Goodbye Larry Nance Jr.

[The Human Q-Tip]

All of you where are saying Nance could have played better and Jokic dominated everyone, yeah, technically you are all right. I'm sure the altitude had something to do with the overall fatigue on the part of the Cavs, but let's also remember...

Arguably, Jokic is the best center in the NBA. Seriously.

He's gonna get his... from the inside, from mid-range, and from outside. And his elite passing ability is going to keep his teammates involved as well. Honestly, I'm thrilled at how well Nance played against Jokic, especially considering that Love isn't there to help share some of the responsibility and to spread the defense a little more. I mean, really you can't ask for much more than what he was able to do. 13/13/3 with 4 steals?? Yes please!

Maybe I missed it, but I don't think anyone is criticizing Nance. I think the point is more that our team lacks anyone able to match-up size-wise against larger centers. It's a situational thing that illuminated a hole in our roster/rotation.

And yes, we won by 5. But Jokic was +1 during his time on the floor. Again, not really a problem against the Denvers of the league. Where it gets concerning is if a better team acquires a larger center with offensive skills.

 

[Cavatt]

Zizic also played Jokic well. Both guys need to watch tape and not let Jokic get the ball in his sweet 8-10 foot spot on the left. He is just automatic even with Larry's long arms or Zizic in his face. Those shots were clutch as hell and shows why Jokic is who he is.

 

[NobodyImportant]

Jokic is powerful in the paint! It's actually a bit jarring to see him being so physical, given the current state of the NBA game. He plays bigger than he is. I didn't realize he was "only" 6'10" 250lbs. Just watching him, he looks like he's more like 7" 280lbs.

In Feb. Jokic averaged 32.9 points, 17.1 rebounds, 13.6 assists per 100 possessions. Pretty nuts! Not surprising that Nance had trouble with him. I actually did think Zizic played him pretty tough defensively, but it didn't matter a bit. Dude was lookin' like Shaq with 3 point range out there last night. What can ya do?

 

[Cavatt]

Jokic is powerful in the paint! It's actually a bit jarring to see him being so physical, given the current state of the NBA game. He plays bigger than he is. I didn't realize he was "only" 6'10" 250lbs. Just watching him, he looks like he's more like 7" 280lbs.

In Feb. Jokic averaged 32.9 points, 17.1 rebounds, 13.6 assists per 100 possessions. Pretty nuts! Not surprising that Nance had trouble with him. I actually did think Zizic played him pretty tough defensively, but it didn't matter a bit. Dude was lookin' like Shaq with 3 point range out there last night. What can ya do?

I think making him a scorer is prob the best you can do. The nuggets shoot the 3 as well as anyone. If you can make Jokic try to beat you one on one, you have a better shot than if he is kicking to 3 point shooters.

 

[TheAdmin]

Also, out of curiosity, what area did Jr decide to live. I was curious if he got a place in Bath or ended up somewhere in Cleveland.

No idea.

 

[FrontPageNews]

Also, out of curiosity, what area did Jr decide to live. I was curious if he got a place in Bath or ended up somewhere in Cleveland.

Westlake.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Larry is making a case to be our second best player (and not just second best healthy player)... that's nuts. I never expected him to be this good when we acquired him from LA.

For those of you saying we need a big to match up with big centers, we don't. We allow them to force the ball to a big man and run the offense there against Nance or Love, because it results in an offense that's less efficient than our offense. Jokic went nuts last night, hit everything, and they were only +1 with him on the floor. Love and Nance are fine as our guys who match up at the five.

 

[ACisKING]

Larry is making a case to be our second best player (and not just second best healthy player)... that's nuts. I never expected him to be this good when we acquired him from LA.

For those of you saying we need a big to match up with big centers, we don't. We allow them to force the ball to a big man and run the offense there against Nance or Love, because it results in an offense that's less efficient than our offense. Jokic went nuts last night, hit everything, and they were only +1 with him on the floor. Love and Nance are fine as our guys who match up at the five.

I totally agree - what the Cavs really lack is a guard who can consistently generate offense. The Cavs frontline will be fine.

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

Larry is making a case to be our second best player (and not just second best healthy player)... that's nuts. I never expected him to be this good when we acquired him from LA.

For those of you saying we need a big to match up with big centers, we don't. We allow them to force the ball to a big man and run the offense there against Nance or Love, because it results in an offense that's less efficient than our offense. Jokic went nuts last night, hit everything, and they were only +1 with him on the floor. Love and Nance are fine as our guys who match up at the five.

He had .955 TS% and a 156 ORTG that game.Cavs as a team had .595 TS% and 115 ORTG. It might check out against other big centers that are less efficient than him, but not in this case. Looking at these stats, doubling him would have been the better option.

Denver couldn't create on the perimeter last night and were close to winning because of Jokic. With anyone stopping him they would have lost by 20.

If Jokic had a better DRTG in that game they would have won. That was the issue for Denver, not their offense with Jokic on the floor.

I'm not worried about our front court though. Nance's high steal rate and aggressiveness will most likely keep him okay in that regard when he isn't fatigued. Zizic should play more though as he is a perfect matchup against the bigger centers and to give Nance some rest, but this wasn't the best example.

 

[Cavatt]

Larry is making a case to be our second best player (and not just second best healthy player)... that's nuts. I never expected him to be this good when we acquired him from LA.

For those of you saying we need a big to match up with big centers, we don't. We allow them to force the ball to a big man and run the offense there against Nance or Love, because it results in an offense that's less efficient than our offense. Jokic went nuts last night, hit everything, and they were only +1 with him on the floor. Love and Nance are fine as our guys who match up at the five.

Agree. Embiid has been the biggest problem so far, and Nance did a job on him too. Also, no one can really stop these guys anyway. You need a Gobert or something to really battle them.

 

[KilgoreTrout]

Wasn’t able to stay up to watch the game. How’d nance do against jok defensively?

Looked to me like every time Jokic shot, it was either a foul or a basket. Hard to defend, when every miss is called a foul...

 

[Randolphkeys]

The most important piece of the Irving trade was the Brooklyn pick. Now that might not help this season, no way around that, but one hopes LeBron can see how that pick becomes whichever hole seems most glaring: Completing the back court or a legit center if one is still there for the pick. Websites claiming LeBron has a "wish list" for free agency are just a bag of bullshit. Nothing is decided. Most of the trade pieces aren't even playing off LeBron well yet.

 

[Midwestcav]

But yet you fail to mention Zizic looked even more fatigued . Playing a mile high had everyone on the team winded. Nance is just 25 years old averaging 22 minutes a game this season . He should be able to go 40 minutes a game if need be . Just be grateful Zizic is receiving minutes . Once Love returns, Nance and him will be interchangeable at the 5 giving each other a break. Ante will be back to towel waving. Cedi and Zizic both will see deminished playing time once the playoff roll around . Note , I’m very excited to have Cedi and Zizic on our team and look forward to watching them mature as basketball players .

Don't forget about the Crohns disease Nance has to deal with. He played at 7220 feet at Wyoming, but he still needed breaks. Nance busts his ass, but it is a long NBA season.

 

[KilgoreTrout]

I totally agree - what the Cavs really lack is a guard who can consistently generate offense. The Cavs frontline will be fine.

Hey - what about Clarkson?!

 

[KilgoreTrout]

We are a totally different team with Nance out there. Jumped all over the Nugs early, last night. Lue needs to have a seat, and just let LARRY run practices - Larry actually KNOWS about defense...