Bittersweet: Cavs Lost But LeBron Becomes the Youngest to Reach 30,000 Points

The Spurs make the King bleed for his points as Cleveland drops 4 of their last 5 games

There’s no stopping LeBron James now. He has been ripping through numerous history books and some jerseys too. Some even claim that he is the greatest player of all time to play the game of basketball, possibly greater than the likes of Kobe Bryant and yes, even His Airness, Michael Jordan.

While stopping Lebron James seems an impossible task to accomplish even among elite defenders in the NBA, stopping, beating and adding to the miseries of the still losing Cleveland Cavaliers seems a lot easier these days.

On a night when LeBron James became the youngest NBA player to reach 30,000 career points, the San Antonio Spurs finally broke out of their own slump as the Spurs beat the Cavs,114-102.

What were the differences?

LaMarcus Aldridge’s 30 points

With Kawhi Leonard, Manu Ginobili and Pau Gasol all out and are resting their injured bodies, the Spurs turned to LaMarcus Aldridge this time around. And Aldridge delivered as he led all scorers with 30 points on 12 for 18 field goal shooting. He added 8 rebounds, 2 steals and a blocked shot for another complete big man. Most of his points came from mid-range jumpers off perfect pick-and-roll plays. Now that’s efficiency, folks.

Clamped Down Defense

As mentioned, stopping LeBron James is virtually a nightmare but it doesn’t mean that you can’t slow him down. Sure, he had 28 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists, an MVP-kind of a stat line but the Spurs played suffocating defense on the King which worked to perfection because the King shot 10 for 23 from the field including a horrible 2 for 6 performance from downtown. Also, the King turned the ball over 5 times. 

Conclusion

If you have seen Tyronn Lue’s clueless face during the game, that’s exactly how clueless the Cavs were. While there’s no denying that Cleveland is now in a crisis, they will have to fix whatever issues they have because LeBron James can’t save them every single game even if he goes supernova. 

On the other hand, it seems that the Spurs are slowly learning to play and win without Kawhi Leonard and without Tony Parker as their starting point guard and for San Antonio, that’s definitely a good sign because they continue to trust one another. After all, the Spurs might be the dark horse who can take down the empire of the Golden State Warriors. 

Will Firing Tyron Lue fix the Cavs’ Problems?

Here’s why it will and why it will not

Whenever a team struggles on the court, the blame always goes to the coach. ALWAYS. But sometimes, firing your own head coach, who led your team to big wins and championships, doesn’t fix anything.

With the case of Tyronn Lue, coach of the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers, it’s likely that he will be the next NBA head coach to lose his job this season. Why?

Here’s why:

Instead of leading the Eastern Conference, the Cavaliers are currently in the 3rd spot with a 27-18 record. They are only half a game ahead of the Miami Heat. They have dropped 7 of their previous 10 games and things aren’t looking good for the Cavs as they are set to face the San Antonio Spurs.

Defensive problems have been visible in 5 of the last 6 games of the Cavs as they gave up a whopping 148 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder in front of their fans. And apparently, Tyronn Lue was to blame for those defensive lapses.

And apparently, the Cavs are not practicing more often than they should be- that is according to Isaiah Thomas who said that he can only get back into basketball shape if the Cavs are practicing.

So, if the Cavs are not practicing as frequent as they should be given their ongoing struggles, and none of Tyronn Lue’s defensive strategies seems to be producing more wins for Cleveland, will firing him fix things?

Yes

Assuming that the Cavs’ front office has grown tired of seeing Tyronn Lue’s seemingly puzzled face especially when the Cavs are trailing by a big margin, firing him MIGHT be a good move for Cleveland assuming that they will hire a more experienced head coach to replace him, it will help in terms of providing a new face at the helm which could also allow a fresher aura to enter the locker room. But again, that depends on who will replace Tyronn Lue and how will the players react.

Nope!

Regardless of who will replace Tyronn Lue if the problems are continuing to build up internally meaning the problems are caused by the players themselves, then firing Tyronn Lue will be useless because the internal problems will be left undealt with. Success won’t happen overnight and so does ending the Cavs’ struggles. The Cavs will need to make sure that Tyronn Lue’s coaching has been the source of their problems before they could terminate his contract because whether the Cavs will admit it or not, Tyronn Lue has done an amazing job of guiding the Cavs since taking over from David Blatt.Coach Kye has even guided the Cavs when they took down the empire of the Golden State Warriors in the Finals, 3-1.

Conclusion

Assuming that the Cavs pull the trigger on Tyronn Lue, who should they hire to replace him? The best choice would be David Fizdale who was fired by the Memphis Grizzlies earlier this season. Why him? He was one of Erik Spoelstra’s assistants when the Miami Heat had LeBron James so his familiarity with LeBron’s game can work the wonders for the Cavs. 

But at the end of the day, it will be all up to LeBron James himself. And to the Cavs’ front office, too. 

What is Really Wrong with the Cavs?

Isaiah Thomas has some ideas

Whether their fans will admit it or not, the struggles of the Cleveland Cavaliers are REAL.

To begin with, this is the Cleveland Cavaliers team that erased a 3-1 Finals deficit against the empire of the Golden State Warriors two seasons ago. So what is the difference between that Cavs team and this one that we are seeing right now?

For starters, that team had an effective Tristan Thompson and a KYRIE IRVING. This season, Kyrie Irving is now doing the Alpha dog job for the league-leading Boston Celtics while Tristan Thompson hasn’t been the same since he was dealing with his own injury problem. Thompson has only appeared in 25 games this season, starting 5 of those games. In those games, Thompson averaged 5 points and close to 6 rebounds per game. He used to be the leading rebounder of the team. Now? It’s Kevin Love.

Another big difference between the 2016 champion team and this current team is that ON PAPER, they have gained more firepower after getting Isaiah Thomas, Dwayne Wade and of course, former league MVP, Derrick Rose.  Here’s the problem, folks. Dwayne is no longer the same “Flash” we all loved during his decorated stint with the Miami Heat. Isaiah Thomas is still not the 4th quarter monster we used to see during his stint with the Celtics. Rose? He hasn’t been the same explosive player since he got injured right after winning the MVP award.

So what is wrong with the Cavs, REALLY?

According to the new guy, Isaiah Thomas, there are two reasons why the Cavs are heading into the game against the San Antonio Spurs with a 27-18 record- having lost 7 of their last 10 games.

Firstly, Isaiah Thomas said that the Cavs aren’t trying harder defensively. And that claim can be verified just by looking at easily their opponents have scored in their last 5 defeats were the Cavs up 124 points per game on the average. The Cavs’ lack of defensive intensity was displayed against the Oklahoma City Thunder when they gave up 148 points. Isaiah Thomas even went as far as saying that the Celtics were a defensive team during his stint there. 

Secondly, the Cavs weren’t trusting each other. For a team that is loaded with talented passers, averaging 23 assists per game- the 7th in the league in that category, is totally unacceptable. And that’s one of the many reasons why LeBron James has been on a Super Saiyan mode as of late because of the fact that his teammates weren’t trusting each other. 

Conclusion

Getting new players off trade deals will help improve the Cavs’ situation but first, Cleveland will have to fix their internal problems ON THEIR OWN because that’s a first step towards rediscovering how good they are with the pieces that they have. One thing that the Cavs will need to do is to defend. Why? Even though the Spurs won’t have Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio is still loaded with talented scorers. 

Cavs Interested in Lou Williams

Cleveland has been said to be willing to send two players for Williams

There’s no doubt in the minds of every fan of the Cleveland Cavaliers that their team is struggling DESPITE LeBron James’ brilliance and the fact that Isaiah Thomas has been playing. They have dropped 7 of their last 10 games and the last one wasn’t a good one either. The Cavs got themselves destroyed by the Oklahoma City Thunder. 148-124, ON THE CAVS’ OWN FLOOR.

The Cavs have been included in the teams that are looking to make a move before the trade deadline this February and among the players whom the Cavs are targetting is DeAndre Jordan of the Los Angeles Clippers. And apparently, DJ isn’t the only player from the Clippers who is being targetted by the defending Eastern Conference champions.

Ladies and gentlemen, can you imagine Lou Williams in a Cavs uniform?

Yes, folks. Lou Williams, one of the few bright spots in the otherwise an ugly season for the Clippers, has emerged as a trade target for the Cavaliers who are looking to reshape their roster because people are beginning to worry that they might not make it past the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics- should both squads make it that far.

To begin with, Lou Williams has been on a tear in the last 10 games as he is averaging 31 points and 6 assists per game. And the Clippers are lurking around in the 8th spot in the West with a 23-21 record.

Apparently, the Cavs are willing to send JR Smith alongside Tristan Thompson in exchange for DeAndre Jordan and Lou Williams. While the ESPN Trade Machine has indicated that the trade involving the said players will work without the complexities, the Trade Machine also indicated that the Cavs will add 4 wins to their projected number of wins assuming that they pull the trigger on this one.

Assuming that both teams will make this deal a reality, the Cavs will now have two elite scorers off the bench in Lou Williams and Dwayne Wade. With DeAndre Jordan at the 5 spot, Kevin Love can now focus on playing at his natural position. With JR Smith gone, Tyronn Lue can start Kyle Korver at the 2 spot to provide some early long-range bombs.

Conclusion

There’s no doubt that the Cavs are in dire need of upgrade despite having one of the best players in the NBA on board. Hopefully, having a player like Lou Williams and having one of the league’s elite rim defenders in DeAndre Jordan will improve the Cavs’  situation because if not, they will become the laughingstock of the NBA. 

Magic Passes: Westbrook’s 20 Assists Outwit Cavs Shaky Defense

The rare simultaneous burst of the triple threat Carmelo Anthony, Paul George, and Russell Westbrook came into a supernova to destroy the Cavs for their 4th straight victory 148 – 124.

Melo hit his season high with 29 points, while George scored 36. But what’s even more jaw-dropping is Westbrook’s 23 points with 20 assists.

Westbrook’s magic passes are at it again. He tends to pass the ball a lot yet still scored more than enough to provide triumph for OKC. He was one board short of getting another astonishing triple-double.

Cleveland’s burden became heavier and heavier. It was a game of frustrations for Cavs. LeBron James was rooting to hit 30 000 career points but was pulled out with only 7 points remaining. Love played 3 minutes due to his sickness.

What’s most frustrating is that their defensive issues apparently are still left unsolved. They let OKC scored so high that they’ve lost with a huge gap. A team with a defensive strength normally does not allow their opponent to hit the century mark even in lost games.

Cleveland became too much of an offensive team yet they were almost outshone by OKC starters alone.

OKC totaled 121 points out of 148 with their 5 starters alone. 7 points behind and Thunder first five could have beaten Cavs’ whole team score.

Cavs just do not have enough force to push forward or pull OKC back in as they could not force a single digit deficit. They reached by as close as being 12 points behind but it turned out to be LBJ’s last hit of the night and OKC stretched once again by as much as 31 points.

Scores:

OKC 148 – George 36, Anthony 29, Adams 25, Westbrook 23, Roberson 8, Bench – 27

Cavs 124 – Thomas 24, James 18, Crowder 17, Smith 8, Love 0, Bench – 57

What is happening to the Cavs?

In the crazy world of NBA basketball, one thing has been a constant in the past few years, the Cleveland Cavs always playing solidly. They might not have won every game, they perhaps haven’t blown too many sides off the court, however, they have rarely been crushed. It has been incredibly rare to see LeBron and co have to slink off the court after suffering a genuine mauling by another side.

Last night though they were left broken and bruised after a stunning performance by the Minnesota Timberwolves who raced in a 20-4 league and didn’t look back for a second. If you are feeling as lucky as the Timberwolves then come shoot some hoops with 243 ways to win on the excellent game basketball star. It is a game that combines the best of basketball with the best of slots. It is easy to play, fun to win and is the perfect way to combine a love of dunks with a passion for spins. The Cavs will be hoping their luck can turn as the season goes on.

They will be particularly worried about the fact that LeBron was kept down to only ten points and with rumours abounding that he might not be sticking around in Ohio for too long, the team need to get back on track and have the King playing at his best, sooner rather than later. It was his lowest points total in a game since October 2007 which was all the way back during his first stint with the Cavs. For a team hoping to win back the title they lost to Golden State Warriors last season they are not in great form having lost four of their last six matches as they experience travel sickness in road matches.

The margins have not made for great reading either, this 28 point loss has come hot on the heels of a 14 point deficit against the Boston Celtics and a 14 point defeat to the Sacramento Kings who currently hold a losing record. While the Cavs themselves are 26-14, they have already lost more than half as many games as they did when they won their last championship with a significant amount of games to go.

They do therefore look a little bit vulnerable, while the Warriors continue to sweep all before them with their 33-8 record, this could be the first year in a while where we do not see LeBron in the NBA finals and he decides his time back in Akron has come to an end. With the Celtics on form and the Raptors firing on all cylinders this could be a very hard year for the Cavs and LeBron.

It is important for them to get back on track quickly, to get LeBron firing again and to give a boost to the whole team. It absolutely does not feel like they are big trouble or in a crisis but they also are nowhere near their best and if any team are going to stop Golden State then they have to reach a level far higher than where the Cavaliers are at right now. They can start on the road back to the top with a win over the Raptors, a side currently above them in conference, when they meet on Friday.

The Struggle is REAL for LeBron and the Cavs

LeBron admits this season is the hardest for him

When the Cleveland Cavaliers swapped Kyrie Irving for Isaiah Thomas who, at the time of the trade, was still recovering from the injury he sustained during the last playoffs, many people were worried that this deal would have a rippling effect to the success rate of the Cavs. Despite getting Derrick Rose who was also dealing with his own injury problems among other matters, and Dwayne Wade, the defending Eastern Conference Champions are not as dominant as they used to be during the previous 3 seasons despite LeBron James playing another MVP-worthy season.

The Cavs began the season inconsistently and right now, they are nowhere near the super team that they should be. Why? If they are, then they should be holding the best record in the Eastern Conference, to say the least. Instead, the Cavs are in the 3rd spot in the East with a 26-17 record- 7 games behind the East-leading Boston Celtics.

Recently, LeBron James, who is averaging 27 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.1 blocks in 43 games this season has finally admitted one thing that has been observed by many: the 2017-2018 season has been the hardest for LeBron. 

How bad is it? 

Since December 19, 2017, the Cleveland Cavaliers have gone 3-9 and are riding on a 4-game losing streak. The Cavs lost to the Golden State Warriors, twice, and to the Celtics of Kyrie Irving. But one of the ugliest defeats that the Cavs have to endure this season was the one against the Toronto Raptors, 133-99. That, by the way, was the most lopsided defeat that has been absorbed by the Cavs. It was so horrible that LeBron James was seen yelling at his teammates at the bench as if he was the coach. 

Conclusion

If the Cavs can’t figure things out before the playoffs, it will put Tyronn Lue’s coaching job in jeopardy and worse, it will almost secure LeBron James’ ticket out of Cleveland. However, we shouldn’t count the Cavs just yet because whether we like it or not, the Cavs are still seasoned for another Finals trip assuming the Cavs make it past the Celtics. And who knows? These struggles might benefit the Cavs in the long run. 

A Better Kyrie Without LeBron or a Better LeBron Without Kyrie?

Before this season commenced, the phenomenal duo of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Lebron James and Kyrie Irving parted ways.

How are they doing separately so far?

Kyrie Irving with the Boston Celtics is already on fire or should I say, already set a fire. They ran a jaw-dropping 16 straight wins and is holding on the eastern top quite tight until the current time. They’re just so strong despite Isaiah Thomas and Jae Crowder’s departure to the Cavs. What’s even more amazing is they withstood an unfortunate scenario of Gordon Hayward being seriously injured.

It is Kyrie Irving who defines Celtics’ success this season so far.

On the other hand, Lebron and the Cavs have been in a swamp on the opening of their season. They stayed for a little bit of time on the lower part of the standings at the number but slowly found their way up to number 3 currently. They also lost to a Curryless Warriors. A very painful defeat tastes against their rivals.

Nevertheless, the Cavs beat Kyrie and the Celtics on their 1st game.

If we would judge LeBron and Kyrie in terms of their performance with their teams, the favor would obviously be on Irving’s side as the Celtics are sizzling hot on this phase.

But how about their performance in individual terms?

Based on my observations, it is and will be both beneficial for LeBron and Kyrie. Why? They are both offensive monsters and both score by themselves most of the time. Two players like this should not stay on one team as it would lead to lack of team play. Them being separated would lead to the maximization of their skills in isolation plays and clutch times. Anyone could score, but in terms of clutch times, it would take a Kyrie or a LeBron to take and make that winning basket.

But as of now, Kyrie with the Celtics is having a great season as compared to King James with the all-out Cavs. In fact, LeBron was deprived of the separation benefits mentioned above because the Cavs had a lot of players that mostly play and finish individually like Derick Rose and Dwyane Wade.

Individually the betterment is in equilibrium but the holistic improvement slid down to the Celtics land. 

Lakers Larry Nance Jr. and other players to be traded for Pelicans Anthony Davis?

The Lakers are willing to break their young core for a potential big catch in the free agency.

There have been a few bright spots in the otherwise a miserable season for the Los Angeles Lakers. They got the biggest steal last year’s draft in Kyle Kuzma. They managed to snap the winning streak of the Houston Rockets. Oh and don’t forget about their game against the Golden State Warriors when the defending champions needed an extra period just to beat the Lakers by a small margin. If anything, this has been competitive the Lakers have become in the last few seasons. But then again, sticking around like glue against the Warriors won’t be enough to bring the Lakers back to the playoffs and certainly won’t be enough to lure big names next season.

And despite their win over the struggling Atlanta Hawks which ended their losing streak, the Lakers are still at the bottom of the Western Conference thanks to their 12-27 record as they have dropped 9 of their last 10 games. And yet they are hoping to sign the likes of Paul George and LeBron James in the next off-season? Who would want to sign with a bottom-dweller team in the first place?

Despite their struggles, the Lakers are still willing to break their young core who has been the primary reason for their 12 wins this season- so far, just to have enough space for a big star. Aside from Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson whose names have been constantly included in the trade rumors, there’s a new name added and it belongs to Larry Nance Jr. Remember his dunk over Kevin Durant? Can you just imagine him doing that while wearing another uniform?

Apparently, the Lakers wanted to make sure that they will have the need cap space to lure big names come July 2018 and they are appearing to have been pushing that big panic button for a long time now.Take away the Randle problem because he’s likely to be traded anyway but Clarkson? Nance Jr.? Larry Nance Jr. may have only played 28 games this season due to injury issues and he’s only averaging 8 points per game but if you look at the Lakers’ win against the Hawks, Nance Jr. is one of their 8 players who scored in double figures, totaling 13 points and 8 rebounds. So trading Larry Nance Jr. is a big gamble despite his injury problems.

Conclusion

Just a few weeks ago, Larry Nance Jr’s name was actually included in the 6 players that the Lakers were willing to send to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for Anthony Davis. While that trade remains a rumor to this day,  it can always happen. The question is: Will the Lakers pull the trigger this time around without any assurance that any trade will guarantee them landing LeBron James?

That remains to be seen.  

Potential: Houston We have a King Next Season!

Houston Rockets aim to sign LeBron James & re-sign Chris Paul, according to ESPN’s Zach Lowe.

Houston is a nice landing spot for the King but do they have enough cap space and selling point to lure the most in-demand player of the upcoming free agency.

James Harden and Chris Paul may be enough reason to consider joining the Rockets as the already great team could form the super teams of all super teams. James Harden alone is able to carry the Rockets to the playoffs and the top of the standing, what more if LeBron James would be part of the roster?

There a few potential landing spot for LeBron James next season such as the Lakers, Sixers and Houston Rockets who have been trying to make a bold move since last season when they attempted to lure in Carmelo Anthony to the city.

Rockets are interested

It’s public that they are interested in getting LeBron James and in order to do that they would have to let go of a number of players to give the King his well-deserved salary and it looks like they may have just that come next season.

We won’t be surprised if he chose the Rockets but we would expect him to stay put in Cleveland because everything else that other teams are offering is with his current team, besides, there’s no guarantee that joining two or three great players could form a championship team. 

The Boston Revenge: 3 Reasons Behind Cavs Defeat Against Celtics

After the Boston Celtics’ season opener defeat against the Cleveland Cavaliers, they finally got the chance to strike them back. Celtics redemption thwarted the Cavs 102 – 88.

Kyrie only scored 11 points but still, Celtics destroyed the Cavs completely.

What could be the reasons behind this overwhelming Celtics win over Cavs?

1. A not so dominant LeBron

Surprisingly, in games wherein most expected that he’ll go all out, LeBron scored only 19 points. Though he was the top scorer for the Cavs, still it is unusual for him to play so small. He even missed all his attempts from beyond the arc.

2. Rozier’s big play off the bench

While everyone was expecting and focused on two guys — Irving and James, Terry Rozier came off the bench very efficiently. Rozier rocked the arena with 20 points off the bench within 20 minutes of playing time. While Kyrie Irving struggled from the rainbow country, delivering nothing out of his 5 attempts, Rozier’s just at ease to hit 4 out of 6 long balls.

It was a great trump card that a player off the bench played bigger than the superstars on the floor. Nobody or at least a few anticipated that the biggest point contribution would come from a man who hasn’t played even half of the whole 48 minutes.

3. Disabled I.T.

Isaiah Thomas could’ve been Cavs best card to play against Boston but unfortunately, he is at rest and has just recovered from injury. I.T knows even the bench players of Boston. He could’ve been the key to cease Rozier’s explosion earlier. He could’ve forced to sit out Terry and let the worst shooting Kyrie longer.

Overall, Boston played a not so big game but unfortunately, the Cavs were at their worst form in any aspect.

Kyle Korver delivered well on his task — shooting threes yet he’s alone. As mentioned above, LeBron hit nothing but the steel rim. Same as Kevin Love, a dangerous towering outside shooter was a dormant at the game both inside, perimeter and beyond the arc. Love hit 1 out of his 11 attempts on the field and nothing of 4 outside attempts.

Celtics win over Cavs can be considered as a lucky victory. Nothing turned out to be huge and explosive. It is the other way around instead. Most of their key players were missing in action. It was great for Boston facing the worst Cavs and having a Rozier ready to go to aid the empty-handed Kyrie.

Rumor: Julius Randle annd Jordan Clarkson Up for Grabs

The Lakers are said to have offer two of its best players in various trades

While there’s no doubt that the current roster of the Los Angeles Lakers has both the talent and the potential to develop into a playoff-bound team, they have yet to make a significant impact in the Western Conference as they are sitting in 14th place with an 11-23 record- the second-worst record in the West. They head into their match-up against the Houston Rockets having dropped 8 of their last 10 games which include a 121-106 defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Clippers. And just by looking at their schedule, things won’t get any better for the Purple and Gold.

The Lakers are also one of the most active teams as of late as they are either trying to get rid or trade their players in hopes of creating enough cap space in hopes that they can lure superstars such as LeBron James and Paul George come July of 2018. While there’s no assurance that either LeBron and/or PG13 will sign with the Lakers, Magic Johnson and company are working round the clock trying to figure out the best trade deals that could help improve the team’s standings because as it is, it appears that they are back to doing the one thing that they are good at over the past seasons: losing tons of games.

As of now, there are two notable players whom the Lakers are reportedly trying to ship via a trade. These players are Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle. While there’s no word as to which team did the Lakers offer these two but the thing is: they are trying to trade two of the members of their young core.Jordan Clarkson is currently the team’s third-leading scorer, averaging 14 points per game. Julius Randle is averaging 12 points per game while coming off the bench the first 33 games of the season. While Randle has said that he’s accepting whatever role he will be given, sources have also said that Randle is growing unhappy with his deteriorating minutes- making it a bit easy for the Lakers to decide to offer him in a trade.

Conclusion

Trading Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle is something that the Lakers must decide on carefully because a bad trade will not improve their chances of a possible playoff appearance nor will help them lure big names come July 2018. 

Now, if you’re gonna ask this pundit on wheels as to who among Clarkson and Randle does he want the Lakers to retain, it would be Jordan Clarkson. Why? He is playing one of his best careers as a scorer, registering his highest 3-point shooting percentage at 35.2% and a true shooting percentage of 53.2% He can help the Lakers just by being the leader off the bench- something that Randle isn’t fond of doing. 

Highlights: Birthday Boy Cavs LeBron James Bow Down to Jazz Rookie Donovan Mitchell

Cleveland Cavaliers ends the year with a three-game losing skid after falling behind rookie-lead Utah Jazz. LeBron James played well but it wasn’t enough. In fact, a number of Cavs players did pretty well including Jeff Green who scored 22 points and Kevin Love who contributed 20.

But it was the Jazz’ night as they controlled the game in the last two quarters led by Rookie Donovan Mitchel who was scorching hot with 29 points. The rookie played like a veteran and made some difficult shots. The Jazz ended the year with a win.

Highlights of the Cleveland Cavaliers vs Utah Jazz game:

NBA in 2018: Questions that Need Answers

After a stunning pre-season which rocked the season, there are things that we are looking forward to in 2018

While there’s no question that this year’s pre-season was one of the wildest in recent memory due to the various super teams that were assembled plus the arrival of some of the promising rookies, 2018 should present the answers to the questions most of us asked prior to the start of the regular season and below are just some of the questions:

1. Will Golden State repeat as champions?
   This is probably the most obvious question everyone asked after the Warriors successfully reclaimed the NBA championship from the Cleveland Cavaliers. With the super-trio of Kevin Durant, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson still intact to this point in time, many were predicting another dominant season for the Warriors. However, numerous injuries have hit the Warriors during the first two months of the season and the fact that the Houston Rockets have started the season on fire had many questioning the Warriors’ dominance. In fact, many fans are now saying that this is the weakest the Warriors have become over the course of the 3 seasons. Sure, they are back atop the Western Conference but can they repeat as champions? That’s a different story, folks.  
2. Will OKC make it work?
   One of the stories that rocked the NBA the most was when the Oklahoma City Thunder assembled an on-paper mighty super trio of Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony and Paul George after getting the latter two from separate trades. On paper, this trio can almost beat any super team but the problem is, they haven’t been the team they are meant to be. Until now. Heading into their first game of 2018, the Thunder have won 8 of their last 10 games with a 20-16 record which puts them in 5th place in the West. While the Thunder have been better than they were in November, can they actually keep only winning and make a championship team out of this? We’ll be watching, OKC.
3. Will Lonzo Ball become the best rookie in history?
   Lonzo Ball was one of the most-hyped rookies in history ever since LeBron James’ pre-draft days. After being drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers as the number two pick, many fans began saying that Lonzo Ball will bring the Lakers back to the Finals. As this point in time, this pundit on wheels is very much disappointed with Lonzo Ball’s performance because he is being outplayed by his own teammate, Kyle Kuzma, who is the 27thy pick in the 2017 Draft. Lonzo is still clanking most of his shots, especially from the three-point line. Will he improve? The season’s still long so there’s still plenty of time. Rookie of the Year material? Nope. 
4. Where will LeBron James take his talents next?
   This is probably one of the most nagging questions this year even before the start of the season. There were many speculations as to where His Majesty will establish his new kingdom come July of next year. One prominent destination where LeBron could land is the Lakers where he will be joining the young core that includes Lonzo Ball. Or, he could join Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons in Philadelphia. Or what about Houston? The possibilities are limitless. Or, he could remain in Cleveland depending on how far will the Cavaliers go in the playoffs. 

Conclusion

One thing is certain. All of the questions above and more will be answered slowly as 2018 begins unfolding itself soon. Mind you, folks. The trade deadline is almost at hand.Remember those trade rumors? They may make noise anew come January. 

Happy New Year, everyone. 

Balls-Eye: Cavs Could’ve Been Better if Only Wade Was the New Guy

They’ve done it before. They could’ve done it again.

The supposed to be spectacular blast of supernova due to merge of superstars turned out to be a tiny spark with a lot of smoke. Its a foggy path for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Losing Kyrie Irving gave the Cavs the need for LeBron to find another partner. One person would suffice. And if there would be anyone who’d perfectly fit the puzzle, it would be Dwyane Wade of course. They have proven their effectiveness way back when they played together for the Heat.

It would have turned out way better if a team has only one main focus.

1. Derrick Rose

Most of the time, Rose’s plays are isolations wherein he would score the basket himself through a lightning fast cut through to the unprotected rim. We know that LeBron provides this kind of offense already. The one man team style of play. If there’ll be two guys like this on the floor, in times of crisis, teamplay would be as good as dead. Another thing is that two players with this kind of mindset won’t be able to work together. Well, given that they tend to score baskets all by themselves.

2. Jae Crowder and Isaiah Thomas

These two great players came from the same team — the Boston Celtics and it happened when they were key players of that squad. Meaning, they already have the chemistry and sense of team play inherent between them. As a result, in most of the plays wherein I.T sets up, most probably Crowder would be its focal point.

Conclusion

Cavs maybe very strong as it appears because there are teams within the team. But that’s also what made them weak. They aren’t as compact as one when they play.

If Dwyane Wade would be the only one to be added, despite coming from the Bulls, he’ll had no one with inherent relationship except for former partner LeBron James.

Cavs do not need extra power. They just need to empower their usual source. And this would be done through Dwyane Wade behind LeBron James. 

The Numbers Don’t Lie: Kyle Kuzma SHOULD Be an All-Star

He’s outplaying other rookies including Lonzo Ball.

Over the course of the season, almost everyone is saying the same thing: Kyle Kuzma is definitely the steal of the draft. And the Los Angeles Lakers have the Brooklyn Nets to thank for. 

Imagine if the Lakers didn’t trade D’Angelo Russell to the Nets in exchange for Brook Lopez and the rights to pick Kuzma, the 27th pick in the 2017 Draft, the Lakers would have been in a much worse situation owing to Lonzo Ball’s struggles in terms of putting the ball into the basket.  Of course, Lonzo Ball is getting more attention from the media because of the tremendous amount of hype that he got even before the draft and of course, thanks to his equally famous father, LaVar Ball.

While many fans initially thought that Lonzo Ball would be the new face of a franchise who has been enduring long spells of no playoff appearances, they are dead wrong. Who is the Lakers’ scoring leader this season? Not Lonzo Ball. Not Brandon Ingram. It’s the guy wearing the #0, Kyle Kuzma.

Kuzma has been averaging 18 points per game while playing for 31 minutes. He’s making 49% of his shot attempts including 41% of his attempts from the three-point line- leading the Lakers. But what made people go crazy and began campaigning for Kuzma to play in the All-Star Game is his performance in the last two weeks. How good ios Kuzma during that period?

• 26 points per game
• 7 rebounds
• 52% field goal shooting

On Christmas Day against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Kuzma exploded for 31 points- the most for a rookie player who played on Christmas Day since LeBron James had 34 back in 2003. No wonder why the King himself was also impressed with #0. Kuzma went 6 for 13 from the three-point line and had 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and a blocked shot. 

Conclusion

Will these numbers equalize to Kyle Kuzma getting a spot in the All-Star Game? Definitely. Rookie of the Year? That’s not impossible. Face of the franchise? YEP! 

For now, Kyle Kuzma is performing as if he’s not a rookie. He may have his down moments but the beauty of it, he keeps on coming back way better and he has already broken many rookie-related records. Example? He became the first rookie since Jerry West to average 25 points, at least, in 3 consecutive games. 

No wonder why many teams are now scratching their heads. They missed the chance to have Kuzma on board. And they missed BIG TIME. 

Scrutinizing Cavs: The Chances of Snatching the Eastern Top Spot

The Cavs has been doing well at this stage of the season despite losing against rival Golden State Warriors recently. The big question is, are they doing enough to boost up from number 3 all the way to the top spot?

Cavaliers run a 12th straight home win when they beat the Chicago Bulls short handed without point guard Isaiah Thomas.

LeBron James is as dominant as ever, averaging 28.1 PPG plus a 9.1 APG almost let his season performance be a double double.

It is a good thing that LeBron James stayed as threatening as he is given that Cavs are saturated with superstars from different teams before. But is it only LeBron doing well for the Cavs?

We could not deny the fact that the Cavs weren’t as explosive as expected. Almost everybody expect them to stay undefeated for a relatively long period of time but that’s not what happened obviously. Cavs experience terrible losses and downfalls against various teams like the Rockets and Warriors.

One good thing the Cavs has done to give them hope to earn the top spot is they have beaten the Boston Celtics in the season opener. It was a really good start that they’ve beaten the currently reigning team.

What does this mean?

It may make or break the Boston Celtics. It may make them extremely hungry for redemption or may scare them if they face Cavs once again anytime soon. Well, in fact Celtics has done well after opening the season with two straight losses against Cavs and Bucks. It was really breath-taking when they unleashed a 16 – 0 win streak.

On the other hand, the Cavs didn’t do well early, but sizzled in the mid phase of the season climbing from number 8 to number 2 and now in number 3.

Would Cavs have a chance to snatch the top spot?

We could not know for certain but if they would win in a match over the Raptors at some point, Celtics would surely be under ultimate pressure. It’s the Cavs, Raptors and Celtics now trying to snatch the top spot.

On what Cavs is currently doing, they’ll have a great chance of being the number one team. Their superstar chemistry is starting to work and be maximized. Point contribution is spreading and a single lose to Warriors is not the end for LeBron and the Cavs.

Update: Isaiah Thomas Attitude Getting Worse as he gets Closer to Return says LeBron James

LeBron James Comment on Isaiah Thomas Should Worry Other Teams.

In an interview, LeBron James was asked about the attitude of Isaiah and he was quick to say that it is getting worse and worse everytime you get an inch closer to something you love to do. This should be taken on a positive note as LeBron James are seeing signs of how Thomas wants to be back and make an impact.

Cleveland is not doing bad without him, currently, at 3rd in the Eastern Conference only behind rival Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors, Isaiah Thomas entry to the roster is a welcome and anticipated addition but some are already hesitant about how he would greatly impact the chemistry of the Cavs.

Isaiah Thomas has never officially played as a Cavaliers since the blockbuster trade which swapped him for Kyrie Irving. Thomas is eager to be back on the court and has recently posted a video of him dunking.

IT 👀 #thatslowgrind (via @kayla_jasmin_) #thehoopgods

A post shared by The Gods Of Hoops 🔥 (@thehoopgods) on Dec 24, 2017 at 2:08pm PST

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Thomas did not play on Christmas Day against the Warriors, but he recently got through a full-contact, 5-on-5 practice with the Cavs’ G-League affiliate. Thomas is targeted to return January or in two weeks but Coach Tyrone Lue has not ruled out an earlier return.

Thomas was the main man of the Celtics averaging about 28 points per game and while that role will change in Cleveland, he has already promised to score close to 30 points once he returns in the lineup.

Balls-Eye: Will LeBron Pass Westbrook on Triple Double Record?

With the Cleveland Cavaliers’ recent win against the Utah Jazz, LeBron James bagged his 60th triple-double performance of his career to break the tie with Larry Bird.

29 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for the historical tiebreaker against a hall of famer. But can he chase Russell Westbrook and break his record this season?

Westbrook currently has 89 ranking at number 4 for the most triple-double.

It is much easier to win a game than to explode with a triple-double. It is not usual in every single game to have even just a single player on the winning side to play up to that intensity. In short, it isn’t something we see every day.

LeBron is considered to be the best player in the world but is way behind Westbrook in terms of such exceptional performance. The question is:

Can he slip past Westbrook within this season?

Well, it is quite hard but it is not impossible. OKC’s Triple threat slowed down Westbrook for he isn’t the only one doing huge in the offense. His individual task of scoring huge was split into smaller pieces with the addition of Paul George and Carmelo Anthony. Hence, Russell has a lower chance to have triple-double performances every game. A double-double is slowly being typical of Russell Westbrook but still a triple-double game is a different story.

With Russell Westbrook being slowed down, does LeBron have enough time to chase and surpass him?

For a player like LeBron nothing’s impossible. But bear in mind that if Westbrook is slowed down due to addition of superstars on OKC, it may have the same effect for LeBron as Cavs are undeniably more saturated with big players than OKC is.

Another thing is that its not as though Westbrook’s record will remain static for the rest of the season. He may have less chances of performing huge but possibilities aren’t absolutely zero.

Conclusion

LeBron may pass Westbrook but this season alone won’t be enough time to do so. 

Balls-Eye: Just How Amazing is LeBron’s 17 Assists?

Well, the answer is it reached victory for the Cavs over the Hawks. But this is talking about a game perspective. Now, how about a ‘historical’ perspective?

Before we get into that intriguing question, I must admit that 25 points coupled with 17 assists are just way too far from ordinary basketball. Only those one of a kind players has what it takes to ignite and explode the way he did. It seldom happens that a player reaches more than 20 points but still isn’t selfish of the ball.

25 points and 17 assists are just the perfect epitome of efficiency. It is something we do not see everyday. Really extraordinary.

Okay, let us go back to the question I have raised a while ago. How about this performance on a ‘historical perspective’ let us talk about the 17 assists alone. How amazing are those 17 assists?

Looking back at those legendary records marked, it is far from breaking the highest record of 30 assists by Scott Skiles of the Orlando Magic against the Denver Nuggets when they were tied at the standings 6 wins 23 losses. With him dishing out this 30 magic assists, they went ahead to chase their 7th victory of the season. But this is far back, it happened last December 30, 1990.

Now let’s check out the best passers in today’s basketball era.

If there’d be anyone, it is Rajon Rondo who managed to bag 20 assists and up several times.7 times to be exact and his highest was 24 in a single game against the Knicks last 2010.

What’s Amazing About LeBron’s?

I know you guys would ask if LeBron didn’t break the record then what’s amazing about his performance? Yes, he may have ‘only’ 17 assists and Rondo had 24. It’s a bit far but who performed better? Of course, it is LeBron when talking about the totality. Rondo only scored 10 points that time, relatively small compared to James’ 25.

It is hard to score high while passing effectively for your teammates. But guess what, James did.

LeBron James to Houston: A Real Chance?

Executives believe Houston has a real chance in landing LeBron 

Ever since the possibility of LeBron James leaving his beloved Cleveland Cavaliers next season, for the second time around, has popped up, the scenarios as to where LeBron James would be playing next have been flooding the NBA. 

Initially, the most probable destination for the King would be the Los Angeles Lakers to team up with Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma. Then, the Philadelphia 76ers have indicated that they would be making a push to sign LeBron James at the end of the current season. 

Now? Another team from the Western Conference has appeared to be another candidate to win LeBron’s services- that if you will believe the league executives. That team is none other than the Houston Rockets.

The Houston Rockets are enjoying a big amount of success as evident by their 20-4 record- the best in the West. They are on a 9-game winning streak and Chris Paul has been playing like a “point god” alongside James Harden ever since CP3 returned to action after sitting out tons of games due to injury. James Harden has become the league’s leading scorer as he is averaging 32 points per game. The Beard is also averaging 9 assists per game- the second best in the NBA next to Russell Westbrook. As a team, the Rockets are the second-best scoring team, averaging 114 points per game. So, you could just imagine how powerful the Rockets would become if  LeBron James goes to Texas next season.

LeBron James is having another MVP-worthy season, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers in 4 of the 5 departments. However, despite their recently ended 13-game winning streak, the Cavs are still in 3rd place in the Eastern Conference with a 19-8 record. And, injuries are piling up anew, forcing LeBron James to play extended minutes. If the Cavs struggle anew this season like they did during the season’s early weeks, then it will only cement LeBron James’ departure from Cleveland, again.

Conclusion

Realistically, the Rockets are the best team to land LeBron James next season assuming that LeBron leaves the East. Why? Chris Paul is one of the King’s friends and the King has always said that he wanted to play alongside CP3. And talent-wise the Rockets are definitely the team LeBron should consider to play for especially if he wanted to improve his 3-5 Finals record. After all, if this move happens, the Rockets will have one of the best super teams that have been assembled in recent memory, right? 

Wade’s Coming off the Bench Producing Good Results for the Cavs

Dwyane Wade only started 3 games this season. And he doesn’t mind at all

Despite being 35 years old, Dwyane Wade will always be one of the greatest shooting guards we have in this league right now. He has won 3 championships with LeBron James during their playing years with the Miami Heat. He took his talents to the Chicago Bulls that didn’t even produce a playoff appearance for the Bulls. 

Now that he’s back alongside his pal, the King, the Cleveland Cavaliers now have one of the most exciting dynamic duos we have seen these past few years. And by the way, after their early struggles to start off this season, the Cavs are now on a 12-game winning streak after beating the Chicago Bulls, 113-91. This current streak of the Cavs has enabled them to slowly catch up with the East-leading Boston Celtics as the Cavs now hold a 17-7 record which puts them in 2nd place in the Eastern Conference.

Now, what worked well for the Cavs this season so far? Aside from LeBron James’ unquestionable brilliance and dominance this season, the mere fact that Dwyane Wade is coming off the bench to provide the leadership when LeBron is resting has done wonders for the Cavs. With Derrick Rose still preparing for his return to the line-up and, Isaiah Thomas still recovering from his injury, that left Tyronn Lue without a choice but to start JR Smith alongside Jose Calderon in some games.

Dwyane Wade’s coming off the bench, as mentioned, has produced positive results for Cleveland and that was evident when Wade scored 24 points against Chicago- shooting 69% from the field while grabbing 6 rebounds in 26 minutes of action. Wade has averaged 11 points per game this season- one of the lowest in his 14-year career but we all know that Wade can still explode for 30+ points anytime.

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While we don’t know how long Dwyane Wade will be coming off the bench this season for the Cavs but if we look at this scenario: LeBron James and Kevin Love providing the spark early on while Wade providing the additional reinforcement off the bench, then there’s no way the Cavs cannot catch-up and overtake the Celtics in the standings.

Conclusion

If anything, we have to commend Dwyane Wade’s attitude towards coming off the bench because even though he’s a legitimate superstar, he embraces his new role for the Cavs with open arms. He can produce 30 points or more in a snap regardless if he’s a starter or not. One way or another, Wade’s contributions to the Cavs are big and that’s why they are winning at the moment.  

LeBron James vs James Harden are NBA Players Of The Month, But who will be the MVP?

LeBron James and James Harden named NBA Players Of The Month

James and Harden have been tearing up the basketball court and have been leading their respective teams to victories. Last month, both players were just amazing. 

LeBron James at 32 years old continues to defy father time as he puts up amazing stats after another giving his team 10 wins in a row. Averaging 37 minutes on the floor, there is almost no rest for the King. His production was as prime as you can get with 28 points per game while shooting a high 58% GF, to contributing 8.2 rebounds, 8 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.2 blocks per game.

There is no slowing down for the King and it looks like the deduction of Derrick Rose and other people on the line up may have helped as they became a much more fluid team.

On the other hand, the four years younger James Harden continues to show how hungry he is winning his first NBA championship and MVP. The Houston Rockets is on top of the Western Conference standings because of one man and that man has been averaging 31 points, 5 rebounds, almost 10 assists, and 1.7 steals per game, a stats line worthy of the NBA player of the month award but will it be enough to win the MVP? 

It’s too early to tell who would end up getting the MVP or winning the championship but these two players are certainly on the top of the choices to win them all. If they continue to be healthy the whole season, the two players are in a good phase to not only get the MVP but to break records. 

Who do you think will be the MVP?

Despite their Latest Success, Cleveland Needs to Solve One Specific Problem

Why the Cavs Need a Center?

The Cleveland Cavaliers are now in 3rd place in the Eastern Conference as they currently have a 14-7 win-loss record in the season. LeBron James and company are riding on a 9-game winning streak. They are the top-scoring team in the East, averaging 110 points per game- 3rd among all teams. 

However, injuries to notable players have struck the team. 

To start off, Isaiah Thomas hasn’t played a single NBA game this season since he was traded from the Boston Celtics because he is still recovering from the injury that he sustained last season. 

Tristan Thompson, one of the Cavs’ best rebounders and rim defenders, has missed a big chunk of the current season due to injuries as well. 

Iman Shumpert will undergo a surgery for his injured left knee which means the Cavs will have to find other players who can score. 

And don’t forget about Derrick Rose who is dealing with his own injury issue on top of other personal matters.  

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The Cavaliers have one problem that might affect them soon if not dealt with properly. They don’t have a legitimate center. Sure, Tristan Thompson is currently listed as a center but if you have been watching him in the last few seasons, then you will know that he’s more of a power forward than a center. Coach Tyronn Lue has chosen to go for Kevin Love as his starting center but we all know that doing so can create mismatches which will not favor Love because he is usually forced to defend some of the best centers in the league right now such as DeAndre Jordan, Marc Gasol and Anthony Davis.

What can the Cavs do?

Trade Tristan Thompson plus Iman Shumpert and a draft pick for a legitimate center. Now, since Marc Gasol is off the market, for now,  the only choice the Cavs have right now is to offer the best trade offer to the Los Angeles Clippers- who are in deep trouble of missing the playoffs due to injuries to starters including the latest one, Blake Griffin. 

Assuming that this trade works out, it will benefit the Cavs because having DeAndre Jordan will mean that Kevin Love can go back to his natural position. However, this pundit on wheels doesn’t think that this trade will work out as the Clippers will get two players who are still recovering from their respective injuries as they are already dealing with players who are injured as well. But hey, this is the NBA. Anything can happen,. right?

Conclusion

One way or another, the Cavs will need to solve that “center” issue if they want another shot against the Golden State Warriors- should both teams meet again come the Finals next June. And whether we like it or not, the Clippers will definitely make a trade involving DeAndre Jordan. The question is: will the Cavs have enough to offer to the Clippers? 

Cavs Keep Streak Alive: Beat Miami Despite LeBron’s Ejection

Kevin Love’s explosive start, LeBron’s double-double power Cavs anew

Just a few games ago, the Miami Heat ended the Boston Celtics’ 16-game winning streak. So they technically know now how to take down a streaking team, right? And since they are playing against the Cleveland Cavaliers who came into the game with an 8-game winning streak, the Heat only need to do what they did to the Celtics. However, that wasn’t the case.

The Cleveland Cavaliers successfully extended their winning streak to 9 games after beating the Miami Heat, 108-97, in a game which saw LeBron James getting ejected in the 3rd quarter- a first in the 15-year career of the multi-time MVP.

How did the Cavs beat the Heat this time around? Below are the numbers:

Kevin Love’s Explosive Start

Kevin Love has been criticized due to the apparent fact that his presence hasn’t been much felt even during the time when Kyrie Irving was still manning the point guard position for the Cavs. 

Against the Heat, Kevin Love made sure that his presence was felt especially from the offensive end. He started the game by scoring 22 points in the first quarter alone. He already has 32 of his 38 points by halftime. He was efficient on the floor making 10 of his 17 shot attempts and 14 of 17 free throws. He also grabbed 9 rebounds while playing for 25 minutes.

40 Points in the 2nd Quarter

After scoring 35 points in the opening quarter, the Cavs went on a scoring rampage come the second quarter when they scored 40 points in that quarter which increased their lead to 27 at the break. That run enabled the Cavs to hang onto the win as they only scored 18 and 15 in the 3rd and 4th quarter. 

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Another Double-Double for the King

Despite the ejection in the 3rd quarter, LeBron James still managed to get a double-double as he scored 21 points, going 10 for 16 in the field while grabbing 12 rebounds. He also had 6 assists and 5 steals plus a blocked shot. If he wasn’t ejected, LeBron would have probably gotten another triple-double, right?

Conclusion

The Cavs are now 14-7 in the season which puts them in 3rd place in the Eastern Conference. They may be on a 9-game winning streak but that doesn’t mean that they can go on winning for long. Why? They are still undermanned, to begin with. They don’t have a legitimate point guard as of the moment. Fortunately, LeBron James can now play all 5 positions, right?