Live Thread: Cavs @ Celtics
2018-02-11If you hibernated through January and woke up this morning, you might be a little surprised. The Cavs’ brand new roster is set to take the floor this afternoon. The starting lineup this game will be George Hill, J.R. Smith, Cedi Osman, LeBron James, and Tristan Thompson, and if Friday night was any indication, get ready to see a much faster Cavalier offense with more ball movement. The Cavs should have scoring all up and down the lineup (everyone except Kevin Love is available to play today), and at least have the youth and bodies to be a more energetic and athletic defensive team (if not the defensive reputation).
Key to this defense will be communicating like they did Friday night and learning when to switch and when not to switch. If everyone can play in peoples’ faces like Cedi did the other night, they’ll be just fine. Tristan and J.R. seem like the weak links on the starting lineup. Tristan has been getting torched when he gets switched, and J.R. has just been getting burned all the time. If Thompson can stick on Horford/Baynes, and someone can contain Kyrie, the Cavs should be able to hang. The Cavs have to focus on not turning over the ball over against the Celtics young guns.
Offensively, if I was Tyronn Lue, I’d run everything through LeBron when he’s on the floor and when he’s off, use Kyle Korver’s gravity to set up everything else, with a side of Clarkson/Nance pick and roll (they should already have chemistry). The old play where Delly ran high pick and roll with JR running off a screen on the wing would be a fantastic option for Clarkson, Nance, Korver, Green, and Hood. Wow. This team is loaded now.
For the Celtics, Marcus Smart and Shane Larkin are out with a hand and knee issue respectively, while Gordon Hayward is out indefinitely while Celtics fans pray he can come back this season.
Buckle up Cavs’ fans. This should be a fun one. Here’s hoping the Can inspire a Bill Simmons Twitter rage. My prediction: 112-106, Cavs.
HOOD!!!!
Played almost half the quarter without LeBron to a virtual draw.
What’s stood out to me with these new Cavs is the ball movement, player movement and increased intensity…
The effort on D is night and day.
One quarter down. LeBron out half of it and Cavs played all the new guys and only down by 1. Not bad. Hoping LeBron recoups and comes back with a vengeance.
Good quarter. Everyone scored except Korver. Green helped stabilize the non-LeBron lineups.
I will take down 1 with Bron exiting early.
Celtics bench has lot to be desired and don’t think smart makes that much difference
https://twitter.com/Mike_SoCool/status/962792061127753729?s=20
Like that these new guys are decisive with the ball on o. Drive, shoot, pass. Hood with a couple aggressive drives immediately after receiving a handoff gave him the step and advantage. Only finished one, but I like the decisions.
Sorry to start this already —Can someone tell me 1 freaken toll that nance isn’t better than tt? Besides for his 2 offensive rebounds a game
TT had some nice blocks early
Wow. That was a fun quarter. Cavs made a nice adjustment to go over screen at the end. Hope Bron is OK.
Well the Celtics “awesome” defense gave up 31 points in first Q!
To a team that’s playing together for the first time… and with LBJ going out early with the knee…
HOOD!
Unfortunate luck there on Horford dunk
Not good when Horford’s breaking your ankles
You mean the Celtics floor? Slipping on wet floor does not count as ankles breaking.
I hate Horford. He’s such a tool!
What a difference some youth makes
Nance slipped unfortunately…
Celtics fans are such massholes…
The combination of cheering and booing when LeBron hurt his knee was especially classy.
Nice two man game btwn Clarkson and nance.
Gonna love this high post stuff when love is back.
Clarkson!
JR with a block, a dunk and a flying corner 3. What’s the basketball equivalent of hitting for the cycle?
Celtics fans treating this like playoff game haha
They always do…
Stupid foul by Clarkson.
Jeff Green playing extremely well right now…
Stop going under the screen, guys.
Tt no offensive tools will kill us especially when James is sitting
Clarkson, Hood, Korver, Green, Nance.
Like the high post stuff with Nance
Anyone notice jr stare down after the dunk !!!! I think he was little surprised by himself
Cavs playing gritty. Doing just enough to stay in it via o boards.
Never seen a guy who gets fewer calls for a vet than korver
JR
Jeff Green got the tip game working today!
Selective whistle by the Zebras!
Junior is in!
Green machine!
this is all fine. lazy getting back. by tt on that morris 3
If not for kyrie Celtics would have 10 points
Without Love, when Bron sits, we may struggle to score. Especially early on & when Korver is not out there.
clarkson and hood should help with that once they get dialed in
Surprised how much Ky plays off ball in Boston.
So Osman has a two guys holding both his arms down in a layup attempt and no foul?
Wow haven’t seen 5 min like this from jr in my life
Cavs new guys look little unsure but solid so far
The difference in D is insane. We would’ve been down by 10 if it was the same old team.
Cedi just a bit too phrenetic. Love the way they’re playing so far though m
Frenetic.
Whom
Cedi got hacked…
JR playing like a madman!
Clarkson in. JR did a tad too much there.
JR right now…..
Finally joining the board. (I’ve been following for years) Let’s hope these new pieces gel as quickly as possible. Go Cavs!
Welcome
WELCOME!
Thanks!
JR Block! The season starts today!
JR with a block and a dunk?
JR with a great block.
JR with a block.
JR BLOCK!!
Like Cedi’ agressiveness on Ky. Stayed in front of him but got a tick tack foul
This is insane the defense they’re playing
How’s that not a foul on banes.
Well if there’s anyone to stop Batman it’s Baynes.
Uh-oh. Bron went the wrong way there.
JR to the rack again
Hope Bron is good.
Asshole Boston fans clapping while the Cavs’ fans were the complete opposite when Hayward went down.
James a bit out of control on drives today. Hopefully he isn’t hurt bad.
Banged knees with Baynes…
God I hate the Celtics.
Say it 10 thousand times…still true…is Lebron hurt? (not currently watching)
Wow that dunk!!!!!
Well… that’s not good…
yeah was thinking the same evil (on dray)