Cavs Training Camp (roster down to 15)

[Kidd Karma]

The scrimmage game was great. The offense and ball movement looked smooth and efficient. I never thought I'd say this, but it looks like Dion has already buys into the system and playing within the flow of the offense and not forcing anything. He'll have a great year. He looks like he wants to learn how to be a more efficient player playing next to LeBron and Love.

I know some people on here will get mad at me for saying this, but i don't think Kyrie is ready to change the part of his game that critics often criticized him for. He's going to be the QB of the offense, but he needs to realize that he doesn't have to overdribbles the ball in this type of offense where LeBron and Love are the most efficient scorers on the team. He needs to get better at reading and reacting to opposing teams defense and make the right plays instead of overdribbling the ball for 8+ seconds and forcing low quality ISO shots.

Sometimes it's okay to take low quality ISO shots outside of the flow of the offense if you can't find an open teammate who has a higher quality look and percentage at hitting the shot, but if someone is already in position to score and you're out there doing some fancy dribbling and not delivering the ball on time, then there will be problems and you'll have to be hold accountable for that.

Overall, he played well. I know he's not CP3 in terms of court vision and awareness, and he did dished out some good passes, but he still has the same ISO mode habits that he'll need to neutralize over the season and part of that comes with maturity, being able to read schemes and make consistent plays, etc.

As a Kidd fan, that over dribbling killed me when the Nets got Carter, VC would run off a screen or a double stack and be open for a catch and shoot opportunity, he'd catch it, pause, pump fake, retreat dribble, then fadeaway with 2 on the shot clock. Very hard to change those habits. I think even in Miami LBJ had that problem with Wade, Wade would run off screens have a catch and shoot opportunity, but doesn't pull the trigger, instead catches....VC all over again. Hopefully Kyrie can learn that he doesn't need to "think" as much as before about his move. Just read and react, move the ball around.

 

[CavsFan005]

Honestly, Ray is done. He can still hit big shots, but so can a lot of guys on the team. He tried to do a bit too much last year in the regular. There were times when he tried to made plays on some possessions and forced things a bit.

Ray still has a lot of game. Did you watch the finals he was the second most explosive player on the team and the only other contributor.
I would take that dude on my team any day

 

[Chris]

Ray still has a lot of game. Did you watch the finals he was the second most explosive player on the team and the only other contributor.
I would take that dude on my team any day

"Explosive" ... ?

 

[shoes22]

"Explosive" ... ?

For a guy his age, he got to the rim in the Finals with relative ease.

 

[Benedict_Boozer]

Good thing about signing Allen would be keeping him away from our competition - the other teams rumored to be after him are direct threats (Wiz, Chicago, Clips, SA).

All we need is him subbing in and hitting some dagger 3 on us.

 

[Omar The Horse]

Edit: just saw this was posted. My bad.

 

[kovanovich]

Not sure exactly where to post this, but this thread makes as much sense as anywhere...

Cavs have 12 guaranteed contracts:

LeBron
Varejao
Love
Kyrie
Thompson
Waiters
Haywood
Harris
Miller
Marion
Jones
Dellavedova (contract is not guaranteed, but inconceivable he won't make the team)

Leaving 3 roster spots for the following:

Amundson
Kirk
AJ Price
[Ray Allen]

Let's just assume Ray Allen decides to play and that he joins the Cavs. That leaves 3 guys fighting for two spots.

It seems people are assuming Amundson has the team made. The Bullshit Whisperer recently tweeted the following complimentary observation about Amundson, which is probably significant in view of The Bullshit Whisperer's perceived closeness with the Cavs' FO:

Sam The Bullshit Whisperer ‏@SamAmicoFSO
Cavs hopeful Lou Amundson has been absolute beast around basket in practice. Showing same type of grit in games. Been impressive.

I don't know that all Cavs' followers agree....such as @RealMYoung23:

Michael A. Young ‏@RealMYoung23
As of right now, considering Brendan Haywood will be on the roster by default, I'm in favor of Alex Kirk over Admunson. #Cavs

In a Sports Insider talk today with Fedor and Labbe, Chris Haynes talked about how Price was pushing Delly for the backup PG job, and seemed to think it was obvious Price would make the team and that the team would in fact keep 3 PGs.

http://www.cleveland.com/sportsinsider/index.ssf/2014/10/sports_insider_mary_kay_cabot_4.html

Meanwhile, both Jason Lloyd and Bob Finnan wrote articles today saying that though Price has played well, he doesn't have a spot guaranteed, especially if Allen does end up signing.

In addition, I watched David Blatt's press conference today on cavs.com, and I thought his comments on Price were telling...Basically, he said that he has done a good job, but that they will have to see how the final roster plays out. I didn't exactly see this as a ringing endorsement of Price.

Actually, I think that if Allen does sign, the guy who is a bit of a luxury is James Jones, more so than Price. He is an extra wing player who offers little on the court aside from his shooting. But he has a guaranteed contract and of course is a friend of LeBron's, so I think it is nearly inconceivable the Cavs would just cut him.

So reading between the lines, assuming Allen does sign, I'm guessing both Amundson and Kirk make the final roster (Kirk presumably spending considerable time at Canton), and Price finds himself the odd man out. Either Amundson or Kirk could very easily end up being cut at some point during the season anyway, if the Cavs want to free up a roster spot for a trade (especially a trade involving the TPE) or for a late season signing (of a bought-out player or, say, Emeka Okafor).

 

[Cavatt]

I don't think we need price. Dion can handle the 1 and so can LeBron.

 

[Frank Reynolds]

I would rather keep Amundson. I'm not his biggest fan, but I would rather have backup assurance in the form of a big man.

 

[TheISHT]

Anybody have the espn insider Cavs big 3 are #1 article?

 

[e0y2e3]

Call me crazy, but if Will Bynum ends up waived by the C's (assuming this trade goes through) he becomes potentially more attractive to me than AJ Price as a third PG/instant offense if needed.

Price is probably a better defender, but tomato, tomatuh

 

[e0y2e3]

Also, he can't be traded until Dec 15th, but Bernard James over Amundson seems like a no brainer.

 

[Lee]

I rather not keep Armundson. I think we absolutely need a third pg as Kyrie will be hurt and taking Waiters out of position unless it is a long term injury is not best for the team. So i think Price or some other pg should make the team.

Then i do feel we need another big, but Armundson's size prevents him from being a center. While we have both Andy and Haywood, the injury history there is ludicrous. I know both Tristan and Armundson can play center, but they are really pf's and against big lineups at a huge disadvantage.

I would say that Kirk's size and decent defense is enough to let him make the team as the 15th player. So if Ray Allen does sign, i think Armundson is the odd man out, or atleast should be, as we have a greater need at depth at center (need a 3rd) and pg (need a 3rd) than grabbing a 6th player that can effectively play pf. (Love, TT, Marion, Lebron, Andy)

 

[Cassity14]

I think a 3rd point guard is necessary. I haven't see enough out of Dion that I want him running a team. I'm not sure he has the 'finger on the pulse' trait that I want from a point guard playing with this roster.

 

[Cavatt]

I understand what you guys are saying about Dion, but if we sign Allen we have a lot of 2 guards that could play minutes. Moving Dion to the 1 opens up minutes for Ray and Harris. I feel comfortable with both of those guys getting some minutes. AJ price? I guess he has been ok, but he looks as much like a 2 as a 1 anyway. Not a great passer, can sink some shots.