2020-2021 Cavs Season General Discussion

[stowfan]

If we can somehow just split the next two games I think it would be a huge accomplishment
.

 

[Mott the Hoople]

Now that it looks like we are a true playoff contender, does anyone have any thoughts on a backup PG?
I love Delly, but his durability and career seem to be coming to the end. I also think somebody more athletic might blend better with our roster.

 

[ryanf]

Right. Let's also not forget that the top teams had a very short break because of the Corona. Teams may be coasting, and the Cavs are playing their heart out.

A top pick would have been optimal, but at this point it's highly unlikely and we are so far into that winning thing, player development and culture change that it would actually hurt what we are trying to establish.

No matter how you look at it, it will be a wasted opportunity to significantly raise the ceiling...but it also has a chance to lower the floor, I presume. Though, I just don't see how the Cavs can actually lose enough games when they play so hard and play well regardless of who's on the floor. Not to mention, we can't even have moral losses with this team like being competitive with our starting 5 and lose some games because of a shitty bench or some tank commanders. This team is well balanced and has positive players from 1-10.

At this point we may as well just enjoy the winning. I might as well just enjoy the ride. I guess. A good problem to have, but could be a wasted opportunity to field a real contender down the line.

The problem is not having a high pick, the problem is developing the pick to its full potential. And you can't develop a pick if your mindset is "wait for our lottery savior", not, we gonna do the shit ourselves

 

[Dr. Claw]

Definitely a good problem to have.

I've been saying we need to construct a roster and culture like the Miami Heat...young guys who are hungry, willing to work hard and compete, that is what they hang their hats on. And that is what attracted a guy like Jimmy Butler.

There aren't a whole lot of Jimmy Butlers out there - 1st or 2nd-tier superstars who WANT to put in that grit and grind - but we are setting ourselves up for that to be an option.

In the meantime, enjoy the ride.

I was about to say that this team was looking kind of "Heat"-like with the newest additions.
Winning that one OT game against them (which I think was sans Jimmy) was one of the highlights last season.

I want Boston, the Warriors, and the Bulls.

If the Cavs can take the Warriors (they almost did it with a team not as good, minus Klay) this season, it's a W.

 

[cavsLTU]

The problem is not having a high pick, the problem is developing the pick to its full potential. And you can't develop a pick if your mindset is "wait for our lottery savior", not, we gonna do the shit ourselves

On top of that we can look where "the lottery savior" tactics brought Minnesota Timberwolves.

In the last 8 years they had 4! number 1 picks from the same time span playing for them. One was considered a generational talent (Wiggins), one was a very solid number 1 pick at the time in Towns, one kinda meh to decent (Edwards) and one a reach (Bennett). Just once they did have a competent team and this year, they are again the worst team in the NBA.

For the Cavs to be picking again in the bottom 5 would mean that none of the last three years top picks show a promise to become a superstar nor that the surrounding pieces are fitting with them. You could even say that having a top5 pick from the last draft was already luck, as the season got canceled right when the team started to win and gel together.

My point is, it is not a good mindset to expect "one more loosing season and a top 5 pick and then we will start winning". It doesnt work that way. If a team is not close to becoming a playoff team in the fourth year of a rebuild, that team will never be good.

 

[Rich]

Now that it looks like we are a true playoff contender, does anyone have any thoughts on a backup PG?
I love Delly, but his durability and career seem to be coming to the end. I also think somebody more athletic might blend better with our roster.

I don't think they really need anyone atm.

Sexton and Garland can split the duties and Dotson can play 15-20 and do a sufficient job.

 

[BodegaBayCav]

Fedor tweet:

Cavs are going to win a handful of games this season simply because teams aren't going to want to deal with -- and won't be able to match -- their incessant physicality for a full 48.

Which reminds me of this quote by Bickerstaff prior to the season:

We want to be the type of team that plays so hard, competes so hard that we get four or five wins because people just don’t feel like dealing with us. The two things that we continue to push to our guys is can we be the most competitive team on the floor every night and the most unselfish team?

So far, so good.

Thanks for posting this. I missed that JBB quote. It clearly sets out the goals for success. Play hard, be competitive, be unselfish, every day. That is winning basketball. Those are winning life goals.

 

[FFRva]

Definitely a good problem to have.

I've been saying we need to construct a roster and culture like the Miami Heat...young guys who are hungry, willing to work hard and compete, that is what they hang their hats on. And that is what attracted a guy like Jimmy Butler.

There aren't a whole lot of Jimmy Butlers out there - 1st or 2nd-tier superstars who WANT to put in that grit and grind - but we are setting ourselves up for that to be an option.

In the meantime, enjoy the ride.

While I agree completely about the team I think taxes and Miami nightlife probably played a part.

 

[MikeOC33]

Fedor tweet:

Cavs are going to win a handful of games this season simply because teams aren't going to want to deal with -- and won't be able to match -- their incessant physicality for a full 48.

Which reminds me of this quote by Bickerstaff prior to the season:

We want to be the type of team that plays so hard, competes so hard that we get four or five wins because people just don’t feel like dealing with us. The two things that we continue to push to our guys is can we be the most competitive team on the floor every night and the most unselfish team?

So far, so good.

Well, they just got two of those type of wins vs the Nets. Relentless.

No way is Brooklyn where they should be in another 12-15 games of playing together, but for these 2 games....man, by the end of EACH game....they had enough.

And for all the talk (earned) of strong defense by Nance, Drummond, Okoro, Allen.... freaking Collin was in Kyrie's face HARD. Yeah, Kyrie is nigh unstoppable, but Collin (and Darius and others) made him bring his A game. Love it.

 

[AllforOne]

My point is, it is not a good mindset to expect "one more loosing season and a top 5 pick and then we will start winning". It doesnt work that way. If a team is not close to becoming a playoff team in the fourth year of a rebuild, that team will never be good.

The people who tend to think that way are thinking in video game Franchise Mode, and not in terms of how good teams are actually built. It's not simply about collecting as much talent as possible (as a byproduct of several years of tanking). It's not like you can keep tanking and collecting talent until you cross some imaginary threshold of "now we have enough talent," and then flip a switch and become a winning team.

Losing is corrosive. Losing teaches and reinforces bad habits. Losing means your young players aren't surrounded by good veterans to teach them winning habits.

As you suggest, if you're in the lottery for a fourth straight year, then odds are something went seriously wrong in years one through three.

 

[natedagg]

We haven’t beaten very many good teams, but with the trade we have more talent than ever before.

So let’s let these guys gel and let’s let the coaches develop our players. No tanking no worries about the treadmill of mediocrity no need a superstar or else.

Man if Love is even a non-disappointment, and Garland settles in as IBWT expects, man we are going to be a fun team to watch with many ways to win.

 

[WorldFreeB]

If we can somehow just split the next two games I think it would be a huge accomplishment
.

Well I'm going to say coming off covid Tatum isn't going to play tomorrow and if he does he will be really limited minutes wise.
That is a game we should win.

 

[stowfan]

Well I'm going to say coming off covid Tatum isn't going to play tomorrow and if he does he will be really limited minutes wise.
That is a game we should win.

Kind of amazing to me, Boston had so much draft to work with, and so far nothing but really Brown and Tatum are special.

 

[WorldFreeB]

Kind of amazing to me, Boston had so much draft to work with, and so far nothing but really Brown and Tatum are special.

Yep and we screwed them in the Kyrie trade,,haha
Sexton should chew Kemba up and stick Okoro on Brown. I'm feeling pretty good about tomorrow night.
Watch TT go off...lol

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

So let’s let these guys gel and let’s let the coaches develop our players. No tanking no worries about the treadmill of mediocrity no need a superstar or else.

I've said it before but this team is reminding me of the Cavs' teams of the 90's with Price, Daugherty, Harper, Nance, and Hot Rod. No superstars, just a bunch of above average to very good players whose talents meshed pretty well and came close to getting to the Finals a couple of times if not for a fella named Jordan.

This team has a lot more depth, however.