*Note: Image is of a Bazooka Scuba Subwoofer Tube
The Cavs survive a career performance from rookie Marcus Thornton (15-22 shooting in only 31 minutes and 14 seconds) to beat New Orleans by ten points.
The main product of my consternation tonight wasn’t the further DNP - Coach’s Decision flip-flopping of Jawad Williams and Jamario Moon (it was Williams’s turn), Mo Williams’s dreadful shooting (2-9), or even the poor defense (NO shot 50%, out-rebounded the Cavs by 3, and only turned the ball over 12 times, below their season average, without Chris Paul) … no, it was the fact that I had to listen to Cleveland announcers Fred McCleod and Austin Carr spout misinformation.
In the first half, while the Cavs were getting shredded in transition, McCleod made a big point of saying that New Orleans likes to get out and run, even when they’re playing on the road, unlike most teams.
Huh?
Why would utilizing transition offense have anything to do with being home or away?
I assume McCleod’s basing this assertion on something no one could ever prove, like the notion that road teams fast break less because they’re tired from traveling. Transition points are very hard to find online, so I can’t do any kind of snap analysis by looking at game logs or I would - despite the fact that McCleod’s statement doesn’t pass the infamous proverbial “smell test.”
AC, on the other hand - who, as a side note, had one of the greatest “Deep in the Q” flubs in history tonight - continually spoke about what a great shooting team New Orleans are.
Unfortunately, “average” is a more opportune word.
45.5% FG | 36.4% 3P | 53.8% TS
League averages are 45.9%, 35.2%, and 54.0% respectively.
Even if we were to look at by zone, we’d see that NOR is within one percent of the league average in every area from the rim to the 3P line. And when it comes to threes, the Hornets are only 2% better then the rest of the league.
Hardly counts as great.
Boston on Thursday - it’s been a long time since the two teams played one another, and right now, it looks like they wouldn’t meet in the playoffs unless BOS somehow gets past ORL, and CLE finishes off ATL.
If you’re a Cavs fans, personally, I recommend rooting for ATL to overtake BOS for the 3 seed in the Eastern Conference, so ATL and ORL can play each other in the semis and the Cavs can deal with Boston.
ORL, by the way, is now second in the NBA in efficiency differential at +7.0. The Cavs are first at +7.8 and the Lakers are third at +6.9. Boston comes next at +5.9.
On Thursday, please watch TNT if you’re in Cleveland instead of FSO. I know Barkley and the Jet have been badly usurped by the splendid tandem of Webber and McHale on NBA TV Fan Night, but at least you’ll get a dose of impartiality and insight from the play-by-play.
Just remember I used the word “dose.”
