Around The NBA : 21-22 Edition

[ImSlower]

Two absolute thriller game winning shots and IMO one of the sickest dunks literally ever all in one night? Damnnn! I don't have cable but I need to watch this top 10!

[FriedRise]

Are the Cavs for real?

Offensive rating: 15th
Defensive rating: 2nd
Net rating: 4th (1st in the Eastern conference)
SRS: 4th
Record: 18-12, just .5 game behind Bulls, 8-2 in their last 10 on the elusive 5-game winning streak
Resistant to COVID
Royally spanked us once and the Heat twice

They're doing this relying mostly on the defense of Kevin Love and their young players logging heavy minutes (something you don't say every day) + Lauri doing normal Lauri things + Rubio having a bad season. Mobley is awesome and all, but if you look at his numbers, he's kinda more of a "you really gotta be there" type player.

[MGB8]

Are the Cavs for real?

Offensive rating: 15th
Defensive rating: 2nd
Net rating: 4th (1st in the Eastern conference)
SRS: 4th
Record: 18-12, just .5 game behind Bulls, 8-2 in their last 10 on the elusive 5-game winning streak
Resistant to COVID
Royally spanked us once and the Heat twice

They're doing this relying mostly on the defense of Kevin Love and their young players logging heavy minutes (something you don't say every day) + Lauri doing normal Lauri things + Rubio having a bad season. Mobley is awesome and all, but if you look at his numbers, he's kinda more of a "you really gotta be there" type player.

I think the current run is probably over their heads, on average - but that they are not as far off from the Bulls as folks think - just a half-step behind. Their defense is terrific with Okoro, Mobley and Allen along with Rubio, Osman. Okoro also has heated up significantly. And right now they are, aside from Sexton, healthy with fresh legs - while other teams are down some. But after these COVID breaks, that's likely to change some. JB Bickerstaff is also a pretty decent coach.

In my pre-season projections, I had them as a team that would surprise.

[PaKii94]

Are the Cavs for real?

Offensive rating: 15th
Defensive rating: 2nd
Net rating: 4th (1st in the Eastern conference)
SRS: 4th
Record: 18-12, just .5 game behind Bulls, 8-2 in their last 10 on the elusive 5-game winning streak
Resistant to COVID
Royally spanked us once and the Heat twice

They're doing this relying mostly on the defense of Kevin Love and their young players logging heavy minutes (something you don't say every day) + Lauri doing normal Lauri things + Rubio having a bad season. Mobley is awesome and all, but if you look at his numbers, he's kinda more of a "you really gotta be there" type player.

I think the current run is probably over their heads, on average - but that they are not as far off from the Bulls as folks think - just a half-step behind. Their defense is terrific with Okoro, Mobley and Allen along with Rubio, Osman. Okoro also has heated up significantly. And right now they are, aside from Sexton, healthy with fresh legs - while other teams are down some. But after these COVID breaks, that's likely to change some. JB Bickerstaff is also a pretty decent coach.

In my pre-season projections, I had them as a team that would surprise.

The cavs are going to be like last season's hawks. What you are missing is that they went a stretch of losses where they were missing players. Technically they are underrated still based on record.

They have been rolling since they got most of the lineup (sans sexton) back. Also most of their losses have been competitive single digit losses to playoff teams while their wins have been blow outs.

[MGB8]

Are the Cavs for real?

Offensive rating: 15th
Defensive rating: 2nd
Net rating: 4th (1st in the Eastern conference)
SRS: 4th
Record: 18-12, just .5 game behind Bulls, 8-2 in their last 10 on the elusive 5-game winning streak
Resistant to COVID
Royally spanked us once and the Heat twice

They're doing this relying mostly on the defense of Kevin Love and their young players logging heavy minutes (something you don't say every day) + Lauri doing normal Lauri things + Rubio having a bad season. Mobley is awesome and all, but if you look at his numbers, he's kinda more of a "you really gotta be there" type player.

I think the current run is probably over their heads, on average - but that they are not as far off from the Bulls as folks think - just a half-step behind. Their defense is terrific with Okoro, Mobley and Allen along with Rubio, Osman. Okoro also has heated up significantly. And right now they are, aside from Sexton, healthy with fresh legs - while other teams are down some. But after these COVID breaks, that's likely to change some. JB Bickerstaff is also a pretty decent coach.

In my pre-season projections, I had them as a team that would surprise.

The cavs are going to be like last season's hawks. What you are missing is that they went a stretch of losses where they were missing players. Technically they are underrated still based on record.

They have been rolling since they got most of the lineup (sans sexton) back. Also most of their losses have been competitive single digit losses to playoff teams while their wins have been blow outs.

Naw. They'll fade back a bit. Not as much as the Wizards did, but some.

Take away the last 10 games - which have been either to bad teams or catching good teams at bad times - and they are 10 and 10.

There key players - Garland, Allen, Mobley - haven't missed much time. The only real X-factor is if Okoro's blow up over the last 5 games or so isn't a hot streak (to include 55% overall and 43% from 3 over the last 9 games), but instead something permanent. If that's the case, then yeah, they'll stick. But until it's proven, I doubt that he's the healthy Jaylen Brown level player that is equivalent to his play over the last bit. Maybe he is... but I have my doubts.

[The Force.]

Cavs are killing it rn. Good things tend to happen when you hit on three consecutive lottery picks. And they’ll have a max slot open when Love is off the books in a year. Very dangerous young team.


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[MGB8]

Just to add - they are 9-2 in their last 11. But who did they play?

The Magic, the Mavs (middling team, were 10-9 at the time), the Heat without Butler and Bam (who did just beat a mentally shot Bulls team), the Wizs who were on their way to crashing down to earth, lost to the Jazz in Cleveland (and it wasn't as close as the 1 point score - the Jazz were up by 9 going into the 4th - the Cavs staged a furious comeback), lost to the Bucks by 8, beat the Bulls after Derozan and Javonte and Caruso went out, smacked the T-pups, smacked the Kings (who were down Holmes), smacked the Rockets.

Magic, Wiz, T-Pups, Kings, Rockets = bad teams (and rockets little streak is over - have lost 3 of 4, 2 of 3 going into the Cavs game).

Next 4 will be much more telling - @Bucks, @Hawks (middling team this year), @Celtics (also middling but grimey and Brown is back) - also a much better home team, Toronto (another middling but grimey team).

[SaiCLE]

Are the Cavs for real?

Offensive rating: 15th
Defensive rating: 2nd
Net rating: 4th (1st in the Eastern conference)
SRS: 4th
Record: 18-12, just .5 game behind Bulls, 8-2 in their last 10 on the elusive 5-game winning streak
Resistant to COVID
Royally spanked us once and the Heat twice

They're doing this relying mostly on the defense of Kevin Love and their young players logging heavy minutes (something you don't say every day) + Lauri doing normal Lauri things + Rubio having a bad season. Mobley is awesome and all, but if you look at his numbers, he's kinda more of a "you really gotta be there" type player.

I think the current run is probably over their heads, on average - but that they are not as far off from the Bulls as folks think - just a half-step behind. Their defense is terrific with Okoro, Mobley and Allen along with Rubio, Osman. Okoro also has heated up significantly. And right now they are, aside from Sexton, healthy with fresh legs - while other teams are down some. But after these COVID breaks, that's likely to change some. JB Bickerstaff is also a pretty decent coach.

In my pre-season projections, I had them as a team that would surprise.

I come in peace.
Cavs started the season with the hardest schedule in the league and had a winning record despite that. Lost Mobley,Allen,Lauri & Love for 5 games due to COVID and played close back to back games against the Suns,GSW,Nets, etc. while dealing with Covid

We gain large leads due to our defense, passing & size. People have been hoping for a fall off but it’s not going to happen. Especially with the schedule lighting up. Cavs starting lineup is younger than 25 and they keep improving game after game. They keep winning and playing hard even when injuries happen.

[FriedRise]

Just to add - they are 9-2 in their last 11. But who did they play?

The Magic, the Mavs (middling team, were 10-9 at the time), the Heat without Butler and Bam (who did just beat a mentally shot Bulls team), the Wizs who were on their way to crashing down to earth, lost to the Jazz in Cleveland (and it wasn't as close as the 1 point score - the Jazz were up by 9 going into the 4th - the Cavs staged a furious comeback), lost to the Bucks by 8, beat the Bulls after Derozan and Javonte and Caruso went out, smacked the T-pups, smacked the Kings (who were down Holmes), smacked the Rockets.

Magic, Wiz, T-Pups, Kings, Rockets = bad teams (and rockets little streak is over - have lost 3 of 4, 2 of 3 going into the Cavs game).

Next 4 will be much more telling - @Bucks, @Hawks (middling team this year), @Celtics (also middling but grimey and Brown is back) - also a much better home team, Toronto (another middling but grimey team).

Yeah, I think the schedule has been very kind to them. They've faced some good teams and done ok (10-12 vs .500 teams), but they seem to have been able to catch these teams with some key players out while they've been the healthier team.

Their next game, the Bucks will be without half their team including Giannis and Middleton (that somehow still spanked Indiana yesterday lol). I fully expect Cavs to win that one.

[SaiCLE]

Just to add - they are 9-2 in their last 11. But who did they play?

The Magic, the Mavs (middling team, were 10-9 at the time), the Heat without Butler and Bam (who did just beat a mentally shot Bulls team), the Wizs who were on their way to crashing down to earth, lost to the Jazz in Cleveland (and it wasn't as close as the 1 point score - the Jazz were up by 9 going into the 4th - the Cavs staged a furious comeback), lost to the Bucks by 8, beat the Bulls after Derozan and Javonte and Caruso went out, smacked the T-pups, smacked the Kings (who were down Holmes), smacked the Rockets.

Magic, Wiz, T-Pups, Kings, Rockets = bad teams (and rockets little streak is over - have lost 3 of 4, 2 of 3 going into the Cavs game).

Next 4 will be much more telling - @Bucks, @Hawks (middling team this year), @Celtics (also middling but grimey and Brown is back) - also a much better home team, Toronto (another middling but grimey team).

You play who’s in front of you. Injuries excuse is a cop out since cavs we’re playing without all their bigs and sexton with the hardest schedule to start the season.

We were a open 3 away from beating UTAH and we lost to the bucks off a back to back after playing several games in a few nights.

[FriedRise]

Read on Twitter

[Almost Retired]

With the news that Zion is out another 4-6 weeks for foot issues....you have to wonder if he really HAS to lose some weight in the off season. Something like 30-40 pounds. He's just got too much mass and he gets off the ground with too much power, and what goes up must come down...hard. Foot problems can linger a long time. They have ended careers. Sorry to see Zion suffering from this. He's such a tremendous talent.

[PaKii94]

I think the current run is probably over their heads, on average - but that they are not as far off from the Bulls as folks think - just a half-step behind. Their defense is terrific with Okoro, Mobley and Allen along with Rubio, Osman. Okoro also has heated up significantly. And right now they are, aside from Sexton, healthy with fresh legs - while other teams are down some. But after these COVID breaks, that's likely to change some. JB Bickerstaff is also a pretty decent coach.

In my pre-season projections, I had them as a team that would surprise.

The cavs are going to be like last season's hawks. What you are missing is that they went a stretch of losses where they were missing players. Technically they are underrated still based on record.

They have been rolling since they got most of the lineup (sans sexton) back. Also most of their losses have been competitive single digit losses to playoff teams while their wins have been blow outs.

Naw. They'll fade back a bit. Not as much as the Wizards did, but some.

Take away the last 10 games - which have been either to bad teams or catching good teams at bad times - and they are 10 and 10.

There key players - Garland, Allen, Mobley - haven't missed much time. The only real X-factor is if Okoro's blow up over the last 5 games or so isn't a hot streak (to include 55% overall and 43% from 3 over the last 9 games), but instead something permanent. If that's the case, then yeah, they'll stick. But until it's proven, I doubt that he's the healthy Jaylen Brown level player that is equivalent to his play over the last bit. Maybe he is... but I have my doubts.

Again, their wins are double digits blow outs, losses have been close. The 3 games where they weren't competitive (Brooklyn & gsw back to back) were when they were without Lauri, JA, Mobley 75% of the front court rotation. Okoro getting hot right now is what's causing them to blow out teams by 25 instead of 10.

[Michael Jackson]

Two absolute thriller game winning shots and IMO one of the sickest dunks literally ever all in one night? Damnnn! I don't have cable but I need to watch this top 10!

Which dunk?

[dice]

Cavs are killing it rn. Good things tend to happen when you hit on three consecutive lottery picks. And they’ll have a max slot open when Love is off the books in a year. Very dangerous young team.

i don't think that a 4 game hot streak (a sub-30% shooter going 10-17 from distance) following over a year of crap play qualifies okoro as a hit

okoro has scored over 15 points in each of the last 4 games. prior to that he had a career grand total of 7 such games

jarrett allen has taken a step forward this season. kevin love is rejuvinated coming off the bench. osman playing well off bench as well

[dice]

Just to add - they are 9-2 in their last 11. But who did they play?

The Magic, the Mavs (middling team, were 10-9 at the time), the Heat without Butler and Bam (who did just beat a mentally shot Bulls team), the Wizs who were on their way to crashing down to earth, lost to the Jazz in Cleveland (and it wasn't as close as the 1 point score - the Jazz were up by 9 going into the 4th - the Cavs staged a furious comeback), lost to the Bucks by 8, beat the Bulls after Derozan and Javonte and Caruso went out, smacked the T-pups, smacked the Kings (who were down Holmes), smacked the Rockets.

Magic, Wiz, T-Pups, Kings, Rockets = bad teams (and rockets little streak is over - have lost 3 of 4, 2 of 3 going into the Cavs game).

Next 4 will be much more telling - @Bucks, @Hawks (middling team this year), @Celtics (also middling but grimey and Brown is back) - also a much better home team, Toronto (another middling but grimey team).

You play who’s in front of you. Injuries excuse is a cop out since cavs we’re playing without all their bigs and sexton with the hardest schedule to start the season.

We were a open 3 away from beating UTAH and we lost to the bucks off a back to back after playing several games in a few nights.

cavs have have beat the spread in 13 straight games. try flipping a coin and getting heads 13 times in a row. if you don't get tired it'll probably take you over 10 hours

[Michael Jackson]

It’s almost as if the Bulls and Cavs are the Knicks and Hawks of last year.

[Clocian]

Me checking the nets/sixers score after being confident sixers would destroy the G league nets.

[dice]

Me checking the nets/sixers score after being confident sixers would destroy the G league nets.

congrats to david duke jr. for overcoming the generational cruelty in his family and playing in the nba

[Michael Jackson]

Me checking the nets/sixers score after being confident sixers would destroy the G league nets.

congrats to david duke jr. for overcoming the generational cruelty in his family and playing in the nba

Black Klansman 2? Seriously though I would hate to have that name.