anything... Yes, Jason Lloyd (an anti-Dion guy) noted he shoots a high percentage of 3s from the catch and shoot... I have no problem with him shooting some shots from this position... But I also think it's foolish to deny his natural slashing ability to the hoop.  That's not a talent that comes around every day, and it would make no sense to clip his wings.  Like I said, if he's hotdogging it or hogging the ball and not playing within the flow, then bench him if he doesn't stop. 

 

As for his lack of defense, yes he should pick it up... But Dion's far from the only one who lapses at the D end.  I think Kyrie is weaker than Dion defensively.  We've seen quality PGs (Damian Lillard) and even just good ones, or slice and dice Kyrie... And after a good start defensively, Kevin Love has been showing his D warts of late.... And you saw last night LeBron chew out Tristan when Thornton drive to the hoop untouched... While I'm not saying Dion is perfect by any means, it just seems like he's been made the whipping boy too often on this team.  I'm sure the fact that he doesn't speak the King's English, grew up on the wrong side of the tracks and, now it's been revealed he's Muslim, doesn't help matters either.

Dion looked fine and in the flow last night with 9pts, 8assts, and 4stls.  His shot was not 'on' so he went into playmaking mode and really whipped the ball around the court.  He would've had more points, but he continues to get hosed by the refs with no-calls when he gets hacked on his drives to the hoop, probably because he keeps yelling at them.

 

Great to see the team truly open a can on a very quality opponent last night.  It certainly helps when you set an NBA record* by going 9-9 on threes in the first quarter (*most 3's without a miss in any quarter).  We played our best defense of the season too.  But what was perhaps the most impressive aspect of the victory IMO was the 39 assists on 49 FGs.

 

During the current 4 game winning streak, the Cavs are averaging just under 120ppg

Wow, the North burned down Atlanta again....

 

Glad to see the Cavs took what they learned from the fourth period of the Celtics game and applied it to the Atlanta game. Moving the ball, find the open looks, getting back on defense, tracing and switching on defense and trusting each other. The results speak for themselves. They outscored Boston 38-20 in the fourth on Friday and then outscored the Hawks 41-25 and 30-18 in the first two quarters last night. After that it was all over but the shouting.

ESPN (Stein) is reporting that both the Cavs and the Rockets are in 'active trade' talks involving Minnesota SG/SF Corey Brewer.  He is a lock down wing defender who is good in transition (he was on he receiving end of a lot of KLove outlets in Minny).  Both teams have trade exceptions which would allow the trade to be made without including any players on their roster.  As much sense as Brewer makes for us, I have this sneaking suspicion that our 'involvement' in these trade talks is nothing more than Dan Gilbert tying up some loose end of the handshake deal he made with Glen Taylor before the KLove trade could be consummated...... by driving up the price Minny can demand from Houston.  If we did get Brewer without giving up anything of significance, I wonder where he would fit into the rotation.  He could potentially start at the 2, but then where do you find minutes for all of Marion, Dion, Harris, Delly, Miller, etc?  Good problem to have, I guess.  I would definitely love to add him to this team.  His length and quickness on the perimeter would bring a lot to our squad.