Spurs @ Cavs: November 19, 6 PM CT

[Amuseddaysleeper]

The Spurs have struggled offensively but will the Cavs terrible defense allow them to have back to back 100+ nights?


INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) - He's met them three times in June when everything has been on the line. Still, LeBron James doesn't view the San Antonio Spurs as his personal nemesis or a hated rival.

In fact, quite the opposite. James believes the defending champions have shaped him.

"I wouldn't say it's a rivalry," James said after practice on Tuesday. "But I would say it's mutual respect, it's great competition and they definitely helped me grow along the way and hopefully, I pushed them too."

James, who has gone 1-2 against the Spurs in the NBA Finals, will face them again Wednesday night for the first time since returning to Cleveland, and for the first time since San Antonio dismantled his Miami Heat squad in last season's Finals.

With exquisite ball movement and flawless execution, the Spurs easily captured their fifth title, taking the series in five games with each win by an average of 18 points. It wasn't close as the Spurs simply overwhelmed the Heat, who were seeking a third straight championship.

"That's what happens in a series sometimes," James said. "They were just playing at a much higher pace than we were at the time and they had everything clicking. They had the ball movement. They had guys that were making shots. They had the pace and the space and they had it going. And it resulted in them winning a championship."

San Antonio's win may have hastened James' departure from South Florida. It would have been difficult for him to leave a three-time champion, so Cleveland fans may want to thank Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and his "Big 3" of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.

James first encountered the postseason Spurs in the 2007 Finals, when San Antonio swept a Cleveland team making its first - and only appearance - on basketball's biggest stage. James got revenge in 2013 but came up short last summer before deciding to return to Ohio to try to bring Cleveland its first pro sports championship since 1964.

During his 11 years in the league, James has developed a deep appreciation for the Spurs' consistency and character. He says they've been the blueprint for team success.

"They work a championship mindset every single day on and off the floor," he said. "Do they win the championship every single year? No, obviously. But I think good karma comes with how you approach the game and how you approach off the court as well."

At 5-4, the Cavs are still developing chemistry and seem to be playing up or down to the level of their competition. That was the case Monday, when the struggling Denver Nuggets came into Quicken Loans Arena and outplayed the Cavs, beating them 106-97 and ending their four-game winning streak.

Afterward, James warned if the Cavs aren't ready for the Spurs (6-4), trouble awaits.

"If we're not mentally focused, they're going to embarrass us right off the jump, it's just that simple," he said. "It's the Patriots of the NBA. They come into your building and they want to embarrass you. They're going to execute at a high level and they're not going to beat themselves."

While some have hyped the game as a potential finals preview, James knows better. A game in mid-November won't dictate Cleveland's status.

"Win or lose it's not a measuring stick," he said. "It's too early, that team has been together - I think Tim Duncan, he's won more games than all of our guys together."

James and his newly-assembled team have a long way to go, but San Antonio's success is indisputable. Popovich and Duncan have combined for 904 regular-season wins and Duncan, Parker and Ginobili have combined for 503 wins, the second most for three players, trailing only Boston's Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish, who won 540.

After the Cavs play the Spurs, they'll head to Washington, another team with whom the four-time MVP shares a history. During his first stint in Cleveland, James played the Wizards in the postseason from 2006-08 and each series was tainted with trash talk and tough play.

James remembers.

"Now that's a rivalry," he said.

James would like to see his playing time trimmed. He's averaging 39.1 minutes, third-most in the league, and teammates Kyrie Irving (38.4) and Kevin Love (37) are fourth and fifth.

"That has to come down," he said. "For me, I don't want to do that all year. Obviously right now it's difficult because we're trying to find a groove and we're trying to find a rhythm and we're trying to find something that you can't really, you don't want to shortcut it but at the same time you gotta be smart about it."

Cavs forward Shawn Marion missed practice after bruising his left foot in Monday's game. He's listed as probable against the Spurs.


:flag::flag::flag::flag:

[SpursFan86]

Splitter, Mills, Belinelli, and Bonner (stomach virus) are all out.

[jeebus]

:lmao Daye and Errors poisoning Boner so they can get more playing time

[Dex]

RIP in pieces Pop!

[Dex]

Splitter, Mills, Belinelli, and Bonner (stomach virus) are all out.

Fuck, no Red Mamba?

We're doomed. :(

[timtonymanu]

I think the Spurs could win this game, even shorthanded. But yeah relying heavily on Daye and Errors is gonna be a disaster.

[BatManu20]

No Bonner = fucked tbh.

No stretch 4 (Daye sucks) is only going to compund the offense even more. I say sit the starters if we go down more than 1 point.

[r0drig0lac]

we will win

[Brunodf]

Cavs by 25

[Robz4000]

>Amused started the game thread
>Bonner immediately ruled out with stomach virus

Itbegins.gif

[ElNono]

:flag:

[BatManu20]

Brian Windohorst is the biggest Lebron sucker in history.

[NASpurs]

Cavs fans should give the Spurs a standing ovation during the introduction for sending LeBron, with his tail between his legs, back to the Cavs tbh.

[ElNono]

>Amused started the game thread
>Bonner immediately ruled out with stomach virus

Itbegins.gif

http://i.giphy.com/HGf3QzZIIX5QI.gif

[Robz4000]

Just realized I'll have class during the game. Fak.

[ElNono]

Just realized I'll have class during the game. Fak.

lol class... get a cold or something

[Robz4000]

Unfortunately I skipped this class last week :lol...

[BatManu20]

Pop giving Lebron a lot of love. So classy :cry

535210855999504384

[BatManu20]

The "Malice at the Palace" happened 10 years ago today.. Wow can't believe it was that long ago tbh



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFK9C5VUSK0

[Beaverfuzz]

Fuck Lebron, Go Spurs Go!

[100%duncan]

Just realized I'll have class during the game. Fak.


This.


Knock these motherfuckers for us

[100%duncan]

Just realized I'll have class during the game. Fak.


This.


Knock these motherfuckers for us

[ace3g]

time for Baynes to give Kevin a few "Love" taps

[BillMc]

Let's win this thing!

[Mikeanaro]

:flag:

[RD2191]

:flag:

[BatManu20]

I can't remember the last time an NBA game in November got this much pub and pre-game hype, tbh..

ESPN has been doing nothing but covering this game all day long, even doing SportsCenter live outside of the stadium in the freezing cold of Cleveland :lol

[Captivus]

https://31.media.tumblr.com/16ce64c1d6584f924fa4d9bac91eb532/tumblr_inline_nbpyt1NV5y1sifnnm.gif

[BatManu20]

I wish Baynes was an enforcer and would put people on their ass when they drove the lane. Make Kyrie think twice before coming in there.

[Silver&Black]

:flag::lobt2::lobt2::lobt2::lobt2::lobt2::flag:

[RD2191]

Fuck, LeBron with the class.

[timtonymanu]

I haven't been following Cleveland. Did they bench Waiters?

[BatManu20]

I haven't been following Cleveland. Did they bench Waiters?

Yea and word was he wasn't too happy about it.

[timtonymanu]

Shoot, Diaw.

[ace3g]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B21a6CKIMAE1698.png:large

[timtonymanu]

Timmy shooting the J. Good news.

[ElNono]

and1 timmy

[BatManu20]

Timmy on pace to score 55 points :tu

[r0drig0lac]

timmy has this

[SanDiegoSpursFan]

Nutmeg by Diaw?

[Raven]

solid ball movement for now

[timtonymanu]

Come on, Enrique.

[Captivus]

Kmon Kawhi! Gotta hit that, they call a TO...you know...momentum

[BatManu20]

Smh gotta knock down those wide open shots. 5 point swing.

[Nathan89]

Are these bums going to help Duncan tonight?

[BanditHiro]

sigh so i guess our offense is never going to return...

[MI21]

Parker could have taken about 3 little floaters so far, he is clearly not looking to score as normal lately.

Spurs still can't shoot. NBA = f:lolcked when they remember how to shoot.

[Raven]

cavs have awful rim protection

[Beaverfuzz]

SPURS BALL!

[Beaverfuzz]

Good draw of the foul MANU!

[RD2191]

Come on Spurs.

[Raven]

manu very smart with his defensive positioning

[BanditHiro]

dammit we can't make 3s

[Beaverfuzz]

Nice passing to TIMMUH!

[Beaverfuzz]

Tim with the strip.

[Beaverfuzz]

Nice travel by AV...

[timtonymanu]

Diaw, hesitating too much.

[loveforthegame]

Going to be a long night.

[ElNono]

floor must be really slippery... Vaginao can't stop falling down

[RD2191]

Spurs still playing sloppy.

[BatManu20]

Shoot the damn ball Diaw! Bobo has zero confidence in his 3-point shot smh

[spurraider21]

letting contact go on both ends, then calling that offensive foul? be consistent

[Darius Bieber]

Tim came to play. Can't say the same for other players though.

[TheGreatYacht]

Did Pop drink the whole offseason, I'm not liking this whole "feed Duncan like its 2003" offense...

[MI21]

Timmy missed a few easy ones, looks like he can have his way tonight.

Kawhi staying out of foul trouble early is good.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Good lord is our offense awful.

Thank god for TD or we'd be down 8 already.

[ElNono]

come on Banger

[timtonymanu]

:lol Baynes
:lol peaking in the summer

[BatManu20]

Great pass normally, but Manu has to realize he can't throw that kind of pass to Baynes. He's not good enough to handle it.

[Beaverfuzz]

THROW IT DOWN BAYNES, THROW IT DOWN!

[Beaverfuzz]

BAYNES HOO HA!

[RD2191]

Baynes shitting all over timtonymanu.

[Beaverfuzz]

TONY TONY TONY HAS DONE IT AGAIN!

[timtonymanu]

Baynes shitting all over timtonymanu.

exstatic bait, tbh.

[ElNono]

damn in n out... good run at the end there

[timtonymanu]

Ugh that Cleveland scrub had to make that

[spurraider21]

who the fuck is Joe Harris?

[TheGreatYacht]

Baynes shitting all over timtonymanu.

[sammy]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B21a6CKIMAE1698.png:large

Awesome! LOL!

[MI21]

Good rebounding to close the quarter, when Cleveland have Love/Thompson out there that is basically there whole game plan. Waiters jacks up awful shots and those 2 rebound.

[BatManu20]

who the fuck is Joe Harris?

He was a stud at Virginia the past couple of years tbh. Won the ACC tourney MVP iirc. Good college player.

[ElNono]

we're gonna need to hit some 3s... hope somebody can knock em down tonight

[TheGreatYacht]

who the fuck is Joe Harris?
There's this thing called "the google"

[RD2191]

Fuck.

[BatManu20]

Varejao falls on the floor more than Parker.

[Darius Bieber]

Baynes and Daye in at the same time... Gonna be a loss now.

[timtonymanu]

Daye in. Ugh

[BanditHiro]

we aren't winning this game. not with our 3pt shooting

[timtonymanu]

Kyle better start making shots cause this shit happens. :lol

[timtonymanu]

Play Daye. Lose the lead. Predictable.

[BatManu20]

I miss our good role players :cry

[TheGreatYacht]

Danny Green has gotten more touches than Kawhi, why?

[ElNono]

can't pin this on Daye... just sloppy with the ball... Danny still can't dribble a basketball

[loveforthegame]

Green trying to get fancy. :tu

[BanditHiro]

game over. until this team stop being bitches and make the 3s they are supposed to be making we aren't going to make the playoffs.

[sammy]

Seriously Danny! You can't handle the ball! Daye just stands there and allows a layup! WTF!

[Nathan89]

Can baynes catch the ball without fumbling it?

[RD2191]

So much garbage.

[Beaverfuzz]

Austin Daye, you suck.

[Raven]

what is up with the 3 ball, seriously..

[timtonymanu]

Getting killed now cause no one can hit 3s

[Uriel]

Why the fuck is Austin Daye playing? Does Pop think this game is a joke?

[Beaverfuzz]

VERDE
4
333333333

[timtonymanu]

Finally

[ElNono]

finally

[RD2191]

Can Daye accidentally trip and break his arm?

[Beaverfuzz]

AV is unconscious.

[loveforthegame]

Green finally.

[bklynspursfan]

looks like baynes is struggling to catch simple passes tonight... splitter needs to hurry up and get healthy

[sammy]

Let Manu run the point! Finally Danny!

[Diego20]

Manu didn't even try a shot XD

[timtonymanu]

Daye might actually be worse than Errors. Yes, I went there.

[Brunodf]

Daye is so bad :bang how did this guy make the team

[TheGreatYacht]

Parker must read all these posts :lol he's playing soft, not even looking for a shot anymore

[jag]

Ok time to blow it up and start from scratch.

Let's go for the tank

[ElNono]

Parker must read all these posts :lol he's playing soft, not even looking for a shot anymore

coasting... Gino too... Tim got his workout in the 1st quarter, he probably don't give a shit anymore

[Captivus]

The fact that the Spurs are playing without Mills and Tiago and still competing is impressive.

[Beaverfuzz]

Fuck you Lebron, you fouled.

[timtonymanu]

Whi with great D on LeBron

[RD2191]

Good D Kawhi

[timtonymanu]

They can't miss. We can't make. Ugh.

[ElNono]

Bayne gonna foul out

[Captivus]

What diod they call!!?? Clevelandwith the ball? Why? Missed it.

[BatManu20]

Daye is killing us with his presence on the floor, tbh.. a chucker who isn't a good shooter and can't rebound. Bonner is Larry Legend compared to this guy

[Brunodf]

Tony is killing












us

[BanditHiro]

Pop needs to devote his practices to the team just shooting 3s.

[Beaverfuzz]

Time to take control Tony.

[ElNono]

ugh

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Parker has been such crap.

[DJR210]

Daye might actually be worse than Errors. Yes, I went there.

They're twins, same DNA

[sammy]

Tony pass the ball!

[ElNono]

ugh

[RD2191]

Lol

[loveforthegame]

Tony the hell with those fts.

[BanditHiro]

fuck Enrique.

[jag]

I don't why but I don't like to see the city of Cleveland have hope. They're supposed to be shitty at everything and accept their place in this world

[timtonymanu]

Come on Tony.

[Budkin]

Spurs making the Cavs D look amazing. :lmao

[Beaverfuzz]

Another foul on Lebron again. Suck it Lebroner!

[Beaverfuzz]

HAHAHAHAHAHA, what a play from Kiwi to Boris!

[loveforthegame]

Leonard playing solid D on James. Can't ask for better.

[ElNono]

I don't why but I don't like to see the city of Cleveland have hope. They're supposed to be shitty at everything and accept their place in this world

oZzgAjjuqZM

[Beaverfuzz]

COJO.

[milkyway21]

OMG ! Daye 0 pt, 0 rbd, 0 asst, 1 PF so, why he stayed so long on the floor... Thanks God he's out :(

[timtonymanu]

Spurs making the Cavs D look amazing. :lmao

Not really. Our shots have been wide open. Just can't hit them plus Daye being worse than a D-League player.

[Nathan89]

OMG ! Daye 0 pt, 0 rbd, 0 asst, 1 PF so, why is he stayed so long on the floor. Thanks God he's out :(

Who else do we have?

[sammy]

I don't why but I don't like to see the city of Cleveland have hope. They're supposed to be shitty at everything and accept their place in this world

LOL!

[Captivus]

Looking at Daye I dont see any difference in playing Anderson...I mean...why not

[ElNono]

I take the plesh

[Brunodf]

Who else do we have?
Diaw. He could use some play time...

[MI21]

:lol @ LeBron complaing about those 2 fouls on Parker and Duncan.

Diaw is playing a whale of a game so far, Kawhi is going ok on defense, Timmy looks spritely... everyone else, ugh

[Beaverfuzz]

Someone needs to hit AV, he's unstoppable.

[100%duncan]

I take the plesh

:lol

[ElNono]

3, clank...3, clank...3, clank...

[Beaverfuzz]

Nice 3 Marion, hahahaha.

Good drive Kiwi.

[spurraider21]

:lol marion
:lol third grade shooting form

[ElNono]

fuck, make your freebies

[loveforthegame]

That shot by Marion. :lol

[jag]

lol shawn marion with the Westbrook shot off the top of the backboard

[RD2191]

Why is it that the Spurs struggle against some of the shittiest defensive teams in the league? Even last year they struggled.

[Uriel]

Watching the Kawhi vs. LeBron matchup bring back so many good memories. :cry

[sammy]

Come Kawhi! Make those free throws!

[MI21]

nice bit of coaching from Pop to put 5 threats out there, not allowing LeBron to coast on D

[spurraider21]

duncan has to convert there...

[Beaverfuzz]

Kiwi finally got burned by Lebroner.

[BatManu20]

Move the ball on offense

[spurraider21]

unnecessary foul is unnecessary

[TheGreatYacht]

Can someone go to the local bar tommorow and tell Pop that his offense is trash. This isn't 2003

[sammy]

There was no foul! BS!

[DJR210]

That's gotta be the worst jersey/color scheme in the league IMO

[Captivus]

Someone check that 3 pointer!!!!!

[100%duncan]

Is this Mark Jackson commentating? Motherfucking grown man move lines again. Fuck this faggot

[Beaverfuzz]

FUCK!!!

Where was the buzzer on that 24 second violation?

[r0drig0lac]

lol parker curry

[Uriel]

THAT SHOULD HAVE COUNTED. :bang

[Beaverfuzz]

Is this Mark Jackson commentating? Motherfucking grown man move lines again. Fuck this faggot

Yes.

[jag]

I love how no one on the Cavs will allow Waiters to bring the ball up the floor. His own teammates box him out to keep him from rebounding.

[RD2191]

Spurs may be defending Champs but they fucking suck right now.

[Beaverfuzz]

BORIS
MY
MAIN
MAN

[Uriel]

That's gotta be the worst jersey/color scheme in the league IMO
:tu :tu :tu :tu :tu

That contrast is amplified by the fact that the Spurs have the best.

[ace3g]

Diaw should do that runner from behind the 3 point line, I would have confidence in it.

[BatManu20]

This offense is hard to watch right now

[100%duncan]

Watching the Kawhi vs. LeBron matchup bring back so many good memories. :cry

Goddamn son the speed in the lib sucks in live streams

[Beaverfuzz]

Spurs may be defending Champs but they fucking suck right now.

Down by three my main homey.

[ElNono]

Spurs may be defending Champs but they fucking suck right now.

damn almost forgot... we still da champs, baby!!! woohoo

[100%duncan]

Watching the Kawhi vs. LeBron matchup bring back so many good memories. :cry

Goddamn son the speed in the lib sucks in live streams

[beirmeistr]

BOBO !

[Nathan89]

Diaw. He could use some play time...

Diaw played the entire first quarter.

[milkyway21]

Is something wrong w/ the red mumba?

[DJR210]

:tu :tu :tu :tu :tu

That contrast is amplified by the fact that the Spurs have the best.

:tu

The Cavs have like 8 new jerseys a season, but they really dropped the ball with these ones. Need to take it back to Cocaine Kemp/Terrell Brandon days IMO

[timtonymanu]

Is something wrong w/ the red mumba?

Stomach virus

[jag]

lol average margin of victory in the finals was 18 points

[PingPong]

Where is the Love? At least, Daye earns much less than him. :D

[RD2191]

Come the fuck on.

[100%duncan]

Kiwi struggling against legoat

[beirmeistr]

Is something wrong w/ the red mumba?

Depleted his venom last game

[Uriel]

Jesus. :rolleyes

[Beaverfuzz]

Mike Breem apparently can't tell the difference between a 2 and a 3.

[ElNono]

terrible call

[timtonymanu]

Ugh. We're not making anything. Losing too much ground right now.

[BatManu20]

Stop continually posting up Duncan! Jesus he's not 25 anymore

[RD2191]

Rofl spurs.

[ElNono]

smh Cojo... lol "great defender"

[timtonymanu]

:lol CoJo
:lol "lockdown defender"

[loveforthegame]

Irving unconscious.

[Beaverfuzz]

Kiwi says fuck this, I'm going 1 on 2/3.

[RD2191]

:lmao

[Beaverfuzz]

Nice steal and finish Kiwi.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

This game is over.

[loveforthegame]

Leonard. :tu

[jag]

lol Kyrie Westbrook

[ace3g]

Kawhi is very good at that euro step-stop move near the basket

[100%duncan]

Yes JVG Kyrie is supposed to pass.


That's why you're there commentating right now and not coaching.

[spurraider21]

kyrie getting his steph curry on

[Uriel]

Good job CoJo. Way to put Irving in his place.

[100%duncan]

This game is over.

it's your fucking fault

[Uriel]

Goddamn son the speed in the lib sucks in live streams
Doesn't the lib block NBA streams?

[Beaverfuzz]

Boris to TIMMUH!

[ace3g]

Diaw with another nice pass

[Beaverfuzz]

Goddamn son the speed in the lib sucks in live streams

Donde esta la biblioteca?

[ace3g]

2 stops!!!

[timtonymanu]

Damn, great response to those Kyrie fluke shots.

[Beaverfuzz]

Back to 3 at the half. Good finish.

[beirmeistr]

Manu!

[Captivus]

the last seconds sucked the air out of the arena.

[RD2191]

Should be up fiddy.

[BatManu20]

We needed that 8-0 run. Good finish

[Johnny RIngo]

Can't wait till our best point guard comes back from injury. Watching scrubs like TP and Cojo stagnate our offense is infuriating.

[100%duncan]

Doesn't the lib block NBA streams?

They blocked it since game 4 of the Portland series, I know because I watched games 1 and 2 here. The speed was actually good back then. Managed to luckily find one working stream now but shitty net is shitty.

[Silver&Black]

Way to end the quarter guys....

[Raven]

it's amazing how bad of a player kevin love really is...

[TheGreatYacht]

Damn I'm glad Kawhi, Diaw and Manu are out there

[loveforthegame]

Leonard creating havoc. :tu

[TDfan2007]

Looks like Timmy blew his load offensively in the first quarter... :depressed

[hitmanyr2k]

Good job CoJo. Way to put Irving in his place.

I think it was actually Kawhi with the strip.

[SanDiegoSpursFan]

Is the crowd noise really low to anyone else? I know ESPN usually mutes their games, but the lack of crowd noise makes things feel a lot less intense.

[BatManu20]

If we can just knock down some open shots we'll be right there at the end

[ElNono]

good end to the quarter... gotta get sharper from 3, and we should be ok

[r0drig0lac]

Cavs defense is complete garbage

[Silver&Black]

Donde esta la biblioteca?

tengo el gato en los pantalones

[jag]

Cavs have a good team. Their chemistry is shit, but solid players.

[100%duncan]

Donde esta la biblioteca?

En la Filipinas. Mi interwebs en mi casa es mejor que ir.

[Brunodf]

Diaw the only Spurs player playing above average :bang

Hopefully our shooters will make some shots in the 2nd half...

[Robz4000]

All I can do is watch the boxscore. From what I saw everyone outside Diaw has been shit yet its a 3 point game...

:lol Cavs

[milkyway21]

Halftime leaders > Duncan 13 pts, Diaw 5 assts, Diaw 5 rbds

[100%duncan]

Got damn thank god we have TD tbh.

[MI21]

Boris best player on the court, tbh

[timtonymanu]

All I can do is watch the boxscore. From what I saw everyone outside Diaw has been shit yet its a 3 point game...

:lol Cavs

Duncan has been decent. Leonard has been a pest on LeBron.But yeah everyone else sucks right now.

[beirmeistr]

tengo el gato en los pantalones

Tengo el gato en los pantalones means what?

[jag]

The team is going to be really inconsistent until Splitter returns.