Open thread: Regular season game 18

by Mike Prada on Dec 5, 2007 5:15 PM EST in Game Threads Comment 16 comments

The essentials:
Cavaliers (9-10) at Wizards (8-9)
7 p.m.
Verizon Center
CSN

Last year:
November 1: Cavaliers 97, Wizards 94
November 18: Wizards 111, Cavaliers 99
April 6: Cavaliers 99, Wizards 94
April 21: Cavaliers 97, Wizards 82
April 25: Cavaliers 109, Wizards 102
April 27: Cavaliers 98, Wizards 92
April 30: Cavaliers 97, Wizards 90

Notable Cavaliers numbers this season (pound the salt):
T23 in expected winning percentage (.316).
14th in pace factor (91.1 possessions per game).
20th in offensive efficiency/offensive rating (104.4)
25th in defensive efficiency/defensive rating (110.4).

Notable Cavaliers numbers last season
7th in expected winning percentage (.626).
18th in pace factor (89.5 posessions per game).
19th in offensive efficiency/offensive rating (106.8).
4th in defensive efficiency/defensive rating (103).

Key links (drop any others in the comments)
Cavalier Attitude.
Unsurprisingly, the Cavs match Charlotte's offer for Anderson Varejao.
Bucher: Cavs got punk'd.
Ludden: Varejao/Fegan got punk'd.
LeBron injured again.
Steinz and his Wizards facts.
Some amazing news: Kelly Dwyer is blogging again.
Yay! Sports Blog Preview.
POJO DOJO Blog Preview.
Cavalier Attitude Blog Preview.
Truth in a Bullet Fedora Blog Preview.
Competition Discussion: Cleveland.

Starting lineups:
Cavaliers
PG: Daniel Gibson
SG: Larry Hughes
SF: Shannon Brown
PF: Drew Gooden
C: Zydrunas Ilgauskas

Wizards
PG: Antonio Daniels
SG: DeShawn Stevenson
SF: Caron Butler
PF: Antawn Jamison
C: Brendan Haywood

Tonight's lines:
Cavaliers at Wizards: Wizards by 6.5.
Over/Under on Big 2 scoring: 44.9 points.

So basically, I've been a negligent blogger recently, and I apologize. I was going to have something on Abe Pollin up, but I had to study for something I didn't know I had to study for. Then, I was going to have some long analysis of how our offense is worse even though we're shooting better, because we're turning the ball over more and not shooting as many free throws, but something else came up this afternoon, so that leaves you with this. I did add a new poll and update the standings, though, so feel free to consider those.

LeBron's not playing again. Kelly Dwyer, as usual, is right in saying we're spending too much time caring about Anderson Varejao. We should win this game by at least 20 points.

This is an open game thread, so speculate on how much weight Varejao gained while in his contract dispute.

GO WIZARDS!

0 recs | Comment 16 comments

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Comments

Picks

Wizards, over

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Dec 5, 2007 5:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Blogging with the best intentions

Totally hear you. There must be a dozen half-finished posts in the hopper at WRG from just the past month.

(Of course, if we had the time to do this blog thing every day on the regular, it probably wouldn't be as fun. But I digress.)

Wiz, over.

by crucifictorious on Dec 5, 2007 5:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Um...by big two and "over"

Clearly I meant Butler and Brendan.

by crucifictorious on Dec 5, 2007 8:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

it's a draw

I don't think the cavs or AV are going to get what they want out of this deal. AV may have been worth more than what the Cavs wanted to give him since they are saving money for lebron, but he isn't a significant contributor in a league like this. his +/- last year wasn't THAT great. he draws charges. he sometimes rebounds. his offense sucks. anyway, i'd call it a draw, at least the Cavs get a warm body and at least AV gets to opt-out in 2 years.

by iwatchthenba on Dec 5, 2007 6:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Perhaps you're looking at a different plus/minus

Because Varejao was 22nd in the league in adjusted plus/minus last year.

You're probably looking at Roland Rating, which is a bit different (and probably a bit better).

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Dec 5, 2007 7:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Picks

Wizards
Over. I'm tempted to go under here, because I think the magician will get lots of burn like he did in the Wizards game, but I just can't do it.

Bullets Forever: Your place for the very latest in Wizards news and PhD-level analysis.

by JakeTheSnake on Dec 5, 2007 6:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Picks

Wizards, under

by AL on Dec 5, 2007 6:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Picks

Wiz, under

by Aldo on Dec 5, 2007 6:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Picks

Wiz, over, and I hoping for D-Mac to get some burn tonight.

The Washington Wizards: providing career scoring nights for unknown opposing bench players since 2004.

by mamemimo on Dec 5, 2007 6:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

8 second violation!

...but then AD throws it away.

The Washington Wizards: providing career scoring nights for unknown opposing bench players since 2004.

by mamemimo on Dec 5, 2007 7:21 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Solid game

Didn't love the start of that fourth quarter, it continues to be clear that this team doesn't function without AD out there being floor general. But besides that, we couldn't have asked for much more from this squad. Caron had another monster night. Jamison's 17 points were an efficient 17. BTH was a beast on both ends of the floor ( loved him picking up that 10th board in the final seconds), and he dominated with 5 blocks. Blatche looked good, even if he's still foul-prone on D. And Nick Young took another big step toward the dunk competition.

Wizards minus our superstar >>>>> Cavs minus theirs.

by sierradave on Dec 5, 2007 9:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

To be fair

Cavs superstar>>>our superstar.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Dec 5, 2007 10:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

but

its pretty obvious that

wiz supporting cast>>>>cavs supporting cast

and...

makeup of wiz roster>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>&g t;>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>&g t;>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>&g t;>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>&g t;>>>makeup of cavs roster

by joshp on Dec 5, 2007 11:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Payback

I felt good to get some payback after last year's playoff series. Young's pull up J is damn near unstoppable. CBut keeps elevating his game and an overall it was a solid team effort.

What? They don't have TV in the D-League? Don't watch me, watch TV.

by Mac G on Dec 5, 2007 10:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Caveman and other gems

Besides Brendan, Nick Young, CBut, and the joy of watching Lebron-less Cavs get pounded, here's what I really enjoyed about last night's game:

The halftime Caveman interview: Not sure if anybody caught this interview between Buck&Phil and the Geico Caveman. Probably the most awkward 5 minutes in TV history. Phil clearly had no idea who the Caveman was and the Caveman had no idea what basketball was. So, Buck just kept asking random questions and the Caveman just kept insulting Buck. True comedy.

Buck's Jewish holiday reference: Early in the 3rd quarter, this exchange occurred - Phil: "The Wiz keep lightin it up." Buck: "Your right, Phil, it's a festival of lights here at the Verizon Center on the second day of Hanukka." Unadluterated hilarity.

Caron's lay-up celebration: It was either in the 2nd or 3rd quarter when Caron cut to the hoop and scored on a reverse lay-up. The ball went round the rim a few times b4 dropping. He caught the ball after it fell from the net, stared at it for several heartbeats, then smiled and gave a fist pump. Not sure why he did all that but it was the definition of funny.

The fact that Larry Hughes is on their team: I've had my gripes about Ernie, but between the Kwame trade and the LH let-go, our GM has proven he's one smart guy. Not that Hughes isn't good - when healthy he's a real weapon out there - it's just he's more fragile than Lindsay Lohan's sobriety.

I'm really enjoying this team right now. I hope Phoenix doesn't come in and beat us by 50.

by jvflail on Dec 6, 2007 1:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Haha

Funny observations. That Geico interview was so awkwardly painful, painfully awkward, it was hilarious.

Totally right about Hughes too. Way overpaid, especially considering how often he's been injured. I loved Jared Jeffries when he was here, but he's playing worse for the Knicks now for a lot more money, too.

by Aldo on Dec 7, 2007 6:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs