Game Thread: Pelicans @ Cavaliers

[Meticode]

Since no one cared enough to make a game thread I will, Anthony Bennett is going to get major minutes tonight. Everytime he's touched the ball so far that I've seen in the second quarter he's been horrible.

Cavaliers have a lead because of great play from Waiters. 5/5 11 points.

Bad team play in the second quarter where the Cavaliers got a steal and the Pelicans Steisma fell into the crowd. Waiters dribbles the ball back up the court 5v4 and no one for the Cavs yells at Waiters to let him now Steisma is coming behind him to catch up to try to steal, so he pokes the ball away and gets the steal.

[Andrew Wiggins]

holy crap, bennett looks tragically bad out there

he's failed miserably every time he's touched the ball

botched two layups, bricked a jumper, and turned it over

[Meticode]

Bennett fouls at the three point line. *sigh*

[Meticode]

holy crap, bennett looks tragically bad out there

he's failed miserably every time he's touched the ball

botched two layups, bricked a jumper, and turned it over
The last game I saw him play in. I might've been the Suns loss. Every-time he touched the ball offensively he did absolutely nothing positive. Worse #1 pick in recent memory of mine. Even Kwame Brown so far.

[Embers]

Talent is one thing. The ridiculously crap attitude is another

Bennett looks like he is desperate to head back to the bench. Some may say its a lack of confidence but given his fat size id say a good chance of it being just general laziness

[Milbuck]

The last game I saw him play in. I might've been the Suns loss. Every-time he touched the ball offensively he did absolutely nothing positive. Worse #1 pick in recent memory of mine. Even Kwame Brown so far.
Kwame would've been ok if he was drafted in the 2nd round somewhere. Bennett flat out looks like he shouldn't have been drafted.

[Meticode]

Bennett, stupid defensive foul Eric Gordon.

[RedBlackAttack]

Dion gets no calls. Guy horizontally jumps right into him and they let it go. Officials really don't like him. I think maybe because he complains a lot.

[Meticode]

Interesting lineup...

C - Tristan Thompson
PF - Anthony Bennett
SF - Luol Deng
SG - Dion Waiters
PG - Kyrie Irving

... on the floor right now.

[Andrew Wiggins]

The last game I saw him play in. I might've been the Suns loss. Every-time he touched the ball offensively he did absolutely nothing positive. Worse #1 pick in recent memory of mine. Even Kwame Brown so far.

it looks like his confidence is completely shot to the point that he expects to fail anytime he gets the ball

i'm not sure if he'd do that well in the d-league at the moment tbh

[Meticode]

Dion gets no calls. Guy horizontally jumps right into him and they let it go. Officials really don't like him. I think maybe because he complains a lot.
Not sure which play you're talking about. If it's the Steisma play that's not a foul to me. I've seen Varejao get away with more than that and reach in and bring his arms in on those types of calls and no fouls were called.

[Embers]

Austin Rivers is improving for mine. Not worth the early pick he was taken with but I think he will make something of a NBA career.

Probably Will Bynum level

[Meticode]

it looks like his confidence is completely shot to the point that he expects to fail anytime he gets the ball

i'm not sure if he'd do that well in the d-league at the moment tbh
I had bad vibes from the pick ever since when he was picked he said he wasn't expecting it at all. That shows no confidence right there.

[RedBlackAttack]

Not sure which play you're talking about. If it's the Steisma play that's not a foul to me. I've seen Varejao get away with more than that and reach in and bring his arms in on those types of calls and no fouls were called.
If you are attacking the basket and a big leaves his feet, makes contact and is not going straight up and down, that's a foul every time. It's literally the rulebook definition of what not to do. He left his feet, was moving horizontally and there was contact. Foul.

It didn't matter much because Zeller got the rebound and went to the line, but Dion's aggression should pay off with many more free throws than it currently does.

[Meticode]

10-0 run by 'Cans. Irving missing threes. Only thing positive about this game is Waiters on offense, minus the stupid clear path foul and turnover and Zeller.

[Embers]

Zeller will become a very good player for mine.

Still very raw but alot of good signs

[Meticode]

If you are attacking the basket and a big leaves his feet, makes contact and is not going straight up and down, that's a foul every time. It's literally the rulebook definition of what not to do. He left his feet, was moving horizontally and there was contact. Foul.

It didn't matter much because Zeller got the rebound and went to the line, but Dion's aggression should pay off with many more free throws than it currently does.
Steisma was going vertical to me, not horizontal. That's where we disagree and that's where I'm leaving it. No foul to me, good call. It's a bang, bang play. Easy to say he was going vertical or horizontal when you get the benefit of a slow-mo replay.

[Meticode]

Cavs come into the second quarter with a lead, leaving the first half with a double-digit deficit probably or at minimum not the lead. No surprise here. It's funny watching the lead shrink away then we get over-taken while Brown paces up and down on the sidelines with his hands in his pockets.

[Meticode]

Anthony Davis finishes the half with a swat of Thompson. 12 point lead for Pelicans.

[RedBlackAttack]

Ugh.

[B-Easy8]

Davis is ridiculous.

On pace for a triple double.

13, 4 and 6.

[Meticode]

Davis is ridiculous.

On pace for a triple double.

13, 4 and 6.
That's not being on pace actually. 26, 8, 12

[Milbuck]

Did AD get like 3 blocks in one play or something? He was at 3, I checked like a minute later and he's got 6 at the half? What the ****.

[rip2]

Dang, the 6 blocks in a half is crazy...

[Meticode]

If we make the playoffs this year, my mind will be blown. I don't understand how we go on the road, everything looks good. Get 3-2 on the road. Then come home and we're looking like we're going to go 1-4? So far this rebuilding process isn't working out. We're in danger of having our 4th season in a row with less than 30 wins.

[Meticode]

Did AD get like 3 blocks in one play or something? He was at 3, I checked like a minute later and he's got 6 at the half? What the ****.
Not sure. I know on the last play Thompson was facing up to drive, and I saw Davis there and in my mind I was thinking, "Please don't make your drive move you do for a floater against Davis." and he did and he got that shit swatted.

[andremiller07]

The more I watch Tristan Thompson the more I think smaller Jason Thompson long term.

[Embers]

The more I watch Tristan Thompson the more I think he doesnt belong as a starter.

[Meticode]

The more I watch Tristan Thompson the more I think he doesnt belong as a starter.
Too bad we have no one that can take his spot. Who the hell are you going to put there? Anthony Bennett?

To be honest I'm fine with Thompson, although if I don't see any improvement out of him next year I don't think he'll be the answer long term. I still see potential.

[Meticode]

Start of the second half. Let's get this over with. :(

[Meticode]

15 point lead, Pelicans. It feels like the Cavaliers are actually giving 100% and nothing is happening. Sad.

[Meticode]

Everytime Irving drives to make a layup, he always falls to the ground after he attempts the shot.

[Meticode]

Another case of a PG (in this case Brian Roberts) beating Irving off the dribble, he draws the foul.

[Meticode]

Anthony Bennett checks back into the game, this should be entertaining.

[Meticode]

17 point lead, 'Cans.

[Milbuck]

Davis is just unreal. He and KD are going to own the league for the next decade or so.

[bisk]

Not making the playoffs till 2020.

[Meticode]

22 point lead, 'Cans.

[Meticode]

Not making the playoffs till 2020.
Why so soon?

[B-Easy8]

Bennett doesn't look that bad to me.

Maybe he just needs minutes?

[andremiller07]

Cavs need a shot blocker to pair with Andy imo and they need a playmaker from the back up PG spot.

There's no one that's an above average playmaker (actually Andy is) on the squad and I don't see anyone who can block even 1 shot a game consistently. Even with all his issues Larry Sanders could be a nice fit from a playing point of view plus he's got that fire when he plays Cavs need that.

[bisk]

Why so soon?

Because I got a feeling the new commish will allocate 26 playoff spots to teams starting from next year.

[Inferno]

Davis has 8 blocks :biggums:

[Meticode]

*sighs* Cavaliers get the defensive rebound with about 9 seconds left. So Waiters soft dribbles the ball up court to only start cutting to the basket until about 4 seconds left. Then he passes it to the corner, and then it's passed again, shot clock violation. F*cking pathetic. We can't even execute getting a shot at the basket with the time running down effectively.

[Meticode]

Cavs need a shot blocker to pair with Andy imo and they need a playmaker from the back up PG spot.

There's no one that's an above average playmaker on the squad and I don't see anyone who can block even 1 shot a game consistently. Even with all his issues Larry Sanders could be a nice fit from a playing point of view plus he's got that fire when he plays Cavs need that.
Wouldn't matter. Team needs a new culture, team isn't buying into what Brown is selling.

[LoneyROY7]

AD showing Bennett what a real #1 pick looks like.

[Meticode]

Bennett doesn't look that bad to me.

Maybe he just needs minutes?
He's been pretty bad. He played okay in what you saw him do in the second half, the first half and the previous game he was absolutely horrible.

[Meticode]

Wow, he actually dunked the ball. :eek:

[B-Easy8]

He's been pretty bad. He played okay in what you saw him do in the second half, the first half and the previous game he was absolutely horrible.

He also isn't getting any plays run for him.

It must be hard for a number 1 pick to ride bench and sit around like a spot up shooter.

The same thing is happened to Derrick Williams and Beasley.

Young guys need to play straight away or else they dont realise there potential.

[Meticode]

:oldlol: Then he makes a corner three next possession.

[Meticode]

He also isn't getting any plays run for him.

It must be hard for a number 1 pick to ride bench and sit around like a spot up shooter.

The same thing is happened to Derrick Williams and Beasley.

Young guys need to play straight away or else they dont realise there potential.
Not blaming him for his horrid play. I'm blaming the organization. I don't think it was the right fit for the organization when you have Zeller, Varejao and Thompson in the front court already. It never made any sense to me, and when Bennett was picked he didn't make any sense to him either since he was surprised by the pick himself.

[B-Easy8]

Not blaming him for his horrid play. I'm blaming the organization. I don't think it was the right fit for the organization when you have Zeller, Varejao and Thompson in the front court already. It never made any sense to me, and when Bennett was picked he didn't make any sense to him either since he was surprised by the pick himself.

Do you really think Thompson will become a good starting PF though?

Andy is good and Zeller will be a solid back up.

Bennett could be a good starting PF in my opinion, better than TT.

[alenleomessi]

Davis is just unreal. He and KD are going to own the league for the next decade or so.
what about giannis?

[Meticode]

Do you really think Thompson will become a good starting PF though?
Yes.


Bennett could be a good starting PF in my opinion, better than TT.
Yes, but the team clearly bought into Thompson playing PF. I still don't understand the pick.

[Meticode]

I don't know how that is a foul on Bennett when Stiesma pushed Bennett out of the way with his forearm.

[Meticode]

Davis runs to the sideline holding his hand in pain...not good.

[notatop29pg]

Davis runs to the sideline holding his hand in pain...not good.

Dislocated finger. meh.

[Meticode]

Dislocated finger. meh.
Awesome, glad to see him back on the court.

[Meticode]

Anthony Davis is a better mid-range jump-shooter than I thought he was. Definitely reminds me of KG's game now.

[Meticode]

:roll: @ 'Cans. Irving makes 2 of 3 freethrows and they try to dribble the ball out becuase he forgot about his third freethrow attempt, or they thought he only had two attempts.

[notatop29pg]

Anthony Davis is a better mid-range jump-shooter than I thought he was. Definitely reminds me of KG's game now.

Yeah people don't actually see enough of him. His jumper is money.

KG didnt have it at 20 though did he? Thought it was a later development.

[Fudge]

Tristan's a fcking scrub. Why the fck did I trade for this goof in Fantasy?

[Meticode]

Shit pisses me off.

Cavaliers are going to finish this homestand 1-4. Brown checks out all his starters with 1 minute left after a timeout and Irving is shown laughing on the side-line. I'd be utterly pissed right now if I cared about how our team was doing.

Edit: Apparently it was just a timeout, starters still in.

[PJR]

The Cavs young talent was always overrated, but Mike Brown is truly a dreadful coach.

[Meticode]

Yeah people don't actually see enough of him. His jumper is money.

KG didnt have it at 20 though did he? Thought it was a later development.
Not 100% sure, at 20 KG had been in the league for 2-3 years already.

[notatop29pg]

Not 100% sure, at 20 KG had been in the league for 2-3 years already.

Was his 2nd year. They both started at 19.

Crazy.

[BasedTom]

Anthony Bennet is actually scoring?

http://i.imgur.com/hBg0c3u.jpg

[Meticode]

That seals it. Tyler Zeller and Anthony Bennett have their best games of the season. Cavaliers lose by 11 and finish their homestand at a disappointment of 1-4. When they just came off the road going 3-2. 1 step forward, 2 steps backwards.

[chips93]

no exactly an all-star performance from kyrie

i was hoping after this article (http://www.ohio.com/sports/cavs/jason-lloyd-kyrie-irving-s-accolades-outnumber-his-successes-1.461899) he would come out with something to prove

i guess he must have gotten some buckets in garbage time when i switched off, but he was invisible for the first 3 and a half quarters.