Game 37 | Cavaliers (27-9) @ Spurs (34-6) | January 14th, 2016 | 8:00pm EST

[KilgoreTrout]

SA bench 32p
Cavs bench 12
And yea our bench wasn't the problem!


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Some bench guys played well; others didn't. Delly and Shump contributed in ways other than scoring. Part of the problem with the bench is that guys that should come off the bench (JR and TT) are starting, and guys that should be starting (Moz) are just horrible right now.

The problem with this game was that Kyrie let Parker run circles around him, and our STARTERS (Kyrie, JR, Love) stopped hitting open shots, or never started in the first place.

 

[Posterchild]

With Moz sucking and Shump hurt, we've had to start TT and JR. And RJ, Mo, and AV have been useless as teats on a boarhog. So our bench is depleted. Our bench was supposed to be better, but I guess we can only get washed-up guys at the end of their careers. RJ and Mo = Matrix and Mike Miller = Jamison and Shaq. Why is it that other teams can get contributions from wily veterans, but not us?[/QUOTE]

There was the exception of the JR/Shump trade but that was a flyer. Could have been disastrous. May have to get creative/lucky again like a flyer on Markieff, not ideal but worth a shot. Just don't see a lot of takers for our garbage guys or a lot of equal return on guys who are expendable in the rotation. One thing in our favor is GSW and SA are set. If somebody is looking for a championship run why not Cleveland?

 

[PizzaSteve]

I stand by my original thought.

This game, win or lose, affects my thoughts on the Cavs almost zero.

The Spurs are one of the greatest teams in the history of basketball. They are healthy. And they are having one of the greatest seasons of all time.

The Cavs dominated them for 22 minutes. Then the Cavs stopped making shots.

The Spurs are the constant here. They will grind games out in half court sets and play great defense.

The variable is whether the Cavs will hit jumpers. Tonight, they missed a lot in the second half.

This game is meaningless.

I agree with thus assessment and it applies to both GSW and Cleveland. The upside of both teams, if executing and playing their best > Spurs.

Spurs have league leading consistency in execution on both sides of the court. They are older and wise about not having too high a high or too low a low. However, their age makes their energy perhaps not as sustainable at the top level. GS beats them if they can get them tired. I think Cleveland also beats them if they can wear them down.

GSW has league leading offensive shooting firepower, if executing, and a top tier defense, also if executing. Their consistency is slightly below that of the Spurs, but still high. The offense can cover for defense lapses and turnovers, usually.

Cavs have a league leading traditional balanced offensive capability, led by the best all around player, if executing on all cylinders. Like the warriors they have excellent defense, when executing. However, great offense still scores on great defense, if hitting shots. Cleveland is the least consistent at execution of their plan and hitting shots, which is where I would focus. FTs also critical to hit for these elite teams.

Spurs, at home, one game, rested, close = not meaningful finals predictor.

 

[Green Lantern]

Cavs stopped moving the ball during key stretches...and did not stop certain people (Parker)from penetrating into the hole..that was annoying.

 

[David.]

Cavs stopped moving the ball during key stretches...and did not stop certain people (Parker)from penetrating into the hole..that was annoying.

Shump would have won the game for us.