Game 3: Cavs at Pacers | Fri, Dec 30th | 7:00 PM ET

Post #1 » by **Rise Against** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 10:15 am

I got pretty excited to hear that Irving and TT played well against the Pistons under limited minutes. I am wondering how they will do against our toughest opponent yet, the Pacers, who defeated both of the teams we played thus far (Raps and Pistons).

Some things I am liking from what I have seen:

- Coach Scott is managing Irving's minutes well. He played in just 11 games in college and they play probably about 2 games a week. With the shortened season, the schedule may be a bit hectic. He played in just 20 minutes last night, but his PT will increase steadily.

- Sessions not dominating the ball and putting up empty stats like last season. He is actually passing to our bigs down low. He would make a great backup PG. He hasn't reached his prime yet.

- Tristan Thompson, enough said.

BSM · Post #2 » by **BSM** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 12:48 pm

Everything looking good I'm looking forward to tomorrow's loss however I'm looking more forward to how TT, Kyrie, Samuels, and Gee do, other than that, I don't even care, I don't even want Antawn's blood points. Don't care bout AP's points either, I'm hoping he misses the shot unless it's an assist by Kyrie.

Roger Murdock · Post #3 » by **Roger Murdock** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 3:56 pm

BSM wrote:Everything looking good I'm looking forward to tomorrow's loss however I'm looking more forward to how TT, Kyrie, Samuels, and Gee do, other than that, I don't even care, I don't even want Antawn's blood points. Don't care bout AP's points either, I'm hoping he misses the shot unless it's an assist by Kyrie.

Woah. haha. I get the part about Antawn, but I like AP and will always wish him well. Hes played good ball for us so far this year.

Niko23 · Post #4 » by **Niko23** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 5:30 pm

With Samuels emerging, one wonders if both Twan and AV get moved at the deadline......

BSM · Post #5 » by **BSM** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 7:37 pm

Roger Murdock wrote:
BSM wrote:Everything looking good I'm looking forward to tomorrow's loss however I'm looking more forward to how TT, Kyrie, Samuels, and Gee do, other than that, I don't even care, I don't even want Antawn's blood points. Don't care bout AP's points either, I'm hoping he misses the shot unless it's an assist by Kyrie.

Woah. haha. I get the part about Antawn, but I like AP and will always wish him well. Hes played good ball for us so far this year.

AP is a good dude but his points mean nothing however his missed 3's mean = chances for offensive boards for TT & Varejao (help his trade value)

shazam · Post #6 » by **shazam** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 11:41 pm

Jamison is as good as gone even if its just a 2nd round pick. AV will probably stay unless someone coughs up a first rounder more like a middle first rounder. Andy will not get you a lottery pick more than likely and I would not take a low 1st either but he will probably stay more than likely. Its pretty obvious what the Cavs need going forward, they need a 2 that can score and maybe even a 3 as well. Casspi may be better suited as a bench player when it is all said and done. They may need a Center as well, Although Centers are a dying breed in the NBA due to a lack of them.

Niko23 · Post #7 » by **Niko23** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 1:30 am

shazam wrote:they need a 2 that can score and maybe even a 3 as well.

Yes sir

Post #8 » by **Miller4ever** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 8:47 pm

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1148673

Come to the dark side.

Just a question, does anyone on this team play more than 30 minutes a game? It seem like a very amoebic rotation.

ScramboD8 · Post #9 » by **ScramboD8** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 10:39 pm

Miller4ever wrote:http://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1148673
Just a question, does anyone on this team play more than 30 minutes a game? It seem like a very amoebic rotation.

Verejao will probably be playing a little bit more than 30 a game. Samardo has been looking good as a center though. But it's too early to tell. Byron definitely like to rotate a lot and the second unit has been looking great so far, toughest test is yet to come.

Niko23 · Post #10 » by **Niko23** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 11:11 pm

Dang that is one fine game thread. Shoot I forgot you guys had Paul George. He is going to kill Parker.

Triumph36 · Post #11 » by **Triumph36** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 11:13 pm

Niko23 wrote:With Samuels emerging, one wonders if both Twan and AV get moved at the deadline......

I think Samuels will never be more than a decent but not great bench big at most, but if him "emerging" is what it takes to finally, rightfully move AV then go Samuels go.

Miller4ever wrote:http://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1148673

Come to the dark side.

Just a question, does anyone on this team play more than 30 minutes a game? It seem like a very amoebic rotation.

Erm, well, no. There isn't much of a reason to anymore. With the shortened training camp it's hard to demand major minutes from guys, especially someone like Kyrie who has played like 15 real games in the past year and a half. Plus, most of the remaining players suck and frankly don't deserve to be playing that much. The only one who might is AV, but when you increase his minutes the injury risk increases as well.

Post #12 » by **TheOUTLAW** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 1:32 am

I wish we'd stop shooting 3 pts. 1 of 11, geez.

Post #13 » by **TheOUTLAW** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 2:31 am

We are terrible free throw shooters. I wouldn't be happy if I were a pacer fan. They don't look that good and they really should be just about done as far as rebuilding is concerned.

Post #14 » by **B Mac** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 3:18 am

Irving had a chance to win it at the buzzer. Im guessing he hits that layup 99 times out of 100, and will learn from the miss. Mighty fine loss against a good team.

daschysta · Post #15 » by **daschysta** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 3:25 am

TheOUTLAW wrote:We are terrible free throw shooters. I wouldn't be happy if I were a pacer fan. They don't look that good and they really should be just about done as far as rebuilding is concerned.

To be fair we're 3-0, despite having not played a good game yet. Good teams beat the teams they should, even when shots don't fall, or their having an off night. Our offense will come around, i'm encouraged that we've managed to win all of our games despite putrid shooting, we've hardly shot above 40 percent. We won't be in an offensive funk forever, Vogel hasn't really been focusing on offense so much as defense yet, which is fine with me, as we can control our rebounding, defensive effort, and intensity, and that's the kind of basketball that wins in the playoffs, when O is hard to come by.

Granger and West are proven high level players, they'll come out of their offensive funk.

In the meantime Roy Hibbert, Paul George (until tonight), and DC (Ditto) have looked much improved, as well as Psycho T.

Triumph36 · Post #16 » by **Triumph36** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 3:42 am

I hope to see more losses like that this season. Stay competitive throughout the game and then ultimately fall at the end, all the while Irving gets quality minutes. Wish he played better tonight and TT played more though, but meh.

The Pacers are a good team but I think they'll need to pull off a blockbuster for a true star if they want to be a legitimate threat in the East. Granger just doesn't do it for me and never really has. They also need to get some damn fans in their arena.

Post #17 » by **TheOUTLAW** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 4:03 am

daschysta wrote:
TheOUTLAW wrote:We are terrible free throw shooters. I wouldn't be happy if I were a pacer fan. They don't look that good and they really should be just about done as far as rebuilding is concerned.

To be fair we're 3-0, despite having not played a good game yet. Good teams beat the teams they should, even when shots don't fall, or their having an off night. Our offense will come around, i'm encouraged that we've managed to win all of our games despite putrid shooting, we've hardly shot above 40 percent. We won't be in an offensive funk forever, Vogel hasn't really been focusing on offense so much as defense yet, which is fine with me, as we can control our rebounding, defensive effort, and intensity, and that's the kind of basketball that wins in the playoffs, when O is hard to come by.

Granger and West are proven high level players, they'll come out of their offensive funk.

In the meantime Roy Hibbert, Paul George (until tonight), and DC (Ditto) have looked much improved, as well as Psycho T.

Good team is a stretch. You are first round fodder at this point. But at least you might make the playoffs

daschysta · Post #18 » by **daschysta** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 6:01 am

TheOUTLAW wrote:
daschysta wrote:
TheOUTLAW wrote:We are terrible free throw shooters. I wouldn't be happy if I were a pacer fan. They don't look that good and they really should be just about done as far as rebuilding is concerned.

To be fair we're 3-0, despite having not played a good game yet. Good teams beat the teams they should, even when shots don't fall, or their having an off night. Our offense will come around, i'm encouraged that we've managed to win all of our games despite putrid shooting, we've hardly shot above 40 percent. We won't be in an offensive funk forever, Vogel hasn't really been focusing on offense so much as defense yet, which is fine with me, as we can control our rebounding, defensive effort, and intensity, and that's the kind of basketball that wins in the playoffs, when O is hard to come by.

Granger and West are proven high level players, they'll come out of their offensive funk.

In the meantime Roy Hibbert, Paul George (until tonight), and DC (Ditto) have looked much improved, as well as Psycho T.

Good team is a stretch. You are first round fodder at this point. But at least you might make the playoffs

We'll see. Most commentators and fans feel differently, but we'll see. I'll take being able to win games we're supposed to win while shooting sub 40%. If Granger and West simply play bad instead of attrocious we're blowing these teams out by 15+. As it is 2 easy wins, and one close win despite playing far below our capability is nothing but a positive. Kyrie looked nice, and good luck in the future. We'll see whose right about the Pacers, you or I. I could easily see a fourth or fifth place finish in the East this year.

Triumph36 · Post #19 » by **Triumph36** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 6:33 am

TheOUTLAW wrote:
daschysta wrote:
TheOUTLAW wrote:We are terrible free throw shooters. I wouldn't be happy if I were a pacer fan. They don't look that good and they really should be just about done as far as rebuilding is concerned.

To be fair we're 3-0, despite having not played a good game yet. Good teams beat the teams they should, even when shots don't fall, or their having an off night. Our offense will come around, i'm encouraged that we've managed to win all of our games despite putrid shooting, we've hardly shot above 40 percent. We won't be in an offensive funk forever, Vogel hasn't really been focusing on offense so much as defense yet, which is fine with me, as we can control our rebounding, defensive effort, and intensity, and that's the kind of basketball that wins in the playoffs, when O is hard to come by.

Granger and West are proven high level players, they'll come out of their offensive funk.

In the meantime Roy Hibbert, Paul George (until tonight), and DC (Ditto) have looked much improved, as well as Psycho T.

Good team is a stretch. You are first round fodder at this point. But at least you might make the playoffs

5-8 seed in the playoffs = good team

not a stretch. saying they can contend would be a stretch.

frizzledizzle · Post #20 » by **frizzledizzle** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 3:42 pm

TheOUTLAW wrote:Good team is a stretch. You are first round fodder at this point. But at least you might make the playoffs

They led the Bulls in the 4th quarter 4 out of 5 games in the playoffs last year and were the only team in the Central Division to beat the Bulls.

You do realize we're only three games into the season right? After having no offseason...

Vogel has only been the coach for 45 games or so and added two new assistant coaches in the offseason. Not to mention, 7 players on the team are 25 or younger. They will have no problem making the playoffs this year and will continue to improve throughout the season. Struggling early in the season means nothing, especially when there was no time to prepare. There are plenty of good teams struggling. See the Mavs, Celtics, Griz etc. The Pacers are playing poorly and finding ways to win. Give them a chance to gel before you claim they won't get better. Paul George is 21, Collison just turned 24 and Hibbert just turned 25. Plus they added a new starter in David West(coming off an ACL tear) and a significant role player in George Hill who will be the 6th/7th man off the bench with Hansbrough. As West gets back into full form and he/Hill get a feel for their new teammates, the team will get better.

Anyways... best of luck to you guys. Looks like Kyrie Irving has a really bright future. Triston Thompson too if that one shot was an indication of things to come. I have no idea how he made it but he made it look like it came naturally to him.