So Long Jordan Clarkson ( aka Chucky McJumperson)

[I'mWithDan]

they are mentally weak. That is exactly why other teams were so eager to dump them off on our rookie GM Koby Altman, another guy not ready to perform on a Finals team.

I think watching LeBron's mental toughness and clutchness has really spoiled us as a fan base.

Nerves only go away with experience and all of these guys we have collected from bad franchises are going to take time to settle down and find their sea legs (which admittedly sucks).

I'm not a big fan of Clarkson's but this is his first time playing meaningful professional basketball games. I can't just completely blame him for not playing very well. That's always the risk in these situations...when you acquire guys who have very little post-season experience, sometimes they are going to just shit the bed.

 

[cavsfever]

He's always been like that, and he has looked like this all playoffs and part of the regular season too. His shot totally disappeared. Like i understand Streaky shooters, but his shot has vanished. Similar to JR's and Rodney. It is the most frustrating thing I have ever seen. I mean, Cavs could be up 2-0 if there shooters were as reliable as they have been in the reg season.

God I am hoping they start hitting shots. If GS keeps leaving guys open to sell out to Lebron, this could be a series.

Any new guy we get in the offseason has to be

#1 a 2 way player

#2 tough as nails

and lastly, we have to play our energy guys next year. Nance, Ziuzic and Cedi need to get some run. We are not getting the energy we need from this current crew

If by some miracle Lebron stays next year, play Mikal Bridges, Cedi, Zizic, Nance for youth and energy. Start at least three of them. Except I don't know if Zizic and Nance can share the floor because of spacing.

 

[Norm]

I think watching LeBron's mental toughness and clutchness has really spoiled us as a fan base.

Nerves only go away with experience and all of these guys we have collected from bad franchises are going to take time to settle down and find their sea legs (which admittedly sucks).

I'm not a big fan of Clarkson's but this is his first time playing meaningful professional basketball games. I can't just completely blame him for not playing very well. That's always the risk in these situations...when you acquire guys who have very little post-season experience, sometimes they are going to just shit the bed.

I actually like Clarkson a little bit. Borderline ok handles. Seems to hustle on d. And is good at getting to the rim and setting up his teammates........... that last part is questionable. He just seems to forget about 4 other players on the court with him lol.

Lue seems to keep giving him a chance. I know that he is streaky, but as soon as he gets one of those 3s to go in, he becomes a better player...... for what we are used to anyway.

His contract is terrible for what he provides. Don't think he will ever be true pg, but a decent option for a swing guard as long as he doesn't have the ball for but 4-5 seconds on a possession. But, since he is overpaid and doesn't provide much, he fits right in with our team

 

[Cavatt]

If by some miracle Lebron stays next year, play Mikal Bridges, Cedi, Zizic, Nance for youth and energy. Start at least three of them. Except I don't know if Zizic and Nance can share the floor because of spacing.

It would be cool. When I saw Nance and Zizc together in limited minutes, no one could score at the rim and they gobbled every rebound. I think Starting Zizic and Love could be powerful and bringing Nance as our TT 2.0 off the bench would be awesome. Mikal at the 2.

Sounds pretty good.

 

[cavsfever]

It would be cool. When I saw Nance and Zizc together in limited minutes, no one could score at the rim and they gobbled every rebound. I think Starting Zizic and Love could be powerful and bringing Nance as our TT 2.0 off the bench would be awesome. Mikal at the 2.

Sounds pretty good.

If Lebron stays (PLEASE) I like the idea of getting Mikal Bridges and adding a good ball handler at the point, like Kemba Walker if we could possibly get him. Bridges seems like a prototypical 3&D who would play great off Lebron, then Walker could pick up some of the ball handling role. And Cedi, Zizic, Nance could work their ass off.

 

[Cavatt]

If Lebron stays (PLEASE) I like the idea of getting Mikal Bridges and adding a good ball handler at the point, like Kemba Walker if we could possibly get him. Bridges seems like a prototypical 3&D who would play great off Lebron, then Walker could pick up some of the ball handling role. And Cedi, Zizic, Nance could work their ass off.

I'd Take Michael Porter Jr as well or Bamba, but I don't think either guy falls that far. IF MPJ does, you gotta be worried about his back.

Mikal is looked at as low upside, but you know I think he just has IT. He can score without you even realizing it and that is a dangerous trait.

I don't think he is Kawhi, but I do think he is similarly overlooked as low upside when he has all the tools to grow into a really nice NBA player.

 

[cavsfever]

I am honestly not sure whether MPJ would be a better pick than Mikal. The back is really a worry, that is a career ending type injury. And he would basically be trying to make a high school to the NBA leap less than a year after significant back surgery. You have to think that would take some time. Mikal Bridges will be 22 and presumably more ready to contribute right away. Being a great jump shooter and a great perimeter defender with length are skills that should translate very directly to the NBA. If Lebron stays that is a huge consideration. Yes, just talent wise a healthy MPJ has a higher eventual upside, but post-surgery the question is complicated.

If Lebron goes rolling the dice on MPJ looks like a better alternative.

 

[Cavatt]

I am honestly not sure whether MPJ would be a better pick than Mikal. The back is really a worry, that is a career ending type injury. And he would basically be trying to make a high school to the NBA leap less than a year after significant back surgery. You have to think that would take some time. Mikal Bridges will be 22 and presumably more ready to contribute right away. Being a great jump shooter and a great perimeter defender with length are skills that should translate very directly to the NBA. If Lebron stays that is a huge consideration. Yes, just talent wise a healthy MPJ has a higher eventual upside, but post-surgery the question is complicated.

If Lebron goes rolling the dice on MPJ looks like a better alternative.

I understand that totally and I do think Mikal is like the perfect NBA 3 and D guy next to him. I love Mikal and I do think he will be able go right away. His catch and shoot ability would be really hard to pass up.

 

[cavsfever]

Last I'll say on the Clarkson thread about the draft, but check out this analysis of Bridges -- basically the only concerns are his ability to be a creator, his handle, and whether he is muscular enough to check big SFs inside. None of these concerns are major issues if he is playing with Lebron.

https://www.thestepien.com/mikal-bridges/

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

Too much Mikal Bridges love in here. He is anything but a sure thing, nor is he guaranteed to be an immediate impact player.

 

[Cavatt]

Too much Mikal Bridges love in here. He is anything but a sure thing, nor is he guaranteed to be an immediate impact player.

To me its a toss up between Carter and Mikal who looks more like an NBA player right now today.

 

[Dr. Claw]

I am honestly not sure whether MPJ would be a better pick than Mikal. The back is really a worry, that is a career ending type injury. And he would basically be trying to make a high school to the NBA leap less than a year after significant back surgery. You have to think that would take some time. Mikal Bridges will be 22 and presumably more ready to contribute right away. Being a great jump shooter and a great perimeter defender with length are skills that should translate very directly to the NBA. If Lebron stays that is a huge consideration. Yes, just talent wise a healthy MPJ has a higher eventual upside, but post-surgery the question is complicated.

If Lebron goes rolling the dice on MPJ looks like a better alternative.

If only LeBron would dare to work with young talent. Remember why Kevin Love is here: Wiggins got traded. Now because of 2016, that worked. and I think Kevin Love is better offensively still. If LeBron would stay (even if stay means somehow a crafty end around of the CBA so that it ends up team friendly. I know the Cavs basically forced a rulebook change with that trade of Z to the Wizards some years ago), if #8 can't be traded for whichever reason to get an elite talent... if MPJ is there, take him and let the rest come to us. Cavs will be in the playoffs with LeBron. If not? Time to outdo Philadelphia in "The Process"

 

[cavsfever]

If only LeBron would dare to work with young talent.

You mean young talent like Kyrie Irving (22 when Lebron got to Cleveland) and Tristan Thompson (23 when LBJ got to Cleveland)?

this blame everything on Lebron shit is crazy

 

[Dr. Claw]

You mean young talent like Kyrie Irving (22 when Lebron got to Cleveland) and Tristan Thompson (23 when LBJ got to Cleveland)?

this blame everything on Lebron shit is crazy

I meant rookie talent. Kyrie and Tristan were in the league for 3 seasons by that point. I credit Kyrie's 4th Quarter magic and early accolades to being one real basketball reason for LeBron coming back. Someone who hasn't ever played in the NBA? I dunno. Maybe Boobie. I wish Boobie were here right now.

 

[cavsfever]

I meant rookie talent. Kyrie and Tristan were in the league for 3 seasons by that point. I credit Kyrie's 4th Quarter magic and early accolades to being one real basketball reason for LeBron coming back. Someone who hasn't ever played in the NBA? I dunno. Maybe Boobie. I wish Boobie were here right now.

Lebron gets little chance to play with rookie talent because 1) he's so good that his teams always draft late in the first round, and 2) the Cavs can't draft or develop players worth shit anyway. The Wiggins for Love trade looked like a no-brainer at the time, it wasn't about Lebron not wanting to play with a rookie, it was about Love being available. Lebron pretty clearly enjoyed playing with Cedi Osman this year.