Game 29 | Cleveland Cavaliers (17-11) @ Orlando Magic (11-20) | December 26, 2014 | 7:00 pm EST

[wuck]

Good stuff wuck.

I did notice a correlation between the Cavaliers actually giving some effort of defense (Waiters in particular) and the fact that the Magic actually stopped making everything they took. Encouraging... but it's the Magic.

Cavs also forced a lot of turnovers (and the Magic made plenty of mistakes on the offensive end). The effort was so bad in the first quarter they are very lucky to not have lost the game at that point.

Dion played dumb on offense in the 2nd half, but Blatt let him finish the game because he was a difference-maker on defense....again.

 

[Rainman]

Win is a win I guess. I honestly expected worse without Kyrie and still adjusting to no Varejao.

Garbage Pistons are up next. Time to build some confidence and a winning streak.

Should be a close one

 

[Moppet]

I'll really start to worry about Lebron's play around February where he is KNOWN to make his case for the MVP. If he can't by then, there will be serious concerns. I always felt he was pretty lackadaisical in the first 1/3 of the season since age 25.

 

[moohead]

Tobias Harris did what David Blatt couldn't.

 

[Sebastian]

Um, 1-6.........

But I guess 6 shots just isn't enough?

Well, shit. You're right. Lost my feed a minute into the 3rd. Only saw the three shots in the last six minutes. Naturally, as they don't feed him in the third, I assumed that was it. My bad. I guess he soaked his hands in ice water at the Half.

Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.

 

[Rainman]

Cavs also forced a lot of turnovers (and the Magic made plenty of mistakes on the offensive end). The effort was so bad in the first quarter they are very lucky to not have lost the game at that point.

Dion played dumb on offense in the 2nd half, but Blatt let him finish the game because he was a difference-maker on defense....again.

You gotta think players who show defensive effort will see more minutes.

 

[Rich]

They won, so I'll take it. But this is a bad Orlando team, particular on offense. And they still managed an absurd TS%. 45% from 3 and 50% from the field. The defense isn't showing signs of improvement. Or at least not enough.

 

[Sebastian]

Glad they won but I see they are reveling in their bad habits.

Playing to the level of competition? Check.
Spotty defense the first half? Check.
Inconsistent ball movement on offense. Check.
LeISO? Check (even if it worked).

I guess we can all look forward to every game being its own unique adventure.

No bees or angry dance this evening.

 

[roozy]

Dion is our best wing defender right now, that's crazy.

 

[JFT]

I'll really start to worry about Lebron's play around February where he is KNOWN to make his case for the MVP. If he can't by then, there will be serious concerns. I always felt he was pretty lackadaisical in the first 1/3 of the season since age 25.

Yes, very lackadaisical so far this year....25ppg/5reb/7ass in the first 1/3.

 

[Sebastian]

Dion is our best wing defender right now, that's crazy.

His improvement on D, more than anything else, may be the reason he is on the team come the playoffs.

 

[priceFTW]

Delly was +10 and Miller was +26 playing some major minutes.

I find it funny that people who are screaming for James to run the offense also get upset when Delly gets a wide open shot and takes it. Running Blatt's offense gets all kinds of players open shots and those players won't necessarily be Kyrie, James, Love. If you don't want Delly or other players taking shots, well, the way to ensure that doesn't happen is ISO ball.

This might have been Miller's best floor game in years as he actually defended decently, got defensive boards to finish the game off, and made some nice passes.

James played with intensity in his last 15 minutes played. There's no way we can see that all the time with the wear and tear that's been put on his body. It just won't happen.

 

[Moppet]

Yes, very lackadaisical so far this year....25ppg/5reb/7ass in the first 1/3.

Its only decent, by his standard, especially efficiency wise. Lebron plays like the GOAT during February.

 

[Rich]

Delly was +10 and Miller was +26 playing some major minutes.

I find it funny that people who are screaming for James to run the offense also get upset when Delly gets a wide open shot and takes it. Running Blatt's offense gets all kinds of players open shots and those players won't necessarily be Kyrie, James, Love. If you don't want Delly or other players taking shots, well, the way to ensure that doesn't happen is ISO ball.

This might have been Miller's best floor game in years as he actually defended decently, got defensive boards to finish the game off, and made some nice passes.

James played with intensity in his last 15 minutes played. There's no way we can see that all the time with the wear and tear that's been put on his body. It just won't happen.

I think that should be my new sig. Either you want LeBron to run the offense, which includes trusting people to take open shots, or you want LeBron to take most of the shots at the end of the game and therefore should be ok with him going ISO.

You can't complain about Delly taking wide open, good shots at the end of the game and then complain about LeBron playing too much ISO. If you want LeBron moving the ball and running the offense, then that will end up with players like Delly being left open. If you want LeBron taking the shots, then don't complain about him going ISO.

I know I basically just repeated what you said, but there were a bunch of times tonight where the same people would complain about LeISO only to then complain about Delly taking open shots.

 

[Simon]