Hey Windy --- 4.17.15
http://stationcaster.com/stations/w..._Brian_Windhorst___Jason_Gibbs-1429277415.mp3
01. Cavs last playoff game in Cleveland was in 2010 against the Celtics.
02. Cavs are ready to go for the playoffs. LeBron, Kyrie got some rest.
03. Cavs had an extra day to prep for the Celtics. That is important, helps out the Cavs.
04. I don't think Cavs-Celtics will be a particularly interesting series.
05. The Q became an asset to the Cavs from 2006-2010 (because of the crowd, atmosphere).
06. Cavs fans show up early and get very excited about anything (great fans).
07. ESPN wanted a story about 2010 playoffs and LeBron and I wasn't crazy about writing it (I think what he means is that he doesn't want to go back to the "bad times.")
08. Modern Era of NBA Playoffs is from 1984 onward. Because that's when the league went to 16 teams in the playoffs.
09. The 2010 series versus Celtics and the 2015 series aren't even comparable.
10. Kendrick Perkins played for the Celtics in 2010.
11. Talking about 2010 Celtics series is a "media thing." A media angle, and I'm participating in it and not looking down my nose at it (he's part of the media hyping it).
12. I want to deal with the 2010 series now, and then move on in the show.
13. There was a belief that LeBron quit on the Cavs in the 2010 playoffs and that he already knew he was going to leave the Cavs.
14. This is preposterous. "LeBron frankly just choked," particularly in Game 5.
15. Year before, LeBron may have had greatest series by a losing player against the Magic.
16. LeBron laid an egg in Game 5. He played hard in Game 6, but did not play well.
17. I was disturbed by the Cavs lax attitude before Game 6.
18. I don't believe LeBron quit on the Cavs that series. Makes no sense.
19. LeBron's elbow was definitely bothering him in the 2010 Celtics series. I can recall him in March practice that year stopping from shooting free throws to get treatment on the elbow. So it was a lingering issue for him that year.
20. I know LeBron choked in 2010 because he choked in 2011 Finals. He never dealt with it, did not realize HE had to get better until after 2011 Finals. He blamed other people until that time.
21. LeBron had an 8 point game in 2011 Finals. He choked again.
22. After 2011 Finals, LeBron realized he didn't handle postseason stress well and he changed his approach.
23. LeBron still struggles to deal with his emotions at times.
24. LeBron didn't quit; he choked. Lesser and better men than LeBron have choked, too.
25. What happened in 2010 has 00.00% to do with this 2015 series with Boston.
26. Host: Why isn't pressure as great now?
27. Windy: It is as great.
28. LeBron turning off his phone, getting off social media, all of this is anti-choking steps.
29. This approach works. He's won 2 titles and 2 FMVPs.
30. LeBron can cramp up because stress contributes to cramps as well.
31. LeBron has 2 Finals cramp games.
32. LeBron has handled his stress well over the last 4 years.
33. [FIRST SHOW BREAK]
34. Cavs and Celtics have long playoff history against one another.
35. LeBron beat the Celtics 4-1 in 2011 Playoffs. Then in the postgame he basically apologized to Cleveland and said he had to go to Miami and learn and get better in order to beat the Celtics.
36. The Cavs were 19-20.
The Celtics were 16-30 at one point this season.
37. Celtics made 6 in season trades. Ditched Rondo, Jeff Green.
38. Traded Jameer Nelson and Brandon Wright.
39. Celtics finished the season at 40-42. They have been playing excellent basketball lately.
40. Boston 24-12 down the stretch of the season.
41. Celtics play different style of basketball than what you normally see in the NBA.
42. Boston uses different schemes because, partly, they are not that talented.
43. Execs believe that Mozgov is the 4th best player in Cleveland/Boston series.
44. Tristan Thompson or Isaiah Thomas is the 5th best player in the the Cleveland/Boston series.
45. Cavs have the clear talent edge in the Boston series.
46. Celtics have balanced scoring.
47. Thomas comes off the bench for Boston.
48. Boston likes to use switching on defense.
49. Jae Crowder will largely be assigned to LeBron on defense.
50. Boston runs unique sets on offense.
51. Boston has no rim protection on defense.
52. Boston's bigs can shoot from the outside. Can be an issue for Mozgov.
53. Celtics will have trouble stopping dribble penetration.
54. Cavs will score a ton of points in the series.
55. Host: Celtics defended Kyrie well in last game (think he said)
56. If Kyrie's hip was a problem, I would think Cavs would not have kept playing him.
57. Boston has good defense for opposition point guards.
58. Thomas can't guard Kyrie.
59. Boston won't be a pushover for Cavs, but Cavs have talent edge.
60. Experience comes into play in playoffs when you are down in a series. Cavs more experienced than Celtics.
61. [SECOND SHOW BREAK]
62. Host: What impact can experienced vets like Marion, Perkins and Miller provide?
63. Windy: They can help the young guys.
64. These vets are not bad emergency guys to have. They are not zeroes.
65. Perkins, Marion, Miller all have rings. They can help out young players, and the coaches.
66. Host: JR Smith wrote an article for The Cauldron.
67. JRS wrote: Kyrie is incredibly talented, has amazing explosion.
68. JRS wrote: No matter what anyone says, Love is the ultimate teammate. High bball iq.
69. JRS wrote: Love is the best rebounder I've ever played with.
70. I love the transition that JR has made from a leading idiot in the league to the sage veteran.
71. I think Kyrie is more talented than Jason Kidd or Chauncey Billups. Not better, more talented.
72. I can't understand Kevin Love. He's hard to understand.
73. I filed my league awards ballot.
74. League office lets you know what awards you get to vote on. Some guys get to vote on all awards, some only a few. I get to vote on all awards this year.
75. (Explaining how you do the voting on a computer screen)
76. MVP for Windy - Harden, Curry, LeBron, Westbrook, Davis
77. MIP for Windy - Butler, Whiteside, Kyrie
78. DPOY for Windy - Leonard, Green, Gobert
79. 6th Man for Windy - Lou Williams, Isiah Thomas?, Tristan Thompson
80. ROY for Windy - Wiggins, Mirotic, Noel
81. COY for Windy - [I missed it; Kerr and Popovich were 2 of the 3]
82. [Windy going over his All-NBA teams; only caught some of this]
83. Windy - I can't put LeBron on the All Defense team this year.
84. (Explaining why he voted Tristan as third place for 6th Man)
85. Host: Where you put Blatt in COY voting?
86. Windy: I think if anyone put him in their COY voting, I think they have ulterior motives. Many people think he did not do a good job, although he was better in the second half of the year. Most people feel Brad Stevens has a heavy edge over Blatt in the Cleveland/Boston series. This is the perception of Blatt.
87. [THIRD SHOW BREAK]
88. SALARY CAP 101. Players are not paid for the playoffs, only for the regular season. So teams make a ton of money in the playoffs. I think teams make like $1.5-$2 million per game in the playoffs. The players do get a payout from the TV networks for the playoffs, and it depends on how far you make it in the postseason. And many entities get a share of this often (like ballboys, etc). This TV payout money is usually pretty low.
89. NON BOLD PREDICTION. I don't predict playoff sweeps. So I'm taking Cavs in 5 games.
90. Cavs fans - enjoy Sunday. Don't worry about the long term consequences, just enjoy being in the playoffs again.