Live Thread: Knicks @ Cavs
2018-04-11
If you’re still watching the Cavs this far into the season, you’ve done it. You’ve survived one of the most bizarre seasons in recent memory. I’m not going to get too deep into it, but just keep in mind that the team traded Kyrie Irving for Isaiah Thomas, Brooklyn’s first round pick this season, Jae Crowder, and Ante Zizic.
Zizic is the only player still on the team. And, remember this.
If Ante Zizic doesn’t get off the bench for the Cavs this postseason, that means none of the 4 players (Zizic, Kyrie, IT, Jae) in the BOS-CLE trade will play for either BOS or CLE this postseason.
— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) April 5, 2018
Anyways, the playoffs start Saturday. The Cavs are currently the fourth seed. If they win tonight and Philly loses to the Bucks, they will get the third seed.
Now, if the Cavs keep the fourth seed they will face Indiana in the first round. The sixth seed, whom they face if they land the third seed, is up in the air between three teams: Bucks, Heat, and Wizards.
The Bucks land the sixth seed if they win. If they lose and the Wizards and Heat win they drop to the eighth seed.
The Heat earn the sixth seed if they win and the Bucks lose. That’s the only way they can earn that seed. And, the Wizards only get the sixth seed if they win and the Bucks and Heat both lose.
If all theee of these teams lose, then they will keep their respective seeds. Heat at 7th, where they face the Celtics. Bucks at sixth. And, the Wizards at eight where they face the Raptors.
Quick Notes
The Cavs should win tonight, but this team is a wild card that has lost some gimme games this season.
If Rodney Hood is able to play this game, it will mark the first time since the trade shake up that Cleveland has had all of its players healthy.
The Knicks are missing seven players currently.
LeBron James is playing tonight. This will be the first time in his entire career he has played in all 82 regular season games.
Tristan Thompson is dealing with some baby mama drama after he was caught cheating during his time spent in NYC over the weekend. Usually, I don’t care about this type of thing, but this might be what finally pushes Tyronn Lue to kick his butt out of the rotation completely in favor of Larry Nance. Their ability to play winning basketball doensn’t seem to factor in much with Lue.
Update
*According to Joe Vardon of cleveland.com, LeBron James is playing until he reaches just ten points. Kevin Love and Rodney Hood will be sitting this game along with Kyle Korver. Jeff Green is questionable.
If I had to pick: Raps, Celtics, 76ers, Cavs.
Way to. Go out on a limb.
Celts without Kyrie could be dogs.
Who you got from the cheapseats? Gonna make picks or just take shots?
Bucks stick out like a sore thumb. No question in my mind they should be expected to beat a Celtics team w/o Kyrie and Hayward.
Heat would be my next choice… they’re outmanned but they have pressure IQ on their side, Wizards should be able to beat Toronto but Wizards chemistry sucks so they won’t.
I would love to pick the Bucks but cannot. They were awful lately & look dispirited. Though a switch could get flipped.
Brogdon & Delly did return.
Heat won.
Raps v Wiz; Celtics v Bucks; Sixers v Heat, Cavs v Pacers.
Heat will mess with the Sixers something fierce. Wiz will win maybe 1 game. Celtics will get beat I think. Bucks in 6. And the cavs will sweep the Pacers, but the average margin of victory will be like 4 points
And LeBron will play 44 minutes a game
TT will get over 25 min a game, and I will punch a hole through a wall.
Hahahaha… I’m dreading seeing TT out there during the playoffs. I really dislike him as a player and now as a person
Raps in 5, Celts in 7, Sixers in 5, Cavs in 7.
Wiggins with two clutch freebies
I love the NBA
Wiz gonna lose to Orlando when a ein COULD have gottem them Boston in round 1 (if Miami wins).
Bucks keep their pick despite laying down.
That Nuggets-Wolves game was scoreless for the last 2 minutes or so.
This is a fun way to end the season…with zero matchups set
Nuggs/wolves in ot.
Miami/Toronto going to ot.
Great play taj
Man…philly has a real team. Belinelli and Ilyasova make them so much better and faster. Embiid and Simmons can break you down in a slower paced game…but they are insanely good at regular season fast paced basketball. Still think we’d sweep them
Belinelli and Ilyasova make them better shooters, which is what they desperately needed.
Yeah. Teams. Are going to go after bellinelli relentlessly in the playoffs but ilyasova is a keeper.
I imagine Belinelli will have a short leash if he’s bricking shots LOL!
I’m afraid we’re going to draft Trae Young with that 8th pick…please no.
Argh.
Better not…
The Magic badly need a PG. Their frontcourt has Gordan & Vucevic + they drafted Isaacs last year.
If they miss on Doncic, I think they either take Young or reach for another PG. Either will help us at 8. I will take Mikal Bridges. He has no star potential, but he is a 4 year guy, 2 time national champ, 3 & D guy with great length, shot 44% from deep, and could be the premier wing defender in the draft.
8% chance for top 3.
Trade down for brunson
Ante and Cedi showing they belong in the NBA and deserve every second of Thompson’s
Thompson doesn’t belong on any good team.
Regardless of what LeBron does, I’m excited for the future of this team.
HOPE THIS ISN’T THE LAST WE SEE OF ANTE THIS YEAR—-CAN HELP IN ‘SPOT ‘ MINUTES
Jamal murray is a player.
Westbrook with the rare 6 point, 19 rebound, 18 assist game.
That is a hilarious stat line. stat-padding at its absolute finest
Well nice for the Nets pick.
nets are going to lose thank goodness
I know this is basically what cedi would look like in the G league but it’s still fun to be reminded what a great prospect he remains
Nuggets within three with the ball
Tie game.
Ante “Elvis Munster” Zizic with a smooth move on the block.
Man. Thibs should totally play the penguin in the next batman reboot.
Wolves nuggets is tight. 3-5 point game throughout… Derek Rose a factor
Cedi with the pocket pass!!! BEAUTIFUL!
Jarre5t Jack for two!
CAVS GRETTING TOO CLOSE —THEY PUT T.T. BACK IN
This is good for Cedi. Run a team. Get some Feel.
Heck yeah…. make him learn how to make decisions with the ball! His tendency is to be passive not aggressive… (guess that’s most young guys LOL)
Loving Cedi at the point!!! They should do it more often when Clarkson or Hill are out there without LBJ.
TY WAKE UP AND SEE WHAT ANTE CAN DO AND WHAT T.T. DOESN’T DO / CAN’T DO
we better lose
The Celtics have nothing to play for, but President Stevens does not allow tanking!
Perkins is younger than LeBron. Never forget.
Switching to the minny game. Jokic is on fire.
I can’t believe Beasly is on a min deal.
T.T. COULD NEVER HAD MADE THAT MOVE
Nice finish cedi.
YOU CAN’T TELL ME ANTE DOESN’T GIVE THE CAVS MORE THAN—“PLAYBOY T.T. ‘ GIVES
CAN’T WAIT TO SEE THIS ” NEW ‘ DEFENSE TY VOWED TO SHOWCASE / UNFURL FOR THE PLAYOFFS —–YES I AM LMA OFF ——-
Walt Frazier on the Sixers’ winning streak: “The problem with that heading into the playoffs, Confucius says, ‘What now is sharp will soon be dull.’ “
Geez, Sixers.
Giannis, Jabari, Thon, Middleton all playing and they thrown down 80 on ’em in the first half.
If Lue’s going to field in Thompson in th splay-offs, I hope they abandon their defensive scheme where Thompson switches on the guards in every P n R situation. Thompson effectively 3 steps in just 2 seasons. Better yet, don’t play Thompson at all unless garbage time.
Interesting Raptors in the second round. All the hard work whole year and they get Lebron in 2nd round :-)
Cavs will sweep them.
Bucks pull to within 34