Fear The Sword: All Posts by Patrick Elder

Cleveland vs. Denver Final Score: Nuggets devour Cavs 98-91

2013-01-12T05:09:51Z

The Cavs blew what looked to be a promising victory when they fell behind in the 4th quarter to the Nuggets, losing in tried and true Cavalier fashion, 98-91. Kosta Koufos, of all people, destroyed the Cavs, shooting 10-17 en route to 21 points and 6 boards. I can't say I didn't see this coming, but it was disappointing nonetheless, as the Cavs blew a great first half, which they lead in its entirety.

Final - 1.11.2013	1	2	3	4	Total
Cleveland Cavaliers	30	26	20	15	91
Denver Nuggets	23	22	27	26	98

Complete Coverage >

As for good things, there were some. Tristan started off absolutely beasting, scoring 10 points right off the bat. He's improving in leaps and bounds on offense, and it's showing up in the boxscore, as he went 8-13 for 16 points and 7 boards. Denver's length definitely bothered him and the rest of the Cavaliers at times, though, as JaVale McGee often grabbed some ridiculous loose balls due to his equally ridiculous length.

Alonzo Gee was pretty much the worst thing ever, going 1-7 and ruining a couple fastbreaks, as he is wont to do. Kyrie Irving had a respectable 28 points and 7 assists (all of those assists coming in the first half), but did so on 11-26 shooting. Eh. Not so good. Oh, and let's not forget what a dumpster fire Tyler Zeller was on offense, shooting 1-6 for 2 points. Bleh. Surprisingly, Tyler was not awful on defense, starting off with some excellent swats and peppering in some well-funded charges.

I'll leave you on a good note, as Dion Waiters had another solid game off the bench, going 6-12 (6-13 really, but I'm discounting the desperate 3 he took at the end) for 18 points. He only took 3 or 4 bad shots this game, which is a marked improvement over some of his recent outings. Plus, he even made a couple of contested layups. For realsies!

Also, shouts out to @WayneEmbrysKids who attempted the most heroic of feats, taking on the self-appointed task of defeating the Nuggets all by his lonesome by eating as many chicken nuggets as the Nuggets scored points. Alas, from what I can tell, he fell in glorious, saucy battle, slain on a field of cheap plastic and suspect white meat. May your soul ascend to the planes of poultry heaven, you brave, noble soul.

**ROLL CALL**

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30	Coldyron	1

Kyrie's Summer Lovin'

2012-08-10T23:25:39Z

After coming out with the infamous Uncle Drew commercial for Pepsi Max, challenging Kobe to a 1-on-1 game, and just being generally amazing in Team USA practices, Kyrie Irving has had a summer to remember. So you'd probably think he was done for the summer.

Think again, courtesy of the folks at WFNY:

So that happened.

Kyrie apparently is a big musical fan, having performed in one in high school. I think we can forgive him for it having been High School Musical, although I'd have a hard time doing it for anyone else. As far as his performance in this video is concerned, he actually stays on pitch pretty well, and much better than anyone else on the show.

Although I almost had a heart attack when he went to clap his hands together, I think this was a great little bit of fun, and a perfect song to encapsulate Kyrie awesome summer (personality-wise). Plus, can anyone imagine a certain #6 ever doing something like this?

NBA Offseason: Bringing Greg Oden Home

2012-07-13T20:49:03Z

Greg Oden's NBA tale is a sad one, filled with ups and downs (but mostly downs), and has been left in the same unfinished state for the last couple years. But with Oden reportedly interested in playing in the NBA again this year, we will presumably see the next chapter in his once-promising career. The question we should be asking of ourselves is whether or not it would be prudent of the Cavs to be the team to give Oden this second chance.

One thing that's undeniable is Oden's talent and production. In his admittedly limited amount of games played in 2009-10 (his most recent year) he put up 11.1 ppg on 60% shooting, 8.5 rpg, and 2.3 bpg in only 23.9 minutes per game. The only question in regards to his game is how his knee surgeries have affected it. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't remember Oden as much of a leaper in the first place. He's always been more about height and length, and never was very quick, so if anyone could recover from a knee injury and regain his former basketball acumen, it'd be Greg Oden.

And of course we can't talk about Greg Oden without discussing his slew of injuries. Now, I'm just as skeptical as anyone else of Oden's knees. Having seen the injuries, what worries me the most is the seemingly simple movements that caused such devastating injuries. However, it seems as though the root cause of the problem has been pinpointed. Both Oden and Portland's training staff were negligent in regards to information they had on problems with Oden's body outside of his knees, and he predictably re-injured his knee because they failed to correct these issues.

If the Cavs are aware of the reasons for his knee troubles and feel they have the requisite medical staff to effectively take care of them, then I see no reason why we shouldn't offer Greg a 1-2 year contract in the $3-5 million a year range. How about you guys? Let us know what you guys think about Oden, whether or not you'd like him on the Cavs, and what type of contract you'd be willing to give him.

NBA Draft: In Defense Of Dion Waiters

2012-06-30T18:04:05Z

While reading the comments on several of our recent draft-related articles, I've come across several arguments that attempt to detract from the Cavaliers' drafting of Dion Waiters. What I hope to accomplish in this article is to refute these arguments, thereby alleviating anyone of their doubts about the Cavs' front office. While this goal may not be entirely realistic, at the very least I hope to at least plant another seed of doubt in the doubter's mind. A seed that doubts the very doubts they have about Waiters.

First things first, I'm going to need anyone who isn't already on board with the Cavs' draft to take a deep breath and sit down because what I'm about to tell you may be a shock.

Are you ready?

It's over.

The draft is done. There's no going back. No changing the course of events that unfolded on that fateful night. The first step to fully enjoying what this Cavs team will be is to accept that what is done is done and to at least make an attempt to get on board with the program, because honestly, what's your other option? Be eternally bitter? Quit being a a fan? I would hope both of those options sound pretty poor to you, because they certainly do to me.

But if you're sitting there thinking, "I don't want to be upset, but I just can't fight the feeling that the Cavs made a mistake," then you should continue reading, because hopefully I can change your mind. Actually, you should keep reading regardless, because that would be kinda weird if you just stopped reading the article halfway through.

Anyways, on to the convincing!

First I would like to address the notion that we reached for Waiters. There is no way in hell anyone can tell me they knew for sure that Harrison Barnes or Thomas Robinson was a definitively better prospect than Waiters. For instance, if we take a look at Hollinger's draft rater, Waiters posted one of the best marks for a wing..... ever. Would you like to know his closest comparison? Dwyane Wade. Huh, that's funny, because it just so happens that the one player everyone who watches him comes away comparing him to is..... you guessed it: Dwayne Wade. Yes, Thomas Robinson is rated higher than Waiters, but it's only one point, and Hollinger's rater has a much higher rate of failure with high-rated big men than high-rated wings. And if you need any more convincing, just remember that Russell Westbrook and James Harden were both considered reaches when they were taken. I don't think anyone in Oklahoma City is complaining about that right now.

Now for Dion's fit with the team. He said on draft night that he doesn't think he has any weaknesses to his game, and while at first I balked at the statement, I'm having a hard time disproving him. We know he's a bull-dog getting to the basket, where he finishes very well. But what many people don't realize is that his outside shot is actually pretty good. He shot 45.2% from 17 ft. to the 3-pt. line, with a 0.82 PPP on his shooting off the dribble. This isn't spectacular, but it's solid, and as an added bonus his shots off the dribble only accounted for 28.1% of his total jump shots. This means that the rest of his shots were spot-up jumpers, where he shoots 47.5%, good for 1.01 PPP, which the folks over at Draft Express call "very good." And of course I would be remiss were I not to mention his ridiculous 68.7% in transition, which is where 26.7% of his offensive plays came from. This fits perfectly with Byron Scott's desire to be a running team.

The more I look at this kid, the more I fall in love with him. He does everything the Cavs want out of their SG, from shooting to slashing to finishing in transition. And as an added bonus he's a tenacious defender who averaged 3 steals per 40 minutes last year. And if you're concerned about a potential bust, don't be. From my perspective, the reason busts happen is because they get complacent. This kid wants to be the best, and he's a gym-rat to a fault, sometimes staying in the gym until 2 a.m. after working out 4 times in a single day. He has an insatiable desire to be the best that he can be, and add that to his prior relationship with Kyrie Irving, even going so far as to call him his "brother" and we will have a dominant backcourt for years to come.

I hope you folks are ready, because starting this year we're all about to get served....

Get it?

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks Preview

2012-04-20T21:44:48Z

So this. This is a game. It's just so.... game-like. The gamey quality of this game is just superb.

But kinda seriously, this game means basically nothing. But hey, basketball is fun, so we watch it anyways! Whoo!

Song of the Day: Superman - Goldfinger

Tonight's Overview:

Cleveland Cavaliers (20-41) vs. New York Knicks (33-29)

With Milwaukee's loss last night to the Indiana Pacers, the Knicks are a lock for the playoffs, thus eliminating any chance of the Cavs spoiling anyone's playoff hopes tonight. The Knicks are getting back Amare Stoudemire from injury for the first time in weeks, so it will be interesting to see how his return affects the Knicks' defensive prowess, as well as Carmelo Anthony's recent scoring tear in which he's put a ton of shots.

It will be fun to watch Kyrie Irving as always. His return was very refreshing last game, as it was a nice reprieve from the abysmal basketball we've seen during his absence. Even though the Cavs lost, Kyrie reminded everyone of how much better he is at basketball than anyone else on the Cavs, even though he didn't put up a crazy stat line.

Tristan Thompson exploded in the first half last game for 12 points, and it was mostly due to the presence of Kyrie. That first half gave me great hope for the future. It was exactly how we want those two to play consistently coming into next season.

Key Matchup:

My Attention Span vs. How Well The Cavs Play In The Second Half

I think you all know what I'm talking about.

Fear The Sword's Fearless Prediction:

The Knicks will win. No one should presume otherwise.

Cavaliers vs. Magic: So That Happened

2012-04-16T04:24:25Z

So the Cavs were in Cleveland today facing off against the Orlando Magic. It was the third game of a back-to-back-to-back, and thus it wasn't pretty for the Cavs.

Cavs Leaders: Points: Jamison, 21; Rebounds: Thompson, Gee, 8; Assists: Jamison(???), 6

Quick Thoughts:

This game was hard to watch. No one could score effectively, and both squads have been decimated by injuries. Actually, there probably should have been a "because" in that last sentence. The Magic were further set back by an injury to Glen Davis in the first quarter, leaving them no alternative but to rely on third-string center Daniel Orton. When you're behind Big Baby for the backup center spot, you know you're not doing so great.

Daniel Orton had a decent game at 11 pts on 3-4 shooting with 4 reb, 5 stl, and 3 blks. The fact that this happened somewhat concerns me. It was probably a fluke game, but Orton simply being bigger than any Cav caused a lot of problems for all of the big men. Hopefully the Cavs address this size deficit in the offseason.

I honestly don't have much to say about anyone. Tristan had a poor game, but he picked up his rebounding. Antawn had another inefficient shooting night, but he got his shots up. Lester Hudson didn't get very many shots up. Gee continued his streak of poor performances.

Donald Sloan may have been the only bright spot in this game. He was 5-10 for 15 pts, 5 ast, 4 reb. He was penetrating, getting to the rack, and finishing strong. He's quietly been having a string of solid games, and is almost certainly earning an invite to training camp this summer.

Fear The Sword's Player Of The Game:

Donald Sloan. He was the only Cavalier who had a consistently solid effort. His penetration, solid midrange shooting, and improving finishing ability are serving him well in this league, and could see him earn a roster spot next year.

Cavaliers vs. Nets: The Great Ping-Pong Ball War

2012-04-08T21:37:21Z

With the Cavaliers coming off a win against the Raptors, the race for the fourth best lottery odds becomes a little more interesting. Cleveland and New Jersey are tied at 23.5 games back each, but with the Cavs having a worse winning percentage as of now. The Cavs lead the season series 2-1.

Tonight's Overview:

Cleveland Cavaliers(18-35) at New Jersey Nets (20-37)

The last time these two teams met, Tristan Thompson had a career night, scoring 27 points and grabbing 12 rebounds en route to a 105-100 Cavalier victory. Part of the reason for that offensive explosion was the Nets' lack of a big, physical center to bother Tristan on the inside. He ran free much of the night, grabbed offensive rebounds, and cut for easy baskets. With Brook Lopez still out for the Nets, and likely to miss the remainder of the season with a sprained ankle, Tristan will once again have a favorable matchup.

Another part of Tristan's offensive explosion against the Nets last time had to do with Kyrie Irving's ability to find him inside and get him touches. The Cavs' D-League call-ups Donald Sloan and Lester Hudson have had trouble getting the ball to Thompson in favorable spots. Hudson had a surprisingly solid offensive performance against the Raptors last game, scoring 23 points on 6-14 shooting, 11-14 from the free throw line, plus 7 assists and 3 steals. That game might have secured him a berth on the Cavaliers after his initial 10-day contract runs out, as the Cavs certainly can use some additional scoring considering Kyrie's extended absence.

Alonzo Gee has been struggling of late, as was Antawn Jamison until last game's 4th quarter performance, scoring a career high 16 in the 4th to lead the Cavs to an untimely victory. He was bound to have a good shooting performance after his abysmal stretch of games recently (and it just so happened to bump the Cavs out of the top 4 lottery odds).

Key Matchup:

Kyrie Irving's shoulder vs. Brook Lopez's ankle

Because the loss is really what's important in this one, right?

Fear The Sword's Fearless Prediction:

Time to hop back on the tank. The Cavs' backcourt will prove to be a problem defensively against the much bigger and athletic backcourt of New Jersey. A 98-90 New Jersey win will put the Cavs back in the driver's seat for the 4th best lottery odds.

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks: So Much Blood

2012-03-31T21:09:54Z

I'm not sure if you've heard, but Kyrie Irving is questionable tonight for the Cavs' game against the Knicks. If he doesn't play, which I'm assuming he won't given the lack of importance in this game compared to the importance of Kyrie's long-term health, there will be blood. Everywhere. So much blood. I think a little just came out of my ears simply thinking about this game.

Song Of The Day: I Want You (She's So Heavy) - The Beatles

Tonight's Overview:

Cleveland Cavaliers (17-32) at New York Knicks (26-26)

The last time these two teams played the Cavs started the game on a tear, jumping out to a large lead by halftime. Then they succumbed to the numbing sensation that is Steve Novak. Jeremy Lin's been out for the last three games, and will probably be out again tonight, along with Amare Stoudemire, who has been out for the past few games with a bulging disc, and will likely miss much of the rest of the season, if not all of it. Nonetheless, the Knicks have been playing well lately, winning 8 of their last 10, but coming off of a loss to Atlanta.

With Kyrie likely out, Donald Sloan will almost certainly be getting the start and will see a lot of playing time, given he's really the only other point guard on the roster. This should tell you just how badly this game will go for the Cavs. I guess we'll see just what he can do given ample playing time. I'm haven't been particularly thrilled with him the past couple games after a pretty good start on the team. Hopefully Iman Shumpert won't be guarding him, or else this could get ugly. Shumpert's just too good defensively, especially compared to any other player that would be guarding Sloan on the Knicks' roster.

Alonzo Gee will be charged with the task of guarding Carmelo Anthony tonight. He's regularly been drawing the toughest defensive assignments and performing well, given his lack of experience. We'll see if he can build on his excellent offensive performance from last night, where he racked up 19 points on 9-11 shooting. We'll be relying on him and Antawn Jamison a lot tonight to create offense, given Kyrie's absence. Antawn's been absolutely terrible lately, averaging 13 and 6 on 34% (!!!) shooting. That. Is. Awful. Maybe the increased usage he'll see tonight will get him back on track. If not, hooray for ping-pong balls!

Tristan Thompson played well last night, getting 15 and 11 on 6-11 shooting. He's been shooting a much better percentage on his free throws lately, which is an excellent sign for his future offensive potential. He still tends to throw up some ridiculous shots, but he has been improving his shot selection. Hopefully he won't regress to taking even more awful shots without Kyrie out there. He'll be drawing Tyson Chandler as his matchup tonight, which could bode poorly for his offensive performance, given Chandler's defensive prowess. But then again, I thought the same would be true of him playing against Dwight Howard, but he held his own in that contest.

Key Matchup:

Alonzo Gee vs. Carmelo Anthony

Basically everything I already said. If Alonzo contains Carmelo, the Cavs could have a chance of winning... pfft. Sorry. I just couldn't hold it in.

Fear The Sword's Fearless Prediction:

Blood. Everywhere. But hey, ping-pong balls! Whoo!! My prediction is a beatdown from the Knicks, to the tune of 102-87.