Jae Crowder, See Ya When We See Ya

[KilgoreTrout]

Well, we did play him out of position for basically the entire year. Probably warrants a shot or two.

He can save it for Boston.

The Cavs didn’t trade him the day his mother died, and the Cavs weren’t the reason he couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn on offense, or that he dogged it on defense. And he had a chance to make The Finals here. His chances of making The Finals with Utah: 0.00000000000000000002%. Enjoy your first-round playoff exit.

 

[PIP]

I tried to watch the game but then I saw the jersey the Jazz were wearing and my eyes started to bleed...

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

I tried to watch the game but then I saw the jersey the Jazz were wearing and my eyes started to bleed...

They also put you to sleep... I don't know why. Joe Ingles with his sleep eyes, their style of play and their announcers just put you down. Likable team all-around, but can't awtch them consistently.

Also, I'd like to add on Commentators... I wish we had better commentators that have actual basketball knowledge like the Sacramento Kings, Lakers, Miami Heat. They really make the game more fun to watch.

 

[TitleTown]

Also, I'd like to add on Commentators... I wish we had better commentators

Austin Carr is a national treasure and a Cavaliers legend.

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

Austin Carr is a national treasure and a Cavaliers legend.

He is a Cavaliers legend, but a very bad commentator. I don't enjoy McLeod and AC commentate, they bring nothing of value and at times are hard on the ears.

I used to enjoy them however, but it's worn off.

 

[KilgoreTrout]

He is a Cavaliers legend, but a very bad commentator. I don't enjoy McLeod and AC commentate, they bring nothing of value and at times are hard on the ears.

I used to enjoy them however, but it's worn off.

Bite your tongue!

 

[JMoneyYourHoney]

Jae isn't totally exempt from criticism but as others have mentioned, a big reason he failed here was because of LeBron's stubbornness in playing the 3. LeBron moving to the post full-time is really what needs to happen for the prolonging of his career and the good of the team. Crowder became an unfortunate casualty in that battle.

He could have also been that elusive backup to LeBron that we've never succeeded in getting. I'm genuinely concerned about who we plan on throwing at Durant in a hypothetical Finals scenario other than LeBron and Green.

I'm excited about the moves we made and the future, but I think Jae was a big missed opportunity here and I wish him the best.

 

[Randolphkeys]

The main problem I saw in Boston and early in Crowder's season isn't just playing against power forwards. In Boston, he had to switch onto 2s and 4s plenty of times. His limited standing reach put him at a disadvantage in the post, but that isn't the full story. With the Cavs he was getting called for some ticky-tack fouls that, low and behold, rarely drew a whistle in Boston. Offensively, he didn't adapt to a more free flowing offense. The sets in Boston are more scripted, and I'm fully willing to say Stevens is the better offensive coach than Lue. That said, Crowder didn't play a factor in transition offense which would have made scoring easier. He also didn't hit wide open three point looks. Who cares how you got the wide open three, make the shot.

 

[KilgoreTrout]

Jae isn't totally exempt from criticism but as others have mentioned, a big reason he failed here was because of LeBron's stubbornness in playing the 3. LeBron moving to the post full-time is really what needs to happen for the prolonging of his career and the good of the team. Crowder became an unfortunate casualty in that battle.

He could have also been that elusive backup to LeBron that we've never succeeded in getting. I'm genuinely concerned about who we plan on throwing at Durant in a hypothetical Finals scenario other than LeBron and Green.

I'm excited about the moves we made and the future, but I think Jae was a big missed opportunity here and I wish him the best.

Larry Jr. will have Durant cryin’ for his momma...

 

[Zeus69]

The legacy of the fly-by Boston guys will be to have tweaked Ty Lue enough to perhaps modify some of his in game planning and execution.

In that case, their visit will have been worth it.

 

[czvo]

On the one hand, I feel for Crowder. Losing his mom, getting traded, and playing our of position all season isn't easy. He seems like a good dude, so I hope he finds his way.

On the other hand, we all see Cedi, right? We all see him guarding 1-4, hustling after loose balls, getting deflections, going after boards, cutting when he's supposed to and spacing correctly? THESE AREN'T SYSTEM THINGS. They are basketball things. Nothing about Crowder playing out of position ever stopped him from doing the right basketball things.

I thought this and posted as much when the trade was made, but I don't think Crowder is a good BASKETBALL player. Tell him exactly what to do at all times on the court, and he's above average. But that isn't basketball. The guy would catch the ball on the perimeter wide open, and stand there as if someone was speaking to him in a different language. If you're open, shoot. If the defense is closing hard, attack the closeout and scramble the D. If you're not open, pass. This is literally the shit they teach you in elementary school, and he couldn't seem to do it.

Defensively, he was always going to struggle because he wasn't strong or long enough for 4s, and he wasn't quick enough for ball-handlers. He had good defensive numbers in Boston because they had defenders around him (outside of IT), but anyone who actually WATCHED them could see he was wildly overrated on that end. And putting him on the Cavs expecting him to be the defensive stopper was a recipe for disaster. But too often, he simply didn't try on that end, so I can't fully absolve him.

 

[Cavatt]

On the one hand, I feel for Crowder. Losing his mom, getting traded, and playing our of position all season isn't easy. He seems like a good dude, so I hope he finds his way.

On the other hand, we all see Cedi, right? We all see him guarding 1-4, hustling after loose balls, getting deflections, going after boards, cutting when he's supposed to and spacing correctly? THESE AREN'T SYSTEM THINGS. They are basketball things. Nothing about Crowder playing out of position ever stopped him from doing the right basketball things.

I thought this and posted as much when the trade was made, but I don't think Crowder is a good BASKETBALL player. Tell him exactly what to do at all times on the court, and he's above average. But that isn't basketball. The guy would catch the ball on the perimeter wide open, and stand there as if someone was speaking to him in a different language. If you're open, shoot. If the defense is closing hard, attack the closeout and scramble the D. If you're not open, pass. This is literally the shit they teach you in elementary school, and he couldn't seem to do it.

Defensively, he was always going to struggle because he wasn't strong or long enough for 4s, and he wasn't quick enough for ball-handlers. He had good defensive numbers in Boston because they had defenders around him (outside of IT), but anyone who actually WATCHED them could see he was wildly overrated on that end. And putting him on the Cavs expecting him to be the defensive stopper was a recipe for disaster. But too often, he simply didn't try on that end, so I can't fully absolve him.

You can't keep Cedi out of the play and Crowder could not be convinced to get in it. He never seemed to stick his nose in there and do the things you talked about. I never even really saw him on the floor. If we just want a positional defender we have Korver who is the same size and can also get piping hot from 3. Korver's defense was consistently better.

Anyway, super happy Utah liked him well enough to give us Hood. I don't care one iota whether he succeeds or not, but if he works out for Utah Bully for them. Hood is at least a good enough defender, he might be better than that. I know he will not blow all those open looks that Jae got.

 

[Triplethreat]

Wait, @InBoobieWeTrust

I want you to say it for me.

 

[czvo]

Jae isn't totally exempt from criticism but as others have mentioned, a big reason he failed here was because of LeBron's stubbornness in playing the 3. LeBron moving to the post full-time is really what needs to happen for the prolonging of his career and the good of the team. Crowder became an unfortunate casualty in that battle.

He could have also been that elusive backup to LeBron that we've never succeeded in getting. I'm genuinely concerned about who we plan on throwing at Durant in a hypothetical Finals scenario other than LeBron and Green.

I'm excited about the moves we made and the future, but I think Jae was a big missed opportunity here and I wish him the best.

Disagree. He's just not a good basketball player.

 

[ACisKING]

Jae isn't totally exempt from criticism but as others have mentioned, a big reason he failed here was because of LeBron's stubbornness in playing the 3. LeBron moving to the post full-time is really what needs to happen for the prolonging of his career and the good of the team. Crowder became an unfortunate casualty in that battle.

He could have also been that elusive backup to LeBron that we've never succeeded in getting. I'm genuinely concerned about who we plan on throwing at Durant in a hypothetical Finals scenario other than LeBron and Green.

I'm excited about the moves we made and the future, but I think Jae was a big missed opportunity here and I wish him the best.

I feel like this narrative is overblown. Crowder got plenty of minutes this season (when Love was starting at the five) starting alongside James. And I struggle to see how Crowder was anything but the three (at least offensively) in those sets. LeBron got way more paint touches and post ups than Crowder and Crowder was basically spotting up for threes or cutting off ball. Sounds to me like Crowder did play the three a ton this season - he just sucked at it.