Cavs 93, Raptors 90
–This game felt like May. Sunday afternoon, sellout, Cavs playing small and LeBron taking over. It was just like last year. I am not sure you could’ve left this building today and not been amazed in what you saw, even if you were a Raptors fan.
–LeBron’s 24 points in the fourth were a record for the Cavs in a quarter. The late Terry Furlow (1978) and World B. Free (’85) shared the record with 23. He had 56 points in here on a Sunday afternoon in 2005, but you know the Cavs lost that one.
–For what it is worth, I felt like the Cavs could win the game after three quarters. When I said this on press row, the Plain Dealer’s Branson Wright offered to bet me $40 CAD. I didn’t accept. But what I saw was the Raptors really just shooting nothing but jumpers. I was sure they would start missing. They only had two points in the paint in the third. Of course, I didn’t forsee LeBron going off like that.
–In the fourth, LeBron was talking trash with the Raptors bench and Chris Bosh’s cousin and his girlfriend. This I can tell you about LeBron, talking trash does not faze him. Seen it for years. But Bosh’s fam got something out of it, I think he sent his jersey over there after the game.
–The Cavs got 14 points on 6-of-12 shooting from Larry Hughes, they can’t afford to waste that.
–Where we sit here in Toronto, we are almost in the Cavs huddle. I saw Mike Brown tell Damon Jones to go into the game. I really think it was spur of the moment, because it happened in the middle of the timeout. Several teammates pat him on the butt in the second quarter. They wanted him to do well and he did. Not good news for Mr. Pavlovic, or least it shouldn’t be.
–Damon’s +/- for the game: +27. Circumstantial, yes, but true.
–3 straight, 17-17, the Cavs are mediocre again!
Game recap:
Pregame
Starting lineups
Cavs: Larry Hughes, Sasha Pavlovic, LeBron James, Drew Gooden, Zydrunas Ilgauskas
Raps: Jose Calderon, Anthony Parker, Jamario Moon, Chris Bosh, Andrea Bargnani
Officials
Bill Spooner, Tony Brothers, Gary Zielinski
–This morning my hotel was chock full of hung over Rutgers fans from yesterday’s International Bowl. Apparently, there’s a long of hung over people on your average Sunday morning in Toronto. Let’s see how the Cavs handle this 1 p.m. start.
–LeBron James was out before the game getting extra shooting in, he’s been doing that lately. Sort of what he did a lot at the end of last season. He needs to challenge Moon at every turn, especially if he bodies him up. Moon is a promising player but he can’t handle LeBron’s size.
–It will be interesting to see how the Cavs play the Raptors with Varejao this time around. Chris Bosh lit them up for 40 points in his only game against them and they have trouble staying attached to Bargnani.
–Calderon is not a good matchup for Daniel Gibson, we’ll see how Hughes handles him. The Raptors live on penetrate and kickouts for 3-pointers.
–My Sunday column today dealt with Mike Bibby potential and Mike Brown if you’d like to read.
Halftime — Raptors 43, Cavs 33
–33 points on 35 percent shooting in a half. That’s NBA quality right there. Nobody is making anything and the Cavs have nine turnovers, which has allowed the Raps to get 13 fastbreak points. That’s the difference in the game, the Cavs halfcourt defense hasn’t been bad. Only down 10? A minor miracle.
–Wow can Jamario Moon jump, and wow can’t Larry Hughes. How come when Sasha and Larry go into the lane the ball always comes flying out the other direction?
–Damon Jones made an appearance after seven games. In the middle of the huddle, Mike Brown looked over and told him to go into the game. Several teammates patted him on the butt and he did well. When he was on the court the Cavs were +8 and he had two assists to Hughes’ zero. Play him some more.
–Jose Calderon had eight assists in the half, guess than question got answered.
–Chris Bosh has the longest neck in the NBA. He actually looks like a dinosaur.
Postgame
Stars
LeBron James, 39 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists
Larry Hughes, 14 points
Anderson Varejao, 13 rebounds
Chris Bosh, 23 points
Anthony Parker, 20 points
Jose Calderon, 16 points, 11 assists
Quotes
LeBron: “I can’t describe it, I just like I was out there by myself.”
Mike Brown: “LeBron just put us on his back. What a tremendous, tremendous performance.”
Jamario Moon: “We didn’t expect LeBron to go off like he did. Once they cut the lead down to five or six, I was like, oh man, it is going to be a long quarter.”
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Will DJ play?
Will SHannon Brown play?
Will Larry and Sasha shoot 25% from the field?
We shall see…
This come from behind stuff works against below average teams missing four starters on the road, not against decent teams at home.
According to Rumor Central on espn.com, the Milwaukee media is calling for a housecleaning with the roster, and are resigned to the fact that Michael Redd is their only tradeable commodity…
If I’m Dukie Ferry, I offer the entire roster minus #23 and see what they pick. Compared to the polished turds they’ve been talking about acquiring (Bibby, Capt Kirk), this would be a monster. Please, God in heaven, bring Michael Redd back to Ohio where he belongs.
Michael Redd…
Michael Redd…
Michael Redd…
Michael Redd…
Larry Hughes: 15 minutes
Devin Brown: 1 minute
- 33 points in the first half. The Cavs have reverted to having absolutely no identity on offense. Yes, the defense is starting to return to form, but at the cost of any effective way to score the basketball. If Mike Brown makes it to next year, doesn’t he need to add an “offensive coordinator?”
- It’s amazing that the starting five now looks more offensively inept than the reserves.
- That Jamario Moon kid sure can jump. Right now Sasha Pavlovic is significantly worse than players who were in the CBA a year ago.
- But give Toronto credit, they’ve found guys like Moon and Anthony Parker, and they have gotten big contributions from them at a bargain price. The Cavs are paying full retail for several lemons right now. Guess that exchange rate applies to the NBA as well.
- Still, Toronto is proving that if you play good defense, they’ll shoot you back into the game. This one isn’t over yet. Though if the 3rd Quarter problem comes back today, this will be a 25 point lead by the beginning of the 4th Quarter.
Mike C.
i have to figure mike brown as a person who can’t walk or chew gum at the same time , this guy has no idea how to preach offense with the same intensity as defense . horrible coach . and look at those 2 studs in the starting backcourt combining 3-10 for 6 points in a half of basketball
Lookie lookie, DJ is on the floor!!!!!! The best shooter in the NBA is gonna put on a show!!
Lebron is on fire! Way to go Cavs! Great looking mohawk on DJ!!
Joe Hoops, President
AlanTuckerFanClub.com
“Where Alan Tucker Happens” (TM)
Wow. This is the second game this week where Brian is going to have to write the “Where LeBron Happens” conclusion to the story. What a performance. That, Ladies and Gentlemen, is why there is no ceiling to what this team can do this season. Yes, the peices around him aren’t pulling their weight. But LeBron is a once-in-a-lifetime talent, and you never bet against that guy.
Wow.
Back to .500, and a nice schedule to get fat on coming up.
Go Cavs.
Mike C.
What an awesome fourth quarter but doesn’t Fred McLeod have producer that can tell him when he makes a mistake. Over and over he kept saying LeBron scored 22 in a row, 23 in a row, etc etc. But just moments before Boobie drained a three. People make mistakes but it was so annoying to hear him make the same one over and over.
Is there any doubt that LeBron is the best player in the NBA right now? He won’t win the MVP because of Garnett and the Celtics record, but he is without questions better than Kobe, Garnett, and Nash.
LeBron being LeBron.
That being said. TAKE SASHA AND LARRY OUT OF THE ROTATION COMPLETELY!!!!!!! Seeing a pattern here? Terrible starts in each half every game thanks to a useless backcourt. Damon Jones shows he has more value coming off the bench than either of our two starters. Yes, potato head, this lineup is working but only because our 4th quarter lineup keeps making heroic comebacks.
Dan Gilbert should understand that Larry Hughes’ $13mm is a sunk cost. We have to pay it no matter what. That doesn’t mean we have to double-penalize ourselves by playing him. Put him at the end of the bench.
Wooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhh hooooooooooo! Nice come from behind win tonight! Lebron is du chit!
Anybody know what those two hecklers were saying to Lebron? They were pretty hot too, unusual to see a couple hotties heckling the players LOL!
Joe Hoops
AlanTuckerFanClub.com
“Where Alan Tucker Happens” (TM)
My bad about Larry, I guess statistically he had a good game.
Sasha’s just killing us though.
I guess Hughes actually had a decent game, at least statistically.
Still goes for Sasha though.
Hughes had a decent game statistically, but didn’t contribute anything to the come back. He still stinks. Sasha has regressed all the way back to summer 2006 when we couldn’t give him away for a box of rocks. Very disappointing.
I must have turned this game off six times, it made me so sick to watch. And then…WOW! If LeBron had made that dunk over Bosh, I would have jumped through my living room window! Afterward, LeBron thanked two cute girl hecklers for making him mad and losing the game for Toronto. Whatever it takes. It would be nice if we could get the best player in the game some help…somehow.
LeCavalier, jeopardizing every game for 3 quarters and then finally putting in our only useful lineup in the 4th is not effective coaching.
lol, lebron said he felt like he was out there by himself. uh dude, you were, your teammates suck, what the heck is wrong with sasha, when are they going to bench him, i use to be the biggest sasha backer, but that dude is sucking real bad right about now…. I feel so sorry for lebron, i know he cannot wait for his three years to be up so he could blow this popsicle stand…..grace and peace
Why the heck was Shannon Brown not dressed for this game? I just don’t get why some of these guys will have a few good games and then they get benched for the next few games while Sasha “Air Ball” Pavlovich and Larry “I never met a jump shot I didn’t like” Hughes are still playing big minutes!!!
Um, the Cavs won the game. Does every game, especially a win, have to be a work of art? This is virtually the same team that won 50 games and went to the Finals winning ugly and riding Lebron on offense. Why be picky?
Lebron’s teammates may not score enough, but they were critical in holding a potent offensive team to 20 in the 4th.
The Cavs need a 2-guard with Damon Jones’ outside shot, Sasha’s size and speed, and Larry’s veteran experience. Sounds like Michael Redd to me. Make Milwaukee an offer they cant refuse!!!!!
a fan of the Blazers in mind, but of the Cavs in heart. I’m starting to believe again! Whooo! Go Cavs!!
Terrific, now JoeHoops is giving me my own Internet site … *sigh*.
Hey, JoeHoops, Shannon Brown wasn’t dressed because, at one time, he was being “showcased,” whatever that means. Showcase time is over, with no takers. Until the trade deadline, when Brown’s contract will be needed to make the contract numbers work for Ferry’s next bold move, I suppose. I’m guessing he was deactivated for the game, perhaps the Cavs used a fake injury as the excuse as opposed to Brown’s lack of NBA talent. Who knows, who cares. Ferry obviously think Brown stinks to high heaven, or else he wouldn’t have declined the team’s option, signed Pavlovic and forced Gilbert & Co. to pay millions in luxury tax for a stiff that looks like Dracula and plays like a coked-up Herman Munster. Hence, that huge budget for dudes playing billiards at halftime.
But apparently you’re enamored with Brown’s amazing professional basketball dunking skills, so I share your pain. Brown should be playing 40 minutes a game. At least. Perhaps you can write Ferry a persuasive fan letter and send him this link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPFfSO8xozI
By the way, I am very, very impressed that Windy actually attended a regular season game in Canada. A rare feat, indeed, normally he is able to get his editor to send somebody else when the game is in Toronto, whether it’s been Tom Reed, Terry Pluto or George Thomas. I remember one time, even poor Stephanie Storm was forced to make the trip. In this case, I’m assuming our blog host would have preferred to shave his own head with a cheese grater while dancing naked on molten lava. But Thomas had already been assigned to tomorrow’s Ohio State football game, so it was either bite the bullet and go to Ontario, or clean out his desk and ask Henry Abbott to put in a good word for him over at ESPN.
Perhaps BW never made the Toronto trip because of some kind of parole or probation restriction on leaving the country. Maybe some sordid episode with Finnan on a New Orleans road trip. He did go overseas this summer to follow LeBron, though, so maybe any restrictions expired.
josh, sorry but milwaukee refused because the cavs haven’t anything of value for them to even consider trading michael redd for. let’s face it, other than lebron, who else on the cavs roster would the bucks even want??? daniel gibson maybe, but that’s about it. salary-wise, it would take about 10 boobies to equal what the bucks are paying are paying redd so you can forget about that pipe dream cause it ain’t happenin’. it would be nice though.
when LeBron’s 3s are dropping – he does stuff like this.
What blows my mind is how low LeBron’s turnovers are considering how much he is used and how often he sets up his teammates. He is so clearly the best player to lace up since Jordan it’s unbelievable.
HEY MIKE C
HEY MIKE C, you need to slow down, Lebron is the man and all that, but come on dude, he cannot do it by himself this, year, get a grip dude, you are killing me….grace and peace.
Tom, you are 100% right.
Leave Mike C. alone. He hasn’t plugged Z for the all-star game in weeks and his latest post even showed a hint of doubt about the rest of LeBron’s supporting cast. He’s coming out of it.
Hey alan, did you see BW’s article in the ABJ? He included some quotes from Damon Jones. He actually played, so he was relevant. Were you able to keep control of yourself as you must have shook with excitement at getting to read some quotes from the player you’ve been crying about for weeks?
As for the game itself, all that needs to be said is thank god for Bosh’s little Grrl Posse and their obnoxious demeanor. If I were a loud obnoxious girl myself, I would probably follow the Cavs around from city to city and keep heckling LeBron. It’s just too bad you can’t get Little Larry Hughes to play better by heckling him.
Shannon Brown should be playing 40 minutes a game?
There should definitely be an age requirement for posting on this site….
If anything, Shannon Brown is good to go in there, throw down a MONSTER dunk to get the crowd pumped up and the team energy up. Tucker just doesn’t like him because he’s jealous of the corn rows.
Ya know, I hate that “energy” word. As opposed to what, complete laziness? Over the last 15 years, it’s become a popular line of total BS when guys are clearly going through the motions. Why does some stiff need to dunk a ball for other guys to be motivated to do their jobs?
shanon browns a stiff. Alan t’s the man so just layoff joeyhoop u dont know what your taliking about.
Miami Heat are a wreck!!! Riles needs to make major changes to his club and the Cavs are just team to make it possible.
Proposal #1
Eric Slow and Shannon Brown for Jason Williams.
Proposal #2
Larry Hughes for Jason Willams and Less Parker.
Proposal #3
Damon Jones and Shannon Brown for Ricky Davis.
The obvious goal for the Cavs is to clear cap space to make a run at Jose Calderon, Delonte West, Beno Udrih, Shaun Livingston, Louis Williams, or Kelenna Azubuike.
HEY ALAN, its clear that u are not the only person with a fan club, some one is posting under my name. boy its good to be loved.
trade im, i like your style but i would not make a run for beno, i mean he would of been good as a pick up, but the other players you mention are much more deserving to look at.