Game #38 Cleveland Cavaliers (25-12) @ Boston Sucks (30-12) Jan 3rd 2018 8pm tip

[KilgoreTrout]

Lebron will be putting pressure on koby to deal the bkn pick now

I pray.

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

Rich is overrating Khris Middleton to the point of insanity.

He's shooting a scorching 35% from 3.

He is ranked 84th out of 89 qualifying small forwards in DRPM. Has literally gotten completely fucking shredded on defense all year.

He would be ranked 83/103 SG's defensively.


Isaiah Thomas is flat out better at basketball than Khris Middleton.

 

[Rich]

Let's be HONEST.....If the Cavs would have traded Kyrie for fuckin Brogdon and Middleton literally the same 8 people would be in here making the completely opposite argument.

And the same 8 people who swear this was th best deal the Cavs could get would have swore that same thing no matter who we traded with.

Crowder has been overrated for fucking years. This board USED to know that. He gets traded here and its endless excuses for why he's so mediocre. We used to mock people who built up Use Crowder as anything more than an average player on a good team.

The initial plan was to get some type of blue chip player on a cheap deal. We abandoned it for whatever reason. The fact that we didn't get a single young player who has already shown promise was a crime.

So, pray to the ping pong ball gods I guess.

 

[Certo17]

Thank you Paul pierce for keeping it real.. said it was a scheduled lose.. and It meant nothing for the cavs..

 

[KilgoreTrout]

His defense was at least solid. He's not even good, at all, on that end anymore.

He flat out sucks. Anyone that doesn't think he's been bad altogether isn't living in reality.

He's flat out been terrible.

He’s been a disappointment, for sure.

 

[godfather]

Let's be HONEST.....If the Cavs would have traded Kyrie for fuckin Brogdon and Middleton literally the same 8 people would be in here making the completely opposite argument.

And if we traded Kyrie Irving for Carmelo Anthony, and the same people that are talking themselves into thinking Crowder is playing good basketball with us, would be doing the same with that trade, it seems....

FWIW, I mention Middleton's name well before Kyrie was traded, in liking him as a center piece in a deal. I remember Rich mentioning him plenty of times, as well.

I was laughed at. Saying no way, you can't make a deal centered around someone as "overrated" as Middelton.

So, no, we aren't the one's jumping on the bandwagon late on that.

 

[Rich]

Rich is overrating Khris Middleton to the point of insanity.

He's shooting a scorching 35% from 3.

He is ranked 84th out of 89 qualifying small forwards in DRPM. Has literally gotten completely fucking shredded on defense all year.

He would be ranked 83/103 SG's defensively.


Isaiah Thomas is flat out better at basketball than Khris Middleton. Sorry.

Isaiah Thomas has played one game and is a free agent at the end of the year.

Kinda matters when evaluating trade value.

 

[bboy]

I know we all bash Lue...but this has to be on the players at some point...Cavs never seem to learn their lesson...we could of all called this loss because the Cavs don't seem to care...Boston cant score ...they only scored 102 with our shitty D....if the Cavs would've given any type of effort this could've been a game

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

And if we traded Kyrie Irving for Carmelo Anthony, and the same people that are talking themselves into thinking Crowder is playing good basketball with us, would be doing the same with that trade, it seems....

FWIW, I mention Middleton's name well before Kyrie was traded, in liking him as a center piece in a deal. I remember Rich mentioning him plenty of times, as well.

I was laughed at. Saying no way, you can't make a deal centered around someone as "overrated" as Middelton.

So, no, we aren't the one's jumping on the bandwagon late on that.

Middleton has been one of the worst defenders at his position in the league this year and is shooting threes at 35%. I seriously don't understand what the infatuation with Khris Middleton is.

 

[inliner311]

Boston plays hard and tough defense....that keeps them in every game...that alone is going to make them a tough out...Does anyone really trust the Cavs? What kind of a team are they?

The Cavs as a team basically take on the mood of LeBron. IT is important to changing that. He can take over running the offense when LeBron get lazy or is in chill mode. It's also why I think Rose shouldn't be written off either, he is more capable of carrying and running the offense if need be than Calderon.

When fully healthy I'd like to see Rose and IT get their chance to carry the team when things aren't working. We know there is a bench lineup that can be turn to but we need more go to lineups when the starting lineup isn't working.

 

[KilgoreTrout]

Celtics humbled the Cavs and told them to stay in the rear view...

Humility is what the Cavs NEED, so that they give full effort every time out, for the entire game...

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

Isaiah Thomas has played one game and is a free agent at the end of the year.

Kinda matters when evaluating trade value.

Middleton 1 more year on his deal. Sure it matters but, again, it's 1 more year.

Let's see how IT looks over the next 40+ games and playoffs. Then maybe let's re-litigate the Middleton thing...

 

[TyGuy]

Wow. These numbers are atrocious:
Love, 1-11
Crowder, 2-12
Wade, 2-10
Green, 3-11

That’s four guys attempting 44 shots, and making 8 of them. Guys- When it’s not your night, PASS the friggin’ ball.

Is this what happens to us, when the other team plays defense?

With nobody hitting anything, except Bron, Korver, and JR (sort-of), we needed Mini-me out there creating.

To somebody else that isn't going to make the shot.

 

[KilgoreTrout]

Pro tip: Come back and re-read this game thread with popcorn and an adult beverage after we eliminate the Celtics in the playoffs.

You mean, after we’ve gotten DJ and another wing, and jettisoned all the scrubs?

 

[godfather]

Middleton has been one of the worst defenders at his position in the league this year and is shooting threes at 35%. I seriously don't understand what the infatuation with Khris Middleton is.

Crowder is at that bottom as well.

So what? His TS% is still good and he's averaging 20 a game.

20 points a game on 57% is efficient. It's not like he's just chucking for those points.

As for his DRPM. Middleton is a solid on-ball defender, always has been.

DRPM doesn't take that into account. It just means his team defends better with him off the floor.

Last year Leonard wasn't a plus player defensively.

It's an imperfect stat. Not suggesting he's not been struggling.

But throughout his career, he's been a really good defender.

Either way, is he not miles better than Crowder?

Is he not younger and offer more longevity than IT?

Most importantly, does he not match up really, really well against GS?

 

[TyGuy]

So this is the "I told you guys" game? Did anybody have confidence going into this game given our recent struggles to integrate Tristan and our starting unit woes?