1/17 - POSTGAME | Los Angeles Lakers (90) - (114) Oklahoma City Thunder

[Andre Roberstan]

Not the smart ones, who have seen this show before in january.

Every freaking beat writer from Cavs-land I follow is worried about them. Unless "smart ones" counts the people who were tweeting "Cavs in 6" last year, or Nick Wright.

Yet they are still -140 to win the eastern conference on bovada. Second is Boston at +240, followed by toronto at +600. Ever think those guys just don't have anything else to write about in the middle of a too long season?

Boston's mostly young, and Toronto's got a long history of choking in the playoffs. You never write off LeBron James, but every indication is that this is a significantly worse team than he's had any year since his second stint in Cleveland started.

Bovada's odds are less an indication of the strength of the Cavs and more an indication of how much the East sucks.

[ThunderBolt]

Just because I don't post the same over reacting nonsense during each game thread, doesn't mean I haven't been watching/paying attention. If going 17-8 isn't turning the corner after an 8-12 start, then what is? They aren't the best team in the league. The warriors are. But they are pretty damn good. Do they need to win 22 out of 25 to turn the corner in your eyes?

I said they need to have a good stretch in the next 8 games against good teams. I’m not sure why you are struggling understanding that.

A team that loses to Dallas at home, Phoenix on the road and gets smoked by Portland hasn’t turned the corner. A team that’s elite doesn’t screw around with the kings at home and trail by 15.



Nothing I said about this game was overreacting nonsense. It was a wait and see approach of a more long term outlook. You’re just trolling.

It happens all the time, you just don't follow other teams with as much scrutiny. Last week the spurs lost in Atlanta. Minny just dropped a game in Orlando. Cleveland is losing to just about anyone, just blew a 22 point lead the other night to Indiana. Are Cavs fans panicking? Probably not, as they understand they have LeBron, and the regular season is a warm up. Playoff rotations shorten, and change based on matchups. I'd be more concerned if okc was beating only bad teams, but losing to good ones. That hasn't been the case

Are Cavs fans worried? I guess it depends on the goal of the fan. If they hope to make the ecf or finals and then get beat down by the warriors, they should feel somewhat secure about that.

Which brings us back to OKC. What is the goal for this team? Hovering between the 5-8 seed is something that could have been accomplished with Oladipo and Sabonis, while keeping the future of the franchise more secure. When George was acquired the expectations were raised. Regardless if that was justified or not, most felt that a wcf appearance would berequired to keep George. Maybe he’ll re-sign with a competitive loss in the conference semi-finals. So quite frankly, how their playing now doesn’t cut it and concerns those of us thinking beyond this year.

Yes other teams have bad losses. One individual win or loss doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things. Although the spurs lost to the hawks, they still are in control of the three seed and have done so without Kawhi much of the season. The only thing that has been consistent about this team is their inconsistent play. If they can beat Houston or GS on the road, then I might buy in to the idea that they can turn it in when they want. In my experience most “good teams” that play inconsistent all season aren’t able to magically turn it on when it matters. Good habits and consistent play need to happen at some point this season.

[hardenASG13]

Not the smart ones, who have seen this show before in january.

2015-16 (44 games): +6.0pp100
2016-17 (44 games): +4.8pp100
2017-18 (44 games): +0.8pp100

sorry, no. they haven't been close to this bad after 44 games before.

It's not just them as a team. To me, their performance with James on the floor is even more worrying:

+0.3 NetRtG so far while being +7.8, +10.6 and +8.3 in the previous 3 seasons before the ASB is a massive difference. Their bench has really helped them so far.

Agree, they are kinda one dimensional and too old to play defense. Writing is on the wall for LeBron to leave, but just making a general point about not over reacting when you know your team is good. 17-8 over the last 25 is great, no matter what stat you throw out there. What more can anyone else want. RE: Cleveland, despite their poor play, if you had to put $$ on 1 team to win the east, most people would pick the cavs.

[hardenASG13]

Every freaking beat writer from Cavs-land I follow is worried about them. Unless "smart ones" counts the people who were tweeting "Cavs in 6" last year, or Nick Wright.

Yet they are still -140 to win the eastern conference on bovada. Second is Boston at +240, followed by toronto at +600. Ever think those guys just don't have anything else to write about in the middle of a too long season?

Boston's mostly young, and Toronto's got a long history of choking in the playoffs. You never write off LeBron James, but every indication is that this is a significantly worse team than he's had any year since his second stint in Cleveland started.

Bovada's odds are less an indication of the strength of the Cavs and more an indication of how much the East sucks.

It definately does.....but so does the West, outside of golden State and houston. OKC has a punchers chance if they add 1 or 2 bench pieces. They are 17-8 over the last 25. I just don't understand who s been so much better and what they have to do to convince people on here, fans of the team, that they are good. They have very well for the past month and a half, particularly against good teams.

[ThunderBolt]

Not the smart ones, who have seen this show before in january.

Every freaking beat writer from Cavs-land I follow is worried about them. Unless "smart ones" counts the people who were tweeting "Cavs in 6" last year, or Nick Wright.

His neck beard is so nasty.

[hardenASG13]

I said they need to have a good stretch in the next 8 games against good teams. I’m not sure why you are struggling understanding that.

A team that loses to Dallas at home, Phoenix on the road and gets smoked by Portland hasn’t turned the corner. A team that’s elite doesn’t screw around with the kings at home and trail by 15.



Nothing I said about this game was overreacting nonsense. It was a wait and see approach of a more long term outlook. You’re just trolling.

It happens all the time, you just don't follow other teams with as much scrutiny. Last week the spurs lost in Atlanta. Minny just dropped a game in Orlando. Cleveland is losing to just about anyone, just blew a 22 point lead the other night to Indiana. Are Cavs fans panicking? Probably not, as they understand they have LeBron, and the regular season is a warm up. Playoff rotations shorten, and change based on matchups. I'd be more concerned if okc was beating only bad teams, but losing to good ones. That hasn't been the case

Are Cavs fans worried? I guess it depends on the goal of the fan. If they hope to make the ecf or finals and then get beat down by the warriors, they should feel somewhat secure about that.

Which brings us back to OKC. What is the goal for this team? Hovering between the 5-8 seed is something that could have been accomplished with Oladipo and Sabonis, while keeping the future of the franchise more secure. When George was acquired the expectations were raised. Regardless if that was justified or not, most felt that a wcf appearance would berequired to keep George. Maybe he’ll re-sign with a competitive loss in the conference semi-finals. So quite frankly, how their playing now doesn’t cut it and concerns those of us thinking beyond this year.

Yes other teams have bad losses. One individual win or loss doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things. Although the spurs lost to the hawks, they still are in control of the three seed and have done so without Kawhi much of the season. The only thing that has been consistent about this team is their inconsistent play. If they can beat Houston or GS on the road, then I might buy in to the idea that they can turn it in when they want. In my experience most “good teams” that play inconsistent all season aren’t able to magically turn it on when it matters. Good habits and consistent play need to happen at some point this season.

I'd say a realistic goal is the 3 seed for okc. It is well within their reach. Before the season, the 2 seed was reasonable. After their start combined with Houston's that's basically out the window. At the end of the day, if they are clicking heading into the playoffs, they will have a chance to knock off Houston, and more of an outside chance to beat golden State, as they are arguably the best team ever assembled. Just not sure what is wrong with that. There is (or should be from most if you) hope that they can win some series this year. That wasn't the case last season. Be happy with it, the grass isn't greener many other places.

[Andre Roberstan]

Before the season, the 2 seed was reasonable. After their start combined with Houston's that's basically out the window. At the end of the day, if they are clicking heading into the playoffs, they will have a chance to knock off Houston, and more of an outside chance to beat golden State, as they are arguably the best team ever assembled. Just not sure what is wrong with that. There is (or should be from most if you) hope that they can win some series this year. That wasn't the case last season. Be happy with it, the grass isn't greener many other places.

I had them as a 4 seed before the season, and I'm sticking to that. If you had them better than that, my guess is that it's based upon an estimation of Carmelo Anthony that is no longer true and has not been for many years.

[slick_watts]

2 seed was never reasonable. the rockets had 4-5 points of mov on us last year and added chris paul, who is better than either paul george or carmelo anthony. we were nowhere near them last season and to make up that kind of ground wasn't reasonable, ever.

[hardenASG13]

Before the season, the 2 seed was reasonable. After their start combined with Houston's that's basically out the window. At the end of the day, if they are clicking heading into the playoffs, they will have a chance to knock off Houston, and more of an outside chance to beat golden State, as they are arguably the best team ever assembled. Just not sure what is wrong with that. There is (or should be from most if you) hope that they can win some series this year. That wasn't the case last season. Be happy with it, the grass isn't greener many other places.

I had them as a 4 seed before the season, and I'm sticking to that. If you had them better than that, my guess is that it's based upon an estimation of Carmelo Anthony that is no longer true and has not been for many years.

I think Paul George and Anthony, along with adams, is plenty of help for Westbrook, who I think very highly of. I thought they'd be 2 or 3. Still think they can get 3, and if not as long as they are clicking going into the playoffs i don't really care. Felton and patterson are fine bench pieces. I think grant can play 8-10 minutes in a playoff game. They need 1 or 2 solid bench pieces.

[bondom34]

Houston was 10 games better and added a better player than OKC