Game Grades - Cavs @ Spurs - 1/14/16

[skulls138]

Frankly, if you examine the Spurs' box score, it is fairly unbelievable that we won the game. It ain't all Spurs' misfires, of course. Our opponent had something to do with the pedestrian box score. But it is hard to believe and very gratifying to behold that with several hundred of our big guns (including BOTH Timmy and LMA ) we still beat a team like Cleveland.

Defense baby. To end with 95 points when they had 32 in the first quarter is pretty damn good. I think playing great defense brings a confidence and calmness to all facets of the game in that its ok if they miss a shot.

[boutons_deux]

Defense baby. To end with 95 points when they had 32 in the first quarter is pretty damn good.

spurs got skunked in 1st qtr as Cavs shot 70%+, then won the next 3, allowing 23 max/qtr the rest of the way.

[sasaint]

Defense baby. To end with 95 points when they had 32 in the first quarter is pretty damn good. I think playing great defense brings a confidence and calmness to all facets of the game in that its ok if they miss a shot.

That is this team's MO. We often start very slowly on both ends. But we gradually start clamping down on D until the other team is in a vise and the game is in hand - usually by the early fourth quarter. Watching our D continue at that level against a top-tier team in crunch time was one of the most encouraging developments we have witnessed from this team in its continuing improvement.

[sasaint]

You must have a photographic memory to recall entire game sequences from earlier games!

[EVAY]

What an absolutely terrific write-up, C-H. I enjoyed every bit of it. I was unable to watch the game last night and got the recorded view off my U-Verse today. I made sure to watch it before I read your write up so that it wouldn't influence me. Then I read your write up and it was just terrific!

The actual letter grades are relatively unimportant to me, but your description of your reasoning on each was spot-on.

Thanks a million.

[Cry Havoc]

What an absolutely terrific write-up, C-H. I enjoyed every bit of it. I was unable to watch the game last night and got the recorded view off my U-Verse today. I made sure to watch it before I read your write up so that it wouldn't influence me. Then I read your write up and it was just terrific!

The actual letter grades are relatively unimportant to me, but your description of your reasoning on each was spot-on.

Thanks a million.

D'aw.

[wildbill2u]

I think he needs to learn to pick the ball up and cradle it like a football player, the way Manu has always done, and use his length and athleticism to use those last two LONG steps to get him all the way to the rim. He's running into traffic, and they are picking him apart. I think he's got the physical strength and springs to use their ball-hawking against them. Their hand-slaps aren't enough to keep him from bulling his way to the basket - AND he will draw a lot more whistles. My opinion, that's the one big thing missing from his game.

He could learn to do that. He is very coachable and also a hard worker at improving his game. But let's face it, he's not a natural ball handler with long experience of dribbling around guys instead of through them. Some players have a knack for dribbling in a crowd and not getting tied up. I used to be amazed at how Steve Nash could actually WALK through a crowd of players in the lane and under the basket, dribbling without a misstep, and keep track of all the players in his team for a pass. (Even more amazed to see Parker doing this last year and this in imitation). That's just a talent that comes with being a guard all your life.

[cutewizard]

i really dont get it why people idolize lebron

he is nothing .....

example, physically he is nothing compared to Chamberlain or Sabonis

mentally, Da Vinci and Jose Rizal of the Philippines say HI

spiritually, lets not even get into it.....its beyond the brains of lebron

so what is lebron??

here is the answer:

LEBRON JAMES IS ANOTHER DOG WHO SHALL BE FORGOTTEN IN A HUNDRED YEARS!

PERIOD. END OF STORY.

[cutewizard]

EXCELLENT analysis by Sir Cry Havoc, more analyses like this and more power Sir!

i miss Diaw this game!