Let it all out. The Cavaliers Rant Thread

[Rainman]

Here's all the motivation they should need!

 

[JMoneyYourHoney]

Probably because he's bad.

Seriously, can he be any worse than Mozgov right now? It's not like we need him for offensive purposes.

If I'm Gilbert I'm saying "why I am paying x amount for this guy? Isn't he supposed to be our insurance policy at the 5 if Mozgov isn't right?"

IMO you're not hurting anything by trying the guy out just to see if he can protect the rim better than Moz has this season (which hasn't been at all.)

But Blatt would rather run the same tired lineups and spike the same guys into the ground...he's the Cleveland version of Thibs.

 

[Paul]

It feels like the game plan is to force feed Mozgov in the first quarter in order to try and break him out of his funk, but it seems like rather than igniting him it's just putting more pressure and spotlight on him, and he's wilting.

Maybe it's time to move Mozgov to the bench and have him earn his way back into the starting lineup. He's killing our starts to halves and that's not a good recipe for a win--having to battle out of a deficit right from the get go.

Moz will probably wake up/get well eventually but I wouldn't mind seeing us send out feelers for another shot blocker in case either Mozgov stays bad or if we lose Mozgov to free agency in the summer.

 

[godfather]

If this is the Mozgov we're stuck with, we're not winning a title. Either he starts looking like the Mozgov of last year or we have to trade for a rim protector. The number of easy baskets we give up each game is unbelievably frustrating. Also, I pretty much expect opposing centers to go off against us each game.

I thought it was bizarre they rushed him back so fast.

This is my only major concern at the moment (outside overall health).

I think we're pressing him, and I fear it could back fire.

Then again. This sucks not having a backup option to him, and Tristan isn't that.

I wouldn't overreact too much right now. I think our three best players are clearly LeBron, Kevin, and Kyrie. Our fourth best IMO, and I don't think it's debatable, isn't Tristan Thompson, but Iman Shumpert.

Some of us, like me, argued he was more valuable to us than Tristan Thompson. We didn't just get on that roll last year because of just Mozgov, but JR (shooting the ball well which he hasn't yet), but Shump being that lock down defender was critical too.

So two of our top four players are out. Not to make excuses, but people need to keep that in perspective too.

I think our depth is better this year, but probably still not where we wanted it to be. Not having another viable center on this team clearly is a weak link.

If anything happens to Mozgov we are screwed IMO.

 

[godfather]

I might add the Mo Williams acquisition doesn't appear to be working out so well.

He clearly can still shoot the ball, but his defense is so horrible, I don't know if you can afford any minutes out of him come playoff time.

I think there's no question another center is critical to try to get (not sure we can), but another combo guard wouldn't be a bad get too.

 

[I'mWithDan]

I might add the Mo Williams acquisition doesn't appear to be working out so well.

He clearly can still shoot the ball, but his defense is so horrible, I don't know if you can afford any minutes out of him come playoff time.

I think there's no question another center is critical to try to get (not sure we can), but another combo guard wouldn't be a bad get too.

It's again, just a rotation thing IMO.

Mo is an absolutely awesome 6th man. Can come in, ignite the offense and ratchet the pace of the second unit.Play him against the second and third guards and he's going to kill teams.

On the flip side.....When he has to play against starting units, that's where he's really exposed.

Once he settles in to his natural backup PG role, I think he's going to look much better in a season he has already started well.

 

[cavsfever]

Holy crap...I missed this game but saw the box score. What the hell happened to our offense? Thought we were supposed to be a juggernaut?

 

[Pioneer10]

Well teams with good PGs have our numbers. Both Lowry and Wall have gone off on us.

Shumpert and Irving should solve this. Even if Irving defense sucks at least hia offense is so good it will.match the opposites production

Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk

 

[Pioneer10]

I think it's a mix of frustration, confidence and rotations to be honest with you.

Mozgov seems to be the gasoline on that fire. He's being pulled in games really early and it is starting to fuck up the minute distribution as well as time / score / situation in which players come in.

Trying to wring 30+ minutes out of Jefferson and Jones is just too much.....but it's a byproduct of Mozgov being so ineffective and LeBron, Jefferson and Jones having to absorb those minutes in various lineups. Over our last 10, LeBron has logged 38 minutes per game......that's just too much IMO.

I don't know that playing Delly more is the answer because with Moz doing zero on offense, we really need someone on the perimeter that can take on some of that scoring load. Mo has done that but with Moz playing 5 fewer minutes per game, the trickle down effect on the defense has been bad. It has caused TT to have to log more minutes against starting centers and the defense has been largely ineffective for stretches because of it.

The fix is to get a healthy roster back, which may unfortunately take more time. Until then, they just have to grit out wins and do the best they can over this next 10-15 game stretch.

Then it's time to push AV to bigger minutes till Mozgov can figure it out. He's actually looked pretty good out there and sometimes you need to cash in your insurance policy

 

[Gimme Some Mo]

Delly and TT should start. The Cavs REALLY can't figure out why they start every game so poorly? REALLY!?!?! It's because Mozgov has played like one of the worst players in the league and Mo Williams can't defend ANYBODY. Start Delly and TT, they have earned it, especially Delly.

 

[bigfigga12]

I was surprised to read Blatt's comments relative to Mozgov's health and how it's effecting his production, as they seem to contradict themselves in logic.

It's no secret Mozgov did not heal 100% before seasons start from his surgical knee procedure in the offseason.

Instead of playing him through it in order to get there as Blatt alluded, wouldn't it make more sense to play him less, much less in fact, in order for he to heal properly and get back to 100%?

Now I'm not proposing to shut Mozgov down completely, he's obviously healthy enough to be on the floor for at least minimum minutes. What I'm proposing is to flip flop he and Andy's minutes, for a few reasons.

First off, the goal should be ultimately to get Mozgov 100%, both physically and mentally. Since Mozgov can't play 100% to his potential currently due to his health, I'm concerned of the mental residual effects potentially to his confidence as his overall production struggles to catch up with his increased health.

I suggest to still let him play minimum minutes to continue his in game conditioning, but vastly minimize the pounding he takes in the paint playing 20+ minutes. Get him completely healthy for the stretch run.

In playing Andy, you still have a viable center who will actually provide the team more offensively with an increased role than Mozgov, as he and James have mastered the pick and roll together.

What this move will cause as a lost probable negative is a lack of rim protection Mozgov provides, but it's not like Andy doesn't provide defensive production. He may not protect the rim like Mozgov, but he does hustle, dive for loose balls, and take charges better than anyone else on the team...besides maybe Delly.

I think for the team's long term well being, swapping these two's minutes may in deed be the best solution to further solidify Andy's role/niche on this team, and most importantly, get Mozgov 100% healthy.

This Cavs team is so versatile, it can go a 10 to 15, even up to a 20 game stretch if need be, and play more of a fast paced, small ball lineup, minus significant minute production from Moz during the same stretch.

This also will/would give James Jones more minutes I would believe at the stretch 4, as this small ball type of play is conducive to his skill set.

Lastly. and I've mentioned this before on here, a collateral move I'd make once Shump and Irving our back and the deadline to roster our 15th roster spot arrives for all non guaranteed deals (Cunningham)......I'd sign in addition and in a heartbeat bought out, free agent Larry Sanders for the 2nd half of the year. In fact, praying these wheels are churning behind the scenes as we speak!

Head case or not, the Cavs only have one true rim protector in Mozgov, and there's no guarantee he'll return to 100% this season. To be able to add an all star caliber talent in Sanders is already difficult enough for one thing, as only two teams currently sit in a position cap wise to offer Sanders anything bigger than league minimum (Philly and Portland).

But to be able to do so also as adding that type of talent strictly as a specialist/specific niche role in limited minutes.... well IMO it's just is too hard to ignore it's opportunity.

Sanders can come in and simply concentrate on protecting the rim when the Cavs play larger front court teams, and he won't be in a position to demand large minutes or a large role for any team, let alone a contending one.

Lebron could keep him on the straight and narrow and with little risk to the Cavs roster moving forward. If he's not a fit, he's the 15th guy off the bench who loves on next season a la Kendrick Perkins. If he's a hit, well them you just light have hit a grand slam using this type of opportunity at such a low risk in adding a player such as him.

The icing on the cake also relative to the Cavs roster flexibility is neither of the Cavs trade exceptions need touched to add Sanders, and if he decided he wanted to remain a Cav, they could sign him to the mid level each offseason until they own his bird rights. What's significant about this it's not only feasible, it's realistic.

Sanders already woke up one day and said no thanks to 30 million, I'm good... Money is obviously not the most important thing to this cat, what's comfortable to him is. If the Cavs treat him right with a return to the NBA, Sanders seems the type who would be loyal to the organization who have him a second shot. Especially an organization he knows pays it's star players, and will do he once they acquire his bird rights. Not only will he still be collecting between 2-3 million per season from the Bucks as part of his buyout, the mid level will be nothing to sneeze at as the cap is predicting to explode almost double In size by 2017. Today's 5-6 million mid level exception will incrementally become a 10-11 million dollar per year player! Add that to hi yearly buyout return, and now all of a sudden this becomes a plausible, realistic scenario from a financial perspective, as well as a personnel for the Cavs and Sanders. If I'm Lebron I'm starting the dialogue today with Sanders to get the wheels in motion.

As far as fit, this potential versatility and it's risk/reward potential can be referenced by looks no further than the the Warriors last postseason. They were so deep and so versatile that they could actually afford to sit Andre Bogut most of the finals against the Cavs, with their version of small ball. But they also had his 8 figure salary option to bring off the bench at any time.

The Cavs would arguably have a better, similar option this post season if this came to fruition, at league minimum cost and the option to move on elsewhere if deemed not a fit in the offseason. All without using or compromising any current or future assets to potentially further add to the roster.

To me it's a no brainer.

 

[Cayman13]

I thought it was bizarre they rushed him back so fast.

This is my only major concern at the moment (outside overall health).

I think we're pressing him, and I fear it could back fire.

Then again. This sucks not having a backup option to him, and Tristan isn't that.

I wouldn't overreact too much right now. I think our three best players are clearly LeBron, Kevin, and Kyrie. Our fourth best IMO, and I don't think it's debatable, isn't Tristan Thompson, but Iman Shumpert.

Some of us, like me, argued he was more valuable to us than Tristan Thompson. We didn't just get on that roll last year because of just Mozgov, but JR (shooting the ball well which he hasn't yet), but Shump being that lock down defender was critical too.

So two of our top four players are out. Not to make excuses, but people need to keep that in perspective too.

I think our depth is better this year, but probably still not where we wanted it to be. Not having another viable center on this team clearly is a weak link.

If anything happens to Mozgov we are screwed IMO.

Agreed, but...you gotta have that center/rim protector. IMO, you could have Kobe, LeBron, CP3 and whoever else out there and still have trouble without that. I'm concerned. This is not and will not be good, if Moz continues this.

 

[godfather]

It's again, just a rotation thing IMO.

Mo is an absolutely awesome 6th man. Can come in, ignite the offense and ratchet the pace of the second unit.Play him against the second and third guards and he's going to kill teams.

On the flip side.....When he has to play against starting units, that's where he's really exposed.

Once he settles in to his natural backup PG role, I think he's going to look much better in a season he has already started well.

I just don't see how he plays come playoff time.

I would without question play Delly ahead of him in the rotation.

Given the rotation will likely be Delly, JR, and Tristan off the bench. The fourth man in the rotation is usually another big man in spot minutes, not another guard.

Mo is just insurance for Delly. NOT KYRIE. If Kyrie goes down, our title hopes are done. Same with Love.

Mozgov and Shump are the next least likely guys we can afford to lose.

Everyone else, if we lose them to injury it hurts, but I think we could still win it all.

LB, Kyrie, Love, Shump, and Mozgov are must have's this year healthy though.

 

[kookoo]

100% agreed. At this point, teams, especially with quick point guards are eating us alive. Not having that guy who at the very least makes you readjust your shot going to the rim really screws things up. Tristan, Andy, Love, and even LeBron can't do it. Larry Sanders would be perfect if he still wanted to play basketball. Or try to pry McGee from Dallas (draft pick plus Harris would be amazing) and have either of them start along side Love. This way we can have Mozgov and TT off the bench for some offense/defense.

Speaking of offense, we have some real issues on that end. I'd call it stubborn basketball at this point because we've become the Orlando Magic of the 2000s. Or the Golden State Warriors of always. Living and dying by the 3. Outside of Love and Delly, we've had no consistency over the last few weeks. Maybe Mo, but he's been taking some really dumb shots as well. No one seems to be able to or want to get Love the ball in a good spot. And JR hardly gets any spot up 3s. It just feels like no plays are being run and that annoys the hell out of me.

 

[scopedog]

I just don't see how he plays come playoff time.

I would without question play Delly ahead of him in the rotation.

Given the rotation will likely be Delly, JR, and Tristan off the bench. The fourth man in the rotation is usually another big man in spot minutes, not another guard.

Mo is just insurance for Delly. NOT KYRIE. If Kyrie goes down, our title hopes are done. Same with Love.

Mozgov and Shump are the next least likely guys we can afford to lose.

Everyone else, if we lose them to injury it hurts, but I think we could still win it all.

LB, Kyrie, Love, Shump, and Mozgov are must have's this year healthy though.

That's pretty much how it is.

And I agree fully with Mo actually being Delly's back up. Thought I doubt he himself sees it that way or can admit it. Bottom line is Delly's 100% full throttle play and hard work on defense is more valuable than Mo's offensive output + being a black hole on D. He already proved himself in the playoffs and Mo is just too old to match that value.

But then again its just as you say, we need absolutely need those 5 guys healthy and playing well, we can afford to lose a couple of the others but without them its just not happening.

Its just too bad 2 out of 5 of those players are made of glass. Even worse for Kyrie is his playing style is so risky, I worry that he's gonna be another Derrick Rose.

And then there's the Mozgov situation... if he has a lingering injury then playing him this early in the season is not good, but without him we're gonna be climbing a damn mountain every game and someone else might get hurt from the extra strain...

Its stressful to be in this situation where we are a potential monster of a team but have to constantly worry about injuries more than most other teams. Plus "that other team" that will be waiting for us in the finals is ridiculously good right now.