TT will be 'overpaid' this season but will likely be at just about the right salary range for the remainder of his 5 year deal.

 

And I think that's the best way to look at this, and I keep telling myself that as I start to see the sports article comment threads light up with "overpaid bench player" comments.  And his durability is likely going to be very welcome, unfortunately (unfortunate in the sense that it seems likely we're going to need it).

lebron discussion & predictions:

 

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13947464/nba-espn-experts-predictions-2015-16-nba-champions

Peeeoooppllee let me tell you 'bout my beesstt friend

 

well i hope that bulls opener in front of the president wasn't a symbol of disappointment to come. probably the best thing to do is just forget it and focus on memphis. they can fine tune how to work the final minutes as the season proceeds along. the falling behind and having to catch up is somewhat more concerning at this early point, but even that is nothing ongoing team cohesion, time and health cant correct. great to see andy back and love looked alright.

I'm not surprised by how we looked and, in fact, am encouraged that we were able to pull it together and darn near pull off the win.  We're obviously shorthanded with injuries, including Kyrie and Shumpert, who still aren't with the team.  Even then there were so many guys didn't play some or most of the preseason games, including LeBron.  And of course, there was the Tristan Thompson holdout  which was only settled a week ago... You could see Tristan struggled to find his mojo in the 1st half, but settled into tough Tristan play (12 rebounds) in the 2nd...

 

Chicago is still a very tough team when they have Rose healthy and Hoiberg's style, esp playing more of the younger talented players, than Thibodeau's. 

Much, much better last night.... although I really wasn't down at all for losing the opener on the road to a deep and loaded Bulls team which is in relatively good health.  Last night, they largely toyed with a perennial Western Conference powerhouse on their home floor.  KLove seems like he came ready to play this season and the Cavs have made strides incorporating him into the offense more than they did last season.  Mo Williams has already earned his salary.  Also, major props to Delly, RJeff and Andy off the bench.  Their +/- numbers were outstanding.

^ They won by 30, and LeBron had just 12 points. Love looking intense. Mo looking ten years younger. MOZGOV looking really energetic too. This is going to be such a fun season!

The starting roster didn't practice together in training camp until this past Sunday. They didn't have any timing or coordination at Chicago and still almost pulled out a win on the road against a quality opponent. No worries.

 

There's so much more balance and depth on this year's team compared to last. There's no reason for LeBron to enter the playoffs in 2016 as beat-up as he was last year. His minutes should be in the low-30s, and perhaps less if they're in more blowouts like last night's. The defense looked great, but Memphis isn't a team of shooters. It was good to beat Memphis at their game of defense and rebounding. Richard Jefferson and Mo Williams look like the best pickups of the offseason.

 

EDIT: I was intrigued by LeBron's comment about the plan to run more offense through KLove. You could see he's more integrated in the offense as opposed to an afterthought wingman like last year.

Here is the most intense and in depth "visiting Cleveland for the Knicks vs Cavs game?" I've ever read:

 

http://unclemikesmusings.blogspot.com/2015/10/how-to-be-new-york-basketball-fan-in_31.html?m=1

Wow, just in case you wanted to know that Elvis played at Brooklyn High! :)

Some kind of team chemistry building experiment last night....

 

https://instagram.com/p/9h42R2nfWO/

 

Game.  Blouses

Here is the most intense and in depth "visiting Cleveland for the Knicks vs Cavs game?" I've ever read:

 

http://unclemikesmusings.blogspot.com/2015/10/how-to-be-new-york-basketball-fan-in_31.html?m=1

 

Nice read!

 

Here is the most intense and in depth "visiting Cleveland for the Knicks vs Cavs game?" I've ever read:

 

http://unclemikesmusings.blogspot.com/2015/10/how-to-be-new-york-basketball-fan-in_31.html?m=1

 

I have never heard anyone call the baseball field "The Prog".  I do still hear a lot of people call it Jacobs or "The Jake".

 

News to me that CSU brought back football in 2010.

 

And say "The Boss" to a Clevelander and we think Springsteen not Steinbrenner.

LeBron just got to 25,000 points in Philly. Actually got a standing O from the crowd. Classy moment, Philly-fan.

The stands were packed. Most of them were there to see Lebron. I'd imagine turnout is pretty low in Philly nowadays

Was surprised Philly fan showed that love.  I thought they booed everyone.  Yes the Cavs are the team to see in the NBA, I imagine they will sell out everywhere.  That being said, I really liked Okafor...he LOOKED like a young tim Duncan with the hair and presence.  Noel and Stauskas also showed some signs.  If they ever get a healthy Embiid, that's a team I would pay to go watch.  OKafor the stud though.

I'd say that last night was the first and last time we ever see the Cavs in sleeves.

I stayed up and watched the LAC vs. GSW game with a buddy last night after the Cavs.  He's really freaked out about Curry and thinks the Cavs will go down to GSW in the finals once again, even if we're at full strength.  I disagree, but does anyone else feel this way?

^Nope.

 

Cavs in six in the Finals against GSW... If GSW makes it again this year.

I stayed up and watched the LAC vs. GSW game with a buddy last night after the Cavs.  He's really freaked out about Curry and thinks the Cavs will go down to GSW in the finals once again, even if we're at full strength.  I disagree, but does anyone else feel this way?

 

I think the way to beat them is to play a physical, Eastern style game. The Warriors are a finesse team that haven't been pushed around enough.

GSW was at (or near) full strength for their playoff run.  That is key.  Their opponents, including us, were all down key players.  A lot of it comes down to being healthy at the right time.  I think the Cavs are on par with GSW, LAC, and SAS.  Those are the four teams I see a being the top tier.  All are ridiculously loaded.

 

I will say that, believe it or not, Steph Curry does seem better this year (in a limited sample size) compared to his outstanding MVP run last year.  He is scary good.  Then again, so are LeBron and Kyrie.

i would agree with playing them more physical, but is that really possible when key cavs are walking wounded and glass knick knacks in grandma's china cabinet? if i was gsw i would be saying, bang into kyrie a lot, step on andys foot or tie up love for the ball and jerk his shoulder around again and stuff like that. in other words, they can find physical angles to exploit the cavs as well. anyway, its a long season, so we'll see i guess.

 

kinda looking forward to the game tonight, i havent seen philly play yet and want to see okafor and noel what's up with them.

Pepsi™ ‏@pepsi  19h19 hours ago

Don't sleep on Uncle Drew on 11/12. #UncleDrew

More Kyrie...

 

@WeAreCavsNation: Kyrie Irving Could Be Back ‘in a Couple of Weeks.’

Full details: https://t.co/T9Ak2TK64j

Cavs get handled by the Wiz tonight at the Q.  You're gonna have games like this; nobody could shoot, although we've scored 90 and 85 in our last 2 games against Brooklyn and Washington, respectively; both are below .500 annd Brooklyn is headed for the Lottery.

 

My big concern, though, is Mozgov.  Something's wrong with him and I don't mean his knee.  Most of his problems seem to be mental.  He's not guarding the pick 'n roll.  He's not protecting the rim.  Hell, he's not even raising his head to receive LeBron's feeds, which is driving the King crazy.  Everybody on the team is either yelling at him or counseling him on the bench, and the big guy looks spacey like he's back in St. Petersburg or something.  And tonight's not isolated.  All season long he's not even a shadow of himself.  Blatt is now desperate playing MIA Andy Varejao more minutes than Mozzie.  If Timo doesn't pull out of it, Griffin may have to make a move at the trade deadline which we never imagined would be needed.  But there's too much on the line this season for a key cog in our championship run to be mentally out of it.

Former Cleveland Cavalier John 'Hot Rod' Williams fighting for his life in duel with cancer -- Terry Pluto

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- I had a message to call Mark Bartelstein.

 

I first met Bartelstein in 1985. He was a young agent who was representing John "Hot Rod" Williams, drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Williams was falsely implicated in a point-shaving scandal at Tulane.

 

"I have some bad news," Bartelstein said Tuesday night.

 

"Hot Rod," I said.

 

"Cancer," said Bartelstein. "It's bad. Real bad."

 

Williams is in the intensive care unit of a hospital in the Baton Rouge area. He grew up in nearby Sorrento, La. He always went home after the NBA season.

 

Williams had a construction business in Sorrento. He loved to build things even while with the Cavs (1986-95). He worked on his own dream house in Sorrento, then helped build one for his stepmother -- Barbara Colar. They lived on the same street.

 

After retiring, Williams owned a construction company. He coached little league and other youth sports in Sorrento.

 

"He is loved in the community," said Bartelstein.

 

Bartelstein said they thought the health problems started for Williams about six months ago with prostate cancer. But then it spread and spread.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/index.ssf/2015/12/former_cleveland_cavalier_john_1.html#incart_2box

Former Cleveland Cavalier John 'Hot Rod' Williams dies at 53

http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/index.ssf/2015/12/former_cleveland_cavalier_john.html#incart_m-rpt-1

Very sad. A great player and, from everything I've read, a terrific guy. Seems the best people suffer the most...

Very sad news.  His was a great player during a great era for the Cavs.  And yes, he was a really good and unassuming guy, too.  R.I.P. Hot Rod...

Went to the game tonight. It would be hard to over-emphasize how much Kyrie changes the dynamics for us on offense. Toronto had no answer for him. I sometimes get irritated when the ball stick in Lebron's hands, because it rarely results in an efficient possession. But Kyrie in isolation might be one of the most efficient plays in basketball (along with the same for Westbrook and Harden).

I thought Kyrie was sick tonight. Some of his Uncle Drew moves were jaw-dropping.

I sometimes get irritated when the ball stick in Lebron's hands, because it rarely results in an efficient possession.

 

I see your point, but by the same logic Russian oil moguls aren't very frugal sometimes....

That second half last night was a good display of what this team can do at full strength. 

 

I liked the lineup which went on that run to start the 4th quarter - Timo, Love, Shump, Delly, Kyrie.  They were whipping the ball around nicely and playing some inspired defense.

That second half last night was a good display of what this team can do at full strength. 

 

I liked the lineup which went on that run to start the 4th quarter - Timo, Love, Shump, Delly, Kyrie.  They were whipping the ball around nicely and playing some inspired defense.

 

I confess I haven't actually seen the team play in well over a month now, but I note that you mentioned Timo there ... is his head back in the game?  In the preseason/early season, people were saying that he just didn't seem like the same guy as last year, somehow wasn't as committed this year or something of that nature.

^he had some work done on his knee in the offseason and was playing tentatively.  He wasn't protecting or attacking the rim like he did last year.  He got sent to the bench and TT was put in the starting lineup.  He looked good last night, but still looks like he needs to get back some of that spring in his step.

 

I hope he does.  TT is a solid starter, but much more effective off the bench.  I like him closing games, not starting them.  Keep his minutes somewhat moderate through 3 and then unleash the beast in the 4th quarter when the other team's bigs are too tired to battle him under the basket.

Cavs appear to be rounding into shape, now, especially with Kyrie starting to look like Kyrie (aka "Uncle Drew") once again; he was simply ridiculous last night, esp in the 4th quarter when we ran away from Toronto.  We all know the Cavs are perhaps THE deepest team in the league and conventional wisdom is we can throw any lineup out there and should be able to beat most anybody.  (the fact that, during the 4th quarter of the Orlando game Saturday, we put in Mo Williams and Andy during garbage time is absurd, since both those guys could start for certain NBA clubs)... But the reality, of course, is otherwise.  What seems like an embarrassment of riches actually can, and has, pose[d] problems.  Blatt is going to have to settle on a rotation and he's going to have to know which players to use and which to sit, depending on unique and difficult opponents (ie: Golden State).  Moving the troubled Mozgov to the bench seems like it's paying off; the big guy seems like a weight has been lifted from his shoulders and he's playing more like he did last year... Thus Blatt's really going to be under a microscope from here on because the expectations are through the roof this season.

 

Yesterday was a rugged test and we passed it pretty convincingly.  One problem, though, is we allowed way too much dribble penetration for the 1st 2.5 quarters, which can be a problem against a very difficult team like Toronto, esp if we hadn't been playing at home and the Raptor's hadn't been on the 2nd night of a back-to-back.... This difficult game plus the upcoming bizarre 6-game road trip is the next major gauntlet/measuring stick for the team.  How they fare may say a lot about what we can expect in the playoffs.

Trouble in paradise? Sheesh I hope not....

 

Report: Mo Williams arrived late to Saturday’s game, barely joined teammates in cheering

 

http://nba.nbcsports.com/2016/01/04/report-mo-williams-arrived-late-to-saturdays-game-barely-joined-teammates-in-cheering/?ocid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcs

^I saw this, and am not totally surprised.  One thing we know about Mo, he's a very intense competitor who is very thoughtful and emotional (and he wears that emotion on his sleeve).  Remember, he took it personally that LeBron abandoned the team in 2010 and only since reuniting with LeBron this season, has he come to terms with it.  Remember when Mo jumped up onto the scorer's table when he nailed a winning shot in that horrible season after.  Even this year, Mo stated that his heart just wasn't in the balance of the preseason games; that he was bored and ready to get on with the season... So, yes, I'm not surprised by this.  Unfortunately, despite his point guard skills and sweet shot/ability to score, Mo's defense makes him a liability and makes Matthew Dellavedova more attractive, particularly since Delly has improved his offensive game considerably in the off season.

 

I also agree with the article that, if Mo can't pull out of it, buck up and accept his role, Griffin may have to consider dealing him before the deadline... But that's very unlikely (or desirable).  Hopefully Mo will be a pro and accept his new role.

"Barely joined teammates for celebration" is the kind of stupid stories you get when a team is playing well. Am I supposed to be worried about the third point guard off the bench? Not celebrating enough?

"Barely joined teammates for celebration" is the kind of stupid stories you get when a team is playing well. Am I supposed to be worried about the third point guard off the bench? Not celebrating enough?

 

Maybe not, accept for the separate fact that Mo's play has dropped off considerably also, as the article notes.  This, on top of the fact that he showed up late, just an hour before the Orlando game, Saturday, which isn't like Mo.  I, like you, really do hope this is much ado about nothing ... I was, and am, thrilled the Cavs were able to snag (relatively cheaply) a highly-capable point guard of Mo's caliber to help relieve Kyrie.  While Delly, now Kyrie's backup, is the superior defender (between all 3 point guards, actually, including Kyrie) and has picked up his offensive game, I feel fairly comfortable predicting that Delly, throughout his career, will never sniff the 52 points that Mo bombed on Indiana last season -- hell, Delly may never reach even half that total (I believe his career best is the crucial 21 he scored in the close-out Chicago playoff game last season).  Mo is a talented scorer; we know this from his 1st tour with the Cavs, but we need his head to be right.

 

Contrast James Jones, who goes several games as a Coach's DNP.  And yet, when his number is called, he always comes in and gives it his all, even if his oft-deadly 3-pointers are not dropping.  He never sulks which is why he's earned the nickname "Champ" and is much beloved by his teammates.  Let's hope Mo can follow Champ's sterling example.

All someone needs to do for Mo is remind him of last season.  This is Cleveland.  Players will get injured.  His time will come.  When it does, he better be ready to step up....

Dear Diary, I have a man-crush on Kyrie.

KYRIDICULOUS!!!!

Buckets.

Don't reach, young blood

Jeff Phelps of the Sportstime Ohio's Cavs broadcasts and 92 The Fan was interviewed by Bull & Fox on The Fan about this a few minutes ago. He said to "stay tuned" about this freeing up a roster spot and the Cavs possibly using their trade exception. Very cryptic....

 

Cleveland Cavaliers ‏@cavs  40m40 minutes ago

TRADE: #Cavs acquire POR protected '20 2nd rd. pick from ORL for Joe Harris/SAC '17 protected 2nd rd. pick. [MORE]: http://on.nba.com/1RksCR8

My Kyrie Krush kontinues, er, continues.

^yeah he would have made no difference in the finals last year...said absolutely no one ever

John Michael ‏@CavsJMike  8h8 hours ago

The first 38 min of tonight's game featured a grand total of ZERO lead changes....

...the final 10 min of the 4Q and OT had 13.

 

Iman Shumpert I ‏@imanshumpert  6h6 hours ago

My brother @KyrieIrving won't let us lose

 

And my tweet....

Check out the look on Dallas Mavericks' Wesley Matthews face after Kyrie Irving hit the dagger shot for the #Cavs!

Pretty sure he was making that face at the ref for the no call on Lebron prior to the kick out to Ky. It was the right call. DWill flopped.

 

Really nice gritty win for the Cavs. They had a cold shooting night for much of the game but still gutted it out. Team confidence is riding high right now

 

BTW, there's something awkward about that photo. How are the heads of the bench players bigger than Kyrie's?