David Blatt is a former NBA coach

[JMoneyYourHoney]

And I want to be clear that I think Blatt is a great coach, but you have to wonder if he doesn't have a little bit of Thibs in him when it comes to minutes management.

Yeah I've called Blatt the "Cleveland Thibs" before, but a lot of that also has to do with his insistence in rolling with the same guys and not taking flyers on others.

 

[gourimoko]

Not sure what to think of Blatt at the moment.

So much of our failure seems to rest on the players... But I'm not sure how much of that falls onto Blatt.

 

[Green Lantern]

"It's disheartening to see us struggling on so many fronts."

Was accused of overreacting to loss for saying if this is the fight theyr'e going to show, make other plans for this summer.

Sometimes it seems fans are as entitled as the team, like because this team overachieved last year, it will necessarily over achieve this year once everyone's back. Wish I shared that assurance. There are a lot of issues with this team, most of all, the fact that they don't seem to focus or really compete hard for much of the games.

I hate to say this because I don't feel it's 100% true, but these guys are looking a lot like frontrunners (outside LeBron) - only capable of succeeding when things are going well. When they're not, team doesn't quite collapse, but their muddle is pretty disheartening.

It's attitude..and I think that's why Lebron is peering at GS and being visibly irritated when players make bad plays..they need to be crisper and have a tude that they are going to wipe up the floor no matter who the opponent is.

 

[Cavatt]

I feel like Lebron and Blatt are sorta read and react guys. They want to see what the feel of the game is and then win. It doesn't lead to many blowouts even when they were rolling last year

Golden state is going to play their way no matter what and fuck everyone. They are gonna run up the score and blow you out.

I'd like to see the team develop a more consistent identity and impose their will.

 

[LeShaq]

For me, everything comes down to Mozgov. We just don't play the kind of defense we need at and around the rim without him being in top form.

I recall making a post this past summer asking about the Mozgov knee surgery. No one really knew anything and I just assumed that all would be good and Timo would be back in form promptly.

Boy was that a mistake.

There are a number of different interchangeable parts on the roster. LeBron can't be replaced, of course. Nor can Delly's defense.

No one on the team really has any hope of replicating Mozgov's rim protection.

I hope Timo's knee isn't too bad and that he can regain his form this year. If not, we may want to look at trying to find some insurance rim protection help around the league. Because I don't think anyone else on the roster can do it except for Timo. And our defense can be horrendous when we don't have rim protection.

 

[cavsfever]

If LBJ isn't playing that many minutes, we have siginificantly more loses. There isn't anyone else besides KLove to shoulder the load with JR not hitting shots

It's a lot better -- a LOT better -- to go into the playoffs with a lower seed and a rested Lebron than a higher seed and an exhausted Lebron. That is very obvious so I hope someone with authority on the team sees it.

Hell, Dan Gilbert should say something since he has more money invested in a healthy Lebron than anyone.

 

[shoes22]

It's a lot better -- a LOT better -- to go into the playoffs with a lower seed and a rested Lebron than a higher seed and an exhausted Lebron. That is very obvious so I hope someone with authority on the team sees it.

Hell, Dan Gilbert should say something since he has more money invested in a healthy Lebron than anyone.

The counterpoint to this is the team does exhaustive and comprehensive health monitoring for its players (and especially its stars like LeBron), and you would think it's obvious they wouldn't play him these current minutes if they thought he couldn't handle it or if it was likely he'd break down come May/June.

Remember, the primary reason LeBron wore out by the Finals last year wasn't because of overwork during the regular season, it was because he was carrying the offensive load for multiple injured players.

 

[Paul]

We also still have to figure out how to play championship level basketball. The regular season is more than just 82 chances to get injured or tired. We need to refine and elevate our game and hopefully figure out how to get back to that pass friendly offense we saw glimpses of earlier in the season. We also need to build some familiarity and chemistry between the Cavs that were with us last year and the new arrivals.

 

[Kizzle]

Blatt starting Delly again


Guess it can't be hidden anymore

Mo losses games

 

[JFT]

Expect to get ran to death by any team worth a damn until Kyrie and Shump come back.

Teams aren't even gonna be good and will be in games against us simply because they run our old men out the gym.

Fucked up part is how TF is a lineup of Delly, Smith, LeBron, Love, and TT getting ran out? All these guys are young but LeBron and should have the energy to run with any team.

I remember hearing this shit last year too.


Why are we the only team that has conditioning come into question?

We're 13-5. I like it.

 

[JFT]

Not sure what to think of Blatt at the moment.

So much of our failure seems to rest on the players... But I'm not sure how much of that falls onto Blatt.

Failure? We're 13-5. I'm really liking it compared to a few years ago. It'll all start to come together just like last January.

 

[gourimoko]

Failure? We're 13-5. I'm really liking it compared to a few years ago. It'll all start to come together just like last January.

Err, I think we need to look at things within the context of how we're playing. According to everyone from Blatt, LBJ, James Jones, hell even Windhorst, there is a serious problem with the Cavaliers and they need to get it figured out.

Our record is fine, but that's just not the problem so far.

 

[letgocavs]

Does David Blatt only have one suit?

 

[gourimoko]

We're 13-5. I like it.

Failure? We're 13-5. I'm really liking it compared to a few years ago. It'll all start to come together just like last January.

If you are watching tonight's game, you'll get the answer to the question you're asking.

While we'll likely come out with the W, we're playing like absolute dog shit. We're just incredibly talented, and we're winning games - that doesn't mean we're playing well.

 

[MD13]

This team is playing like absolute shit. Complete lack of effort, but I'm not sure how many of our defensive problems are fixable by effort. This team has no rim protection, with Mozgov looking like he's stuck in quicksand and TT and Love both lacking in that department. Worrying stuff to be sure.

edit: Also, right now we have way too many defensive sieves on the perimeter. Mo Williams, James Jones, even Richard Jefferson.