"Poll question: Who will be the most productive new Cav"
I feel like Hood might step in and become a real shot-maker as a much needed guy who can create his own shot independent of Bron's Magic vision.
Also feel like Nance Jr. is the sleeper to emerge at the top if he gets minutes. His productivity in limited time in L.A. has been stellar. Gonna love to see what he can do playing around 30 minutes/game.
Feel like Hill will be very solid, cruise control consistency - and Clarkson may be the most overrated out of the bunch but will be a great boost off the bench as the third guard in the rotation.
Frank Longo Member since Nov 18th 2003 86673 posts
Fri Feb-09-18 12:51 PM
3. "I think it'll easily be Hood." In response to Reply # 0 Fri Feb-09-18 12:53 PM by Frank Longo
Hood is a terrific three-point shooter and a high-IQ offensive player. He also knows his role well-- he's there to make shots. Bron kicking out to Hood is easy points. He's currently averaging 16 ppg-- even in the new environment, he could easily maintain that or something close to it imo. He's not a good defender, and he's not a good creator for others-- but in terms of what Cleveland wants from his role offensively, he'll fit the bill. He doesn't need the ball in his hands to put up good numbers.
Clarkson can really fill it up when he's on but he's also capable of having terrible games filled with forced shots. He'll be the new guy most likely to explode for 35-40 one night, but he's also the guy who Bron will angrily stare down a few times.
6. "My only real beef with JC is that he has no discipline when he heats up" In response to Reply # 3
I feel like, say, Jamal Crawford has more poise and discipline when he blacks out.
Clarkson doesn't quite have that otherworldly gear- not yet, at least- that Crawford seems to be able to tap into, but he thinks he does and he tends to kill his own heat as a result.
That said, I think he may flourish in a system where greater discipline is demanded of him. I think that Brawn death stare will actually make him more valuable for that reason.
5. "If Hood isn't starting over JR by playoff time" In response to Reply # 4
He better be hurt, or Lue should be fired.
The guys the Cavs just got back are much better than the guys who were there. They should all get minutes. Clarkson's better than Smith, Hill's better than anything they call a point guard, Nance should be the best rim-protector, and Hood is this team's third-best player. This should do the job (assuming the job is making it back to the Finals and getting dick-slapped by the Warriors (or Rockets!)).
14. "He lost it because of injury, and he lost it to either the ROY" In response to Reply # 12
or the runner-up. As for Nance, I didn't say he'd be a great rim-protector, just a better one than anyone else they have. Speaks more to their team than to his talents, but he will fit well with his athleticism and brains. He'd be best as their broke boy's Draymond, an undersized center who can switch and use his speed to get back in the lane for contests.
Nah, I actually have seen these dudes. That's why I'm legitimately hype for the Cavs (as hype as you can be for a team with about a 5-10% chance at the ring).
17. "having him dulls the pain of losing Channing Frye" In response to Reply # 15
that dude was great for the Cavs, and in his short time there joined my favorite Cavs of all time. he was big on the floor and off the floor for the team.
Never thought that Richard Jefferson/Channing Frye leaving the team would be the "end of an era" for any team but here we are
Nance is going to be instant fan favorite for obvious reasons. If he actually balls out in his role he's going into "Delly" tier fan favoritism
With TT posting more productive numbers as a starter, do you think that Nance who can perform well as either a starter or reserve should come out the bench and possibly finish games?
>With TT posting more productive numbers as a starter, do you >think that Nance who can perform well as either a starter or >reserve should come out the bench and possibly finish games?
Yes - I think Nance will be productive whether a starter or a reserve (whereas TT might get disenchanted if he's a bench player at this point) - but I would still go with Nance Jr. right now and ride this out to see if it's a permanent fixture - because he's playing more dynamic now than even TT was playing when he was starved for a big contract - largely because Nance Jr. has more offensive versatility than TT ever did.
I think Cavs best lineup come playoff time will be:
21. "their combination is more lethal than any other pairing on the team" In response to Reply # 20
and it's quite dramatic.
In the small sample size (about 150 minutes together) - the duo has outscored opponents by 52 points. The others in front of them on the plus-minus list have logged at least 284 minutes and some as much as 900 minutes together.
It's a matter of complementary balance. Not everyone paired with Lebron features this kind of +/- upside.
But I see you've been luke-warm at best on Nance Jr. since the trade was made so cling tightly to that 'genda.
26. "i thought their best chance was with all star IT." In response to Reply # 23
I'm not sure if that guy still exists tho. He wasn't given a fair chance to get back tho imo
-The Knicks’ coaching search still includes a lone frontrunner, Kurt Rambis, whose qualifications for the position include a strong relationship with Jackson and a willingness to take the job.
28. "RE: Trouncing of LeBronto aside, does anybody think this team would be....." In response to Reply # 23
>better equipped for the playoffs with Wade, IT, Rose & >Crowder? Particularly when they have to play one of the elite >teams out West?
Not at all... from a defensive standpoint. Even though the newer guys are giving you much offense, they are playing good defense.
The older guys would’ve probably gotten Cleveland bounced in the 1st round. With IT not in the mix, the older guys might’ve been good for only 1 games in terms of offensive production. They wouldn’t have done anything on the defensive end of the floor as well.
34. "This is my biggest criticism of Lue: he's too safe w/ rotations. " In response to Reply # 30 Tue May-08-18 06:30 PM by Vex_id
Many were begging him to play TT in the Indiana series (as he's the exact kind of player who can neutralize the brolic Pacer front-line) - but Lue waited far too long to even give it a try. Once he did institute TT, it paid huge dividends. Nance should've gotten more time as well - if for nothing else - to have size/energy on the floor when the Cavs go through their stagnant phases (on both ends).
It's already almost an impossible ask to have the new 4 (hill, jc, nance jr., hood) to find poise and chemistry under the duress of playoff basketball - but you made this deal and you've got to utilize all of the pieces more fearlessly.
36. "most teams shorten the rotation during the playoffs, the re-emergence..." In response to Reply # 34
of Tristan ate into Nance's minutes. Tristan is a better rim protector.
Cleveland likes to surround Lebron with shooters to spread the floor and Nance is not that and he's an average defender so that's why he got squeezed out.
38. "they do - you have to give these guys minutes." In response to Reply # 37
Lue has already dropped the ball by not playing them enough in the early rounds. I even think it was a mistake to bench Hood in game 4 v. Toronto. If Cleveland is going to advance - let alone be competitive in the Finals - all of the new guys have to be playing reasonably well. Lue has reverted to a far too-safe strategy - and his rotational comfort is not doing the Cavs any good.
39. "remove hood from this argument.." In response to Reply # 38
kang hasnt decided if hes invited to the ECF
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So i'm smokin on this cactus, bangin Fat Patrick hustla til i die baby grindin like a savage pimp game sweet, breakin ankles and feet cuz these hoes break they toes til they job complete
41. "to do what? lol. what is that you all expect from him? he's basically a...." In response to Reply # 37
hustle guy who's not a threat from the perimeter and is a mediocre defender at best. He'll catch a lob here and there because his defenders always leave him to double Bron but in the playoffs teams can gameplan for that shit. Jeff Green is getting those minutes now because he's can knock down the 3.
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