Is it really about getting him into game shape, or are we seeing just how much of a mismatch he is on the defensive end that when he gets into a system that doesn't involve Brad coaching, he's going to get completely exposed? I mean, the Cavs aren't a great defensive team to start with, and now you add IT to the mix and wowza...That said, this game is far from over. And IT3 needs more time to get back into regular season shape. I don't think its anything more than that.
I loved this Raptor team this year at the start of the year with Cleveland dropping off without Kyrie and the Celtics having so many new faces (wrong about that one). I never play NBA futures but have the Raptors at +400 (I think) to win the Atlantic, that's 4-1, and later got them at +800 to represent the EC in The Finals. Win or Lose I got tremendous value with those numbers.By all accounts, he wants to stay in LA. The thing is, I don't know who will pay him because as good a scorer as he is, he has never been even a decent defensive player and he isn't getting any better at age 32 (which is what he will be at the start of next season). I think the Clips should just trade him to the C's for the DPE and their pick.
In the meantime, while Cleveland has mailed this game in, the Raptors are to be feared. DeRozan's improvement from three is the big reason but the development of guys like VanVleet and Anunoby makes them formidable. I don't think they are an early exit in the playoffs this year...
First name...LeBron is now a net +38 on the season ... in 1,510 minutes played. That's #120-ish in the league, and #4 on his own cruddy team (behind Jeff Green, Frye, and Wade).
Thinking about rescinding my "MVP frontrunner" comments. Back to Harden, I guess?
1. Brad had Smart/Bradley/Rozier around last year to hide Isaiah in a way that would be difficult for anyone to replicate.Is it really about getting him into game shape, or are we seeing just how much of a mismatch he is on the defensive end that when he gets into a system that doesn't involve Brad coaching, he's going to get completely exposed? I mean, the Cavs aren't a great defensive team to start with, and now you add IT to the mix and wowza...
Haha, well if you twist my arm: Curry's at +329 — #1 in the league, despite only 911 minutes played. He's also crushing LeBron, Harden, Giannis, Kyrie, Durant, Butler, DeRozan and everyone else on the scoring efficiency/volume matrix: 30.9 points per 36 on an absurd .671 true shooting. But I think the low game and minutes count is going to hurt his case, even assuming (knocking wood furiously) he stays mostly healthy from here on out.First name...
Last name... Especially after last night.
And they’re old. They are going to face Toronto or Boston in the second round and lose. Then LeBron’s off to LA to transition to Hollywood.Cleveland’s issue is they can’t play defense, and I don’t think they have the roster to turn that around. They’ll win games in the playoffs when LeBron goes off but right now they’re pretty clearly behind Toronto and Boston in the East by a fair margin.
TOR is really long and given that IT4 is at least a 1/2 step slow not a great matchup. It will be interesting to see thi rematch if IT4 can get more healthy.Let this sink in. They were awful.
I’m disappointed that he decided to pay one of them $50M...I am confident that Pop could mix a few really good rec league players from off the street into his rotation in a regular season game and still be very competitive.
I’m concerned the moral hazard of a walk year (for both Cavs and IT) may have driven a premature return. Hopefully he plays his way into game shape and they still lose badly to the Cs.TOR is really long and given that IT4 is at least a 1/2 step slow not a great matchup. It will be interesting to see thi rematch if IT4 can get more healthy.
The problem for Cleveland in playing Isaiah with the first unit (major mistake by Lue imo) is that all the top teams in the East are long. If he's struggling with Toronto's length and defense it isn't going to get any better when he faces the Raptors, Boston or Milwaukee in the playoffs when there is one opponent to gameplan for an entire series.TOR is really long and given that IT4 is at least a 1/2 step slow not a great matchup. It will be interesting to see thi rematch if IT4 can get more healthy.
At least not on the defensive end that's for sure. I would have been surprised if the Cavs didn't show up tonight after last night's embarrassment.34-16 Cavs. They woke up.
IT not playing tonight. Coincidence? I think not.
Cavs give up 32 in the second quarter, be interesting to see where this goes.At least not on the defensive end that's for sure. I would have been surprised if the Cavs didn't show up tonight after last night's embarrassment.
I love IT so much, I hope he plays so bad this year, that nobody wants to sign him.34-16 Cavs. They woke up.
IT not playing tonight. Coincidence? I think not.
If it's the right call, why shouldn't it have been called? Jordan rules or something?Cavs drop another one. That out of bounds call on LeBron will be talked about. Incredible they called that with 5 seconds on the game clock.
Did he look like he stepped out to you? I was watching the Pacers feed and didn’t see an angle that he looked out to me.If it's the right call, why shouldn't it have been called? Jordan rules or something?
A what fan? I come here for the recommendations of port!if you're a basketball fan
Good stuff.Guys, if you're a basketball fan, you need to turn on FS1 and check out the PC/Depaul game. There are no commercials and both coaches are live mic'ed up for the entire game. You hear both coaches at all times during the game, literally talking over each other, working the refs, etc. It just went to halftime, and now we're going into the locker room for halftime speeches, etc. It's incredible.
Missed the shot anyway, though he could have been thrown off by the whistle.I did not see LeBron step out there. Looked in to me.
Let alone the message it sends future top tier FAs. It can't leave a good taste in someone's mouth that you're offering them up less than a year after they sign.We’ll give you our oft injured, most likely on the down swing of his career star making huge money for your young stud .... deal?
Lol. We'll give you our oft-injured, 29 y.o. stumpy-armed 6'-8" traditional PF who can't really guard the rim or the perimeter for your 22 y.o. 7'-0" 250 lb. long-armed freak...We’ll give you our oft injured, most likely on the down swing of his career star making huge money for your young stud .... deal?
I would be lying if I hadn't considered this very scenario. I too am guilty of loving the little guy a little too much. The people here and in other corners of NBA punditry are right though - even healthy, he is an inherently flawed player. And his shortcomings (pun intended) make him even more endearing to me and other fans of his. The flip side is that, even at peak health, they also may have also prevented him from signing a large deal with anyone but a team desperate for a "star" (in the sense they can sell it to their local fanbase), one that thinks they can cover for him or, like you described, one that wants him to come off the bench where his defensive deficiency doesn't matter as much.I love IT so much, I hope he plays so bad this year, that nobody wants to sign him.
So he comes back to Boston on a team friendly "prove it" deal. He comes off the bench for 18 minutes a night to be a spark plug and drive the offense. He realizes he loves Boston and plays here the rest of his career, extremely happy with his backup gig.
Yep. That's definitely what will happen.
It'd have to be an MLE deal, right? Not totally unfathomable — Brinks truck dreams notwithstanding, I could see him having a hard time finding more than that, barring a very impressive showing over the next 40 games and in the playoffs.I would be lying if I hadn't considered this very scenario. I too am guilty of loving the little guy a little too much. The people here and in other corners of NBA punditry are right though - even healthy, he is an inherently flawed player. And his shortcomings (pun intended) make him even more endearing to me and other fans of his. The flip side is that, even at peak health, they also may have also prevented him from signing a large deal with anyone but a team desperate for a "star" (in the sense they can sell it to their local fanbase), one that thinks they can cover for him or, like you described, one that wants him to come off the bench where his defensive deficiency doesn't matter as much.
That said, Thomas, assuming he gets healthy enough to play, would look great coming off Boston's bench to given them buckets and energy. And I trust Brad would, once again, find a way to maximize what he does best while minimizing the team's exposure. It won't happen of course...but it could.
I have no doubt that if a scenario somehow plays out that nobody is offering Thomas what he is looking for, Myers will reach out. And in this scenario, I have a hard time seeing him turning that down, even if Boston might offer him a similar deal (and as a side note, I think the Celtics are done with him even if he were somehow to be available to them next offseason). He is Nick Young except without the goofiness and with a more legit excuse for being a horrific defender.It'd have to be an MLE deal, right? Not totally unfathomable — Brinks truck dreams notwithstanding, I could see him having a hard time finding more than that, barring a very impressive showing over the next 40 games and in the playoffs.
At the same time, if he ends up settling for an MLE deal, I hope Bob Myers gets him on the horn.
Because either he or Mcmillan isn't very smart. Or he's selfish and didn't want to hurt his stats. Once he missed the first it's a no brainer to miss the second. In the exact same situation a few weeks Horford knew right away to miss and I'm sure Stevens did too. Very small anecdote, but probably part of the reason the Cs are massively overachieving this year.Oh, one other thing about that Cavs game: why the heck did Collison make that second FT?? If he misses, the game's basically over with 1.5 seconds left and no Cavs timeouts. Even if they manage to corral the rebound cleanly, the rebounder would have to immediately heave it 60-70 feet from his own end. Instead, Collison foolishly sinks it, the clock stops, and they allow Love to inbound a patented TD pass to LeBron for a very clean look from 27 feet.