I have to wonder how long it will be until they flip Speights for Zeller in the starting lineup? Zeller could learn against backups, and not get as beat up as he has recently, and Speights seems to have found a home at Center for now.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
Great win. The Cavs won that game...OKC didn't lose it. I hope that they look at the effort there and realize that if they put that forth every night that good things will happen.
I'm really torn on this. Getting another first for Speights probably fits better long-term, but I would love to lock him up for a few years as the third big on this team.
Kyrie is nuts. One of the better games I've watched recently. This team is becoming really fun to watch. Now they just need to do it on a nightly basis.
[color:"green"] "World domination has encountered a momentary setback. Please talk amongst yourselves." Get Fuzzy[/color]
He's also $4.5 mill next year, at least, and more after that, which would come out of the free agency/extension money with the new, stricter salary structure.
[color:"green"] "World domination has encountered a momentary setback. Please talk amongst yourselves." Get Fuzzy[/color]
That's fine. We have only about $30 million on the books in 2014/15, and $9.7 million of that is Andy who should be dealt by next year's trade deadline.
Quote: Kyrie is the best/most gifted professional athlete in Cleveland.
I am starting to think it isn't remotely close.
Only guy in the conversation could be Joe haden. Maybe we put Josh Gordon and Trent Richardson in there, some time down the line.
There's just so much with that guy that isn't teachable.
There was some talk on twitter last night about how Kyrie may be going down the wrong path with being "disinterested" in a game in Detroit, which they were blown out in.
I don't want to hear that my star player is disinterested, but at least he had the stones to come out and admit his faults. Then to follow it up with what you saw tonight is impressive.
I don't want to see him "disinterested" in games, especially against lesser teams.
If you throw out what happened in that final Boston series with Lebron, you can't say that guy was ever disinterested in any part of any Cavs game he ever played in. He took every game like it was his last.
I just hope we don't ever hear it again with him. Who knows, maybe he was just giving everyone the okie-doke to motivate himself for OKC.
I definitely want to keep Speights. He really wanted to come here when we made the trade, and has said that he was disappointed when he was drafted ahead of the Cavaliers pick back when we drafted Hickson. Whether or not that is 100% true or not, he has absolutely said, and has played like he wants to be here. I would keep him and see how he does. Like you say ..... why trade away a quality guy who appears to have upside for a pick that would produce a player who might not be as good?
Tonight he put up 21 and grabbed 10 boards .... and even added 3 assists in just 33 minutes. I would be perfectly OK with flipping him and Zeller, and allowing Zeller to develop against backups, while Speights takes over the starting role for now. Between him, Zeller, and Thompson, they put up a combined 39 points and 30 boards from the C/PF spots. That is really impressive.He has really helped those 2 positions settle down, and has helped us not get beat like a drum as soon as a starter sits down. He also does seem to understand how to play defense, and that is important as well.
I am so happy we got him in that trade, and in fact, could be an important part piece of the puzzle going forward. I could not believe we got the players we did plus a draft pick as well. We desperately needed 2 things ...... an inside presence and an outside shooter .... and we got both. Wellington could definitely make Gibson expendable, if we can find someone who wants to trade for him. In fact, we could trade any or all of Gibson, Casspi, and/or Walton if we want to make another deal for a pick.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
Quote: He's also $4.5 mill next year, at least, and more after that, which would come out of the free agency/extension money with the new, stricter salary structure.
it's a player option and if he keeps this up, then he's opting out of it even if he stays.
Quote: I definitely want to keep Speights. He really wanted to come here when we made the trade, and has said that he was disappointed when he was drafted ahead of the Cavaliers pick back when we drafted Hickson. Whether or not that is 100% true or not, he has absolutely said, and has played like he wants to be here. I would keep him and see how he does. Like you say ..... why trade away a quality guy who appears to have upside for a pick that would produce a player who might not be as good?
Tonight he put up 21 and grabbed 10 boards .... and even added 3 assists in just 33 minutes. I would be perfectly OK with flipping him and Zeller, and allowing Zeller to develop against backups, while Speights takes over the starting role for now. Between him, Zeller, and Thompson, they put up a combined 39 points and 30 boards from the C/PF spots. That is really impressive.He has really helped those 2 positions settle down, and has helped us not get beat like a drum as soon as a starter sits down. He also does seem to understand how to play defense, and that is important as well.
I am so happy we got him in that trade, and in fact, could be an important part piece of the puzzle going forward. I could not believe we got the players we did plus a draft pick as well. We desperately needed 2 things ...... an inside presence and an outside shooter .... and we got both. Wellington could definitely make Gibson expendable, if we can find someone who wants to trade for him. In fact, we could trade any or all of Gibson, Casspi, and/or Walton if we want to make another deal for a pick.
Every team needs a guy who can get ugly baskets. He seems like he can be that guy, willing to fight down low for offensive rebounds, put-backs, etc... Similiar to Andy.
I just think we're at the point where we have a lot of picks, and outside of getting back into the top ten, I'd value what we have, rather than the unknown.
Plus we have that lotto pick from Memphis, which if we're back by then, that just fattens the pot. I love that.
and if Magic didn't get HIV, then he'd be likely GOAT NBA player. The man played center for a Finals game because, well, the Lakers needed him to. He was amazing.
back to Kyrie, I think we need to start comparing him to someone other than Chris Paul because he's a better scorer (and not nearly the distributor - or defender).
I think Steve Nash should be the current comparison (that is MVP Steve Nash, not Laker's Nash)
I wasn't alive for Magic Johnson's playing career, but what exactly did HIV have to do with his claim to GOAT PG? Did it slow down his productivity in his waning years or is it a perception deal? Just curious.
As for Kyrie, an explosive, right-handed Jalen Rose?
Politicians are puppets, y'all. Let's get Geppetto!
I think that there will come a point where great PGs will be compared to Kyrie Irving ..... not the other way around.
The kid's 20 years old. He's going to get better as he goes along. I also think that he will pick up more assists as he starts being able to trust his teammates more as far as being able to knock down shots.
He is absolutely ice with the game on the line already. How many game winning shots does he have already? 5? Just amazing.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
I've had a hard time figuring out who he reminds me of. I agree that CP3 is not a fair comparison. I don't think Nash is either.
He has the qualities of a lot of guys in the league right now. You can't compare him to Derrick Rose, because Rose is a much stronger player, but on the flip side, he does not have the range that Kyrie has.
Gilbert Arenas is interesting. Maybe a sneakier, better eye for the floor Gilbert Arenas.
I think it's good though, that it's hard to make a good comparison.
Quote: I wasn't alive for Magic Johnson's playing career, but what exactly did HIV have to do with his claim to GOAT PG? Did it slow down his productivity in his waning years or is it a perception deal? Just curious.
First, he is the GOAT PG. End of story. He's a top5 player too. I was saying GOAT player and he needed some more productive years and he needed another shot at Michael's Bulls to get there.
Magic Johnson was still amongst the best players in the NBA. He had just gone through a Lakers v. Bulls Finals that seemed like it would be the 90s equivalent of the Lakers v. Celtics (at least in the early 90s).
Then, he had to suddenly retire at 31yo when he was perfectly healthy otherwise. HIV was not understood then and it was an absolute shock to the entire country. People weren't sure how easy it was transmitted, if he should even be allowed to play basketball, etc.
He played in an allstar game one of the years but people really played off of him (even for an allstar game) for fear of giving him a bloody nose or something. It was crazy.
I think as a scoring PG kyrie is probably the best in the NBA right now...and i'm not sure its that close. Dude has the best handles in the game right now bar none..that video from the olympics was like wha?? the whole starting dream team had to go retape their ankles. Two things i think kyrie is very average at, one is defense and i think that will come as he gets more time and realizes tendancies, and the second is as a distributor..he doesn't pass alot. He's got a scorer's mentality, which is ok, and i think as the rest of the team develops he will get better, and if lebron comes back..lol , told my brother the other day, can you imagine this team right now with lebron instead of gee...sick
Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday. -John Wayne
Quote: I always felt like had he not gotten HIV, I think we would have seen at least 3-4 more great years out of him.
I agree.
Magic was amazing.. as a rookie in game 6 with Kareem out, Magic played guard, forward and a significant amount at center and had 45 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assists... I don't know of anybody since, other than possibly LeBron who could pull that off.
Gets called for what he believes is a ticky-tack technical (seemed like it was too). Uses that as motivation to absolutely dominate the last 2 minutes of the half (Kings go on 9-0 run behind him).
But, he just cannot let go of that call. He stays on the court and gets in the refs face as his entire team has gone to the locker room until the ref has no choice but to run him.
Quote: He's 22 and very immature.. however he is in his 3rd season in the NBA so it's about time to start growing up...
and i'll be honest. if the new owners of the Kings (assuming the sale goes through) decide that they want to start fresh without him, then I would happily take him on the Cavs.
if he does settle down "just enough" he is also legitimately dominant. like Rodman, Sheed and Artest before him, there are likely some really successful years out there for him if he can find a team willing to keep him in check.
I would be ok with it, if he were that last piece for a serious run.
You can have troubled players, and if you're winning, it doesn't matter.
Sheed was fine in Detroit all those years when they went deep every year. Shaq and Kobe hated each other during their run. The bulls dealt with Dennis Rodman and all his baggage for 3 years.
Well, they only won the game by 27 ...... with their starters on the bench for the 4th quarter ..... so let's not get carried away ....
Actually, I do feel like they are starting to come together as a team. It's really nice to see.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
I love Noel as a beast in the middle defensively. I think that he can learn to be more effective on offense, and he is going to shut down a lot of players defensively. He is very young, and needs to add strength, but he has an unreal wingspan, and great instincts defensively.
There are other players with nice abilities and upsides ....... but I think that Noel can be an elite level defender/rebounder/shot blocker, and I think that he'll develop a nice offensive game. He already seems capable of passing effectively, and I think that he'll learn as he grows.
If I had to draft #1 today, he'd be my pick. (although I don't watch a ton of college basketball ..... so take that for what it's worth)
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
Honestly, I don't get why people want to take Noel #1 overall. He's one of the best in this class, but I see Serge Ibaka and I don't think that is who you want to take #1 overall (Shabazz is my choice but McLemore is right with him - gotta be able to score).
Now, don't get me wrong, I love guys like Andy and Ibaka and want guys like that on my team. If we draft #4/5 and he's there, then you take him. The problem is that I don't want one of those guys as the #1 overall pick in the draft.
For Noel:
worst case: Biyombo/Ty Thomas (not much chance he's this bad)
likely floor: Larry Sanders/Chris Anderson/Kenneth Faried (useful player that helps a defense a bunch and cleans up the glass on both ends)
most likely case: Ibaka/Andy Varejao/Noah (a good enough offensive player that truly helps on the defensive end)
if he fulfills every hope, gains a bunch of muscle mass, and everything goes right: Dwight Howard (less likely than the Biyombo one)
I wanna draft for position and for defense, but I think Grant has to stick to his guns and just take the best guy available. Maybe Waiters doesn't pan out, but I honestly believe that's who he and his guys had as the top available player. They were really high on him.
I think that Noel will be a dominating defensive player ...... not just a pretty good one. He has an almost freakish wingspan and reach, combined with instincts and anticipation that allow him to make blocking shots and getting to rebounds look easy.
He's also only 18 years old. He's got a ton of upside. I get really excited about seeing a kid like this, with a frame that should allow him to add 30# of muscle over time, and who would benefit from working with a guy like Big Z on his offense.
Shabazz is another intriguing player, but I have read about rumors of laziness as far as staying in top shape. However, he produces, and that's the important part. I don't think that I'd be disappointed with either guy.
After the past 2 drafts, I think that I'll just trust Grant and whoever he decides to pick. I think that he's done an incredibly good job. (and yeah, I understand that he's had high picks, but he created those opportunities, and appears to have done a solid job picking effective players)
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
I agree Noel may turn into a dominant defensive player (he's going to have to gain a ton of muscle to get there though - he's far too skinny to be a completely dominant guy right now).
It's just that guys like Ibaka are pretty dominant defensive players too. If Noel doesn't develop a very good offensive game, then that's not worth #1 overall.
Not that it matters, the odds are stacked fairly against the Cavs being that high in the draft.
The way the Cavaliers are playing right now, they may play themselves down last place in the ping pong ball derby. They probably can't make up enough ground to make the playoffs this year, but they could get up to 9th in the East if they keep playing well.
If the Lakers continue to suck, and miss the playoffs, then the Cavaliers cannot swap picks with them with the Heat pick, which would be a disappointment. There should be hope, if Lebron leaves the heat, and maybe Bosh goes with him, that the 2015 Heat pick could be a good one. (and it's unprotected in 2015)
We really need to hope that the Lakers get the last playoff spot in the West.
I don't think that there is any way for the Cavaliers to pick up 10 games on Boston to make the playoffs, but they are only 6 games behind Philly for highest non playoff team.
No way the Cavaliers get the Sacramento pick this year.
I do wonder what the Cavaliers will do in this draft with the picks they have. They really have too many picks with 2 firsts and 2 seconds. (Cav's own + Miami or LA in the first, and their own + Orlando's in the 2nd)
Shouls be interesting.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
, told my brother the other day, can you imagine this team right now with lebron instead of gee...sick
