Podcap: Cavs 118, Hornets 105 (or, The Fountain of Hennessey)
2018-03-29https://soundcloud.com/ctb-5/episode-165-the-fountain-of-hennessey
On a night when LeBron James tied the “unbreakable record” set by Charlotte Hornets owner, Michael Jordan, of 866 consecutive games with at least 10 points… the real catalyst was a dude who’s been missing for a while. According to Larry Drew, JR Smith got inspired by playing with a labrador belonging to the North Carolina baseball team during practice this morning… but maybe, just maybe… he found the Fountain of Hennessey in Florida after the miserable Heat game.
Whatever it was, JR had his best game in recent memory… and not even by bombing away with irrational confidence threes (he was just 1-2 from deep)… but instead driving to the rack and attacking for three the hard way. He also threw an awesome Granny Smith alley-oop to LeBron to get him going as well. In all, after a sluggish start, the Cavs turned it on with one of their biggest second quarters of the season… and then put the bees away in the second half. The only remaining questions were whether or not Kemba Walker would become Charlotte’s franchise leader in points… and if the Hornets’ broadcast would ever remove their gigantic graphic from the screen.
Nate and EG poured into the broadcast booth like fine French cognac to discuss this game, the previous night’s woeful outing, the Cavs’ suspicious record in “party towns,” and much much more.
As always, you can listen above, on Sound Cloud, Apple Podcasts or Google Play.
Good praise for LeBron and Joe Harris.
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/22959445/zach-lowe-10-things-like-including-celtics-kyrie-irving-nba
Whew! That was close.
He will be observing Jeff Green playing 30 minutes at center…
What is this observing business. Drew having someone watch over his every move, up closely, that is nonsense.
I thought that this meant he was allowed to be there, but not say anything.
This Nets pick is gonna be ninthost value. Gonna need some lottery magic.
This might be my favorite comment of Nate Smith. Ninthost indeed. Also…your evaluation of JR being a playoff money ball has been my take all year long. He is worth every penny and frustration when he inevitably hits 6 of 8 in a 3rd quarter on the road to bring us back in a tight playoff game. Heck…he is near responsible for us being in a position to win the title in game 7 in 2016. He single handedly made sure we weren’t getting further behind in the 3rd quarter on the road. There is no scenario where we can… Read more »
What is ninthost?
Google tries to turn ninthost into “Nuthost”.
A comment on the podcasts?
Haha I think he meant ninth most. I just repeated it because it was funny nonsense.
Time will tell about jr , but I wouldn’t Hang my championship hopes on him playing well , I just don’t think it’s gonna happen
JR has to actually shoot the ball to shoot lights out, and thats been a real issue. including this game he was passing on open 3s which shouldn’t happen ever. The other JR problem is his defense is bottom of the barrel. Korver is a much more useful defender than JR.
Indians had a chance to do a suicide squeeze to tie the game with 1 out in the ninth…chose not to bunt. Really hate that guys don’t seem to value bunting as a skill. It’s super valuable
Sucks that Embiid is injured for Philly. I’m glad it wasn’t anything with his knees/legs/feet.
I couldn’t care less about Ichiro. The Clevleand hater can drift into nothingness with Joakem Noah.
Guys we’re going to face Miami in first round. Miami half game back on Wizards. Wizards have to play Houston, us, Boston. Let’s see if we throw the Washington game. Miami makes me nervous.
Only thing that makes me nervous about Miami is their dirty play. They’ve added that reckless hipster Olynyk, recently gave Love a concussion and a hockey stain, and previously took out Bogut. Although the guy that took out Bogut is now on our team. Otherwise, not worried about Miami. If you ask who are the top 3 or 4 players on the court for that series, the first two belong to Cleveland. Spoelstra is a better coach than Lue, so that’s an advantage, but they don’t have the same talent. I think Miami wins one game at home in that… Read more »
Klubot malfunctions and gives up a 2 run bomb to Nelson Cruz.
Changing sports briefly for Opening Day: By park- and league-adjusted ERA, Cleveland in 2017 had the best pitching staff since 1926.
https://www.theringer.com/mlb/2018/3/29/17175190/casual-fan-cheat-sheet-story-line-for-all-30-teams
thanks Jason for “educating ” me on playoff roster spots——another question–what if they would cut perrantes / Holland ?
No reason to. It would only open up another 2 way deal, not a roster spot. NBA teams have 15 man rosters and are allowed 2 two-way players. From what Warriors fan says, the 2 way guys can play with the big club for 45 days in the regular season, but if they are to be on the PO roster, they have to be signed to a regular contract. Teams are allowed to have only 13 guys under contract for a limited time, & then they have to sign a 14th (impetus for our recent 10 days). Cutting Pertantes or… Read more »
Essentially, the two way guys are spots 16 & 17 on the roster. Regular season only.
The idea that Zizic is not going to make the PO roster is preposterous. We don’t even have 15 guys eligible. Now, the 13 who are active is another matter, especially if we sign another big.
Googling Cavs right now is bringing up an odd result
Right, I get that they are in third place.
That has been a while. When was the last time the Cavs were in third place for an extended period? Early LeBron years?
Playoff Cavs>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Regular Season Cavs
they indicated 2-4 weeks—-kid has had a rough start to nba career/ injury wise —–and yes NO EMBIID makes the sixers more vulnerable —especially come playoffs
They have a home game with the Nets left. Let’s hope the can pull that one out.
Embiid getting surgery on eye socket fracture. Brutal. I have no idea on recovery time for something like that, but it makes the Sixers seem like a much less scary first round opponent…
Zach Lowe reporting could be back in 2-4 weeks, per league source. FWIW.
If he’s healthy in 2 weeks they are in good shape, unless they slide down and face LeBron.
Robert horry was a thoroughly mediocre regular season player who was deadly in the playoffs. That’s who JR Smith has been for the better part of the previous three seasons. That is who Smith is… until proven otherwise.
You could say the same for Lue for the Cavs.
It seems I’m always a JR defender when I post here recently… JR had 3 games in last years Finals where he scored over 15 points and shot 50% or better. In each round of last year’s playoffs, JR had 2 games where he scored 9 points or more and hovered close to .500 FGA according to Basketball Reference… Like it or not, we’re gonna need that this year and I think the game against the Hornets is proof he can still turn it on…
Correction JR had 2 games where he scored 6 points or more and hovered close to .500 FGA in the rounds before the Finals
im not buying it, he’s been trash , not mediocre , I don’t recall him playing well in playoffs last year ,besides for 2 games in the finals ,
that would be correct scotch !!
I would like a solid rim protecting BIG / who can intimidate on defense / off reb’s -put backs on offense
You mean like Ante Zizic?
I haven’t seen enough of Zizik. Is he a solid rim protector?
Also, this blog gets way too negative. We should all make an attempt to be more positive, its basketball…Let’s enjoy it.
We have an awesome team made up of The best player ever and another all star and thier sorrounded with a bunch of really really solid players that each have at least a few talents to contribute and also for the most part put in really solid energy and effort consistently, jr smith rarely brings it on either end of the floor and it’s really damaging to our team , and there’s also tt who doesn’t have any talent to contribute anything of substance. And btw if u don’t see this just from watching the cavs, look how not one… Read more »
Bring the Cavs Kawhi.
But on a serious note, I was curious if you two would share if a C is more important or a PG.
A C that plays like a PG.
I strongly believe that JR needs leadership/something to play for at this point in his career. His game is predicated on his mental state, which can be fragile at times. He will be real JR this year in playoffs.
Tom P was talking about needing higher variance players…well we got them this year. The playoffs are going to be stressful AF and fun as heeeeel. There will be highs an lows, but that variance is what we need to blow up a GS team on their home floor.
Go Cavs!
so if what you are saying is true — 2 way are not part of roster spots —that means cavs have 2 or 3 spots open ?—-if so —do they fill ? —if so with whom ?
Cavs have
1) 13 roster spots filled
2) White on a 10 day (near the end)
3) 2 2 ways (Holland & Perrantes)
We have an open roster spot, 2 if we don’t re-up White.
still think / defensively–we allow to deep / too quick of penetration —creating easy shots / options —-need to “steer ” them away –not allow a direct path to the hoop—-also closeouts are still too lazy and box outs have been lousy ALL YEAR —-things that can be corrected rather easily—-called energy / hustle / desire ———LEBRON HAS TO BE THE LEADER HERE —WHEN HE IS LOCKED IN DEFENSIVELY—THE TEAM WILL FOLLOW !!!
I think LeBron was feeling “nostalgic” and “generous” towards Wade by not ripping the Heat a new one last game. They may have been partied out too…
Last night is just more proof that when motivated, Playoff JR can/will be effective from game to game/stretches. I’d consider giving Zizic minutes over TT more and more though…
Hood seems to be feeling more comfortable, but has he really shown more than a locked in JR? Does Hood need a puppy too??!!
The suckiest part bout this terribly coached team is that u have a guy like jr who’s lazy moody and old who knows that as long as he puts in a good game every couple months than they will always play him , that’s pathetic they gotta demand full effort every game else u don’t play period , that’s why I hate when he gets minutes, I like hill bron love korver nance cedi hood clarkson zz , basically most of the team is really good, jr should not play and of course tt is useless and has not one… Read more »
They really don’t have to demand full every every game. Sure it would be nice to look at watchable basketball more often. This piling on of JR needs to stop. If he is a flop in playoffs, that is a different story. JR got us a ship. And has been one of the most entertaining players to watch on the Cavs these past two years.
i thought out defense looked pretty consistently coherent yesterday. some mistake sure, but only a few ‘lazy’ possessions
Agreed. But again. Charlotte’s wings stink.
thanks Jason
I just checked, looks like PO roster is the same as regular season: 15 with 13 Active. Has to be declared prior to POs starting.
Not sure how 2 way guys fit in. Read GSW will have to cut someone if Cook is on their PO roster.
I’m not sure that’s true. I think you can reshuffle before each series maybe I’m wrong.
You can reshuffle. Never said you could not. Perhaps even game to game. But it has to be from the 15. Pick 13 actives from your 15 you pick to start the POs.
I do not think a 2 way can be one of the 15. Or perhaps only if you have a roster spot open. Unsure there. I do know GSW has to cut someone to include him in their 15.
2 way player is not a 2 way player anymore once signed for playoffs.
Two way players are not in 15 that is eligible to play in playoffs. Two way players are 16th and 17th players on the team.
Teams have until 81st game to finalize playoff roster. Warriors are debating on who should be cut. Omri seemed to be popular name to be cut, but logic says they should cut a C as they have too many Cs or someone who is a FA next year and not going to get minutes like Looney. Omri can be a contributor in playoffs.
Big Z 1.0 was just on my flight to Newark.
Did you tell him about the Kickstarter knee-capping plan?
We didn’t talk. He was with his family.
I want nothing to do with John Wall. The Wiz fans are secretly happy he is out. On this one, Simmons is right. Wall isn’t worth the contract. He is a BAD defender. Go back to last year’s Celtics/Wiz series and watch his horrifc play. I covered how awful both of those guys played. Neither Wall or Thomas were great on offense. They were going against air D. Check it again EG. Clarkson is not in the same league as Crawford or especially Lou Williams. Both of those guys were actually efficient in the PnR during their primes. Lou has… Read more »
If the Cavs replace the coaching staff this summer with some competent coaches then I have high hopes if LeBron sticks around. Unfortunately, I easily see the Cavs making zero changes to the coaching staff.
Oh yeah, I forgot Wall was brought up. I don’t touch him with a barge pole with that horrific contract and his knees. Not a particular fan even when he’s healthy. As was mentioned on the pod, he’s also not a good fit with Lebron, anyway. He’s about JR level on D these days, aside from his DWade style blocks.
Not saying he’s always good defensively (and pretty sure I was clear I wouldn’t want him)… but I’ll just leave this here…
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wizards-insider/wp/2015/05/20/john-wall-named-to-nbas-all-defensive-second-team/?utm_term=.72cf97e84086
The things that have me concerned about Wall are his health (huge concern), and his outside shot. His defense was never a concern for me. If fully healthy, I’d definitely take him on the Cavs.
Also, Clarkson’s stats very much resemble early stage Crawford and Williams… you’re calling JC’s fourth year his “prime”? C’mon Ben…
Crawford is so old that he started in an era that didn’t look do badly on ISO ball. He’s a relic and Jordan plays like a relic. As the league has changed, so has Lou. He has become a dominant PnR player. Era matters in this discussion. I’d like a Jordan far more 10 years ago. And since his numbers have essentially been the same, yeah, I’m calling this Clarkson’s prime. Regardless, I don’t like any of those players for a modern squad. The idea that you need boom or bust players doesn’t hold water to me. The boom or… Read more »
Lol at calling this Clarkson’s prime… dude is in his fourth year which has been split between two completely different teams. You just said Lou has changed to become a dominant PnR player… but that was literally over the course of the last season or two… So, what you’re saying is that you’re not giving JC the benefit of the doubt that he can eventually grow/change his game to adapt to become a better player… While that may ultimately prove to be the case, I choose to be a little more positive about his chances… I think your bias against… Read more »
I agree with you on Wall. He’s a terrible fit here. And I don’t generally like his game/attitude either. On Clarkson vs Lou Williams/Crawford, you’re totally suffering from selective memory. Both were totally gunners when they 25. Truth is Crawford is almost an identical comp and Williams is similar but had a lower field goal percentage. Clarkson also kills them in points per minute (probably owing to faster pace). I’d take Clarkson over both on D then. Crawford has always been awful and Williams got to at least something better than worst 10% of the league in the last couple… Read more »
JR’s game yesterday shows that Lue/Drew will stick with him and hope he has 1 or 2 of those games in playoffs when Cavs need veteran guys to step up
i sometimes wonder if Lebron throws games and then shows up next game on back to back or even with day off and goes nuts…i also wonder if its done purposely…i mean stink up the joint in Miami and then go to Jordan’s house and tie his record along with getting serenaded with MVP chants in road arena…it seems he does this quite a bit during his career….its amazing to watch but also kind of silly hahaha
25 most influential players at ESPN: http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/page/nbarank22932314/nbarank-game-changers-25-most-influential-basketball-players-ever
Pretty good.
Hard to know how to rate “influential”. Here are a couple quibbles:
Ranking Garnett one spot ahead of Hakeem?
WTF? The only thing KG beats Olajuwon in is having played for Boston and getting the Celts Fanboys on board.
AI, “The Answer” is really high (on the list, I mean).
This list is terrible. I’d put curry five and AI even higher. Too many of those guys weren’t influential cause no one could replicate their games. And it’s not just players on that list. Putting Phil and Riley ahead of Red Auerbach in the teens is just a history fail.
For an ESPN list it was fairly solid. Red’s placement relative to Riley & Phil was awful. KG was way too high.
Others were solid. I liked the acknowledgement of Mikan’s SEVEN titles in eight years (broken leg year the miss), instead of the usual 5. NBL titltes rightly included.
Ditto with Doc’s ABA numbers, which put him as the only 30k pts, 10k boards, 5k dimes, 2k steals, nearly 2k blocks club. Though he would have 2k blocks if blocks & steals would have been kept his first year. Even Bron won’t get 30/10/5/2/2.
Disagree on kg. He ushered in the big three era
That had nothing to do with KG. That was management.
AI higher than he is I mean, not higher than Curry.
Are Race Car Drivers Athletes? http://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/22765432/tiger-woods-lebron-james-most-dominant-athletes-last-20-years
For anyone still interested where Adam Morrison ended up. http://thelab.bleacherreport.com/life-as-an-nba-draft-bust/
I think if he had shaved the fuzz and developed his Steven Seagal look earlier, he might have made it. Stocking up on Wonder Bread probably did not help either.
Well, that certainly would have made him more interesting to me haha
Re: “What We Do In The Shadows”: Jermaine Clement has never been involved in a project that has not been absolute money.
e.g. moana
Love Jemaine… I still go back and re-watch Flight of the Conchords regularly…
despite tt’s numbers, i actually thought he looked marginally servicable for parts of the game, though it was hillarious how they had to yank him when dwight was playing like 20 feet off him.
that was literally the best jr performance in years. he used to be that bench guy who would terrify you if he got going. im sad to say i think this was more of a last hurrah than a replicable effort
buy him a retriever and name it-” HENNESSY”–( maybe we get shirts made —kind of what they did with klove in 2016 —kind of a bonding thing )—–question—why can’t the cavs consistently / 4 qtrs. –play ” with pace–up tempo —energized ball –bodies moving -cutting “—when they play like that ( campy touched upon it last night –A.C. always preaches )—IT IS A BEAUTIFUL THING !!!—–one other thing —-they have to STOP THE BALL HIGHER / QUICKER —opposing teams are getting to the rim way too easy / quick —“-arc the ball away from the rim “
question pertaining to swish —CAN HE BRING THAT PERFORMANCE ( OR CLOSE TO IT )– EVERY GAME —-if he can —then cavs will be a tough out !!!—-HOOD after a rough start–went 4/7 to finish —still would like to see him go for 25 + and get into a “zone ‘—–T.T. –2 PTS / 4 FOULS / 3 REB’S—–YOU CAN’T TELL ME ANTE CAN’T GIVE YOU BETTER NUMBERS THAN THAT — ( going to preach for ANTE the remainder of the season —sure it will fall on deaf ears )—LNJ / 4 steals —a stat that is way overlooked /… Read more »
Shocked. I was shocked at JR’s great game. I always felt like he could get it going from three for some games, but his dribble-driving was clumsy as heck the previous game & couldn’t stay in front of his man. Tonight the complete opposite. His flame may be sputtering, but geez if Hennessy has anything to do with this flare, I am buying a case.
I think you need to buy JR a Golden Retriever…
I also loved Atomic Blonde, actually saw it twice at the theater. As far as cartoonish spy thrillers go, it’s not as good as something like ‘The Bourne Identity’, but not all that far below it.
Totally disagree. Bourne is so dry. This had 100x the personality. I loved the palette and the soundtrack. Also (just for Tom) Toby Jones.
It’s more stylized, I’ll give it that. Just not as much substance for me. I love Toby Jones, but anytime I see him in a role like this, I just think of him being that much better in “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy”.
David Leith, the director, apparently was a stunt coordinator on some Bourne flicks (and a dozen other things) and directed John Wick, so it’s all connected. He’s directing dead pool 2.
Lietch
And given the trailer for DP2… it looks amazing