Game 2 | Cavs (0-1) @ Bulls (1-0) | October 31, 2014 | 8pm EST

[Tornicade]

I was wondering about that. By rule, is it possible to take a CHARGE will jumping in the air?

I've officiated and played many basketball games, I've never seen a charge called on that play.

Not an offensive foul because of an elbow or something...I mean a straight up charge.

if the player establishes position and goes straight up the play is a charge because the offensive guy is moving into his space. the NBA has been pretty good at getting this information out there and explaining this rule

 

[Just Checkin]

I love the things that help our defense.

1. Rebounding - Kevin Love is so fundamentally sound on boxing out his man, leaving Noah pretty ineffectual on the glass. Tristan is without saying after tonight.

2. The threat of transition. After the Love touchdown it was pretty much determined to GET BACK asap against this team which leads to more one and done opportunities.

3. Taking charges. Guys like Love, LeBron, and Kyrie are trying to protect the rim by sacrificing their bodies in the paint.

Just a few great things. One thing though is definitely the PnR defense leaves a lot to be desired, although the adjustment at the half limited some of the surgical passing of the Bulls directly inside, we gave up a lot of good looks off the catch for jumpers.

One positive though is Love isn't abandoning his man to get into rebounding position as often, he's getting out there and contesting shots. Another positive would be limiting the turnovers.

But it's early, but it is good to see the Cavs get STOPS when they needed them this time.

Hoping this really gets better and better. They actually ran some of the offense tonight and Blatt had an actual rotation this game so that's good to see the coaching synergy on the staff.

 

[blazenmp]

Playing guys in games that are blow outs doesn't do nearly as much as working them into games that are tight and against good teams, because that's what the situation will be in the playoffs.

There are must wins, tight games and blow outs , it's not always just the two.

 

[Andrew]

What a hell of a game. Very entertaining and quite impressive of a victory for this squad.

Sure, some people might look at see Rose didn't play down the stretch and might use that as an excuse, but I won't. I thought their effort was on par and they out hustled the Chicago Bulls.

My thoughts...

-52 to 42 on the boards.
-9 turnovers to the Bulls 19
-LeBron James
-Thompson with 16 points and 13 rebounds, 12 offensive.
-K. Love with 16 points and 14 rebounds

My biggest takeaway was the rebounding. It seemed the Cavaliers just ate every loose ball by the rim. Thompson to me is the unsung hero, that kid had an amazing game. His effort not only rivaled Noah's but exceeded it. He was a factor in some very key plays. I also thought the rotation looked more NBA-like, last night the coach trusted 7 guys. We got more playing time for Marion, Delly and even some of Joe.

It's just one game, but they can build upon this and look at it as a stepping stone in the right direction.

 

[MoFlo]

I was wondering about that. By rule, is it possible to take a CHARGE will jumping in the air?

I've officiated and played many basketball games, I've never seen a charge called on that play.

Not an offensive foul because of an elbow or something...I mean a straight up charge.

I think Fred alluded to it when it happened, but as long as the defender goes straight up with his arms straight up, then yes, it is possible..

 

[blazenmp]

Dion had a drive and was fouled hard in my opion for a no call. if he was a bit sulky. I could see blatt pulling him out.

outside of getting caught looking a couple plays before he was playing pretty solidly defensively.

Pulling Dion almost cost the Cavs the game as Chicago went on a run on guard play but if Blatt was putting his foot down on Dion getting caught up on fouls then it was a good move

I'm really not happy I am agreeing with you.

 

[Rich]

There are must wins, tight games and blow outs , it's not always just the two.

Ok? This game wasn't a must win and if someone wants to argue game 2 in an 82 game season IS a must win I'd love to see your best shot at it. Honestly, I don't think any regular season games in the NBA are must wins save for teams on the borderline of making the playoffs. But that's about it.

What this game WAS however was a game against a good team in a hostile environment. A perfect time to throw your bench in there and break them in.

 

[blazenmp]

What's kind of incredible is we are in no way playing that well on offense and we just did pretty much whatever we wanted against maybe the best defensive team in the league.

When the offense irons out, we are going to just decimate teams.

As others have said, our rotations have been just awful. LeBron has played 85 minutes in two games. This was obviously OT but we HAVE to get that down. We have way too many capable vets for LBJ to log minutes like that.

I don't think it's so much awful rotations as it is a learning curve... Towards the end of the last season, we really didn't even have "in game" rotations, I'm good with it.

 

[Goldin Brown]

Dion is going to end up being our 6th man, its just a matter if time. It's obvious that that is going to be his role. We need to go ahead and sign Ray Allen already. And I love Dion, but he's a crazy irrational confidence guy...it's obvious.

 

[TitleTown]

Ok? This game wasn't a must win and if someone wants to argue game 2 in an 82 game season IS a must win I'd love to see your best shot at it. Honestly, I don't think any regular season games in the NBA are must wins save for teams on the borderline of making the playoffs. But that's about it.

What this game WAS however was a game against a good team in a hostile environment. A perfect time to throw your bench in there and break them in.

What? No.

Not if our core hasn't gelled yet.

 

[blazenmp]

Ok? This game wasn't a must win and if someone wants to argue game 2 in an 82 game season IS a must win I'd love to see your best shot at it. Honestly, I don't think any regular season games in the NBA are must wins save for teams on the borderline of making the playoffs. But that's about it.

What this game WAS however was a game against a good team in a hostile environment. A perfect time to throw your bench in there and break them in.

I get what you're saying, but I still think it was a statement game, particularly after the preseason game with them and the loss to the Knicks. I think it was done to help set the stage for future games. I don't have a stronger argument than that, I'm not that dead set against what you are saying.

 

[Arison]

Ok? This game wasn't a must win and if someone wants to argue game 2 in an 82 game season IS a must win I'd love to see your best shot at it. Honestly, I don't think any regular season games in the NBA are must wins save for teams on the borderline of making the playoffs. But that's about it.

What this game WAS however was a game against a good team in a hostile environment. A perfect time to throw your bench in there and break them in.

We are not an established team, we are a new team with new raw talents we need a confidence boost we need the stars to gel,
rotation players will come but Blatt needs confidence as much as others.
We are not SAS, we are not other confident teams that can take losses and not worry as much as us.
I disagree here

 

[Rich]

What? No.

Not if our core hasn't gelled yet.

82 games for that to happen my friend. I thought Popovich had already proven just how insignificant single regular games are to teams that are playoff locks, but I guess not.

 

[Rich]

We are not an established team, we are a new team with new raw talents we need a confidence boost we need the stars to gel,
rotation players will come but Blatt needs confidence as much as others.
We are not SAS, we are not other confident teams that can take losses and not worry as much as us.
I disagree here

Who is we? We the fans who can freak out at the drop of a hat? Who cares.

But that team? That team is led by LeBron James and I'm 100% confident a couple of early season losses isn't going to phase him one bit.

 

[blazenmp]

82 games for that to happen my friend. I thought Popovich had already proven just how insignificant single regular games are to teams that are playoff locks, but I guess not.

Exactly, but let's put a spin on that, 82 games to get the bench "gelling", too. Again, I hear ya, it's just a difference of which issue takes precedence.