LeBron James invites 13-year-old fan to join him on the bench, is too darn charming
October 8, 2015GIFs: Richard Jefferson posterizes a 7-3 Walter Tavares
October 8, 2015DISCLAIMER: It was a preseason game, and you should take that with all of the associated connotations, namely that it doesn’t matter. I mean, it kind of does because the Cavs were playing basketball just like they will in the regular season, but don’t read too much into anything you saw, good or bad. At least a few of the Cavaliers who saw considerable playing time won’t be on the roster by the time the season starts. Some of the lineups that played together will not do so during the regular season — I hope not, anyway; I don’t know if that Varejao-Kaun frontcourt quite aligns with the leaguewide shift away from size and toward speed. Still, it was fun.
The Cavs lost the game to the Atlanta Hawks in Cincinnati, 98-96. The most important thing is not the final score, but — never mind, I’ll let LeBron tell you via Chris Haynes.
LeBron James says moving forward when a reporter ask how did the game go, he said he's going to say "Nobody got injured, so we won."
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) October 8, 2015
We were all winners last night, as it was great just to see the Cavs play against another team. A few quick impressions from the Cintas Center at Xavier University.
LeBron played mean. His numbers were fine, if a touch inefficient — 3-of-13 shooting, 8 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals — but I was excited to see him basically being a big bully. This time last year, word was that LeBron was too thin and perhaps lacking the physical menace that had previously defined his career. That didn’t look to be the case Wednesday night. He committed four fouls in 22 minutes, and seemed to have it out for Hawks swingman Kent Bazemore, who undercut him in the first quarter. The two shared words throughout, and James later delivered an elbow that was frankly uncalled for.
I liked it. My baseless hope is that this elbow portends a more ruthless LeBron season. There’s been an awful lot of talk this summer about the NBA’s other superstars and heirs apparent; Anthony Davis this and Steph Curry that. LeBron is number one until definitively proven otherwise, but there are plenty of challengers to the crown, from Davis and Curry to Kevin Durant and James Harden. I have a hunch that LeBron has noticed.
Richard Jefferson produced the highlight of the night. With the third quarter winding down, Varejao snagged an offensive rebound and shoveled a pass to Jefferson, who was cutting in from the left wing. RJ took one dribble, gathered off of two feet, and packed it home on 7-foot-3 rookie center Walter Tavares. Not bad for a 35-year-old.
It was Anderson Varejao’s first game since his season-ending Achilles injury, and he looked okay. I thought he looked a bit slow and ground-bound, but that’s hardly a crime for a 33-year-old coming off such an injury. The Cavs rotated in hockey-type shifts for much of the game, with Varejao sharing the floor with Matthew Dellavedova, Joe Harris, Richard Jefferson, and Sasha Kaun. That lineup isn’t exactly bursting with creativity, and Varejao did a fair bit of facilitating from the high post. He finished with 8 points (4-of-5 shooting), 2 rebounds, and 2 assists in 15 minutes.
Timofey Mozgov was active. The big fella had 13 points and 5 rebounds, shooting a tidy 6-of-7. He looked comfortable in pick and rolls, threw down a couple big dunks, and moved well. Encouraging stuff from Mozzie; it should be fun having him around for the entire season.
J.R. Smith was completely himself. He scored 15 points in 22 minutes, going 6-of-10 from the floor and sinking three triples. He added four rebounds, four assists, and a couple blocks, and paired nicely with Mo Williams. He also committed a flagrant foul, knocking Al Horford in the head when his swiping block attempt missed in the third quarter. It was a fairly soft call, and Smith’s disciplinary history likely worked against him, even in the preseason.
He also revealed what he didn’t do to cut weight during training camp.
J.R. Smith on being 237 lbs at the start of training camp & now weighing 220 lbs from working out: "And it ain't crack, don't even try it"
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) October 8, 2015
Austin Daye made it close down the stretch. The birch tree of a forward (6-foot-11, 220 pounds in heavy shoes) played only the final 10 minutes of the game, but he knocked down 4-of-7 three-pointers in that time. He missed his first two shots, then hit four triples in a row in a three-minute stretch. The last one came with 1:04 to go and cut Atlanta’s lead to 96-94. Daye had one last chance after a couple Hawk free throws stretched their lead to four, but it went begging and Atlanta ran out the clock. A solid performance from the six-year veteran.
James Jones was not shy. Champ took nine shots, all of them three-balls; he made three of ’em. He also played some sturdy defense at power forward when matched up against Paul Millsap, who went 1-of-7.
Atlanta’s uniforms are booty. I suppose that depends on how you feel about lime green — or Volt, as its known in Nike circles. I am not a fan, and I like to think that Dominique Wilkins made a disgusted face when he first saw the new threads.
All in all, a nice first outing for the wine and gold.
24 Comments
If that’s any indication of what Daye is capable of (ie. living up to his #15 draft status), he could be really solidify the rotation at #4.
One of the weirder stories that was written last season was “James Jones: Power Forward”. It kind of works, but I don’t understand why. He shouldn’t be able to defend Paul Millsap. And yet, he does.
I think I saw more offensive plays run last night then I did the entire NBA finals and if this is a taste of what we’ll see during the regular season I’ll be very happy. I think we will see much better play once everyone is back together just from the time spent last season. I’m hoping K-Love can participate more and more because I’d really like to see some plays run specifically for and through him.
As far as the new guys go I liked seeing Sasha Kaun (pronounced Cone not Khan) and what he did as well as RJ and of course Mo. I think the bench will be much better especially with Varejao’s return. Just think if the holdout was playing the Cavs would be even deeper.
I liked some of the young guys but obviously need to see more. Daye reminds me of a younger skinnier Donyell Marshall. I liked Cunningham and also Cook.
I think Lebron had some competitive juices flowing because it was the first time he’d faced another team in a while. He was NOT In chill mode last night. I don’t think he wanted to lose the game, preseason or not. Or maybe his back just feels better this fall? Also, I saw the reports that he had lost weight again, but he doesn’t look thin to me like he did last year. He looks like he put some muscle mass back on to me. Maybe his body fat percentage is just ridiculously low.
I actually thought Andy looked pretty darn good, all things considered. He was never the most athletic guy in the world, and I thought he moved pretty well. He was a little out of sync with the guys he shared the floor with in terms of passing, but that’s to be expected. Who knows if he can stay healthy for a season, but if he does, I think he can still be most of the guy he was a couple of years ago. Which is to say a pretty nice piece for a backup center.
My first look at Sasha Kaun says this guy isn’t a superstar who will challenge anybody else’s role, but he’s not a guy you bury at the end of the bench like Haywood last year either. He can do some things. I will reserve final judgment, but I was mostly happy with what I saw.
Speaking of which, I think my biggest impression is just how big the Cavs can play if they want to. They don’t have a really tall guard like Shawn Livingston or something, but between Kaun, Mozgov, Varejao, and Thompson, the Cavs are going to blow up the glass like nobody’s business this year. Add Lebron as a pretty beefy SF and the potential to play the 6’7″ Jefferson at SG and they could really go huge if they wanted.
Their size is also much more mobile than last year.
1. How much longer does Moz need to be on the team before people learn to deliver him the ball in air versus off the bounce?
2. Joe Harris your roster spot is officially on notice.
3. Andy will be hurt within 3 weeks of the start of the season again; he just doesn’t have 3rd gear. Every step he took I just cringed. Sucks, cause he’s a good dude.
4. Crazy how crazy everyone is going for the RJ dunk…he did that same thing last year over MKG. Dude can still get up and down and now hit the three. RJ > Marion/Miller all day.
1. I’m hoping Mozgov is working on his hands in individual drills.
2. Harris just wants to shoot 3s I’d like to see more.
3. I’m cautiously optimistic on Varejao but I think a lot of us hold our breath when he plays.
4. Cavs bench already looks better. Thank you Griff.
They looked more athletic for sure and just think no KI, no Shump, no Love and no holdout diva.
1. at his age he’s got hands or he doesn’t…..he doesn’t.
2. Harris does just want to shoot 3’s and if he was an elite knock down person okay, but he’s just above average and that’s not going to make this roster
3. i turned blue last night
4. his GM of the year snub last year infuriates me
1. He can still work on his hands but if he can continue to do the rest of what he does I’m fine and I am resigning him.
2. I agree needs to do more.
3. When you are purple let me know.
4. If not GM of the Year should have finished second but that’s all the “experts” simply saying it’s LBJ.
5. Are u ready to admit you erred on Mr. Thompson? If you do so I will not require u to kneel.
1) Braylon and JJ Hickson say it’s never too late to work on your hands. Just wait until next season when it all comes together.
2) The staff wants Joe Harris to shoot 3s. If he starts muddling the lane where his playmaking teammates roam his rear will be on the bench. If/when his jumper gets lethal defenders will see the need to guard him and periodically he’ll treat us to the upfake and drive. That will be plenty.
3) I have no words.
4) Let’s keep out underpaid GM on the lowdown. Don’t need the Knocks and others coming to poach.
1. He just needs to start expecting the ball when LBJ or Mo drive the lane. They both love to drive and dish, instead of drive and finish (Especially LBJ). Sometimes that can be so infuriating….
1. I have no interest in resigning Timo to the money he will expect at his age with his skill set.
2. Cook seems to be the replacement for him thus far. I am okay with this as I’d rather have ball handling G capable other than Delly as well.
3. I passed out
4. As simply as I can put it; value is only what you can negotiate, not what you are worth. You can’t replace him and you don’t want to pay him $94. Rock meet Hard Place.
I think he does expect the ball, but he needs it delivered high not off the bounce.
At this point it’s up to LBJ and Mo to stop being so cutesy with the dribble pass and feed him the alley oop.
1. Both are currently attending Greg Little offseason “hands camp”.
I don’t see how they can keep Timo. If he stays healthy – maybe even if he doesn’t – a legit 7 footer who can both run and rim protect will get multiple max offers. And no matter what the Cavs ultimately pay Tristan, they’ll be so far out on the cap apron that in real dollars Timo might cost them twice his max salary. Griffin is probably praying that Kaun can figure out the NBA game this year and be a poor man’s Timo in 2016-17.
All the upticks.
This is exactly why Tristan has an argument of why he should be paid with the Cavs.
You’re not paying Tim and you can’t trust Varejao. Our frontcourt depth is an illusion.
1. Thank goodness you aren’t a GM, again.
2.
3. Not long enough.
4. I wouldn’t be so sure about the Cavs not being able to replace him but that’s Thompson’s gamble.
Cavs will be able to match just like with Thompson who they didn’t have to match because noone else made him an offer. Save the money use it for someone like Mozgov who you yourself just said contributes more then Thompson.
Rich Paul you are out of your mind!
Cavs can’t match years/dollars of any offers for Timo because he will be a FA, not RFA.
And if you think Timo contributes more than Tristan you should check the slash lines with TT lineups v. Timo lineups.
….there’s a reason he sits the 4th quarter.
Go away Rich Paul just go away! And leave my Timo alone.
I mean I don’t even really want to type this but I really feel it’s true… If Mos improves, even a bit, from where he was at last year he is likely more important to the team than TT.
Timo can’t switch on a PnR, has awful hands, can’t crack the crunch time lineup and is 5 years older than Tristan.
Look, I think he was a nice piece to acquire for a garbage late first round draft pick but the reality is his skillset/age/contract demands when he turns into a FA make him impossible to resign for the offers he will get.
Just in case you didn’t know we literally cannot sign any unrestricted free agents who won’t sign for Vet Minimums. We have no free space, zero, zilch, nada.