Jrag Posted January 23, 2016 Share Posted January 23, 2016 Just in case anyone thinks I'm exaggerating about how badly the Bulls miss Mike Dunleavy: .http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/statistics/_/position/sf/sort/VORP/page/2 Doug at least made the first page (by one spot). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jiji Posted January 23, 2016 Share Posted January 23, 2016 There's a Woj article on yahoo (can't link from my phone) that is more or less a hit piece on LeBron James and how he basically runs the organisation (though he originally wanted Mark Jackson, which would've been hilarious and a great match). Additionally Lue has also said he's not going to coach differently than Blatt, as much as he will coach better. And there's a flood of stories coming out ripping Blatt's competency. Lovely organization. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kuetsar Posted January 23, 2016 Share Posted January 23, 2016 Not that the Cavs have any other choice, but this illustrates the peril of giving a superstar too much power. . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_MJ_ Posted January 23, 2016 Share Posted January 23, 2016 There's a Woj article on yahoo (can't link from my phone) that is more or less a hit piece on LeBron James and how he basically runs the organisation (though he originally wanted Mark Jackson, which would've been hilarious and a great match). Additionally Lue has also said he's not going to coach differently than Blatt, as much as he will coach better. And there's a flood of stories coming out ripping Blatt's competency. Lovely organization. Woj wrote an article basically saying this is probably Lebron's fault? Did not see that coming... Josh Smith getting traded back to Houston is getting overshadow by the Cavs drama, but it's pretty funny too. I almost want to root for Houston eliminating the Clippers again this season now. Watch your back, Lance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jrag Posted January 23, 2016 Share Posted January 23, 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supremebve Posted January 23, 2016 Share Posted January 23, 2016 The thing about David Blatt that got him fired is that I don't know if this team would be any better if they didn't have a coach at all. They don't seem to have an offensive system that works to the benefit to their talent. LeBron and Kyrie just take turns with the ball, and Love just gets what he can when he can. They aren't going to beat Golden State or San Antonio when everyone seems to have a defined role within a system that fits their parts. The Cavs only real advantage is that they're really talented, but the entire NBA is really talented and that won't be enough to win a championship any more. They are kind of like the Clippers where their talent looks overwhelming until you realize that the pieces don't really fit. Blake and Chris work, Chris and DeAndre work, and Blake and DeAndre work...they don't all work. Every year one of those guys gets injured and the other two look like better players when the third is gone. Kyrie, LeBron, and Love don't really make sense together. I've never really figured out what the hell is Kevin Love even supposed to be doing. He's good enough that he still can be productive without a defined role, but he kind of just stands around until someone passes him the ball. Shouldn't him and Kyrie(or LeBron for that matter) be unstoppable on a pick and roll? Shouldn't he get more post ups? His 3 point range should be used more as a luxury option not a key feature. It is kind of like driving a car with nice rims, but bad tires. Having a power forward who is a great rebounder and outlet passer is more valuable to a team than a power forward who is standing behind the 3 point line unable to get rebounds or make good passes. LeBron is not the same player he was a few years ago. His shooting has diminished a lot, but his usage rate hasn't diminished much at all. He has teammates who can play. Nobody on that team should ever be standing and watching one of their teammates dribble. They have too many skilled players for them to ever really run isolation plays. Sure, Kyrie and LeBron can score more often than not on an isolation, but why make your team easier to defend? There isn't a team in history that could beat Golden State or San Antonio without a viable offensive strategy. That is why David Blatt is gone, because the team is playing an obviously flawed style that can't possibly win a championship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie M. Posted January 23, 2016 Share Posted January 23, 2016 Blatt had a system that he tried to implement but LeBron gave up on it after a few weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodhelmet Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 Speaking of Cleveland, I am actually interested in the matchup tonight between the Bulls and Cavs. Tonight is loaded with games but the only other gme that looks slightly interesting to me is Indiana vs. Sacramento. Other games to keep an eye out for this week... Sunday Clippers vs. Raptors Mavericks vs. Rockets (Josh Smith is back BABY!!! Ha!) Monday WARRIORS VS. SPURS (Nothing else matters) Tuesday Clippers vs. Pacers Wednesday Clippers vs. Hawks Rockets vs. Spurs Mavericks vs. Warriors Thursday Hawks vs. Pacers Friday Cavs vs. Pistons Rockets vs. Thunder Celtics vs. Magic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Fowler Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 Man, I don't remember the last time a game before the all star break felt so damn important. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodhelmet Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 Yeah, Pistons vs. Cavs on Friday is for all the glory.... oh wait.... There are so many ways this could go. Golden State could blow out the Spurs. It could go down to the wire or multiple overtimes. The Spurs could cruise comfortably with their deep bench and I wouldn't be shocked. With a Spurs win, it's a one game race and could go either way. A Spurs loss gives Golden State a little more breathing room but not much. I feel like the entire 4 game series will ultimately decide the playoff seeds. Anyway, a nice summary of coach reactions from around the league on David Blatt... http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/several-nba-head-coaches-sharply-criticized-david-blatt-s-firing-223909142.html?soc_src=mail&soc_trk=ma Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jrag Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 He is obviously talking about Bulls/Cavs! Can Lebron out coach Hoiberg (probably)? Which of these teams will continue the downward spiral? Just how badly will D Rose work Kyrie tonight? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodhelmet Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 I am actually looking forward to the Bulls vs. Spurs game in San Antonio. We have some revenge planned for that debacle earlier in the season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew8798 Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 Not the game the Cavs wanting to have Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodhelmet Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 Well, Tyronn Lue is going to do things like Blatt... only better. http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/new-cavs-coach-tyronn-lue-promises-he-will--do-some-things-better-210117687.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew8798 Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 Lebron better hope they win it all this year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodhelmet Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 You have two teams doing historic things this year. Not great things. Historic things. Golden State is on pace to break the 70 win plateau. They had the longest winning streak to open the season. Steph Curry is reinventing basketball before our eyes. San Antonio, with the league's best defense by a mile is killing the league in point differential. Their deep bench is killing the competition ( https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fancy-stats/wp/2016/01/21/the-spurs-are-rolling-through-the-nba-thanks-to-historic-play-from-their-bench/). They are also on pace to hit 70 wins. Historic teams rarely stop being special. This year, we are treated to two such teams in the first half. I don't think Cleveland can compete with history. The best they can hope for is that Blatt's firing is similar to SVG resigning from Miami in 2006. The problem... Tyronn Lue is no Pat Riley. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodhelmet Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 To piggyback on my last post, here is an SI article about the Warriors and Spurs historic runs... http://www.si.com/nba/2016/01/21/warriors-spurs-preview-stephen-curry-kawhi-leonard-klay-thompson Another article on Kawhi, comparing him to Larry Bird... http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/kawhi-leonard-is-the-most-well-rounded-elite-shooter-since-larry-bird/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRGoldman Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 Lue's rotations tonight were embarrassing. He never used their best lineup. In the first quarter, they put out a Delly/Shump/JR/James Jones/Thompson lineup that couldn't score in a million years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew8798 Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 Watching this Lakers game I would hope people didn't pay full price Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Fowler Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 Cleveland's best chance is the East drops off, they cruise to the finals, and San Antonio and Golden State annihilate each other. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jrag Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 Lue's rotations tonight were embarrassing. His main problem tonight: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jrag Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 Rose had just about the best awful shooting night you can have. He is SOO aggressive right now and his defense on Kyrie was great. It's amazing to watch his explosiveness and touch come together slowly but surely. Must watch stuff right now for all the D Rose stans out there like myself. The rims always so tight in Cleveland? Between Rose's missed layups and Cleveland's missed FTs that was an odd game. Loved every second of it though. That moment when the Cavs fans started booing was AMAZING. I've never seen a team this good slip into crisis mode before, but here we are! This Bulls team is so odd. If Rose continues to improve I think we have a shot at the Finals still, but it's been a weird road. The Bulls are 9-0 against the Cavs, Spurs, Thunder, Raptors, Clippers and Grizzlies. 5-7 against the Nets, Wolves, Hornets, Suns, Knicks and Bucks. WHAT THE HELL IS THAT!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jrag Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 I am actually looking forward to the Bulls vs. Spurs game in San Antonio. We have some revenge planned for that debacle earlier in the season. It will be a much tougher match up for us without Jo. I've always felt we played SA well because we can match up size down low. It will be interesting to see what Pop does against D Rose now that he is getting more aggressive. I remember Kawhi floating back and forth between Jimmy and Rose last time, but I would bet he spends most of the game guarding Rose this time around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sabremike Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 Rose had just about the best awful shooting night you can have. He is SOO aggressive right now and his defense on Kyrie was great. It's amazing to watch his explosiveness and touch come together slowly but surely. Must watch stuff right now for all the D Rose stans out there like myself. The rims always so tight in Cleveland? Between Rose's missed layups and Cleveland's missed FTs that was an odd game. Loved every second of it though. That moment when the Cavs fans started booing was AMAZING. I've never seen a team this good slip into crisis mode before, but here we are! This Bulls team is so odd. If Rose continues to improve I think we have a shot at the Finals still, but it's been a weird road. The Bulls are 9-0 against the Cavs, Spurs, Thunder, Raptors, Clippers and Grizzlies. 5-7 against the Nets, Wolves, Hornets, Suns, Knicks and Bucks. WHAT THE HELL IS THAT!? Know we are below .500 but I don't think you can group the Knicks in the dregs of the NBA category anymore. They are no longer an easy win. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandomAct Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 My man SALAH is starting against the Rockets today! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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