Live Thread: Cavs @ Thunder
2016-02-21
The Cavs are in Oklahoma City this afternoon to take on the Thunder. The Thunder are coming off of a three point loss to the Indiana Pacers. They gave up 34 points in the fourth quarter.
OKC is currently 3rd in the Western conference with a record of 40-15. They are a middle of the pack team defensively, according to points allowed giving up 101.9 a game. However, they limit teams to an average of 22.4 threes, which is seventh in the league.
They have been on fire offensively this season. They’re scoring 109.9 a night, which is second in the NBA.
Today’s game is going to be all about individual matchups for the Cavaliers. The Thunder’s offense is reliant on isolation play and drive and kick action. Can LeBron slow down Kevin Durant? Will Kyrie match Westbrook’s energy? Can Love keep Ibaka off the boards, while still getting his own points?
The Cavs must come out on the defensive end. Durant is averaging 27.8 points (3rd) this season and Westbrook is putting up 24.1 points (7th) and 10.1 assists a night. If the Cavs stop those two, even just slow them down a little, the game will be very winnable.
This should be a great Sunday Game. On a side note, who else loves day games for the NBA? I feel like I’m cheating the system when I get to watch pro level ball before 7:00 PM.
Iman Shumpert is a game time decision, and Channing Frye still hasn’t been cleared to play. OKC will be without Andre Roberson.
This is what happens when one guy goes into a fistfight looking to kill his opponent, and the other guy can’t admit he’s in a fight. Nice win, OKC looked shell shocked.
So what fixed the Cavs. Lue or Irving not playing? I’m going with Irving
I think it is just they are a good team w lots of talent and now they are taking it to the next level. Kyrie is not a problem. come playoffs we are going to love him and his offensive threat.
I disagree. I’d rather have them running the offensive sets than having Irvings offensive firepower
Both will be happening soon. Spurs game had moments of both as well as some of the other. But yeah him going ISO isn’t the best we can be I just don’t think him not playing today is why we dominated today. I have been know to be more positive tho so I can hear I might be wrong.
And AV flips the bird to all his fans. So much for retiring a cavalier – i mean when you have a chance to stick it to the fans who supported you you gotta do it right?
Your joking right?
How exactly is he sticking it to the fans? The Cavs traded him, because they didn’t want him. Give me a break.
Don’t go for it Arch. He’s reverse Colsing
Maybe it is TheOtherCols!
WAS HOPING HE WOULD GO TO SPURS INSTEAD —-CAN LIVE WITH HIM BEING A SPUR ALOT MORE THAN A WARRIOR —GOOD LUCK ANDY !!
HOPING THAT FRYE PASSES PHYSICAL ( NOT MORE COMPLICATIONS ) —CAN SEE IT NOW WHEN KEV AND CHANNING START “RAINING THE 3″S “——” LOVE THOSE FRYE’S “
AV sent Haynes a text telling him he has no hard feelings, he’s thankful to the Cavs organization. I’m leaving one great team to join another. And he can’t wait to put on his Warriors jersey.
Well, it’s official, Varejao is on the Warriors…
Anthony Davis entered supernova form today. Imagine KD leaving to go play with AD this offseason……… phew insane possibilities
Andy Varejao has reached agreement with the Golden State Warriors, league sources tell The Vertical. – Shams Charania
I have no words………I can’t even fathom that
I don’t have a problem with it. I’d probably do the same thing.
My problem isn’t with Andy. He deserves it. Will just be hard to watch him play for that team.
In all honesty I doubt he gets a ton of minutes. Maybe none in the finals, if they make it that far.
I for one am happy for him. If he wins a ring, he deserves it, and it’ll take the sting out of watching Golden State win a Championship again. If he bring the Cleveland Curse to that team, even better.
I would think about starting MD until (if ever) KI starts playing smart. LeBron, KL and TT play much better when MD is at the point, and probably JR too. BTW, don’t forget the Eurogenius was starting Mo over MD! What was that about? Mo is like a poor man’s KI; lousy D, never looks to pass, but can’t shoot.
KI would be awesome fronting the second unit. It would probably up his scoring average.
Blatt just started Mo since he wanted Delly coming off the bench. Their minutes were basically equal. And Mo’s week defense was covered better with the first unit. And yes Blatt was smart doing that, so kindly take it easy on Col’s derogatory reference to David Blatt. His integration of Moz, Shump and Jr was top notch, as was the playoff run with the injuries. Your criticism on Blatt not starting Delly isn’t really valid.
Delly was averaging more mintutes than Mo after about the first week.
OK, good points Mike and Rodney. Due to the enthusiasm generated by the big win, I have been firing off notes without thinking too hard. I sometimes find myself arguing both sides of an issue, depending on who I am talking too. Particularly in politics.
If Mo Williams couldn’t get on the floor for even a few minutes tonight, I’d have to say it’s not looking good for him. It would be good if we could land Joe Johnson.
And finally –
“We probably don’t need to mention that CLE basically played this game without Kyrie, right?
Yeah, probably shouldn’t bring that up.
by J.A. Sherman on Feb 21, 2016 | 6:32 PM reply
sssssshhhhhhhhh …. not now
by Grumble2much on Feb 21, 2016 | 6:40 PM up reply
and shump, their best wing defense…
Must be so frustrating for kd, russ and serge to be bronnies bitches year in year out!”
by RingoKid on Feb 21, 2016 | 6:45 PM
Just keeping it going –
“How’s this for a stat of futility
Since Westbrook whipped down that crazy dunk, the Cavs have been on a 27-6 run.
Can’t play much worse than OKC has in this 3rd.
by J.A. Sherman on Feb 21, 2016 | 4:30 PM reply
The worst part is OKC had no answers
Donovan didnt seem to know what to do & just left it to hopefully sort itself out?
by Sammy1 on Feb 21, 2016 | 4:32 PM”
Well, feels good to be on the other end of things haha
And . . . please don’t remind us OKC fans –
“some players drafted AFTER dion waiters
damien lillard, harrison barnes, terrence ross, andre drummond, austin rivers, jeremy lamb, festus ezeli, jae crowder, draymond green. Cavs were stupid for drafting this fool. and i didn’t think it was a good trade for thunder last year either. but then again, i don’t think thunder gave up that much to get him”
Warriors 2015 NBA Champions. Curry 2015 MVP. Igoudala 2015 Finals MVP
by hrghori on Feb 21, 2016 | 4:28 PM
Wow! I apologize for having argued that Chris Grant was not an idiot. Where is he today? Probably running a kiosk in a small time mall selling soft pretzels.
Austin Rivers and Jeremy Lamb aren’t better than Waiters last I checked. He’s having a rough strech. He was playing some pretty good ball the first two months
And while Cavs fans were railing at the refs – OKC fans were doing the same –
“Between piss pour officials, players missing point plant lay ups, the officials screwing OKC every chance they get, players missing open shots, officials giving FTs for getting sneezed on, and players just not working hard. It’s hard for a coach to do much.”
by RQ on Feb 21, 2016 | 4:28 PM
The OKC bloggers were all over, and I mean all over Billy Donovan, too.
While Cavs fans marveled at Dion Waiters’ play this night . . . Thunder fans were doing the same. Hence, the Randy Foye acquisition . . . He’s just playing terribly because he’s not getting touches on offense… … or some nonsense excuse like that. by Endless Paradise on Feb 21, 2016 | 4:05 PM up reply Dion may be playing himself out of a contract right now. And I mean, a minimum, anywhere in the league contract. by LastChance on Feb 21, 2016 | 4:11 PM reply Get him out of the game He’s on the TAKE by Toll… Read more »
AGREE WITH YOU ARCH —ANYTIME HE WANTS TO MAKE MORE TRADS LIKE THAT WE ARE ” ALL IN “
1. Wow! 2. I haven’t heard much lately from the contingent that did not like the move to Lue. If there is anyone who doesn’t think the Cavs are better now, Cols wants to know where you are copping your weed. 3. A couple of days ago, someone stated in the hallowed pages of CtB that LeBron was, at best, the third best player in the NBA, behind Curry and Durant. I argued immediately that maybe SC was in LeBron’s class, but not KD. Today’s game made it clear that KD in nowhere near as good as LeBron. The same… Read more »
Ok, I’ll take the bait: Pretty small sample size on Lue. They’ve had a few stinkers too in just a dozen or so games under him.
If the Cavs are as good through the rest of the season as they were under Blatt from the bowling trip on last season (about 45 games plus playoffs), Lue will have done a great job. They showed signs of getting to that level today.
Me. I think what fixed the Cavs today was Irving not playing
LOL. The “Cavs are better without Kyrie” argument is back.
It was a very solid win. But I am trying not to make too much of it. OKC shot terribly, and the Cavs did the thing they did in the Finals where everyone stepped up with a short bench. But that is not a long-run strategy. They need KI to be full force to win Championship.
It never left since they always play better with Irving than Dellavedova. Irving is great. But he’s a Harden like player just not quite as good on offense. He needs the ball and he needs Isos.
Reverse that Dellavedova makes the cavs better than Irving.
Great win, great game from KLove, LBJ, JR and RJ. Special shout-out to Dion Waiters who reverse took over the game.
Love the super easy baskets from Delly to LBJ under the hoop in the first half. Maybe the best overall game for KLove.
I thought Love also really played smart on defense and hustled on rotations – even when they were up 20 and it was late in the game.
Love’s best game as a Cav? If so, it is his best game ever, because the MTW never had an important game, except maybe opening day.
Love’s best games including his 34 pt effort last year came with KI out of the lineup. LeBron or Lue need to have the “it’s not about personal stats” talk with Uncle Drew.
And the Cavs were seriously shorthanded, basically playing with seven. RJ’s number was called today, and he stood up and delivered. Good for him! The Champ gave us some good minutes. Even Kaun did his part (a couple of fouls!) Everyone but KI and a positive +/-. Bet that is the only time that has ever happened!
I’m not sure they are fixed. Not much credit to Lue at this point. No blame to Kyrie (team was playing well, no?).
My guesses:
1. Intensity level (led by Lebron) goes up after ASB.
2. Cavs hit their shots.
3. Possibly a sense of urgency with other players out.
My cell phone posts are always in the wrong spot for some reason.
Dang that was a good signature win. Biggest loss at home for OKC and we were missing some players. Lebron is playing smart ball like he does as the playoffs get close. Love looked amazing on boards and with drawing fouls. Jr. with the stroke Delly w the aggressive defense and assists. I can go in but just pumped. Go Cavs
I’all take any and all credit for the intentional reverse jinx to kick off the comment section. Never a doubt.
Good work hot sauce.
Good reverse cols.
Great, great win today. Played very well.
BEST GAME OF THE YEAR BY FAR FOR THE CAVS—-CAN WE FINALLY PUT THE LOVE TRADE RUMORS TO REST ( OR MAYBE CONTINUE THEM AS HE SEEMS TO GET PISSED FROM THE CONSTANT RUMORS OF A TRADE )—GO CAVS ——-GREAT WEEKEND —FRIDAY NIGHT OUR ” MIGHTY MAC NIGHT “—-BUCKEYES WIN IN O.T. YESTERDAY —GREAT WIN BY CAVS TONIGHT ——ALL I NEED NOW IS SOME LEFTOVER ALES AND MRS NOMAD TO ” BE IN THE MOOD “—GO CAVS !!