The Morning After: A Defining Loss?

by AncientMariner on Oct 31, 2010 9:32 AM CDT

Having a fourteen-point halftime lead last night was nice enough, but to have scored 67 first-half points to get that lead was even better. It was that kind of effort that could give one hope that maybe -- just maybe -- the Cavs would be able to compete this year, that maybe they had just had a "hangover" game against the Raptors on Friday and that they would be able to thump a team like Sacramento when their focus was on the game from the start.

I will not repeat ad nauseum that I am not able to see the Cavs play live. Thus I obviously miss out on a lot of in-game momentum shifts, on questionable calls, or shots that go in and out; I miss out on bad ball-handling decisions, questionable substitutions when someone is hot, leaving someone in when they are obviously cold -- you get the idea, it is not easy to write with knowledge about something you can only read about.

But I can see the numbers and follow the games online on Yahoo and watch as a big lead is frittered away. There is no disguising that. And frittering away a big lead and only managing 37 points in an entire half after coming out so hot in the first half -- that I could see as well, could see and feel my stomach sink a little in contemplation of another 79 games in this season.

For the full story of last night's loss to the Kings, please take a look at SB Nation's fine recap.

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I think this is one of the things we’re going to have to live with. Without a consistent go-to (redundant?) scorer we’ll have to rely on good streak players. I think the majority of the time the hot hand will rotate around but I think sometimes we’ll have those third quarters like this one, where no one can hit anything. If we keep playing good defense and rebounding well we’ll have to be ok with some bad runs like this.

The only reason Joe Thomas didn’t catch that ball was because the ball was too afraid to come near him.

by the_fox_and_the_browns on Oct 31, 2010 2:43 PM CDT reply actions

This team does play entertaining basketball. But the interior game sucks, no inside defense, no rebounding. Stopping the other team is a huge problem, and will continue to be. And this is not a knock at Andy. He’s all we’ve got.

by kennesawmountainwahoo on Oct 31, 2010 3:51 PM CDT reply actions

I believe we have a consistent go to guy in JJ, he needs to be playing more.

Im the poor man's corey maggette!!!

by Chucky Brown on Nov 1, 2010 10:28 AM CDT reply actions

Not yet.

He needs another year or two to learn to be the clutch scorer. Keep in mind that this is his first year of actually touching the ball (unless it was on a back-door cut where he could get the easy dunk.)

If we want a go-to guy, we might need to get someone in the offseason. And no, that doesn’t just mean ’Melo. There are plenty of other veterans that would be willing to come to a team like ours and help us close out games (Tracy McGrady, maybe?)

Win a ring without the king! Cavs=2011 champs?

by sexsalad on Nov 1, 2010 10:59 AM CDT up reply actions