RealGM

What are you looking for in the pre-season out of this team?
I'm expecting youth to dominate minutes including unsigned and two-ways will get minutes in the second halves.
Not expecting a lot of time on the court for vets other than maybe in the first game.

I'm surprised they got a TNT preseason game... odd.

Is Sexton starting?

Tatum fouls all the time. It will be interesting if guys start flopping on him.

Tatum fouls all the time. It will be interesting if guys start flopping on him.

It's preseason but we're looking pretty good so far.

Lue is going to have to get much better with his rotations if we're going to play at this pace.

Sexton checking in at 5:00 mark.

Rodney Hood is balling.

Homeless Kyrie and Dekker on the floor with Sexton.

Our defense is going to be better without LBJ.

Theis is my preseason favorite to lead the Celtics with foul outs.

Celtics have one of the best benches in the NBA and our bench is hanging in there.

JR didn't play at all tonight.

The Cavs third unit, which really isn't a third unit because neither Frye nor JR played, is lacking in NBA talent. Zizic is a third-string center. Maybe he's worth keeping on the roster to defend Greg Monroe types. Preston is definitely looking like a developmental project. If he didn't play SF, he probably wouldn't make the roster. The G League guards are looking like G League guards.

In sum, I think Lue has our team in regular season shape already which is good. We were a step quicker on the floor tonight. Cavs are going to need to get off to a strong start to make the playoffs and we can probably steal a few games early just by out running other teams.

Hood was easily our second best offensive player tonight. He's hard to defend in the lane. If he gets off to strong start, I think the Cavs can offer him an extension and they probably should.

Sexton probably isn't ready to start yet but you see flashes. Korver really struggled to get a clean look in that second unit tonight. That could change as Sexton comes on and on those nights where Homeless Kyrie gets it going. It could be that Korver more than anyone else will be hurt LBJ leaving.

TT started and I'm kind of on the fence about that tbh. Nance is more of a two-way player and sans LBJ, I don't know if the Cavs have the luxury of starting a guy that limited on offense.

jbk1234 wrote:The Cavs third unit, which really isn't a third unit because neither Frye nor JR played, is lacking in NBA talent. Zizic is a third-string center. Maybe he's worth keeping on the roster to defend Greg Monroe types. Preston is definitely looking like a developmental project. If he didn't play SF, he probably wouldn't make the roster. The G League guards are looking like G League guards.

yeah i was so disappointed in Zizic tonight. I have never really been high on him but his defense just doesn't look good enough for him to see significant minutes. It looks like its just a matter of foot speed and coordination with him and he just doesnt have it. Pretty good moves and touch around the basket but not anywhere close to good enough to offset his defense

Preston is raw like you say but he has some length and isnt lost with the ball in his hands, looks like he could grow into something after a year.

Jordon Clarkson is going to be interesting to watch. There is absolutely no reason for him to be here with Sexton but they are stuck with him until the trade deadline and probably after that unless he is super efficient and a team gets desperate for bench scoring.

afarmenian wrote:

jbk1234 wrote:The Cavs third unit, which really isn't a third unit because neither Frye nor JR played, is lacking in NBA talent. Zizic is a third-string center. Maybe he's worth keeping on the roster to defend Greg Monroe types. Preston is definitely looking like a developmental project. If he didn't play SF, he probably wouldn't make the roster. The G League guards are looking like G League guards.

yeah i was so disappointed in Zizic tonight. I have never really been high on him but his defense just doesn't look good enough for him to see significant minutes. It looks like its just a matter of foot speed and coordination with him and he just doesnt have it. Pretty good moves and touch around the basket but not anywhere close to good enough to offset his defense

Preston is raw like you say but he has some length and isnt lost with the ball in his hands, looks like he could grow into something after a year.

Jordon Clarkson is going to be interesting to watch. There is absolutely no reason for him to be here with Sexton but they are stuck with him until the trade deadline and probably after that unless he is super efficient and a team gets desperate for bench scoring.

Z looked winded pretty fast if he can get his energy plane higher he can be an asset with the vets in half court sets but he isn't a modern switch 3 position big and won't be getting many minutes if we have success running the **** out of everyone like I've been saying we should,would and did in game 1 already. This team will make the playoffs and hopefully upset Philly Boston or Toronto in the first round...but it's a little early for that

Well, Marcus Smart showed what a punk he is last night, hitting JR from behind. Obviously still butt hurt from losing to the Cavs in the playoffs last year. If he is the "heart and soul" of that team they arent winning anything.