Not a Recap: Cavs 92, Charlotte 101
2014-03-08
No one signed up to recap last night, and it went unnoticed. The Cavs played the Bobcats tight, leading midway through the fourth, but couldn’t get buckets or stops when needed down the stretch. Charlotte is playing pretty well right now, winning six of their last ten and in their previous game dusting the Pacers by twenty. Al Jefferson is a load in the post and is destroying all comers; tonight it was 28 points on 12 of 18 shooting. Kemba Walker is quietly having a really excellent season and tonight added 20 points and 14 assists, against 1 turnover.
For the Cavs, Kyrie couldn’t get it going, finishing with 13 points on 5 of 17 shooting, with 5 assists and 4 turnovers. Luol Deng tallied 19 points and 6 boards, while Dion pitched in 18 and 3 steals.
The schedule is about to get brutal and it appears only one of these two teams is going to the playoffs. It’s not the Cavs.
@Ricardo – I’ think you must be confusing me with someone else. I knew that the 6 game winning streak – almost all of those wins against the weakest teams in the league – was nothing more than a mirage. I knew 20ish games in that we had all wildly overestimated this team and that the Cavs weren’t likely making the playoffs. This season has been a train wreck. The only reason that some of the CtB community can’t see the Cavs as the train wreck that they are is that the Eastern Conference is so bad that we seem… Read more »
It seemed like Dion was creating a lot of shots last night, but Kyrie wasn’t hitting 3’s. I liked the looks though. I clearly remember one play where Dion laid it off for Tristan perfectly, but instead of going up strong he dribble into al jefferson and got stuffed. I also think a 3 guard lineup with Dion kyrie and cj would work a little more nicely than with deny because a lot of dion and kyrie drives create open looks for 3, but Deng isn’t a great 3 point shooter. Dion is still taking a few frustrating shots, but… Read more »
Al Jefferson is one of only five players averaging 20 and 10. Every team does not have a player like that. Dude is the most underrated player in the NBA.
Can we tank yet? The core of this team lacks talent.
@RICARDO Don’t tell me how we like the players and coaches when they were winning. that is part of my point about the inconsistency. I don’t care that they strung together a 6 game winning streak. I care that for quarter to quarter in almost every game the are inconsistent. I understand that all teams go thru scoring droughts but the cavs droughts are much worse. and this happen when LBJ was here. the team always seem flat after half time. the difference was that we had LBJ now we don’t. I and so sick of watching a good half… Read more »
a lot of good comments today—-underdog you are fired up today—-in rare form—-a lot of different ways to end the remainder of season ( 19 games)—- do we have a legit chance at the 8th spot ( appears like a 5 team race right now —–tonights game is another big game if this is the avenue we take )—-do we intentionally start tanking–play all our subs / which I think would leave a bitter taste/ negative attitude for the off season—–would still like to see more time for Bennett and possibly karasev—–do we blow it up in the off season… Read more »
I agree Underdog that Charlotte is not that special of a team. A lethargic cavs team still had a good chance to win this game at the 5 minute mark of the 4th qtr. What’s frustrating is the same problems for the cavs just keep recurring. It is no shock to anyone on CtB that Tristan has a hard time guarding stretch 4’s. But down the stretch of the 4th qtr – who is guarding Charlotte’s’ stretch 4, McRoberts?? Any guesses? TT that’s who. Anybody surprised at the 3:39 mark of the 4th when the ball works its way to… Read more »
Let’s be real, 24-39 is not worthy of a playoff spot. Even if they went on an absolute tear and won 16 of the final 19 remaining games they’d still be below .500 in a weak conference. I don’t want to see them go to the playoffs just to go or because the owner thinks its imperative. I want a competitive team that has a chance to win a playoff series and, although they are playing much better, they are a long way away from that.
Greyrat: “I find myself liking the players, but hating how they play.” That’s where I am.
I’m right there with Greyrat (above). I disagree with anyone that says Charlotte is special in any way. So they get hot and win a few games. Been there. Jefferson’s a good scoring big man. Every team has a guy like that. His defense is decent, but nothing special. And I’ve seen no-names push our guys around on the boards more than him (7 rebounds). Oh yeah, he’s “big” too. I wish the Cavs had a “big” guy. Kemba Walker scored all his points late in the game on wide open shots. For three quarters – to me – he… Read more »
Is “continue to strive for playoffs this year” the best preparation for next year? Maybe we stay in that “competitive” mode, but tweak lineups and adjust minutes for a few players? We need to find out all we can about Hawes. Even if his game is what we’re looking for, he is obviously an emotional player. Is it good emotion? Can it – over time – turn into a type of emotion that is deleterious to the team? AB needs at least 15 minutes a game. I’m not concerned about Bennett’s skill set. Can he be intense? Can he be… Read more »
I didn’t mention how Al Jefferson dominated our bigs in my joke recap. This is self evident by anyone looking at the box score. He actually dominated more than the box score shows. Just bad basketball. Was the team serious that this was a “”playoff” type game for them?? Surely that was not a serious statement. Just can’t be. There was no urgency at any point during the game. None. The Cavs played like a team that was 60-20 just waiting for the season to be over so the playoffs can start. Strike that – they played like a 20-60… Read more »
Where was the ball movement last night? It was all dribbling and iso. The players have had a taste of the success (and fun) that occurs with good ball movement . . . San Antonio gave them a full demonstration of how it works . . . and yet all they did was dribble around in this critical game? What does that say about the basketball IQ, or perhaps bullheadedness, of this group? After last night’s result, it becomes apparent that we transition to be playing for next year. (I know, for many of you “3% chancers” we should have… Read more »
I can recap for you: The cavs displayed very poor offense. Just 16 assists. Many shots were contested difficult shots. The offense is lethargic and boring. The players were also lethargic and boring. Is this how this team gets up for a “playoff” type game. Not surprisingly the defense was also very poor. The cavs continued with their poor perimeter defense (Jack and Irving mainly) and were scorched in the first half by a young Ray Allen – oops I mean Chris Douglas-Roberts, a 4.8 ppg scorer. I believe he had 13 at the half on 4 threes – one… Read more »
I don’t understand you people. When the team was winning, everyone only had good words for the players/coach, but after a few losses, everyone needs to go: waiters doesn’t click with Irving, Thompson it’s completely useless, Brown doesn’t know how to coach,etc. The loss against the Spurs was a tough one, but then again, they beat Miami the other day, and by a large margin. The same Miami that was going trough a very good playing streak. The same Miami team that won the last championship. I think that multiple times last night the team was near to lettin go… Read more »
The Cavs do not have any “must win” games left this year. This is not a good team. And, even in the sorry Eastern Conference, the Cavs are not going to be a playoff team. Dan Gilbert needs to find someone to run this team. Instead he keeps promoting/hiring/re-hiring Dumb and Dumber. Failing to unload Deng before the trade deadline was inexcusable. The only dumber move left is overpaying him to stay, so stay tuned to see if the Cavs offer him a 4-year/$40+ milloin to stay. Acquiring Hawes for a so-called playoff push when we had <5% chance of… Read more »
oh I forgot jack should be a bench player at best. and if he doesn’t improve and become more of a spot up 3 point shooter than trade him for whatever u can get. if cant get much worse. the dude irritates me so much when he has a open 3 from a pass and he decides to dribble, step in 2 feet and then shoot. If hes shooting from that range it better b a 3 every time not a 2pointer 1 foot away from the 3 point stripe.i want to pull my hair out.
I am a die hard Cleveland fan in all sports, but this team needs blown up. the talent is not as good as expected at the beginning of the season, and the coaching is below average at best. I think with a better coach Kyrie could play adequate D, waiters can be good in the league as a 6th man. As long as MB is coach, Deng is not worth the money he will want after this year, and even with a better coach I don’t know if he is worth the $$. I like Hawes but I don’t know… Read more »
This was a must win after two days rest and the sense of urgency wasn’t there. Very disappointing.
There definitely seemed like a lull in concentration last night, with numerous turnovers for no particular reason, and missing loads of uncontested 3s. Still, an entertaining game, and each of the Cavalier’s young players had moments where they showed their potential.
sorry but this team is just not that good and when somebody doesn’t step up this whole team never has chance to win a game. once again tristan looks useless getting rejected repeatedly under the basket and he never shoots even 5 feet from the basket let alone makes it. kyrie gets outplayed by kemba once again and al jefferson just abused the Cavs front line all night and even the younger Zeller pushed around his bro and Cavs as well. injuries aside this was a must win and the Cavs put themselves in a hole almost from the beginning… Read more »