Talking Cavs with Mark Neal
2017-12-15https://soundcloud.com/dayton-radio/tom-pestak-cavstheblogcom-talks-all-things-cavs-with-mark-neal?in=dayton-radio/sets/dayton-sports-scene
Didn’t make it in studio this week but had a chance to chat on the phone with Mark about the Cavs. I got to drop an interesting take: playing so much with defensive-sieve Jose Calderon is going to make the Cavs that much more prepared for Isaiah Thomas at PG. It’s nice to see they can succeed giving 20ish minutes a night to Calderon. The Cavs are actually -0.1 with him on the court this season and +0.4 during the last 17 games (in which they’ve gone 16-1). In those 17 games, with Calderon on the court, the Cavs are posting a 112.0 Offensive Rating and a 111.8 defensive rating. So, he’s been serviceable, which is honestly way above my (or most people’s) expectations. Replace his minutes with IT and it’s not inconceivable to think the offensive rating jumps and the defensive rating stays about the same.
Had the Cavs employed the services of a defensive minded PG with a spotty outside shot like Patrick Beverly, or (thinking: is it bad to be thankful for injuries?) spent the last month getting used to Derrick Rose, integrating IT might have been more traumatizing than I think it will be. There could be growing pains, but I can see a future where his defensive deficiencies are in some ways already being addressed and his offensive firepower and shooting abilities could unlock the Cavs offense to a whole new level of dominance.
with Favors /Gobert both out —hoping the cavs don’t come out “with lack of focus ” and let this team have any confidence—-for a change let’s have a fast start–put this game away early—-bench gets a lot of quality minutes
East has 6 legit dangerous playoff teams (Cavs, Bos, Tor, Mke, Ind, Was) and the west has 3
My definition of dangerous would be contender. By that definition, the east would have two, barely, with Boston just falling in. The west would have three. The obvious.
My definition of dangerous is a team that can easily take you to 6 if not 7 games. Stand by my original list
Fair enough, though I always have problems with Washington, because I think they get blitzed by Cleveland in the playoffs. By that definition, obviously Boston is better, Tor has a track record of playing ok against us, and Indiana always plays us tough. If the bucks can shore up their d, Giannis is good enough to win a couple. I might also throw Detroit in since all four games were competitive last year and this year our blowout came when they were playing their worst bball of the season.
For some reason I can kind of picture the land jerseys looking ok on the court
was thinking about this the other day—initiate it today—from time to time —( going to test / check our memories / age group here at ctb)—-randomly picking an older player from basketball reference —see how many of you can remember the player —maybe add a few memories of your own ——1st player is WALT (BELLS ) BELLAMY —–14 yr career —-20 ppg —14 reb’s —career avg’s —–in my opinion VERY UNDERRATED / MALIGNED –player –was always considered / lazy/ attitude —-under performing —-but man he was nearly unstoppable—even Wilt and Russell had problems containing him —just think that he played… Read more »
More evidence that Kyrie is the biggest moron in the NBA: After Kyrie Irving revealed the Kyrie 4s and wrote a message about finding purpose in life, Nike released more details about the Celtics guard’s new signature shoes. One of those details that’s behind the tongue of the shoe is a bit out-there. Nick DePaula, of ESPN and Nice Kicks, shared that the “‘All Seeing Eye’ icon (Irving uses this as his Instagram profile photo and has it tattooed on his left arm) behind the tongue, meant to ‘challenge everyone to seek their own answers beyond the ones that are… Read more »
Never realized he was such a deep thinker when he was with the Cavs :/
Never ever ever trust books
agree with you mikeo—-westbrook doesn’t or chooses not to have the ‘ct vision ” that LeBron has ——but man his athleticism is ELITE
Nets probably won’t go on a long losing streak because the have a home game vs the Kings coming up. However, that could be the only game they win until Jan.
That should keep teams with missing star players within striking distance (Clippers, Grizz, Suns) and hopefully let other teams inch ahead (Magic, Lakers, Hornets) or essentially pull even (Bulls, Mavs, Kings).
Hawks maybe a lost cause. Though Prince is playing better, Ilyasova & Bellinelli are back, as is Collins, & Dedmon will be soon.
that 1 full ct dribble and dunk wasn’t too shabby( westbrook ) ———mentioned earlier ( and thanks again for update Jason ) hoping the nets go on long losing streak—- lose some of their confidence —start that fall to possibly 5th spot
That full court dribble/ dunk is one of the reasons I love watching him. Not too many people play like that. But I bet he is not much fun to play with. On his ridiculous drives he frequently has a guy open in the corner, but he either doesn’t see him, or doesn’t care. Lebron would make that pass every single time.
Man, Westbrook was afwul last night in a triple OT win over the Sixers. 10-33, and almost cost them the game with his selfish play. I love watching him a lot of the time, but I am so glad he isn’t on the Cavs. Makes Kyrie look like Magic Johnson.
Yep. You can play hard, and poorly and get a triple double. Westbrook does it a lot. No way is that dude MVP oe a top tier PG (Curry, Harden, CP3). I would rather have Lowry, Kyrie, & Wall as well.
Nets got destroyed in Toronto on a b2b despite the hot night from Stauskas. The Grizz edged Atlanta. Bulls won their 5th straight in Milwaukee without Markannen. Magic & Hornets lose at home to Blazers & Heat. Clips lose at Wiz. Wins:
6 = Hawks
8 = Mavs, Bulls
9 = Suns, Griz, Kings
10 = Hornets, Lakers
11 = Magic, Nets, Clippers
Gobert hurt but Jazz won in Boston anyway. One behind in the loss column. Sat games in TNN:
Blazers at Hornets
Clippers at Heat
Suns at Wolves
Mavs at Spurs
Celtics at Grizz
Utah up on celts at half—but G OBERT HURT —-won’t return / doubtful for tomorrow night
nets losing to raptors by 14—-would like to see them lose 4-5 / row —shake their confidence / see what happens—okafor 4 pts—–staukas with a good night 15 pts
Putrid jerseys.
Too early for OKC to pull the plug just yet. No way they do a deal for Schroder.
I would love that Sac deal. They would want the Brooklyn pick.
The OKC alternates? I think those are some of the best looking in the league
In the land NVM. Yeah why gray?
Nice take, Tom, on Calderon “breaking in” the Cavs defense for IT. I think one main difference, however, is I don’t think you will see IT take as many charges as Jose. The Cavs and IT will need to tread lightly as he tests out that hip under game conditions. Even though he is defensively challenged, Calderon has been tenacious and tough.
MikeO posted something similar in the other thread –
Yikes! Those are awful.
Yes they are
The asymmetry of the number 3 pisses me off so much…
very good / valid point bobby
and all the media can talk about last night’s game is the so called conversations with lonzo/ LeBron —–geez guys get a life —–better yet get a job that you can professionally do
Plus OKC gets the Brooklyn pick – http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=yc4eb3de
Approved
http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=ybyuqxq9
Plus Sac gets the Cavs pick.
sure
That would be awesome
http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=ybqv9nt6
It’s December 15th everyone … you know what that means… ROSE CAN BE TRADED!
I do this trade so fast I’d get heartburn. But there is no way OKC does. What use have they for Schroeder? Is a bad version of Westbrook.
Can we make this deal happen?
Trade him and Shump for George Hill.
Of course
Good Calderon/IT take. They are similar in that their defensive issues result from physical limitations: size for IT and quickness/age for Calderon.
However, thet both give good effort & play good team D. You can game plan for that. Guys who don’t give good effort & make stupid decisions on D are much more destructive to a defense.
Nice dig on the Celtics.
Man I hope we get Isiah Thomas – Point Guard and not Isiah Thomas – Shooting Guard. As you said I’d love to see LBJ with a decisive, talented playmaker – never really seen that before except strange hints of it with Dellevadova
Agree 100%. Release the Kraken.