Clips Nation - Cavaliers at Clippers Preview: LeBron Comes to TownWhat it do babyyyhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47967/clipsnation_fave.png2015-01-16T19:20:09-08:00http://www.clipsnation.com/rss/stream/73205562015-01-16T19:20:09-08:002015-01-16T19:20:09-08:00Clippers-Cavs open thread
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/EOEOnYuYrcBs30SHIQbCYZNXK54=/0x332:2519x2011/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45243844/usa-today-7810213.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>We will probably witness NBA history tonight, as Austin Rivers joins the Clippers. He is active for the game if he takes the court, he will be the first player to ever have his father coach him in an NBA game.</p> <table align="center" cellpadding="5" border="1" cellspacing="5" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table">
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<p> </p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="5" border="1" cellspacing="5" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table">
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<th align="center" colspan="3" bgcolor="silver">2014/2015 NBA Regular Season</th>
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<td width="240"><center><img alt="Bvv028jd1hhr8ee8ii7a0fg4i_medium" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/472353/bvv028jd1hhr8ee8ii7a0fg4i_medium.gif"></center></td>
<th align="center" width="20">vs</th>
<td width="240"><center> <a target="_blank" href="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/541775/e4701g88mmn7ehz2baynbs6e0.gif"><img src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/541775/e4701g88mmn7ehz2baynbs6e0_medium.gif" class="photo" alt="E4701g88mmn7ehz2baynbs6e0_medium"></a> <br id="1394910278495"> </center></td>
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<td width="240"><center><b>26-13</b></center></td>
<th align="center" width="20"><br></th>
<td width="240"><center><b>20-20</b></center></td>
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<td align="center" colspan="3" bgcolor="silver"><b>January 16, 2015, 7:30 PM</b></td>
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<td align="center" colspan="3"><b>STAPLES Center</b></td>
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<td align="center" colspan="3"><b>Espn, Prime Ticket, KFWB 980 AM, KWKW 1330 AM</b></td>
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<th align="center" colspan="3" bgcolor="silver">Win-Loss Breakdown</th>
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<td align="right" width="240"><b>11-7</b></td>
<th align="center" width="20">East</th>
<td width="240"><b>15-9</b></td>
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<td align="right" width="240"><b>15-6</b></td>
<th align="center" width="20">West</th>
<td width="240"><b>5-11</b></td>
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<td align="right" width="240"><b>17-6</b></td>
<th align="center" width="20">Home</th>
<td width="240"><b>11-9</b></td>
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<td align="right" width="240"><b>9-7</b></td>
<th align="center" width="20">Road</th>
<td width="240"><b>9-11</b></td>
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<td align="right" width="240"><b>8-10</b></td>
<th align="center" width="20">.500+</th>
<td width="240"><b>4-10</b></td>
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<td align="right" width="240"><b>18-3</b></td>
<th align="center" width="20">.500-</th>
<td width="240"><b>16-3</b></td>
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<td align="right" width="240"><b>7-3</b></td>
<th align="center" width="20">L10</th>
<td width="240"><b>2-8</b></td>
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<th align="center" colspan="3" bgcolor="silver"><b>Probable Starters</b></th>
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<td align="right" width="240"><b><span>Chris Paul</span></b></td>
<th align="center" width="20">PG</th>
<td width="240"><b><span>Kyrie Irving</span></b></td>
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<td align="right" width="240"><b><span>J.J. Redick</span></b></td>
<th align="center" width="20">SG</th>
<td width="240"><b><span>J.R. Smith</span></b></td>
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<td align="right" width="240"><b><span>Matt Barnes</span></b></td>
<th align="center" width="20">SF</th>
<td width="240"><b><span>LeBron James</span></b></td>
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<td align="right" width="240"><b><span>Blake Griffin</span></b></td>
<th align="center" width="20">PF</th>
<td width="240"><b><span>Kevin Love</span></b></td>
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<td align="right" width="240"><b><span>DeAndre Jordan</span></b></td>
<th align="center" width="20">C</th>
<td width="240"><b><span>Timofey Mozgov</span></b></td>
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<th align="center" colspan="3" bgcolor="silver"><b>Advanced Stats</b></th>
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<td align="right" width="240"><b style="text-align: start; ">96.3 (14th of 30)</b></td>
<th align="center" width="20">Pace</th>
<td width="240"><b>94.5 (25th of 30)</b></td>
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<td align="right" width="240"><b style="text-align: start; ">110.0 (3rd of 30)</b></td>
<th align="center" width="20">ORtg</th>
<td width="240"><b>104.8 (11th of 30)</b></td>
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<td align="right" width="240"><b style="text-align: start; ">103.3 (16th of 30)</b></td>
<th align="center" width="20">DRtg</th>
<td width="240"><b>96.3 (26th of 30)</b></td>
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<th align="center" colspan="3" bgcolor="silver"><b>Injuries/Other</b></th>
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<td align="right" width="240" style="text-align: right;"><b><span>Austin Rivers</span> (will play)</b></td>
<th align="center" width="20"><br></th>
<td width="240"><b><span>Iman Shumpert</span> (shoulder, out)</b></td>
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<td align="right" width="240"><br></td>
<th align="center" width="20"><br></th>
<td width="240"><b><span>Anderson Varejao</span> (achilles, out)</b></td>
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https://www.clipsnation.com/2015/1/16/7572225/clippers-cavs-open-threadSteve Perrin2015-01-16T06:50:00-08:002015-01-16T06:50:00-08:00Cavs at Clippers Preview
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<figcaption>David Richard-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Clippers will take on the newly refurbished Cleveland Cavaliers in this matchup of two big name teams. The Clippers are on a roll of late while the Cavs have struggled, but with the Cavaliers getting some pieces back from injury, they are more formidable than they have been all season.</p> <table class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" cellspacing="5" border="1" cellpadding="5" align="center">
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<p> </p>
<table class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" cellspacing="5" border="1" cellpadding="5" align="center">
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<th bgcolor="silver" colspan="3" align="center">2014/2015 NBA Regular Season</th>
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<td width="240"><center><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/472353/bvv028jd1hhr8ee8ii7a0fg4i_medium.gif" alt="Bvv028jd1hhr8ee8ii7a0fg4i_medium"></center></td>
<th width="20" align="center">vs</th>
<td width="240"><center> <a href="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/541775/e4701g88mmn7ehz2baynbs6e0.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="E4701g88mmn7ehz2baynbs6e0_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/541775/e4701g88mmn7ehz2baynbs6e0_medium.gif"></a> <br id="1394910278495"> </center></td>
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<td width="240"><center><b>26-13</b></center></td>
<th width="20" align="center"><br></th>
<td width="240"><center><b>20-20</b></center></td>
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<td bgcolor="silver" colspan="3" align="center"><b>January 16, 2015, 7:30 PM</b></td>
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<td colspan="3" align="center"><b>STAPLES Center</b></td>
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<td colspan="3" align="center"><b>Espn, Prime Ticket, KFWB 980 AM, KWKW 1330 AM</b></td>
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<tr>
<th bgcolor="silver" colspan="3" align="center">Win-Loss Breakdown</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="240" align="right"><b>11-7</b></td>
<th width="20" align="center">East</th>
<td width="240"><b>15-9</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="240" align="right"><b>15-6</b></td>
<th width="20" align="center">West</th>
<td width="240"><b>5-11</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="240" align="right"><b>17-6</b></td>
<th width="20" align="center">Home</th>
<td width="240"><b>11-9</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="240" align="right"><b>9-7</b></td>
<th width="20" align="center">Road</th>
<td width="240"><b>9-11</b></td>
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<td width="240" align="right"><b>8-10</b></td>
<th width="20" align="center">.500+</th>
<td width="240"><b>4-10</b></td>
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<td width="240" align="right"><b>18-3</b></td>
<th width="20" align="center">.500-</th>
<td width="240"><b>16-3</b></td>
</tr>
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<td width="240" align="right"><b>7-3</b></td>
<th width="20" align="center">L10</th>
<td width="240"><b>2-8</b></td>
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<tr>
<th bgcolor="silver" colspan="3" align="center"><b>Probable Starters</b></th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="240" align="right"><b><span>Chris Paul</span></b></td>
<th width="20" align="center">PG</th>
<td width="240"><b><span>Kyrie Irving</span></b></td>
</tr>
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<td width="240" align="right"><b>JJ Redick</b></td>
<th width="20" align="center">SG</th>
<td width="240"><b>JR Smith</b></td>
</tr>
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<td width="240" align="right"><b><span>Matt Barnes</span></b></td>
<th width="20" align="center">SF</th>
<td width="240"><b><span>LeBron James</span></b></td>
</tr>
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<td width="240" align="right"><b>Blake Griffin</b></td>
<th width="20" align="center">PF</th>
<td width="240"><b><span>Kevin Love</span></b></td>
</tr>
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<td width="240" align="right"><b><span>DeAndre Jordan</span></b></td>
<th width="20" align="center">C</th>
<td width="240"><b><span>Timofey Mozgov</span></b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th bgcolor="silver" colspan="3" align="center"><b>Advanced Stats</b></th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="240" align="right"><b style="text-align: start; ">96.3 (14th of 30)</b></td>
<th width="20" align="center">Pace</th>
<td width="240"><b>94.5 (25th of 30)</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="240" align="right"><b style="text-align: start; ">110.0 (3rd of 30)</b></td>
<th width="20" align="center">ORtg</th>
<td width="240"><b>104.8 (11th of 30)</b></td>
</tr>
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<td width="240" align="right"><b style="text-align: start; ">103.3 (16th of 30)</b></td>
<th width="20" align="center">DRtg</th>
<td width="240"><b>96.3 (26th of 30)</b></td>
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<th bgcolor="silver" colspan="3" align="center"><b>Injuries/Other</b></th>
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<td style="text-align: right;" width="240" align="right"><b><span>Austin Rivers</span> (recently traded, questionable)</b></td>
<th width="20" align="center"><br></th>
<td width="240"><b><span>Iman Shumpert</span> (shoulder, out)</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="240" align="right"><br></td>
<th width="20" align="center"><br></th>
<td width="240"><b><span>Anderson Varejao</span> (achilles, out)</b></td>
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<td width="240" align="right"><br></td>
<th width="20" align="center"><br></th>
<td width="240"><br></td>
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<p> </p>
<p><b>The Back Story (The Series was split last year 1-1):</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;" class="MsoNormal"><b><span> </span></b></p>
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="1" class="MsoTableGrid">
<tbody>
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<td style="width: 155.8pt; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="208">
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;" class="MsoNormal"><b><span>Date</span></b></p>
<p><b><br></b></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 155.85pt; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="208">
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;" class="MsoNormal"><b><span>Venue</span></b></p>
<p><b><br></b></p>
<p> </p>
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<td style="width: 155.85pt; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="208">
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;" class="MsoNormal"><b><span>Final</span></b></p>
<p><b><br></b></p>
<p> </p>
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<td style="width: 155.8pt; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="208">
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;" class="MsoNormal"><b><span>12/07/2013</span></b></p>
<p><b><br></b></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 155.85pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="208">
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;" class="MsoNormal"><b><span>Cleveland</span></b></p>
<p><b><br></b></p>
<p> </p>
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<td style="width: 155.85pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="208">
<p style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; line-height: normal;" class="MsoNormal"><b><span>Cavs 88, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.clipsnation.com/">Clippers</a> 82 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.clipsnation.com/2013/12/7/5187184/clippers-get-cold-in-cleveland-88-82"><span>Recap</span></a></span></b><span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; line-height: normal;" class="MsoNormal"><b><span><a target="_blank" href="http://www.nba.com/games/20131207/LACCLE/gameinfo.html#nbaGIboxscore"><span>Box</span></a></span></b><span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
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<td style="width: 155.8pt; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="208">
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;" class="MsoNormal"><b><span>3/16/2014</span></b></p>
<p><b><br></b></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 155.85pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="208">
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;" class="MsoNormal"><b><span>Los Angeles</span></b></p>
<p><b><br></b></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td style="width: 155.85pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="208">
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;" class="MsoNormal"><b><span>Clippers 102, Cavs 80 </span></b></p>
<p><b><br></b></p>
<a style="line-height: 16px; background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://www.nba.com/games/20140316/CLELAC/gameinfo.html">Recap</a>, <a style="line-height: 16px; background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://www.nba.com/games/20140316/CLELAC/gameinfo.html">Box</a>
<p> </p>
</td>
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</tbody>
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<p> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;" class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p><b>The Big Picture:</b></p>
<p>After a half season of beating up on lower quality opponents and losing to good teams, the Clippers finally have a couple solid wins under their belt with the defeat of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/">Mavericks</a> over the weekend and a takedown of the Trailblazers in Portland Wednesday night. The bench remains an issue, especially as <span>Spencer Hawes</span> continues to struggle. However, help (however small) is on the way with <span>Dahntay Jones</span> signed to a 10 day deal and <span>Reggie Bullock</span> shipped out for Austin Rivers. Jones can hopefully supply some much needed perimeter defense, while Rivers might be able to provide a scoring spark off the bench, complementing the struggling <span>Jordan Farmar</span>.</p>
<div style="width: 581.390625px; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: #dddddd; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: #dddddd; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" class="blog-links-compact-container">
<h4 style="margin-bottom: 5px; font-size: 20px; text-transform: uppercase; font-family: 'Gotham Cond SSm A', 'Gotham Cond SSm B', Arial, sans-serif; padding-top: 8px;">
<span class="blog-links-star"><br><img style="width: 16px;" src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/3608771/star.png"></span> THE VIEW FROM Cleveland <span class="blog-links-star"><img style="width: 16px;" src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/3608771/star.png"></span>
</h4>
<div style="margin: 0px auto 5px; max-width: 500px;" class="blog-links-compact-link-container"><a href="http://www.fearthesword.com/">Fear the Sword</a></div>
</div>
<p><b>The Antagonist:</b></p>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fearthesword.com/">Cavaliers</a> have hugely underachieved this season, and as is inevitable with any LeBron team, they have dealt with a ton of media pressure and criticism. In this case, however, much of it seems warranted. Picked by many NBA fans to win the Eastern Conference and perhaps even the Finals with the additions of Kevin Love and LeBron, the Cavaliers find themselves at .500 even in the weaker East. Love has been as awful as expected on defense, and has been even more exposed on a Cleveland roster lacking a rim protector for much of the season. LeBron has been injured, and while he has played well, his play is nowhere near the level it was a couple years ago: he is no longer the best player in the NBA. Meanwhile, Coach David Blatt has come under fire for the teams' poor play, and it is possible he is fired in the next few games if the squad doesn't turn things around. The Cavs recently made a couple moves to shake up their roster, sending <span>Dion Waiters</span> to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/">Thunder</a>, and picking up Iman Shumpert, Jr Smith, and Timofey Mozgov. Shumpert is out, but the others have already made positive contributions so far. With LeBron back, this team is still dangerous.</p>
<p><b>The Subplots</b></p>
<ul>
<li> <b>Comparison of key metrics.</b> The Clippers remain terrific offensively, and rank 3rd in efficiency among all NBA teams. Despite having 3 All Stars the Cavaliers are only 11th in offense, but that is the least of their problems. The Clippers are merely middling on defense and in pace, but the Cavaliers are in the bottom 5 in both categories, partially because Varejao went down and LeBron and <span>Shawn Marion</span> have been injured, but also due to the presence of Kyrie and Love. Nonetheless, it is a bit of a puzzle why they play so slowly. </li>
<li> <b>The schedule.</b> This is the Clippers 2nd game in a row on ESPN. With any luck, this game will be just as exciting (and have as nice a result) as the Blazers game on Friday. After tonight, the Clippers get three gimme games against Sacramento, Boston, and Brooklyn. Sacramento is in a funk, Boston is trading away its useful players, and Brooklyn is the definition of mediocre. After playing in LA, the Cavs return home for 4 games, but could lose all of them against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blogabull.com/">Bulls</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.slcdunk.com/">Jazz</a>, Thunder, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.atthehive.com/">Hornets</a>. </li>
<li> <b>The Cavaliers Defense.</b> It is really, really bad. LeBron has lost a step (and a half) on defense, and has taken plays off going back to last year. He isn't on <span>James Harden</span> levels yet, but backdoor cuts and the like should be a good option against him. Their next best perimeter defender is a washed up Shawn Marion, who looks noticeably older this season. Meanwhile, Irving and Love are both turnstiles on defense, as is new acquisition Jr Smith. The Clippers should be able to get what they want all night long, though Mozgov adds a decent presence at the hoop. </li>
<li> <b>Top Power Forwards Clash: </b>Blake Griffin and Kevin Love have been two of the best power forwards in the league for several years now, and their battles are always fun. Both have seen a bit of a fall off this season, with Griffin's rebounding numbers continuing their decline and Love's overall production going down substantially due to becoming the 3rd option. Neither is really in the conversation of best power forward anymore either, since <span>Anthony Davis</span> has a death lock on that position. Nonetheless, they don't seem to particularly like each other, and hopefully Griffin goes all out against Love.</li>
<li> <b>Bench Reinforcements: </b>As mentioned above, Dahntay Jones and Austin Rivers were recently added to the roster while Reggie Bullock is now in Phoenix and Chris Douglas Roberts is in Boston. Jones is a longtime veteran known as a good defender, but at 34 is unlikely to be a revelation on that end. He can also hit 3 pointers, but he is inconsistent and can't do much else with the ball. Austin Rivers was the 10th pick in a stacked 2012 draft class despite the warnings of many draftniks (myself included), and has proven to be every bit as bad as I thought he would be. The worst things that can be mentioned as important qualities in a prospect are intangibles like "swagger" or "background". Those might be helpful, but skills are needed too, and Rivers' involves using fancy dribble moves that don't really get him anywhere. It is possible the teaching of Doc, as well as CP3 and Jamal (who is his ultimate best case scenario) helps him get better, but his numbers aren't pretty. </li>
<li> <b>Kyrie Irving: </b>In my opinion, Kyrie Irving is one of the most overrated players in the NBA. Yes, he can get super hot and fill up the basket like few others, but he contributes almost nothing else to an NBA team, and his scoring efficiency is not great. He can make nice passes, but does not consistently make teammates better, and his defense is quite lacking. In a list of top PGs in the NBA, I would have CP3, Curry, Wall, Parker, Lowry, Lillard, Conley, Westbrook, and Teague above him for sure, with guys like Rose, Lawson, and Dragic all around his level as well.</li>
<li> <b>Connections.</b> One of <span>Blake Griffin's</span> most famous dunks came early in his career against Mozgov when he was on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com/">Knicks</a>. Spencer Hawes was on the Cavs for about 30 games last season before leaving in free agency to join the Clippers. Dahntay Jones played with JR Smith for one season on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.denverstiffs.com/">Nuggets</a> in 2008. Smith also played with CP3 in his rookie year on the Hornets in 2005. Tyronn Lue was an assistant coach for the Clippers last season and is now the associate head coach of the Cavaliers, the highest paid assistant coach in the NBA.</li>
<li> <b>Wikipedia entry: </b>Cavalier Chocolate is a Belgian manufacturer founded in 1996 which produces only no-suger-added chocolate products. It is the only Belgian chocolate manufacturer which does this. The logo refers to the adventure associated with cocoa as well as the name of the father in law of the founder.</li>
</ul>
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<div>Morning Edits: The Cavaliers beat the Lakers last night behind a big game from LeBron. Meanwhile, it looks like the Clippers have bought out Jordan Farmar, meaning Austin Rivers is the sole backup at point guard for the moment.</div>
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https://www.clipsnation.com/2015/1/16/7553797/cavaliers-at-clippers-preview-lebron-comes-to-townRobert Flom2015-01-15T22:22:49-08:002015-01-15T22:22:49-08:00LeBron James is the owner of the Cavaliers.
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<p>With the permission of our esteemed leader, I will take an unconventional and hopefully fresh look at each of the Clippers' opponents, by comparing them to something that has nothing to do with the NBA. I will feature one to two teams per week. This week, the incomparable Cleveland Cavaliers are owned by LeBron James. </p> <p><span>LeBron James</span></p>
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<p>is the owner of the <a href="https://www.fearthesword.com/" target="_blank">Cleveland Cavaliers</a>......</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.quickenloans.com/" target="_blank">Quicken Loans</a> founder <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Gilbert_%28businessman%29" target="_blank">Dan Gilbert </a>is the owner of the <a href="https://www.fearthesword.com/" target="_blank">Cavaliers</a>, but this is <span>LeBron's</span> team, his city (even though he is actually from <a href="http://www.akronohio.gov/" target="_blank">Akron</a>), his region and his state. It is not a good thing when a player, no matter who that player is, has more power than the coach, GM and owner. The <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/" target="_blank">Lakers </a>are stuck in a tragic comedy because some where along the way, they decided to make <span>Kobe Bean Bryant </span>an honorary Buss. Even though <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/byron-scott-will-rest-kobe-bryant-once-the-lakers-are--nowhere-near-playoff-contention-233301514.html" target="_blank">Byron Scott thinks the Lakers are in Playoff Contention</a>, they are not going anywhere until number 24 leaves. Number 23 on the Cavaliers, on the other hand, will not leave Cleveland until they win a title. They will win one, and it will be the first time in the modern NBA where a player wielding as much power as LeBron holds up the Larry O'Brien trophy.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/2011/news/features/scott_howard_cooper/11/18/jerry-krause/111811-608-krause-reinsdorf.jpg" target="_blank">Jerrys</a> (Owner <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Reinsdorf" target="_blank">Jerry Reinsdorf </a>and then GM <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Krause" target="_blank">Jerry Krause</a>) ran the Championships-era Bulls. The <a href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/" target="_blank">Spurs</a> are <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._C._Buford" target="_blank">R.C. Buford's</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregg_Popovich" target="_blank">Gregg Popovich'</a>s team. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Riley" target="_blank">Pat Riley</a> was the boss during the <a href="https://www.hothothoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Heat's</a> title run. <span>Dirk </span>may have some input, but <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Cuban" target="_blank">Mark Cuban</a> is the <a href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/" target="_blank">Dallas Mavericks.</a> When the Lakers were winning Championships and allowing their fans to riot, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Buss" target="_blank">Buss family </a>an the Lakers.</p>
<p>LeBron is running the entire basketball operations in Cleveland and it was a brilliant power move by him to return "home." He may not reach five or six championships in his career, but he knows that he will be immortalize by the State of Ohio if he can lead the Cavs to one Championship. He knows that the current owner is desperate to please the fans and to win a Championship. If Dan Gilbert is found responsible for "allowing" LeBron to leave Cleveland the second time, it will be a public relations disaster for the billionaire. LeBron has all the leverage in any business-political decision regarding the franchise.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, this leverage has not translate into consistent winning basketball. That is because leverage and business/political advantage have nothing to do with how human beings play basketball together against other teams comprise of humans beings who may have better chemistry. The team got rid of <span>Dion Waiters</span>. He was the only young player not named <span>Kyrie Irving</span> or <span>Kevin Love</span>, who had ego and ambition. The rest of the roster are filled with role players on their last legs and guys who are just happy to be on an NBA roster. Even with this LeBron appeasing mix, the team is still underachieving. <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/j-r--smith-on-his-cavs-debut---when-in-doubt--shoot-the-ball-015828050.html" target="_blank">J.R. "When it doubt, shoot the ball" Smith</a> could help. <span>Iman Shumpert </span>is overrated and <span>Timofey Mozgov</span> is a big dude with a <a href="http://images.hngn.com/data/images/full/33433/timofey-mozgov.jpg?w=600" target="_blank">large neck </a>who can protect the rim and <a href="http://larrybrownsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/timofey-mozgov-93-points.jpg">once scored 93 points in a game</a>. This does not make them any more convincing than the<a href="https://www.blogabull.com/" target="_blank"> Bulls</a>, <a href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/" target="_blank">Hawks</a>, <a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/" target="_blank">Wizards</a>, and <a href="https://www.raptorshq.com/" target="_blank">Raptors</a> -- all of whom function as a team.</p>
<p><span>Chris Bosh</span>, a very intelligent human being, said <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnesn.com%2F2014%2F10%2Fchris-bosh-warns-kevin-love-playing-with-lebron-is-extremely-frustrating%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.clipsnation.com%2F2015%2F1%2F15%2F7548599%2Fcleveland-cavaliers-lebron-james-david-blatt-kyrie-irving-kevin-love-tristan-thompson" target="_blank" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">it can be difficult to play with LeBron</a>. He did not mean anything disparaging by it, but playing with a superstar even an unselfish one, means that people have to adjust their games. It is going to take a few years, especially, when you have younger players like Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving shifting from being the focal point on their losing teams to become a second and third option on a LeBron led Championship contender. The Heat reached the Finals in their first year with LeBron, but that team had veterans and starting with Bosh was much better than the Cavaliers defensively. It took one year for Wade to hand over the reigns to LeBron, and it is going to take one to two years for the Cavaliers to adjust to playing with their de facto owner.</p>
<p><b>Friends of LeBron</b></p>
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<p><b></b>The older I get, the more I learn that sports is just like the rest of life. It is not the egalitarian haven that young fans may think it is. I remembered when I learned that the Olympics is <a href="http://www.multinationalmonitor.org/editorsblog/?p=97" target="_blank">essentially about commercialism</a> and <a href="http://time.com/7554/a-brief-history-of-sex-at-the-olympics/" target="_blank">sex</a>. I have stopped watching the Olympics avidly now, but still follow a few professional sports, even if it has some of the same elements of the Olympics. Just like life, it helps to know important people and be liked by them if you are an NBA player. Being a friend of LeBron James has its perks. <span>Mike Miller </span>is still a decent bench player who could occasionally swing a game with his shooting, but he is an 18 minutes a game player now, and does not offer much besides shooting and veteran savvy. Without LeBron, he is probably on a pretender's bench playing out his career and being paid well based on reputation, but not getting the chance at another ring. <span>J</span><span>ames Jones</span> can shoot. That is about it. It is difficult to say whether he still would be in the league with his connection to LeBron, since <span>Steve Novak</span> is still in the league and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Kapono" target="_blank">Jason Kapono</a> managed to play nine years in the NBA. <span>Tristan Thompson</span> shares an agent with LeBron. Thompson is a decent rebounder and an average defender. He can't protect the rim, doesn't finish around the basket all that well and is a below average shooter. Without the LeBron connection, he would be a decent bench big man somewhere and probably should be traded since you can probably get a cheap contract player (Thompson is at the end of his rookie contract, but he will make a ridiculous amount of money next year.) or a second round draft pick to do what Thompson does. But Thompson is in LeBron's circle, so he has a chance to play for Championships and stay in Cleveland. He and his agent (Lebron's agent) are so sure of their connection to LeBron that they<a href="http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/01/14/report-tristan-thompson-turned-down-four-year-52-million-contract-extension-with-cavaliers/" target="_blank"> reportedly turned down a four-year, $52 million contract extension offer from the Cavaliers</a>. $52 million for Tristan Thompson, what did <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryDOy3AosBw" target="_blank">Skee-Lo say</a> twenty years ago?</p>
<p><b>Random Access Memory (RAM)</b></p>
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<p><b></b>The first NBA game I attended was Cavaliers vs. Wizards in 2000. I was working in Washington, D.C. at the time, and honestly do not remember that much about the game. I do remember that I had great seats and the Verizon Center was about a third empty. I recalled that the NBA level of play was about 50 times better than NCAA basketball. From 2000 on, I stopped following NCAA basketball and mainly watched NBA games. As for the actual game, all I remembered was that <span>Juwan Howard</span> was on the Wizards and the pre-LeBron Cavaliers had <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Sura" target="_blank">Bob Sura</a>. Sura was one of the most non-stereotypical NBA Player is the modern era. A white player from the sexy city of Wilkes-Barre, PA, he was the antithesis of the white NBA shooter. Sura was athletic and could dunk with some flair, and actually was a below average shooter. During his career, he often shot below 70 percent from the foul line. Sura had a very good 1999-2000 campaign that convinced the <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Golden State Warriors</a> to overpay him. He would sign one more contract with the <a href="https://www.thedreamshake.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Rockets</a>, but retired due to injuries. In the last five years, he became a professional poker player. It is good to be a professional athlete or a retired professional athlete.</p>
<p><b>Cavaliers Watchability Essay</b></p>
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<p><b></b>The most frustrating thing about this year's Cavaliers is not their record, but the fact that they are not enjoyable to watch. The Cavaliers hired David Blatt and he was supposed to install his version of the Princeton offense based on movement and motion, etc. But the Cavaliers are not running his offense. At times,<a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/report--cavs-ignore-play-calls--discuss-blatt-s-coaching-issues-with-opponents-210405860.html" target="_blank"> they are not even listening to their coach</a>, the one in the suit, not their de facto owner. David Blatt is at a point which you get to when you take over a <a href="http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/12/lebron-james-cleveland-cavaliers-david-blatt-rift" target="_blank">new classroom and no one listens</a>. He has given up his values and ideals and is just trying to maintain order. He is simply concerned about classroom management, and there is no teaching and learning going on. When I watch the Cavaliers, I see a lot of the same pick and roll offense, isolation and some late shot clock heaves that I can watch on any other NBA team. Cavaliers' games can be entertaining if you just zone in and watch <span>Kyrie Irving </span>on offense. He is incredibly gifted on that end. At the same time, I have no idea what Kevin Love is doing on this team. There are some LeBron-less games where I will be sitting there waiting for him to take over, and then, absolutely nothing happens. Love look like just another player, and not a max-level superstar. <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/cavaliers-coach-david-blatt-on-kevin-love---kevin-s-not-a-max-player-yet-192923192.html" target="_blank">Maybe David Blatt is right</a>, but the Cavaliers are not running his offense. Kevin Love will figure things out, and obviously, when LeBron is in the lineup, the Cavaliers are a different team. Either way though, they have been just an average and not particularly entertaining watch this season.</p>
<p><b>Paul Tee's Prognosis</b></p>
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<p><b></b>It is difficult to make a firm prediction knowing that LeBron had been out of the lineup due to injuries, but as of the first writing of this article, the Cavaliers are under .500 and does not look like one of the three best teams in the East. Still, it is difficult to pick against the best player in the world in the weaker conference. LeBron took the 2007 Cavaliers to the finals, and that team, on paper, was worse than this one. This season, the Cavaliers will not advance to the Finals. There are just too many question marks. The players seemed to be having a difficult time adjusting to playing with LeBron AND for David Blatt. Additionally, the East is a lot better than last year. The Hawks, Wizards, Bulls, and maybe the Raptors are all better <i>teams</i> than the Cavaliers. All of that stated, this edition of the Cavaliers with the core of LeBron, Kyrie Irving, and Love will win at least two Championships when their run is over. It just may take two seasons of tinkering and learning to get there. Kevin Love is not going anywhere. This is the perfect situation for him. He can make max money and be the second (or sometimes third option) on the team. In the unlikely event that the team does not win the Championship, LeBron will get 90 to 99 percent of the blame and the rest of it will be Kyrie's fault because he is the point guard. Love does not have to carry this team and he does not have to be the man. He can play above average or well, and no one but maybe occasionally LeBron will get in his face and the fans and media will not focus on his negative attributes. Kevin Love will stay in Cleveland as long as LeBron is there. LeBron's game will age well. He has an observant and brilliant basketball mind and noticed how the Spurs preserve their stars. As LeBron pushes toward his mid 30s, he will be on a Spurs-like regiment, perhaps just not as overt. LeBron will sit out some games with some nagging injuries so he can be fresh for the Playoffs. When the team figures out how to play together effectively and Kyrie gets closer to his prime, he and Love will do some of the heavy lifting during the regular season. A peak Kyrie Irving will be a scary offensive player. As LeBron ages, he will pick his spots during the regular season especially on defense, but I will not bet against him during the Playoffs. The Cavaliers will win their first Championship during the 2016-2017 season. This season? Enjoy the process.</p>
https://www.clipsnation.com/2015/1/15/7548599/cleveland-cavaliers-lebron-james-david-blatt-kyrie-irving-kevin-love-tristan-thompsonPaul Tee