Well, after a harrowing, sleepless night of wondering whether Boney and FIOS killed each other, we’ve now heard from both of them. FIOS says he’ll send his pics of the first-ever arranged meeting (not involving us) between readers in this blog’s history.
We were a bit nervous about this – not the game, just the idea that we’d set up two people we’ve never met to go on a blind playdate to watch a basketball game. (An admittedly awesome basketball game, by the way. A basketball game the Cavaliers tried in and won.)
Here’s Boney’s synopsis of the meeting.
My re-cap of the night (from memory, no notebook or “live blog”):
Overall Grade for the night: B-
The night began looking rather bleak when Detroit let CLE get an early 10 point lead and gave up 30+ points in the quarter on their own home floor. I began the game talk by quickly saying “hey, you know I don’t REALLY hate the Cavaliers….right?”.
As the game went on I realized that this may be a game that Detroit has been known to have lately (they gradually sneak up and before you know it they are beating you by 10). I mentioned something about how Detroit hasn’t gone to their zone defense early in the 4th quarter, and shortly thereafter the Cavs had 1 shot clock violation and 2 bad shots on 3 consecutive possessions when the zone was in place.
All in all it was a peaceful summit. We talked about Becky’s massive mammories, FIOS talked about how lucky it must be for The Cavalier to be on the west coast, and I sat there halfway thinking that it was a good game, but not a game to get back on the bandwagon for (which after reviewing some comments this morning I see The Cavalier has already done). Detroit set the pace for most of the 2nd half, and if it weren’t for the bad 1st quarter and the questionable 3 point shots in the 4th, I think my boys would have pulled it out.
I think I overwhelmed FIOS with my use of the words “dude” and “money”. Other than my overuse of those 2 terms, the anime that began to play on the TV with 2 minutes to go in the 1st half, and the struggle to get the game played on a legit TV (you’ll see by FIOS’ pictures they played the game on a 25″ panasonic), I had a good time. I request Cavs vs. Pistons Reader Summit II though, to make up for last night’s loss.
Positives: THAT was the team we signed up for at the start of this season – the one we were screaming 58 wins to the heavens about throughout October. We’re totally back onboard with these guys after the past two weeks – at least until they mail it in against Milwaukee on Saturday.
Negatives: Boney, we can feel the overuse of “dude” and “money” from out here in Los Angeles. Terrifying, especially the “money”. We can’t truly give our verdict on the evening’s events until we see pics, so we’ll cut this short here, since Boney’s got a long recap.
(Boney must keep in mind that the Pistons shot 44 free throws to the Cavaliers’ 24. Quite a disparity, and anyone who was actually watching the game instead of dreamily gazing inot the eyes of FIOS would’ve caught that. On top of that, the Cavs shot even worse than normal at the line, hitting only 54%.)
More from FIOS in a bit.
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Don’t forget double foul. WTF was that? Double Foul should become a character on yay, like Orange Roundie. Careful Double Foul, Carefulllll . . . . But will Scoop Jackson steal it? The tension is palpable!
Cav, did you PS that ball, and the shadow of the hand, into that picture? If so, that’s a little too good.
I don’t want to sound argumentative (ooh big word), but I’d say the free throw disparity has something to do with the Cavs settling for (and making) jump shots last night and the Pistons settling for (and getting fouled) on jump shots as well…
Besides, we can’t forget the absolute MUGGING of Billups last night in OT when ‘Bron “took” the ball out of his hands when clearly his left hand and wrist were slapped causing the loose ball.
Hey Cav, where do you stand on the whole “lebron lacks killer instinct” angle that everybody seems to have adopted? Seems to me, he always steps up in big games when it matters, but coasts otherwise. Stark contrast from Kobe, who insists on stepping up in any situation, even to the point where it’s silly. I think I like the lebron method – shows he understands 1. you’ll just burn out trying to go 100%, 200% of the time – and 2. numbers.
I don’t think the Cavs settled for jump shots at all. The stats back that up: 56 points in the paint.
Cavs scored way more points in the paint and shot way less free throws. Usually those two numbers corrolate (big word day).
I think the Cavs had a game plan to foul the Pistons on most any inside shot though. That’s at least part of the reason for the free throw disparity. Refs were awful regardless.
Fest I probably fall on the Kobe side – I hate it when guys coast. If LeBron played like he did last night every night, they would’ve already given him the MVP and the Cavs would be a few up on the Pistons in the standings. I’d rather someone like LeBron have that killer instinct come naturally rather than having to make the decision. Can you imagine if LeBron played like KG in terms of intensity?
In fairness to Kobe, with all of the injuries they’ve had, he’s had little choice for a lot of this year. For that period when they had everyone, he was pretty willing to defer this season.
Frank, you’re right. I guess as I was gazing into FIOS’ eyes I missed all of the 2nd chance opportunities that the Pistons gave up… Damn, sometimes I miss Ben Wallace still.
I know you weren’t making an argument, so I won’t offer to trade a LeBron foul on a strip for a Rip charge. That’d be a three point for two point trade. Cavs still win.
I don’t think that was a charge – Andy didn’t even have both feet down.
Even so, if we’d shot our normal 68% we’d still have won anyway. We won.
Actually it wasn’t a charge, last time I checked (and I don’t have the rulebook here) but your feet need to be planted when you’re making a move to draw a charge. Watch the replay, you’ll see Varejao was still moving when Rip made his cut to the rim, blocking foul 9 times out of 10.
Rule 12, Section VII, Sub-part B., Section 1 – Personal Foul, Section II – By the dribbler.
b. If a defender is able to establish a legal position in the straight line path of the dribbler, the dribbler must avoid contact by changing direction or ending his dribble.
Varejao didn’t establish position, he stepped in front of the driving Hamilton who took the bump and scored the bucket for the “and-1″ foul. It’s a block, it will always be a block or flop, especially when it’s a 260lb Varejao getting bumped by a 200lb (soaking wet) Richard Hamilton. Blocking foul, 9 times out of 10, with that 10th time being when Bruce Bowen steps in front of somebody and it’s a charge.
Interesting, I would argue that the Kevin Garnett level intensity is actually a bad thing. He seems like one of those guys that gets no joy whatsoever from playing basketball. If he took steroids, I could see Garnett eventually becoming the next Alonzo Mourning and having spasms of ecstacy after grabbing uncontested rebounds.
Also, I can’t stand Kobe, but I have to admit that for most of this season, and unlike last year, he’s played fantastic basketball.
A friend and I were debating if we’d rather have Kobe or Lebron or our team in a tight, big game. We both agreed, we’d take Robert Horry. But Lebron would be second. Kobe tries to take every last shot and so he’s bound to make some. Lebron, on the other hand, only seems to take the big shots when the stakes are higher – and he makes them. I know somebody did a statistical analysis of just how poor kobe’s fg % was in the last minute of a game, and I can bet you lebron’s was higher. This is why I would say Lebron actually has more of a natural killer instinct than kobe.
And I still blame the heat for teaching the rest of the league that regular season malaise = championship. Hard to fault Lebron for learning – though it does make for unwatchable games.
In conclusion, Go Clippers!
As an unbiased third party I will say this: 1)I’m not sure if I’m happy or mad that LeBron finally played hard last night. Part of me is happy because it shows that he’s able to do it. Part of me is mad because he doesn’t do it all the time. 2)That was a blocking foul on Varejo. 3)Kobe over LeBron in one tight, big game. 4)I really enjoyed seeing LeBron rise up and deny Rip at the rim when it mattered.
The Festiva: “If he took steroids, I could see Garnett eventually becoming the next Alonzo Mourning and having spasms of ecstacy after grabbing uncontested rebounds.”
I’ve been wondering for a while now how many players are on (designer) steroids, human growth hormone or stimulants. Discuss?
It’s kinda funny that a play that was called correctly (AV’s blocking foul on Rip) is the one that people argue about…
“Interesting, I would argue that the Kevin Garnett level intensity is actually a bad thing. He seems like one of those guys that gets no joy whatsoever from playing basketball. If he took steroids, I could see Garnett eventually becoming the next Alonzo Mourning and having spasms of ecstacy after grabbing uncontested rebounds.”
Just because you leave it on the court every night doesn’t mean you don’t enjoy basketball. I’d kill for guys with KG intensity especially when you consider the alternative. And as for LeBron’s routine abortions at the line, he is easily the worst star SG percentagewise there. It’s to the point you may want to employ “Hack-a-Bron” at the end of games.
BTW what software is used to create this blog? My site is trying to integrate blog software into our site.
Wordpress – it’s free at wordpress.org
I’m not arguing the Cavs won or lost, I’m arguing that the so called “charge” claim by some of the blind homers that read this board (not The Cavalier and not FIOS) was actually a blocking foul which at the end of things did not really add up to much of anything considering the Pistons still lost…
One game is one game is one game though, and it’s still the regular season, and yes I would have enjoyed a win by my boys, I’m still happy that it was a close game and not some spectacular 50 point game by ‘Bron and an absolute blowout like the GSW laid on them this past Monday.
I’ll give the credit to the Cavs last night for playing a good game. I think ‘Bron was the benefit of a couple of calls, but not enough to really whine about… all in all, a good NBA game.
I would argue that I’m not a blind homer. But if a Cavs homer can’t read a Cavs centric blog, where can we go? My opinion of the charge/block was formed by Pistons color analyst Rick Mahorn on the Pistons broadcast as heard on Sirius. When I saw the replay, I thought it could go either way. Guess what, I’m wrong. Oh well. The Cavs won at The Palace, which is no great feat this season.
P.S.
There’s an ad on deadspin right now for Verizon FiOS. Congrats on the sponshorship.
sponsorship
Coming up on today’s installment of “Flattered or Skeeved…”
flattered!
Ahh Becky, it’s all in good fun. I added that for your enjoyment…. (or did I?)
I’m deeply disappointed in your supposed Mavericks-coverage while on hiatus from the CLE.
If you made a list of all the things i said I was going to do and then didn’t follow through on, it would be quite large. Just off the top of my head:
-www.kwamevscake.com
-www.allstar1on1.com
-Make FIRE COACH MIKE t-shirts
-Mavs coverage while on hiatus from CLE
-lead the movement against date rape
In the NBA, feet stationary does not equal established position. Established position is a lesser standard than stationary. I didn’t think they should have called anything, but it would have been nice for the Cavs to get one call. I mean, they did get that one call, but then . . . DOUBLE FOUL!!
Boney, did you kill Fios? Or force him into some sort of vow of silence?
What in GOD’s holy name is this? With my trip to Northern Jersey this week (don’t ask) as well as other work related issues, my chances of keeping up to date are about as good as a Mav fan not being fat: NONE. The hell is wrong with you two? Where’s Chris Hansen when you need him? It’s not cool nor understandable under any circumstances for 2 “straight” dudes to meet off the internet. Basketball “related” as it may be, it still doesn’t flow well when you’re talking about using extra colonge and cheap liquor. Extremley teh ghey. Add to that the fact that there are some supposed pictures floating around that document this incident and the teh ghey level goes higher than Avery Johnson. Devon Harris thinks you two are a couple of fruits. Now that’s bad.
FIOS: (talking with lisp) “Boneeeeeyyyyyy, wanna take pics so I can send em to The Cav. Maybe i’ll even post them shits up on my myssssspaccce.
Boney: (blushing) “Okay and hey, if your not doing anything later…..”
GHEYYYY! Let’s get back to the real issue at hand: Spurs are on fire. I’m still keeping hope alive for a Spurs/Pistons finals. I’m pretty sure the Spurs will be there, but now i’m not too sure about the Pistons. What a let down.
http://www.poundingtherock.com/story/2007/3/8/16107/59637
^^That right there is your MVP and 6th man of the year. Nets suck btw.
Tony, for the last time, I don’t want to “star” in your movie, posting the screen play changes nothing
The Cav: Check yo mail yo
I like how Frank said “corrolate (big word day)” and misspelled the big word – on big word day.
>>If you made a list of all the things i said I was going to do and then didn’t follow through on, it would be quite large
Tony, tell ya man to get some f’in hair plugs already. It’s getting embarrassing.
I like how BDP and Frank both made reference to yesterday being “big word day” when actually I think only 2 “big” words were used, and corelate or correlate was one of them, and that’s not a big word…
damn, after looking at that sentence, today should be “run-on sentence day”
Update: I am still a jerk
But’s is still a five-dollar word. Maybe it was (5-dollar word day).
Maybe it was a counterfeit 5-dollar word, but nonetheless.
Brandon, I will misspell again. Stay sharp.
I smell like poop.
Me encanta el agua tostado. OLE!
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