DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Cavs (and NBA) Preseason Thread

Isn't Bynum currently injured? Let me know when the dude plays.

I just hope that either Bynum or Andy is healthy and able to go at all times. Having one or the other healthy for 70+ games alone would be a huge improvement for the team, and both would be amazing.

I do like how the team seems to be taking to Browns defensive teachings already. It's not perfect, but they are coming along.

I like this Sims as a backup at Center as well. He seems to be a decent defender, and can put the ball back in off a miss. He's probably not even a 10 PPG guy, but I think that he can be a valuable piece as a situational backup.

I think that we'll be improved at SF as well. I don't think that it will be like having Lebron here, but I think that the 3 or 4 headed monster can be effective with solid defense, and a range of offensive skills from Clark, Gee, and Miles. I think there will be a ton of mix and match when Thompson is in the game, and Clark will see a lot of time when Bennett is in,picking up certain opposing PF on defense, and helping as much as he can on defense. I really like his length, and think that he will be an asset.

I also think that Jack will be a huge help at both Guard spots. He is almost a co-starter level guy. We were so inconsistent last year when Irving and/or Waiters would come off the court, and Waiters would fall in love with shots he shouldn't be taking. Brown had an option this year if that happens again this coming year.I liked Ellington and Livingston last year, but I think that we have an upgrade here. Hopefully we can be done with guys like Pargo, and Quinn, and Sloan, and even Gibson.

Overall, I really like the versatility this lineup has. I think that we will be able to play match up effectively a lot better than we would have been able to last year.

Quote:

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SF: Clark, Gee, Miles

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That right there is ugly.

Did anyone catch the Cavs preview on NBATV the other day? I think it was Kenny Smith predicting 55-57 Wins?

Can't see that with that SF lineup. Only way it happens is if our defense is top 10 and give up an average of 89 or so. Until Gee is out of this starting lineup, I don't see even 45 wins.

I'm going to say it. Does Lebron look at this roster and say "I'm coming home?"

the one thing we have over Philly as well is that he is just a $6mil gamble. We didn't give up picks or young players to get him. So, if he's healthy enough, then we get some play out of him. if not, then we missed out on an overall weak FA class. no biggie.

NRTU.

Need to trade Irving. He's injury prone.

I was about to say "you said you were staying out of the basketball threads!"

Speaking of Tristan ... and Zeller ... and Irving ... and Waiters ......

This is about as much a surprise as the sun rising in the morning ..... but it is news nonetheless.

Contract options exercised for Kyrie Irving, Tristan Thompson, Dion Waiters and Tyler Zeller: Cleveland Cavaliers Insider | cleveland.com
http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2013/10/cleveland_cavaliers_exercise_o.html

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- It barely counts as news when a team picks up the options on its four best young players, as the Cavaliers did on Wednesday in exercising the fourth-year options on Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson and the third-year options on Dion Waiters and Tyler Zeller.

But any move by General Manager Chris Grant to keep together the four youngsters who represent the core of the team's future is a good one, as far as coach Mike Brown is concerned.

"It's a good thing,'' Brown said before Wednesday's game against the Washington Wizards at US Bank Arena. "I'm excited about all those guys. I like everybody on my team, so the more options he can exercise to keep guys I'm all for it.

Given the honors won by all four and the fact that all of them took part in their national team activities last summer, it was no surprise that the Cavs made the move.

Irving, the No. 1 pick in the 2011 draft who was Rookie of the Year in 2012 and an All-Star last year, is averaging 20.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.3 steals in 32.8 minutes in his first two seasons. He also won the 3-point shootout during All-Star Weekend last season. His 22.5 points per game were the highest for any player age 22 or younger in 2012-13 and the most among all Eastern Conference point guards.

Thompson was the No. 4 pick in the 2011 draft and has become a force on the boards. Last season, he averaged 11.7 points on .488 shooting, 9.4 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 31.3 minutes. He set a franchise record for most offensive rebounds in a single-season with 306, which ranked second in the NBA, surpassing Zydrunas Ilgauskas’ 299 during the 2004-05 season. During NBA All-Star weekend, Thompson was selected to participate in 2013 BBVA Rising Stars Challenge.

Waiters was the No. 4 pick in the 2012 draft and was named to the 2013 BBVA Rising Stars Challenge and the All-Rookie first team last season. He averaged 14.7 points on .412 shooting, 2.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.0 steal in 28.8 minutes last season.

Zeller, who was picked by Dallas with the No. 17 pick in the 2012 draft and then traded to Cleveland on draft night, was named to the All-Rookie second team last season and the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge. He averaged 7.9 points on .438 shooting and 5.7 rebounds in 28.0 minutes.

Irving, Waiters and Zeller were among the 27 NBA players who participated in the three-day USA Basketball minicamp held in Las Vegas last summer, while Thompson led the Canadian National Team during the FIBA Americas Championship tournament.

Passing fancy: In the annual survey of NBA general managers, Waiters earned votes as one of the league's best passers.

"I think a lot of people didn't know I could pass the ball as well as I can,'' Waiters said. "It's just expanding your game, letting people know it's not just about scoring, getting your teammates involved and doing it on an every night basis. I'm thankful for it.''

Brown said Waiters needs to learn to pass more quickly, though.

"The thing he has to keep remembering is continuing showing the ability to pass the ball but don't hold onto it too long to make a play,'' the coach said. "Hey, use your instincts and your natural ability but move it quickly so that the defense doesn't have time to get set.''

New era: For the first time in survey history, the Lakers' Kobe Bryant was not selected as the best shooting guard. He got 20 percent of the vote compared to 56.7 percent for the Rockets' James Harden.

Brown, who coached Bryant with the Lakers, thinks the slight will be motivation.

"Kobe's a guy that doesn't need much motivation at all,'' Brown said. "He's one of those guys you never count out. In the same breath, James Harden is a very good player. All I know is if I was Kobe's opponent I wouldn't try to motivate him in any way, shape or form at all. That's not to say that whatever they say is true or false, I just wouldn't give him any extra motivation.''

yep, no surprise, but still good to note.

It's refreshing to see one Cleveland team want to keep a draft pick(s). Outside of Thomas and Haden, there aren't many Browns you can say this about. Sad.

Just a random comment. I think Tristan looks closer to 6'10-6'11 than the supposed 6'8-6'9 people say he is. I would be SHOCKED if he's only 6'8.

No surprises here on the final (?) cuts.

Cavaliers waive four to get to 15-man roster; Dellavedova and Sims claim final spots | cleveland.com
http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2013/10/cavaliers_waive_four_to_get_to.html

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio – The Cavaliers waived four players Friday to get down to a 15-man roster, letting go of DeSagana Diop, Kenny Kadji, Jermaine Taylor and Elliot Williams.

Officially, the final roster does not need to be submitted until Monday evening, but for now, it appears as if guard Matthew Dellavedova and forward Henry Sims have claimed the final two Cavaliers roster spots.

The two have long been favorites to make the roster.

Kadji played in seven preseason games for the Cavaliers, averaging 5.0 points and 1.7 rebounds in 9.4 minutes. Taylor averaged 5.7 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists in seven preseason games. Williams played in six games, averaging 2.5 points and 2.2 rebounds in 7.9 minutes. And Diop averaged 3.7 minutes in three preseason games.

Kenny Kadji is kind of a surprise. I'm really looking forward to watching this team after the crap we've witnessed the last 3 years.

I didn't see a whole lot out of him in the games I watched.

I know that Sims was going to stick, because we need that extra true Center type. I liked a lot of what I saw from Dellavadova. Those were really only the 2 spots we had available.

I really liked Jermaine Taylor as that final guard, but the fact that he's a 2/3 when we already have CJ Miles and we needed a true PG. By the way, CJ Miles has looked really, really good this preseason. I liked the signing last year and he disappointed a bit, in my mind. I'm hoping that Brown keeps him in the rotation at the start of the season.

Tristan's foot speed is really going to help us against stretch 4's. I found a nice article on him.

http://www.fearthesword.com/2013/10/26/5...ristan-thompson

Tristan Thompson, apparently, closed practice today by draining multiple threes. However, if he transforms into being able to even hit one of those every now and then, my goodness. That'd make the offense so much better. He already has that lovely right-handed push shot from about ten feet. If he develops a deeper jumper? Holy cow.

until Tristan starts shooting his FTs underhanded, I shall remain unimpressed

Good lord

What the Heat just did on the basketball court was incredible. I've never seen that before.

That was pretty freaking cool.

So... What did they do?

They somehow projected images onto the court. Typing it out, it sounds kind of lame. I am sure there are videos online that I am to lazy to look up.

Couldn't find a video, but sounds like several projectors image mapped together so that you can get one large projection:IE, the entire court, and then controlled via a media server like something along the lines of the Hippotizer HD
Did they make the court morph into different things? Lots of examples of that, including when they opened the Horseshoe Casino in Cleveland (although this one isn't as cool as others I've seen)

Playing. . . like as in playing a basketball game?

76ers were up 33-14 against the Heat after the first quarter.

In other news, Anthony Bennett looks like he needs to layoff the doughnut burgers.

Bennett looks fat as hell. Bynum flashes why we wanted him. Was a defensive force against Lopez and you had to respect his offense.