The Real 2014-15 NBA Regular Season Thread

[CameronCrazy06]

It was like 57 before he was cold as hell the other night

 

[elcheato]

It was like 57 before he was cold as hell the other night

He's 3 for his last 13
 
must be hurt

 

[elcheato]

Kyrie out again, talk me off the ledge. 

 

[snipezo]

Free dion

 

[travesy3]

Is he the Cavs savior? 
 
Travesty, remember when you called Mo Williams the savior after the Cavs traded for him, and they ended up winning 20 more games when he was the only major addition to the team? That was classic

 
I need more info

 

[travesy3]

I didn't watch the Smith game but he took 21 shots.  15 (7/15) at the rim, 2 from just within 10 feet (2/2), 2 mid range (0/2) and 2 three (0/2).
 
Pretty great shot selection in his first game, gotta think the Rockets were happy with that.  They'll give him 20 shots a game if that is where they're coming from.

 

[elcheato]

 
I need more info

Bro, you use to sarcastically call him the savior when I was excited about the move. 

 

[BwareDWare94]

The first thing McHale needs to do is tell Smith that he absolutely cannot shoot threes unless the shot clock is down.

 

[travesy3]

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CLE/2009.html
 
This team winning 66 games is amazing.  No other word to describe it.  I probably didn't give Mo enough credit in his LBJ days (shot well in the 66 win year), but it always reared it's ugly head in the playoffs that Mo Williams ultimately sucks.  His percentages plummetted that year to .408/.372/.767 that year.  It's a literal shame that LBJ wasted so many prime years playing on such a bad roster.  I say the same thing about some of Bosh's best years too with the Raptors, the best player he played with was TJ Ford O_O
 
EDIT: In terms of that trade for Mo Will - obviously it was a huge steal for Cleveland.  What'd they give up, a first?  They needed a power move though and it just never came.

 

[elcheato]

I was just reminded of it when I initially called Tarik Black the savior. 
 
But that 08-09 team was built perfectly around LeBron, by far the best team in the NBA, we just couldn't match up with Dwight conventionally, and Mike Brown couldn't adjust. 

 

[CameronCrazy06]

I was just reminded of it when I initially called Tarik Black the savior. 
 
But that 08-09 team was built perfectly around LeBron, by far the best team in the NBA, we just couldn't match up with Dwight conventionally, and Mike Brown couldn't adjust. 

Best regular season team. Multiple teams could've beaten them in a series

 

[elcheato]

I doubt it. The Cavs were steam rolling the entire league, had swept the first two series, and they dominated the Lakers in their two match ups during the season (usually not that relevant, but there were signs of match up problems with the Magic during the regular season so it means something, I'd say).
 
They had the best defense in the league, the best player in the league (by a wide margin), and an amazing amount of floor spacing for that best player. Every player on the team who consistently took threes shot at least 38% from three that year (except LeBron), Mo, Wally, Pavs, Delonte were at all 40%.

 

[elcheato]

The Hornets have killed my Tarik Black plans 

 

[BwareDWare94]

I just don't understand Houston cutting Black instead of Joey Dorsey, unless Dorsey's contract is guaranteed, or something.

 

[travesy3]

I doubt it. The Cavs were steam rolling the entire league, had swept the first two series, and they dominated the Lakers in their two match ups during the season (usually not that relevant, but there were signs of match up problems with the Magic during the regular season so it means something, I'd say).
 
They had the best defense in the league, the best player in the league (by a wide margin), and an amazing amount of floor spacing for that best player. Every player on the team who consistently took threes shot at least 38% from three that year (except LeBron), Mo, Wally, Pavs, Delonte were at all 40%.

 
Problem relying on a 6'8 guy running screen and rolls and throwing to literally whoever's guy helps off (no matter where they are on the floor) is when they start missing, which is what happened, they can't generate anything else.  Combine that with the best defensive player in the NBA at the time floating around in the paint, makes for a quick series.
 
If the Cleveland wings are hitting their shots we're probably not having this conversation but when you rely on one single thing as your offence, I guess that is what happens vs. Dwight Howard and the best defence in the NBA (had the best DRTG in the NBA I believe).

 

[elcheato]

The Cavs offense wasn't clicking fully during that series but the defense was the much larger issue. They were right at their season average for points per game. 

 

[Pugz]

we really scored 18 straight

 

[Pugz]

greg monroe just hugged tristian and they stayed hugging

 

[travesy3]

Why is the Cavaliers defence so bad currently?  Bottom 10 is inexcusable. I'm sure their offence will figure it out (already top 10).  They just need to add a shooter or two (one that can actually defend somewhat competently).
 
Would the Cavs benefit going smaller and just hounding everyone with a super mobile D?  Love-LBJ-Marion-Shooter-Kyrie?  Seems they're sucking defensively regardless so why not just ram the ball down team's throats and try being mobile on D.
 
At the end of the day LeBron simply needs to be better on that side of the ball.  Was a lot easier for Kobe to start slacking at that age with Bynum/Pau back there.

 

[elcheato]

The trio of lackadaisical defenders (LeBron legitimately said after the Magic game that he was in "chill mode" until Tobias Harris started yapping) needs to in lineups with two great defenders, and right now they don't have that. Varejao might have been the worst defender in the starting lineup, and that's why he was suppose to be starting. Shawn Marion was starting at SG, and he could barely guard SFs, and now Mike Miller is starting at SG, so yeah. Nothing. 
 
This season is a wash, they have two trade exceptions and still have an extra first round pick, so they can upgrade significantly in the off-season. Hopefully Kevin Love realizes this and doesn't bolt.