Merry Christmas & Live Thread (Cavs @ Heat)
2014-12-25
Merry Christmas, Cavs fans! This thread is up a few hours early in order to wish you and yours the very best this holiday and throughout the coming year. Our biggest treat? A Christmas day game in Miami. It should be entertaining as the Cavs take on the Heat. Storylines abound: Luol Deng takes on his old team, and hey, so does LeBron James.
A somber shadow hangs over this game. Anderson Varejao’s season ending achilles injury seems even tougher on Christmas day. My thoughts and prayers go out to him. It can’t be easy to go from playing one minute to being done for the season the next. I wouldn’t even want to watch my teammates on TV. Here’s to a speedy and healthy recover, Andy.
It will be interesting to see who starts at center. Does Blatt start Tristan, or bring him off the bench, where he’s been very effective this season? Against many teams, a token start for Brendan Haywood might make sense, but with Miami already missing their best big (Bosh is likely out), they’re going to be playing small ball anyway.
If you’re looking for something to do between now and the game, check out our Christmas Wish List for all the Cavaliers. Merry Merry, and go Cavs!
Seriously, though. After reading through the thread, it sure seems like everyone got some coal in their stockings. Family commitments prevented me from watching the game, but I saw most of the high/low lights. Before we hit the spiked egg nog too hard, here’s three points I was considering. 1) Nobody mentioned this (I think), but (at least in the highlights) it looked like LBJ was visibly affected by the emotions from his return to Miami (especially in the first half). This game was eerily similar to the opener against the Knicks. There’s just something about these big, emotional games… Read more »
I think people here are most upset with the lack of effort and visible passion. These players are getting paid millions to run a finesse game with no heart. We need player with cajones to get out there and show this means something to them. Hell, even Chris Bosh crying after the Heat’s 9-8 start in 2010 was more manliness than we’ve seen from this group.
Maybe, but you could say that about 80% of sports teams these days. I think there’s a spotlight on this game for Cavs fans because this was the Heat. Don’t think the reaction is quite this strong if this isn’t a Cavs loss in a nationally televised return to Miami. We all wanted to see the Cavs stick it to DWade and the broken down Heat, but they once again allowed a lesser team to win because they beat themselves with turnovers, missed free-throws and lack of effort (minus Dion and TT). Bottom line is that this team can afford… Read more »
Merry Christmas everybody! What’d I miss?
How about we relax. Who really thought the Cavs were really winning the title this year? Here are a few positives from this game: 1. Dion and TT really developing. Finally those picks that looked suspect at the time are paying off. 2. The young guys are playing a playoff level game almost every night, which is something new for them (including Love). This will pay off down the line and if you don’t believe me you haven’t been paying attention to the Spurs. Overall these bandwagon Cavs fans have to relax. Do you think getting LeBron was all it… Read more »
Yep. 100% agree with this.
This +20. And if the Cavs do make a run this year, it will be because of growth over the course of the year. Early season games will continue to be rocky. But its better than last year.
Wins and losses are frequently determined by execution down the stretch. The Cavs didn’t execute tonight and they lost. If they had, they would have beaten Miami.
Beyond that, every game features things that we as fans like (Dion’s 4th quarter effort), and things we don’t. Each night’s match up is different. The Cavs are a good, but not a dominant, team. I think they’d be better if they got Love and Waiters more touches on offense.
What bothers me about this Cavs team is the lack of consistent, sustained effort. They have to know that they will get most teams’ best effort every night, but they seem surprised by it. I can’t imagine anyone is happy with where things stand after 28 games. I was a big fan of hiring Blatt. I’m disappointed thus far. I know he can coach, but he’s coaching like a rookie. 1. Blatt needs to settle on rotations and shorten minutes on our starters. I think part of the reason that Lebron seems uncharacteristically stuck in fourth gear is fatigue. He’s… Read more »
where is cols when we need him——it seems like deja vu —play well for 5 games get everyone excited —and then ” go lay and egg ” and reiterate the same excuses—-we need to learn that we all need to bring the nergy and intensity every night—-tey are going to be saying the same excuses when they get eliminated from the EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS—–ROTATIONS WERE TERRIBLE TONIGHT STARTING WITH THE STARTING LINE UP—-IS HAYWOOD THAT BAD THAT EVEN WITH ANDY OUT HE DOESN’T GET MORE MIHUTES
Blatt must be in complete denial in regards to Tristan being Andy’s replacement (for now). And Haywood can’t even get a 5 min sighting. ? Serious doubts on Blatt. Team was “out of sorts” w/o Andy for sure but not to put in Tristan especially when he was needed is inexcusable. This was another winnable game lost to stupidity, lack of commitment from the team in totality to defense, Mr. Grinch stole the Cavs’ Christmas!
Blatt didn’t coach well this game, but he hasn’t been awful all season. He has to get better at late game situations and also, you can’t give up two number one over all picks for Kevin Love and then camp him out in the corner all game.
Yeah I think Blatt has been ok. Love has been a huge disappointment. His defense has been as advertised (bad) and his shooting and rebounding has been worse. Simply put, you could switch Love and Ryan Anderson and not notice much of a difference.
Pretty much. Blatt hasn’t been terrific, but neither is this roster. He’s trying to mix and match from a severely flawed roster as the season goes on AND learn how to be an NBA coach at the same time. Whatever magic juju he can bring to this team on offense, he needs to reveal it. Like now. Teams solved this offense the last time LeBron was in Cleveland. They’re doing it again. Love hasn’t been worth the squeeze so far. He disappears for long stretches on offense. His most notable plays on defense are negative plays. LeBron’s coasting might become… Read more »
I don’t care what anyone says or thinks…David blatt is by far the worst coaching hire the Cavs has ever made…Dan Gilbert has made a lot of bone-headed moves but this has got to be his most bone-headed move EVER!!!!! Blatt has got to go!!!!
No. Hiring Mike Brown a second time was the worst hire in Cavs history. By far.
It pisses me off to watch LeBron walking around grinning. Ugh that game was awful. Only player on that team with an edge is Dion.
Dion remains my favorite Cav. It makes me sick watching LeBron play like he doesn’t give two sh*ts. Especially when we still scores 30.
To put the slowest players on the team on the floor together tells me everything I need to know about David”The Idiot”Blatt…this guy couldn’t coach his way out of a wet paper bag!!!!!
Ok. I’m sick and tired of the media getting on Waiters. The guy absolutely brought it in the 4th quarter, played amazing defense on a future HOF, and was the only dude who looked like he cared late in the game. LeBron looked like dog sh*t. Missing a bunch of free throws and unable to finish. Kyrie shooting a bunch of BS jumpers early in the shot clock. If everyone is going to get on Dion for his poor games, it’s time for LeBron to get down on Kyrie and himself for the bullshit offense they are running. it’s infuriating.… Read more »
3 steals, 2 blocks in 28 minutes for Dion.
Miller and Marion did nothing.
Miller 6 points in 25 minutes. No boards. No assists.
Marion 2 points and 5 boards in 19 minutes.
Delly 0 assists in 15 minutes. If he’s not facilitating the offense, don’t play him.
This team just isn’t all that good. We’re 1/3 of the way through the season – it’s time to get consistent. LeBron can’t preach doing the little things and then miss 8 of 18 FTs.
i totally agree…Lebron…i just don’t get why he looks as if he does not take free throw shooting seriously…he misses too damn many!!!!
The guy shot a fadeaway FT with 3 minutes left in the game, down only a few points. I mean, he needs to stop whining about chemistry and how the young guys need to “learn how to win” and then play like he’s at the YMCA. It’s absurd.
Blatt leaving Love in while taking out Tristan is the kind of undeserved favortism that kills teams. Love is playing like a chump and TT is balling, and he gets taken out.
Except TT can’t finish at the rim and we’re down and need shooters. TT hustled today, but we need a guy who can make a basket.
Merry Christmas first and foremost…now let’s get down to business…enough is enough,we are well part the first quarter of the season so all the excuses go out the window…yes we lost Andy…but injuries are part of the game…knowing your personal and what they are capable of is vital…that being said ,if at this point Idiot Blatt does not know what lineups to put on the floor he’ll never know…and that is my point…this guy is a total imposter…yeah,yeah yeah,some say give the bum more time(nobody want a coach who has to learn as he goes)…stop the bleeding and fire the… Read more »
We are very far from a championship squad.
I think the Cavs record speaks for itself: They are a middle tier team in the East. They wouldn’t make the playoffs out of the West. I don’t know what the ceiling is for this roster, but it’s not a trip to the Finals.
If they trade Dion for a rim protector, he better be the next Motombo, because he’s the only one that gave a shit today.
LeBron didn’t even compete for that offensive rebound. That was pathetic.
That was a ridiculous pass by Deng… Followed by a terrible shot by Kyrie.
#NeverTradeDion
Man is balling tonight. He’s a pitbull on defense.
For comparison, Kyrie is getting abused on defense and not contributing anything on offense.
We got lucky with that turnover by wade.
That was some awful coaching there. Why in God’s name would you put Miller in there?
I guess they wanted that 3
Blatt just took Thompson OUT!?
Kevin Love called out on anation TV for lack of hustle.
Good I don’t know if he will change but he needed to be called out on that one.
Another awful possession out of a timeout. Do the Cavs practice any of these plays?
What play? Dribbling until they lose the ball or force up a bad shot?
I don’t get it, it seems so obvious.
Argh. LeBron and Dion trading hero ball shots. And Love camped out in the corner. I don’t like Love camped out in the corner. Run some offense through him. Dion’s playing his *** off on defense tough.
Yep just like they did when Bron was out. Cmon Cavs
You can complain about his shot selection, but he’s trying, and his isolation shot jacking isn’t all that different from LeBron and Kyrie.
The Cavs do not have an offensive philosophy and it shows.
That was telling dion running it down and love getting out hustled for loose ball. Great d by Dion!
Agreed. One guy gives the effort, then a different guy, but never a whole unit. And certainly not with any consistency.
Irving is The Man!
Tough T on LeBron. Most likely he was just trying to avoid a hard landing on whatever body part he tweaked in the third quarter.
Increased energy and intention. I guess I should expect that from this team it often seems like coasting and relying on offense and then turn it up in late 3rd and 4th. Loved the love kyrie connection for the and 1. That just doesn’t happen enough when Lebron is in. Cmon Cavs bring finish strong
Free throw blues tonight.
Delly just set the record for lowest rebound in NBA history!
Great and1. Let’s go Cavs!
F…k now Lebron jumps through the bleachers and looks like he is in pain. I can’t drink fast enough.
Better effort defensively to start 3rd
LeBron has six assists; rest of the team has one.
MAKING WADE LOOK LIKE HE IS 24 AGAIN—–C’MON LEBRON QUIT THE BUDDY ACT AND PUT THE CLAMPS ON WADE IN THE 2ND HALF
Put Haywood in and commit a few hard fouls like Lebron has had delivered to him
thank you kevin for expressing my exact thoughts—-tired of the ” empty promises ” that we are in a ” process ” —we know we can’t ” take any nights off “—-need to ” bring the intensity on defense every night —-all tose statements are laughable tonight on NATIONAL T.V. —EVEN VAN GUNDY MENTIONED REGARDLESS OF NOT HAVING A RIM PROTECTOR YOU STILL NEED TO CONTAIN YOUR MAN/ IT IS LIKE A LAYUP CONTEST—BLATT NEEDS TO CHEW SOME A– AT HALFTIME—–DON’T MEAN TO BE NEGATIVE BUT THAT LACK OF EFFORT IS UNEXCUSABLE ( HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE HEARD THAT… Read more »
The legacy of losing has infected these franchises’ bloodlines. The players can feel it when they don a uniform. It’s like putting on a second skin — one that is mouldering.
Halftime couldn’t come quick enough! That was depressing other than kyrie and a few hustle boards by TT. It looked like we were matching the physical eneregy early but that was a mirage. Hoping for Love to hit some and miller to open up the court. I don’t have much hope for D right now which is sad
Cavs are desperate for wing and interior defense.
It seemed like dion had some effort on D and then he is out, JJ hasn’t played much at all and we put him in for what? To try and show Miami what ?
Every Cleveland team uses nationally televised games to shit the bed.
Sweet defense by dion and the block
Do you think the Marion choice was more about the heat and their size as well? Otherwise no real reason for it. Liked dion not forcing the first time and then the touch next time
Wondered the same thing but it’s impossible to say with Blatt.
Yeah I would have to believe if they were playing a team with a scoring center TT would of started.
Don’t like the decision to start Marion. Bench was getting to be so much more productive. His influence is much bigger there than TT’s.
I can’t stand Marion in the starting lineup. He was just getting into a groove off the bench. This team has no chemistry! But man, Ky looks silky smooth today.
Seems like kyrie wants to prove something tonight! Loving it.
Anyone shocked by Marion getting the start instead of TT. He was doing so well off the bench. Oh well Go Cavs!
Looking forward to this game but gutted to have lost Andy for the whole year. The worst thing about the Zeller, Boston trade is that for some unknown reason we chucked in a 1st round pick. Although protected it will clearly fall in 2016 but the fact it is protected (and we had a moronic owner in years past) means we effectively have no first round pick to trade before the 2021 draft!!! A situation that wont change until 2016 (where we wont be able to trade our 2017 pick). We have also lost our 2015, 16, 17 and 18… Read more »
Maybe Blatt know a under the radar big in Europe we could pick up cheap:)
If Blatt knew anything , his team wouldn’t lose to a depleted Miami Cheat team on Xmas day. Griffin gave away all them assets in a hurry, now we are stuck just like Danny Ferry era . It’s hard to be a Ctowns fan.