Game 72 -|- Cavs @ Hornets -|- Sunday, March 31st, 6:00PM ET

[Thelorn]

The game plan is simple, have Kyrie's man and whoever Zeller/Speights is guarding run a pick and roll, and watch as Kyrie doesn't get around the screen and Zeller either gets split or fouls. Either we get a Center who can move his feet (Varejao obviously works) or Kyrie has to fight harder on screens.

Works everytime, even a decent first step with no screen blows by to find the open guy in the corner when the SF comes to help. Fun times.

 

[Rich]

The only two guys I'd like to keep are Livingston and Ellington. That's it. The rest can go. Speights just has such a bad attitude that whatever he gives you on offense, on occasion, isn't worth it. Walton is a nice passer, but everything else is below average. These guys are easily replaceable.

EDIT: ANd like I said, Kyrie wasn't the only problem on defense. That was Gee on Vasquez the last half or so of the fourth, and he wasn't even pretending to try. There was on time Vasquez literally made no move, just dribble right and somehow Alonzo got faked out and ended up 4 feet away when he started his move. If Gee isn't giving effort on defense, he's totally worthless.

And btw, I wouldn't mind if Gee weren't here next year either. Can't tell me we can't find that type of production somewhere else.

 

[Stark]

:chuckles:

 

[Rich]

And, really, I get why the players aren't trying now. They know the organization is trying to lose. I mean, when Kyrie is healthy, yet they are going to sit him just because next game, and suddenly Casspi gets like a random 8 straight minutes in the middle of the third, it's clear what the plan here is. Lose games.

 

[Thelorn]

Weird how Kyrie comes back and Tristan gets more then 6 shots, Kyrie gone and we ignore Tristan on offense.

 

[godfather]

I'm actually not going to criticize Kyrie's defense tonight. He was in there in large part to just see if he could trust his shoulder, and he hasn't played for 3 weeks. I'm not saying he was fantastic before, but expecting him to be any better today doesn't seem likely either. I don't think we'll see defensive improvements from him until next year, and I just hope we will see those improvements.

I agree that Tristan is the only healthy big who can function on the defensive end.

Thank you.

You guys have unrealistic expectations. I don't care WHO YOU ARE(yes we all realize Kyrie has condition issues), but when you come back after missing two and a half weeks, or whatever it was, you're not going to be in NBA shape.

I did not expect Kyrie to have the durability, and stamina needed to defend at a high caliber level. The Cavs only made a run every single time he was in a the game, and completely collapsed every time he left.

Still dropped 30. I can give him a pass. Tristan too. The rest is garbage.

 

[Thelorn]

So it's unrealistic to hope your PG gives effort on defense? I could give him a pass for this game coming back from being hurt, but he plays the same defense when he's suppose to be healthy. The dude gives zero effort fighting over screens, help defense or any type of defense outside of playing the passing lanes for a steal. Sure it's his second year but he showed the same effort last year also, I don't expect him to be a lock down defender at this point or even average, but I do expect EFFORT, fight over a fucking screen for once.

People like to call out everyone on this team not named Kyrie for a problem they have, but when it comes to Kyrie's effort on defense there's always a handful of excuses ready to be typed out.

 

[wuck]

I have criticized Kyrie plenty for his defense. Just not going to do it based on tonight's performance specifically given the circumstances.

 

[Scholar]

All this anger after this game. I don't know. I watched the whole game from start to finish and wasn't really suffering here at all. I actually enjoyed watching it. I am sure the announcers helped. If I had been stuck with another version of the Boston crew, I'd likely have gone off and done something else. Anyways, got to see Kyrie putting forth good effort to get the bigs involved in the scoring early. A good sign, something he needs to do more of. Saw them stay competitive for the first half. Saw Tristan again put forth solid effort. Got to see Gordan and Davis from the Hornets.

Basically, I got to be entertained by Kyrie, Tristan, and some of the young talent on New Orleans. The tank wasn't at all disturbed, and we roll on to next game. All good from where I sit. Btw, I also think Luke was giving effort as well. He just has limitations on what he can do. Too bad you can't put Luke's brain in Speight's body.

 

[Ohio]

Yeah I'm not understanding some of the outrage either. It looked like Kyrie was even trying on defense too, at least early on. Byron drove the tank masterfully, Kyrie balled outta control, Tristan played great. That's pretty much a perfect night if you ask me.

Here's to hoping every game the rest of the season is like this one, lol.

 

[The Process God]

All this anger after this game. I don't know. I watched the whole game from start to finish and wasn't really suffering here at all. I actually enjoyed watching it. I am sure the announcers helped. If I had been stuck with another version of the Boston crew, I'd likely have gone off and done something else. Anyways, got to see Kyrie putting forth good effort to get the bigs involved in the scoring early. A good sign, something he needs to do more of. Saw them stay competitive for the first half. Saw Tristan again put forth solid effort. Got to see Gordan and Davis from the Hornets.

Basically, I got to be entertained by Kyrie, Tristan, and some of the young talent on New Orleans. The tank wasn't at all disturbed, and we roll on to next game. All good from where I sit. Btw, I also think Luke was giving effort as well. He just has limitations on what he can do. Too bad you can't put Luke's brain in DeMarcus Cousins' body.

Fixed, and that would instantly become the best player in the NBA.