It
keeps getting repeated that the Cavs starting line up is a top five producer in
points. This gives me false hope every night that we are going to win,
since we are usually in the game or winning until the second unit comes on.
We could potentially become the number one starting line up for points if
Alonzo Gee was able to knock down two to three of the five plus open threes he
has a game (his defense does make up for his lack luster threes though).
Usually, the second unit keeps us in the game for a bit before failing.
They fail from a lack of points rather than crappy defense. They play defense,
but they have a lot of turnovers that lead to easy baskets that they can’t return on
the other end.
I
thought tonight would be a little bit better with Tyler Zeller back, but he
didn’t help much. He showed some hustle blocking a three and drawing a
charge, but he had little point production. Daniel Gibson is turning into
the main man on the second unit making his open threes. However, we have
to leave Dion on the floor or another starter to make sure things don’t totally
fall apart, which is going to cause some fatigue issues eventually. I
really hope we can grab another serviceable rotation player because another
10-13 points from our bench might make us pull out some of these close games.
That many points would move the Cavs 24 point bench average to a middle of the
pack average along with Golden State and Toronto.
I’ll
just mention five revalations I had about the Cavs tonight.
1. Dion Waiters loves his
jump shot that wasn't going down in the first, but he knows he should go to the
basket a little more, which was shown by him drawing two fouls in a row on
drives during the second quarter. His shooting 4-16 looks a lot better
when you factor in four trips to the line.
2. The defense is really
starting to understand how to rotate. I enjoyed the trap made by Thompson
in the first quarter up above the three line on the pick that forced a Darren
Collison backcourt violation. It was made possible because Varejao and
the rest of the defense knew where to go to block the passing lanes.
3. Alonzo Gee is growing
on me. His defense is really good. He keeps a body on his man and
just keeps going and trying even after his man bangs into him to create space;
his four steals were well earned. I also like how he had a nice little up
fake in the paint a few times to get his man off the floor, which led to very
easy jumps shots. He also drives to the basket to fight for easy buckets
even if he doesn’t finish a ton.
4. Thompson has found
where he needs to be on offense, which is around the baseline. He had some
easy tip ins and was around for the put back dunk several times (he went up for
the jump and it wasn’t needed a few times). He also has a decent running
hook sort of like Dwight Howard, but he needs to learn how to time it so he
doesn’t get blocked. He also needs to learn to up fake on offensive
rebounds/put backs.
5. Kyrie is going to have
shit talked about him not getting assists, but Thompson blows so many easy
points its obnoxious and driving Kyrie’s assists down. Gee blows open
threes on passes from him too.
The
Fuck Truck driver of the night was Alonzo Gee. Gee gets it tonight
because I saw some nice foot work and way smarter shots from him in the
midrange. He had some pump fakes to get open shots while also making his
defender afraid he might drive. When he did get inside, he took the ball
up hard to get to the line. Gee played really good defense too, which I
usually overlook from his mess ups on offense. Next game, I want to see
him make two more of his open threes and possibly be a little more efficient
with his shooting (he had to take 16 shots for 15 points).
I’m
super happy we’re back at home. I miss Austin Carr when we’re away.
My league pass doesn’t give me the Cavs announcer even though they’re the team
I’m following. Gee also earned the Fuck Truck driver award because he
drew the, “he got himself a Marion bird” comment from Mr. Carr. Here’s to
lots more birds being got, Gee!
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