Hey Windy --- 1-30-15
01. I wasn't thrilled with how the Cavs played against the Blazers, but you have to take it on it's own (enjoy it).
02. Cavs can now win without playing their best game, as they did in Detroit.
03. Want to focus on what Kyrie did. That was a historic performance.
04. Can't believe Blazers did not trap Kyrie on the last play, get ball out of his hands.
05. Blazers were #1 three-point defensive team coming into the Cavs game.
06. I encourage everyone to bask in the historic Kyrie performance. Once in a career performance.
07. Two things have happened with Kyrie. 1) He played best defense ever for him with Team USA. 2) He's accepted playing second fiddle to LeBron.
08. Kyrie effort defensively for Team USA showed he is capable of playing excellent defense.
09. January probably the best defense Kyrie has played for a whole month in his entire career.
10. It took LeBron to play point guard for Kyrie to accept playing second fiddle to LeBron.
11. When LeBron is not in the game or not playing you can see Kyrie still has some of the "get his" mentality. Still have to work on this.
12. I think Kyrie is a better player than Wall or Lowry.
13. LeBron, Kyrie still have work to do in order to play at max level together. So they are not playing "my turn, your turn" offense.
14. LeBron has never played with a talent like Kyrie. Great to see LeBron celebrating so big for Kyrie.
15. LeBron has never had the chance to watch a teammate do what Kyrie did in 55 point game.
16. LeBron played with Wade, but (Wade not the same now or then, Windy implies).
17. With Kyrie blowing up, and Wade on the shelf for Miami again, can see why LeBron is in Cleveland and not Miami (Wade broken down).
18. The way LeBron is behaving on the bench now is massively different than how he was behaving earlier in the year. Shows how team has come around.
19. I don't think LeBron was invested in Blatt succeeding earlier in the year. Now LeBron is invested.
20. We still won't know where LeBron/Blatt relationship is until next bout of adversity. Then will know more. Relationship will be tested then.
21. I don't know how much Dion being gone has helped Kyrie excel now.
22. It is the case that Kyrie has done great now with Dion gone.
23. I never felt that Dion held Kyrie back on the court.
24. I'm sure Kyrie feels more comfortable with JR Smith on the wing than Dion, because JR Smith is more of a traditional shooting guard.
25. The Cavs are feeling pretty good about the Dion trade now.
26. I think Kyrie is pretty much a shooting guard himself.
27. There was a time when LeBron was not sure if he could play with a ball dominant point guard like Kyrie.
28. When LeBron decided to sign with Cleveland again, it was because he wanted to come play at home and win in front of his home fans. The "Kyrie younger than Wade" thing was a factor, but it was not a deciding factor. LeBron never contacted Kyrie (Windy says this to "correct" his earlier statement that "Kyrie younger and healthier than Wade" was big factor in LeBron returning to Cleveland).
29. LeBron had relationship with Kyrie early in his career. Recruited him to Nike. Then LeBron reached out for Kyrie to work out with him, and Kyrie declined. This started a bit of a cooling period in their relationship.
30. Kyrie has not had strong bonding with his teammates/other players in his career. Saw this in lack of social media talk among players when Kyrie scored 55 points.
31. LeBron wants to bond with his teammates (unlike Kyrie). Because LeBron not have a family as a kid, looks for this more (team as family) in his bball career.
32. Not sure if Kyrie wants this close relationship with teammates that LeBron wants.
33. I will not fairly judge LeBron/Kyrie relationship until they go through playoffs and adversity together.
34. LeBron had Team USA 2008 history with Wade before they played on same team in Miami.
35. LeBron/Kyrie relationship still very much under construction.
36. I've been told nothing structurally wrong with LeBron's wrist, should be ok with some rest.
37. MRI showed no structural damage to the wrist.
38. But, sprained wrist is a (minor) tear of the wrist ligament. These type of wrist injuries tend to linger, so it might bother LeBron for awhile.
39. I do not believe LeBron will play tonight (against Kings).
40. I think the time to manage wear and tear on LeBron has arrived, at this point in his career. To get ahead of any issues to come.
41. Popovich started to cut Duncan's minutes when Duncan turned 30 years old (same age as LeBron is now).
42. Compare Duncan and Kobe. Lakers rode Kobe, with no thought of giving him rest. And now Kobe looks worn out.
43. Kobe's Achilles injury essentially ended his career. He can't stay on the court now (injured often).
44. Duncan nearly 39 years old and just named to All Star team (this what he wants for LeBron).
45. Duncan played a lot of games, he just missed some strategically and played fewer minutes.
46. I'm not surprised Kevin Love did not make the All Star team.
47. Love has not had a very good first half of the season. He's underachieved.
48. Love is not moving well. I wonder if his left knee is ok (no mention of Love's back).
49. The way Love collapsed to the ground when hit on the left knee was worrisome (against Portland, I think).
50. I think Bosh has had a better year than Love.
51. Love is not making a difference and is underachieving for the Cavs.
52. Love is not being used as he was in Minnesota.
53. Love's teammates are not looking for him at times, also.
54. Love has not done as well as I thought he would with the Cavs. But Kyrie and LeBron relationship has gone better than I thought it would.
55. I think Love is struggling with health and happiness. His touches are way down this year.
56. The Wolves ran "corner," which is like a Triangle offense. Adelman pioneered the offense. Adelman one of the best offensive NBA coaches of like the last 25 years.
57. "Corner" used Love at the elbow, and he always had the ball. Like every possession.
58. Love can now go 6-7 possessions without having the ball in a scoring position. He's gone from focal point of the offense to like 4th option at times.
59. I go back to what Bosh said in Brazil and when he said Love would struggle with his role in this offense.
60. If your job changed 35% overnight like Love's has, you would struggle with it as well.
61. I think the Cavs have failed Love in not throwing him bones and helping him make the transition.
62. I think Love's left knee is a problem. He's getting no lift now, even less than normal.
63. Blatt has had a lot on his plate, not had chance to help Love out more on offense.
64. I think Korver has a good chance to take Wade's spot in the All Star game. I think Lillard will take Kobe's spot.
65. All Star roster should go to at least 13, rather than 12.
66. Salary Cap 101. We're in NBA trade season now, it's the start of February. If you are a non-taxpaying team (Cavs don't fit here), then matching salaries only have to be within 50% or 5 million. This rule helped facilitate the Kevin Love trade, it was like 11 million versus 16 million. (different rule now?)
67. If two teams want to make a trade, they almost always will find a way to make salaries match up.
68. Non Bold Prediction. I think Saturday night in Minnesota, Kevin Love's return, the Cavs will "take care of" Kevin Love on offense that night. As long as his leg is ok, he limped a bit at end of last game.
69. I also think LeBron will play in the Minnesota game.
70. Minnesota is now almost all healthy. So they are better than their record. It will not be a "pushover" game.
71. Would not surprise me if Love puts up 30+ against the Wolves. And this could be the start of an offensive turnaround for Love, generate good momentum for him on offense.
72. Iman Shumpert is really competing and has shot better than I thought he would.
73. Shumpert is playing for a lot right now. New York let him go for little. A few years ago, Shumpert was basically untouchable on the Knicks.
74. (Windhorst's feed dies while he's talking about Shumpert)
75. END OF SHOW
