David Blatt is a former NBA coach

[Cayman13]

Interesting game. Orlando has a nice young team that could become something one day. Vucevic is a defensive sieve.

1. Blatt's approach is so different this year. He looks so calm and under control all the time and seems to be tinkering and figuring things out on the fly. When Orlando went on that run (36 points scored in 10 minutes) against the putrid defensive lineup of JJ/Jefferson/Cunningham, he didn't panic and bring back LBJ to right the ship. James sat there waiting for the run to end which it never did and then James came back and they went on a run right away.

2. LBJ and Delly are the only ones providing any type of perimeter defense right now. Orlando didn't score anything until James and Delly went to the bench as it was 22-10 with about 5 minutes left in the first, James went out at the 9 minute mark and came back at the 7 minute mark in the second. In that time (when both or either/or James and Delly were off the court), the Magic scored a staggering 36 points in 10 minutes.

With LBJ and DELLY on court, the DRtg is 94. With BOTH off court, the DRtg is an astronomical 143, equivalent to by far the worst defense in the history of basketball. Now, it's only 35 minutes and 74 possessions to work with, but even if you take out garbage time minutes, the DRtg is still 147.

DRtg with Delly and James on: 94
DRtg with LBJ on: 100
DRtg with Delly on: 95.6

We need Shump back.

3. Last three games, the Cavs' ORtg is: 126.2. The Spurs' ORtg against Miami in 2014 was 120.8 as a point of comparison. Previous nine games from 3 before this recent win streak: 81-234 (34.6%); the last three games from 3: 40-88 (45.5%).

This is the 4th time in Cavs history that they have made 18+ threes while shooting 50%+: Against the Hawks last year, against Orlando last year, against the Lakers last year, and tonight.

4. KLove. What's exciting is that he can have plenty of games similar to these because he gets open shots and always will as long as LBJ is here. When he and JR are hitting threes as they were post the all-star break, the Cavs' offense was BETTER than the Warriors offense was last year or is this year--people forget or do not acknowledge that.

5. The bench sucked ass but the starters were +29 (LBJ), +25, (Love), +23 (TT), +17 (JR), +15 (Delly because he had to play the most with the scrubs in the first half during that abominable run).

TT and Delly starting has hurt the bench but boosted the starting 5. What a luxury it will be to have both off the bench AND Shump/JR.

Are you single? HA!

 

[ChicagoCavFan]

You are making JLoyd sweat writing his "x" number of "Final Thoughts." Send your resume to the PD, and offer a cover page with all of your posts from these games.

You're a true value to our community :bro hug:

 

[DoW13]

Blatt's press conference was interesting to me.. he spent most of his time pretty much ripping into his team for mental lapses at various chunks throughout the game - in a game we led by what, 26? And in the 20's much of the time. In a game missing 4 big time players. He understands fully how lofty the expectations are.. and is holding these guys feet to the fire. I love it.

In Maccabi, Shimon Mizrahi said to the players in the locker room in a game against Hapoel, who are our biggest rivals: "If you lead by 10 make it 20, if you lead by 20 make it 30."
Maybe Blatt used some of that speach.

 

[Hydroponic3385]

Are you single? HA!

Get in line!

 

[Igo2XS]

Mixed bag here..the more GS performs , the more hype they get..which they don't need..in fact in certain ways they're creating their own hype.
But at some point I know they're come back down to earth..

Let them think that, let the national writers keep telling them that they're this historically great team. Anyone notice Lebron's comments on the Warriors?

See the article here:
http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2015/11/lebron_james_cavaliers_3.html

The Golden State Warriors are one win away from setting an NBA record for consecutive wins to start a season.

What's LeBron James' take?

"They've been the most healthy team I've ever seen in NBA history and they have great talent," James said Monday following shootaround in preparation for tonight's home game against Orlando.

"They've just been consistent," he said. "Think the most impressive thing is the way they've been playing at a high level for so long. I think it comes with a lot of health."

Cleveland owns the East's best record at 10-3, but has yet to play a game with a full roster. Kyrie Irving and Iman Shumpert are still recovering from their respective surgeries, while Mo Williams and Timofey Mozgov are expected to miss tonight's game. Neither played in Saturday's win over Atlanta.

James' assessment of Golden State's well being wasn't entirely correct. Center Andrew Bogut missed several games with a concussion, and All-Star shooting guard Klay Thompson missed a game with a stiff back.

Then there's coach Steve Kerr, who hasn't coached a game yet this season while recovering from back surgery. Former Cav Luke Walton is filling in for Kerr.

"It would be more impressive if they was doing all this without Steph (Curry)," James said. "Then there would be a conversation to talk about."

In the Finals, the Warriors' top players were healthy. The Cavs were without Irving and Kevin Love, while Shumpert and Matthew Dellavedova were playing through various health issues.

Keep planting that little bit of doubt.

I think the Cavs will help bring them down to Earth on Christmas. Leave them with a nice little gift to put under their Christmas tree.

 

[gourimoko]

"It would be more impressive if they was doing all this without Steph (Curry)," James said. "Then there would be a conversation to talk about."

I think this is fucking gold. LeBron is telling it like it is. They've been on this winning streak because of their health and the lack thereof throughout the league at present. They aren't special. Put one injury into the mix, whether it's of Curry, Klay, Green, or Iggy, and they'd be fucked.

 

[blommen]

Where is that quote from Gour? Absolute ether from Bron.

 

[tocov]

Where is that quote from Gour? Absolute ether from Bron.

http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2015/11/lebron_james_cavaliers_3.html

 

[Cayman13]

TELL EM BRON!!!

 

[Frank Reynolds]

"It would be more impressive if they was doing all this without Steph (Curry)," James said. "Then there would be a conversation to talk about."

I think this is fucking gold. LeBron is telling it like it is. They've been on this winning streak because of their health and the lack thereof throughout the league at present. They aren't special. Put one injury into the mix, whether it's of Curry, Klay, Green, or Iggy, and they'd be fucked.

Which is why I keep thinking about how we lost to Orlando. Dwight was just going to do Dwight things, you can't worry about him. If we'd have shut down one of Mickael Pietrus or Rashard Lewis, we might have taken that series. The way that series unfolded, you could tell the Cavaliers didn't know what they wanted to do. It was very scattered, therefore everybody beat us.

There was nothing about our gameplan that seemed solidified, it was like the whole team was on fucking skates. That's how this GS team abuses you.

You simply aren't going to stop Stephen Curry. Nope. Period.

He's going to be like Dwight was, just an overwhelming presence and the sooner you can accept that, the sooner you can focus and have a definitive plan of attack.

What you can't afford to do is let Steph be Steph.....then also scatter on defense and let their passing pick you apart.

If you can limit Iggy and Barnes to 20, we have a good chance to beat them. If their bench is hanging 40 something on you, you aren't going to win that game unless you were fucking masterful on offense.

 

[AmirT0]

Injuries are a wildcard. IF the script plays out, and IF both teams are healthy, then it's on like donkey kong.

I don't see the Warriors as being "tired" come playoff time. They are DEEP and may very well blow out 75% of their regular season opponents which means plenty of 4th quarter rest for the starters.

The intangible advantage for GS in my view?? They already have a ring! Like, psychologically and physically been there/done that... Comparisons to the '96 Bulls? Pssht, I don't see that as being overly front and center in their minds.

And, unfortunately, in that scenario I think the greater pressure will be on the Cavs and LeBron (his perceived legacy) -- whether they can overcome history and re-write the ill fortunes of a franchise and a hard luck/desperate fan base.

Having said all this, I still think we meet them and hoist the Trophy in 6

I have a different take. I think to a large extent the fuel for GSW run is the correct perception of basketball fans (except those calling the bay area home) the Warriors lose to healthy Cavs team. They got a huge chip on their shoulder and they are playing like they didn't win a ring. The psychology at play, IMHO, is that the GS players themselves know deep down their title ain't legit or at least requires further validation. Yes sure, they beat whoever was infront of them , but they know what happened and how their title run played out.

They are playing not to embarrass themselves and it makes them dangerous. It makes them play out of their minds. I don't know if they can keep it up all the way to the post-season but they are very good to begin with and now they have extra motivation. They are as removed as you can be from post-title hangover. I am sure they realize if they get dominated in PO by a healthy OKC team or get eliminated by SA in a Spurs-like typical fashion they can cry to high skies they will get an asterisk for last year's title in everyone's mind.
If somehow we have a rematch with them, the finals will play out like a contest for two titles. That is the only concern I got about GSW. Healthy we beat them. But they will come so hard at us because if we beat their asses silly they effectively in the minds of objective basketball fans won on injuries and breaks.If Bron can replicate his feat from Miami and win back-2-back for cavs(easy easy i know), the GSW 2014-2015 title would be referred to as "that title the warriors won when everyone was injured". It wont matter that Curry was the MVP and they won 67/83. No one will care. The game 4 adjustment was checkmat because Blatt didn't have options to counter with.But when we have the physicality and the fire power they won't be able to handle us. It just doesn't compute that with a healthy Love&Kyrie we lose 3 straight to them. Love is not Olajuwon in the post but if he finishes a few feeds with the hook and draw 3-4 fouls from Green and Iggy,WHILE Lebron is on the perimeter, is changes the entire freakin game/series. That's an element we didn't have for a single second of the finals.The "less of TT and less defense" is complete bullshit. Blatt would have balanced the offense and defense and GS would have been destroyed.

 

[Dr. Gymbo]

Epic work Price.

With LBJ and DELLY on court, the DRtg is 94. With BOTH off court, the DRtg is an astronomical 143, equivalent to by far the worst defense in the history of basketball. Now, it's only 35 minutes and 74 possessions to work with, but even if you take out garbage time minutes, the DRtg is still 147.

DRtg with Delly and James on: 94
DRtg with LBJ on: 100
DRtg with Delly on: 95.6

We need Shump back.

 

[CalBuckeyeRob]

"It would be more impressive if they was doing all this without Steph (Curry)," James said. "Then there would be a conversation to talk about."

I think this is fucking gold. LeBron is telling it like it is. They've been on this winning streak because of their health and the lack thereof throughout the league at present. They aren't special. Put one injury into the mix, whether it's of Curry, Klay, Green, or Iggy, and they'd be fucked.

Don't sell them short, the Warriors are a great team. But this Cavs team will be their match if everyone is healthy.

 

[gourimoko]

Don't sell them short, the Warriors are a great team. But this Cavs team will be their match if everyone is healthy.

I agree.

But I think the Warriors are more reliant on a gimmick. This idea that you should run around the fucking 3-pt line nonstop until you find a shot. Setup 3 screens for Steph..

You stop Steph, you stop the Warriors. I think Delly proved this last season.

 

[BA_CavsFan]

"It would be more impressive if they was doing all this without Steph (Curry)," James said. "Then there would be a conversation to talk about."

I think this is fucking gold. LeBron is telling it like it is. They've been on this winning streak because of their health and the lack thereof throughout the league at present. They aren't special. Put one injury into the mix, whether it's of Curry, Klay, Green, or Iggy, and they'd be fucked.

Obviously they'd be screwed without Curry but we saw what happened to the Cavs without LeBron last year and it wasn't pretty. So I'm not sure what your point is... Any team dependent on a transcendent player is going to struggle if that player is out for whatever reason. If you're implying that one of them will get injured that would probably make sense if this was any other team, but as LeBron points out they are ridiculously injury-resistant. Whether it's luck, sports science, rest, or whatever, the bottom line is that you can count on this team being 100% when we see them in June.

I agree.

But I think the Warriors are more reliant on a gimmick. This idea that you should run around the fucking 3-pt line nonstop until you find a shot. Setup 3 screens for Steph..

You stop Steph, you stop the Warriors. I think Delly proved this last season.

I really don't think the best offense in the NBA qualifies as a gimmick, especially when it's been used to win a championship and has only gotten better since then. Stopping Steph is extremely difficult to do when they have 4 other guys on the floor who can all do some combination of shoot 3s, post up, and find the open man extremely effectively. I hate watching them and I can't stand that baby-faced son of a bitch Curry, but I'm still highly skeptical the Cavs beat them 4 times out of 7.