Fear The Sword: All Posts by Ryan MourtonThe Warriors blew a 3-1 lead - never forget that.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50189/fts-fav.png2018-11-30T13:00:00-06:00https://www.fearthesword.com/authors/ryan-mourton/rss2018-11-30T13:00:00-06:002018-11-30T13:00:00-06:00The Cavaliers’ Alec Burks trade is a trade about more trades
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<img alt="NBA: Indiana Pacers at Utah Jazz" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/UZs8p0y-xWDxYix0W5gNSMJAIBU=/0x0:3600x2400/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62602344/usa_today_11739480.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Potential trade targets for Alec Burks’ salary.</p> <p id="ov38jc">The news that <span>Kyle Korver</span> was traded wasn’t shocking. Korver is 37, the team was not very good and it has been mentioned for months that the Cavs had a handshake agreement with him to deal him were <span>LeBron James</span> to leave. The news that Korver had been dealt to the <a href="https://www.slcdunk.com/">Jazz</a> for <span>Alec Burks</span>, though, was shocking. </p>
<p id="f9bv5M">For months there has been talk about the <a href="https://www.libertyballers.com/">76ers</a> sizing him up, but no mention of the Jazz whatsoever. The final deal: Korver in exchange for Burks and two second-round picks. The reality of this deal is that it likely has nothing to do with what Burks can bring the Cavs, but what he is paid. </p>
<h3 id="sJfXDV"><strong>Before we dive into how Burks’ deal is important, let's lay some groundwork as to why: </strong></h3>
<p id="fr1wY6">The NBA salary cap and luxury tax lines for the next two seasons are vitally important as the <a href="https://www.fearthesword.com/">Cavaliers</a> look to restructure themselves going forward. There are a lot of mediocre teams currently paying the tax, and there are a lot of teams that will be looking to spend on a massive free agent crop next season. The Cavs aren’t ready to be in that second group; they are years away and need to build a foundation of young talent under cheap control. One of best ways to accelerate that is by taking on other team’s bad contracts in exchange for draft picks and young players. </p>
<p id="9VeysK">The numbers you want to remember: The tax line for this season is $123 Million. The Salary Cap and tax for next season (a projection that can rise or fall slightly based on revenues) are $109 Million and $132 Million respectively. The Cavs will be ideal partners for people looking for space away from EITHER of those numbers, be it for a free agent signing or just avoiding the costly tax penalties/deadly repeater tax penalties. The Cavs also, for the first time in a million years, are not a luxury tax team. This means that they have more flexible trade rules for the first time in a long time — Cleveland can take back up to $5 million more than they send out in a trade, as long as they receive between $6.533 and $19.6 million in the deal. Outside of that range, things are slightly different, but given the Cavaliers’ tradeable salaries, this is the range that matters.</p>
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<strong>So where does </strong><span><strong>Alec Burks</strong></span><strong> fit in, and why is he different from other Cavs assets?</strong>
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<p id="0f8uyu">Everyone knows the Cavs have a lot of salaries that can save teams money next year. J.R Smith is scheduled to make $15.7 Million, of which only $3.87 million is guaranteed if he is waived by June 30. <span>George Hill</span> is scheduled to make $18 million, of which only $1 million is guaranteed if he is waived by July 1.</p>
<p id="IN7G8c">Burks’ $11.5 Million is fully expiring, whereas Korver also has a partial guarantee of $3.44 million on his $7.5 million salary for next season. Any trade the Cavs could put together to take on some of the truly wretched salaries in the league would still leave that team on the hook for about $5 million because they would have had to pair any two of those Hill/Smith/Korver salaries. Instead, in a stand alone Burks trade, the Cavs can take in his salary plus $5 million, or $16.5 million. That is immediate and massive savings, especially for cap teams where every dollar is charged with 150% to 450% in tax. However, the Cavaliers currently sit about $4.1 million from the luxury tax line and will definitely want to avoid going over that mark.</p>
<h3 id="jbYYX8"><strong>I can never remember the trade rules, when and how can he be traded?</strong></h3>
<p id="rFH6WN">Burks can be traded alone at any time once the trade is official. If the Cavs want to aggregate his salary into other deals, they will need to wait 60 days from the official trade date, so ballpark Jan. 28-Jan. 31. For reference, the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba-trade-rumors">NBA trade deadline</a> is Feb. 7, so they have positioned themselves well to be players there. </p>
<h3 id="n6gSQg"><strong>Ok Ok enough about calculators and calendars. What are some targets?</strong></h3>
<p id="zqBfAm">Let’s outline the teams first, in tiers.</p>
<p id="BefA3g"><strong>They pay the tax, and they aren’t very good: </strong></p>
<p id="t6UDDA"><a href="https://www.hothothoops.com/">Miami Heat</a> ($158 Million in salary this year!), <a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Washington Wizards</a> (Not a tax team next year)</p>
<p id="2MP2Ik"><strong>They pay the tax, and need to remain flexible:</strong></p>
<p id="Yu4lia"><a href="https://www.thedreamshake.com/">Houston Rockets</a>, <a href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/">Oklahoma City Thunder</a>, <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/">Golden State Warriors</a> (<span>Kevin Durant</span> expiring), <a href="https://www.raptorshq.com/">Toronto Raptors</a> (<span>Lowry</span> and <span>Leonard</span> expiring), <a href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com/">Detroit Pistons</a>, <a href="https://www.blazersedge.com/">Portland Trail Blazers</a></p>
<p id="f3AAot"><strong>Clear the decks for free agency/re-signings:</strong></p>
<p id="qO0rNU"><a href="https://www.clipsnation.com/">Los Angeles Clippers</a>, <a href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com/">New York Knicks</a>, <a href="https://www.netsdaily.com/">Brooklyn Nets</a>, <a href="https://www.grizzlybearblues.com/">Memphis Grizzlies</a>, <a href="https://www.atthehive.com/">Charlotte Hornets</a>, <a href="https://www.canishoopus.com/">Minnesota Timberwolves</a>, Philadelphia 76ers</p>
<p id="9hjf1R">There are a lot teams the Cavs can help in a variety of ways, and I have a few specific players in mind (all salaries are current number, not their 2019-20 number):</p>
<p id="gO0bmS"><span><strong>Chandler Parsons</strong></span><strong> ($24.1 million) - Memphis Grizzlies</strong></p>
<p id="MGlV9Q">The Grizzlies have about $104 Million committed next season and a LOT of their rotation expiring. Removing <span>Parsons</span> will give them a mountain of breathing room. They owe a pick to Boston this year that is protected 1-8, so you ideally would target a 2021 first with as little protection as possible. </p>
<p id="8XmcXb"><span>Alec Burks</span> and <span>George Hill</span> for <span>Parsons</span>, <span>Jevon Carter</span> and that first would work. </p>
<p id="yx66NH"><strong>Nic Batum ($24 Million), </strong><span><strong>Bismack Biyombo</strong></span><strong> ($17 million), - Charlotte Hornets</strong></p>
<p id="3EjqwJ">This is tricky for the Hornets because Batum plays a large role on the team, but he also is owed $25.5 million next year and has a player option for the following year at $27 million-plus. <span>Biyombo</span> has a player option for $17 million next year, and it’s hard to see him declining it. With $102 million committed, and <span>Kemba Walker</span> expiring, the Hornets are at a crossroads. Keeping <span>Walker</span> should mean shedding Batum and <span>Biyombo</span> if possible and looking for supporting talents in this massive free agent class. </p>
<p id="pC8Vsc">Alec Burks and George Hill for Batum, <span>Frank Kaminsky</span>, a 2019 first and the Cavs own 2020 second returning to them would work here. </p>
<p id="Rrkzwo">For <span>Biyombo</span>, a straight deal of <span>J.R. Smith</span> works, or Burks plus another small salary at the bottom of the Cavs roster. Similar to the Korver deal, the Cavs’ 2020 second-round pick and the 2020 second-round pick of the Nets or Knicks (Charlotte gets the worse of the two) would be good. </p>
<p id="JZ7Dqc"><span><strong>Hassan Whiteside</strong></span><strong> ($25.4 million), </strong><span><strong>Tyler Johnson</strong></span><strong> ($19.3 million) - Miami Heat</strong></p>
<p id="YP6bQJ">The Heat have an astounding $158 million in salaries committed for this season, and are slated to be third in the league next year with about $133 million committed. They are a constant free agent destination, a beautiful city and premier franchise in a state with no income tax, but their cap sheet is all bungled up. It’s also to-be-determined how much business they would be willing to do with the Cavs. </p>
<p id="eISZTF">Still, if they want out of the hole, they need to move money. Whiteside and Johnson both have player options that they seem certain to take. Whiteside for $27 million-plus, and Johnson for $19.2 million. Also complicating things is they don’t have many picks, with a 2021 first-round pick owed to the Sixers, and all their seconds except for 2022 used until 2025. They’re also guard heavy. </p>
<p id="uv9iXc">Alec Burks, <span>Ante Zizic</span> and J.R. Smith for Whiteside, <span>Derrick Jones Jr.</span>, and a 2019 first works. It’s a tough deal for Miami and doesn’t help them much on the court this year, but you’re eating about $30 Million in salary. </p>
<p id="sft93A">Alternatively a Hill for Johnson swap lines up perfectly, with a protected 2019 first. </p>
<p id="vg35Bo"><span><strong>Brandon Knight</strong></span><strong> ($14.6 million) - Houston Rockets</strong></p>
<p id="TyR1Ty">The Rockets are in a desperate need of bodies, and guys that can play. Replacing Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute with <span>Carmelo Anthony</span> and <span>James</span> Ennis has been a disaster. Michael <span>Carter</span> Williams didn’t pan out as a backup point guard, and <span>James Harden</span> is playing 40+ minutes a night while <span>Chris Paul</span> sits and MCW can’t get on the court. Burks, Hill and Smith are all ideal players for them. Houston also has all of their first round picks. </p>
<p id="tux46I">Their pick of Burks, Smith or Hill for <span>Knight</span> and an unprotected 2019 first is perfect. I would be tempted to ask for extra in the case of Burks or Hill since they have been better than Smith and have a smaller guarantee, maybe a heavily protected first or a second or two. They probably would not be inclined to do it, but given the tightrope they walk with talent vs. tax, given them bodies and bird-rights salaries like Hill or Burks should come at a premium when also saving them money. Sending Hill to Houston would also require an additional small salary back to Cleveland along with Knight, but that should be easily doable with the number of minimum contracts the Rockets have on their books.</p>
<p id="M4pESy"><span><strong>Norman Powell</strong></span><strong> ($9.4 million) - Toronto Raptors </strong></p>
<p id="Dttcnv">The Raptors will be in an interesting spot next year. <span>Kyle Lowry</span>, <span>Kawhi Leonard</span> and <span>Danny Green</span> will all be free agents, and their cap number is sure to spike if they resign them. Moving <span>Powell</span>, who is injured and has a long term guarantee will help on multiple fronts. </p>
<p id="Xy2T5J">A trade of Burks for <span>Powell</span> gives the Raptors a slight talent upgrade, a player who is currently available (although Burks is also notoriously injury prone), and some extra room to work next year. Toronto owes a 2019 first to San Antonio, in this deal you would want a 2021 first or multiple seconds. </p>
<p id="GQh5Ms">A darkhorse for them would be <span>Jonas Valanciunas</span>, who plays about 20 minutes a night and has a $17.5 million player option for next season. He plays an important role, but you wonder if they would be tempted to open up even more space. </p>
<p id="ff60qJ"><span><strong>Danilo Gallinari</strong></span><strong> ($22.6 Million), </strong><span><strong>Avery Bradley</strong></span><strong> ($13 Million) - Los Angeles Clippers</strong></p>
<p id="zTmoz5">The Clippers are surprisingly good, and <span>Gallinari</span> is a huge part of that. I won’t list trades for him because I think he would be fairly easy to move in the summer, but he is a name to watch if they falter. The Clippers expect to be players in the free agency market, and will either need Gallo to be a pillar of their new identity, or be gone to bring in multiple big names. </p>
<p id="R2oisN"><span>Bradley</span>, however, has been pretty awful. He is shooting 33 percent from the field and 19 percent from three. He is owed about $13 million next season with only $2 million guaranteed.</p>
<p id="ATfS6D">A deal of <span>Bradley</span> for Burks is a talent upgrade and cuts off a few million of their overhead next summer. It could give the Cavs the opportunity to get another high 2019 second (the most favorable of their own, Portland’s, Orlando’s, and Houston’s is owed to the Clippers), maybe two depending on how Steve Ballmer is feeling about his pocketbook. </p>
<p id="kjahlA"><span><strong>Tim Hardaway Jr.</strong></span><strong> ($17.3 million) - New York Knicks</strong></p>
<p id="W5Hr0A">The Knicks could and perhaps should be a player in the free agent market this year, and they will need to dump <span>Hardaway Jr.</span> and/or <span>Courtney Lee</span> to do it. <span>Lee</span> should have some value to contenders or whatever team they build in the offseason, so I will ignore him. They also have a ton of young players, so you wonder how many more they can move forward with. They’re hard to read. </p>
<p id="zbxKBl">Hardaway’s contract is... frankly it is terrible. He has a 15% trade kicker, and term “kicker” is apt for this deal. The kicker is on the total value of guaranteed years remaining. He has a player option for 2020-2021. which he is certain to pick up, but it isn’t counted in the kicker. What this means is the Cavs have to take in about 20 million this season, because the kicker is evenly applied across each year. The Knicks aren’t a tax team, so it doesn’t make the math that much harder on their end.</p>
<p id="oeusjJ"> A deal of Burks and <span>Sam Dekker</span> for Hardaway and a top-five protected 2019 first is where I would start. As the protection goes up, I’m asking for more. The deal is truly onerous, and if they want to add <span>Kevin Durant</span> AND _____, they need it gone. If they want it protected for the full lottery this season, I’m asking for another first. Lower than that? Maybe a few seconds. </p>
<p id="BeZoig"><span><strong>Markelle Fultz</strong></span><strong> ($8.3 Million) - Philadelphia 76ers</strong></p>
<p id="MQGrom">The Cavs and Sixers have previously engaged on <span>Fultz</span> in a package centered around Kyle Korver, but they instead went with the package for Burks. <a href="http://www2.philly.com/philly/sports/sixers/markelle-fultz-trade-options-sixers-76ers-cleveland-cavaliers-phoenix-suns-20181128.html?__vfz=medium%3Dsharebar">this according to Keith Pompey of the Philly Inquirer</a>, which included some other notes about the deal: </p>
<blockquote><p id="0IGnRF">In other words, potential 76ers trade partners don’t want Fultz saying that his right shoulder and wrist are bothering him if he actually has a mental block that’s hindering his shooting, the source said. That was the word coming out of Cleveland, as the Cavaliers were interested in taking a chance on the 2017 first overall pick before trading Kyle Korver to the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, sources said. The Phoenix Suns are among the teams with some level of interest, a source said. However, Fultz comes with some red flags and questions. Who’s running the show? Is his family a major distraction? And what’s the next step after this week’s visit to shoulder specialists in New York?</p></blockquote>
<p id="wiJC9a">Would the Cavs revisit the well on that? It’s tough to say and it sounds like they have moved on. There are certainly better deals for them, but as it gets closer to the deadline, it may merit getting back to. Burks does the Cavs no good staying on the roster. </p>
<p id="PIft70">A deal of Fultz and <span>Furkan Korkmaz</span> for Burks fits the salary requirements and would benefit both teams. The Sixers have already declined <span>Korkmaz</span>’ option, seemingly ready to move on. The Cavs’ <span>Cedi Osman</span> and Korkmaz have been friends and teammates on both the Turkish national team and Anadalou Efes prior to and during their NBA careers. It would be a good move to get one of their young building blocks someone he’s familiar with while they see if the 6’7” swing man has NBA game. It would probably be the deal I take last out of any of these, other than maybe the Bradley deal, but it would be a good flier for that and a former top pick.</p>
<p id="HhSbfk">There are going to be other options as well, being able to take in that much salary for someone opens up a lot of doors, but these are the ones that make the most since. I left out teams like the <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Celtics</a> and Warriors, because I don’t think they have any real trades that work for Burks, since they would be most motivated to make their moves in the offseason. Whatever the case, the Cavs have opened up a lot more options than they had before with Korver’s contract. It will be interesting to see how they navigate it.</p>
<p id="BOjccO"><em>All salary information via Basketball-Reference; all future pick information via Real GM.</em></p>
https://www.fearthesword.com/2018/11/30/18117841/cavaliers-alec-burks-trade-more-tradesRyan Mourton2018-09-28T08:00:02-05:002018-09-28T08:00:02-05:005 Cavaliers storylines to watch this season
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<p>Kevin Love’s new leading role, a youth movement and more.</p> <p id="ajqh4L">The story of the 2014-2018 <a href="https://www.fearthesword.com/">Cleveland Cavaliers</a> is often chaos. Stress. The team itself excelled in the face of myriad issues and it seemed like drama was around every corner. Every day seemed to be a new issue, a new subtweet, or a new article about how trading [insert player name here] would fix the team’s chemistry and performance. </p>
<p id="sDoKwG">Existing in <span>LeBron James</span>’ orbit means that you have a great shot at winning a championship. It also means a gravity that can at times feel crushing. This is certainly no fault of LeBron’s, especially not as a fan. When you’re following a title contender, a perennial one, the stakes feel removed. There is no joy to be found in a win in January against the <a href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/">Orlando Magic</a>; they are not the goal. On the flip-side the losses are magnified. Each one more annoying than the last, even to someone hardened by regular season apathy. Watching your favorite team before the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba-finals">NBA Finals</a> becomes a zero upside game where the wins are expected and the losses will be magnified in their frustration. This is life in a league with one peer, and it’s fine. It was all worth it. It’s also over. </p>
<p id="9sCH8X">Like after LeBron is hard. Crushing, usually. Both teams he has left have varied in their suck, but boy have they sucked. The Cavs were immediately the worst team in basketball for four years (more on that later), and the <a href="https://www.hothothoops.com/">Heat</a> turned one season of decent mediocrity into a lot of bad contracts and no clear path forward. It wouldn’t be surprising for the Cavs to struggle but they have some talent in a weak conference. As the Cavaliers transition from is and are as a title contender to was and were, they provide a new opportunity for fans. Here are five things to watch for this season:</p>
<h1 id="tT6nie">
<span><strong>Kevin Love</strong></span><strong>, leading man</strong>
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<p id="uZX0P1"><span>Kevin Love</span> has been the leader of a team before, but now he is also a leader in the community. Love begins this season on a media tour to raise awareness for mental health, and has recently begun a foundation to work in the same field. I don’t like telling people who to enjoy their team, but I enjoy mine with good players that I can enjoy as people as well. I am very happy he will be here. From a business standpoint I think it was also imperative that the Cavs keep one of their three best players from the 2016 finals team in terms of brand building and developing a connection to fans so this fit that too. </p>
<p id="s9swhm">Love, newly 30, will be leading this years Cavaliers with a sense of accomplishment that he didn’t have during his formative years in Minnesota. He’s a better player in better shape, but I don’t know what that will lead to. He has the wear and tear of 4 hard seasons and the injuries incurred in them. It should be pretty interesting. </p>
<h1 id="I0ffY1">
<span><strong>Cedi Osman</strong></span><strong> and </strong><span><strong>Collin Sexton</strong></span><strong> lead a new youth movement</strong>
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<p id="2xwh5y">The Cavs haven’t had much youth on the team in recent years, at least not unknown quantities. When LeBron returned, <span>Kyrie Irving</span> and <span>Tristan Thompson</span> were fairly young, but they were entering their primes and more or less completed players. Enter <span>Osman</span> and Sexton. </p>
<p id="P7AqVW">Osman has turned a year of working with <span>Kyle Korver</span> into a noticeably different and confident jumper in <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba-summer-league">NBA summer league</a> and FIBA qualifiers as a standout performer in both. He will come into camp as an almost lock to start on one wing as <span>Rodney Hood</span>, <span>David Nwaba</span>, and JR Smith fight for the other. </p>
<p id="MxVV22">Sexton enters to bewilderingly small acclaim. He’s a top-10 pick, 19, and plays like a crazy person. He seems a wonderful and endearing character with an endless motor and work ethic. I find that exciting. </p>
<p id="WUIHKu">The problem is Sexton is unusual in a league where coverage is increasingly paint by numbers. Until his style of play proves to be fun and beneficial to the Cavaliers winning, he will not be embraced a skillset and style that runs counter to the generic theme a lot of people have in mind. It could go a lot of different ways but I am ready to see how he adapts and grows. </p>
<h1 id="fDvIzr"><strong>Mid-Twenties uncertainty</strong></h1>
<p id="TZVH62">The Cavs have a host of players with questions marks between the ages of 24 and 27. <span>Jordan Clarkson</span> and <span>Tristan Thompson</span> make up one end; Highly paid and mostly finished products. Who they are doesn’t necessarily fit with the Cavs best pieces, but the likelihood of them moving is slim.</p>
<p id="vYOOqr">On the other end are Rodney Hood, <span>Sam Dekker</span> and David Nwaba. All on one-year deals, but all playing for something different. Hood is playing for the long term deal he missed out on by having a disastrous playoffs. Does Dekker belong in the league? He might be on his last stop in trying to prove it. Nwaba seems like a classic long term NBA spot defender, but he is trying to show that he can be a bit more after getting a late start.</p>
<p id="JKGGr1">Then there is <span>Larry Nance Jr.</span> He is likely to be extended and seems like a natural fit with Kevin Love, but it needs to be proved over a full season.</p>
<h1 id="vf8eWF"><strong>Who stays, who goes?</strong></h1>
<p id="RqYh7H">The Cavs have some guys at the end of the line as well. <span>Channing Frye</span>, <span>George Hill</span>, and <span>J.R. Smith</span> are all in the latter half of their careers and have varying fits on the Cavs. </p>
<p id="73R7sm"><span>Frye</span> is obviously the oldest, but as a close friend of Kevin Love’s and a vital locker room component, he is probably also the most needed on the team. The more mobile NBA hurts him some but as one of the league’s premier shooters he will remain useful in the right lineups, especially with a young guard like Sexton who is obsessed with getting to the rim. The shooting of <span>Frye</span> and Love will be primary components in getting him clean looks and helping him learn to anticipate where his shooters will be on drives. </p>
<p id="GngFUk">Smith is one of a glut of wings, but depending on his jumper can provide immense value any given day. A reliable piece from 2015-2017, he really fell off last year. They have a decision to make about keeping him but given the value of his contract (it was signed before new rules that only the guaranteed amount counts in a trade, meaning he can save someone about $13 million this offseason as a trade piece) it’s hard to see him being moved. </p>
<p id="IvSRj3"><span>George Hill</span> on the other hand seems imminently available. He has a small guarantee next year, showed no desire to be a mentor in a similar situation in Sacramento, and can be useful to a good team needing a rental. He seems primed to depart. </p>
<h1 id="SF1oIy"><strong>OK, but what about the tank?</strong></h1>
<p id="y6cU75">Listen, the Cavs will probably be bad, and if they’re not then they will be surprising and probably a good deal of fun. They owe a pick to Atlanta that is top-10 protected for the next two season. </p>
<p id="oKpxUU">There is a few ideas that I really disagree with at play here. One of them is a mindset: “If you aren’t contending you should be as bad as possible. What a boring existence. We fall into these pits a lot. It used to be called “The <a href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/">Thunder</a> model”, now it’s “The Process” — all the while teams doing other random things are winning the titles. My meaning here is it’s not something worth worrying about. If the Cavs front office is good, they will be successful. If it isn’t, they will be screwed regardless of where they’re picking. Getting in a lather because they might win five more games than you want IN A LOTTERY SYSTEM seems like a gigantic waste of your time doesn’t it? There is no one way to win a title in the NBA and there isn’t an investment style strategy to apply to make it a sure thing. Especially considering the lottery has been reformed to enhance the value of odds 4-14. The three worst records all tie with 14 percent odds of winning the top pick. Meh. </p>
<p id="ozmy4c">Back to the first part though, the Cavs most likely will not be very good. If they’re close to the protection, they’ll tank. They have blatantly done so in the past. They will again. The NBA season is long, and the Cavs have a thin team with a long injury history. They lost their best scorer, ball handler, and leader. They are relying on young unproven players if they are going to be good. It will be an uphill battle. </p>
<p id="qJIcJp">The Cavs might provide more stakes before April this year, because what they do in the regular season suddenly matters to their overall existence, but they won’t be contending for a title this year. At least we know there will plenty to keep an eye on. </p>
https://www.fearthesword.com/2018/9/28/17887036/5-cavaliers-storylines-kevin-love-collin-sexton-cedi-osmanRyan Mourton2017-07-10T22:56:55-05:002017-07-10T22:56:55-05:00Stock Watch: Cavs defeat Warriors 91-70
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<p>The rivalry (lol) marches on (it’s summer)</p> <p id="NRSgkd">The Cavs exacted some meaningless and non-existent revenge on the <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/">Warriors</a> tonight, defeating the Champs’ Summer squad 91-70. Andrew White was the only Cavalier not to play, listed as a DNP-CD. The Cavs were led by a standout performance from <span>Brandon Paul</span> who finished with 21 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and a steal. <span>Edy Tavares</span> added 4 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 blocks. Tavares was huge in the middle and a part of a team effort that caused the Warriors to shoot 33% from the field. They were led by 11 points from Alex Hamilton and 10 from <span>Jabari Brown</span> who shot 2-11 from the field. <span>Patrick McCaw</span> was 3-15 for 9 points, while <span>Damian Jones</span> and <span>Kevon Looney</span> were largely invisible. </p>
<h2 id="vwOO27"> Stock Up</h2>
<p id="usXB9E"><strong>Brandon Paul - Guard</strong></p>
<p id="mYTaDp">Paul Stood out all game and should pretty clearly have a spot with the pro club in some capacity. He is a cut above a lot of these guys. In addition to the stats mentioned before, he played strong defense all night matched up frequently with McCaw, a solid NBA role player.</p>
<p id="Yg8p8W"><strong>Edy Tavares - Center</strong></p>
<p id="wbf54G">Tavares was a force inside defensively all night challenging shots, and gave the Warriors hell. Jones, their starting center, shot 2-9 from the field. </p>
<h2 id="ngQA3T">Stock Neutral</h2>
<p id="L6J28G"><span><strong>Kay Felder</strong></span><strong> - Guard</strong></p>
<p id="mjX3f4">Felder played great defensively and made the right plays on offense. He also shot 4-14 from the field after a hot early start, and hasn’t done anything to quell concerns on that matter. </p>
<p id="zmumDD"><span><strong>Casey Prather</strong></span><strong> - Forward</strong></p>
<p id="gQADh8">Again strong defensively and uses his athleticism well. What translates to the next level is a different question, but I’d have him 3rd on my list for a 2-way. If Paul makes the active roster, he’d be my choice along with White.</p>
<p id="Ngnsr5"><strong>TJ Williams - Guard</strong> </p>
<p id="oBjYiY">Got some good time after a strong performance last game. He was good defensively, didn’t shoot well from the floor, and mostly seemed to blend in. </p>
<p id="rsmeoZ"><strong>Andrew White - Guard</strong></p>
<p id="50Uzgr">He’s still who I would have in my 2-way pool, but tonight won’t be part of that decision probably. He only got 5 minutes and managed 2 fouls and a -10 +/-. We’ll consider this a throwaway since it was the tail end of a summer blowout, but something to watch. </p>
<h2 id="eY6xRO"> Stock Down</h2>
<p id="J7LKt7"><strong>Roosevelt Jones - Forward</strong></p>
<p id="fZj1sh">He didn’t have a good night but only got 10 minutes. I don’t know that he has anything to translate ahead to the NBA level. </p>
<p id="Xt85v0">At this point, I feel comfortable in saying that Paul is the best player on this Summer Team and that he is an NBA player in SOME capacity. That might be as a deep reserve, but he can play. Tavares too. </p>
<p id="BWe49Q">Now begins the “playoff tournament” in which the Cavs will probably be the 1 seed, unless someone else is 3-0, I guess. Those games will start on Wednesday. We’ll see you then. </p>
<p id="aA6V6T"></p>
https://www.fearthesword.com/2017/7/10/15950440/summer-league-stock-watch-cavs-warriors-91-70Ryan Mourton2017-07-10T19:49:08-05:002017-07-10T19:49:08-05:00What to watch for: Cavs take on the Warriors in Las Vegas Summer League action
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/bb9S_yTYbT1Ay_jqbv9JxlFcXEQ=/0x30:320x243/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55651633/Brandon_Paul.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Brandon Paul | <em>Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images</em></figcaption>
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<p>The Cavs look to improve to 3-0 in the desert</p> <p id="juwnyq">The <a href="https://www.fearthesword.com/">Cavaliers</a> (2-0) will be seeing a familiar face in their third LVSL bout, the <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/">Golden State Warriors</a> (0-1). These teams have played before in various capacities, you might remember, but this will be vastly different than we’re used to. </p>
<p id="qnyWRc">The Warriors are led by second year guard <span>Patrick McCaw</span> and second round forward Jordan Bell. They also feature second year project center Damian Jones and third year forward Kevon Looney. It’s probably not a good sign that Looney is here again. </p>
<p id="5PtZYn"></p>
<h2 id="xzExEj"> Will he do it?</h2>
<p id="EQLnpc"><span><strong>Kay Felder</strong></span><strong> - Guard</strong></p>
<p id="FRi2pw">We remain on Kay Felder watch, hoping for him to have a good game from the field. Summer league isn’t the end-all-be-all, as I keep saying, but we need to see <strong>something. </strong>Preferably soon. The Warriors don’t have anybody shorter than 6’2 in their backcourt, so he should be challenged. It bears reminding that he hasn’t been bad in any other aspects, but he needs to see some shots go in. </p>
<p id="OXXJXW"></p>
<h2 id="v34IfP"> 2 Way Candidates</h2>
<p id="5zy46I"><strong>Andrew White - Guard, </strong><span><strong>Brandon Paul</strong></span><strong> - Guard, </strong><span><strong>Casey Prather</strong></span><strong> - Guard</strong></p>
<p id="IBHeHI">The three most impressive non-roster Cavs all fit a need for them, but the team doesn’t really have the time or space to train raw players on the fly. A two-way would be ideal for all, but with only 2 spots available, White and Paul make the most sense and have the most upside. </p>
<p id="8NobDt"></p>
<h2 id="Zu6NYh"> <strong>Is Edy Ready?</strong>
</h2>
<p id="e3McWI">I don’t really know what I’m waiting to see from Tavares. He was the best player in the G-League last season by a few different measures. He defends the rim, and does the dirty work inside fairly well.... but something is missing that I can’t put my finger on. I haven’t seen him rebound very well in traffic out here, but it’s only two games. Has he taken a jump shot? I have questions. He’s an NBA player for sure, but is he a rotation player? </p>
https://www.fearthesword.com/2017/7/10/15950334/cavs-warriors-las-vegas-summer-league-previewRyan Mourton2017-07-09T09:23:41-05:002017-07-09T09:23:41-05:00Summer League Stock Report: Cavs defeat Rockets 95-90
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<p>Who shined in the Cavs victory over the Rockets?</p> <p id="jDxu5h">The Cavs outlasted the <a href="https://www.thedreamshake.com/">Rockets</a> in a Summer League travesty: Overtime. But a 95-90 victory that keeps the Cavs undefeated in Vegas play. The Cavs were led by 16 points from <span>Kay Felder</span>, 15 points from T.J. Williams and 14 apiece from <span>Casey Prather</span> and <span>Brandon Paul</span>. The Rockets were led by 21 points from <span>Troy Williams</span> and 18 from <span>Isaiah Taylor</span>. </p>
<h1 id="WC5q3n"><strong> Stock Up</strong></h1>
<h3 id="vVLs5D"><strong>Brandon Paul</strong></h3>
<p id="P3NeiQ">Paul still can’t find the range from three, but he continues to be a strong defender and ball mover. If I was a betting man (and I’m clearly not, I bet $40 on the <a href="https://www.blogabull.com/">Bulls</a> today... THE BULLS) I’d pick him as the standout for a two-way contract between the Charge and Cavs. Would he take it? He’s already on a pro team in Turkey. </p>
<h3 id="RU5v7r"><strong>T.J. Williams</strong></h3>
<p id="fSeJAo">Williams blew up with a huge game pouring in 15 points, four rebounds, and four assists off the bench. Keep track of him as the summer continues. </p>
<h3 id="E2mteJ"><span><strong>Edy Tavares</strong></span></h3>
<p id="n9ANxT">The massive center didn’t put up big numbers, but his impact was felt on a Rockets team that failed to score well all night. I still can’t figure out how he fits in with the pro Cavs, but that can be a worry for another time. He has a place in the league.</p>
<h3 id="monnqN"><strong>Casey Prather</strong></h3>
<p id="2h2WwT">Prather put together a solid offensive game scoring 14 points and hitting 2-3 from the three-point line. He should be in the mix with Paul and Andrew White for two-way contracts. </p>
<h2 id="EpSyov"> Stock Neutral </h2>
<h3 id="yQMB7I"><strong>Andrew White</strong></h3>
<p id="7NdpEX">White wasn’t very good, but he only played six minutes. This is something to monitor going forward. </p>
<h3 id="APntYb">
<strong>Roosevelt Jone</strong><strong>s</strong>
</h3>
<p id="YOjvu9">Jones struggled offensively but was solid in other areas. You wonder how/if he’ll translate, but he’s a pro player somewhere. </p>
<h3 id="4l0lqK"><strong>Anthony Gill</strong></h3>
<p id="d5xewv">Put up a 13-10 double double and hit 2-2 from deep. I still wonder where he translates to in the NBA game, but he can play.</p>
<h2 id="TH9eCJ"> Stock Down</h2>
<h3 id="jnDrYF"><strong>Kay Felder</strong></h3>
<p id="JeN0PC">Felder again showed some defensive chops. He showed that he has great vision. He has a tight handle that can get him anywhere.</p>
<p id="mqg3Hb">But he shot 5-18 from the field, had nine fouls, and four turnovers. There is so much to believe in with Felder, but the instances of him struggling against length are piling up. If he can’t find consistent success against middling and lower NBA talent in Summer, how can he succeed in the league? </p>
<p id="cmjF4L">I’m really hoping for a strong game from the floor on Monday, and a clear path to an NBA future. It would be great to see and he has so many other talents to bring that just can’t sustain the lack of a consistent offensive game at his size. </p>
<p id="MBwKXG">The Cavs will face the <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/">Warriors</a> on Monday. We’ll see you then. </p>
https://www.fearthesword.com/2017/7/9/15943144/summer-league-cavs-rockets-95-90Ryan Mourton2017-07-08T20:57:43-05:002017-07-08T20:57:43-05:00What to watch for: Cavs face the Rockets in NBA Summer League Action
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<img alt="2017 Las Vegas Summer League - Los Angeles Clippers v Los Angeles Lakers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/lGR89Q0UgirYnIibV2WYFWs_O5Y=/0x47:2209x1520/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55628751/810607186.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>What to pay attention to in Cavs/Rockets</p> <p id="cYkAGe">The <a href="https://www.fearthesword.com/">Cavaliers</a> (1-0) tip off their second summer league tilt tonight in Las Vegas, taking on the <a href="https://www.thedreamshake.com/">Houston Rockets</a> (1-0). This game will air at 10 EST on ESPNU and the Watch ESPN app.</p>
<p id="QmOx7p"></p>
<h2 id="PbxddY"> Cavs to Watch</h2>
<p id="vz7eA1"><strong>Andrew White</strong></p>
<p id="4fU6VT">I’m stumping hard for White because I would love for the Cavs to have even just one young athletic wing on the roster, and let’s see what happens from there. He was avolume three point shooter in his last two college seasons at Nebraska and Syracuse, and seems ideal for the NBA game. Him working out for this team would be big. </p>
<p id="98rpZi"><span><strong>Kay Felder</strong></span></p>
<p id="BR1lv8">How will he deal with length at the rim today? The never ending story with Felder carries on. He struggled in game one, and needs to bounce back in game two. Summer League isn’t incredibly indicative of a whole, good or bad, save for one thing: High usage players that struggle at Summer League never seem to last long the NBA. A second bad game in a row here as a second year player with pro and G-League experience under his belt would be troubling. </p>
<p id="H0Wvkn"><span><strong>Edy Tavares</strong></span></p>
<p id="nrJE9E">The Cavs STILL don’t have a backup at the Center position, and there is a chance Tavares slides in there. </p>
<p id="F5xsK3"><strong>Roosevelt Jones</strong></p>
<p id="wncs0e">Jones was one of the best players on the floor in game one, and bears some attention. Like usual, the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/odds">odds</a> of anyone from this team making the pro roster are slim, but he has some game. </p>
<p id="7u9xER"><span><strong>Casey Prather</strong></span></p>
<p id="rGSinP">Prather flashed some defensive stops and serious athleticism in game one. As with White, the Cavs just having SOMEBODY on the wing to develop with this profile would be nice. </p>
<p id="8T2Z30"></p>
<p id="i7IvBT">We’ll see you shortly when the game tips off. </p>
https://www.fearthesword.com/2017/7/8/15942654/what-to-watch-for-cavs-face-the-rockets-in-nba-summer-league-actionRyan Mourton2017-07-08T15:44:18-05:002017-07-08T15:44:18-05:00Summer League Stock Report: Cavs trample Bucks 82-53
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<figcaption>cavs.com</figcaption>
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<p>Reviewing reviewing the Summer Cavs after their first game.</p> <p id="ymEBoz">The Summer Cavs put a pretty thorough beating on the Summer <a href="https://www.brewhoop.com/">Bucks</a> at Thomas & Mack last night, setting a good baseline for the summer since nobody played that poorly overall. </p>
<p id="Og7fpw">The Cavs were led by 12 points from <span>Edy Tavares</span>, 11 from Andrew White, and 10 from <span>Kay Felder</span>. Forward Roosevelt Jones led the team in raw +/- with +29 off the bench. The Bucks got the same point totals from <span>Rashad Vaughn</span>, <span>D.J. Wilson</span>, and <span>Gary Payton II</span>, respectively. </p>
<h2 id="tgBfKT"> Stock Up</h2>
<h3 id="GBkumR"><strong>Edy Tavares</strong></h3>
<p id="JwCIRB">Appreciating Tavares is a matter of appreciating the result more than the process to get there. Tavares plays hard constantly, but it can be painful to watch. He has a really short stride for someone so big, and is incredibly physical. His style around the hoop is more brutish than coordinated. But, in the end he played really well after a terrible start to the game. He finished with 12 points, eight rebounds, a block and was incredibly effective defending <span>Thon Maker</span> on the interior, helped by the fact that Maker shot only 1-5 on his mostly open threes. </p>
<h3 id="T1rMHk"><strong>Roosevelt Jones</strong></h3>
<p id="uIS7W1">Jones leading the team in +/- was no accident. He’s a tough defender and has a nose for the ball. I don’t know if he translates to an NBA skillset, but he can play. The Cavs had 21 points in transition and Jones was a major part of that, grabbing seven defensive rebounds and leading the team into the break with the handling and passing ability to make the right decision once they got over half court. He also had three offensive rebounds to finish with three points, 10 rebounds, two assists and two steals. </p>
<h3 id="LLcpq1">
<strong>Andrew Whit</strong><strong>e</strong>
</h3>
<p id="IAhExP">One of our players to watch with an NBA body and game, White did not disappoint. He shot 4-7 from the field and 2-4 from three, and was pretty solid defensively. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/odds">Odds</a> are long that any non-rostered Cavs can make the team from this game but he definitely has game. </p>
<h2 id="lHtjuB"> <strong>Stock Neutral </strong>
</h2>
<h3 id="THM6YB"><span><strong>Brandon Paul</strong></span></h3>
<p id="wijBZ0">Paul had a decent game overall but was bad from the field. He can handle is a a heady, physical defender that flashed some good athleticism. He bears watching going forward. </p>
<h3 id="MavnMy"><strong>Anthony Gill</strong></h3>
<p id="67H6Ac">Gill is a good rebounder and was pretty good defensively, as most of the team was. I don’t know if he has anything that strongly translates to the NBA. </p>
<h3 id="TpXjMg"><span><strong>Casey Prather</strong></span></h3>
<p id="ZIM4Fj">Prather jumps out of the gym and made some good plays defensively. He was miserable from the floor shooting 2-8 overall and 1-3 from three. He has an NBA body and athleticism, there might be something to watch here. </p>
<h2 id="4EdG5n"> Stock Down</h2>
<h3 id="0VqlF4"><strong>Kay Felder</strong></h3>
<p id="i4ggtU">I’m officially worried about Felder. He’s got a wonderful attitude and you can easily see how hard he works. He effortlessly shakes his man, has good vision, and has fast hands and good instincts on defense. He finished with a steal and two blocks. </p>
<p id="4IqUg1">So why is he here when he was decent overall? I’m getting really worried about his offense. He was 0-6 from three, and the open lanes he created with his hyper-quick first step didn’t result in made buckets. He shot 2-11 from the field, and struggles with length still. his NBA potential rests on being a good offensive player, and he is struggling to get there. Being a three-point threat will unlock the rest of his game. Here’s to hoping we see that as the summer goes on. </p>
<h3 id="m73EDV"><strong>Sir’Dominic Pointer</strong></h3>
<p id="1ISjy1">Pointer got 5 minutes and didn’t stand out. This is the third year for the one time project, and it doesn’t seem like that’s coming to fruition. </p>
https://www.fearthesword.com/2017/7/8/15941586/summer-league-2017-cavs-bucksRyan Mourton2017-05-22T09:13:06-05:002017-05-22T09:13:06-05:003 things we learned from Celtics-Cavs game 3
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<img alt="NBA: Playoffs-Boston Celtics at Cleveland Cavaliers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/BQeEEev5BKGgYalhxrcJ0AmhG1k=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54889295/usa_today_10069164.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Cavs didn’t play that hard and lost as a result. </p> <p id="iNQPlC">This is probably my fault. I haven’t written about the Cavs in this space forever, and the one time I volunteer to take a bit for someone because of scheduling this happens. I am doom to the <a href="https://www.fearthesword.com/">Cleveland Cavaliers</a>. Allow me to apologize. </p>
<p id="q7jK6u">Many takes are currently being crafted. Most of them are not so great but that’s where we are. The Cavs ability to completely lose focus and forget how to play basketball has earned them that, BUT that’s the Cavs, this is part of the package. Now lets get to some learnings.</p>
<h1 id="yKZFaN">
<span>LeBron James</span> can be bad and that’s ok.</h1>
<p id="OUVbGV">LeBron James is the best player on this planet, without question. So, if you read the header and want to get mad, move along. Everyone is allowed a bad game, and boy, was he bad. LeBron had 6 turnovers to 6 assists, shot 4-13 from the field finishing with 11 points, and didn’t look engaged on defense for more than a few possessions. On a night when <span>Kyrie Irving</span> scored 29 and <span>Kevin Love</span> had 28, anything approaching even an average to below average LeBron game wins this. This is the weirdest I’ve seen LeBron since that series in 2011. Coming out so passive any day is bizarre, but on a day when history was on the line more so. A win would have put the Cavs alone in NBA history with 14 straight playoff wins. A 30 point game would put LeBron by himself for most consecutive playoff games with such a total. For him to look so off is just shocking, especially given he had been playing the basketball I’ve ever seen anyone play. Ever. </p>
<p id="RPXjvT">STILL, LeBron is LeBron, he will answer. He always does. A lit drama does his body good.</p>
<h1 id="9uTH4o">Sometimes, you lose a bet</h1>
<p id="buomZd">Maybe the only thing more unpredictable than a bad LeBron game is <span>Marcus Smart</span> hitting seven threes in a game. Marcus Smart, career 29 percent three-point shooter and 28 percent this season. You’re BEGGING him to shoot, and he hit them. Pull ups early in the clock, late clock leaks, what have you. These are the shots you scheme your defense to allow, and this time Boston got the better of it. In the second half, the Cavs were 2/17 from deep, and Smart was 5/6. Ability to hit threes becomes even more important when LeBron has a game where he isn’t attacking and his handle is shaky. With ball movement down, the Cavs didn’t cash in on what they needed to and their defensive bets didn’t hit. </p>
<h1 id="0yQjvI">The Cavs biggest obstacle in the East is still themselves</h1>
<p id="cJxjmJ">I know this seems mean, and the <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Celtics</a> certainly tried very hard and earned a victory, but c’mon. The Cavs have now lost three games in the past two playoffs pre-Finals and in all three they spent huge portions unfocused and lethargic, almost annoyed at the effort level of the other team. They dodged several self inflicted wounds in the <a href="https://www.indycornrows.com/">Pacers</a> series, and needed the NBA’s largest playoff comeback to avoid scrutiny for a particularly disjointed performance for the first 24 minutes. </p>
<p id="I3XRSW">Just when you think the Cavs are beyond their lackadaisical ways, they throw this one at you. Let downs when the other team is missing their best player are normal in the regular season, but shouldn’t be something you fall prey to in the playoffs. In your first home game in a few weeks, no less. </p>
<p id="dCuGwf">The Cavs will play again Tuesday. There will be many words spoken about them until then. Maybe even some typed. Some will be neither, sent instead in the form of the knowing glances one got accustomed to in March and April. All signs point to a blip, and hopefully they’ll have something better for us. We’ll see you then. </p>
https://www.fearthesword.com/2017/5/22/15673742/3-things-cavs-celtics-game-3Ryan Mourton2017-03-09T22:21:16-06:002017-03-09T22:21:16-06:00Cavs falls 106-101 vs. Pistons for third straight loss
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<img alt="NBA: Cleveland Cavaliers at Detroit Pistons" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/NNh2g_FgWLq9A-kGk7-bzD1d7So=/0x0:4646x3097/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53627665/usa_today_9928844.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>J.R. Smith’s return did not go as planned.</p> <p id="FV1LAp">Watching the <a href="https://www.fearthesword.com/">Cleveland Cavaliers</a> means confronting what you really think matters. Does energy matter? Does continuity matter? Does this particular game matter? Does anything in this world matter? </p>
<p id="W362Yz">They should, all of them. The Cavs are a force of contradictions, one minute looking dominant and the next looking like they’ve never played together before. Before the game discussing energy, at some moments having none. Speaking of plans, playing without one. </p>
<p id="yblS6J">This night, of course, was no different. After leading multiple times, the Cavaliers ceded a hot 4th quarter to the <a href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com/">Pistons</a> and were not able to regain control. </p>
<p id="bJgwEG">Why? Why after a dominating 20-2 run to go up 27-12 did it all fall apart? The reasons, like the Cavaliers, are all over the place. How did the Cavs lose when LeBron posts a magnificent 29-13-10 triple double, and <span>Kyrie Irving</span> is electric pouring in 27?</p>
<ul>
<li id="ugfirP">The Cavs are experimenting again. Sure it’s mostly necessity, but the Cavs are shifting into groups that have no idea what they’re doing. <span>Deron Williams</span> and Kyrie Irving units have been a week-long test. Tonight, J.R. Smith was added back to the mix, and <span>Derrick Williams</span> was thrown in with them. Their complete inexperience together (0 minutes, obviously) showed. In the fourth quarter, the Pistons went from trailing to in control with a 13-0 run on that unit. Offensively and Defensively it was a disjointed mess. The hope -hope- is that more time together will fix that. Certainly it will fix J.R., who was as rusty as could be. </li>
<li id="gV4eIe">On that theme, the Cavs best lineup in a 9-2 February is no longer being used. Tonight it wasn’t possible, because <span>Kyle Korver</span> was sitting with a foot injury. Still, the acquisition of Deron Williams has killed the Korver, LeBron, <span>Richard Jefferson</span>, Derrick Williams, <span>Channing Frye</span> “Jumbo” lineup which posted ridiculous numbers in a smallish sample. Is it gone for good, or just put aside for now?</li>
<li id="JwEzhZ">One of the things that lineup did was help mitigate the loss of <span>Kevin Love</span> by using size all over the court and shooting threats to generate easy buckets. Sometimes you don’t really notice it. Other times you do. When Andre Drummond is in the paint, you do! <span>Tristan Thompson</span> does a lot of things well, but he isn’t scoring much around a guy like Drummond. </li>
<li id="opOXp6">Channing Frye had a big game because Drummond isn’t going to go out that far on him, and it’s no surprise that the LeBron-Frye-Jefferson trio was a big plus tonight. Eventually though, poor Frye is just over-exposed. Late in this one his.... struggles.... rebounding were costly. It’s not his fault, it’s not what he’s here for. Tonight was a night that theoretical <span>Andrew Bogut</span> might have helped. </li>
<li id="rIphoZ">Overcoming all of that requires the one thing these Cavs are rarely willing to put forth: 48 minutes of all out effort. The 10 or so possessions a game the Cavs mail in end up biting them when the margins are trimmed up this much. When every other team is still treating a random Thursday like Game 7. </li>
</ul>
<p id="Axl16B">This. THIS is where the Cavs challenge you. When they leave you sitting on your couch wondering what actually matters. I should be annoyed by this game, but they consistently prove regular season concerns trivial come April, May, and June. I should wonder what the hell Ty Lue is doing with these rotations, but what would I do with so many new players in a small window? The Cavs have so routinely blown off regular season responsibilities that getting annoyed by them in these circumstances has almost become gauche. </p>
<p id="JVMNVK">We will spend six months of my life closely following a team that may or may not care on any given night, at any given minute. When they do, it’s spectacular. When they don’t the whole things falls apart. When we get mad, well, they eventually leave our fears invalid. Arguing that the regular season is just one big practice and shouldn’t matter is supposed to be stupid, and yet.... here I am wondering if this is just that. Wondering what I actually believe about games like these. </p>
<p id="G5dHMh">ANYWAY, The Cavs play in Orlando on Saturday. We’ll see you then. </p>
https://www.fearthesword.com/2017/3/9/14877870/finals-score-cavaliers-lose-pistonsRyan Mourton2017-03-05T13:00:01-06:002017-03-05T13:00:01-06:00Power Rankings: Counting down the final month
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<img alt="NBA: Cleveland Cavaliers at Miami Heat" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/1OPBEPeZOWzOq9KFy8EjwpLkMfI=/0x0:3665x2443/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53541331/usa_today_9917625.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Cavs remain on top, but how will the rest of the East play out?</p> <p id="MREdyL">The NBA season is sprinting towards the finish line. With just over a month left we are finally getting to what we’re all here for: The Playoffs. How does the East stack up for the stretch run? </p>
<p id="d3Bo4k"><strong>1. </strong><a href="https://www.fearthesword.com/"><strong>Cleveland Cavaliers</strong></a></p>
<p id="2WrsER">Duh. The Cavs are experimenting with new acquisition <span>Deron Williams</span>, giving him 24 minutes in a loss against the <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Celtics</a> two days after joining the team, and using several small lineups in a record setting three=point performance in a win over the <a href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Hawks</a>. It’s a good fit, and the Cavs options even with <span>J.R. Smith</span> and <span>Kevin Love</span> on the shelf are an embarrassment of riches. <span>Andrew Bogut</span> will be suiting up Monday. He shouldn’t have a big role, and he moves at a glacial pace after a series of leg injuries, but he can help in a few ways. </p>
<p id="tTPWee"><strong>2. Boston Celtics</strong></p>
<p id="K55Kl4">I have to put the Celtics here or someone in Celtics Twitter will yell at me about be smug. Ok, that’s a joke....they’ll yell at me anyway. The Celtics are second in the East standings and they play crazy hard every game. They got a nice win against the Cavaliers, after recently dropping games to Toronto, Atlanta, and Chicago.</p>
<p id="vDz89k"><strong>3. </strong><a href="https://www.raptorshq.com/"><strong>Toronto Raptors</strong></a></p>
<p id="RYDZcK">They’re 4-2 without <span>Kyle Lowry</span>, including wins against the Celtics and <a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Wizards</a>. Additions of <span>Serge Ibaka</span> and <span>P.J. Tucker</span> should make them incredibly well rounded, the second best team in the conference. Sadly we won’t be able to see that until just about playoff time. </p>
<p id="gIjJXw"><strong>4. Washington Wizards</strong></p>
<p id="1eiynD">Have lost three of five, including splitting a home and home with Toronto and the <span>Joel Embiid</span>-less Sixers. They’ve shored up a bench that was mostly useless and are only two games behind Toronto in the loss column in the East’s 2-5 jumble. </p>
<p id="88AXXg"><strong>5. Atlanta Hawks</strong></p>
<p id="3a27W0">The Hawks would be free falling, except they’re the conferences last good team. A blowout win against Boston represents their only win against a high quality opponent since a road win against the <a href="https://www.thedreamshake.com/">Rockets</a> on February second. Oh, and they also had the Cavs hit a record 25 threes against them....again. </p>
<p id="x5Sdna"><strong>6. </strong><a href="https://www.blogabull.com/"><strong>Chicago Bulls</strong></a></p>
<p id="e5Fflp">The Bulls are .500 for the season and .500 over their last 10. I dunno. All of these teams after No. 5 are weird. </p>
<p id="WltwYf"><strong>7. </strong><a href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com/"><strong>Detroit Pistons</strong></a></p>
<p id="pQrviG">Fighting for their lives for the No. 8 seed they currently hold with the <a href="https://www.hothothoops.com/">Heat</a>, <a href="https://www.brewhoop.com/">Bucks</a>, and <a href="https://www.atthehive.com/">Hornets</a> nipping at their heels. They’re a game behind the Bulls for seventh and two behind the <a href="https://www.indycornrows.com/">Pacers</a> for sixth, but they struggle to beat anybody good. </p>
<p id="JZ5h9Z"><strong> 8. Indiana Pacers</strong></p>
<p id="EUs0iv">The Pacers are the sixth seed, why are they here? Well, they’re 2-8 over their last 10 in a brutal part of the schedule. The two wins are against the Rockets and <a href="https://www.grizzlybearblues.com/">Grizzlies</a>, so they can play with anybody. But you never know what Pacers you’re gonna get. </p>
<p id="S0RUkL"><strong>9. Milwaukee Bucks</strong></p>
<p id="Dsz9TP">Just one win ahead of the Heat in the loss column. They lost <span>Jabari Parker</span> but got back Khris Middelton. They finally put <span>Malcolm Brogdon</span> into their starting lineup, plugging a gaping hole at point guard, and are playing some pretty good basketball with quality wins against the <a href="https://www.clipsnation.com/">Clippers</a> and Raptors in their last two.</p>
<p id="j1dG9j"><strong>10. Miami Heat</strong></p>
<p id="kCAbFb"><span>Erik Spoelstra</span> has always been criminally under-appreciated and he’s showing us why. A career year for <span>James Johnson</span> and recent breakout of <span>Dion Waiters</span> alongside <span>Goran Dragic</span> and <span>Hassan Whiteside</span> have propelled them into the playoff hunt. Currently just percentage points ahead of the Bucks. </p>
<p id="CwHCE4"><strong>11. Charlotte Hornets</strong></p>
<p id="GWwz7k">They are not very good for a variety of reasons. They have an outside shot at the 8 seed, only three games back in the loss column, but it’s tough to see them stringing enough wins together. At least they didn’t turn down a mountain of picks to instead draft Fra..... oh no.... </p>
<p id="iNvrpy"><strong>12. </strong><a href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com/"><strong>New York Knicks</strong></a></p>
<p id="alyMx9">Jo Noah has the worst contract in the NBA, Melo and <span>Phil Jackson</span> can’t get along, and oh yeah they have Derrick Rose. Kristaps Porzingis has the talent to be a superstar in the NBA, but he might be trapped in the league’s most dysfunctional situation. (Yeah yeah I know, The <a href="https://www.sactownroyalty.com/">Kings</a>)</p>
<p id="NFm1I4"><strong>13. </strong><a href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/"><strong>Orlando Magic</strong></a></p>
<p id="xsk5L2">What can you say about the Magic? I wish I knew because I am trying to write something right now. </p>
<p id="hTJhHL"><strong>14. </strong><a href="https://www.libertyballers.com/"><strong>Philadelphia 76ers</strong></a></p>
<p id="UJMiYQ">So.... Joel Embiid has a torn meniscus. <span>Jahlil Okafor</span> has a knee issue. <span>Ben Simmons</span> just had a bone marrow infusion because his foot was not healing as hoped. They traded <span>Nerlens Noel</span> for <span>Justin Anderson</span> and two second-round picks because he needs paid this offseason. Year four of the process has yielded 23 wins, 31 masterful performances from Joel Embiid, a super promising start for <span>Dario Saric</span> and a whole lot of questions. </p>
<p id="71KoWk"><strong>15. </strong><a href="https://www.netsdaily.com/"><strong>Brooklyn Nets</strong></a></p>
<p id="Sb77D8">The Nets have 10 wins. The next closest teams, Philadelphia and Orlando, both have 23. They have some interesting young talent and a good coach, but without any top end picks, they won’t be a factor any time soon. </p>
https://www.fearthesword.com/2017/3/5/14818638/eastern-conference-power-rankings-playoff-previewRyan Mourton