Game 3 | Cavs (1-1) @ Trail Blazers (1-2) | November 4, 2014 | 10pm EST

[Cavsfan161]

bad typo on my part.damn this keyboard . least we have a game quickly to make up for it

 

[CHIMOCHIS]

Nothing is wrong with the champ he's just waiting to see what these young dudes have

Hes quick to notice they don't know anything about winning basketball


He is leading them to get over those bad habits

This will be comon for the first couple of months

They won't listen to Blatt but they will listen to the champ

 

[Mr. Orange]

Poor D, poor rotations, ISO ball, ball stopping.... It looks bad. I remember when we added Shaq we looked awful for a week or two. As frustrated as I was watching that game, I realize it's going to take 25 games or so to get into a groove. Dion is pressing to prove he belongs. Kyrie is playing selfishly. LeBron passively. TT thinks he is someone he is not. Love needs to contest shots. Blatt... Dion, Delly, Marion, TT, Andy? Never again.

Good news is there is a game tonight.

 

[col63onel]

They started out 10-10 with 2 turnovers. At some point in the 4th quarter, they were 19-something with 11 turnovers. So over a 2+ quarter span, they had 9 FGs made and 9 turnovers.

I understand that we should've been expecting some rough patches, but that is 2011-esque.

 

[Green Lantern]

Ugh..I erased the game..I didn't like the one on one play..Uh Dion, you were trying to showcase way too much.

KI you've got to bring it every play.
Portland got too many easy uncontested shots.

 

[AuxiliaryPie]

well im glad i didnt stay up too late to finish the second half. WTF Cavs

 

[Zman80000]

The Heat got beat badly like this too. Eh, let's just shut the TV off, pretend this never happen, and move on tomorrow.

I'm just going to take nothing away from this game.

Two things I'm worried about: our pathetic interior and soft defense. And LB's lack of explosion. It looks like he's moon walking to the basket.

Here's how the Heat started the 1st year of the Big Three.

L 88-80 Celts
W 97-87 76ers
W 96-70 Magic
W 101-78 Nets
W 129-97 T'Wolves
L 96-93 Hornets
W 101-89 Nets
L 116-114 OT Jazz
L 112-107 Celts
W 109-100 Raptors
W 123-96 Suns
W 95-87 Bobcats
L 97-95 Grizzlies
L 93-77 Pacers
L 104-95 Magic
W 99-90 76ers
L 105-96 Mavs

That was a 9-8 start.
Seeing the same mistakes agin isn't good but it is 3 games in.
If they are making the same mistakes 20 games in and Blatt is still using obviously bad combos after 20 games in, then I'll start to be really concerned.

If LeBrons back is that bad and resting it can help him so it isn't chronic LeBron will be at 80-90% all year, then rest him now.

 

[nikolajz1]

Miami was at least playing pretty good defense. Their kinks were all on offense. Right now we're bad everywhere- bad offense, bad defense, bad bench, bad coaching.

 

[btljc]

We've had three different coaches. It's not the coach guys. Let's face it, it's our Point Guard.

 

[Mdog1]

Watch out, I said our defense was bad earlier and had 3 people disagree. Not sure if they have seen the game though...

Someone rated my post dumb for god knows what reason.

How dare I say this teams defense is putrid, but it's only 3 games in. I wasn't even that harsh, I try not to look at the moment, and tried to look for positive signs.

There weren't too many last night though. Kyrie playing Kyrie ball, LeBron playing Le iso, Dion looking worse than Delly, and TT shooting the ball every time he gets it.

There is a long way to go with this team, that much is for sure. We won't win anything with this level of D, and the offense turned into sticky fingers.

As for the Love trade, I assume some moron thought I was being critical of it. I wasn't, I said after 3 games the trade isn't looking good for our defense, but ask again in 20 games.

Edit: I would like to add the coaching has been very poor through the first 3. Why not have Love or Irving, or Love and Irving on the floor when LeBron is on the bench. That way Kyrie can play Kyiso, and it won't disjoint the offense.

The positives for this team are the rebounding. I said it earlier, give me shooting, LeBron, and rebounding I will give you a championship. Miami had one giant problem, rebounding. That will never be our problem. Miami played swarming D though, so it helped make up for their rebounding.

If we can ever get that level of D, likely not this year, we could be looking at a historically great team.

 

[Jordan]

I think Blatt really needs to consider starting Tristan at Center. At the point where Kyrie and Dion are going to be jacking up shots and for whatever reason LBJ isn't driving as well as usual rebounding is essential. Through three games TT has been our best, most efficient rebounder (eye test, if I am wrong statistically someone please correct me). I'm not trying to indite Andy, LBJ, Kyrie, or Dion. Just stating that the way things are currently moving I think TT gives us the best chance for utilizing offensive possessions.

It's still early guys. The team does not look good but we have a lot of bad habits to overcome. If we start under .500 after our first 20 then we can start to worry. Now it's about remaining calm and making strategic decisions.