Anderson Varejao

[Lottery God]

I am a big Andy supporter, but if I were the boss I would trade him for a guy like Harden. Most of us would. The problem is that we are seen as the wizards when they traded off Jamison, Haywood, and Butler. Everyone wants to get Andy for nothing, but he is valuable enough to the franchise as a mentor and defensive anchor that unless you get a guy with a high ceiling or a guy that is a great fit what is the point?

His value as a mentor is a valid reason for considering to keep him, but what he provides on the court right now is not only unhelpful, but hurtful to the Cavs future because we win more games than we should be winning. If we could have Andy sit on the bench all year, but mentor, or if he just wasn't nearly as good as he is, but was still considered a good mentor, then, yes, I would be fine with keeping him. He is going to be a shell of his former self by the time we would need his rebounding, defense, and intangibles. That is if he's even still in the league. Veteran presence can be had for cheap. In order to acquire talent, it takes risks and luck, and, by keeping Varejao, we hurt our changes at acquiring the talent we need in order to win a championship.

[KI4MVP]

what if we've already pulled into the 8 seed before Andy returns, do you want him back then, because we could be the 8 seed by the trade deadline. We play Raptors and Bucks, the knicks play Bulls and Blazers. Win our two and we should be in the 8th spot.

Andy going out was supposed to kill our chances, but we've gone 6-8 since then. 4 of those 6 wins coming against playoff teams.

[ArchieBunker7]

10-15 with Andy...6-8 without him. This team just is what it is. People want to try and say we'll be this or that without AJ and Sessions. We will fall off the planet without Andy. It's become readily apparent that the HC and his floor general are just too good at what they do to allow for some enormous free fall. In the same breathe, they are not provided with enough talent to make some glorious run to the playoffs.
Of course we miss Andy's production. He is energy and hustle personified. He is the textbook example of the guy who does all the little things, the things that don't show even in the most advanced statistical analysis. When he gets back, he will play. There will not be some conspiracy cover up where he is in uniform but not playing because we're aiming for the 5 seed. The people who suggest this have no clue about the pulse of this franchise. When he is healthy enough to play, he will play. Period. And guess what? We will neither become some instant .600 team, or crash to the bottom 5. That being said, he still can't grip a ball. He's not in game shape. IF we trade AJ and Sessions AND Andy is out longer than expected, those 3 factors COMBINED could definitely get us leaning further toward the lottery. But, as this team has showed time and time again, they are resilient. They win games when their leader struggles from the field. They win games when AJ chucks up 25 shots while making 35% of them. Yet, they lose games when AJ scores 30+ shooting over 50%. They lose games when Andy gets 20 and 20. They show the makings of an up and coming team that still has enough youth and lack of talent to somehow never cease to surprise with unlikely wins one night and indescribeable losses the next. This is just not going to change , with or without these 3 guys.

[metalman213]

EWING THEORY

does not apply.

[wuck]

Have there been any updates on the status of Andy? His 4-6 week injury happened 4 weeks ago.

Sounds like he's a ways off. From the PD today:

BScott said team docs will re-evaluate Anderson Varejao (broken wrist) next week.

From the AP report:

One of the NBA's top rebounders, Varejao continues to wear a wrap on his wrist. He has not yet resumed basketball activities and has been limited to working on his stamina.

[metalman213]

What excites me most about the team right now is that we’re not at full complement. When Andy comes back and we slide Andy in there and that puts everyone back into their correct rotation – we’re going to be tough. Put it this way: We’ll be in every game.

I’m really excited to see Andy and Tristan on the floor at the same time. There’ll be no space available out there; they’ll cover it all. That’s a combination that I’m really looking forward to seeing play together.

From http://www.cavfanatic.com/blogs/from...e_q/_back-hunt

[Triumph36]

when he says no space available out there is he referring to offense or defense

[CavsGirl]

Sounds like he's a ways off. From the PD today:

BScott said team docs will re-evaluate Anderson Varejao (broken wrist) next week.

From the AP report:

One of the NBA's top rebounders, Varejao continues to wear a wrap on his wrist. He has not yet resumed basketball activities and has been limited to working on his stamina.

I'd love to help him work on his stamina

[Floppy_Guppy_Hat]

I'd love to help him work on his stamina

go on...

[jlegg21]

From http://www.cavfanatic.com/blogs/from...e_q/_back-hunt

I know AC is incapable of rationally analyzing anything, much less the Cavs, but come ON... we want this? Really? We'd sign up for 4 straight versions of the first game after the Decision? Another God hates Cleveland moment in the making...

[metalman213]

I know AC is incapable of rationally analyzing anything, much less the Cavs, but come ON... we want this? Really? We'd sign up for 4 straight versions of the first game after the Decision? Another God hates Cleveland moment in the making...

i actually think A.C. is pretty good at basketball analysis. the fact is he is a commentator, who has a lot more fun commentating on winning games than losses. listening to him this year compared to last year, he seems quite a bit happier. especially because he used to play, he wants to win every game and make the playoffs, thats just the way quite a few people think.

[KI4MVP]

i actually think A.C. is pretty good at basketball analysis. the fact is he is a commentator, who has a lot more fun commentating on winning games than losses. listening to him this year compared to last year, he seems quite a bit happier. especially because he used to play, he wants to win every game and make the playoffs, thats just the way quite a few people think.

I was thinking just the same thing last night.

[jlegg21]

i actually think A.C. is pretty good at basketball analysis. the fact is he is a commentator, who has a lot more fun commentating on winning games than losses. listening to him this year compared to last year, he seems quite a bit happier. especially because he used to play, he wants to win every game and make the playoffs, thats just the way quite a few people think.

That's all fine and dandy, but I hope our GM and owner are thinking toward the future. Unless you're hoping we make the playoffs and then trade our 1st and Andy to get into the lottery on draft night? We cant have it both ways, and you all should know by now which direction I prefer this year, in a shortened season, with no chance at a title.... etc

[metalman213]

That's all fine and dandy, but I hope our GM and owner are thinking toward the future. Unless you're hoping we make the playoffs and then trade our 1st and Andy to get into the lottery on draft night? We cant have it both ways, and you all should know by now which direction I prefer this year, in a shortened season, with no chance at a title.... etc

i think they are, considering they have made no moves to bring old talent (or new for that matter) to this team. gee and kyrie have been electric. jamison has played well too, but hes really the only veteran helping us atm. and what are they going to do? trade him? who wants to acquire jamison? buy him out? pointless. and besides what do we tell the youngins? sorry, we dont want you guys winning, we have to take away one of your leaders and spark a several game losing streak. sorry about that.

[jlegg21]

i think they are, considering they have made no moves to bring old talent (or new for that matter) to this team. gee and kyrie have been electric. jamison has played well too, but hes really the only veteran helping us atm. and what are they going to do? trade him? who wants to acquire jamison? buy him out? pointless. and besides what do we tell the youngins? sorry, we dont want you guys winning, we have to take away one of your leaders and spark a several game losing streak. sorry about that.

The deadline will be telling, but I'm sure if you went to Tristan and told him now that Jamison is gone, the starting spot at the '4' is his to take and run with, he'd probably relish that opportunity. The more reps he gets with Kyrie on the floor, the better I say. And can we all agree the youngins are surely smart enough to see that they're not ready to compete for a title quite yet? Or are we back to arguing that a first round playoff elimination is somehow a positive thing?

Even with Andy back, you're not going to replace Jamison's automatic 20 a night. If we do keep him the rest of the year, and this team is completely healthy, we're obviously good enough to be in the thick of the race, which as I've stated numerous times, would be disastrous.