Live Thread: Cavs @ Sixers (#BlackFriday)
2018-11-23
For the first Black Friday in a while, the Cleveland Cavaliers find themselves as sellers rather than buyers. Of course, it’s still early days, but this is typically the time of year that teams have at least an inkling of how their season will play out. The Cavs, maybe against their front office wishes… or maybe not, it appears will retain their first round pick next summer, as they seem to be a long shot to notch double digit victories this side of the trade deadline.
As they look to clean house (and their cap) of some of their veteran contracts, they visit one buyer in particular who might be interested in what they’re selling. The Cavs visit the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia tonight to take on the 76ers, a team still in need of some outside shooting. Cleveland might have the perfect fit for the Sixers in experienced gunner, Kyle Korver, or maybe a reliable backup PG in George Hill. Not even the deepest Black Friday discount though would likely be enough for the Cavs to move the disgruntled JR Smith, so he’ll continue to be a DNP (NWT) — not with team.
Even though the Cavs acquitted themselves well against their former leader and his new team on Wednesday night with a narrow 109-105 loss to LBJ and the Lakers, Philly poses a much tougher challenge. Cleveland stayed in the last game via a season low three turnovers, while forcing 15 by L.A. The Sixers won’t be nearly as easy to maintain that ratio against, particularly as their defense is a bit stingier than the Lake show. Success on the road, which has been non-existent this season, will largely rest on the rebounding of Tristan Thompson, the shooting of Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson, the all around play of Cedi Osman and level of defensive intensity the team can bring against a formidable Philly squad.
Prediction: Philadelphia runs up a large bill while cleaning out the Cavs on a Black Friday liquidation… 127-109.
Catch all of the action starting at 7:30pm EST on Fox Sports Ohio, and as always… chime in here.
JUDE……—VERY GOOD POINT—I TRY NOT TO OVERREACT WITH EITHER THE –WINS OR THE LOSSES …KEEP THINGS SOMEWHAT IN PERSPECTIVE –( ALTHOUGH IT WAS FUN / EXCITING TO WATCH THEM PLAY THIS WEEKEND )–UNLIKE NATIONAL MEDIA –ESPECIALLY ALL THOSE WHO “REACTED ” AND SAID DUKE– ( WHO BY THE WAY LOST TO THE ZAGS )—COULD BEAT THE CAVS ——–HAVEN’T HEARD ANY RETRACTION FROM THOSE FOOLS YET EITHER ——GO CAVS —-KEEEP MAKING US HAPPY / PROUD ……KEEP MAKING CERTAIN MEDIA PEOPLE LOOK LIKE FOOLS !!!
The positive effect of this victory on the group psychology dynamic on the cavs CANNOT be overstated.. will there be more losses? yes… will some be not so pretty? probably.. BUT.. they now KNOW that they can win against a good team.. and ON THE ROAD, no less.. Phila had 20 straight wins at home, going back to March of last year!! You think they wanted to lose this one to the cavs at home (with their new all-star)?.. This little gem is now a part of the collective psyche.. it will bear dividends.. I think i am going to… Read more »
Couldn’t watch. I have said all year this team can be competitive. I didn’t think they would be a forty win team without massively overachieving. But I figured 30-35 wins was likely with their roster. Are they going to win 30+ games now? No. The bad start hurt them too much and both Love and Hill being out leaves no margin for error in any particular game. However, they are not as terrible as the national media wants them to be or as terrible as some of the commentariat thinks they are. They can compete. But we shouldn’t overreact to… Read more »
Agreed. It has become hard to read people rushing to be first in line to say how bad the Cavs are. The parade of losses sucks, but the overreacting has been worse.
I don’t want overreact to this win either and it’s not like this makes us a playoff team…but the win does go a long way towards making the Cavs fun to watch this year.
Sucks I missed this win but family matters called. Can’t wait for the recap.
I love the development I am seeing. On the development side this season, I had circled 3 main things we wanted to do this year.
1. Develop Sexton & Cedi = looking good.
2. Salvage Hood/Clarkson = have hope.
3. Find a couple rotational pieces amongst the rest = check. Nwaba (yes) + Harrison (?).
Plus, TT is playing his best ball. A late leap forward. Gravy.
We have already upgraded at coach. If we keep our pick (& choose wisely) & get some decent return for KK/JR/Hill that will have been a great year.
Just looking at the stats, looks like Sexton and Cedi had pretty good games, and Clarkson went on a rampage in the 4th…I don’t like the Sixers, so this win pleases me.
Wow, was out of town and missed this one. Sorry I missed it.
I want that warm coat Cedi has hanging up in the locker room. Its been DAMN cold around here!
As i stated earlier.. maybe in 2nd Q.. if i was short the cavs (as in the market kind of short).. i would have covered.. if i was a gambler, i might even dip my toe in on the long side.. As of right now.. even though just one win, i am officially scratching my earlier projections.. they have proved to me that they can be much better than 7-75.. i don’t think they area .500 ball club.. but if they keep working and growing.. maybe 25-30 wins.. call me impressed..
This was a HUGE win…
Nice comments Buck.
I calls em as i sees em..
Hood was out of his mind tonight. I mean, everyone on the team save Korver was 50% or better on FGs. That won’t happen often. Not sustainable.
But taking care of the ball, again. Winning the glass, again. Competing hard, again. And executing the game plan well, again. That stuff IS sustainable.
We do that, and there will be more fun ahead.
Rockets lost in overtime to Detroit tonight…. Cavs might be able to go back to back!!!
These are the things that many of us saw in this team before the season. Just gotta keep doing it.
Starting 5 played very well. The TT/Nance starting lineups weren’t cutting it.
As long as we are not playing Detroit or a similar team we can get away with Cedi & Nwaba at F.
Only 8 TOs. 4 in 1st half. 3-4 of them in that bunch in the 2nd half (late 3rd?). Then nothing until garbage time.
MVP CHANTS GOING UP FOR EVIL—–MVP–MVP –MVP -MVP —-( P.O.C. IS GETTING TO ME )
FWIW, out of the cellar. Equal wins and less losses than ATL & PHX.
Two good games in a row by these Cavs…
Man… that was fun!
ALL IS GOOD @ “THE CTB HOOD ” !!