Game 1: Wizards @ Cavs, Tuesday, October 30, 2012, 7 PM EST

[caf]

New playoff bet. $50 RCF bet that the Cavs don't make the playoffs.

I'm not going to make that bet. I saw a lot of things I liked... however basketball is too dependent on every player playing consistently high. And there are a lot of reasons the Cavs can fall off. Two of the top reasons are injuries. Injuries would decimate this team. It just isnt deep at all. And the second is conditioning. There are a lot of rookies/sophomores that can fall off mid/late season because they hit a wall.

 

[MD13]

I'm sure its been mentioned in the 38 pages I haven't read.. but man, Beal looked very short tonight. I kept confusing AJ Price and him.

From what I remember, Beal looked about as tall as Dion did. What really stood out to me was how weak his ball handling was. Dion stripped him twice, once on a p&r trap and once when Beal tried a crossover on him. I think Kyrie almost stole the ball from him as well, and he didn't look very comfortable when he was bringing the ball up against pressure. Definitely something to work on, specially when teams get the scouting report and start trapping hard off the pick and roll.

 

[Cavatt]

From what I remember, Beal looked about as tall as Dion did. What really stood out to me was how weak his ball handling was. Dion stripped him twice, once on a p&r trap and once when Beal tried a crossover on him. I think Kyrie almost stole the ball from him as well, and he didn't look very comfortable when he was bringing the ball up against pressure. Definitely something to work on, specially when teams get the scouting report and start trapping hard off the pick and roll.

Really love the fact that Dion can handle the ball. Really makes Kyrie's shooting even more valuable. Definitely above average ball handling.

Dion's defense looks like it can be nasty. I thought he gambled too much in summer league, but he really does have good instincts of when to poke. He didn't get many(any?) reach in fouls.

 

[chrisrich91]

It was mentioned throughout, but Byron really had no excuse putting Luke Walton at PF for extended stretches. The guy doesn't move like an NBA player, doesn't have size, didn't affect the game at all with his passing, and was a constant liability on the glass and our interior defense.

I'm a big Scott fan, but that was absolutely maddening. It's the first game of the season, but it seemed like nothing more than stubbornness not to replace Walton with Samardo or Leuer when he was obviously costing the Cavs so much on both ends...

Alonzo Gee needs to return to playing his role. He was an absolute ball stopper and a black hole on offense tonight. He pounded the ball and tried to iso, he shot ill advised and off balanced jumpers, he drove his way into traffic...he needs to play defense and get his offense from transition, spot up J's, and cuts or straight line drives within the offense. He was out of control.

Miles was pressing tonight, but he's going to be nothing but a streaky scorer that sometimes packs a punch off the bench for us. Wish Casspi, Samardo, or Leuer would have gotten some minutes tonight with that second unit. Really think those guys open up the bench lineup's offensive possibilities...Casspi can do a bit of attacking and shooting, Samardo and Leuer can have the ball dumped down to them in the post or run pick and roll/pops.

Kyrie, Dion, Tristan, Varejao tonight? Phenomenal. My favorite part about Dion and the reason I have so much faith that he can blossom into a stud is that playground swag that we saw tonight. I've said since before the draft, that kid's attitude on the court cannot and should not be overlooked. He really crushed Beal tonight and his defense was stellar...not just in comparison to how bad it was in Summer League, I thought he was one of our best defenders tonight. Fantastic effort on D.

Great game tonight...tough test on Friday. Should be fun.

 

[Numbers Guy]

From what I remember, Beal looked about as tall as Dion did. What really stood out to me was how weak his ball handling was. Dion stripped him twice, once on a p&r trap and once when Beal tried a crossover on him. I think Kyrie almost stole the ball from him as well, and he didn't look very comfortable when he was bringing the ball up against pressure. Definitely something to work on, specially when teams get the scouting report and start trapping hard off the pick and roll.

To me, he looked 1-2 inches shorter.. and 20+ lbs lighter.

I do think Beal will have a better rookie season than Dion.. just pointing it out.

 

[Soda]

New playoff bet. $50 RCF bet that the Cavs don't make the playoffs.

$50 might be one sperm donation for you, but I don't have that kind of money to sling around. :chuckles:

 

[wildfan]

AV and Irving played great. AV was a monster on the boards as well as 9 assists. BUT not so sure we will beat Wahington when Wall and Nene get back.

 

[Marcus]

Randy Wittman is Norv Turner

On an unrelated note, I have no idea how that man or his GM still have their jobs.

 

[Ruken]

AV and Irving played great. AV was a monster on the boards as well as 9 assists. BUT not so sure we will beat Wahington when Wall and Nene get back.

This is what worries me. For now, I am just going to enjoy this win.

 

[CPK]

Kyrie - A
Waiters - A-
Gee - F
Tristan - B
Varejao - A

Boobie - B
Rest of Bench - F

I have to say, TT had a double-double and 5 assits; I think the dude at least deservers a B+ if not an A-. And AV deserves an A+. Who pulls down that many rebounds?

 

[Jack Brickman]

AV and Irving played great. AV was a monster on the boards as well as 9 assists. BUT not so sure we will beat Wahington when Wall and Nene get back.

The main difference between us and Washington is that they seem to have a better bench. Granted, some guys who I would have liked to see play last night (Leuer, Samardo, Casspi) didn't, and I think our bench would have been better if they had. Still, we're going to lose a lot of games if our team gets pounded that hard every time our starters come out. Maybe that's the idea, though.

 

[chrisrich91]

AV and Irving played great. AV was a monster on the boards as well as 9 assists. BUT not so sure we will beat Wahington when Wall and Nene get back.

Without Luke Walton and with Samardo or Leuer in his place, I seriously don't think the Wizards ever get that close from their run...once Scott figures out the rotation and we get more games under the belts of the rooks I think we will be competitive with a healthy Wizards team.

 

[RDriesen]

Without Luke Walton and with Samardo or Leuer in his place, I seriously don't think the Wizards ever get that close from their run...once Scott figures out the rotation and we get more games under the belts of the rooks I think we will be competitive with a healthy Wizards team.

Why would it take time for Scott to figure out who is good and who isn't? He either is a really bad coach or is being told to play certain guys so we will lose. There is no other reason to play some of the guys we did last night.

 

[chrisrich91]

Why would it take time for Scott to figure out who is good and who isn't? He either is a really bad coach or is being told to play certain guys so we will lose. There is no other reason to play some of the guys we did last night.

Don't ask me man. I really really like him as our head coach, but I was absolutely furious yesterday whenever Walton was in the game. Throwing stuff mad...almost broke my calculator and I have a Fluids exam today :chuckles:

Really though Byron explained it as "the offense flows better with Luke right now" which means he felt more comfortable with a veteran and got stubborn about it. He made the wrong choice, and we can only help he adjusts from it. He said he had planned to play Samardo going into the game.

 

[Soar]

The problem with our bench is that there isn't a single player that can create his own shot or create for others. Sloan is third string at best. Miles is a chucker and while he might have a nice game once and awhile, he will not be consistent. Boobie is a spot shooter, Walton is a nice passer but has few other skills, and Zeller is a rookie.

Unfortunately, there is no easy way to make the bench better because our options are limited. This is why we will remain a bad team. However I'd like to see what Leuer can do.

I really don't like the idea of Kyrie and Dion running different units. I think their talents are both maximized playing with each other. You want them to grow together, not apart.