May 20, 2013

Cavs 92, Heat 91: MVP, MVP, MVP

January 26, 2010 by 37 Comments

Since this is what you want to see, let’s just lead with the dunk…

Here’s the caveat for last night’s game against the Heat. We were  playing a Miami team that had won 5 of their last 7 games. We were playing a team with outstanding guard play down our top 2 PGs. After big wins over the Lakers and Thunder, it wouldn’t have surprised me to see a little bit of a let down.

And truthfully we saw one. Even still, the Cavs had enough in the tank to pull it out.

This one started ugly for the Cavs, and didn’t get much better if you are into team basketball. In the first half the Cavs had 7 assists in the first half, and the Heat were actually worse with 4. The second quarter was like the old Bird vs Magic one on one video game. Except technically there were other players on the court. Wade and LeBron lit it up, but Wade’s Heat had the advantage at the half by 4, and the showdown edge with 30.

The Cavs certainly had chances to jump on the Heat, as Wade was scoreless in the half until the 4:30 mark in the 4th. The Cavs even had 4 straight stops on the defensive end, but couldn’t muster a single point of their own in the third.

It all came down to the final 2:30 minutes. Solid defense, including an incredible steal and drive by LeBron put the Cavs in position to take the lead- if LeBron could knock down two free throws after collecting himself from a head shot on his drive to the rim. (As an aside, that was a complete sham. LeBron should have been awarded a goaltend for Wade’s hang on the rim.)

At the time, LeBron had hit only 10 of 15 free throws. In fact the Cavs continued their team wide slump by hitting only 67%. But the reigning MVP stepped to the line and cooly hit both freebies. Did I mention that he was the MVP? Why keep bringing it up? Well, several times during this one the crowd took to chanting MVP for Wade. Which is comical to me.

The game wasn’t over though, as LeBron dug in against Wade one more time, forcing a jumper that missed the mark. Game. Second game in a row that LeBron stepped up and guarded an ‘MVP’ candidate on the last possession and kept them in check.

Daniel Gibson hit 4 of 6 three pointers to help keep the Cavs close, and Shaq had another great shooting night hitting 9 of 13 shots. By the way, how is it that two of Shaq’s previous coaches (Phil Jackson on Saturday and Eric Spoelstra Monday) failed to intentionally foul Shaq in the last two minutes of a game? I can only hope that if the Cavs were playing the Pistons with the game on the line and Ben Wallace was in that we would hack him immediately.

Jamario Moon played in this one, after missing the last ten games. It seems he’ll be brought along slowly. Still no word yet on when we might expect to see Delonte West back on the court.

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  • http://twitter.com/nullster nullster

    If Delonte is not going to be on the court, can we just get a camera on him and Mo court side talking to each other the entire game?

  • MrCleaveland

    LeBron’s steal of Wade’s Favre-like bonehead pass was a big-time play by a big-time player, and it shows that Wade isn’t in LBJ’s class.

  • JK

    Hahaha.. I agree nullster, they’re hilarious.

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com Denny

    The only reason LeBron had the foresight to steal that behind-the-back pass was the fact that he’d make the same pass in the same situation :/

  • Oppie

    Even though these past 2 wins haven’t been pretty, I regard these 2 wins as some of the best this season. Beating 2 playoff teams without 2 of our best players says a lot about this team. Glad to see this team recover from a deficit late in the game and pull this win out.

    Great play by Lebron on the steal and the defensive stand, but what was up with the spin shot he took the prior possession? It seemed that he just spun and threw it at the rim hoping it would fall.

  • Kensha

    How about two games in a row with clutch defensive plays to lock up the game? I think he deserves a legitamate if not favored shot at Defensive Player of Year.

  • Harv 21

    In the final minute with the game on the line, Wade missed two free throws, attempted a stupid behind the back pass and missed a makeable jumper at the buzzer. Love that player, but not the mvp.

  • Mark

    Oppie – I agree. I’m not sure what that was. I think he was hoping for a foul but didn’t argue when it wasn’t called. Odd play.

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com Denny

    @ Oppie and Mark – not only the terrible spin shot, but also the pointless iso/three chucking on the possession prior to the spin shot. It was an ugly, ugly grind at the end.

  • Mark

    Denny – Agreed. But god forbid I make any critical comments last night about how our offense is run. WE WON THE GAME! WE WON THE GAME! DONT LOOK OVER HERE – WE WON THE GAME!

  • Matt

    @Mark
    check my comments on the thread for last night’s game…

  • Chris

    DENNY IS A CONFIRMED LEBRON HATER AND IS A SPY FOR WIZARDS FANS.

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com Andrew

    I think we should mention that Wade missed 2 FTs with 41 seconds left and the Heat up 1. That was such a lucky break for the Cavs. And then to get bailed out for LeBron’s 2 horrible plays (the iso 3 and the whatever-you-call-it). Lucky, lucky, lucky win for the Cavs, but a great win at the same time.

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com DP

    By the way, how is it that two of Shaq’s previous coaches (Phil Jackson on Saturday and Eric Spoelstra Monday) failed to intentionally foul Shaq in the last two minutes of a game?

    Here’s what I can’t figure out: when the Cavs have played in LA and Miami with Shaq, the fans boo him heartily when he touches the ball. I don’t get it. Hey, Laker Fan: Kobe would only have one right without Shaq, and Shaq was run out of town by Kobe. Hey, Heat Fan: Umm, all Shaq did was win you a ring. Why the hate?

  • Kevin

    I don’t want to sound like a big complainer, especially since LeBron gets his fair share of phantom calls, but it must be said…

    Wade gets more mysterious fouls called in his favor than anyone I can remember not named Michael Jordan. He’s the only player in the league right now that I get nervous watching because of the likely hood of a foul being called.

    Here’s the Wade game plan…

    1. Drive
    2. Fall
    3. Throw ball at basket, opposing player, hot dog vendor, etc.
    4. Proceed to foul line
    5. Repeat

  • Chris

    @ Kevin – You’re absolutely right. Honestly, I think it’s embarrassing to the league that they do this.

  • Scott #2

    @Kevin Don’t bring that subject up with a Mavs fan or they will talk your ear off for hours.

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com Denny

    I thought it funny that Wade pumped his chest 3 times after being loose ball fouled at the end, then he missed the FTs.

  • Jack

    I diesel Shaq.

    Natty the Dog doesn’t post about him as much anymore…too bad.

  • Jack

    Refs whistle Wade.

    That “charge?” Really?

    I hope we don’t play the Heat in the playoffs. I can’t stomach that.

  • MP34

    @Kevin,

    You make a legit complaint about last night’s calls. The replay doesn’t lie. I’d like to think that when LBJ gets calls, he is at least drawing contact.

  • phil m

    Kevin: I have the same impression about Wade, but perhaps fans whose teams lose to the Cavs might feel similar about LeBron? (I see no evidence for it myself.) Nonetheless, there was no better example of what you’re talking about than when LeBron got called for an offensive foul against Wade while taking a pass at the top of the key and without facing the basket. It was just a routine collision of two players who were not aware of one another and that had no consequence on the continuing play. How that went in Wade’s favor mystifies me.

    I don’t know what, as a team, you can do to “defend” against that. The number of foul shots Wade took in the first half was ridiculous.

  • Jack

    @Kevin – Dead on. I think that’s how they draw it up in the locker room. You forgot one thing though…the spin. Once he draws contact he has to twist and contort his body a bit, often resulting in a spin, which necessitates a scoop shot over his head which goes in once a year and is called an amazing “circus shot” by every single SportsCenter anchor throughout the 5 hours.

    That part is key.

  • MP34

    Like many others said, great win with two key elements of the team out last night.

    Having said that, with Mo Gotti on the sideline, there was a glaring hole. No one besides Lebron, save Shaq, was able to create their own shot. Gibson did a beautiful job knocking down 3′s and defending but he had trouble getting to the rim. Hopefully he can keep developing with some more PT in the coming month.

    Jawad looked pretty bad last night both on offense and defense. While Moon might not have even made a shot but he seemed to make his presence felt defensively. And AP certainly deserves some credit for his second half D on Dwyane Wade.

    Miami wanted to give this game up and Lebron obliged by taking over in the clutch. Who knows what that spin around airball on Wade was but he made his FT’s when it counted. Having said that, Lebron’s outside shooting has been awful in the recent games I have watched.

    I liked the break down they had of the last Laker’s game that showed X’s and O’s where Lebron took shots and made or missed from. There were lots of X’s from the outside and plenty of O’s in the paint. I believe last nights would look very similar.

  • Oppie

    I also enjoyed when DWade pumped his chest when he threw the ball out of bounds off Jawad in the 3rd quarter (I think). I mean I understand having passion and getting pumped about a play, but for that play, really? Maybe he could have done that for the game winning shot he made last night, oh wait..

  • http://www.msblsim.com boogeyman

    See if they show LeBron dunking with Wade on his back as much as they did when Wade massacred Varejao then proceeded to punk Andy by stepping over him like he was a “bad man!” As if that wasn’t enough LeBron jacks Wade’s poor decision of a behind the back pass and proceeds to beat Wade down the floor only to have Wade once again on his back with a hard foul. Wade not only got away with grabbing the basket which is supposed to be a goal tend but he didn’t come close to the ball when he fouled LBJ twice including a slap across the top of the head. I never saw Wade check on his buddy after Flash scraped himself off the floor before LeBron. I just wonder what the coverage would have been had the shoe been on the other foot of course LeBron would have chased Wade down for one of his customary chase down blocks so a foul wouldn’t have been needed. Sorry D-Wade you might have a championship thanks to Shaq but LeBron James is your superior!!!

  • http://lakeeriesoldiers.wordpress.com Lake Erie Soldiers

    lebrons dunk on wade was sick. he almost messed himself up though, which would have been tragic

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com Denny

    Completely forgot about this until now. Anybody else amazed that LeBron’s knee didn’t implode after that dunk over Wade? I was scared for his knee for a second, and I’m sure that Leon Powe was.

  • Kevin

    @ Jack. How could I forget the spin. I seem to recall a converse ad that showed wade getting “knocked down” at every level of his career with the quote “why do we get knocked down? so we can learn to get back up” or something. He is a flop artist, and I actually think he’s shortened his career by way of the wear and tear on his body from taking all those dives. I can only imagine him as an older player with all the flops, and none of the ability to elevate. Nothing personal D-Wade fans, but every time I saw one of those bad calls, all I could say was “wow…that was weak.”

  • Mark

    Denny – Yes. I thought he was done. It was such an awkward fall. But to honest, there are so many times I am shocked LeBron hasnt blown a knee out. Just an amazing player.

  • http://lakeeriesoldiers.wordpress.com Lake Erie Soldiers

    @mark
    thats very true. I am honestly surprised he can still walk after all the hits and falls he takes. There is a reason he is the KING.

  • 5KMD

    A bit of a nit pick Rick, but wasn’t that video game bird vs. jordan?

    That was an awesome game if it was the one I’m remembering.

    Good win Cavs.

  • Vare-A-Jay

    I read the comments so I won’t repeat since most of you said what i was thinking anyways. What i will add is this:

    Anyone else notice the amount of smack-talking and chest beating the Heat did after seemingly every And 1 bucket? Apparently if you walk away towards the opposite end of the court, you can beat your chest and say whatever you want. I hope we get the Heat in the playoffs (assuming they MAKE the playoffs) so we can bounce them like they were the Wizards.

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com Denny

    Also worth noting – the Cavs almost let Udonis Haslem beat them last night. Just thought I’d remind everyone of that.

    /shudder

  • mendy

    DP: I completely get it. Its just the nature of a homer sports fan to boo anyone who left you (and wasn’t traded). You think if LeBron wins us a ring this year then leaves for NY next year there won’t be any booing? Not a chance.

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  • iamakron

    This is what be brought Shaq in for! Size, and presence. I honestly can smell a championship. Bring On Orlando, Bring On the Heat, Bring on Boston, Bring on the Lakers, Bring on the Hawks…Just dont bring the Bobcats. hahah!

    GOOOOOO CAVS!

  • Jake

    By the way, how is it that two of Shaq’s previous coaches (Phil Jackson on Saturday and Eric Spoelstra Monday) failed to intentionally foul Shaq in the last two minutes of a game?

    Eric Spoelstra never coached Shaq. This is Spoelstra’s second season as head coach in Miami. When Big Daddy was in Miami, he was coached by Dr. Panic Van Gundy.