Game 28 | Atlanta @ Cleveland | Thursday December 26, 2013 7:00 PM EST

[KilgoreTrout]

Cavs need to get a big who can shoot the ball consistently. That's one of the reasons why Irving is hogging the ball.

I think Irving is hogging the ball, because he's a ball hog.

 

[Marcus]

Anyone saying that Kyrie doesn't give a shit really needs to step back and think before they type.

We're talking about the same guy that just a few days ago dropped 39 points while puking into a garbage can on the sideline. We're talking about the same guy that just dropped 40 points on 50% shooting. One could make that argument in the beginning of the season, but ever since the goose egg he posted against Atlanta earlier this season, there's no question in my mind that he's giving the effort each and every night.

It's clear to me, at least, that he doesn't have a whole lot of faith in his teammates and thinks that he needs to take over the game whenever it's close. Looking at some of the players that he has to work with right now, I honestly can't say I 100% blame him for feeling that way, either. Should he have given the ball up some more to Waiters or Thompson in OT? Certainly. They were both having great games and scoring the ball well.

This was a team loss, as far as I'm concerned. Just about everyone made some stupid mistakes tonight at one point or another, whether it was Jack's inexplicable free throw misses when he normally hits 88%, or Kyrie's penchant for unforced turnovers in crunch time.

 

[Rainman]

Kyrie is good but there have been plenty of ball handle issues with him this season. He seems to dribble baseline corner and get double teamed a lot. He is defenitly is a shoot first point guard but I think he needs to learn to draw in the defense and find the open guy. He should challenge himself to get 10 assists a game. Part of this teams problem is too much dribbling and ISO ball.

 

[Tornicade]

when kyrie gets hot on 4 or 5 possesions in a row after solid offensive play from his teammates have created openings.. he doesnt need to force the ball at that point. get the ball out there.

 

[Kouki]

Oh my god is it annoying when he gets trapped in the corner.

 

[Rainman]

Anyone saying that Kyrie doesn't give a shit really needs to step back and think before they type.

We're talking about the same guy that just a few days ago dropped 39 points while puking into a garbage can on the sideline. We're talking about the same guy that just dropped 40 points on 50% shooting. One could make that argument in the beginning of the season, but ever since the goose egg he posted against Atlanta earlier this season, there's no question in my mind that he's giving the effort each and every night.

It's clear to me, at least, that he doesn't have a whole lot of faith in his teammates and thinks that he needs to take over the game whenever it's close. Looking at some of the players that he has to work with right now, I honestly can't say I 100% blame him for feeling that way, either. Should he have given the ball up some more to Waiters or Thompson in OT? Certainly. They were both having great games and scoring the ball well.

This was a team loss, as far as I'm concerned. Just about everyone made some stupid mistakes tonight at one point or another, whether it was Jack's inexplicable free throw misses when he normally hits 88%, or Kyrie's penchant for unforced turnovers in crunch time.

He really needs to find Dion more often! Too many times Dion disappears at the end of games because of Kyrie. They need to wor together. They may find easier baskets if both are playing well at the same time.

 

[godfather]

I think Irving is hogging the ball, because he's a ball hog.

That awful ball hog tonight went for 40. 17-33, 40 points. If it were anyone else, fans would be enraged if he didn't have the ball in his hands. But when its our best player, stop trying to shoot? Really? Geez, some coaches you guys would make.

 

[Birdy89]

Saturday against Boston is now a massive game.

With GS and Indiana up after that to close out the year if they can't get the win Saturday the season might be in serious jeopardy of spiraling out of control.

 

[Goldin Brown]

Didn't get to see the game, but I think I get the jist of what went down. Sounds like young Kyrie needs a talking to. Could it be that all that praise the kid got these last few years has gone to his head? Hopefully this is just a bump in the road for the kid and he learns to trust and rely on his teammates sooner rather than later.

 

[SenatorTress]

I'm yelling at the TV for Kyrie to throw the ball to Dion. He never does it unless it's early in the shot clock. Can't remember the last time Kyrie fed Dion with the clock winding down.

 

[godfather]

when kyrie gets hot on 4 or 5 possesions in a row after solid offensive play from his teammates have created openings.. he doesnt need to force the ball at that point. get the ball out there.

I agree, look he and the team in general made a lot of piss poor decisions at times. I'm fine if you, or anyone else want to point that out. But again, if you're going to point out Kyrie, its fair to point out others as well. This team as a whole, is HORRIBLE at passing out of traps. Or dribbling into them. It's not just Kyrie, but I often see it with Tristan, Andy, and Dion. It's often most noticeable with Kyrie, because he being the point guard often has the ball the most often. But they all do a rather poor job of this at times.

 

[Tornicade]

Anyone saying that Kyrie doesn't give a shit really needs to step back and think before they type.

We're talking about the same guy that just a few days ago dropped 39 points while puking into a garbage can on the sideline. We're talking about the same guy that just dropped 40 points on 50% shooting. One could make that argument in the beginning of the season, but ever since the goose egg he posted against Atlanta earlier this season, there's no question in my mind that he's giving the effort each and every night.

It's clear to me, at least, that he doesn't have a whole lot of faith in his teammates and thinks that he needs to take over the game whenever it's close. Looking at some of the players that he has to work with right now, I honestly can't say I 100% blame him for feeling that way, either. Should he have given the ball up some more to Waiters or Thompson in OT? Certainly. They were both having great games and scoring the ball well.

This was a team loss, as far as I'm concerned. Just about everyone made some stupid mistakes tonight at one point or another, whether it was Jack's inexplicable free throw misses when he normally hits 88%, or Kyrie's penchant for unforced turnovers in crunch time.

I say he didnt give a shit about his teammates and was more concerned about his point guard duel with Teague and you ccite other examples of point guard duels.

You mean the teammates that kept the team in the game and were shooting at 51% themselves. hell even in his post game interview he mentions "we could of been up by 7 if Thompson hits his mountie like he usually does"

really..outside of his turnovers.. thats what sticks out in his mind

 

[Cassity14]

That awful ball hog tonight went for 40. 17-33, 40 points. If it were anyone else, fans would be enraged if he didn't have the ball in his hands. But when its our best player, stop trying to shoot? Really? Geez, some coaches you guys would make.

Read what I posted. 4/14 from the end of regulation onward. More turnovers than assists. That was the point guard who had the ball in his hands every single play down the stretch.

Yes, he was an awful ball hog in that period. Stop using stats accumulated from when he wasn't an awful ball hog to disprove the notion that he was an awful ball hog. Thank you.

 

[SenatorTress]

That Ride Along commercial ringing in my head...

I wish the Cavs had more ballahs. I wish they were tallah and could play small forward like Andre Iguoadala so maybe some day the Cavs might play again on Christmas Day.

 

[SalvadoranCavsfan]

If Kyrie is going to be the superstar he's supposed to be then we should expect better from him. Yes I know the raw numbers from tonight look good, but watching the game anyone can see that his late game decision making needs to improve. It just has to.