Paul gets last pass, laugh on Cavs
Posted March 26th, 2008 by Brian Windhorst
Hornets 100, Cavs 99
–Not to repeat what I wrote in the paper, but many times I come on here and tell you the last shot didn’t really decide a game, it was just the final line in a book, etc. Tonight the final play perfectly summed up the game. Chris Paul got into the middle and knew exactly where his teammate was going to be. And that teammate was perfectly positioned to execute something he is good at, a mid-range shot. Considering this was what Paul did the entire game, this was the cherry at the end. From the Cavs’ perspective, if you froze things with 2.5 seconds left you would have Paul in the air with three Cavs around him and nobody in his sight. Then he makes a great play. Tip your hat, ladies and gents. He did it all night. 20 assists and one turnover and, folks, the one turnover was sorta fake. It was when LeBron tied him up and there was a jump ball.
–Technically, Joe Smith messed up on the last play, he was supposed to stay attached to West because the Cavs wanted to use LeBron’s length on Paul and not give him an open man to pass to. The problem was there was a screen and Smith figured he better pick him up or Paul may get a layup. Normally in this situation, Anderson Varejao would be there and the Cavs would execute a switch on a screen because they believe Andy is quick enough to defend a guard. But Mike Brown, I believe, was still upset at Varejao for letting Tyson Chandler get a putback dunk on him with 47 seconds left and he was done with him.
–The two lowest scoring games in the last 40 LeBron has had have been against the Hornets, 21 points both times. I believe their traps and double teams are very sound, but I still think LeBron was very passive at times. He was better at moving the ball in the second half, but I believe this was a game when he went with the flow too much. But as I said at halftime, the Cavs offense was still strong. They shot 50 percent and had 56 points in the paint. That’s a win more than 90 percent of the time. The Hornets are freaking good.
–That said, LeBron’s final shot was excellent. He saw the double team was set up for him to go left for whatever reason and he went right to get around it. Then when he saw Tyson Chandler commit to James’ right, he switched hands and went around him to the left. Super high-quality effort. Plus he was right to try to leave a little time in case of a miss, the game was not tied.
–LeBron got all fiery at some of his teammates at times for leaving guys like Peja Stojakovic and Jannero Pargo open. But the way the Hornets play and the way the Cavs help on defense, it is so tough to stay attached at times. Besides, LeBron himself shaded towards Chandler to defend the lob and left Peja more than once. Listen, this is going to be an awfully tough team to beat four out of seven times especially if they have homecourt throughout the playoffs.
–I believe, and I have for about two weeks now, that the Cavs will finish with 45 or 46 wins. This will probably get them the No. 4 seed and many of you will be disappointed. It was certainly a disappointing regular season. Especially after they got it going in January before all the injuries started to bite. But you must consider this: this was the third game they lost at the buzzer this season (Deron Williams in Utah, Michael Redd in Milwaukee); they were 0-6 without LeBron, who missed the most games of his career; Z missed the most games in seven seasons, 17 of 21 back-to-backs had the second night on the road. I’d say winning 4-5 fewer games than last season is explained right there. Not that I am giving them a pass.
Recap:
Pregame
Starting lineups
Hornets: Chris Paul, Morris Peterson, Tyson Chandler, David West, Paul Stojakovic
Cavs: Delonte West, Sasha Pavlovic, LeBron James, Anderson Varejao, Zydrunas Ilgauskas
Officials
Joe DeRosa, Michael Smith, Eli Roe
–Ben Wallace and Daniel Gibson are sitting this one out. With Wallace, the Cavs are trying to give him the week off to try and get his back as healthy as possible. With Gibson, it sounds like the training staff just said no. He said he wanted to play yesterday, although now he’s toeing the company line. I guess it’ll be Saturday for his return.
–The Cavs are getting the Hornets on a back-to-back, but that won’t make the matchups any easier. There’s nobody in the league that can stay in front of Paul and the way the Cavs play defense when a PG gets to the middle it’s over. Especially one with Paul’s passing skills. Supreme test for the Cavs defense.
–Drew Gooden got embarrassed by David West the last time these teams played. We’ll see how Andy and Joe Smith do. He’s got a good mid-range game and can score from the block, it makes him a challenge to guard.
–Let’s see how the Cavs come out after a couple of hard practices. They’ve been a different team at home, but this will be one of the toughest challenges they’ve had in awhile.
Halftime — Hornets 56, Cavs 50
–For those of you who get tired of watching the Cavs offense, pay attention to the Hornets. Now, obviously Paul sets all of it up and without him it may not work. But when the Hornets run a play, they set a pick and then give Paul three options. There’s a guy rolling to the hole, usually Tyson Chandler, there’s a guy who sets up for a mid-range shot, and a guy that goes to the 3-point line. The spacing is perfect and so when Paul get space and draws in the defense, he gets to pick the correct man. And if you stay home, he’ll just shoot. A great machine that has parts that work. Very impressive.
–All that said, I’m not sure the Cavs can stop it and I know Delonte West cannot stop him. About the only chance the Cavs have is if the shooters miss more. With their style of shrink the floor defense, I don’t think they are equipped to handle it. We’ll see, but the Hornets I think just played average and are on pace for 112 points.
–New Orleans is choosing to blitz the pick-and-rolls with LeBron, which means they are double teaming him. Neither he nor his teammates are handling this very well. The proper way is to isolate the pick and punish the defense for leaving the other man. But the Cavs spacing has been off when LeBron’s had the ball. That is why he wasn’t very effective. He just had one assist, usually when teams play him this way he piles them up. But overall, the Cavs have done well on offense thanks mostly to Z.
–David West has 14 points in the first half, showing his value. But he has zero rebounds and Anderson Varejao has seven including five offensive, which has helped the Cavs to 12 second chance points. So is West playing well? Um, kinda.
Postgame
Stars
CP3, 15 points, 20 assist
Peja, 25 points
Z, 29 points, 15 rebounds
LeBron, 21 points, eight assists
Quotes
LeBron: “That’s why (Paul) is the best point guard in the league. He’s got eyes in the back of his head.”
Paul: “I call David West the “17-foot assassin.” I knew he would be somewhere behind me, so when I saw him I was like thank goodness.”
March 26th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
For a team playing on four days rest, there sure are a lot of jumpers clanging off the front of the rim….
March 26th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Hey y’all, big one tonight!
Hey what’s up with the rollover ad blocking access to BW’s blog???? Come on PD!
So the Yahoo ‘expert’ says his ‘admitted western bias’ has him giving his MVP vote to whoever has the best record in the west. Apparently he feels this will either be LA or New Orleans. He adds that ‘winning 47 games in the east will not cut it’.
Here’s what I wrote him, even though I doubt he reads or considers anyone’s input or opinions based on his reduction of the MVP award to a ‘Western Conference MVP’ I don’t know the joker’s name offhand, but he does the ‘powerless’ rankings, whatever that means.
The only thing a teams record determines is their playoff seeding. The reward for a good record is for the team. The MVP is for the best player, and you obviously awarded your vote before the season began. And um, the West has one Championship in the last three years, so why not lay off the East. This isn’t a conference MVP vote, it’s the NBA MVP vote, for this year. Hello??????
Lebron is having one of the most impressive years in my life and it’s not enough for folks like you because his team is not very good? We ALL wish we had Pao Gasol or Ray Allen but we don’t. Whoever has the best record in the West gets it though? Dumbest argument I ever heard.
How about the sentimental vote for no one from the East winning the award lately? Nash, Nash, Nowitzski and no championships. By your own logic someone on Boston should win it, or at least Detroit. After all they have the best records in the NBA.
Kobe can’t win on his own, whereas Lebron has yet to show if he can. We know he can get there on his own, at least, and not throw video tantrums on the way.
Well good luck tonight, boys, and I hope the fakers lose to Charlotte!
March 26th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
West looks absolutely horrible.
And is LeBron James even playing in this game? I swore I could have seen his name in the starting lineup….
March 26th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
by far delonte west’s worst half as a cavalier
March 26th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Chris Paul is as good as advertised. 14 Assists already with a whole quarter yet to play.
A little disappointed with the energy level from the Cavs so far tonight. They’re at home on three days rest, but with the exception Z and Varejao, it took them until the end of the third quarter to get it going.
The Hornets played last night and have looked fresher and more hungry. I suppose good teams don’t make excuses.
The Cavs frontcourt is dominating this game. I don’t have the numbers in front of me but they’re probably +20 points in the paint and +12 or 13 in rebounding.
March 26th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
The Cavs are getting some great looks so far in the 4th quarter and nobody can knock down the open shot.
March 26th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
I never even heard of David West before this season. Now, out of nowhere, he’s hitting game-winning shots at the buzzer.
Only in Cleveland.
March 26th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
at least no back to back excuses tonight
March 26th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Looks like Windy might be right about Transition Year…
March 26th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Yep. A disappointing loss. Paul shot terribly but he has teammates that actually knock down open shots. A novel concept here in Cleveland. How about the three or four “assists” he gets from just throwing the ball up near the rim and Chandler going up and getting it. If Lebron had that option. With that being said, James needs to take more than 14 shots. I relaize the defense of New Orleans was great on him and denied him opportunities, but he has to be more “Kobe” like at times and attack, attack, attack. Wasted great game by Z.
March 26th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Guys, transition year? Are you serious? We just lost by one point to a team that has a GREAT chance to unseat the Spurs in the West. Chris Paul is unbelievable. Are you nuts? The Cavs wont see a team this good until the Finals, God willing.
Bunch of naysayers. As long as we hang on to the ‘4′, this game is meaningless, other than proof that we should have beaten the best team in the West without Ben Wallace, Gibson, and any semblence of perimeter defense.
Z was amazing tonight, and against Tyson Chandler, who is definitely not a slouch. Andy, on the other hand, was awful defensively. Lob dunks all night long, mostly his guy. I’m starting to think that Ferry’s hardball stance with that guy was the best decision he’s ever made as a GM. He’s been truly awful all year long.
MAAAAAN, we should have won this game.
March 26th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
This loss really bothers me. It reminds me a lot of the Phoenix home loss we had a few months ago. A golden opportunity to notch a big win against an elite team and they throw it away.
March 26th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
XAVIER NATION! I can’t be that ticked off at D-West….he is just reppin’ X. He put on a show just like X will against WV.
March 26th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
This loss bothers me, too. Here’s why:
The Hornets were playing the second game of a back-to-back and Cleveland hadn’t played since Saturday night.
The Cavs shot 50% for the game (anybody remember the last time this team did that?), finished with a +15 rebounding advantage and outscored New Orleans 56-30 in the paint. When you dominate the boards and the paint like that you should not only win, but win big.
Chris Paul is amazing. He singled-handedly nullified Cleveland’s dominance in the paint. Does anybody remember a field goal attempt by New Orleans in the fourth quarter that wasn’t completely wide open? Their shooters were ridiculously wide open all night long and it was because of Paul.
Sure. Stojakovic, West and Pargo all deserve credit for knocking those shots down I suppose, but wide open shots like that are like layups for NBA shooters. Without Paul, most of those shots are contested and the Cavs win this game by double-digits.
It doesn’t get any easier this week. The Cavs have to suck it up and get ready for a very tough back-to-back this weekend (at Detroit and home against the scalding hot Sixers).
March 26th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
A transition year to what?
Wallace and Smith are old as the hills, Sczcerbiak’s no spring chicken either and West is another backup guard from what I can tell (there’s about 8 on the roster now). They need to come together this year because it’s going to be a transition year again pretty soon.
March 26th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Hey, to the guy who wrote the second post: The PD? Jeez, Windy is really freelancing these days.
March 26th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
They better watch out for the teams behind them. All of a sudden that game this weekend against Philly becomes pretty big, considering that the Cavs will lose the night before at Detroit.
March 26th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
Better pull it together fellas because all of a sudden the teams below you are coming and they are coming fast. Put it this way if they fall any lower than the 5th spot they will lose in the first round. They have to hold on to that 4th spot if they want to make some noise in the playoffs.
March 26th, 2008 at 11:53 pm
Writing for the PD would be like writing for the Daily Worker. Any way one slices it they’re both redder than Chief Wahoo’s face.
March 27th, 2008 at 12:58 am
how the hell can you be upset by this loss? we lose by one point by a guy taking a jump shot? a guy who missed pretty much everything he took in the second half?
look, knuckleheads, we DOMINATED this team in the paint and that’s is what MATTERS come playoff time. they hit a lotta three’s. now, windy’s always pooh-poohing when the cavs hit an inordinate amount of 3’s and win, so why in the name of ted stepien should we not point out that the hornets hit a lot of three’s in this ONE POINT VICTORY? we would beat this team in a 7-game series cuz they can’t handle us down low. we out-rebounded them by 15 boards! and shot 50%! gimme those stats any day. and it’s not like we didn’t move the ball. we had 23 assists! they had 27. and excuse me if i don’t join y’all in worshiping at the alter of cpaul. he did shoot 5-17, ya know. not exactly “isiah-like,” now was it?
oh, and we were still without two key players, while they are missing no one. again, why exactly should i be upset by this game?? like LBJ is EVER again gonna have a game where his plus/minus was -3, like it was tonight? puhleeze…
btw, the SOLE reason for this season being a “disappointment” is the injuries/holdouts. PERIOD.
March 27th, 2008 at 4:09 am
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March 27th, 2008 at 4:29 am
definitely a disappointing loss but the team suffers dramatically with varejao starting and wallace not being there inside. let’s see what happens in the last 8 games when, hopefully, the entire team is back. i don’t want to say i’m not worried bc that would be a lie but…
March 27th, 2008 at 5:54 am
I’m lowering my expectations for the outcome of this season so I won’t have a heart attack when they are ousted. Even with all the pieces in places (and there won’t be—this team has been injured all season…why does everyone think they’ll be 100 percent healthy for the playoffs?) their primitive offense will not be enough to beat Boston in the second round. I believe this trade was made for next season, and I also believe one more move will be made. I don’t see West being this team’s starting point guard next year. After seeing the cream of the league crop (Chris Paul), it’s depressing to see what we’ve got. And BTW, I thought the Joe Tait halftime “tribute” was lame. He deserved better. Even the crowd couldn’t muster more than about 10 seconds of cheers when it was time for him to speak. Hopefully when he retires, they’ll send him off much better.
March 27th, 2008 at 6:04 am
At what point do we admit that Delonte West is NOT the answer at point guard? The guy does NOT go to the hole and dish, which is precisely what he should be doing. He’s a horrible shooter with poor shot selection, and a less-than average passer as a point guard. He can rebound some but that’s about it. He’s prone to turnovers and a flat out cranker as a shooter. My hope is that Boobie Gibson takes his minutes away and at least provides a threat that defenses must account for.
Delonte West, I’m sorry to say-plays as bad as he looks.
March 27th, 2008 at 6:13 am
Thanks, kj, for the well-said perspective. Panic is unbecoming a reigning Eastern champion–and especially in its fans. I continue to say Brown’s lineup choices will determine the many ballgames in the playoffs that come down to final possessions. I believe we will see Wallace or Andy, and not Joe Smith (remember the weak box-out late against Vince and the Nets?), when the playoffs begin. Until then, the rotations won’t be as crisp or effective, and three guys won’t cave in to a guy with 19 assists to begin with. I like the Hornets as a team. If it weren’t for LeBron, I might even want to trade for them. But that’s not the case. Go Cavs.
March 27th, 2008 at 6:58 am
[...] via lulu.com and raised funds for Variety. The book is about to be relemediahunter.typepad.comPaul gets last pass, laugh on CavsPaul gets last pass, laugh on Cavs March 26th, 2008 Hornets 100, Cavs 99 ??Not to repeat what I [...]
March 27th, 2008 at 7:13 am
The cavs will lose 5 or 6 of the last eight games. I think it’s time for you cav fans to get real, your team sucks and always will. Just look how far New Orleans has come within a year in the toughest conference. And then look at what the poorly coached, badly constructed Cavaliers have done after 5 years of having Lebron James. Lebron is wasting his time and talent playing for Cleveland.
March 27th, 2008 at 9:13 am
Brian, please stop making excuses for this team. They are not playing up to their abilities. When are you goin got start doing the right thing and point out the deficiencies of Mike Brown. His lack of knowledge and/or his stuborness to fix the offense has to be addressed. If he is the coach of this team next year, there is something wrong. Because Gilbert hired Brown, is Danny powerless to get rid of him? I sure hope not because the man is out coached most games, even in many wins. Bron wills this team to many victories thereby winning in spite of the coach.
March 27th, 2008 at 9:24 am
Why did Lebron drive to the hoop with 7 seconds left on the clock?!??! You know you don’t want to give the ball back to Chris Paul, probably the best PG in the league, with that much time left on the clock!
IMHO, Lebron should have went for the win with about 2 seconds left!!!!
March 27th, 2008 at 10:35 am
I saw LeBron going above screens and giving Paul the space he needed repeatly. Not to take anything away from CP3 but 20 assists by himself almost beat our whole team. LeBron shot less and and still had the same amt of assists? That doesn’t add up to me. Coach holds Andy and Sasha accountable for defensive lapses but both Windhorst and I count more than 1 on LeBron as well. Too often guys have to run the length of the court to guard shots in the corner the rotation needs to be fixed so that the recovery time is minimal. Alot of stuff to fix before the playoffs we will be worse record wise than last year so they better take these last few games as practice not to get send home early…
March 27th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Thoughts on the Cavs’ loss to the Hornets:
- Solid shot by David West, incredible focus and concentration by Chris Paul. If anyone was wondering why people talk about Paul as an MVP candidate, this is why. He creates just as much havoc on the offensive end as LeBron, and he makes all the Hornet’s weapons on offense more effective. West, Chandler, Stojakovic, Pargo, these guys would be mediocre players with an average point guard. Heck, they’d be mediocre players if they were playing with LeBron. But with Paul at the point, each of those guys are strong contributors on the best team in the West. I don’t know if Paul is the MVP, but he’s in the conversation.
- Which raises the question of LeBron’s MVP candidacy. Throughout the season, LeBron has been the best player in the league by far. But in the last two weeks, as we head towards the home stretch of the season, LeBron has been merely great, not transcendent. And last night, an opposing superstar playing with more passion came into his house and beat him. In order to win the MVP for a team that finishes with 45 wins, you have to be fantastic every game. LeBron has been great, but over the last two weeks he has not been the unstoppable force he was throughout the season. Maybe he’s tired, maybe he just realized that he wasn’t going to win the MVP, so he might as well start saving something for the playoffs. But either way, while before it would have been a crime not to give LeBron the MVP, right now I’m no longer sure he’s the best candidate. Fortunately, I’m not the kind of person who takes offense when one of my favorite team’s players doesn’t recieve an individual award.
- I know Stojakovic was 6-9 on threes, but when he outscores LeBron by 4 points, you have to wonder. The Hornets were trapping LeBron quickly, but the fact of the matter is that one of the trappers was still Stojakovic, and Peja can’t keep LeBron from going where he wants. So LeBron just kept cutting into the lane and getting the ball close to the hoop, right? Nope, LeBron decided he didn’t want to bang with Stojakovic, and routinely got the ball way too far from the hoop. Peja should be scared to death when he has to go against LeBron, but LeBron let him off easy last night.
- Delonte West had another bad night, continuing his unconsistency. 5 turnovers in 26 minutes from your point guard is unacceptable, and there were too many “fast breaks” where West decided to take tough, off-balance shots instead of passing the ball. West just simply doesn’t facilitate the offense for anyone else on the team right now. But the worst offense was when he fouled Chris Paul 60 feet from the basket when the team was over the limit. Two free points.
- Damon Jones guarding Stojakovic late? Wouldn’t Sasha have been the better choice, considering the Cavs don’t actually need Damon to bring the ball up the court? Joe Smith over Andy on the last play? I like Smith, but not because of his defense (though admittedly, Andy erased a very good defensive stand in the last minute by letting Tyson Chandler dunk a putback).
Go Cavs.
Mike C.
March 27th, 2008 at 11:35 am
Mike C, The reason the Hornets are a good team is because Byron Scott knows how to run an offense. Don’t blame Lebron. The Cavs suck because of Dan Gilberts silly obsession with being the spurs of the East. The Cavs suck because of instead of building the system around what your best player does best (like the Hornets), Gilbert/Ferry/Brown have built the team around Lebron’s weaknesses. Those idiots are stuck on stupid. Defense wins games, but a lack of offense loses them.
Lebron will never win a MVP award or a championship if he stays in cleveland,Ohio. Having that guy on that team has been a gigantic waste of his talent and youth.
March 27th, 2008 at 11:44 am
Three vital questions:
1) How many different monikers does kj have under his keyboard toolbelt? I’ve lost track.
2) Somebody mentioned that they thought the halftime tribute to Tait was lame. I didn’t see it, please be a little more specific. What did they do, hang one of his sweaters in the rafters, or what?
3) Can people please stop referring to Gibson as an essential piece? Seriously. The guy averages 11 points a game in 32 minutes, is a lousy defender, can’t create, can’t pass. If Gibson plays, then Jones doesn’t. Yes, Gibson has a nice stand-alone shot, but come on. Gibson and Jones are the same one-dimensional guy with different hairdos. Jones sucks wind, but he isn’t clanging his shots as badly as he’d been. Plus, if Jones sits, then he’s going to pout like a girl, and I don’t want to read Windy’s blog to find out the guy is really, really steamed and wearing his shirts backwards again. Plus, I could have sworn they’re paying a pretty-boy white guy, another bad defender but a better rebounder, around $13 million on the cap to shoot Gibson’s shots, too.
March 27th, 2008 at 11:56 am
Let’s blame Joe for missing those freethrows not for trying to cover for LeBron cuz he got beat in the last couple seconds. Coach did tell everybody to stay home but I don’t think Joe had any choice. Freethrows have been a problem all year though. I also agree with the Delonte comments.
March 27th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
This team is in big, big trouble.
March 27th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
In MY opinion, that team we played last night is the best team in the NBA… and we had them beat… without 2 VITAL pieces…
If David West misses that last shot, here’s what the comments would be like:
“This was a good, quality, playoff-caliber win”
“The Cavs really gutted it out, against the best team in the West”
“LeBron for MVP, he did it again!”
Fairweather, flip-flopping, spineless fans… no faith whatsoever.
March 27th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Also, Windy doesnt make excuses for this team. He points out facts and statistical trends that are relevant. Only you fools continue to let your “good” argument get in the way of those facts.
Alan, go root for the Pistons. Seriously, just get lost. You’d fit in perfectly with Boston actually. Even Red Sox fans think you’re obnoxious.
March 27th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Did I really write “unconsistency” and “just simply doesn’t”? My apologies.
March 27th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
hello? is anyone out there?? is there anyone who WATCHED the game out here (and what a surprise, tucker didn’t watch the game! yet, as always, not watching the game is his ticket to comment on the cavs! he’s just great, ain’t he?)?
did you not see the cavs dominate the hornets in the paint? did you not see that we shot 50% from the field? yet, EVERYONE is bitching about the offense. we out-scored them 2-1 in the paint. we had more 17 more rebounds. had 7 more offensive rebounds. and we shot 50 FREAKIN’ PERCENT FROM THE FIELD! how was the offense bad last night? jeebus, if ya wanna focus on one player, then guess what? if his name ain’t LBJ, he’s gonna have a bad night here and there even when the rest of the team plays well! do you really think LBJ is going to have a -3 plus/minus rating (like he did last night) again anytime soon??
now, i will agree with mike c. (who seemingly has crossed over to the “other side” and mentions nearly nothing positive in his “game notes”) that LBJ hasn’t been the god-like basketball genius as of late, but i put that down to us being spoiled combined with him saving something for the playoffs.
of course, people who nothing about basketball will ALWAYS poo-poo the contributions of people like wallace and gibson but they are, esp. wallace for defensive purposes, vital components of this team. people who actually watch the games know that gibson is actually a better defender than his rep and his dead-eye shooting touch has helped this team considerably the last two years.
as for wallace, well, go look at the opp. FG% with wallace the last two weeks and compare that to when he is out. he is a big part of this club’s defense. and since most of you seem to have amnesia, last year we went to the nba finals cuz we played defense, rebounded and had the best player. when this team is healthy i’ve seen NOTHING to make me believe we cannot do the same thing this year. NOTHING. we’ve beaten every good team in the league except the suns and the hornets and both of those were losses that literally came in the last second. what don’t you people get about that?
btw, best laugh-out loud quote of the year by eric: “The Cavs suck because of Dan Gilberts silly obsession with being the spurs of the East.”
hahahahahahahahahaha! yeah! why would we want to emulate the most successful team of the last decade?? why won’t gilbert and ferry change their plans each year to fit whatever the latest fad is? in fact, why not switch every couple of months? yeah, that’s the ticket!!
wow…
March 27th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
“Even Red Sox fans think you’re obnoxious.”
Josh, you know what I think is obnoxious? People who attack anyone that disagrees with them. The other day, I expressed my disgust that Mike Brown would tell a reporter that “I’m not [Lebron's] boss, he’s not my boss.” Ok, you’re not disgusted by that. Great. I get it. You don’t have be an a**hole about it. Unbeknownst to people like you, it’s possible to disagree on a point without calling them “morons” or “ignorant.” (Or, in your case, using the term “too ignorant,” which is funny in its own way. I mean, you’re either ignorant or you’re not.)
But you know what’s even more annoying? The people like you who can’t stand to hear Lebron James criticized for anything. I merely stated that James has improved defensively, but pointed out he wasn’t yet among the league’s elite in that category, and you called me a moron.
Listen, I wasn’t even criticizing Lebron in that statement. But you took it personally because of your unwieldy man-crush on #23. I sincerely believe James is the best player in the NBA, but I’m also pretty certain he’s not God. It’s ok to point out flaws in his game or mistakes he might’ve made in last night’s contest.
But message board terrorists like you patrol these here parts, just waiting to come down on the first person who suggests Lebron may be fallible. Honestly, James could put up a 2-1-2 with 46 turnovers in his next game and it wouldn’t matter; you wine & gold Kool-Aid swilling, Lebron-worshipping, Cavalier fetishists would explain away his sorry performance with a simple “the regular season doesn’t mean anything, anyway” and then go back to your regularly scheduled cyber fawning.
March 27th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
lol @ terry pluto’s hair , funny stuff
this is classic stuff “James could put up a 2-1-2 with 46 turnovers in his next game and it wouldn’t matter; you wine & gold Kool-Aid swilling, Lebron-worshipping, Cavalier fetishists would explain away his sorry performance with a simple “the regular season doesn’t mean anything, anyway” and then go back to your regularly scheduled cyber fawning.”
lol !!!!
March 27th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
That was pretty funny huh nick? lol
lol @ terry pluto’s hair , funny stuff
this is classic stuff “James could put up a 2-1-2 with 46 turnovers in his next game and it wouldn’t matter; you wine & gold Kool-Aid swilling, Lebron-worshipping, Cavalier fetishists would explain away his sorry performance with a simple “the regular season doesn’t mean anything, anyway” and then go back to your regularly scheduled cyber fawning.”
lol !!!!
Pretty funny alright!
March 27th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
LeBron isn’t the best player in the NBA, Kobe still is. LeBron has to improve on defense. If he could develop a post up game he would be unstoppable. He needs to drive to the hoop more too. He should do that in the playoffs and at least get us to the 2nd round.
March 27th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Something to think about lol
LeBron isn’t the best player in the NBA, Kobe still is. LeBron has to improve on defense. If he could develop a post up game he would be unstoppable. He needs to drive to the hoop more too. He should do that in the playoffs and at least get us to the 2nd round.
Gotta think about this one for a bit rofl
March 27th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
Uhh… kj and his 48 very abrasive monikers. If you bothered actually reading what I wrote, I didn’t comment on a game I didn’t see. I asked a question for somebody to fill me in as to the purported lame Tait tribute, and then I noted that it’s silly for anybody to state that a redundant spare part like Gibson hasn’t been playing.
And seriously, does it really matter that Wallace hasn’t been playing? No, I didn’t see the game against the Hornets, but according to the box score I did see, Varejao had 15 rebounds and was 5 of 7 from the field. So I’m guessing that if Varejao did this every game, few people would notice that Wallace needs a new Sealy Posturepedic.
March 27th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
Struck a nerve, did I? Not surprising, since most people on here are used to cranking out self-proclaimed expertise and nodding at each other’s posts approvingly. Considering the vast amount of criticism LeBron receives on this site, for transgressions ranging from speeding tickets to not carrying this team to a title with a blindfold on, I actually view myself to be in the minority in defending him.
TP’s Hair, you poor little victim, let’s throw a pity party so the simpleminded on this site will agree with you and laugh at your petty disdain for the Cavs and their best player. You’re right, how dare someone criticize your well-founded argument that LeBron has yet to win NBA defensive player of the year, therefore he obviously isnt a good defender. How dare I point out that your anti-LeBron bias is completely ridiculous considering you’re a Cavs fan yet all you do is rip the team rather than pointing out what they do well. It’s almost like he has it too good and he’s doing too well, so some ingrates like to pretend that their criticism reaches him to “knock him down a peg or two”. Call it a man-crush all you want, but when some goof in a rocking chair sits around and says “LeBron could/should be better than he is”, all that person is doing is sounding misinformed and, sorry if this penetrates your thin skin, stupid. He’s already the best player in the league and he’s 23 years old. The guy wont hit his peak for another 3-5 YEARS! Think about that. Why dont more people point out the good stuff? The kid is GOOD!
Truth is, I havent taken anything on this site personally, but I do have a serious problem with people who rip on the Cavs front office, the coaching staff, and the players week in and week out for minor, nitpicking things, while completely ignoring all of the good that has gone on this season. There’s no way, with all the injuries, holdouts, setbacks, roster changes, and a difficult schedule, this team should be in the 4 seed. If pointing all of that out to you people makes me an apologist, so BE IT.
…and if being overly critical and ridiculous feeds your need, keep it up and so be it. Just like you have the right to call me an apologist, I have the right to call you a hater.
March 27th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
lol everyone uses other “monikers” lol
Uhh… kj and his 48 very abrasive monikers. If you bothered actually reading what I wrote, I didn’t comment on a game I didn’t see. I asked a question for somebody to fill me in as to the purported lame Tait tribute, and then I noted that it’s silly for anybody to state that a redundant spare part like Gibson hasn’t been playing.
lol, i’m changing my name again to hide myself lol lol!! good stuff!!! lol
March 27th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Also, I love people on this site like Nick and Gomer who jump in like Beavis and Butt-head to agree with anything anyone posts. You brighten my day:
Nick: Did you see what Terry Pluto’s hair said? LOL, OMG, ROTFL!!
Gomer: I know, Nick. Pretty good stuff. LMAO!!
Nick: Yeah, wasnt it? He sounds like Alan Tucker!! NAACP!!
Gomer: haha yeah, you’re right OMFG! Everyone’s right, FCC!
Nick: Yes they are! Well, TTYL!!
March 27th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
Josh, as mentioned before, you lost every ounce of credibility at that fateful moment you compared Drew Gooden to Scottie Pippen, the crack addict’s B-ball equivalent of comparing Sylvester Stallone to Laurence Olivier. But other than that, good job.
March 27th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
Actually Josh, I wasn’t agreeing or disagreeing with anyone. I was mocking Nick for copying/pasting something from the post directly above his as if no one read it and he had to point it out for those not as sharp as him. ITs a pet peeve of mine on forums all the unneeded copying so indulge me in that. While working on a school paper, I would check back and continue to mock the other posts in the same way. This forum over the last week has degenerated to junk and I wanted to add my participation to it. lol lol lol woot woot lol!!!!!! lol
March 27th, 2008 at 11:53 pm
Alan, you continually lose credibility with each and every post you give us, so forgive my small faux pas that you misunderstood to be a direct comparison. I guess we cant all live up to the unreachable “standard” of misinformed, off-base garbage on this board that you have established. We “reckonize” Alan, you’re the Wilt Chamberlain of cynical tripe.
And talk about nerve. Alan talking about credibility. That’ll be the day…
Now allow me to make another comparison. Maybe this one will be more accurate. Alan Tucker is a homeless man’s Skip Bayless, without the education? Which would make Terry Pluto’s hair merely a poor man’s Woody Paige, perhaps.
March 28th, 2008 at 12:15 am
But unfortunately, it wasn’t a faux pas, Josh. It was insane nonsense of a kid talking ridiculous. I ain’t gonna go back and find it, I’ll leave that to somebody out there who has loads of free time, but months later and it still has me chuckling.
Scottie Pippen. Drew Gooden. Yep, identical mega-talents. Tweak Gooden’s nose, and they’re the exact same guy.
March 28th, 2008 at 1:57 am
“Plus he was right to try to leave a little time in case of a miss”
I knew You would say that… But I think its Your Opinion… I was weary and for good reason that there were over 7 seconds left
March 28th, 2008 at 7:27 am
Uh oh…looks like comaguy found a cause worthy enough to post every hour for. Someone made a faux paus and he’s running with it. Gosh, if people pointed out every contradictory and wrong statement he’s ever made, this blog would break whatever record there may be for longest web blog ever!
Let’s continue the recent quoting trend and guess who wrote it and also guess who it could be written about…
“you lost every ounce of credibility at that fateful moment”
“It was insane nonsense of a kid talking ridiculous. I ain’t gonna go back and find it, I’ll leave that to somebody out there who…”
If you guessed the one and only comaguy, you win future worthless posts from that inane idiot! Woohoo!
hey, before I go, let me add a silly metaphor comparing third world lepers to a poor man’s Michael Crichton and just say thats the bball equivalent to Devin Brown knowing how to read a book. Yah, I am teh smart! You all have been schooled.
March 28th, 2008 at 7:30 am
Oh, and Windhorst sucks…Ferry is a baldfaced monkey boy, Gilbert is having a financial crisis and Lebron is levaing you losers!
NOW, you’ve been schooled!
March 28th, 2008 at 8:05 am
wow, so nice to see some people actually pointing out the ludicrous stupidity of the tuck and his lackey tph. i’m surprised doc hasn’t jumped in to try to defend his miserly hero alan yet. thanks josh and rick.
March 28th, 2008 at 8:16 am
Of course he was right to leave time in case he missed. You guys haven’t watched much basketball in your days, obviously. At home down by one, you get a basket as quickly as you can IN CASE you miss. If the game is tied, you leave no time on the clock. Not really hard to understand. That’s been standard practice in basketball for years.
As far as James’ overall game? He was way too passive. I forgot who mentioned it above, but he wasn’t looking to exploit Peja at all. James should never, and I do mean never, take only 13 real shots (the last and 14th shot was the 65 footer at the end) in a close game. That made no sense. The game before he took 25 jumpers (an exaggeration but not too much of one) and this game he hardly looked at all to score. Unlike the majority of commenters here, I won’t speculate as to why he played that way in the last two games. Although, I will say, it was not a good way to play. They need him to score or they won’t win. But as an aside, a great game by Z. Fantastic game by Z. Knocked down his open jumpers and abused a good defender like Chandler in the paint. But as usual, nobody stepped up to help him or James.
And Jay, yes James is the best. If you watched Kobe as closely as you do james, you’d nitpick him, too.
March 28th, 2008 at 10:18 am
See the problem with this blog is there are 2 extremes that dominate the subject matter. The fans who are the supporters and the fans who go out of their way to point out every little thing wrong with the franchise. Nothing the team does is right and by gosh, if this kind of fan was running the team, they’d go undefeated every year and make untold billions in profit. Because only one team wins a championship every season, this type of fan will almost always be vindicated in the end and will never concede defeat or a lost argument. On the off-chance the team they “root” for does win, they will disappear into the void with lame reasoning only to make their magnificent re-entry into the debates the first chance something breaks down or goes wrong with the team.
The first type wants the team to succeed while the 2nd can’t wait to say “I told you so.” The first are what you call homers, the second aren’t really fans at all, are a lot more vocal and will twist anything that is said with a negative spin. The two will NEVER see each others side nor will they agree to disagree and reach any kind of medium, constantly bickering at one another at every opportunity.
Then there are those who are fans but also realists in knowing only one team will win a championship every season. They see flaws in their team but they also see whats good about the team. They will acknowledge the bad without the rabid hate of the naysaying “fan” and they will support the positives of the team without being blinded by thoughts of a future dynasty in the making. The majority of the fans for any team are of this variety but they are also in the vocal minority and anything they have to say gets lost in the shouting of the homer fan wanting every fan to be an unwavering supporter and the screaming of the naysaying fan to doubt and hate and ridicule.
This blog, save for 2-3 people who choose to dominate it, is actually pretty good and has a nice mix of thoughts, and opinions (positive and negative). The extremes, however, do ruin it. Such is the way of the internet I suppose. As long as they are anonymous, they will have the power to post and say whatever they want. I was watching All Bets Are Off on Sportstime Ohio the other day and wondered what would happen if a certain comaguy would call in and try his typical nonsense on air. He would be ridiculed, laughed at and berated for the nonsense he is able to get away with here. I guess as long as he is able to be the number one bestest ass in this type of venue, he can continue to assume he is a big fish in a little pond and barring a Cavs title, feel vindicated at every opportunity. If and when Lebron leaves, the biggest and loudest “I told you so” will come from him and then as the Cavs struggle after that to win 20-30 games a year, he will be the happiest man alive…excluding any sudden coma emergencies, that is.
March 28th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Is kj also Rick? Is Rick also kj? Is Rick also ttss? Is ttss also kj? Is The Genius Rick? Is The Genius kj? Is Joe Taint kj? Is Joe Taint Rick? Did Michael Reghi actually say that Larry Hughes is wonderful and he can’t be more “effusive” about it? Did Rick just write a dissertation or a novel? Will the FCC approve the Sirius/XM merger? All deeply profound questions.
March 28th, 2008 at 11:08 am
Why is everyone so obsessed with this alan fellow?
March 28th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
wow josh , you are a fool ,huh ? where did i agree with anything he said , i found it quite funny . but in your case i guess hit dogs holler .
March 28th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
gomer , your so called pet peeve means nothing to me
March 28th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
gomer , your attempted mock was rather lame , even the genius that is josh did not get it .
March 28th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Nick, save your run-on sentences and 2nd grade punctuation for a debate you can win, tough guy.
Gomer, thanks for the material, and I appreciate your mature response to my obvious attempt to lighten the mood.
Alan, I suggest you go back and find it, because I remember making the comparison, but I certainly never tried to make the point that Drew Gooden was even in the same Universe as Pippen. I’m sure your simple mind loves to twist it in such a way, but this time, trust my young brain with a functional memory, grampa. Just because you cant remember things, dont make things up to fill the empty void.
Here’s a deeply profound question…
If someone claiming to be a Cavs fan constantly and consistently berates, criticizes, and roots against the Cavs, at what point does his right to call himself a Cavs fan come into question? At what point should he just do what feels right and root for Boston?
Go ahead Alan, hop on out of that closet with your Celtics gear on. We all know your true colors, just make it official and get it over with.
March 28th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Josh…
Don’t ever change. Your mind is a medical marvel. At first I thought you only lashed out at people who disagree with you.
But in your response, you’re calling me a moron for AGREEING WITH YOU. I’m not “anti-Lebron,” you twit. I called him the best player in the league. And you respond with
“How dare I point out that your anti-LeBron bias is completely ridiculous considering you’re a Cavs fan yet all you do is rip the team rather than pointing out what they do well.”
It doesn’t matter what anyone writes. You’ll read into it whatever you want to. I’m willing to bet you’re either schizophrenic or (worse yet) still in high school. Either way, I can see there’s no way to debate with you civilly or logically.
Therefore, I surrender. You’re right about everything, you’re smarter than I am, and you’re a better Cavs fan.
Long live the Wine & Gold regime.
March 28th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Ooh I know the answer to this one…”If someone claiming to be a Cavs fan constantly and consistently berates, criticizes, and roots against the Cavs, at what point does his right to call himself a Cavs fan come into question? At what point should he just do what feels right and root for Boston?”
Because he is the antithesis to being a fan. If he were a fan of any other team (doesn’t have to be Boston), he would take the same pot shots at them as he does the Cavs. The things he praises other teams, other players, other writers, other franchises for are the same things he would degrade on any team he would “root” for.
The guy has one sad pathetic life and is the type of personality that can’t take joy or happiness from anything and wants to bring everything down to his level. Simple as that.
March 28th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Gomer, how in the world can James develope a post game playing for Mike(only defense matters) Brown? I’ve said before and I’ll say it now, Lebron is not being developed and is having his talent wasted playing the Cavs.
March 28th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Speaking of pathetic lives Rick, why are you on here every second of the day waiting to battle somebody over the internet. Loser.
March 28th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Because my one single mission in life is to prove how pathetic comaguy is and I will not rest until I have won!
Thanks for the support Jonny/Alan T./Tucker/Comaguy
March 28th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Besides don’t you know thats how all meaningful battles are won in this new age…anonymous verbal sparring in the cyberworld. Get with it Jonny/Alan T./Tucker/Comaguy. Sheesh!
March 28th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
what’s the matter josh , you’re mad that you were called out for having a man crush ? next time i won’t laugh , did not know you were so sensitive(obvious you’re no tough guy)
March 28th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Gibson’s a vital piece of this team because he hustles and is constantly the best shooter on the team better than LBJ as well. Simple. Any comments about the game or the last shot? He also is better in his second year than most in their 8th or 9th year…
March 28th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Well, Art is Art, isn’t it? Still, on the other hand, water is water! And East is East and West is West and if you take cranberries and stew them like applesauce they taste much more like prunes than rhubarb does. Now, uh… Now you tell me what you know.
March 28th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Yo BW! Cleveland has been locked out of the #3 spot for weeks, they’d have to beat Detroit cuz even if they did get more W’s than Orlando, Orlando would win their division and be #3.
Who cares if Lebron gets screwed out of a third MVP by a bunch of yuppies? I believe that Cleveland will be Eastern Conference Champs (thanks to LBJ going OFF!)and the fakers will lose early, making him just another Western MVP with a fancy record and no rings. Lets face it, Shaq had more to do with those rings in LA than Kobe and the fakers have been shitty ever since he left. Cuz Kobe can’t do it alone like Lebron, and Lebron is gonna prove it again.
March 28th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
This team is still in big, big trouble.
March 28th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Jim, that’s not how the seeding works. If you win your division, you’re guaranteed a spot no lower than 4th. They changed it a few years ago. So, hypothetically, if the Cavs were to pass Orlando in the standings (which they won’t), the Cavs would be #3 and Orlando would be #4.
The way things are going now though, the Cavs oughta be worrying about becoming #5.
March 28th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Rick on 3/28 at 10:18 am — GREAT post.
March 28th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
Uh… Rick/tsstc/and/or whatever your multiple screen names are. Considering I left for work at 11 AM, then went straight to the Blue Jackets game from work, I hate to break the news to ya, pal, but twas not my post. There are other people out there who see you for the trolling instigating stalking creep you are, an Internet sniper, a fellow with way too much time on his hands. Nice try, though.
March 29th, 2008 at 8:48 am
By the way, great job Kobe! Losing AT HOME to the Bobcats and Grizzlies. No No, really great job Kobe. There really is no doubt that you are the mvp now. You, the new teamwork oriented version of Kobe, really rallied your troops and almost beat the worst two teams in the league at home when it mattered most.
It really is sad that with this country’s sports media constantly jock sniffing the large markets, that a guy like Kobe will almost assuredly win the MVP when he is probably only the 3rd best choice after Lebron and Chris Paul. Kobe is a great player, but there is ZERO excuse for what has transpired in LA in the last 3 days. Enjoy your “Lifetime Achievement Award” Kobe.
March 29th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
I don’t know … regardless of those two losses, when Shaquille O’Neal himself says he thinks Bryant deserves it, then maybe Bryant does indeed deserve it.
March 29th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Thank you Cedric, thank you Jim, thank you Brian, thank you Rick…. wow, how refreshing! People with brains posting on this forum. What a difference a day makes! Kobe… Memphis? Charlotte? That’s gotta hurt the cause.
TP’s hair… You are at a crossroads, and I actually feel sorry for you. It seems you have been on this site reading Alan’s blather for so long, he has broken you and you now view the world with the same putrid negativity that he does. I think there is a loyal Cavs fan inside you somewhere, so go ahead and let it out. Pointing out LeBron’s occaisional bad game is one thing, but I have been back on here posting for the better part of a month now, and all I see are “Alan-esque”, armchair quarterbacking comments from you. Backhanded compliments are not compliments, and saying “LeBron is the best player in the league, BUT…” rings hollow every time you say it.
I’m sorry if I made your ovaries hurt, but the time finally came where I couldnt read it anymore without dropping my 2 cents, which has now turned into 20 bucks due to the extent and quantity of the elephant dung I read on this site. It was not my goal to isolate you, and you arent even the worst one.
Take a deep breath and hang in there till the playoffs. Dont forget last year so easily.
March 29th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
I don’t know…regardless of those two losses, if Shaquille O’Neal himself said he thinks Lebron deserves it, then maybe somebody here would have mocked it and ridiculed the statement, as well as Shaq himself, and probably thrown in a jab at Windhorst for mentioning it. I don’t know…
How funny that this comaguy thinks there is only *one* person on this blog who has problems with his posts and this *one* constantly posts under different monikers just to make it seem like a whole army of folks have disdain for Mr. Coma. You gotta be smarter than that don’t ya? How egoitistical or idiotic do ya have to be to assume only one person rejects you as a human on these boards?
Hey, by the way, you never did say how last years coma emergency turned out. Is that person in a much better place now that they don’t have to be near you anymore or are they hoping for another coma just to get you to shut your negativity for a while? OR, here’s a thought, was there really no coma emergency but because the Cavs were doing real well in the playoffs, a coma was the best thing you could come up with?
March 30th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Not to mention that IF this roster comes together and players like Wallace get healthy, the exact same scenario could happen again in this year’s playoffs. I’ll never forget how foolish people were made to look last year. The Cavs made a ton of people eat crow, from Charles Barkley all the way down to the bottom of the societal totem pole where Alan resides. It made last year’s run even sweeter, so keep it up guys. I’d love a repeat.