2020-2021 Cavs Season General Discussion
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foucault87
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If the season plays out like this, with a lot of doubleheader, will be very cool to see how players, coaches, and teams adapt locally. The adjustments between games could show a little hint of what we see by the best teams in the playoffs
Ohioplayer00
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With the season starting om 12/22 (something the players did not like) I have a feeling we are going to see quite a few "load management" absences.
WorldFreeB
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I hope we can watch those 4 pre season games.. Can't wait to see them.
sailfish
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With Covid outbreaks flaring up, it’s unlikely we will see fans in the arenas. That said, I wouldn’t mind seeing regional bubbles, with 3 bubbles each of 5 teams in each conference. You play all the teams in the bubble and then switch to another bubble. The challenge would be how to handle the western conference teams who we usually play twice a year. That may require 1 team from an opposing conference interspersed in each bubble, albeit likely for a shorter period of time.
foucault87
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Some of the west teams are also really spaced out. You'd have to have multiple Orlando bubbles. Although it sounds like the NBA is going to try to run it without bubbles and the Raps in Tampa
MirORich
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I think early season records may be deceptive.
You may see some of the teams that didn’t make the bubble or the teams that were out of the playoffs in round 1 sneak out some wins against the teams who went deep in the playoffs simple due to fresh legs, load management, and guys who were playing in September and October playing at half speed/intensity for the first month or two of the season.
You may see some of the teams that didn’t make the bubble or the teams that were out of the playoffs in round 1 sneak out some wins against the teams who went deep in the playoffs simple due to fresh legs, load management, and guys who were playing in September and October playing at half speed/intensity for the first month or two of the season.
Wham with the Right Hand
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When you compare the team starting this season to the one that finished 6-6 in the last 12 games of last season, there are few changes.
McGee replaces Thompson as the backup center.
Okoro replaces McKinnie.
A healthy Windler replaces an injured Windler.
Dotson replaces....Mooney?
Otherwise it's the same group. The biggest change will probably be at small forward. Cedi Osman averaged 29.4 minutes per game last year. This season he'll be in a three-man dogfight with Windler and Okoro for minutes at the 3 and there may be times where JBB wants to go big with a front line of Drummond, Love, and Nance.
McGee will take some of Thompson's minutes. Drummond will get the rest.
The biggest question IMO will concern Andre Drummond. He has been working on transforming his game to one involving less post-up and more movement. His workout video shows him dribbling, passing, running the baseline, and shooting corner 3's. He was traded for scraps by the Pistons who believed his game doesn't translate to the modern NBA. He got the message and is trying to become a different kind of player in his contract season.
The question is whether A) he can play effectively away from the basket, B) if Bickerstaff is OK with him running around and playing like a small forward or whether he wants Sexton, Garland, Porter, and Love to do the ball-handling while Dre sets picks and crashes the glass, and C) how Dre will react if JBB doesn't let him play the way he wants to play and showcase his new skills for his next contract.
This could be heaven or hell, IMO. Heaven would be if Drummond knows he has to beat the rap he got in Detroit as a guy who puts up solid point/rebound numbers but doesn't help you win because of turnovers, weak free throw shooting (which he's improved, by the way), and bad defense. So he buys into what JBB wants and becomes a consummate team player with new skills that work with the movement oriented offense. Hell would be if he isn't getting nearly enough shots to be happy on a team with a lot of scorers and is also frustrated at not being allowed to handle the ball a lot and showcase his new skills. His frustration is evident and JBB gives more minutes to McGee, who provides better defense, rim protection, and plays within the team concept.
This is going to be interesting to watch. The other interesting areas will be the dogfight for minutes at the small forward position and the amount of improvement by Porter and Garland after their rookie seasons. Also, whether Sexton can pick up where he left off last year when he averaged 30.0 ppg on 58.3% shooting and 4.3 assists over his last five games playing strictly off the ball. Finally, how much help can Okoro and Windler provide in their rookie seasons?
It will be also interesting to watch JBB experiment with different lineups - small, big, defense-oriented, etc. What lineup does he put on the floor late in the 4th quarter of a close game? Always the same or will it vary depending on the opponent? Does he go with the vets, for example, Drummond, Love, Nance, Sexton, and Delly? Or does he use Garland and Porter? If he wants to put his best defensive team on the floor to protect a lead does he go with McGee, Nance, Okoro, Dotson, and Porter or something else?
I can't wait to see how this team comes together and what combinations end up emerging as the best in any given situation.
McGee replaces Thompson as the backup center.
Okoro replaces McKinnie.
A healthy Windler replaces an injured Windler.
Dotson replaces....Mooney?
Otherwise it's the same group. The biggest change will probably be at small forward. Cedi Osman averaged 29.4 minutes per game last year. This season he'll be in a three-man dogfight with Windler and Okoro for minutes at the 3 and there may be times where JBB wants to go big with a front line of Drummond, Love, and Nance.
McGee will take some of Thompson's minutes. Drummond will get the rest.
The biggest question IMO will concern Andre Drummond. He has been working on transforming his game to one involving less post-up and more movement. His workout video shows him dribbling, passing, running the baseline, and shooting corner 3's. He was traded for scraps by the Pistons who believed his game doesn't translate to the modern NBA. He got the message and is trying to become a different kind of player in his contract season.
The question is whether A) he can play effectively away from the basket, B) if Bickerstaff is OK with him running around and playing like a small forward or whether he wants Sexton, Garland, Porter, and Love to do the ball-handling while Dre sets picks and crashes the glass, and C) how Dre will react if JBB doesn't let him play the way he wants to play and showcase his new skills for his next contract.
This could be heaven or hell, IMO. Heaven would be if Drummond knows he has to beat the rap he got in Detroit as a guy who puts up solid point/rebound numbers but doesn't help you win because of turnovers, weak free throw shooting (which he's improved, by the way), and bad defense. So he buys into what JBB wants and becomes a consummate team player with new skills that work with the movement oriented offense. Hell would be if he isn't getting nearly enough shots to be happy on a team with a lot of scorers and is also frustrated at not being allowed to handle the ball a lot and showcase his new skills. His frustration is evident and JBB gives more minutes to McGee, who provides better defense, rim protection, and plays within the team concept.
This is going to be interesting to watch. The other interesting areas will be the dogfight for minutes at the small forward position and the amount of improvement by Porter and Garland after their rookie seasons. Also, whether Sexton can pick up where he left off last year when he averaged 30.0 ppg on 58.3% shooting and 4.3 assists over his last five games playing strictly off the ball. Finally, how much help can Okoro and Windler provide in their rookie seasons?
It will be also interesting to watch JBB experiment with different lineups - small, big, defense-oriented, etc. What lineup does he put on the floor late in the 4th quarter of a close game? Always the same or will it vary depending on the opponent? Does he go with the vets, for example, Drummond, Love, Nance, Sexton, and Delly? Or does he use Garland and Porter? If he wants to put his best defensive team on the floor to protect a lead does he go with McGee, Nance, Okoro, Dotson, and Porter or something else?
I can't wait to see how this team comes together and what combinations end up emerging as the best in any given situation.
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Wham with the Right Hand
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This team has a nice mix of veteran talent (Drummond, Love, Sexton, Nance), emerging young players with star potential (Porter, Garland), promising rookies (Okoro, Windler), and veteran role players (McGee, Cedi, Delly, Dotson). If everything comes together and JBB can sell the unselfish team concept and get everyone to buy in this team will surprise everybody.
CavsFan07
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Sexton is considered a veteran with this only being his 3rd season?
Times sure have changed.
Cleveland Cavaliers hire Greg Buckner as assistant coach, sources say
Updated 10:52 AM; Today 10:43 AM
Greg Buckner will join the Cleveland Cavaliers as an assistant coach.
By Chris Fedor, cleveland.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers have hired Greg Buckner as an assistant coach, league sources tell cleveland.com.
Buckner, who played 10 years in the NBA, began his coaching career in player development with the Houston Rockets in 2011, where he worked alongside Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff for the first time. Following three seasons in that role, Buckner was elevated to assistant coach. Eventually, he joined Bickerstaff in Memphis, getting hired as an assistant shortly after Bickerstaff earned the Grizzlies’ interim head coaching gig in late 2017.
Now, the two are working together in Cleveland.
The Cavs had an open spot on the bench after Bickerstaff’s promotion in February, stepping in for John Beilein. In the short term, each assistant moved over one seat, but the Cavs wanted to permanently fill that spot at some point this offseason. Buckner was with the team during its downtown minibubble in September and has been working with players individually at Cleveland Clinic Courts. Buckner will have a significant role alongside the Cavs’ other assistant coaches.
Bickerstaff is entering his first full season in Cleveland as head coach. The team went 5-6 in 11 games with him before the season ended abruptly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Updated 10:52 AM; Today 10:43 AM
Greg Buckner will join the Cleveland Cavaliers as an assistant coach.
By Chris Fedor, cleveland.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers have hired Greg Buckner as an assistant coach, league sources tell cleveland.com.
Buckner, who played 10 years in the NBA, began his coaching career in player development with the Houston Rockets in 2011, where he worked alongside Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff for the first time. Following three seasons in that role, Buckner was elevated to assistant coach. Eventually, he joined Bickerstaff in Memphis, getting hired as an assistant shortly after Bickerstaff earned the Grizzlies’ interim head coaching gig in late 2017.
Now, the two are working together in Cleveland.
The Cavs had an open spot on the bench after Bickerstaff’s promotion in February, stepping in for John Beilein. In the short term, each assistant moved over one seat, but the Cavs wanted to permanently fill that spot at some point this offseason. Buckner was with the team during its downtown minibubble in September and has been working with players individually at Cleveland Clinic Courts. Buckner will have a significant role alongside the Cavs’ other assistant coaches.
Bickerstaff is entering his first full season in Cleveland as head coach. The team went 5-6 in 11 games with him before the season ended abruptly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Cleveland Cavaliers hire Greg Buckner as assistant coach, sources say
Updated 10:52 AM; Today 10:43 AM
Greg Buckner will join the Cleveland Cavaliers as an assistant coach.
By Chris Fedor, cleveland.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers have hired Greg Buckner as an assistant coach, league sources tell cleveland.com.
Buckner, who played 10 years in the NBA, began his coaching career in player development with the Houston Rockets in 2011, where he worked alongside Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff for the first time. Following three seasons in that role, Buckner was elevated to assistant coach. Eventually, he joined Bickerstaff in Memphis, getting hired as an assistant shortly after Bickerstaff earned the Grizzlies’ interim head coaching gig in late 2017.
Now, the two are working together in Cleveland.
The Cavs had an open spot on the bench after Bickerstaff’s promotion in February, stepping in for John Beilein. In the short term, each assistant moved over one seat, but the Cavs wanted to permanently fill that spot at some point this offseason. Buckner was with the team during its downtown minibubble in September and has been working with players individually at Cleveland Clinic Courts. Buckner will have a significant role alongside the Cavs’ other assistant coaches.
Bickerstaff is entering his first full season in Cleveland as head coach. The team went 5-6 in 11 games with him before the season ended abruptly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
I remember him a little. I was thinking he was a long range sniper, but that was really only a couple of years at Denver. Obviously one of Bickerstaff's guys. Could be a good coach for our guards.
ansatsusha80
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I get where the Cavs/Bickerstaff were coming from here, with the Bickerstaff-Buckner prior relationship. In terms of what I’d imagine Buckner could provide for the Cavaliers, in particular, it’s how he could potentially aid the young guards’ on the defensive end.
Buckner was a solid perimeter defender in his NBA career with the Dallas Mavericks, Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves and Grizzlies, primarily in a rotational role. I’d imagine that aided players on Houston in 2011-12, when he was a player development coach for them, and in his assistant coaching stints with them in 2014-15/2015-16 and on Memphis in 2018-19.
I get where the Cavs/Bickerstaff were coming from here, with the Bickerstaff-Buckner prior relationship. In terms of what I’d imagine Buckner could provide for the Cavaliers, in particular, it’s how he could potentially aid the young guards’ on the defensive end.
Buckner was a solid perimeter defender in his NBA career with the Dallas Mavericks, Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves and Grizzlies, primarily in a rotational role. I’d imagine that aided players on Houston in 2011-12, when he was a player development coach for them, and in his assistant coaching stints with them in 2014-15/2015-16 and on Memphis in 2018-19.
Moreover, Buckner could help young Cavs players such as Darius Garland, Collin Sexton and Kevin Porter Jr. in their development defensively on the perimeter. Buckner, who had career averages of 5.0 points and 2.8 rebounds in 19.1 minutes per game, was not a key offensive player in his minutes-share, but defensively, he often made his presence felt.
In any case, as Fedor hit on, with how each Cavs assistant “moved over one seat,” in the time in which Bickerstaff took over at head coach leading into the hiatus/the eventual end of 2019-20, that was a temporary move. Buckner’s hiring is, as was what the Cavaliers were looking for, conversely, “a permanent option.”
Buckner was a solid perimeter defender in his NBA career with the Dallas Mavericks, Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves and Grizzlies, primarily in a rotational role. I’d imagine that aided players on Houston in 2011-12, when he was a player development coach for them, and in his assistant coaching stints with them in 2014-15/2015-16 and on Memphis in 2018-19.
I get where the Cavs/Bickerstaff were coming from here, with the Bickerstaff-Buckner prior relationship. In terms of what I’d imagine Buckner could provide for the Cavaliers, in particular, it’s how he could potentially aid the young guards’ on the defensive end.
Buckner was a solid perimeter defender in his NBA career with the Dallas Mavericks, Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves and Grizzlies, primarily in a rotational role. I’d imagine that aided players on Houston in 2011-12, when he was a player development coach for them, and in his assistant coaching stints with them in 2014-15/2015-16 and on Memphis in 2018-19.
Moreover, Buckner could help young Cavs players such as Darius Garland, Collin Sexton and Kevin Porter Jr. in their development defensively on the perimeter. Buckner, who had career averages of 5.0 points and 2.8 rebounds in 19.1 minutes per game, was not a key offensive player in his minutes-share, but defensively, he often made his presence felt.
In any case, as Fedor hit on, with how each Cavs assistant “moved over one seat,” in the time in which Bickerstaff took over at head coach leading into the hiatus/the eventual end of 2019-20, that was a temporary move. Buckner’s hiring is, as was what the Cavaliers were looking for, conversely, “a permanent option.”
Mott the Hoople
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Maybe the most important question for me is how to watch the Cavs on tv. I recently dropped cable and now have hulu streaming service.
Fox Regional Sports Networks (Fox Sports Ohio and Sportstime Ohio) were owned by Sinclair Broadcasting. Sinclair lost it's streaming deal with most streaming services (hulu, YouTube TV).
Sinclair recently sold it's Regional Sports Networks to Bally Corporation. Right now, Bally does not have deals with the streaming services yet either.
So I've got to hope something is done soon!
Fox Regional Sports Networks (Fox Sports Ohio and Sportstime Ohio) were owned by Sinclair Broadcasting. Sinclair lost it's streaming deal with most streaming services (hulu, YouTube TV).
Sinclair recently sold it's Regional Sports Networks to Bally Corporation. Right now, Bally does not have deals with the streaming services yet either.
So I've got to hope something is done soon!
WorldFreeB
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I've had this issue over the last couple years...its a pain in the ass. I had sling,,,then i had hulu live and now i have youtube tv. The only streamer that still has it I think is AT&T live. I just dropped youtube tv and went back to cable. Since I had been away from cable for 3 or 4 years they gave me a new customer discount so i have internet/phone and cable for like 135 bucks ,,,which i was very happy with because now i can watch all the cavs games. I'm actually getting ready to hook it up this afternoon.