Cavs 09-10 Season (official thread)

[jlb1705]

Cavs shot 4-7 from 3 in the 4th.

I stand corrected. There were a few shots really close together on the chart, and one of the misses I counted was a two.

Just as importantly, Orlando was only 2/6 from deep in the 4th, and one of those was the one by Pietrus after the outcome was secure.

 

[Flocka]

I stand corrected. There were a few shots really close together on the chart, and one of the misses I counted was a two.

Just as importantly, Orlando was only 2/6 from deep in the 4th, and one of those was the one by Pietrus after the outcome was secure.

This is where the addition of Vince hurts the Magic IMO. He hasn't been clutch all year and takes shots away from Rashard. It still amazes me the Magic win as many games as they do with the style of ball they play.

 

[jlb1705]

Yeah, they were slobbering all over his big game earlier in the week. He's been below average most of the year though. Sure, he can carry a team when he's on, but how much lackluster play do you have to suffer through to get there? That's the story of his career, and now that he's on the down side the droughts are going to be longer and longer.

 

[Flocka]

Yeah, they were slobbering all over his big game earlier in the week. He's been below average most of the year though. Sure, he can carry a team when he's on, but how much lackluster play do you have to suffer through to get there? That's the story of his career, and now that he's on the down side the droughts are going to be longer and longer.

And yet he's taking all the shots in the 4th. Both Vince and Jameer refused to run their offense tonight and it lost them a game they very well could have won.

 

[jlb1705]

I don't watch enough of the Magic to know for sure, but I think they miss Courtney Lee. He seemed like a player who could make shots and would play within the team concept.

That, plus Gortat looks like kind of a turd right now. He made a lot of other teams pay last year when Howard would get into foul trouble. Now that he got his contract he doesn't look like he's playing as well.

 

[exhawg]

Yeah, they were slobbering all over his big game earlier in the week. He's been below average most of the year though. Sure, he can carry a team when he's on, but how much lackluster play do you have to suffer through to get there? That's the story of his career, and now that he's on the down side the droughts are going to be longer and longer.

I didn't understand that move. Fat Chuck seems to think that the Magic have the deepest bench in the NBA (IMO the Cavs are deeper since they go 12 deep with proven guys), but think how deep they would be if they had resigned Turk and hadn't made the VC trade? They gave up 2 starters from the playoffs last year and a role playing big for an over the hill SG that doesn't play the type of game that they need. As soon as I saw that trade and Turk walk I was ecstatic.

Shaq-4
Teams that the Cavs couldn't beat last year-0
I'd say the Cavs trade has worked

 

[exhawg]

I don't watch enough of the Magic to know for sure, but I think they miss Courtney Lee. He seemed like a player who could make shots and would play within the team concept.

That, plus Gortat looks like kind of a turd right now. He made a lot of other teams pay last year when Howard would get into foul trouble. Now that he got his contract he doesn't look like he's playing as well.

I was a little worried about something like that happening with Andy, but the opposite has been the case for him. He and JJ are going to be a terror for the next several years.

 

[jlb1705]

After I made that comment about Gortat I started looking him up. He's averaging 3.4 ppg (down from 3.8 last year, his "career" year). He signed for 5 yrs. $34 million. I'd stop trying too if I got paid like that for doing nothing.

Orlando's gonna choke on that contract under the new CBA.

 

[exhawg]

I just took a look at the upcoming schedule and I hope everyone can get healthy and come back right after the break. The rest of this month is beyond brutal for the Cavs.

 

[NFBuck]

After I made that comment about Gortat I started looking him up. He's averaging 3.4 ppg (down from 3.8 last year, his "career" year). He signed for 5 yrs. $34 million. I'd stop trying too if I got paid like that for doing nothing.

Orlando's gonna choke on that contract under the new CBA.

That contract is Jerome James level bad...

 

[3074326]

After I made that comment about Gortat I started looking him up. He's averaging 3.4 ppg (down from 3.8 last year, his "career" year). He signed for 5 yrs. $34 million. I'd stop trying too if I got paid like that for doing nothing.

Orlando's gonna choke on that contract under the new CBA.

Shaq had some interesting comments after the game apparently. From a couple different Cavs Twitter pages.... (this quote from Brian Windhorst's Twitter)

Shaq on on Dwight Howard: "Superman my ass."

Brian Windhorst (PDcavsinsider) on Twitter

 

[Magua]

I love Shaq. He may not show up in the boxscore as much these days but the man can still bring it when he wants to. Not to mention, when he's pissed, look out. I like the fire he shows when you bring up Howard or Kobe or whoever it is he isn't liking at the time. I think that will bode well for the Cavs in the playoffs.

Oh and LeBron...goooooooood lord the last 3 mins were sick. My buddies and I were at the bar just shaking our heads with those last few shots he hit. Nothing you can defensively against that man when he is on. Nothing.

 

[kippy1040]

The cavs sure look like a different team with Shaq out on the court. I think the big impact will hoped to be made in the playoffs. Just stay healthy big man.

 

[BigJim]

First, I have to say this, I really wish I didn't get annoyed by people b*tching about the refs for no reason. I know I should expect it and I try to ignore it but it just bugs the hell out of me. Is it possible to ignore people from just one thread?

Shaq's comments after the game were hillarious. I wish I could get the full transcript.

Who's Superman? Shaq lashes out at Howard - ESPN

"When I was coming up and there was Pat Ewing and Hakeem [Olajuwon], I never doubled anybody," O'Neal said. "You tell me who the real Superman is."

Then more he talked the more venom he released, a soothing of his ego and a return to his years of waging psychological warfare on his opponent in the media.

"Don't compare me to nobody. I'd rather not be mentioned, I'm offended," O'Neal said.

There's pride that it is working and pride that the Magic don't play him the same way, a green light to take more shots at Howard, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year.

"Don't let them double team me and make it a him vs. me thing," O'Neal said. "Been doing it 18 years straight. Hakeem, Ewing, Rik Smits, [Tim] Duncan, [David] Robinson, the best of the best, straight up. I never doubled nobody. Nor have I ever asked for double team. If want to bang and push, let's bang and push. You're all giving away [Superman] titles, it's crazy."

"The whole Superman thing kind of bothers him," James said with a smirk, purposely understating the situation. "That's definitely his nickname, and the fact that everybody kind of gave Dwight his name kind of bothers him a little bit."

 

[jlb1705]

I love it. This is part of what this team needed from Shaq. This team had some swagger last year, but in hindsight it seemed to lack purpose. This year it's different. Plus, when he's needed the most against the big teams lately, he seems to step up. He's not the player he once was, but he can be the player he once was for stretches when it counts the most. He came up just as huge as LeBron did closing out that game last night, and he did it with five fouls on him.

As for the comment about the refs: I made a comment during the game last night about some late whistles. I don't think I was bitching. I remember at least three really late whistles (coming against both teams), which got kind of annoying. Every time though, they made exactly the right call. I'll take the right call late (even against the Cavs) over the wrong call or a no call.

And let's face it - NBA reffing deserves to be criticized (even if not for last night's performance, which seemed pretty good). A ref went to prison for betting on NBA games because he knew about the biases, fraternization and grudges that existed among his contemporaries. I don't think that stuff has just gone away since Donaghy got busted.