National TV

The Cavs are on ESPN right now. I assume you’re watching too.

Feel free to leave your thoughts below.

• I’ll say this is the first time I’ve heard a female color guy for a Cavs game.
• Interesting move starting Snow on Carmelo.  I guess fully healthy, it would’ve been Sasha on Carmelo and Hughes on AI.  Hughes isn’t strong enough for Carmelo, but hopefully he’s quick enough for AI.  Longshot, especially with the toe.  Snow will need help if Carmelo lives on the block.
• No interior D early.  If he was available, Andy would make an early appearance.
• Not much excitment in the arena and Z isn’t on to start.  I feel like points will be tough to come by, since we’re definitely going to slow it down.
• I like Simmons in the their for the athleticism and I like seeing Lebron at the 4, but I’m worry when Snow is on the floor with either Simmons or Dwayne Jones, we’re just giving up too much offense.  For now, though, Simmons in the only black hole and maybe he can make it up with a few offensive boards.
• The Cavs are giving up size at every position, but maybe that works to their advantage in seducing the Nuggets to slow it up and work through the post?
• Of course being down 11 after 1 is worrisome, but these are the Cavs.  The defense will start gelling, the Nuggets shooting percentage will drop and the game will tighten.

• Gotta give this squad credit for hustle.  They’re rebounding great so far.
• My goodness, how about that Donyell finger roll?
• With Lebron out, Z is getting triple teamed.
• Eric Snow just threw up his nomination for the David Wesley Ugliest Layup Ever Award.
• Lebron is working hard early today.  All the credit in the world to him, but it’s not enough in the first half, unless he can catch his own passes.
• The rebounding definitely wasn’t as strong in the 2nd quarter.  
• Could be a long 2nd half.  I’m putting the laptop away until post game.

One last halftime note that is not Cavs related, but is basketball and Cleveland related, from Truehoop:

• R.C. Buford talked about a generation of players enmeshed in a “culture of entitlement,” and suggested that one antidote to that was having players like Tim Duncan and David Robinson, who created a work setting that attracted players who were interested in being good teammates. Buford also said that before taking over their own D-League team, the Spurs spent some time with the Cleveland Indians, studying their farm system.

Houston!

Some of us just got home and fired up the DVR, so it’s as good a time as any for a “preview”. Only, since the game is probably already into the 2nd quarter, we’ll just call this a game thread.

Yikes, Luis Scola just went right around Donyell. Interested to see what lineups Coach Mike goes with, since I can’t imagine Donyell going more than 25 minutes and the Rockets can definitely play big.

I’m going to try not to take voluminous notes, so I’ll just leave my comments where they belog, in the comments section. Feel free to join in.

Go Cavs!

Last second heave!

Let’s see if I can get this Cavs/Blazers game thread … Nope… posted before tip-off.

Go Cavs!

~~~~~~
First quarter thoughts while down 29-20:

• Where did that hook come from? It looked methodical and planned. Is that something Lebron has been working on? If so, why? I think the subsequent alley-oop worked better.
• Hm, and offense that capitalizes on opponents weaknesses. Imagine that. The Blazers are going at our weak front line by throwing it in to Aldridge with Simmons already in for Gooden. Z now has his first personal and will soon be removed for his usual rest.
• How does a team with Lebron go through scoring droughts?
• We’re obviously shorthanded with both our serviceable bigs on the bench. Shouldn’t Lebron take a minute here to dominate? Nope, he’d rather float 8 feet past the 3 point line until he gets a pass with the shot clock winding down. Right now I hate you, Lebron. You are a stupid, stupid basketball player. Having a high basketball IQ half the time, or at least only using it half the time, disqualifies you from having a high basketball IQ.
• Look how easily he drives and kicks at the end of the quarter! Where was that the last 6 minutes?!?! No wonder we’re down 9!

Halftime! … wait, gotta stare dreamily into Brandon Roy’s eyes during his interview…

• Lebron drives to start the 2nd. He misses, but I give him more credit than any long 3 he makes.
• And Lebron looks for the pass for another open shot. Gee, good things happen when you don’t just stand off on the wing nonchalantly.
• Ok, another drive. This is when I wish I had a feed during commercials. Who was in his ear? Can I give that man a hardy thank you?
• Drives again for the layup! Down 4 and a timeout for Portland. See how easy it is? He doesn’t even get hit. What stops him the other half of the time?
• I smirk a little bit when the TV guys have their conversation interrupted by a TV timeout.
• I still believe – a whole week later! – that Roy would be Lebron’s best sidekick. Dwight Howard is the best young talent, but it would be Lebron improving Dwight. Next to Roy, Lebron is the one whose game expands.
• Great, offensive foul to wake up Lebron, and he hurts himself on the very next play.
• Hughes dunked! Have we lost a game all year where Hughes dunks?
• We’ve looked pretty bad and we’re down 6 on the road at halftime. I’ll take it.

3rd quarter woes:

• Well, the old Hughes is back.
• Why do the broadcasters keep saying we’re going to see Lebron turn into strictly a jumpshooter? Do they want to torture me?
• 2 dunks for Hughes!! No way we lose this game. I’m tempted to chalk it up and turn it off now, because I’m not sure I can take 18 more minutes of Lebron for 3.
• Instead, Lebron looks to pass more. DJ and Boobie are a combined 5-8, so that’s a pretty good idea. Plus this way we can all say he gutted out a triple double on a bad ankle.
• Hey Lebron got to the rim to end a quarter! Yet another sign we’re assured victory.
• Another positive for Lebron: No turnovers in the 3rd.
• Time to watch him turn it on in the 4th. As with every night, Lebron gets either the credit or the blame at the end of this one.

4.9 second update:

• Boobie has gone to the hoop twice tonight, with ugly results.
• Well, Lebron’s driving early. Yet another sign that we are absolutely not losing this game.
• Ah the catalyst 3. The 3 he always takes to turn the tide when we’re down midway through the 4th. Tonight it took 8 minutes, down double digits, but you knew it was coming. And it’s good. So, again, we’re winning.
• The broadcasters are talking about DJ missed a wide open Lebron on his pump fake, side-step 3. If Lebron rolls to the hoop a) he runs through DJ’s line of sight and b) he dunks it. I don’t care how many in a row he’s made, I want him taking the easy basket.
• What’re the odds Lebron takes this?

TOO EASY! Lebron James is the greatest. Put the ball on the floor and go, Bron Bron, and nobody will ever stop you.

Cavs win.