Recap: Suns 108, Cavs 83
2012-03-25
The Suns transformed the Q into a smoldering crater.
–This will be a quick recap. The Cavs were absolutely slaughtered in nearly every aspect of the game.
–You know who had a pretty good game? Omri Casspi. He was 5-for-10 from the field with 5 rebounds. He only took three shots from beyond the arc, which is both an act of capitulation and a welcome acknowledgement that he has not been, for whatever reason, a mediocre three-point shooter this season. He’s still kind of a disaster defensively, but the Israeli has looked like an NBA rotation player of late.
–You know who was pretty awful? Everyone else. Antawn Jamison was 1-for-8. Kyrie Irving had five turnovers. Alonzo Gee was a minus-24. Tristan Thompson couldn’t handle Marcin Gortat, who hung 22 on the rookie.
–A few of you in the comment section mentioned this: TT is suddenly not an awful free throw shooter? He was 4-for-6 in this game, but his stroke looks much smoother. If he continues to put in the work and starts shooting something close to 70%, that would be a huge addition to his game, since he’s starting to figure out how to use his quickness and strength to get to the line, just like he did in college.
–Re: Donald Sloan Watch: I’m pretty sure he’s not good. He has his moments, but he turns the ball over too much and isn’t a particularly capable defender. I think if the Cavs are looking for a guy to make about $2-$3 mil per year to back up Irving for 12 minutes a game, they can do better than Donald Sloan.
The Cavs will travel to Philadelphia and take on the Sixers on Tuesday. Until tomorrow, friends.
Boobie’s final year is non guaranteed so the Cavs do not have to bring him back. They could do worse than him. His defense has improved an awful lot this year.
Unfortunately Boobie has one more year left.
You are way overselling it JAG, Walton comes off at the end of next season so there is 6 mill to spend in the summer of 2013, so while an 8 mill players would push us right up against the cap (which is different from lux tax) for 2012-13 in your scenario we would have 6 mill + the MLE to spend in 2013. Then Boobie could be let go, freeing up 5 mill in 2013 in addition meaning we could probably grab an additional 8 mil player in 2013 + and MLE player and still be under the lux… Read more »
Bringing in Hawes or any other player for around $7-9M/yr on a multi-year contract could be walking on a very slippery slope for the Cavs. Right now they have $31M committed to TT, Kyrie, Walton, Andy and Casspi. If they can sign Gee for $5M and add about $5-6M signing four draft picks, they are at about$41M. If they bring back Boobie, Samuels, Erden and Sloan or Harris that will add another $8M. That leaves roughly $9M left. Anyone they sign to a multi-year deal could become a CAP killer for the duration of their contract so he would have… Read more »
I would love to get him for 7-8 mill a year, I think though that he will end up well over 9 mill a year for 4 years with an ETO or a 5 year deal from someone. This off season there are some potential “bargains” like offering to take Biedriens’ contract for a lightly protected first rounder from GS or amnestied big men for 1/2 their current cost who only have a couple of years left but are still productive (Brand, Hayward). I think the biggest flexibility you want is to go into that first season of the extra… Read more »
@Bacon Totally agree that it would be risk for 9mil a year. And yeah, if basically any 7 footer with a pulse gets 5 mil, he will probably go for at least 7 a year depending on the structure. That being said, being saddled with a skilled big man who has always rebounded and passed well, wouldn’t be the end of the world. I’d much rather spend 8 mil him, then have to watch Jamison, Samuels, Erden types… It is likely that his crazy production at the start of the season was a bit of an aberration. But then he… Read more »
Ben, Regarding Hawe’s, in each of the three seasons before this, he shot between 39 – 40% on long 2’s (16 – 23 ft). This year he was making 54%. In each of those three seasons, he shot between 59.4 – 62% at the rim. This year 74.5%. His shooting in 19 games this year is totally out of line with what he’s done previously and would actually make him one of the best shooters in the NBA at the rim and on long two’s. I agree with baconbacon, sample size is too small, Hawes almost certainly can’t maintain his… Read more »
Did you see the starting lineup? Do you think this is Scott being told by Gilbert to start losing so that we can have a decent draft pick? I personally think this is a good thing. But maybe I’m wrong, maybe Scott was just giving some of the starters a little more rest than usual?
Ben, Its always a little risky to pay a guy like Hawes but this year it is doubly so. First he’s having a career year in rebound%, shooting% and assist% while having by far the best defensive metrics of his career. Obviously hes young at 24 and could well simply have made a jump from below average center to above average center but consider that he has done this in only 20 games due to injury this year. Then also consider that its a strike shortened season (reason to be wary about anomalies) and that the 76ers had a really… Read more »
I’ve already seen enough from Sloan to know that he is not the backup of the future. Perhaps he will be an end of the bench player for some team, but as a not particularly talented combo guard, his future is in Europe. He would make a lot more money here. He doesn’t have good handle, his shot is clumsy and he doesn’t seem to be able to finish going left. There are many backup PGs we should want over him. And that’s ok. Speaking of wanting things, going into this game, people should focus on Spencer Hawes. From what… Read more »
Sloan had 4 games and probably 2 training sessions with the Cavs – and fewer TO per minute than Irving:
Maybe it’s a little bit early for assumptions…
when I watched Sloan at the New Jersey game recently, he picked up where Kyrie left off, attacking and penetrating in a strikingly similar fashion to how Kyrie had moments prior.
Sorry to say this Colin, but you don’t seem to follow really closely what’s going on. In March Casspi has been back to his shooting skills big time. He also shoots the 3-pointers way over 40% recently. In March his shooting efficiency has been very good among the small forwards. Tonight was one of his less good 3-point nights.
Sloan has been solid on defense so far. It is too early to tell if he will be a satisfactory backup for Kyrie. I was quite impressed with the chemistry that developed among the entire second unit today. Casspi’s solid game was partly a result of Walton being a good fit with him, Sloan and Harris. They even made Erden look productive a few times. If people are expecting the Cavs to find a player the calibre of Sessions, that probably is not going to happen.
We could use the early second rounder on Irving’s backup instead of paying 2-3 million for it.