Game 39 | Cavs @ Blazers | Jan.15th | 10:00 PM ET

[tristan+kyrie=$]

Why didn't CJ get more minutes? Dont have to run Deng in the ground when CJ was playing pretty decent...oh well move on and come out and finish this road trip 3-2...that was what I was hoping for anyway

 

[shoes22]

The difference between him and most bigs in the league is laughable. He is wrestling with Love right now for the best player at his position.

While true, that's missing the point. We're not comparing Deng to Aldridge as players. We're saying Irving can use Deng the same way Lillard uses Aldridge. Kyrie's game has not evolved yet or adapted.

 

[SteelSmack]

Dion is playing at his ceiling. Kyrie is not too far off.

That's laughable. Dion is nowhere close to his ceiling. Kyrie regressing each year is not a good sign.

 

[DatDudeZ3]

Dion is playing at his ceiling. Kyrie is not too far off.

You're joking?

 

[Triplethreat]

I FUCKING HATE THE BLAZERS.

 

[supermario21]

If Kyrie could have Luol's consistency...seriously Deng has played 2 near identical games in a row. Consistently hot at the start of the 1st and 3rd, and steady throughout.

 

[OptimusPrime]

i mean, kyrie's shots were not THAT bad, but he was way off tonight, should have sticked to what was working

He took some terrible ones. A few too many. I get he is going to take a few bad shots, all scorers do. Dion took a few. Every shot Jack takes is one. Deng took a few bad shots. Kyrie took a few too many, and it hurt, but that's not why we lost. The problem is that if we have Thompson and a center out there clogging the lane then we need non stop motion on offense for anyone to be able to get a good shot. If Kyrie or Dion have the ball and no one is moving, they are going to shoot, as they should. That's just not going to score enough points to beat a team like Portland, especially when you know Lillard is going to light up Kyrie. We either need more elaborate motion on offense or a big that needs to be guarded outside of the paint.

 

[6kiss]

That's laughable. Dion is nowhere close to his ceiling. Kyrie regressing each year is not a good sign.

This is the only year hes regressed. His jumpshot this year just hasnt been consistent for some reason. Hes had stretches where hes played his best basketball of his career but something in his shooting mechanics is just not right this year.

 

[redscoon]

Blazers aren't winning anything with that bench. Fun regular season team though.

 

[6kiss]

They just showed multiple players shooting around after the game. Kyrie is nowhere to be found lol

 

[OptimusPrime]

You're joking?

I highly doubt he watches the games, or if he does he has no idea what he is looking at.

 

[Fuggles]

 

[shoes22]

Miles, Jack and Gee are currently practicing on the court right now.

Do the Blazers not kick people out after the game?

 

[supermario21]

Blazers aren't winning anything with that bench. Fun regular season team though.

The bench will be less relevant in the playoffs with smaller rotations. I'd imagine Mo, Freedland, and maybe McCollum the only guys getting bench minutes.

 

[SteelSmack]

This is the only year hes regressed. His jumpshot this year just hasnt been consistent for some reason. Hes had stretches where hes played his best basketball of his career but something in his shooting mechanics is just not right this year.

His shooting numbers certainly regressed from year 1 to year 2. In every category. This year is more of the same. He's become a better facilitator, but only marginally, though I think that will take him the longest to fully develop. His defense might be a tiny bit better than year one, and if that's not a red flag, I don't know what is.