Cleveland Cavaliers 2010-11 thread

[CKR132]

Tristan Thompson #13 and Kyrie Irving #15.

 

[mvblair2]

As was already posted here, the Cavs traded JJ Hickson for Omri Casspi the other day.

I am absolutely thrilled that we've got Casspi. He's a very exciting player. He is a superior athlete than anybody we had at F (Jamison, Samuels). I really like him. He will immediately start. I think Jamison will either either move to the PF or the bench. So, here's what we'll have:

PG: Kyrie Irving, Baron Davis
SG: Ramon Sessions, Daniel Gibson
SF: Omri Casspi, Samardo Samuels
PF: Anderson Varejao, Tristan Thompson
C: Semih Erden, Ryan Hollins

Ohio is lucky to have a large and diverse population, including large Jewish population (I can walk to two synagogs from my house). On one hand, I don't like that he is constantly written about as being "the Jewish" or "the Israeli" player, because he's just a great basketball player and his origin doesn't matter so much, kind of like Jeremy Lin. On the other hand, I think it's great that different communities embrace and identify with such players.

Something fun for our Jewish and Israeli friends on IBN:

Cleveland Cavaliers' trade for Omri Casspi thrills Jewish Clevelanders -- June 30, 2011, Robert L. Smith, The Plain Dealer

He's a Jew. He's from Israel. He's a Cavalier.

Jewish Clevelanders say 23-year-old Omri Casspi will be embraced by a Jewish community that has never found all three qualities in a single person.

The region's most accomplished Jewish basketball player says all the fans are in for a treat.

Tamir Goodman, famously referred to as the "Jewish Jordan" by Sports Illustrated while a high school sensation in the 1990s, played six pro seasons in Israel before retiring in 2009. He lives with his wife and three children in University Heights, coaches at a Jewish day school in Beachwood and runs area basketball camps.

"I am very happy and excited for Omri , the Cavs, and the fans," Goodman said in an email. "I remember playing against him for the first time. I was already in my third pro season in Israel, and I think he was only 18 years old at the time. After seeing him play for just two minutes, I thought to myself that he is different, he is a very special player.

"His style of play is congruent with the Cavs' slogan of 'All For One and One for All.' " Goodman added. "He plays hard in the context of the team's game plan. He is also a great person!"

During a conference call Thursday, Casspi said he expects to be involved with the Jewish Community Center in Cleveland, but hadn't had time to think much about it.

"Everything went so fast. I just got traded. I haven't talked to the JCC yet," Casspi said. "Obviously I want to be a big part of it, as I've been in Sacramento and other areas of the United States. . . . I just can't wait to come to Cleveland and get to know my teammates, the organization -- obviously, the lockout changes things up -- but just get to know the city and the fans."

Anita Gray, a Cavs fan from Bratenahl and a Jewish community leader, predicts a new Jewish cheering section at The Q.

"Are you kidding? People are going to be thrilled," she said. "Many of us have affiliations with Israel," she explained. "My kids are there right now. We've got ties back and forth. It's exciting. We've never had an Israeli basketball player."

 

[Ciscorlie Horford2]

As was already posted here,
I am absolutely thrilled that we've got Casspi. He's a very exciting player. He is a superior athlete than anybody we had at F (Jamison, Samuels). I really like him. He will immediately start. I think Jamison will either either move to the PF or the bench. So, here's what we'll have:


Something fun for our Jewish and Israeli friends on IBN:

really ?
you are the first Cav fan that I have seen thrilled over this. Everywhere I look I see people saying that They could have got a lot more for JJ, mainly b/c that first round draft pick that you got is restricted from 1-15, so basically this trade is mainly a JJ for casspi swap.

don't believe me read this: I wish Cleveland Cavaliers' trade of J.J. Hickson would have yielded more than just Omri Casspi and draft pick



and don't get me wrong Casspi is a great Player with great future but I would have askfor a little more to go along with Casspi, maybe even include another player like Seasons on the trade to get even more value, the Cavs don't need him and the kings love him. But that's just the way I see it.

anyways, It is good for both players ultimately.


oh and I thought you could not use the word Jew anymore

 

[CKR132]

The 2012 Protected First Round Pick is a good package alongside Casspi. The Kings could win less than thirty next season (if there is one), so all the Cavaliers need is to call the Kings and tell Petrie: "Geoff, we are exercising our Protected First Round Pick" and voila, the Cavaliers has a good chance of landing among the top ten for the NBA 2012 Draft.

Also, Casspi is the only one the Cavaliers requested. They are not interested in Evans, Cousins or anyone else.

 

[mvblair2]

really ?
you are the first Cav fan that I have seen thrilled over this. Everywhere I look I see people saying that They could have got a lot more for JJ, mainly b/c that first round draft pick that you got is restricted from 1-15, so basically this trade is mainly a JJ for casspi swap.

don't believe me read this: I wish Cleveland Cavaliers' trade of J.J. Hickson would have yielded more than just Omri Casspi and draft pick

Heh, heh. I just like him as a player. He's very exciting to watch. He's a great athlete. I'm not sure we could have gotten more for Hickson. Hickson had a few good games last year, but then he bottomed out.

and don't get me wrong Casspi is a great Player with great future but I would have askfor a little more to go along with Casspi, maybe even include another player like Seasons on the trade to get even more value, the Cavs don't need him and the kings love him. But that's just the way I see it.

Maybe. I guess the Cavs just wanted nice trade that meets the need at F.

 

[Ciscorlie Horford2]

Heh, heh. I just like him as a player. He's very exciting to watch. He's a great athlete. I'm not sure we could have gotten more for Hickson. Hickson had a few good games last year, but then he bottomed out. Maybe. I guess the Cavs just wanted nice trade that meets the need at F.

you still have a hole at the 2 spot so I guess you could'va asked for either a sign nad trde for Thorton, or directly for Garica or Salmon, but I don't think Salmon was available.

parker is talking about retirement, and he he does not anyways, his best days are over, he is too old for this shit (god I love that movie)

and the other options on the team at the 2 spot are Gibson a below average player with little size or defense and trigger happy, Manny Harris a poor man's Gibson, Christian Eyenga another African bust, and check his age just in case (ok that last one was cold and uncalled for I take it back), Alonzo Gee yukes!!!!!! he need a 2 as badly as Miami needs a center.

But to be honest I was not expecting a lot of trade savviness from the team that could have traded down in onther to get Tristan Thompson plus some other top high prospect like Jan Vesely but decided to just take Tristan Thompson directly with their 4 pick and lose the oportunity to have 3 high pick coming into the next season

same old same old, that's why I don't blame Lebron for what he did, (ok, I did, who didn't but anyways )

 

[Czarkazem132]

As was already posted here, the Cavs traded JJ Hickson for Omri Casspi the other day.

I am absolutely thrilled that we've got Casspi. He's a very exciting player. He is a superior athlete than anybody we had at F (Jamison, Samuels). I really like him. He will immediately start. I think Jamison will either either move to the PF or the bench. So, here's what we'll have:

PG: Kyrie Irving, Baron Davis
SG: Ramon Sessions, Daniel Gibson
SF: Omri Casspi, Samardo Samuels
PF: Anderson Varejao, Tristan Thompson
C: Semih Erden, Ryan Hollins

Ohio is lucky to have a large and diverse population, including large Jewish population (I can walk to two synagogs from my house). On one hand, I don't like that he is constantly written about as being "the Jewish" or "the Israeli" player, because he's just a great basketball player and his origin doesn't matter so much, kind of like Jeremy Lin. On the other hand, I think it's great that different communities embrace and identify with such players.

Something fun for our Jewish and Israeli friends on IBN:

Samuels can play the 3?

 

[mvblair2]

Samuels can play the 3?

My bad. Well, heck, it's questionable that he can even play at 4, so, 3 isn't so much of a stretch!

Yeah, he's definitely a 4. Hopefully Anthony Parker will stay for another year. He's getting old, like Ciscorlie said, but he's still good enough for some minutes every night.

Still tons of defensive problems with our team, though. Does anybody know how good Casspi is on D? Can he guard, or at least stay with some of the other SFs in the East (Pierce, James, Deng, Granger)?

Ciscorlie, I think Gibson is a little better than you're giving him credit for. He just never had a very good chance after we acquired Delonte West. Mike Brown didn't like Gibson. I'm still high on him, even though he is pretty trigger happy.

 

[Ciscorlie Horford2]

Still tons of defensive problems with our team, though. Does anybody know how good Casspi is on D? Can he guard, or at least stay with some of the other SFs in the East (Pierce, James, Deng, Granger)?

against SG he is a shutdown defender against sf, especially those of his same size he is very bad. He gambles a lot nad is not dicipline or focus.

I think you have to appriciate him for what he is. a corner-Three point specialist who can not create for himself but is played with the right playmaker who can find him open can make it rain. So don't expect alot of defense other then the unusual gamble steal that does end up on his favor sometimes

and about Gibson, he can not play the 2 in this league, and he will never be a 1 now becuase the Cavs never try to develop him at the 1, best case scenario he is a sixth man in a decent team, only in a team like the Cavs he is a starting guard.

and I may be underestimating him I accept that, he was in fact criminally underused under Mike Brown but let's be serious for a minute can you really tell me a straight face that Gibson is the answer at the 2 spot for the Cavs? do you think that a team strating a player like Gibson as their starting shooting guard or even point guard for that matter has a chance to win a title? or even just make the playoffs at the very least? think about that.

 

[Czarkazem132]

My bad. Well, heck, it's questionable that he can even play at 4, so, 3 isn't so much of a stretch!

Yeah, he's definitely a 4. Hopefully Anthony Parker will stay for another year. He's getting old, like Ciscorlie said, but he's still good enough for some minutes every night.

Still tons of defensive problems with our team, though. Does anybody know how good Casspi is on D? Can he guard, or at least stay with some of the other SFs in the East (Pierce, James, Deng, Granger)?

Ciscorlie, I think Gibson is a little better than you're giving him credit for. He just never had a very good chance after we acquired Delonte West. Mike Brown didn't like Gibson. I'm still high on him, even though he is pretty trigger happy.

Casspi shows potential at D. He will hustle and play decent team D, but he ain't shutting down anyone, at least not now.

 

[MaccabiTA2]

against SG he is a shutdown defender against sf, especially those of his same size he is very bad. He gambles a lot nad is not dicipline or focus.

I think you have to appriciate him for what he is. a corner-Three point specialist who can not create for himself but is played with the right playmaker who can find him open can make it rain. So don't expect alot of defense other then the unusual gamble steal that does end up on his favor sometimes

and about Gibson, he can not play the 2 in this league, and he will never be a 1 now becuase the Cavs never try to develop him at the 1, best case scenario he is a sixth man in a decent team, only in a team like the Cavs he is a starting guard.

and I may be underestimating him I accept that, he was in fact criminally underused under Mike Brown but let's be serious for a minute can you really tell me a straight face that Gibson is the answer at the 2 spot for the Cavs? do you think that a team strating a player like Gibson as their starting shooting guard or even point guard for that matter has a chance to win a title? or even just make the playoffs at the very least? think about that.

I disagree with you about Casspi, he's not just a three point shooter that can't create for himself. He simply rarely got the ball in Sacramento and when they already gave him the ball it was mostly when he had a three point shot option, he can drive and he can do that pretty aggressively, he seemed to really improve that and it was visible with Israeli NT at the last summer. Westphal can't control his team and Casspi caught a place of a limited role player thar just shoots threes because.. That's what he's been given. I believe that in a team that actualy move the ball with players that recognize the word passing (unlike guys like D Cousins and Evans) he could show the other aspects in his game. As for defense, I can see some real improvement of his every season but he's still far from being a great D player, but I'd say he's not too bad either

 

[mvblair2]

against SG he is a shutdown defender against sf, especially those of his same size he is very bad. He gambles a lot nad is not dicipline or focus.

I think you have to appriciate him for what he is. a corner-Three point specialist who can not create for himself but is played with the right playmaker who can find him open can make it rain. So don't expect alot of defense other then the unusual gamble steal that does end up on his favor sometimes

Casspi shows potential at D. He will hustle and play decent team D, but he ain't shutting down anyone, at least not now.

I disagree with you about Casspi, he's not just a three point shooter that can't create for himself. He simply rarely got the ball in Sacramento and when they already gave him the ball it was mostly when he had a three point shot option, he can drive and he can do that pretty aggressively, he seemed to really improve that and it was visible with Israeli NT at the last summer. Westphal can't control his team and Casspi caught a place of a limited role player thar just shoots threes because.. That's what he's been given. I believe that in a team that actualy move the ball with players that recognize the word passing (unlike guys like D Cousins and Evans) he could show the other aspects in his game. As for defense, I can see some real improvement of his every season but he's still far from being a great D player, but I'd say he's not too bad either

So, the consensus seems to be that he's an average defensive player. I can take that. Besides Varejao, I don't think we'll have a very good defensive team (although supposedly this Tristan Thompson is a great shot blocker, I don't think he'll get major minutes).

From what I remember seeing of Casspi, he was a decent 3-point shooter, but I just looked up his FG% and he's at 42%. Bad midrange? When I first saw him play with MTA on video, he was so-so, but then when he went to Sacramento he turned into a monster athlete. He's got those long, long gorilla arms and a great vertical. That makes me think that he must be able to put the ball on the floor, especially after a pump-fake.

and I may be underestimating him I accept that, he was in fact criminally underused under Mike Brown but let's be serious for a minute can you really tell me a straight face that Gibson is the answer at the 2 spot for the Cavs? do you think that a team strating a player like Gibson as their starting shooting guard or even point guard for that matter has a chance to win a title? or even just make the playoffs at the very least? think about that.

No, you're right. Gibson is not the answer, but I think he is acceptable.

 

[MaccabiTA2]

I don't know, I've been watching less games of his last season but I believe the lower FG% compared to his rookie season was because he shot more threes and less two pointers, his 3FG% stayed pretty much the same though.
As for mid-range, he's not too bad but I didn't see him shoot too much mid-range shots lately, the best example that comes to mind is his first NBA game against Oklahoma where he scored 15 and I think all the FG he made were from midrange. I think that with the change of a team we might see a different player that feels more free to show the other aspects of his game and not just his threes that bought him minutes in Westphal's rotation.

 

[mvblair2]

I don't know, I've been watching less games of his last season but I believe the lower FG% compared to his rookie season was because he shot more threes and less two pointers, his 3FG% stayed pretty much the same though.
As for mid-range, he's not too bad but I didn't see him shoot too much mid-range shots lately, the best example that comes to mind is his first NBA game against Oklahoma where he scored 15 and I think all the FG he made were from midrange.

See, I'm pretty skeptical of the mid-range game. Very few players not named Ray Allen can shoot a long two these days. But...

I think that with the change of a team we might see a different player that feels more free to show the other aspects of his game and not just his threes that bought him minutes in Westphal's rotation.

This is what I'm excited about. Look, even if you and Ciscorlie Horford don't want to admit it, I went and watched some of his highlights, and Casspi can get to the rim. He is athletic, and like I said, he's got great arms. If Byron Scott gives him a few set-plays, this guy is going to give more production to Cleveland than he did to Sacramento.

 

[MaccabiTA2]

See, I'm pretty skeptical of the mid-range game. Very few players not named Ray Allen can shoot a long two these days. But...This is what I'm excited about. Look, even if you and Ciscorlie Horford don't want to admit it, I went and watched some of his highlights, and Casspi can get to the rim. He is athletic, and like I said, he's got great arms. If Byron Scott gives him a few set-plays, this guy is going to give more production to Cleveland than he did to Sacramento.

I don't want to admit what? I did say he can drive very well and aggresivley and he showed that in Israeli NT.. Read my comments again

 

[mvblair2]

I don't want to admit what? I did say he can drive very well and aggresivley and he showed that in Israeli NT.. Read my comments again

I'm just trying to stir up some controversy. I want to fight with somebody.

 

[MaccabiTA2]

I'm just trying to stir up some controversy. I want to fight with somebody.

If you wanna fight, do it right.
1,2,3,4 I declare a thumb war!

 

[mvblair2]

If you wanna fight, do it right.
1,2,3,4 I declare a thumb war!

Hah, hah, hah!!

Well, I guess we agree that Casspi will be good for the Cavs, even if it would be better for him to play for another team. We (the Cavs) desperately need some young guys like him who can handle pressure. He's got a lot of upside!!

 

[Ciscorlie Horford2]

Look, even if you and Ciscorlie Horford don't want to admit it, I went and watched some of his highlights, and Casspi can get to the rim. He is athletic, and like I said, he's got great arms. If Byron Scott gives him a few set-plays, this guy is going to give more production to Cleveland than he did to Sacramento.

why would I not admit it? I did tell you he can make it rain, didn't I
I also said he hustle aLOT but he is not the most mostivated guy on earth

 

[CKR132]

Irving signs with NIKE

Irving signs with NIKE

Kyrie Irving tweeted that he has signed an endorsement deal with NIKE.

Feels good to officially be apart of @nikebasketball! Can't wait to meet all the family I'm going to be apart of.Dreams really do come true!