He also finished a few nice ones. I don't think his inconsistent hands will ever make or break a game.

 

But DAMN, this team is on fire. Somebody find a team in the east that will take these guys down in 4 of 7 games? I'll listen to the Chicago argument. None other really. Hawks will struggle in series, I think. Not scared of them.

 

Buckle up

Good observation on Timo. He fumbled a few easy lay-ups/dunks tonight. The Cavs absolutely dominated the Clippers until they put in the second string in for the whole fourth quarter. 12 in a row and now tied for first place with the Bulls..

 

At least five times tonight I thought to myself "Hts....dammit he predicted this."

12 in a row and now tied for first place with the Bulls..

 

Actually, I think they are 1/2 game up on the Bulls, tied with the Wizards for the 3rd seed, and now only 3 games back of Toronto for the 2 seed.

12 in a row and now tied for first place with the Bulls..

 

Actually, I think they are 1/2 game up on the Bulls, tied with the Wizards for the 3rd seed, and now only 3 games back of Toronto for the 2 seed.

 

Yep, that's correct... This team is damn-near unbeatable right now.  Last night we absolutely smothered the 3rd best scoring team in the NBA.  We embarrassed them so thoroughly, they had their technical(s) melt down.  Absolutely no complaints right now -- well, almost none ... I have been a tad concerned that the bench bunch coughed up so much of the lead during garbage time, and that this has not not been a rare occurrence.  Blatt has been forced to put the starters back in after crumbling big leads to preserve wins because of the bench ... If yesterday's game lasted a minute longer, he'd have been forced to do it again... I know these guys are scrubs, but giving up an 18-0 run is absurd, especially against other scrubs.

He also finished a few nice ones. I don't think his inconsistent hands will ever make or break a game.

 

But DAMN, this team is on fire. Somebody find a team in the east that will take these guys down in 4 of 7 games? I'll listen to the Chicago argument. None other really. Hawks will struggle in series, I think. Not scared of them.

 

Buckle up

 

 

Cavs pretty much showed them up in November

We'll find out again March 6

 

Unitil then they have a pretty decent chance of gaining two more W's visiting the Pacers (tonight) and back home against the Lkaers (Sunday). Next week will be a fun one visiting the Bulls. The Heat and Wizards... meh.

I was able to catch up on a few games from the winning streak I had DVR'd.  One quick observation.  While I still love Timo, one weakness I have noticed is he does not have the best hands.  He fumbles the pass a lot.  I thought it might just be that he is not anticipating the pass, but it appears he is just a bit clumsy with the ball, especially when he catches it in traffic.

 

Timo fumbles at times, but I think he's better than most, and sometimes he fumbles because the passes haven't been crisp or on target or are in heavy traffic.  Human mechanics also dictate that big men handling the ball are always vulnerable to smaller guys with quick hands; as we saw when CP3 swiped the ball from the Moz...  Timo may not be perfect, but I love the guy; he's much better than I'd pictured him in Denver... He's extremely coordinated and fluid for a man of that size; and he can stick an elbow jumper when he wants to... And you must have gone nuts when he went point guard on us, dribbling the ball from beyond mid-court right to the hole.  Securing Mozgov alone should get Griffin votes for Executive of the Year.  ... oh yeah, the Love and Smith/Shumpert trades should boost the Griffin vote as well.

I was very impressed with the Cavs' energy last night on both defense and offense. They were definitely up for the Clippers, unlike their prior two games vs the 76ers and T-Wolves until they turned it on in the 4th. When they play with energy, the Cavs seem unstoppable. That energy was palpable at the Q. My view of last night's game from Sec 110, row 21...

 

I think 2/3 seed is what you want right now.  You get a cupcake in the  first round then battle with Toronto second...let the Bulls/Wizards fight the Hawks

If we win tonight, we tie the franchise record for a win streak.  If we win both tonight and Sunday (both easily winnable games) we would break the record.

 

Also, interesting stat of the day is that, if you disregard the 5-7 start to the season, the Cavs are 24-5 when LeBron plays.

Bummer. Too many Cavs jumpers. Not enough legs under those jumpers. Defense that faded when we needed it most. And some of the damned luckiest shots I've ever seen at the worst possible moments by Indiana killed the streak.

I question the 4th quarter rotation Blatt has been using lately.  It has all our newbies -- Smith, Shumpert and Mozgov on the bench for the 1st half, or more, of 4th quarters -- usually until about the 5-minute mark of 4th quarters.  And it features (cough) Matthew Dellavedova running the point with Kyrie at the 2.  I don't get that small lineup, especially against the big team Indy had out their.  We With that crew, We let an 8-point lead with around 8 minutes left, evaporate to an Indy 1-point lead with around 5 mins left, when Blatt brought in Mozgov and Smith.  During that stretch, CJ Miles was wandering around the 3 point line free.  Why no Shumpert as opposed to our smaller guards while the 6 '6" long-armed Miles was bombing us indiscriminately during the Pacers' comeback?  Didn't we acquire the taller, D-minded Shump for precisely these types of situations? ... Why was Mozgov on the bench when Hibbert and West were hurting us inside?  ... I don't think Blatt had a good feel for the game when the wheels started coming off in the 4th quarter.  It seemed like mechanical coaching and, yes, Blatt's love for Delly in putting the ball in his hands during crunch time continues. 

 

Yes, we'd won 12-straight, so Blatt has been doing a lot right, obviously.  But that 4th quarter lineup was going to catch up to us at some point -- it allowed a weak Philly team to nearly catch us a few nights earlier, until LeBron took the game over and put it away...

 

K-Love, of course, was awful: only 5 points and 8 rebounds, and he was clearly forcing 3 pointers down the stretch.  AC noted his form was awful.  The bench scored just 10 points: 4 from Thompson and 6, from 2 Shumpert treys.  That's it... The aforementioned Delly played 16 minutes and produced no points... btw, Delly was also helming that scrub crew the night before that allowed the Clippers' scrubs to go on an 18-0 scrub and nearly wipe out our 30-ish point leads, get LAC within 10 points and nearly force Blatt to put the starters back in to preserve the win... Delly was running the point tonight when our 12-game winning streak ship sank in Indianapolis... I'm not saying Delly was the ONLY reason why we lost as the team reverted it's old habit of dribble-dribble-launch mode we saw during the 6-game losing streak ... But Delly's was certainly a negative factor tonight. 

By the 3rd quarter, K-Love looked like an 80 year old man jogging up the court.

By the 3rd quarter, K-Love looked like an 80 year old man jogging up the court.

 

He needs about a month on the DL.

By the 3rd quarter, K-Love looked like an 80 year old man jogging up the court.

 

He needs about a month on the DL.

 

Let's see what time off during the all-star break will do for him.

If Love is hurting, he needs to do like LeBron: speak up, shut himself down for a week, maybe a couple, and get the medical treatment he needs.  He's only hurting the team by playing hurt ... if that, indeed, what's going on.  It's got to be something, because there were moments in recent games where it looks like he doesn't even know how to shoot.  A 12-game winning streak can mask a myriad of problems, but it's obvious that in a number of those wins, the team was carrying K-Love ... not good.

By the 3rd quarter, K-Love looked like an 80 year old man jogging up the court.

 

He needs about a month on the DL.

 

Let's see what time off during the all-star break will do for him.

 

I'd piggyback at least a week onto the break.

 

One thing has changed about LeBron:  during his first go around here he could not be knocked off his game,  playing highly physical D only got him mad and more focused.  I recall screaming at the TV when Jason Kidd was doing well against us that they should start beating him up, especially since LBJ wasn't susceptible to same.  Sure enough, he took a hard foul, was ineffective after, and the team followed up.

 

I suspect this isn't the case with LeBron anymore, and never was with Kevin or Kyrie.  They need a Marty McSorley.

Sometimes I think Mozgov could be that enforcer but other times I think he's too nice. Then again I may be expecting Ivan Drago, so my expectations aren't all that fair! :)

Nice comfortable way to spend a Sunday afternoon: With the Lakers and beating them soundly.

 

Oh, and another good article from Jason Lloyd, this time about the Cavs trade/free-agent options...

http://www.ohio.com/sports/cavs/jason-lloyd-cavs-have-difficult-choice-to-make-with-trade-deadline-approaching-1.565044#.VNaDDAxlbro.twitter

the feel good play of the game!

 

HIGHLIGHT REEL

 

Cleveland's most sensational play of the first half came on a lobbed inbounds pass from Irving to Iman Shumpert, who outmuscled Lakers forward Carlos Boozer for the ball and delivered a contest-worthy dunk. The play was not drawn up that way.

 

Sometimes I think Mozgov could be that enforcer but other times I think he's too nice. Then again I may be expecting Ivan Drago, so my expectations aren't all that fair! :)

 

Could be.  Schumpert has the attitude, but may not be physically intimidating enough.

Sometimes I think Mozgov could be that enforcer but other times I think he's too nice. Then again I may be expecting Ivan Drago, so my expectations aren't all that fair! :)

 

Could be.  Schumpert has the attitude, but may not be physically intimidating enough.

 

I think Mozgov will be maybe the most important addition come playoff time.  Teams cant own us in the paint right now.  You cant just win with a perimeter game in the playoffs, teams adjust.  Its why i think the Hawks are in touble. I know they have Millsap, but hes not a huge guy.  I dont think they will score alot in the paint, if you shut off their three pointers, goodnight

Everyone keeps saying Shump is the perimeter defender this team needed, and maybe if he started he would be. But I have to say I'm impressed with JR's perimeter defense. I think it's his long arms and activity more than his technique that makes him a decent perimeter defender.

Sometimes I think Mozgov could be that enforcer but other times I think he's too nice. Then again I may be expecting Ivan Drago, so my expectations aren't all that fair! :)

 

Could be.  Schumpert has the attitude, but may not be physically intimidating enough.

 

I think Mozgov will be maybe the most important addition come playoff time.  Teams cant own us in the paint right now.  You cant just win with a perimeter game in the playoffs, teams adjust.  Its why i think the Hawks are in touble. I know they have Millsap, but hes not a huge guy.  I dont think they will score alot in the paint, if you shut off their three pointers, goodnight

 

Horford is a big guy, though.  Hawks are not as good as they have played, but they have a nice collection of complementary pieces.

 

Cavs really starting to look like a legit contender.  I like it. 

Everyone keeps saying Shump is the perimeter defender this team needed, and maybe if he started he would be. But I have to say I'm impressed with JR's perimeter defense. I think it's his long arms and activity more than his technique that makes him a decent perimeter defender.

 

JR has definitely been better than expected on D.  He seems to rotate well and hustle around the court.  But Shump is just a lock-you-down one-on-one perimeter defender.  He gets 'up in your shorts' and has incredibly quick and strong hands.  His value on that end will really shine through if in the playoffs we run into a team with a dynamic perimeter ball handler, like Rose or Harden.

^ yep and shump is not 100%, so he will only hopefully only get better.

Not that it matters, but we are rising fast in the weekly power rankings.  ESPN now has us at #4 and Yahoo has us at #5.  Hawks, Golden State, and Memphis are 1, 2, 3 in each..... nearly impossible to argue with that.  Houston edges us out for #4 in Yahoo's opinion.

It all started during the pre-game warm-ups in Philadelphia...

http://clesportstalk.net/trade-in-review-3-team-trade-in-philly/

The options for Cavs may be dwindling....

 

The Hawks have traded rookie Adrian Payne to the Timberwolves for their 2017 1st round pick. Could be made room for Ray Allen.

 

Minnesota sends Mo Williams to Charlotte in a deal for Gary Neal and a future pick, league source tells Yahoo.

 

Two possibilities for opening of Atlanta roster spot: Ray Allen, or Gary Neal reunion with Mike Budenholzer once he's bought out w/ Wolves.

 

The Hawks had about $3 million in salary cap space prior to trading first-round pick Adreian Payne. Winning & $ makes it attractive for a FA

 

I was skeptical about Mo's ability to crack our rotation.  Whatever edge he has on Delly on offense, Delly makes up for it on D....... and defense is the reason why Delly gets the majority of his minutes..... especially in crunch time.  Regardless, more and more we are seeing Shump take on the role of ball-handling duties and I expect that to continue.

 

Somewhat of the same concern for Shuttlesworth (aka Ray Allen).  I would never deny him a roster spot, but I worry about him becoming disgruntled.  That said, Blatt heavily using an 8-man rotation lately might be a sign that they are expecting to add another player to the rotation.  However, in all honesty, it seems like we need another big for spot duty moreso than we need another perimeter player.  What happens if Love, TT, or Timo miss any significant time?

However, in all honesty, it seems like we need another big for spot duty moreso than we need another perimeter player.  What happens if Love, TT, or Timo miss any significant time?

 

I agree but we may be able to get both. The free agents from China become available next month and Jason Lloyd's article referred to a couple of point guards worth going after, and I would love to see us make us play for Garnett. He would be a huge (pun intended) insurance policy!

Watching the Cavs/Heat. And man, I'm getting pretty sick of Hubie Brown and Dan Shulman openly rooting for the Heat.

 

I miss Joe Tait.

Really? I think hubie is pretty objective and is one of the best. I don't think shulman is on the broadcast, it's some guys I never heard of

Really? I think hubie is pretty objective and is one of the best. I don't think shulman is on the broadcast, it's some guys I never heard of

 

The other broadcaster is from Toronto. That's gotta be Schulman, right?

Hubey's the best in the biz. Love him and Collins on the game because they're objective and give you a peek into their coaching mindset.

 

PS, Hubey is 81. Wow!

Watching the Cavs/Heat. And man, I'm getting pretty sick of Hubie Brown and Dan Shulman openly rooting for the Heat.

 

I miss Joe Tait.

 

I like Hubie. Good analytical commentary. Shulman is unremarkable. Just another pretty-boy TV voice. 

Hubie was simply rooting for a competitive game.  He knew that knockout punch was coming and was trying to implore the Heat to survive it and play the way that team needed to play to stay competitive.

Actually, the ESPN play-by-play commentator calling the game with Hubie last night was Mark Jones who was, in fact, born in Canada.

It's not the same watching a Cavs game with a national crew. I prefer homers for my play by play...

 

And throwing that hammer down!

We were so unimpressed with last night calls I tried the old turn the TV sound down and turn on the radio trick. Didn't work - the delay was to aggravating

That is the downside to this resurgence. I've gotten used to watching them on Fox sports Ohio over last three years

It's not the same watching a Cavs game with a national crew. I prefer homers for my play by play...

 

And throwing that hammer down!

 

I like the variety of commentary style/content so I tuned into the national guys just to see what they have to say. Besides, I watched some of the first half on the Fox Sports replay at midnight so I could hear my "Get that weak stuff outta here" ear-candy.

It's not the same watching a Cavs game with a national crew. I prefer homers for my play by play...

 

And throwing that hammer down!

Deep in the Q!!!!

 

Well, the weird thing is I don't recall Joe Tait ever saying "I hope the Cavs make this shot...." or anything like that.

 

I don't want the media hoping for anything, I just want them to call the game and provide analysis. Openly rooting, even it's for a competitive game is just unprofessional for a national broadcast imho.

 

So if you are hoping that Chris Bosh schools K-Love on the way to the basket, well then you are the enemy.

So if you are hoping that Chris Bosh schools K-Love on the way to the basket, well then you are the enemy.

 

Or you just want to see a competitive game and not the 50-point blowout that the Cavs seemed to be enroute to midway through the second period.

Kyrie Irving, Jack of All Trades, Stars in New Footlocker Commercial with Ice-T via @SceneSallard

http://t.co/Nc8QBmreeo

So far, not looking so good tonite. LeBron's shot is still way off, and he looks out of it. And Shawn Marion is playing like some random tall guy they just happened to find outside the arena.

 

It's still fun to hate on Noah. He looks like a rejected extra from Pirates of the Caribbean. Like some sort of bearded pirate-woman.

Missed KLove's floor spacing, shooting and rebounding. Teams with some inside size like Indiana and Chicago are learning that Mozgov can get into foul trouble early. Add to that a disinterested LeBron and Kyrie in the first half and you got an thorough beat down.

What a coincidence that Lebron played such a garbage game the night after his best friend was in town.

What a coincidence that Lebron played such a garbage game the night after his best friend was in town.

 

Some were wondering if LeBron flew separately from Cleveland this morning on a private jet after having a party last night with Bosh and Wade in Cleveland. You have to wonder what LeBron and Bosh were talking about after last night's game when they pulled their jerseys over their mouths to prevent lip-reading.

So far, not looking so good tonite. LeBron's shot is still way off, and he looks out of it. And Shawn Marion is playing like some random tall guy they just happened to find outside the arena.

 

It's still fun to hate on Noah. He looks like a rejected extra from Pirates of the Caribbean. Like some sort of bearded pirate-woman.

 

One of the softest big men ever to play in the NBA too. 

Noah soft?  I don't like the guy but I would never describe him as soft. Certainly not one of the softest ever. He was defensive player of the year last season

 

^^LeBron does that quite a bit when chit chatting on the court