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Nate Robinson always torches us.
Amazing.
Lately, every opposing PG torches us
#gmstrong
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3-2 non a 5 game West Coast road trip! I am psyched! This trip had 0-5 written all over it before the Deng trade. I do agree that I want to see better defense out of the PG spot, and Kyrie in particular. However, he is still learning. The good part is that I believe him when he says that he wants to be great, and part of being great is playing defense. I do think that he'll improve, and also that the team will improve overall as they grow together. People brought up how the team was hampered on offense by having to learn to play with a true Center for the first time with Bynum. The defensive responsibilities changed to some extent as well. I think that will improve as the team gets used to the new dynamic at C and SF. Face it, we changed the defensive schemes entirely, then moved in a new C and SF (plus the revolving door at starting SG) and expected perfection right out of the gate. We are now starting to see some of the schemes coming together, and some more consistency. It's not perfect, but I do see improvement. The Cavaliers has 2 road wins before this trip west. All of a sudden they have 5 road wins. Man, 3-2 on a West Coast road swing. Whoda thunk it? 
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.
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Let's talk about Kevin Durants greatness. Durant has locked up MVP unless he gets hurt. He's on another level right now. I don't know if LeBron is bored, tired, coasting, whatever, but he's been a disappointment for his standards and Durant taking his game to another level has made it more obvious. He's averaging 38 PPG in 9/10 games.
Lebron is still the best in the world, but man Durant is special.
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3-2 non a 5 game West Coast road trip!
I am psyched!
This trip had 0-5 written all over it before the Deng trade.
I do agree that I want to see better defense out of the PG spot, and Kyrie in particular. However, he is still learning. The good part is that I believe him when he says that he wants to be great, and part of being great is playing defense. I do think that he'll improve, and also that the team will improve overall as they grow together.
People brought up how the team was hampered on offense by having to learn to play with a true Center for the first time with Bynum. The defensive responsibilities changed to some extent as well. I think that will improve as the team gets used to the new dynamic at C and SF. Face it, we changed the defensive schemes entirely, then moved in a new C and SF (plus the revolving door at starting SG) and expected perfection right out of the gate. We are now starting to see some of the schemes coming together, and some more consistency. It's not perfect, but I do see improvement.
The Cavaliers has 2 road wins before this trip west. All of a sudden they have 5 road wins.
Man, 3-2 on a West Coast road swing. Whoda thunk it?
Defense at the PG spot is killing us. Kyrie i think will get better, but Jack is just trash on the defensive end..his +- has to be horrible. He may score 10-15 a night but he gives up that or more. Having Deng sure solidified finally having someone who can play with their back to the basket or take you off the dribble.. He and Andy are already playing well together. That block by Faried tonight on Waiters was sick. I think I would have just went to the locker room after that and had some hot chocolate..lol
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
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He only went 19-29 from the floor, and 11-13 from the line, for 54 points tonight. Anyone could have done that.  He is a special talent, for sure.
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.
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If we're serious about the playoffs, I want a seed between 3-6. The East is so bad we could beat any team in that range. We're 2 wins behind Detroit and only 4 behind Chicago who's going to take a nose dive.
Goodness, we'd have a first round matchup with Toronto. With Luol Deng that would be a gift for us to face them in the first round.
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Durant has locked up MVP unless he gets hurt. He's on another level right now. I don't know if LeBron is bored, tired, coasting, whatever, but he's been a disappointment for his standards and Durant taking his game to another level has made it more obvious.
LeBron coasting is still the MVP. Whilst coasting he is shooting nearly 60% from the field! And he is still the best perimeter defender in the league.
Durant might win it because people are tired of voting for LeBron, but LeBron should win it as he is the best player.
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Ease his pain.
I'm gonna stick my head out there and say Lebron James will return to Cleveland. Sports is a story, a narrative. I think most analysts and fans would agree, the most complete scenario for his legacy would end in Cleveland, with a championship. The only way his number gets hoisted amongst names like Carr, Price and Nance, is a return "home"
I'm nowhere near holding my breath on this one, it's just what I think will happen.
President - Fort Collins Browns Backers
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From a sports narrative point of view, I agree ... You'd have the prodigal son returning, etc. I just don't really see it happening though.
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I would bet that we try our best to try and re-sign Deng before the year ends, and that would effectively eliminate any chance of Lebron coming back.
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.
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I would bet that we try our best to try and re-sign Deng before the year ends, and that would effectively eliminate any chance of Lebron coming back.
Couldn't they actually have both of them? I'm no expert on the system, but couldn't they sign Lebron to a max and then keep Deng via Bird exemption?
I dunno if LBJ is coming back, I think it's certainly possible, but I would think he'd love a guy like Deng to play with. Doesn't need the ball, can defend a lot of the same guys Lebron is asked to defend, which could save some wear and tear as the season went along. He's a lifetime 1 out of 3 from outside, but a guy like that could be better with he open looks that Lebron always creates...
I think Deng would be a nice option if they can't bring in Lebron or whomever, but they will still need another star player to take the next step...
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I would bet that we try our best to try and re-sign Deng before the year ends, and that would effectively eliminate any chance of Lebron coming back.
Couldn't they actually have both of them? I'm no expert on the system, but couldn't they sign Lebron to a max and then keep Deng via Bird exemption?
They'll have a cap hold for some percentage of Deng's salary unless/until they renounce his Bird rights. So as long as Deng's cap hold and LeBron's salary combined wouldn't put them over the cap, they could do that. Deng's salary is a little over $14 million...not sure what percentage of that would be his cap hold. I think it's 150%.
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I would bet that we try our best to try and re-sign Deng before the year ends, and that would effectively eliminate any chance of Lebron coming back.
Couldn't they actually have both of them? I'm no expert on the system, but couldn't they sign Lebron to a max and then keep Deng via Bird exemption?
I dunno if LBJ is coming back, I think it's certainly possible, but I would think he'd love a guy like Deng to play with. Doesn't need the ball, can defend a lot of the same guys Lebron is asked to defend, which could save some wear and tear as the season went along. He's a lifetime 1 out of 3 from outside, but a guy like that could be better with he open looks that Lebron always creates...
I think Deng would be a nice option if they can't bring in Lebron or whomever, but they will still need another star player to take the next step...
How would you play the 2 of them together?
They could sign Deng to the Bird exception, but I believe that they would have to add the other parts they want first. So, they would have to add whoever they want to add, then re-sign Deng. I would love to see this team add a true big. I assume that Andy is almost certainly gone. 32 with a long list of injuries, and who isn't likely to come cheap, all leads up to a new home IMHO. We will have a screaming need at the Center spot. Who is worth signing there? (or who might be available for a trade?)
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.
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You could mix and match Lebron and Deng in a few different ways. You could play LBJ at the 3 and Deng at the 2, Deng at the 3, LBJ at 4, or any comination with Lebron running point.
It's kind of moot on offense, because Lebron is either going to be at the top with the ball and Deng in a spot up position. Or LBJ will be on the block.
It's more about defense. Lebron wouldn't always have to handle the best wing player, and on the flip side, neither would Deng.
If Deng improved his 3pt%, it could definitely work.
Look, Deng won't be the number one guy on his list of guys Lebron would like to play with, but I bet it's a guy who he'd love to have if he were coming back anyway...
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I also have to wonder how Lebron would fit on a team with Irving and Waiters. (all of whom like to have the ball in their hands) I would rather sign either Lebron or Deng, and find a real force at C or PF. I suppose that it's going to depend on who is actually available though. (deep statement there) 
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.
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I also have to wonder how Lebron would fit on a team with Irving and Waiters. (all of whom like to have the ball in their hands)
I would rather sign either Lebron or Deng, and find a real force at C or PF. I suppose that it's going to depend on who is actually available though. (deep statement there)
Feels dumb talking about it, but it's fun for conversation. I'm still most worried about these guys making the playoffs.
But just for the sake of conversation, Waiters would go to the bench, and I think you would have to start Irving-Deng-James-Thompson-Andy
That's a nice lineup, but I don't know if that brings LBJ back to Cleveland.
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jc
I would be completely shocked if Lebron came back and played for the Cavs. People are hoping and wishing for the fairy tale ending and all but it's just not going to happen. It's probably best to just accept that and not set yourself up for another disappointment.
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They could sign Deng to the Bird exception, but I believe that they would have to add the other parts they want first. So, they would have to add whoever they want to add, then re-sign Deng.
It doesn't work like that (At least I don't think it does) ... they would have to exercise Bird Rights on Deng before he became a Free Agent ... which means his salary would count against the cap and limit their ability to sign Lebron.
Lebron's salary right now is $20M, so to get him under the cap, they would have to renounce a couple of current team options, such as Andy's contract, and not resign Deng. They would then have like $5 mill left under the cap, if I'm doing the math right.
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Just spitballing, but Chicago is in a really good spot. They need to amnesty Boozer, but if they do, I bet Melo signs with them.
Rose
Butler
Melo
Gibson
Noah
I don't understand why Chicago would want to trade Noah. That's a very, very good starting 5. They'd need to draft a big body or a 3 point specialist.
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I am nowhere near as up to speed on the NBA salary cap rules as I am the NFL ..... and the NFL still manages to trip me up frequently.  lol
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.
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If they signed deng and LeBron, who would give a rip what happened with waiters?
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If they signed deng and LeBron, who would give a rip what happened with waiters?
Well ... my point was more that both Waiters and Irving already need the ball in their hands ...... and you'd be adding Lebron to the equation, and he wants the ball in his hands as well. They would definitely have to trade Waiters, and maybe even Irving as well. They would need a PG who could play off the ball, as well as with the ball.
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.
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They would definitely have to trade Waiters, and maybe even Irving as well. They would need a PG who could play off the ball, as well as with the ball.
No. They would need a coach who knows how to figure out how to get guys the ball. LeBron and Wade play together successfully.
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And in 4 or 5 years, when LeBron and Deng hang it up and we still have no championships (because those two alone isn't enough to get you a championship), our two best young players gone, and high draft picks...what do we do then?
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There would be no way you would get rid of Irving. Do you really want to send another Mo Williams out there? If you can get Lebron, I don't think anyone would care if Deng left. Let's be serious now.
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LeBron replacing Deng and keeping the rest of the roster exactly the same makes the Cavs the 1st or 2nd best team in the east (Pacers being the other team).
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I think that is accurate. they would still need a piece here or there. The Anthony Bennett pick is a killer.
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LeBron may come back for his final contract.
If I were him, I don't return unless Gilbert sells the team.
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LeBron may come back for his final contract.
If I were him, I don't return unless Gilbert sells the team.
I know I don't have any say in what the team does, but why would the Cavs want him back at that point?
I only want him back if he can help us win a championship, not when he's 38 and a shell of himself.
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Quote:
LeBron may come back for his final contract.
If I were him, I don't return unless Gilbert sells the team.
I know I don't have any say in what the team does, but why would the Cavs want him back at that point?
Money.
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Dallas bench freaking torched us.
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I had to leave and could only watch through part of the 2nd quarter.
We were down by 15 or something when I left home. Losing by 5 isn't that bad by comparison. lol
From what I could watch, the starters held their own, and the backups got blasted to pieces. Waiters, especially, had an awful game on both ends of the floor.
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.
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Thibs owns us. It's got nothing to do with talent. They have guys that play harder than our guys.
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I dunno .... tonight Taj Gibson has hit damn near everything he has thrown up there. I don't know if that's coaching or not. He's been unconscious tonight.
The Bulls have been impressive in moving back out every time the Cavaliers try to make a run though.
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.
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They need to move Tristan Thompson or give him a center that could shoot/post-up. We just lack toughness, and Tristan is a big reason why. He should be coming off the bench if you ask me.
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I don't think Deng returns next year. So I think outside of Kyrie we need an entirely new starting 5. Adios Grant, we gave you a chance that nobody else will for the rest of your career. I think Bennett, Thompson and Waiters can be nice 6-8 guys off of your bench.
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I don't think Deng returns next year. So I think outside of Kyrie we need an entirely new starting 5. Adios Grant, we gave you a chance that nobody else will for the rest of your career. I think Bennett, Thompson and Waiters can be nice 6-8 guys off of your bench.
any chances of Deng returning next year are being killed by the effort of games like last night. if this continues, then we are going to have to hope that a team signing Deng needs to do a sign-n-trade and we get more assets/players.
Andy & Kyrie are both fine starters. The issue is that it's tough to play Andy & Thompson together due to spacing issues (even w/ Andy's better mid-range game this year). So, Thompson should be a bench guy.
This team is so frustrating. Not all of it is their fault (due to the lackluster drafts), but the bottom line is the team is not put together very well, not playing with much effort, and the next time I see Mike Brown drawing up and "end of game play" I hope I am smart enough to just turn the TV off.
#gmstrong
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We have a huge hole at the coaching spot. Mike Brown just flat out sucks and has no idea how to get his guys to play or how to develop any kind of system to play in. That being said...Grant needs to be gone too..we have to be the softest team in the NBA...I don't like Thompsons game at all..Everything about it is ugly. Andy is old and should be on the bench getting reserve minutes. Jack was a waste of a FA signing..Livingston was 100x better. We don't need a shoot first PG that can't play defense coming off the bench, we already have a starter that does that. So when waiters comes off the bench, we need a defensive minded distributor, Jack isn't either of those. Livingston was. Problem is too, thats its hard to judge these guys because we don't have a quality coach or system in place. This is some of the hardest basketball I've had to watch. It's like an exercise in futility.
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
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I don't think Andy is fine at all unless he plays PF. He gets destroyed against centers. I don't think he has much of a future with us. I have a feeling Deng will have two choices: be a ring chaser or take the money. No real contender is going to pay him 12+ million.
At some point there will be rumours of us wanting Asik or Sanders. I'd be okay with Sanders because of his athletcisim and shot blocking. He is the modern day center.
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We have a huge hole at the coaching spot. Mike Brown just flat out sucks and has no idea how to get his guys to play or how to develop any kind of system to play in. That being said...Grant needs to be gone too..we have to be the softest team in the NBA...I don't like Thompsons game at all..Everything about it is ugly. Andy is old and should be on the bench getting reserve minutes. Jack was a waste of a FA signing..Livingston was 100x better. We don't need a shoot first PG that can't play defense coming off the bench, we already have a starter that does that. So when waiters comes off the bench, we need a defensive minded distributor, Jack isn't either of those. Livingston was. Problem is too, thats its hard to judge these guys because we don't have a quality coach or system in place. This is some of the hardest basketball I've had to watch. It's like an exercise in futility.
I'm losing faith in this team. Every time we think they're ready to make the jump, they fall on their face.
Losing to a depleted Bulls team on your own floor is unacceptable. Credit the Bulls because it doesn't matter who's our there, they give max effort, but that was pathetic last night.
When, where, and how does this team get better in the near and distant future? I'm not seeing it.
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