Podcap: New York 110, Cleveland 98 (Or, PLAYOFFS!!!!!!!)
2018-04-12https://soundcloud.com/ctb-5/episode-167-playoffs
Our long national nightmare, the NBA 2018 Tankthon, has ended. The Cavs’ extended preseason known as the NBA regular season has also ended. The playoffs (all hale Jim Mora) are here! Before we get to that though, we had a basketball game in Cleveland. The Cavs played the Knicks. LeBron James started, got to ten points, and given that Philly was Anhillating the Bucks and that Boston was up on the Nets, the Cavs decided to send LeBron to the bench and deploy their own tank driver to put the Knicks in a tie with the Nets for the 8th/9th draft lottery spot. Yes, LeBron got to 82 games for the first time in his career, and kept his double digit scoring streak alive, but the only meaningful thing about this game for the Cavs was that no one got hurt, and that the Cavs might’ve had a little more lottery luck.
David Wood joined me in the podcast booth to talk about the game, the Cavs postseason odds, and the first round matchups. For the Cavs, Cedi Osman, dropped 17-7-6 on 18 shots in 33 minutes while Ante Zizic continued his ridiculously efficient play with 20 points on nine shots with seven rebounds. London Perrantes and John Holland also figured heavily. In the podcast studio, we talked about the Cavs, the probably lineups, and how we think the playoffs will shake out early. Then we broke down the matchups in the West, the East, and then the Cavs/Pacers as in depth as we could. Who will be the dominant playf=ers, who will be the x-factors, and how far will the Cavs go this year?
As always, you can listen above, on Sound Cloud, Apple Podcasts or Google Play.
Rumours of Blatt to the Knicks….
Good for him.
The guy who put up all those “King of NY? Prove it.” ads recruiting Bron to NY: this as got to drive him nuts.
They’re not that smart…
So…honestly…who else feels like the cavs are going to romp through the east? I just dont see any eastern team pushing them to 6 games. And whomever they meet in the finals…they could be swept or could destroy. This is such a weird year. It has the same feel as 1987 or something…everyone kinda knows who will get to the finals…but there is a weird fogginess about who will triumph
I think they will be challenged by Indiana, Toronto, and especially Philly if Embiid is right. Toronto has taken them to 6 before. Indiana is scrappy and the shooting additions to Philly has changed that team entirely. Did they almost come back by thirty? Yes without Embiid though. I simply don’t trust this team’s defense one iota.
Pacers probably doesn’t go six but I could see them getting one.
I give it a couple iotas
Cedi MUST play…dude is nearly a defensive stopper in his rookie season. We need him
I know how big of a pleasent surprise Jose has been , but I’d put cedi in the playoff rotation over him for sure!
From Lue’s comments, seems like he wants another PG out there with Clarkson which I think is a great idea. Have Calderon run a coherent offense with Korver/J.R. and Clarkson and most likely one of LeBron/Love will be great spacing
If they don’t coach clarkson properly it won’t make a difference if Jose brings the ball down -the second he gets the ball he does his thing before chucking it , I don’t think it helps much , and if u are coaching him properly than no need for Jose to be ont there rather have a quicker and bigger cedi
I think both Cedi and José need some type of minutes, specially with the second unit. I would play Cedi at the two over Clarkson.
Lue said today he’s playing 10 man rotation, which most likely means: In: LeBron Love Hill Green Hood Korver Nance JR Clarkson Calderon Out Cedi Thompson Ante It will be a shame if Cedi doesn’t play but this team is so gosh darn deep someone wasn’t going to play. Other than keeping JR out (which is not going to happen), I just don’t see how Cedi or Ante get in. On the flip side I would be awesome if they legit run a 10 man rotation and enable the team to just work super hard at all times. I don’t… Read more »
Wouldn’t be surprised to see Cedi get run if there are minor injuries or if they find themselves in danger of getting blown out in a game (e.g. like the game against the Sixers last week)…
The second unit needs more size, I believe it would be Nance, KK, Jr, Clarkson and Cedi….. I hope.
Yup agreed !
I hope he does something like this:
Starters: Hill, Hood, James, Green, Love (I am resigned to Lue starting Green).
Rotation: Clarkson, Korver, JR, Nance
10th man varies: Calderon, Cedi, TT.
EVIL if you are correct with your picks—DRINKS ARE ON ME ——INVITE TO THE HOPS FARM !—I RELISH THAT COLLECTIVE FEELING WE HAD HERE ON THAT 2016 JOURNEY TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP—–WOULD BE NICE TO DUPLICATE !——-WILL TRY TO BE A “POSITIVE VOICE ” DURING THE PLAYOFFS !!!
Kyle Korver nodding along aggressively.
Predictions
First round:
Rockets in 5
Warriors in 6
Blazers in 6
Thunder in 7
Raptors in 5
Celtics in 6
Sixers in 5
Cavs in 5
Second round:
Rockets in 5
Warriors in 5
Cavs in 6
Sixers in 6
Conf. Finals:
Rockets in 7
Cavs in 6
Finals:
Cavs in 6
Wow.. thats a hot take in the finals for sure
I just think if it goes that way, the Rockets will expend a lot of energy taking out the Dubs…
If Rockets come to finals though,I am rooting for Cavs.
The best thing about a Rockets/Cavs Finals is that it’s harder for Cavs to lose LeBron… if they win, hard to see him leaving, if they lose to the Rockets… he can’t really go join them in the offseason given the “if you can’t beat em, join em” backlash that would be 10x worse than what KD got…
OK EG! I am buying in.
I think Jazz win first round. I would actually be shocked if they don’t beat the Thunder. May go 7, but Jazz.
I would have said Jazz if the seeds were flipped… Russ usually plays better at home and I’m not sure Jazz have anyone who can guard PG-13 well, Crowder notwithstanding…
I think that series is 100% dependent on how Mitchell and PG play. Rookies usually struggle their first year in the playoffs, when everyone is trying, and PG has been mediocre offensively most of 2018. I’m banking on Mitchell being good, but if he looks overmatched, of course Utah will likely lose.
He did look nervous against Portland in their last game and shot 6/23. I think that he subconsciously recognized that his rookie hoodie was lame and played down to its scrawl.
I like Utah as well.
Joe Ingles is one of the best perimeter defenders in the league according to Steve Shea at basketballanalyticsbook.com.
Joe Ingles is actually ranked 4 positions ahead of George at number 24 to no. 28 in nba maths TPA rankings which measure overall productivity in the nba.
Yes I agree , I don’t think okc makes it out of first round
got about same as my predictions except for three series, assuming Curry doesn’t reinjure himself after coming back from injury in 2nd round, huge assumption.
Jazz in 6
Warriors in 7 in conf finals
Warriors in 5 in finals
East R1: Raptors in 5; Celtics in 7; Sixers in 5; Cavs in 7.
West,R1: Rockets in 7; Warriors in 4; Blazers in 7; Thunder in 6.
East R2: Cavs in 6; Sixers in 5
West R2: Thunder in 6; Warriors in 5 (Curry back healthy).
East Finals: Sixers in 7
West Finals: Warriors on 4
Finals: Warriors in 5.
Dude, you’re crazy if you think Indy extends Cavs to 7, or Wolves extend Rockets to 7…
Cavs in 5 over Pacers, Wolves likely get swept, although I can see them taking one.
Sixers winning the East?! Year or 2 away, I don’t buy the hype of this win streak.
We’ll see. Mba a Moute is out. It is about the time of year for CP3 to pull a hammy & Harden to start getting officiated fairly. Plus the Wolves can score.
Cavs starting lineup has played 10 possessions together. All year. Our coach is Ty Lue.
You’re crazy if you think the Spurs win 2 games without Kawhi.
Or this Cavs team beating a fully healthy GSW.
They won’t need to… if you read my prediction right… it will be the Rockets…
Kawhi is coming back…
nope, Kawhi is not coming back.
You’d better hope not… ;)
Look, I’m as fed up with Ty as most of you, but the truth is that unless the Cavs fall short of the Finals, or he decides to resign due to health issues… he’s probably the coach next year. I suppose if LBJ opts to take his talents somewhere else that could also trigger a change… although it seems like the front office has more faith in Lue than this particular blog…
Uuughhhh I know.
Gag me with a spoon.
the more ty talks—–the bigger the hole he digs —to bury himself
just came from THE BREW KETTLE / AMHERST—-got their 12 pack variety –craft beers —am all set for game 1 —-yes it TAKES ALL 12 BEERS to get thru a game that ty coaches —-sigh !!
Modelo and lemon for me.
The playoffs haven’t even started and I’m already dreading Lue’s rotations. I need some alka-seltzer.
I hate to be pessimistic, but I just can’t see Ty Lue get out of his own way in these playoffs. The upside is that this should be Lue’s last few months as head coach. I’m usually optimistic, but Lue just kills me.
I’m surprise he kept his job after last finals after playing Shump so much. He is not a good coach in any way.
If we win in spite of all of this there will be the joy of a championship and then the misery of another whole season with Lue as head coach…
I’ll take it :)
I guess I’ll take it too ;)
I still would want to fire him. Nate thinks I’m crazy.
Oh I would love for him to be fire right after the buzzer but he won’t be if he coaches the Cavs to another championship.
CONFIRMED: CAVS WIN NBA TITLE.
Tristan Thompson Cheats in 2016:
-Alabama Champs (true)
-Villanova Champs (true)
-Curry gets a knee injury (true)
-Cavs win the title (true)
Tristan Thompson cheats in 2018:
-Alabama Champs (true)
-Villanova Champs (true)
-Curry gets a knee injury (true)
-Cavs win the title? (TBD)
The reasoning is impeccable :)
Might as well book the hotel room for the parade day.
and there you have it
Ha! LoL! Good stuff.
Anyone want to bet Perk dresses for games and Zizic does not?
How about Thompson does not?
No way that’s happening. If Lue does, I’m fine with keeping him for the remainder of his contract.
Cavs game 1 is Sunday at 3:30. Full schedules:
Man, Nate – never drink a beer <5%, Iron&Wine fan, now Courtney Barnett…we gotta catch up some day bro.
Making it down to your neck of the woods is on my bucket list!
Other likes: Dylan, Neil Young (before he went even crazier and hooked up with Darryl Hannah), The Avett Brothers, Neko Case, Townes Van Zandt, Guided by Voices, Murder by Death, Ron Gallo, Wilco, REM, Jason Isbell… like a million others
Check out the Little War Twins album “Warrior”.
And every now and again I’ll roll with a session IPA between 4-5%. Sours also can be as low as 3. And I do enjoy a 2.3 Schoppenhoffer on a hot summer day.
SO TRUE JB225——IT IS A CRIME THE WAY THEY TREATED / COACHED ANTE ——POP WOULD HAVE HIM PLAYING PIVOTAL MINUTES FOR THE PLAYOFFS —–SO EFFFFFING FRUSTRATING —–IF T.T. EVEN ATTEMPTED SOME OF ANTE’S POST MOVES –HE WOULD END UP IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM
He’s incredibly mobile, and never brings the ball past his nuts.
By the way Zizic scored 20 points in 27 minutes but I guess coach Lue’s logic will be like “wow great game Ante now come here and sit in this bench until next season cause you are not getting any playoffs minutes” . I think that Lue wants to play fast on offense and switch all the time on defense and apparently Ante doesn’t fit his needs to play that way (I guess) but to be honest TT doesn’t help in any of those two facets too so I don’t get why they play TT over him. Sorry guys, I… Read more »
The Cavaliers are probably going to have a difficult playoff run this year but the Celtics could easily get bounced in the first round and the Raptors – Wizards series can go 7 pretty easily. The Heat-Philly series can be interesting too, the Sixers are playing fast now but Spoelstra is a solid defensive minded coach that can make adjustments to control their offense. And the Heat have a bit more playoff experience than the sixers and that might help them. In the West, if the Spurs bring back KL for the playoffs then the Warriors could easily get bounced… Read more »
Well, I think we’ve found another CtB staffer who is as bad with names as Nate. “I’m gonna look it up” PML. Thanks guys, hilarious!
I probably did more editing this pod than I have in a while. There were like 15 second pauses as we looked stuff up throughout. We didn’t have a third guy to fill the void!
you missed RABBIT HOLE TOM PESTAK