2015-16 NBA Eastern Conference OFFICIAL THREAD

[gordontrue]

Cavs are looking pretty good...its nice to watch them run actual offense instead of win-this-game-at-all-costs-hero-ball......When the going gets tough they resorted to the iso so much- now it sure looks like they are committed to the system and sharing the ball. Not only that- but if Love can punish teams on the offensive end and the boards likwe we all know he can- the Cavs will be very very tough.

Yep. As someone who has watched every cavs game this season... there is a definite difference in watching the team this year with Blatt and with Lue. More of a difference than any of the numbers are really showing, imo... and definitely more than just effort or a "new coach honeymoon" period.

 

[WiggyRuss]

Yep. As someone who has watched every cavs game this season... there is a definite difference in watching the team this year with Blatt and with Lue. More of a difference than any of the numbers are really showing, imo... and definitely more than just effort or a "new coach honeymoon" period.

definitely--- the players seem to be embracing Lue's system because they believe in it--- rather than putting up with Blatts or just overuling it at times becuase they didnt have confidence in it...

the team just has a much better vibe and feeling of team work around it now- and that a lot of the agendas and ancillary crap has started to fall away and now they can try and become the best group they can- becuase no matter what anyone says- the Cavs WITHOUT A DOUBT have the TALENT to beat anyone in the NBA.

 

[Heatles84]

yah...its a shame with Dion that someone with that much natural talent just cant figure it out....who knows..maybe when he is like 28, 29 years old he will finally become a player that helps you win rather than a guy out for himself.

those people that felt the Cavs were downgrading from Waiters to JR certainly look awful STUPID now.

I remember Cavs fans saying that Waiters was going to be better than Wade. Those people look awfully stupid now.

 

[Wamu]

I remember Cavs fans saying that Waiters was going to be better than Wade. Those people look awfully stupid now.

Some Cavs fans were saying that? What a laugh riot!

 

[Heatles84]

Some Cavs fans were saying that? What a laugh riot!

I remember hearing it while he was on the Cavs roster a couple years back. I don't think it was Wiggy, but there was some discussion at one point - which I found ridiculous. Fast forward to a couple years later, and history has shown that Waiters is nowhere close to Wade in terms of skill and production.

 

[Wamu]

I remember hearing it while he was on the Cavs roster a couple years back. I don't think it was Wiggy, but there was some discussion at one point - which I found ridiculous. Fast forward to a couple years later, and history has shown that Waiters is nowhere close to Wade in terms of skill and production.

Well whoever said that must have been on some kinda homeristic rant.

 

[Heatles84]

Well whoever said that must have been on some kinda homeristic rant.

We may need to do some digging on Wiggy's essays back two years ago before Waiters got traded. But I remember being in a debate about this particular subject two summers ago.

 

[ChrisGar15]

We may need to do some digging on Wiggy's essays back two years ago before Waiters got traded. But I remember being in a debate about this particular subject two summers ago.

It would have been dumb to say he could be as good as DWade. I always thought his upside was a #2 or #3 guy -- scoring 18-20 points. (and not contributing a lot to other stuff) He was headed for that with the Cavs after about 1 season (14ppg) ... but then I think his immaturity and lack of work ethic (or willingness to improve) really hurt him. They wanted him to be more of a spot up shooter -- he didn't want to do that.

He never started in college -- surprising he was a #4 pick -- and I don't think anyone would have compared him to Wade at that time.

2012 draft -- and I remember it being a really weak draft. (after the top 4-5 players) Lilland was on the board for the Cavs -- but they drafted Kyrie the year before. Drummond was a possible pick -- but there were rumors about poor attitude & work ethic. (which were wrong) That was not long after Thabeet was drafted from UConn also -- a few teams thought Dre would be repeat of him. Harrison Barnes was the obvious choice -- but he hadn't improved as much as folks thought he should at UNC ... he seemed passive ... and not a leader. You can see some of these things still in him -- but GS is a great place for him -- fits him perfectly.

An interesting thing about that draft is a really weak class after Drummond was taken in the first round -- but a number of good/solid guys in the 2nd. (Green, Middleton, Barton, Crowder)

 

[WiggyRuss]

I remember hearing it while he was on the Cavs roster a couple years back. I don't think it was Wiggy, but there was some discussion at one point - which I found ridiculous. Fast forward to a couple years later, and history has shown that Waiters is nowhere close to Wade in terms of skill and production.

the almighty Byron Scott was the one that started that stuff about Wade.

and yes- Scott was fired shortly after drafting Waiters- and no small part of his firing was his abject inability to get Waiters and Kyrie to work together or develop the young talent on the team. Lakers need to axe that guy yesterday.



Byron Scott saw the similarities the first time he watched Dion Waiters play for Syracuse.

The fearlessness. The explosiveness. The solid build. The killer instinct.

"The first thing that came to my mind was Dwyane Wade," Scott said.

But the Cavaliers coach wanted to make sure his eyes weren't deceiving him, that there were no tricks in the tape. So he viewed another 15 or so games, dissecting every aspect of Waiters' game. It was only then that he felt content with his conclusion.

"I kept coming back to the same thought," Scott said. "The kid is good."

With Scott's blessing and insistence, the Cavaliers selected Waiters with the No. 4 pick in Thursday night's NBA draft, giving them a backcourt partner for reigning rookie of the year Kyrie Irving and another player capable of making big plays in crunch time.

 

[WiggyRuss]

It would have been dumb to say he could be as good as DWade. I always thought his upside was a #2 or #3 guy -- scoring 18-20 points. (and not contributing a lot to other stuff) He was headed for that with the Cavs after about 1 season (14ppg) ... but then I think his immaturity and lack of work ethic (or willingness to improve) really hurt him. They wanted him to be more of a spot up shooter -- he didn't want to do that.

He never started in college -- surprising he was a #4 pick -- and I don't think anyone would have compared him to Wade at that time.

2012 draft -- and I remember it being a really weak draft. (after the top 4-5 players) Lilland was on the board for the Cavs -- but they drafted Kyrie the year before. Drummond was a possible pick -- but there were rumors about poor attitude & work ethic. (which were wrong) That was not long after Thabeet was drafted from UConn also -- a few teams thought Dre would be repeat of him. Harrison Barnes was the obvious choice -- but he hadn't improved as much as folks thought he should at UNC ... he seemed passive ... and not a leader. You can see some of these things still in him -- but GS is a great place for him -- fits him perfectly.

An interesting thing about that draft is a really weak class after Drummond was taken in the first round -- but a number of good/solid guys in the 2nd. (Green, Middleton, Barton, Crowder)

chrisgar it is so refreshing to have a poster that actually remembers and restates facts correctly--- the lillard and drummond stuff and the comparisons to thabeet were absolutely on the mind of guys picking......even about Barnes being too passive and not a leader. GREAT GREAT post.

 

[Heatles84]

chrisgar it is so refreshing to have a poster that actually remembers and restates facts correctly--- the lillard and drummond stuff and the comparisons to thabeet were absolutely on the mind of guys picking......even about Barnes being too passive and not a leader. GREAT GREAT post.

I agree. Your inconsistent bullshit has become mind numbing.

 

[bksballer89]

Why was this thread unpinned?

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

Cavs are looking pretty good...its nice to watch them run actual offense instead of win-this-game-at-all-costs-hero-ball......When the going gets tough they resorted to the iso so much- now it sure looks like they are committed to the system and sharing the ball. Not only that- but if Love can punish teams on the offensive end and the boards likwe we all know he can- the Cavs will be very very tough.

OKC is not beating the Cavs in a Finals matchup.

Well, they can't beat the Warriors as constructed either.

So, I guess it's a moot point.

Dion looked like a basket case out there.

It's pretty clear it's a 3 Team race.

 

[bksballer89]

Possible playoffs preview in Miami tonight

 

[trojanfan12]

I agree. Your inconsistent bullshit has become mind numbing.

@ Wiggy acting like he's some kind of voice of reason or some shit. Just shows how clueless he truly is.

 

[bksballer89]

Indy is a horrible match-up for us.

 

[bksballer89]

@gordontrue how do you watch cavs games?

 

[bksballer89]

Overtime again in Miami

 

[bksballer89]

Miami now in a tie with Boston for 3rd place. 2 games up on 5th place Indiana.

 

[bksballer89]