Links to the Present: November 11, 2013
2013-11-11
“The Cavs weren’t surprised by Bynum’s candid comments. They believe it’s natural for him to feel that way at this point, and that’s likely true. He tweaked his knee coming down from a dunk Wednesday and grimaced in pain. He was able to continue, but it was yet another reminder of his road ahead.
Still, no one on either side believes Bynum will actually retire in the middle of this season — barring a significant setback. He’s worked too hard, come too far to walk away now.
“His heart is in this place,” one source with close ties to Bynum said this week. “Everybody knows he’s a different kid. He’s never sought the limelight of L.A. or New York. The organization and people of Cleveland have been wonderful to him and he’s very happy.”” [Jason Lloyd – Akron Beacon Journal]
“The Cavs say Bynum has worked extremely hard to get back to where he is now. He’s nowhere near where he once was as a player with the Los Angeles Lakers. Will he somehow find a way to regain that athleticism? It would be a wonderful story if he did, but it’s unlikely.
He’s a proud man, and a very intelligent one. I can’t see him continuing with this comeback unless he has a breakthrough, some kind of renaissance.” [Bob Finnan – The News Herald]
““I felt it was the right time to experiment,” Brown said. “It makes us that much more dynamic [offensively]. They can all create, shoot and pass. It was a neat thing to watch those guys feed off each other. The trust and belief was there.”
What it gives the Cavs on offense it can take away defensively, which is why Brown may have to be careful when he uses it. Both Irving and Jack are listed at 6-foot-3 and Waiters is 6-4, which could leave the Cavs vulnerable against some of the league’s bigger wings.” [Jason Lloyd – Akron Beacon Journal]
“For the record, Mays wound up hitting .274 that first year. He batted .284 after the 1-for-26 start. He played only 34 games (.236 average) in 1952 before being drafted into the Army, missed all of 1953, then returned to lead the National League in batting in 1954 and catch Vic Wertz’s fly in the World Series.
So there is that.” [Bill Livingston – Cleveland Plain Dealer]
“– 15 – The combined number of offensive rebounds and blocks from Andy and Tristan. The energy and hustle from this front court duo wreaked havoc on Philly all night long, generating extra possession after possession. In a game this close, every possession matters. The Cavs out rebounded Philadelphia by 6 and blocked 7 more shots than the 76ers. While there was some difficulty containing the uber athletic Thaddeus Young, both Andy and Tristan ended the game with double-doubles.” [Ryan Jones – WFNY]
“Waiters is aggressive for all of his minutes. He has made critical baskets at the end of the third quarter when he has played 43 minutes. He is still driving, still finding his way to the basket. He has retrieved his own missed free throw.” [Cleveland Jackson – Stepien Rules]
“Kyrie Irving, meet Derrick Rose. For the first time.” [Sam Amico – Fox Sports Ohio]
I’m way late to this party, but my oh my did the commenting section amuse me this time around.
Best line — “KJ, are you Dion Waiter’s agent?”
HAHAHA! Yes, I second that.
Okay you’re clearly delusional. Keep reading articles that make you upset. I’ll see you, TT, and Waiters at the all-star game.
People who average double-double’s on winning teams get all-star consideration every single year. Period.
Oh and for you “perspective” people, Det and Wash are each 2-5.
TT was ranked 33rd In PER last year amongst active PFs. Granted that doesn’t mean he’s the 33rd best PF but certainly doesn’t suggest all-star. His #s are worse this year but small sample size. I think he can certainly make top ten but don’t see him as a perennial all-star.
Nine players league-wide last year averaged a double-double in points and rebounds. TT will most assuredly will do that this season. Yet you haven’t “seen anything that suggests all-star,” eh? Nothing at all? Not even a suggestion?
Ok.
KJ are you Dion Waiters agent? You seem to get really upset to Waiters criticism. It’s unfortunate that the Cavs drafted so high in such poor draft classes, but I haven’t seen anything that suggests all-star when I see Waiters or Thompson. Ultimately for this team to go anywhere they will need a bonafide all-star to join Kyrie. I like Waiters and TT but I don’t see them as anymore than role players.
Aksel, you claim Lyndall was “looking big picture.” How is that possible after 7 games? I mean, this team features numerous new players, new coaches and a new style (defensive). How can one claim to look “big picture” when the picture is so unquestionably undefined? I’m sorry but where did any one write that the Cavs would win 50? NO ONE said that. Lyndall sets up that straw man argument all on his own. You seem like a genuine poster but please, do not let Lyndall’s vaguely defined discomfort take your eyes off the prize. I look at the facts.… Read more »
The article throws out a “gut feel” that is a normal thing given our current set of circumstances. But there’s more to it than what we’re feeling in our gut. Think facts!. High level basketball is at least 50% experience and chemistry. It’s obvious when you watch the most successful teams. I believe the 16 teams that made the playoffs last year had the 16 highest average ages. Think about this, Miami Heat was a mess for 3/4 of a year after putting LeBron, Wade, and Bosh together. Guys were crying in the locker room. Last year, we didn’t think… Read more »
Hmm. Where did I link to that article on twitter?
I admit I did read it – but I don’t recall tweeting it or sharing it. Is twitter hiding something from me? Only WFNY thing I tweeted about was a “good job, good effort” tweet to Scott Sargent for his piece (which was not the piece that you guys are so scientifically dissecting) It’s a good read though – maybe we need another LTTP for today
Aksel,
That blogpost has zero information. The writer is just off his/her meds and feeling sad. He/she doesn’t feel like when then Cavs had LeBron. Well, Duh!
Kj, thanks for pointing out the obvious for those who cannot see it.
posted a reply half an hour ago … that hasn’t posted. comment monster?
Thank you for defining debate for me. Again, the perspective offered in the blog post is a big picture perspective, not a reaction to 7 games, but rather the observation, or expression of concern, that the “rebuild” hasn’t yielded the success one could reasonably hope to see in its third year. How one chooses to present individualized statistics (for TT or Dion, for example) was not the point. The question was, do we expect to see a 50-win team in the third year, as similar successful rebuilds have produced. KJ, like you, I desperately hope that the pieces assembled by… Read more »
Yes. REASONABLE DEBATE is welcome. Who are these “stars” we should have picked, pray tell? Again, I am dealing in the factual world. Not some panic-induced ennui-based world brought on after 7 games. TT is going to avg a double-double. That is not common. Dion is getting better and will continue to do so ( esp love his steal numbers) in this, his SECOND YEAR. It was a HORRIBLE blogpost. It was filled with vague, incomplete thoughts that had little bearing in reality. After 7 games. Btw, debate implies each side bring an argument to the table. All Lyndall did… Read more »
Ah, yes, the old “stupidest blogpost ever” defense. The author of the post doesn’t reference either Barnes or Jonas, his primary point is that yet the fit of the roster (what the site mods have referred to as roster construction) is poor and that ears of high picks have not yielded a second star: “It’s the concern that this team also failed to land any kind of real star with their high picks after Kyrie Irving.”
Is it too much to expect reasonable debate in the comment section?
That is the stupidest blogpost ever. You know who is first in the Atlantic division right now? The Celtics. That is how useful it is to freaking panic after 7 or 8 games. The FACT is that both TT and Waiters are performing better (I would say far better) than Jonas and Barnes, the two players everyone seems to think we “should have” drafted. THIS IS A FACT. The Cavs are playing terrific defense for the most part and their superstar is struggling. Yet they’re still around .500. As I have said before, no team in the East has the… Read more »
Tom Pestak linked to this on twitter
And I have to say that, yes, it summarizes many of my concerns about the roster. One doesn’t need to be negative to recognize this argument.
Bynum was never about the glitz of LA. If anything his maladaptive behavior here was because of the unreasonable expectations that were placed upon him because of Shaq/Kareem/Wilt/etc. In Cleveland people will be happy with him just being the best him that he can be He respects that.
Bulls got a lot of cheap foul calls with some lever trickery. I never realized they are not that special offensively. Defense : OH YEAH! The repeatedly just ran into our guys and even would place a foot back behind the 3 point mark when it look lie they were falling. They were great baiting our guys to get foul call and off to free throw land they go. That’t it! Rather a cheesy way to get points much like D-Wade does. I think they CAN win over the Bulls next time if and only if 1) play 20% better… Read more »
Dunleavy averaging 7.8 points a game, including tonight’s 15. Great shooter, but not too difficult to guard.
As it relates to my comment above, last night’s game is exactly what I didn’t want to happen. Cavs lose a game that they were likely to lose, considering the circumstances. Irving plays 41, Tristan 39…now the mini-road trip continues with the team more tired than before. Should have geared up for Wednesday.
How did I leave out McLemore: … 8.8 … 2.3 … 0.7 in 20 minutes.
So much for my theory that Bynum starting is good for Bennett. Bennett appears to be out of the rotation completely. Amazing.
Adams has looked pretty good. I trust McLemore has been meh as well?
Thought for tonight…limit Kyrie, Dion, Tristan, and Jack’s minutes to 30 each. Limit Andy to 25. Those guys all killed themselves on Saturday. Give Miles some more run tonight. Give Bynum at least 15 minutes and Zeller a little burn. Bulls are on two night’s rest, and the Cavs struggle against them anyways. If they can win with those minute limits great; if not, gear up for Minnesota. The Wolves played in LA against the Lakers last night, and play what will surely be a hotly contested game against the Clippers tonight. Then a cross country flight to tip-off against… Read more »
Here’s a short list of rookie performance thusfar . . . (Points. Rebounds. Assists. Minutes.) Oldadipo 11.4 4.3 3.3 in 25.4 minutes. Good. Not great (though he’s shown great potential.) Carter-Williams 18.7 5.9 8.1 in 37 minutes. Steal of the draft. Cody Zeller 5.2 3.3 0.5 in 17 minutes. Nothing special. Alex Len 2.5 1.5 0.0 in 10 minutes. Bennett like. Kelly Olynyk 8.0 5.1 1.1 in 22 minutes. Couple of ok outings, but meh. ‘bazz Muhammad 0.7 0.3 0.0 in 4 minutes. Sergey Karasev 0.0 0.0 0.0 in 3 minutes. Caldwell-Pope, Steven Adams, Adetokunbo, Schroeder, Gobert, Franklin, Bullock, Crabbe… Read more »
Saw some twitter rumblings that maybe Bynum will start tonight. I think that could help Bennett. Currently, with Miles, Jack, and Bynum, Bennett is #4 option in 2nd unit. If Bynum goes to 1st unit, Bennett is #1 post option in 2nd unit. I wanna see some Bennett post touches.