I wouldn't make the trade. I don't think Brewer gets us more than what we already have with Shawn Marion or Tristan Thompson. It would give us a deeper bench as Jones and Miller have disappointed, plus he has playoff experience including a championship with Dallas but those are the only reasons why I'd do  it.

 

Interestingly, Grantland had the Brewer rumor a month ago. It was mentioned as a secondary possibility to bringing Mozgov to C-town.....

 

"Cleveland has been eyeing David Blatt's former starting center with the Russian national team in Timofey Mozgov of the Denver Nuggets, while shooting guards like Jared Dudley, Corey Brewer and Iman Shumpert are also possible trade targets."

http://www.travelerstoday.com/articles/12983/20141014/cleveland-cavaliers-nba-rumors-iman-shumpert-timofey-mozgov-nba-news.htm

 

Oh, and speaking of Grantland, if you can't beat the Cavs on the court, beat them in the media:

http://www.hngn.com/articles/49345/20141113/cleveland-cavaliers-rumors-teams-sabotaging-leaking-misinformation-kevin-love-kyrie.htm

Don't take your Cleveland Cavs for granted. This Pittsburgh writer reminds us why......

 

The Opinionated Spectator…Jealous of Cleveland Fans

Nov 13, 2014 By Alexis Sara Cobb , For New Pittsburgh Courier

 

I have a dirty little secret. I am jealous of Cleveland basketball fans.

 

I watched the Cleveland Cavaliers play the New Orleans Pelicans on November 10, 2014. For the second time this season, LeBron James and his Cavaliers played at home at the Quickens Loans Arena. Unlike the first home game against the Knicks, the Cavaliers won 118-111.

 

Cleveland fans relished the opportunity to root for LeBron James again. The arena was packed. Once the Cleveland players get used to playing with each other, they are going to be a force to be reckoned with. The game was exciting, fun, and the fans were energetic and incredibly loud.

 

MORE:

http://newpittsburghcourieronline.com/2014/11/13/the-opinionated-spectator-jealous-of-cleveland-fans/

^I'm not sure why the writer is surprised that Pittsburgh doesn't have an NBA team.  It's the same reason Cleveland doesn't have an NHL team.

"I should not have to cross state lines to watch quality basketball. We need to have our own NBA team."

 

Poor 76ers.

^I'm not sure why the writer is surprised that Pittsburgh doesn't have an NBA team.  It's the same reason Cleveland doesn't have an NHL team.

 

Yeah but it's still fun to read.

 

BTW, I'm more sold on trading for Brewer after hearing an interview with Chris Fillar on The Fan today. Chris noted how LeBron is near the top in the league in minutes per game, and that Matrix was supposed to spell him. But Matrix had to start so Dion could come off the bench since Jones and Miller haven't cut it. Cavs need Brewer to spell LeBron. And I recall how LeBron was cramping up in the finals because he had to play so many minutes. I'm certain LeBron wanted to leave Miami because his body wouldn't last by having to play so many minutes around those aging guys. And Cleveland offered the young guys -- or so we thought.

The Cavs defensive understanding, intensity, scheme and execution is poor. So when they don't shoot well, they're in trouble, as was the case in tonight's Denver game.

This was like a mirror of opening night: we absolutely took Denver lightly.  We were sloppy (15 turnovers) and unfocused at both ends of the floor.  And this time, Denver had All Star caliber PG Ty Lawson who ran our D ragged, penetrating and hitting (wide) open guys for 3s.  And just like with the Knicks, when we finally did decide to play sometime in the 4th quarter, it was too late... We've played this rope-a-dope ball more often than not this season; it took a HOF level performance from LeBron in the 4th, plus some consecutive 3s by Kyrie, to stage a miracle comeback against Boston... Otherwise, we seemed really bored for much of the night.  And it cost us dearly, as San Antonio, Washington and Toronto are next up on the docket.

Denver really needed that win last night.  It is becoming cliché to keep hearing it, but it is so true that we get our opponents best punch each and every game.  Darrell Arthur made three 3pt shots?  Really?  The turnovers also really hurt us.  A few times, we simply tried to get too cute with the pass.  Anytime LeBron and Kyrie combine for 8 turnovers, we will have a hard time winning.  That said, if we would've hit a few of the wide open shots we missed, it is a different game.  Everyone not named LeBron, Kyrie, Kevin, and Dion shot a combined 5-20 last night.  Not gonna cut it, even when those four combine for 82 points.

Don't take your Cleveland Cavs for granted. This Pittsburgh writer reminds us why......

 

The Opinionated Spectator…Jealous of Cleveland Fans

Nov 13, 2014 By Alexis Sara Cobb , For New Pittsburgh Courier

 

I have a dirty little secret. I am jealous of Cleveland basketball fans.

 

I watched the Cleveland Cavaliers play the New Orleans Pelicans on November 10, 2014. For the second time this season, LeBron James and his Cavaliers played at home at the Quickens Loans Arena. Unlike the first home game against the Knicks, the Cavaliers won 118-111.

 

Cleveland fans relished the opportunity to root for LeBron James again. The arena was packed. Once the Cleveland players get used to playing with each other, they are going to be a force to be reckoned with. The game was exciting, fun, and the fans were energetic and incredibly loud.

 

MORE:

http://newpittsburghcourieronline.com/2014/11/13/the-opinionated-spectator-jealous-of-cleveland-fans/

 

It's always nice to see P********* fans whine about us.

Don't take your Cleveland Cavs for granted. This Pittsburgh writer reminds us why......

 

The Opinionated Spectator…Jealous of Cleveland Fans

Nov 13, 2014 By Alexis Sara Cobb , For New Pittsburgh Courier

 

I have a dirty little secret. I am jealous of Cleveland basketball fans.

 

I watched the Cleveland Cavaliers play the New Orleans Pelicans on November 10, 2014. For the second time this season, LeBron James and his Cavaliers played at home at the Quickens Loans Arena. Unlike the first home game against the Knicks, the Cavaliers won 118-111.

 

Cleveland fans relished the opportunity to root for LeBron James again. The arena was packed. Once the Cleveland players get used to playing with each other, they are going to be a force to be reckoned with. The game was exciting, fun, and the fans were energetic and incredibly loud.

 

MORE:

http://newpittsburghcourieronline.com/2014/11/13/the-opinionated-spectator-jealous-of-cleveland-fans/

"Quickens Loans Arena"

Latest word is that we are 'holding tight' on the Brewer trade because the front office places a higher priority on obtaining a big man.  Might need the TPE to do that.

As do I.  gotta stop the bleeding in the paint.

As do I.  gotta stop the bleeding in the paint.

 

Lots of open shots for the other team. The Cavs D reminds me of watching the Sprewell era Golden State Warriors.

Don't take your Cleveland Cavs for granted. This Pittsburgh writer reminds us why......

 

The Opinionated Spectator…Jealous of Cleveland Fans

Nov 13, 2014 By Alexis Sara Cobb , For New Pittsburgh Courier

 

I have a dirty little secret. I am jealous of Cleveland basketball fans.

 

I watched the Cleveland Cavaliers play the New Orleans Pelicans on November 10, 2014. For the second time this season, LeBron James and his Cavaliers played at home at the Quickens Loans Arena. Unlike the first home game against the Knicks, the Cavaliers won 118-111.

 

Cleveland fans relished the opportunity to root for LeBron James again. The arena was packed. Once the Cleveland players get used to playing with each other, they are going to be a force to be reckoned with. The game was exciting, fun, and the fans were energetic and incredibly loud.

 

MORE:

http://newpittsburghcourieronline.com/2014/11/13/the-opinionated-spectator-jealous-of-cleveland-fans/

"Quickens Loans Arena"

 

Gund Arena.  :)

The perimeter defense seems to have more to do with miscommunications than effort or anything schematic.  The players are learning a new defensive system which requires a lot of rotating to the next man.  They don't seem to be doing well with switching on the pick-n-roll either.  The interior defense, as we expected, is a personnel issue IMO.  The former will take time to fix.  The latter will require a trade or FA signing (Okafur?).

Saw Sam Amico's chat today... I'm glad I'm not the only one who  is totally befuddled as to why David Blatt isn't playing Brendan Haywood at all... Makes no sense esp given our near total lack of a rim protector (except those few times when power forward Tristan Thompson steps into the role).  I know we're only  9 games in, but Blatt's rotation is really starting to bug me.

I'd like to see him give Haywood a try unless he doesn't think he can defend the rim well enough to make up for his offensive liabilities.

 

Sorry to see tonight's game come down to the final possession, but LeBron knows as well as anyone that this is the kind of games you get into with Pop's teams.

 

 

I was encouraged last night that we had a chance to win at the end even thought LeBron and KLove had off-shooting nights.  The team defense was much better..... nowhere near elite, but not too many lapses against the team which is best in the league at exposing poor defense.  As for the offensive end, I would like to see us run more sets through KLove at the top of the circle the same way San Antonio uses Diaw.  I'm not talking about running the entire offense through him, but he is too good to be just standing in the corner on so many sets.

 

I still think LeBron's back is bothering him..... much more than he is letting on.  I can see it in the way he bends over and rests with his hands on his knees whenever he gets twisted or land awkwardly. 

I still think LeBron's back is bothering him..... much more than he is letting on.  I can see it in the way he bends over and rests with his hands on his knees whenever he gets twisted or land awkwardly. 

 

Sometime in the second half, LeBron was fouled on a drive to the left-side basket (as shown on TV) and, as someone with a bad back, I could see he was really hurt by that and was struggling afterwards. Larry Bird had a bad back. In the late 1980s, anytime he was supposed to be on the bench for his downtime, he used to lie courtside on his back on a towel with his knees up and his feet flat on the floor. I think it would be smarter for him to not play for a couple of weeks and get his back treated intensively. Perhaps he did in the offseason and, if that was the case, then I'm afraid this is going to shorten his career. Perhaps that's why he came back home while he could play.

^Stop it, you're scaring me.

I still think LeBron's back is bothering him..... much more than he is letting on.  I can see it in the way he bends over and rests with his hands on his knees whenever he gets twisted or land awkwardly. 

 

Sometime in the second half, LeBron was fouled on a drive to the left-side basket (as shown on TV) and, as someone with a bad back, I could see he was really hurt by that and was struggling afterwards.

 

Yes.  That is the play I was talking about specifically.  He went up for a tip in off a missed shot and Leonard came from behind and fouled him (it wasn't called).  It wasn't the foul, but the way he came down which twisted up his back, but then he stood there with his hands on his knees recovering and (I suspect) letting the muscles/ligaments relax.  I can sympathize.  Over the past year or so I have had a re-occurring thing right where my neck meets my back.  I can aggravate it by sleeping on it wrong and it really bothers me for several days.  But the worst was taking my son to Cedar Point this summer and letting the roller coasters take their toll on me.  It took a solid month for the discomfort to go away and I was taking it easy the whole time.

I can sympathize.  Over the past year or so I have had a re-occurring thing right where my neck meets my back.  I can aggravate it by sleeping on it wrong and it really bothers me for several days.  But the worst was taking my son to Cedar Point this summer and letting the roller coasters take their toll on me.  It took a solid month for the discomfort to go away and I was taking it easy the whole time.

 

That sounds like it could be cervical stenosis. Any numbness in your hands/arms?

 

If LeBron's back is the issue then his call to play fewer minutes makes a lot of sense.

When I was a junior in high school in 1983, I yawned and stretched by pushing my back into a one-piece desk/chair and dislocated a vertebrae in my lower back. I was briefly paralyzed in my lower body. A few years later I lifted a heavy box out if the trunk of my car and my back snapped again. It kept happening every few years and the pain was getting worse each time, so I began seeing a doctor about it in the 1990s and he only gave me muscle relaxers and pain relievers. About 15 years ago a new doctor gave me a regimen of back exercises to do and I haven't had a back blowout since. Although I'm seeing a chiropractor for a moving vertebrae in my cracking neck these days!

 

So..... When I see LeBron moving a certain way, like he's walking on an icy sidewalk, methinks there's something very familiar with that!!

Regarding Lebron I would sit him down for a month if needed. The first 30 games of an NBA season are just about meaningless. If he is hurt why risk it, we can survive at this point in the season w/o him. Let the others work together. Also I don't understand the Joe Harris Experience. Why is my second round draft choice playing these crucial minutes. How he is playing over Marion who is off to a good start or taking away minutes from Dion is beyond me. Harris has like 9 baskets so far. Does Blatt think that any team is worried about Joe Harris in the corner, especially the world champs. He's active on defense, well ok. It was Marion who disrupted Rondo in the Boston game after he switched off with Harris with about 5 sec to go. I not busting on Harris but when your a 2nd rounder with a 4 year college career that usually means you sit on the bench until your needed. I want Marion in for the final minutes, give the other team someone to worry about.

Don't take your Cleveland Cavs for granted. This Pittsburgh writer reminds us why......

 

The Opinionated SpectatorJealous of Cleveland Fans

Nov 13, 2014 By Alexis Sara Cobb , For New Pittsburgh Courier

 

I have a dirty little secret. I am jealous of Cleveland basketball fans.

 

I watched the Cleveland Cavaliers play the New Orleans Pelicans on November 10, 2014. For the second time this season, LeBron James and his Cavaliers played at home at the Quickens Loans Arena. Unlike the first home game against the Knicks, the Cavaliers won 118-111.

 

Cleveland fans relished the opportunity to root for LeBron James again. The arena was packed. Once the Cleveland players get used to playing with each other, they are going to be a force to be reckoned with. The game was exciting, fun, and the fans were energetic and incredibly loud.

 

MORE:

http://newpittsburghcourieronline.com/2014/11/13/the-opinionated-spectator-jealous-of-cleveland-fans/

"Quickens Loans Arena"

 

Gund Arena.  :)

 

Quick-E-Mart Arena.  :D

Saw the cavs live last night for the first time... I'm really concern about consistent effort especially with LeBron. At this point what is he trying to do? He has a mental make up that I've never seen in a star of his caliber.  He says all the right things about leadership and elevating the youngs guys, but he's not backing it up with actions, which is the most important part!  Then he's going to the media and acting like the kids aren't listening to him.  I don't know, let Blatt do the coaching and go play like the superstar you are. The cavs will be 100% reliant on how engaged and successful LeBron is and lately he's not. It's like they r trying to practice during games and LeBron is always looking for the right pass instead of being the leader. In the mean time we can't get the near the rim and Toronto went to the rim at will. Really stunning to watch live. I think I understand what LeBron is trujng to do, but you have to lead by example and want it every second like all the greats do.

I also see LeBron stepping on Blatt's toes in the behind-the-scenes locker room views and when Blatt is trying to give instructions on the sideline. It's like LeBron wants to insert himself as coach and either doesn't trust Blatt to lead the team or simply doesn't know when to shut up.

I'm baffled at the moment, but still sticking to my 20 game warm-up I said I would give them at the beginning of the season.  When LeBron is LeBron, we win.  The stats are clear on that point.  When he is pedestrian, we lose.  I would like him to be spectacular every night, but on the other hand, we have the talent on this team even without him to win a good amount of games.  The only two guys who are playing up to expectations on this entire roster, IMO, are Kyrie and Andy.  I actually thought Kyrie might struggle the most out of the Big 3, but that hasn't been the case.  LeBron's start has been up and down.  KLove is being too passive and not taking the fight to his opponent.  Marion has been so-so.  Miller has been awful.  TT and Dion are struggling to adjust to their new roles, although TT has been brilliant in a few games.  We just are no getting the contributions from role players that we need, and right now are dead last in the league in bench scoring. 

 

He's certainly no savior, but I think Delly's value to the current make-up of this roster is higher than most people might think.  We need his hustle plays in the worst way right now.

He's certainly no savior, but I think Delly's value to the current make-up of this roster is higher than most people might think.  We need his hustle plays in the worst way right now.

 

Did the offense flow better with him and Kyrie playing together?

I think a lot of the problem is Blatt's lack of consistent rotation; something Jason Lloyd (and others) noted he had issues with at Macabbi Tel Aviv.... I think LeBron's inconsistency and, sometime, lack of leadership has certainly hurt the team, and when he plays poorly, we usually loose.  But I can't put it all on him.  These are big boys and certainly more talented than the team LeBron left in 2010...

 

Also, note the fact that specifically in 2 recent games, San Antonio and Toronto,  (in the 2nd and 1st quarters, respectively), the Cavs were cruising along with double-digit leads, then LeBron sat down and, in both cases, we immediately collapse and either get caught or fall behind which, suddenly, puts us in panic mode.  I thought this team was supposed to be deep ... then we're forced to have LeBron come back in and rescue bail us out.  Yes, he's the greatest player on the planet, but this shouldn't consistently be his role.  He's older now and we have more talent; it shouldn't all be on him 24/7... We got away with this style in Chicago and Denver and even with New Orleans, here, but it's not happening now.  Yes LeBron isn't quite as explosive and has some ball handling/turnover issues he usually doesn't have, but this team is not supposed to be the LeBron-aires. 

 

And I think a lot of this because of Blatt's inconsistency in rotation along with a) his general reliance on a short bench and not getting the most out of potential guys (James Jones, Brendan Haywood) who he never uses , b) his over reliance on severely-struggling Mike Miller, c) his jerking around young guys like Waiters and Harris, the latter who looked good last week, looks totally confused now.  Also, I don't like Marion at the 2; he should be backing LeBron at the 3.  Although Shawn's offense comes and goes, his defense has been stellar.  Blatt really needs to figure it out.  Yes, much is indeed on LeBron, but I think Blatt has a lot of fingerprints on this current collapse.

 

 

He's certainly no savior, but I think Delly's value to the current make-up of this roster is higher than most people might think.  We need his hustle plays in the worst way right now.

 

Did the offense flow better with him and Kyrie playing together?

 

I don't know.  I was thinking more about his perimeter defense and the fact that we don't have a backup PG, unless you count Will Cherry who is a career D-League guy.  Delly was by far our best player in the Summer League and showed an ability to run this offense as a true PG.  Maybe even more sorely missed is the extra possessions he gets us with his all out hustle, winning the 50-50 balls, taking charges, and diving all over the floor.  I guarantee you Lou Williams does not torch us for a career high 32 on Saturday if Delly plays.  Toronto got back into that game because we had no one who could check Lou Williams.  As a matter of fact, Chuck Hayes was asked what Lou Williams saw when he came in and let it loose on us in the first half, and Hayes responded quite simply - "Will Cherry"

^ corey brewer?

^I think they would prefer to use their assets on a big man.

 

Much better last night, even if it was against a pretty bad Orlando team.

Nice to see James Jones actually play -- and true to form, he swished a 3-pointer.  Brendan Haywood only played 6 mins, but had 3 blocks, including one on Oladipo, (but had no rebounds).  Amundson looks like he can give us some quality minutes as does Cherry.  None of these guys are stars, but given the chance, I think they can at least keep the lights on while the stars rest (and Blatt now says that, unlike his earlier miscues, he will now have a star on the floor at all times save junk time of course).  I refuse to believe Haywood and James are washed up simply because David Blatt's not playing them, because up until recently Blatt's been trying to sell us on Mike Miller, who clearly seems to have hit his career wall...

 

And as bad as LeBron has been this past week -- and he was bad by his standards -- that during the losing streak we had an 18-point lead against the Eastern Conference leader and an 11-point lead against the World champs.

Long but good article worth reading....

 

Joe Harris’ remarkable journey from small-town star in Chelan to the NBA

http://blogs.seattletimes.com/take2/2014/11/25/joe-harris-remarkable-journey-from-small-town-star-in-chelan-to-the-nba/

Some rumblings Miller might get a crack at the starting lineup tonight. Ugh. I thought the entire purpose of putting Mario. In that spot was to get better defense into the starting lineup

Now that was more like it last night

I love the fact that Kyrie and Dion are showing they can play defense. Couple that with moving the ball on offense, having an aggressive LeBron and Love being active inside the 3-point arc (or better still, in the paint), produces the kind of lopsided wins against quality opponents like what we saw last night. Blowing out Orlando was therapeutic. Blowing out Washington was indicative.

Prince William, Princess Kate to attend Nets - Cavaliers game to launch collaboration - ESPN New York http://t.co/MHout1AMa2

^It still bothers me that Blatt won't play guys like Haywood and James Jones; even in blowouts like last night's Pacers game.  And no reporters are asking why.  I'm not convinced these guys can't contribute simply because Blatt refuses to play them.

^He was asked about the lack of PT for the vets.  Here is his answer from last night:

 

"It's not precautionary that I am saving them for the playoffs," he said. "The team has just been playing good. I've just been going with what has worked. If it ain't broke then don't fix it."

 

He also had a quote when talking about the bench following up on what we discussed above:

 

"We need to do better," Blatt said. "I'd hope that when Matty comes back he will give us a lift."

 

Then Blatt paused for a moment as he was trying to figure out the pronunciation of Dellavedova's last name.

 

Then said: "I love that Australian kid, I love him. When he comes back I think that will give us a lift and stretch the options we have. That's an area we have to do better in, no question about it."

 

That part I bolded was very apparent during the summer league.  Not surprising.  What coach wouldn't love Delly?

 

One of the most encouraging things over the past several games is the ability to build big leads and essentially rest our starters for pretty much the entire 4th quarter.  Blatt seems to like to stick Kyrie out there for at least a few minutes to start the quarter and secure the game, but then goes to an all-bench lineup.  The bench hasn't been all that bad in blowouts during the fourth quarter.  But it is still proving to be a real weak point.  Just check out the +/- numbers of starters compared to bench from last night:

 

KLove          +17

LJames        +14

TThompson  +25

KIrving        +31

SMarion        +33

DWaiters      -18

LAmundson  -13

WCherry      -16

JHarris          -6

AKirk            -7

 

What's most encouraging to me is that Kyrie and Love are learning to play DEFENSE! Yes, defense!! Kyrie is learning to keep the opposing guard in front of him and Love is learning that defense is about effort and that his long arms come in handy for more than just shooting over guys.

Kyrie has been working his ss[/member] off. Even when they team lost 4 in a row he was ballon hard. I think he has grown up already since the start or the season

Cavs waive Will Cherry, resign A.J Price who I thought looked good during camp. He is coming off a 10 dayer with the Pacers. He was productive in his time there. Should be an upgrade at this point till Dellavedova comes back.

I was frankly surprised they cut Price to begin with.  He was impressive in preseason. 

^He was asked about the lack of PT for the vets.  Here is his answer from last night:

 

"It's not precautionary that I am saving them for the playoffs," he said. "The team has just been playing good. I've just been going with what has worked. If it ain't broke then don't fix it."

 

He also had a quote when talking about the bench following up on what we discussed above:

 

"We need to do better," Blatt said. "I'd hope that when Matty comes back he will give us a lift."

 

Then Blatt paused for a moment as he was trying to figure out the pronunciation of Dellavedova's last name.

 

Then said: "I love that Australian kid, I love him. When he comes back I think that will give us a lift and stretch the options we have. That's an area we have to do better in, no question about it."

 

That part I bolded was very apparent during the summer league.  Not surprising.  What coach wouldn't love Delly?

 

One of the most encouraging things over the past several games is the ability to build big leads and essentially rest our starters for pretty much the entire 4th quarter.  Blatt seems to like to stick Kyrie out there for at least a few minutes to start the quarter and secure the game, but then goes to an all-bench lineup.  The bench hasn't been all that bad in blowouts during the fourth quarter.  But it is still proving to be a real weak point.  Just check out the +/- numbers of starters compared to bench from last night:

 

KLove          +17

LJames        +14

TThompson  +25

KIrving        +31

SMarion        +33

DWaiters      -18

LAmundson  -13

WCherry      -16

JHarris          -6

AKirk            -7

 

 

I'm mystified by this answer.  Obviously as the numbers you cite show, the bench as currently constituted by Blatt, is horrible statistically.  We know how bad they were during the recent slump and they still aren't getting it done even during the recent winning run.  I would think you would look at other guys to boost these bench numbers to give the starters some cushion as they are, obviousy, shouldering practically the entire load.  And what's even more puzzling is a guy like James Jones is proven, and was an important support figure in Miami's success in it's 4-straight finals run.  He's got a sweet 3-point stroke that stretches the floor.  And he's a SF who can spell LeBron.

 

Also, we keep crying about a rim-protector, but we've got a healthy 7-foot Haywood sitting around with a towel around his neck; and again I point out, he blocked 3 shots in 6 minutes during the 4th quarter vs. Orlando the other night.  I'm not saying Haywood's the answer at the 5, but if you are currently struggling defensively at that position and are shopping for a 5, why not use him? 

 

Yeah, it may not be "broke" in terms of winning lately, but it is broke when you look at the bench's numbers.  And if LeBron or one of the other Big 3 falters we're going to lose games again, esp against the upper echelon teams... I still don't get Blatt.

The issue with playing Haywood IMO is a matter of finding the minutes for him in the rotation.  Andy, Love, and TT eat up almost all of the minutes at the 4 and 5.  Marion has some spurts at the 4 too.  If we got a more effective rim-protector, who wouldn't be such a liability otherwise and who wouldn't slow down our tempo or clog the lane on offense, Blatt would be forced to cut some minutes from the guys already in the rotation.  Haywood just is not worth it at this point in his career.  His value will come if we get caught in a playoff series with a team that is just abusing us on the inside, i.e. Orlando in 2009.

 

On another note, not sure if everyone caught that Nike is giving Kyrie his own signature shoe.  That is a huge deal and an indicator of his stature.  The last player to be given a signature shoe was Kevin Durant in 2006.

 

Also, if you have time, another great read from Grantland, this one on Mike Miller - http://grantland.com/features/everybody-loves-mike-miller-nba-cleveland-cavaliers-lebron-james-memphis-grizzlies-orlando-magic-tracy-mcgrady/

So the measuring stick everyone has been waiting for is finally here.  Through 17 games, the 2010 Heat were 9-8 and in a worrisome slump.  Through 17 games, the 2014 Cavs are 10-7 and have won 5 straight.

 

Oh yeah, and Kyrie...... that boy is goooooood.  Definitely showed himself as a 'signature athlete' last night under the bright lights of MSG.

Yep- the rest of the team didnt play great.  i like the passion and they seem to be coming together and they seem to have a good lockeroom.  Everyone has one anothers back (at least they are convinving the public of that), which is a great sign.  Didnt think i would be converned, but the bench concerns me.  At the beginning of the year, i looked at spots 1-10 and im like damn, thats solid.  But the points just arent coming from Dion and Marion and Miller.  I am hopeful that the second unit continues to grow and get involved.  That being said, im happy with what ive been seeing lately.  Hoping they can beat Toronto tonight and send a message that although they have the best record in the East, they better watch their backs, especially without DeRozan.

Glad to see they didn't seem to lose their composure last night, despite what was essentially a Knicks highlight reel for much of the game.