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Windhorst Radio Show & Updates

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So I'll just boil it down to laziness by the media and an attempt to dumb down everything for the general populace.

I think the technical name is 'narrative crafting' you learn it from the university of vince mcmahon
 
LeBron's at 36.3 MPG. Michael Jordan's MPG totals from age 29 on...

39.3 (Age 29)
39.3 (Age 31)
37.7 (Age 32)
37.9 (Age 33)
38.8 (Age 34)
34.9 (Age 38)
37.0 (Age 39)

Were people in uproar about how Phil was playing him too many minutes? Good Lord, just because Pop has rested Tim Duncan in his late 30s by cutting his minutes and sitting him out doesn't mean Blatt needs to do that for LeBron. 36.3 MPG is fine for him. Even TD was averaging between 34.8 to 33.7 during his 29-32 years. Here's another one, Kobe Bryant's minutes from age 29 on...

38.9 (Age 29)
36.1 (Age 30)
38.8 (Age 31)
33.9 (Age 32)
38.5 (Age 33)
38.6 (Age 34)

No need to turn LeBron into a part-time player yet.
 
Personally I feel Windy doesn't get bashed enough. I remember his overly negative act this summer, and then I read shit like this and I just shake my head. This guy is framed somehow as some sort of expert and really he is just a calculated troll. Like it has been stated, our schedule during that streak was perfectly representative of playoff vs non playoff teams. I personally do not respect the guy. He's no basketball analyst. He's a guy that used to have 'sauces' and now? He seems to have far fewer sauces - with the Cavs, anyway - but still positions himself as an expert.

There are lots of reasons to "beat up on Windy" - this is just the latest one.

I think he's still a little bitter about the wrath he caught from Cleveland fans after following LeBron to Miami. Couple that with LeBron and his crew cutting Windy out completely and it's not hard to see his bitterness towards LeBron and the Cavs.
 
Of course he can give it, but the question is will he be at his best in the playoffs? We all saw how on fire he was after extended rest, and then how not resting that wrist injury threw his shot off a couple of weeks later.

Popovich showed everyone last year what real rest for your stars looks like (it was way under 36 MPG), but it's very difficult to follow his lead unless you are as established as he is.

And Lebron is not Jordan -- he outweighs him by 40-50 pounds, has more mileage on him younger with that bigger body, and the 40 year old Jordan played like crap anyway.

OK, LeBron's a bigger body than Jordan(and Kobe).... How about Karl Malone? Here's his minutes per game from age 29 on:

37.8
40.6
38.1
38.0
36.6
37.4
37.4
35.9
35.7
38.0
36.2
32.7

So, Karl (who was an even bigger body) was playing LeBron type minutes pretty much up to age 39. Just because one coach had success with his older players one year by resting them doesn't discount the rest of NBA history. Lots of teams have won plenty of titles playing their star players in their prime 36.3 MPG or more during the regular season. Just because Pop did something different one year with guys who were all older and/or had significant injuries doesn't mean that every team has to follow that.
 
Well, LeBron in his last two seasons in Miami was playing like a man possessed in every game of the regular season. He had that one month last year where he was shooting something like 60% from the field. He had more "video game James" regular season games in Miami. This season, he started the year going half speed. His numbers are going to reflect that, even though he clearly has stepped his game up since mid-January. I think James had a plan for being less burned out in May and June, but he isn't liking the fallout of his plan in this MVP race.
 
OK, LeBron's a bigger body than Jordan(and Kobe).... How about Karl Malone? Here's his minutes per game from age 29 on:

37.8
40.6
38.1
38.0
36.6
37.4
37.4
35.9
35.7
38.0
36.2
32.7

So, Karl (who was an even bigger body) was playing LeBron type minutes pretty much up to age 39. Just because one coach had success with his older players one year by resting them doesn't discount the rest of NBA history. Lots of teams have won plenty of titles playing their star players in their prime 36.3 MPG or more during the regular season. Just because Pop did something different one year with guys who were all older and/or had significant injuries doesn't mean that every team has to follow that.

LeBron plays on the perimeter and does way more for the team than Karl did.
 
The whole Princeton offense hype when Blatt signed was 80% PR move.
Of course Blatt like to speak about his time in Princeton and about "the ball has energy" - this is all true, but Blatt's coaching system and his talent is not MPO or whatever it is really tailoring the system to his players.
This is why players love to play for him and this is why he succeed. And I think this is why Blatt likes to experience so much at the beginning of the seasons. Because if I continue the "tailor" analogy - he needs to first measure the players, meaning learning their ups and downs, where they excel as individuals but firstly as a unit and then he fixate on a system and on the rotation.
This season it took longer but it was because of missing pieces, injuries and chillmode...

And regarding the current Cavs roster - Blatt obviously see the ISO talent he has on this team, this is why we see it again and again. But I also see other sets like other mentioned here.
I also like to see the baseline inbounds sets Blatt taught his players - great signature stuff that you always see in Maccabi, and you will see more of it in Playoff time. It is a great momentum shifter and money baskets when it counts...
 
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LeBron plays on the perimeter and does way more for the team than Karl did.

OK, so perimeter players like Jordan and Kobe aren't big enough to be a good comparison... Big men like Karl Malone don't do enough to be a good comparison. So, are 6'8" 250+lb perimeter players that handle the ball a lot the only comparison that's allowed? Because I can only think of one guy that fits that description and this discussion of comparison is pretty pointless. Surely Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan aren't good comparisons if Jordan, Kobe or Malone aren't.
 
Don't like the "what would Popovich do?" [as Windhorst calls it] reasoning about a player's minutes, either. He has won five championships and spent almost twenty years with San Antonio.

Jordan played his ass off during his championship runs, averaging 81 games a season and 38 minutes per game.

Neither Blatt nor the team has earned that luxury. We have not won anything. We are the fourth seed and currently not even leading our division. I predict LeBron felt the same way when he protested resting vs. Indiana and agreed only in the interests of public relations.
 
Well, LeBron in his last two seasons in Miami was playing like a man possessed in every game of the regular season. He had that one month last year where he was shooting something like 60% from the field. He had more "video game James" regular season games in Miami. This season, he started the year going half speed. His numbers are going to reflect that, even though he clearly has stepped his game up since mid-January. I think James had a plan for being less burned out in May and June, but he isn't liking the fallout of his plan in this MVP race.

I think this is it. He figured he could still have an MVP year playing in chill mode. People noticed, so he had to step it up. Honestly, as bad as it seemed at the time, it really knocked some sense into the young guys, and they stepped up and became more cohesive and have executed so much better.
 
Hey Windy --- 3.6.15
http://stationcaster.com/player_skinned.php?s=70&c=18273&f=4092313

01. I really liked the game against the Raptors.

02. Cavs won the season tiebreaker over the Raptors.

03. Raptors could not stop the Cavs.

04. The Cavs have the two best players (LeBron and Kyrie, I think he means) in Raptors match up.

05. If Cavs are healthy, I don't think anyone in the East can stop them.

06. Atlanta is not playing as well since the all star break.

07. I think Cavs are getting Atlanta at the best time now.

08. Hawks defense has slipped since Sefalosha has been out.

09. Hawks have to have everything working right to play at their best. Cavs don't have to have everything working right to play well, because of their talent level.

10. I don't take Toronto seriously as a playoff threat for the Cavs.

11. Cavs chemistry is up and down. Sometimes they are close, sometimes they are not.

12. Cavs defense has improved dramatically. This is why they are better on the road now.

13. Before Jan 15, Cavs in bottom 5-7 in the league in many defensive metrics. Since Jan 15, they are in top 5-7 in defensive metrics.

14. I think Cavs have a chance to win every game because of their defense.

15. I'm more concerned with the team's defense than their chemistry.

16. All 3 games the Cavs have played against Atlanta this season came before the trades for the Cavs.

17. We may not know everything about the Hawks/Cavs match up after tonight's game.

18. Cavs have not had a practice before the Hawks game tonight. That could hurt them.

19. Key to beating Hawks is how you rotate and communicate on defense.

20. For the rest of Kyrie's career, he will have to watch his health because he goes to the basket so often.

21. Chris Paul used to go to the basket a lot earlier in his career. Now he shoots more jumpers.

22. Kyrie is a little fragile because he drives so much and gets hit so often on his drives.

23. Kyrie may have to change his style of play, as Chris Paul did.

24. LeBron's heavy isos in Houston game were a bit of a red warning light.

25. Overall, I thought the Houston game was a positive for the team. They fought back in a hostile environment, and were undermanned. They rallied with LeBron on the bench.

26. Many times the end of games and playoff games do turn into iso ball.

27. In general, there was way too much iso ball by Lebron at the end of the Houston game.

28. I think Kevin Love can be effective at the end of games working from the elbow area.

29. In the 4th quarter, Cavs throw away the Kevin Love part of the playbook. Don't know why.

30. Part of not using Love in the 4th is on Blatt, and part of it is LeBron is going to control things (so ball may not go to Love anyways even if Blatt draws up plays for Love to use then).

31. I'm not sure what Blatt's drawing up. LeBron will run what he wants to run, which is the same thing with Harden/Houston and other teams and players.

32. I think Cavs should work on getting others, like Love, involved late in games, in these last 6 weeks of the regular season.

33. Cavs should try to set pin down screens for Love, also. For three pointers.

34. Will be tough to get Love touches in the post late in games. Not easy to get the ball into the post late.

35. LeBron's Heat learned how to diversify the offense, and involve Bosh, after first year together. This is what the Cavs must work on, over time.

36. Even if Kyrie had played Sunday, I'm not sure the Cavs iso offense with LeBron would have looked much different.

37. It's up to LeBron, in particular, to work to diversify the offense and get others involved late. If not, the opponent's defense has the advantage because they know what's coming.

38. LeBron and Kyrie trading isos is like year one for LeBron's Heat when LeBron and Wade would trade isos, with Bosh not involved. That was not as effective as the Heat's offense could be (and would become, once Bosh became involved in year two and beyond; comparison here is Cavs must involve Love more to maximize their offense).

39. Cavs abused Lou Williams on defense in the Toronto game.

40. I think LeBron likes small ball so that he can have shooters on the floor with him to kick out to.

41. LeBron loves having James Jones on the court with him.

42. LeBron likes having James Jones on the court with him right now more than he likes having Love on the court with him right now.

43. Cavs are stuck with Delly for now.

44. Cavs tried to trade for Norris Cole and Miles Plumlee. But were never close to closing that deal.

45. Some in the Cavs organization feel that team must get another point guard before the playoffs.

46. I don't see who Cavs can add at point guard at this time that will help them significantly.

47. Cavs don't want to let go of Joe Harris for a poor point guard.

48. Shumpert at point guard was a disaster.

49. Game in Houston highlighted that weakness of Cavs backup point guard.

50. Cavs can win the title this year. Should they really go without a good backup point guard?

51. Bulls need a point guard, have a roster spot, and still not signing anyone. Shows how weak the market is for point guards right now.

52. Cavs backup point guard is an issue. This is the team's weakness.

53. Delly was in the game against Houston to match up with Beverley. I think Shumpert could have handled Beverley.

54. Delly should not be getting 42 minutes.

55. James Jones is getting Shawn Marion's minutes.

56. James Jones is one of the greatest shooters I've ever seen.

57. James Jones' shot is impervious to being challenged because his release point is so high.

58. James Jones can't shoot if he has to dribble first. He's a catch and shoot player.

59. James Jones is a terrible defender.

60. LeBron loves James Jones, loves passing him the ball.

61. LeBron felt Erik Spoelstra did not use James Jones enough in Miami.

62. I think James Jones will be in and out of the rotation. Not used all the time.

63. Jones is valuable because he can come in after not playing for a long time and hit shots just like that.

64. SALARY CAP 101. LeBron does not have an opt out clause this year. It's a player option, which is an opt in, not an opt out.

65. NON BOLD PREDICTION. I think Cavs fans should keep an eye on the Indiana Pacers. I think Cavs will finish #2 in the East. Paul George should be back soon. I expect the Pacers to get the #7 seed. I am now predicting Cavs vs Pacers in the first round of 2015 East playoffs. Pacers have done well vs Cavs this year. Final meeting this year between these two teams is key.

66. I think there should be some retaliation for the hits on LeBron. I don't think Valanciunas was trying to flagrantly foul LeBron. But ideally you would want to send a message back at the opponent if LeBron is fouled like that.

67. I don't think LeBron would be affected by the hard fouls. He's built like a tank.

68. Cavs are young and inexperienced. They need to learn how to send a message back at the opponent when LeBron is fouled hard.
 
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Hey Windy --- 3.6.15
http://stationcaster.com/player_skinned.php?s=70&c=18273&f=4092313

01. I really liked the game against the Raptors.

02. Cavs won the season tiebreaker over the Raptors.

03. Raptors could not stop the Cavs.

04. The Cavs have the two best players (LeBron and Kyrie, I think he means) in Raptors match up.

05. If Cavs are healthy, I don't think anyone in the East can stop them.

06. Atlanta not playing as well since the all star break.

07. I think Cavs are getting Atlanta at the best time now.

08. Hawks defense has slipped since Sefalosha has been out.

09. Hawks have to have everything working right to play at their best. Cavs don't, because of their talent level.

10. I don't take Toronto serious as a playoff threat for the Cavs.

11. Cavs chemistry is up and down. Sometimes they are close, sometimes they are not.

12. Cavs defense has improved dramatically. This is why they are better on the road now.

13. Before Jan 15, Cavs in bottom 5-7 in the league in many defensive metrics. Since Jan 15, they are in top 5-7 in defensive metrics.

14. I think Cavs have a chance to win every game because of their defense.

15. I'm more concerned with the team's defense than their chemistry.

16. All 3 games the Cavs have played against Atlanta this season came before the trades for the Cavs.

17. We may not know everything about the Hawks/Cavs match up after tonight's game.

18. Cavs have not had a practice before the Hawks game tonight. That could hurt them.

19. Key to beating Hawks is how you rotate and communicate on defense.

20. For rest of Kyrie's career, he will have to watch his health because he goes to the basket so often.

21. Chris Paul used to go to the basket a lot earlier in his career. Now he shoots more jumpers.

22. Kyrie is a little fragile because he drives so much.

23. Kyrie may have to change his style of play, as Chris Paul did.

24. LeBron's heavy isos in Houston game was a bit of a red light.

25. Overall, I thought the Houston game was a positive for the team. Fought back in hostile environment, were undermanned. Rallied with LeBron on the bench.

26. Many times the end of games and playoff games do turn into iso ball.

27. In general, there was way too much iso ball by Lebron at the end of the Houston game.

28. I think Kevin Love can be effective at the end of games working from the elbow area.

29. In the 4th quarter, Cavs throw away the Kevin Love part of the playbook. Don't know why.

30. Part of not using Love in the 4th is on Blatt, and part of it is LeBron is going to control things (so ball may not go to Love anyways).

31. I'm not sure what Blatt's drawing up. LeBron will run what he wants to run, which is the same thing with Harden/Houston and other teams and players.

32. I think Cavs should work on getting others involved late in games, like Love, in last 6 weeks of the season.

33. Cavs should try to set pin down screens for Love, also. For three pointers.

34. Will be tough to get Love touches in the post late in games. Not easy to get the ball in there late.

35. LeBron's Heat learned how to diversify the offense, and involve Bosh. After first year together. This is what Cavs must do, over time.

36. Even if Kyrie had played Sunday, not sure Cavs iso offense with LeBron would have looked much different.

37. It's up to LeBron, in particular, to work to diversify the offense and get others involved late. If not, the defense has the advantage because they know what's coming.

38. LeBron and Kyrie trading isos is like year one for LeBron's Heat when LeBron and Wade would trade isos, and Bosh not involved. Not as effective as the offense could be.

39. Cavs abused Lou Williams on defense in the Toronto game.

40. I think LeBron likes small ball so that he can have shooters on the floor with him to kick out to.

41. LeBron loves having James Jones on the court with him.

42. LeBron likes having James Jones on the court with him more than having Love on the court with him right now.

43. Cavs are stuck with Delly for now.

44. Cavs tried to trade for Norris Cole and Miles Plumlee. But were never close to it.

45. Some in the Cavs organization feel that team must get another point guard before the playoffs.

46. I don't see who Cavs can add at point guard at this time that will help them significantly.

47. Cavs don't want to let go of Joe Harris for a poor point guard.

48. Shumpert at point guard was a disaster.

49. Game in Houston highlighted that weakness of Cavs backup point guard.

50. Cavs can win the title this year. Should they really go without a good backup point guard?

51. Bulls need a point guard, have a roster spot, and still not signing anyone. Shows how weak the market is for point guards right now.

52. Cavs backup point guard is an issue. This is the team's weakness.

53. Delly was in the game against Houston to match up with Beverley. I think Shumpert could have handled Beverley.

54. Delly should not be getting 42 minutes.

55. James Jones is getting Shawn Marion's minutes.

56. James Jones is one of the greatest shooters I've ever seen.

57. James Jones' shot is imperious to being challenged because his relase point is so high.

58. James Jones can't shoot if he has to dribble first. He's a catch and shoot player.

59. James Jones is a terrible defender.

60. LeBron loves James Jones, loves passing him the ball.

61. LeBron felt Erik Spoelstra did not use James Jones enough in Miami.

62. I think James Jones will be in and out of the rotation. Not used all the time.

63. Jones is valuable because he can come in after not playing for a long time and hit shots just like that.

64. SALARY CAP 101. LeBron does not have an opt out clause this year. It's a player option, which is an opt in, not an opt out.

65. NON BOLD PREDICTION. I think Cavs fans should keep an eye on the Indiana Pacers. I think Cavs will finish #2 in the East. Paul George should be back soon. I expect the Pacers to get the #7 seed. I am now predicting Cavs vs Pacers in first round of 2015 East playoffs. Pacers have done well vs Cavs this year. Final meeting this year between these two teams is key.

66. I think there should be some retaliation for the hits on LeBron. I don't think Valanciunas was trying to flagrantly foul LeBron. But ideally you would want to send a message.

67. I don't think LeBron would be affected by the hard fouls; he's built like a tank.

68. Cavs are young and inexperienced. They need to learn how to send a message back when LeBron is fouled hard.

Whenever LeBron or Kyrie get fouled hard, T-Mo needs to hit/be in someone's face, or put in Perkins and he will send a message.

I agree with Windhorst here.
 
OK, so perimeter players like Jordan and Kobe aren't big enough to be a good comparison... Big men like Karl Malone don't do enough to be a good comparison. So, are 6'8" 250+lb perimeter players that handle the ball a lot the only comparison that's allowed? Because I can only think of one guy that fits that description and this discussion of comparison is pretty pointless. Surely Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan aren't good comparisons if Jordan, Kobe or Malone aren't.

There is NO player of Lebron's size who has ever played Lebron's kind of game with his level of activity in NBA history. So yeah, comparisons don't really work. Plus, you have to add in that since they got rid of the illegal defense rules in 2001 defenses have gotten much tougher. So Lebron's workload as a huge player playing a perimeter and often iso style of play as the offensive and defensive motor of all of his teams going against some of the toughest defenses in NBA history and playing deep into the playoffs for ten years in a row? It's certainly greater than any NBA player has ever had at his age. It's only his remarkable stamina that his let him play at this high level for this long.

I really don't understand why you wouldn't rest him frequently during the regular season. Regular season games *just don't matter very much*, that's the bottom line. Lebron is the centerpiece of your team and the only path to a championship. He has played record minutes for his age and there is already some noticeable physical falloff. So be incredibly careful with him. I just don't understand the argument against that.
 
38. LeBron and Kyrie trading isos is like year one for LeBron's Heat when LeBron and Wade would trade isos, and Bosh not involved. Not as effective as the offense could be.

You'd think LeBron would have learned in Miami.. but apparently he hasn't or sees something that we don't.
 
It's pretty clear the intent of the team is to go hard for 3 quarters, build a large lead, then let most of the starters sit out the whole 4rth quarter.

Obviously in some games, that gets LeBron and Kyrie out with only 25-26 minutes, plus it gives the bench more playing time... which is always a good thing.

This, coupled with LeBron and Blatt deciding to follow Pop's lead and sit out LeBron completely on occasion, is all good for someone with so many minutes on their body already.

Unfortunately, eventually the league is going to crack down on this. Couple of games ago, 4 of the Hawks starters sat out a game. The league cannot be happy with stars sitting out when they want to, even tho the league is to blame for such a long off-season, and so many back-to-backs during the regular season.
 

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