WFNY Bracket Contest Update / NCAA Open Thread
March 18, 2011Buckeyes flatten UTSA Roadrunners, advance to Round of 32
March 18, 2011So, uh yeah. We didn’t forget to talk about the Cavs game from last night. Maybe we were just as shell-shocked as you hope the guys on the Cavs’ roster were after the game. The Cavaliers should be happy they didn’t play at home because they might have broken “the diff” section of the scoreboard. It isn’t supposed to count all the way down to -41 in losses to the Trailblazers. In case you were lucky enough to fall asleep early and miss this debacle, the Cavaliers lost to Portland 111-70.
Our own Andrew will lecture incessantly about just blankly reading +/- statistics from the box score because they don’t always mean a lot without perspective. Last night from the perspective that the Cavaliers got their clocks cleaned in epic fashion, it is worth noting that Gerald Wallace and Andre Miller were both sporting +42 at the end of the game. In fact, every Blazer starting player was at least +25.
It isn’t like we aren’t prepared to deal with this stuff at this point. 41? Please. The Lakers giggle at 41 point victories against the Cavs. Thankfully LeBron James kept his Twitter quiet with regard to the latest Cavaliers embarrassment. Or at least I assume he did since I didn’t hear anything about it. I don’t actually follow him.
As Rick wrote at Cleveland.com a week ago, the Cavaliers have one meaningful game left. It will be another fan “Superbowl” type of game as the Cavaliers face the Miami Heat one more time. I don’t feel nearly as good about the prospects for that game as I did before last night.
Then again, if I got comfortable because the Cavs beat Sacramento for their 13th win the night before, it is clearly on me, and not the Cavs. At this point, I should know better than to get my hopes up for anything other than the forthcoming draft lottery.
13 Comments
Oh… I read this wrong. I thought the Cavliers WON by 41 and was all excited until the end of the 1st or 2nd paragraph. Now, I’m glad they are on the west coast and play past my bed time.
i was at the game in portland last night.
i am certain that if the blazers had wanted to, they could have posted 150 points and held the cavs under 50. it was that lopsided. i haven’t had many opportunities to watch the cavs on tv as i now live out here in portland, but i must have had some rose-colored glasses in reading the recaps.
seriously, i could not believe how bad the cavs looked at both ends of the court. wow. yeah, i’m reliving it and feeling embarrassed for the organization.
the Cavs have meaningful games left. we have locked up the most ping balls (most likely). but, the Clippers have not locked up their spot. we need the LAC to lose and the Bucks, Pistons, Nets, and Bobcats to win.
Here’s a look at the current ping ball standings.
Team GB
Cavs —
Minn 3.0
Wash 3.5
Sac 3.5
Tor 5.0
NJ 9.5
Det 10.5
LAC 12.0
Mil 13.0
Cha 15.0
Ind 15.5
GS 16.5
as can be seen, the Clippers could conceivable end up anywhere from #6 to #12 (currently sitting at #8).
we play the Clippers Saturday. if there is a must-win game left on our schedule, this is that game.
I had the privilege of being at the game last night as well. Total beat down by the Blazers. @PDXScott: you have it right. Portland could have scored 150 points if they really wanted to. They really got cold in the fourth quarter when they just started throwing up endless 3 pointers and jump-shots.
Portland simply took the formula from other teams on how to beat the Cavs: Start out fast and take an early lead. The Cavs have shown they have no ability to claw and fight their way back once they are down. It is almost as if they basically lose interest once they feel like they have no chance to win the game.
I would say I was embarrassed to be at the Rose Garden since I was cheering for the Cavs, but I think Portland fans garnered me way more sympathy than they heckled.
I wonder if Little Napoleon traveled to watch his team? I wonder if Usher’s latest mistake means he won’t be the Cavaliers representative at the ping-pong ball drawing.
Funny how the season goes by pretty quick when you stop slowing down to glimpse the smoking wreckage. Last play I saw was about a month ago, Sessions leading a 3 on 1 break and turning the ball over when he suffered an episode of brainlock that would have embarrassed John Morton. That was enough.
But man, this sure is better than having Andy and Ol’ Antawn out there together, winning 25 and virtually eliminating all chance to draft a stud. Just a sucky, mismatched bunch of ballers tossed together to hasten the roster implosion – it’s so … pure. No delusions of “we have a core that just needs some time to grow together.” Welcome to Rock Bottom, population 15. File the names for future wagers.
@Harv – you’ve got it. none of this middling around for a few years before finally imploding and hitting rock bottom. first to worst + the clippers pick (always a good thing). let’s get this rebuild started right.
At least Sessions didn’t dribble behind the back and fall on his face. I remember someone from the Cavs doing that one before. As far as the Miami games goes, does anyone care? I’m being serious too. I saw all I needed to see in December when Miami came to town.
I was thinking along the lines of “kick to the yambag” but numbing embarrassment works, too.
@ JM. I do. I just would like to see if this team really has no heart as Byron Scott in insinuating. Thats their last chance…if it still even matters.
so bad they covered up the +/- at the Q
http://www.midmajority.com/p/1984
@Foghorn good point. I’m still keeping tracks of win and losses for the same reason.
[…] only to watch and wear a red blazer, had a solid game personally. After dropping zero dimes in the embarrassment that was the Portland game, Sessions dished off a team high 7 yesterday. He scored 18 points to go along with that, and has […]