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Post by gk on Dec 18, 2009 21:44:27 GMT -6
OK so with Boston losing tonight to a terrible Philly team and Orlando getting CRUSHED by an average Miami team last night, I ask you: At what point do columnists begin to acknowledge that the Cavs has a decent chance to win the East?
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Post by fatmenace on Dec 18, 2009 21:51:58 GMT -6
Well, they have a decent chance, but they just barely beat a poor Milwaukee team. Not a ringing endorsement.
But then again, I don't think anybody is counting out Lebron just taking over in the playoffs.
Without looking it up, I'll say best plus minus is Z, worst is Mo Williams.
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Post by gk on Dec 18, 2009 22:01:48 GMT -6
Good guesses. But:
Best +/-: Anderson Varajao Worst +/-: Shaq
While +/- isn't everything, I think it is a nice broad-brush tool when more conventional stats fail. And I think everyone that's watched Cavs games knows how great, yes, GREAT, Varajao has been this year.
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Post by fatmenace on Dec 18, 2009 22:06:47 GMT -6
I was gonna say Shaq, but thought that was too obvious. I figured it would be stupid like Lebron, kind of like last year when someone came up with some stat that said Durant was hurting OKC.
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Post by gk on Dec 19, 2009 12:02:54 GMT -6
+/- isn't everything to be sure. I don't think anyone thinks that Durant is the worst player on the Thunder because of last year's +/-. But I think it does point out some general deficiencies when certain lineups with certain players are on the floor.
Varajao is the perfect example. He creates tons of extra possessions for the Cavs via tipped balls. He's exactly what you're talking about when you mention tipping it to teammates instead of swatting it out of bounds. And he allows the Cavs to go small. In fact, 82games.com shows that the Cavs most productive lineup is (I think) Williams, West, Moon, Lebron, and Varajao.
So I think +/- is probably better at evaluating lineups, if not players. But it still needs to be examined in context.
Watching the actual games helps too.
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Post by fatmenace on Dec 21, 2009 22:21:53 GMT -6
Shame on the Bulls. Disgraceful.
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Post by gk on Dec 22, 2009 9:55:42 GMT -6
Yikes.
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Post by gk on Dec 22, 2009 11:56:22 GMT -6
Ball Don't Lie, speaking for me:
"Delonte West? You can turn the world on with your smile.
Honestly, the league has no bigger x-factor. Delonte absolutely changes games. Just turns them on their ear. And I'm chuffed nearly beyond recognition when he changes them in a positive way. 12 points, six assists and three steals in almost 28 minutes for Delonte, alongside stifling defense.
All I want for Christmas is more of this. "
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Post by gk on Dec 25, 2009 19:30:03 GMT -6
Say... maybe the team with the best record in the league last year with the consensus best player in the game might be championship caliber!
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Post by gk on Dec 25, 2009 19:34:54 GMT -6
Of the four talked about championship squad that played today (and if you write for the Detroit Free Press, I guess that includes Denver, but not Cleveland), only one looked championship quality.
Nice road win. Cavs were all over the Lakers. Got a bit chippy at the end. This is why Shaq was brought in. Delonte West makes the Cavs 23% better. Jamario Moon adds several real nice dimensions to this team. Lebron wasn't even at his best offensively. And when Mo Williams is on, the Cavs are far and away the best team in basketball.
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Post by fatmenace on Dec 26, 2009 1:21:31 GMT -6
Very impressive win today.
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Post by gk on Dec 26, 2009 4:53:35 GMT -6
It was a really nice 3-1 West Coast road trip for the Cavs. The loss to Dallas was disappointing since they didn't have Dirk. But they rolled Phoenix and the Lakers in their buildings and beat the Kings in OT who are tough at home. Lakers play at Sacramento tomorrow. They'd better bounce back.
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Post by fatmenace on Dec 26, 2009 4:56:01 GMT -6
It was kind of surprising how uninterested the Lakers looked. Outside of Kobe, I mean.
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Post by gk on Dec 26, 2009 5:04:31 GMT -6
Windhorst mentioned that on his postgame blog post. He said that Fisher said it wasn't much of a big deal because they won a championship without Shaq last year. Thought it was interesting that the Cavs surged ahead for good while Lebron was on the bench. Varajao with a +20 of the bench and Illgauskas with a +21! The pretty much benched Hickson for good after watching him get destroyed by Gasol/Bynum (-9 in 10 minutes?). Oh look, apparently, now "The Cavs Are Back In It!" Since of course, they were sooo out of it. "It's time for Cleveland's team to be considered elite again" Thanks J.A. Adande. Glad we have that kind of insight and analysis on ESPN.com. THANK GOODNESS YOU'RE NOT AN INSIDER ACCESS ONLY COLUMNIST! Back to "Around the Horn" with you.
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Post by fatmenace on Dec 26, 2009 5:09:20 GMT -6
Question about Z. Have you read Simmons' thing on the Nike shoes and how they prevent injury? What shoe is Z wearing now? I don't seem to recall him having much foot problems anymore. Just wondering what happened there. I thought his career was over like four years ago due to his bad feet, or ankles, or whatever his problem was.
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