March 5, 2024 • 38 mins
Tim Alcorn and Jim Chones talk to Joe Gabriele from Cavs.com to talk all things Cavs before being joined by Cedric Maxwell to discuss the Cavs-Celtics game on Tuesday night.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
Welcome to calves HQ, presented by bet Way. Thank you
for joining us on the Medical Mutual Cavaliers audiovers. Here
are your hosts, Tim Alcorn and Jim Jones.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
From the Cavaliers production studios at Rocket Mortgage field House
in downtown Cleveland. Hi again, everybody, and welcome to calves HQ.
Great to have you with us on this Monday night,
Cavaliers coming off a tough loss on Sunday when they
were down here at Rocket Mortgage field House by the
New York Knicks. And now another busy week for the
(00:42):
Cavaliers Tomorrow night it's Boston, Wednesday night in Atlanta, and
then back home for a tough contest on Friday night
with the Tea Wolves from Minnesota. As always, great to
have Jim Jones by my side, and Jim, we've got
a busy show this week and two terrific guests. Of course,
we all read and follow jog Joegabriel from Cavs dot com.
(01:05):
We're gonna hear from him. And then I know one
of your best friends and one of our great guests
on Cavs HQ, Cedric Cortenbrad Maxwell, will join us a
little bit later.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
On Yeah, it'll be interesting to see what Max has
to say, especially after a fifty two point blowout of
one of the superior franchises. They call themselves the Warriors. Well,
they played anything but like Warriors the other night. Fifty
two point differential that is unheard of at this time
of the year, when basically the Warriors were playing pretty strong.
(01:35):
And then Joe g I have to say at every
show or else, I feel guilty. I steal so much
of your stuff and use it and I don't give
you credit for it. I'm sorry.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
Man.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Well, apologize to Joe when we come back, as he
will join us on Cavs HQ presented by Betway. We'll
hear from Joe Gabriel after this on The Medical Mutual
Cavaliers audio verse. Garlic top of the three point arc,
left in the lane.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
Loved Allan Garland with the throat to the froom early
in the clock. That's our best extent.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Went the other end. Merril Pree got it zem Merril
with twenty one on seven to three ball.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
Just gotta find it, Tip, you gotta find him.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
DG left wing top three god DG. He's got three
threes here in the fourteen nineteen overall Cavs with it three.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
What a difference the three can make, and.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
We welcome you back, Cavs HQ presented by bet Wake.
Great to have you with us on this Monday night.
Great as always to look on the other side of
the window and see the dynamic duo of Kurt McLoughlin
and Marty Allen. Thanks to them for putting together that
highlight montage from last night's loss to the New York
Knicks at Rocking Mortgage field House. Calves fell one seven
(02:57):
to ninety eight Caves now thirty nine in twenty one
on the air, and they dip into that number three
spot in the Eastern Conference, a half game behind the
Milwaukee Bucks. So we've got a lot of ground to
cover as far as the game last night and the
way things have gone for the Cavaliers post All Star Break.
And who better to talk about Cavalier basketball than the
(03:20):
guy who covers it game in game out, day in
day out on calves dot com. One Joe Gabriel joj
from Calves dot Com stops by to pay us a
Visit always great to have Joe g Joe. We appreciate
you taking the time thank you, sir.
Speaker 5 (03:34):
Hey, thanks for having me on. Guys, thank you.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Well, we were chatting before we rolled here. That's a
tough loss last night. You can't sugarcoat that New York
without Randall, without Ananobi, without Robinson, and then basically without
Jalen Brunson. And yet they come up and they basically
punch the Calves in the face with a one oh
seven ninety eight win. Boy, that's a bitter loss. How
(03:58):
did the Calves bounce back for that, especially with Boston
coming to town tomorrow night.
Speaker 5 (04:03):
Yeah, I mean they have no choice but to bounce
back from that. You have Boston, you have another trip,
then you have Minnesota on Friday night. So I mean
it doesn't get any easier. But you're right last night
was that was a discouraging loss. I can't lie again.
We didn't have two of our top guys, but they
were down big and they had been struggling and they
(04:24):
came in and I think the worst part about it
was they were more physical, they were more aggressive. It
looked a lot like last April, and that was something
that they did not want to have happened last night.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
You know, right after the All Star break, expectations were
so high, but then Donovan doesn't play those first few games,
and I just think it just put us in a
wrong mental state of mind. Because he is our leader.
It's very evident now we're only going to go as
good as he can play. What does the loss of
a Donovan Mitchell mean, Joe, other than what Jim Chulones
(04:56):
and old guy says, you.
Speaker 5 (05:00):
Say, means a lot him Donovan To me, I've heard
Austin say he's the best combo garden in the league.
I'd agree with that, but I think I think he's
the best leader in the NBA. I mean, he's a
great player, but he's a great leader. And when you
are missing him, that true leader and closer and closer,
you're really missing a lot. He's It's not just the
(05:23):
points in the rebounds he assists. He's the impetus behind
the calves. He's the head of the true head of
the snake. And when he's out you can just tell
they they're just not right. Like I said, it's not
just a basketball thing. It's a leadership thing. And when
he's out, you really miss it.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Well, that's a great point. Again, we're talking with Joe
G Fromcaves dot com And let's delve a little further
into that because and Jim, I certainly want your feedback
on this as well. Leadership that's not an X and
O thing, but let's talk about how that can impact
a team on the floor as far as just the
(06:01):
overall play. Again, leadership doesn't draw up the plays and
doesn't run the scheme. But Joe talk about that, and
then Jim, if you could follow up, well.
Speaker 5 (06:10):
I just think, like last night, you know, and not
that they don't have leaders but for the most part,
again you saw it last year, they're a quiet team.
They're just you know, Jarrett Hevan, these guys are quiet
guys for the most part. Darius is a you know,
he's a tough guy, but he likes to get along
with guys. Last night and again the Josh Hart where
he hit the three pointer and flipped Donovan Mitchell's necklace.
(06:32):
I don't know if other people are talking about that,
but that really bothered me. And maybe it doesn't even
bother Donovan, but the fact that they kinda that they
think they're kind of the big brother on us, and
you brought in guys like Struce and George Niang to
kind of to kind of counterbalance that. So you need
you need guys to step up and say we're not
(06:54):
the same calves. And last night, like I said, they
looked a little like last April's calves.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
You know, we still don't know if Donovan's gonna play,
he's got any soreness, and that's huge, you know, because
his whole game is based on changing directions, stop and go.
But we've really missed the intangibles that he brings down.
You know, we get within three I think once, we
got within one point, and that's Donovan Mitchell time, either
as the first option, the second option, or just a
(07:23):
great decoy. And we didn't have that last night. And
they knew that, they knew that they double team Garland
every time they had a chance. The Knicks just seemed
to have our number.
Speaker 5 (07:33):
And again I mentioned the word closer. Donovan is a closer.
I mean you give him the ball at the end,
whether he takes the shot or facilitates the shot. He's
the guy at the end of the game that you
want making decisions, yep, and not having him And I'm
not saying the other guys can't. I'm just saying he's
your guy and Jim, you mentioned intangibles, the guy that
(07:53):
gives you the most intangibles on the team, ker Slaburpian.
Speaker 4 (07:56):
Out, Yeah, saying it cost team but huge.
Speaker 5 (08:00):
It's huge, and he's been playing so well, especially distributing
the ball. He's your, you know, your secondary ball handler,
so not having your secondary and your your third top
ball handler, it really hurt him last night. So you
saw what happened exactly.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Well, take a quick time out. We're talking with Joe
Gabriel from Calves dot Com. Always great to have Joe
G on the show. We'll get more of his insights
after this. Calves HQ presented by bet Way coming your
way on the Medical Mutual Cavaliers audio Verse.
Speaker 6 (08:34):
You're listening to Calves HQ on the Medical Mutual Cavaliers
audio Verse.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
Let's get back to Tim Alcorn and Jim Jones.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
And let's get back with Joe G. Joe Gabriel our
guest from Calves dot com joining with us here on
Cavs HQ. Jim Jones, you want to get started with
jo G.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
Joe, you know, I'm looking at these Cavaliers and this
is the stretch run. This is when the focus in
spite of injuries or whatever. You know, you really have
to pay attention to detail. Do you have any concerns
based about what's happened since the All Star Break?
Speaker 5 (09:12):
Well, it's funny, Jim, that's kind of been the narrative,
of course, you know, because of our history the last
two seasons that after the All Star Break, they've they've
taken a dip, and there is that concern. But I
just feel like we have too many weapons, We're too
well balanced. Let's see what happens when Donovan and Carris
(09:34):
get back. And again, like I'm looking at you know me,
I'm an optimistic guy. I'm looking at, you know, some
of the good things that are developing. And I think
I echo the sentiments of all Cleveland when I say,
you got to find minutes for Sam Merril. He can't
get another DNP. You have to find a way to
use that guy. That's one thing. And then Isaac has
(09:55):
just been so good, so I'm looking forward to seeing
him the rest of the year. And like I said,
once we get healthy, get back in a rhythm, I'm
not too concerned. But there is that history that's kind
of hanging over Cav's head right now.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
Well, I want to circle back because you read my
mind on the next question I wanted to throw at
you about Sam Merrill. You go back to training camp
in preseason and you watch this kid shoot and you think, wow,
he could be a real weapon. But I don't know
if anybody saw what was going to develop with Sam Merrill.
This kid is a real weapon. And Jog I totally
(10:32):
agree with you. You've got to find minutes for him
because he's instant offense off that bench.
Speaker 5 (10:38):
Instant offense. And I mean he's not shy anymore. You know,
he used to be looking over his shoulder when he
got in Now he's not. He gets in there, he's
ready to fire. They want him to shoot, So yes,
you have to find room for him. And also another
thing about Sam is you know you see him as
kind of a Utah State, you know, spot up shooter
kind of guy. He's actually a pretty tough defender.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
I mean, you're not going to.
Speaker 5 (11:01):
Confuse him with Isaaca Corro, but he's stout, I mean,
you know, and he spent a lot of the offseason
working on his body, lifting weights and things like that,
so he's not a defensive sieve in any respect. He
can d up so again, I know it's tough, but
you got to five minutes for that guy the rest
of the year.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
Yeah, you're all over, Joe g I watched that last
night two or three times. They were looking to score
later in the clock and they passed the ball to
Sam Merrill's man, and Sam have him pass or hold
the ball up. I just think that he's much improved.
He does have the respect of the team because coming
out of a couple of time outs, you know, they
ran a couple plays for him. Everybody knows you gotta
(11:42):
have eight or nine strong. Can you still stay in
that traditional mode of eight or nine down the stretch
and eight or nine in the playoffs when you have
such depth that we have.
Speaker 5 (11:54):
That's a tough one because Jim, as you know, like
eight is kind of the standard for playoffs. You know,
that's eight is a deep rotation for playoffs usually, but
the Cats almost need to go eight or nine deep
in that Isaac Corroll has to play, Sam Merrill has
to play, Dean Wade has to play. These guys, you
(12:14):
look at their numbers in terms of I'm gonna use
JB's phrase, how they impact winning. When you look at
the winning numbers of Isaac and Wade and now Merrill,
they're undeniable. So again, I don't know how JB's going
to figure out eight or nine or ten or however
it's going to be, but that rotation has to be
(12:34):
figured out down the stretch.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
Do you know the reason why they do that? The
main reason that a lot of people are forgot is
because of continuity, and you know, so that you can
keep a focus and a rhythm based on your substitution,
you know, rather than having guys come in and have
to warm up or he miss a couple early, but
you sort of get into it. What to call it
an accelerated chemistry groove. It's great. Yeah, But Joe, the depth,
(13:00):
I mean, I mean, that's been our strength all season.
Speaker 5 (13:03):
Yeah, and it's and I'll tell you what. When you
look at depth and you look at other teams and
you see, you know, and I don't want to say
I don't, well, I'm gonna say, look at a team
like Dallas. You know they have two strong Look at
the Lakers, they're top heavy. Once you get past those
two top guys, it starts getting a little thin. Whereas
the Cavaliers, that's their strength. The strength of the Cavs
(13:26):
is depth, and you also have, you know, a superstar,
so they have the formula. It's just a matter of
figuring it out.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Joji, you mentioned the head of the Snake as far
as Donovan Mitchell's impact on this basketball team and what
he means. But one guy can't do it alone. And
while we all know what Donovan can do, who's that
next guy, Who's the guy that we look at on
this roster or in that rotation that you say he
(13:57):
needs to step up, that needs to be one.
Speaker 5 (14:00):
B Well, I think people will probably disagree with this,
but Jim knows how much I love this guy. Evan
Mobley is very slowly taking those steps. And somebody mentioned
last night that guy should eventually be a twenty to
ten guy, and I agree with that. I think Evan
(14:23):
is now starting to find it. You know, again, the
easy answer is Darius. He's so fantastic, He's so explosive.
But Evan is the guy. I mean, if you know,
if you want to if you want to take the
next step as a team, that guy needs to take
the next step as a player. Everybody else is kind
of where they need to be. He's close, but Evan.
(14:47):
I think once he starts turning it up, that's going
to be your your number two guy.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
Well, you know when you look at JB and the
job that he has, Oh man, it's it's just tough
because Allen has carried you along with Donovan, and then
you bring Mobili in. It's a crowded floor. The vert
had to make the adjustment because of the room had slacked.
So then you start spacing those guys out and truly
(15:14):
their strength at being big just playing them together, but
then Jared wouldn't get the touches and Mobiley wouldn't get
the touches. I mean, this is just crazy, man. You know,
I don't know how you navigate all of that.
Speaker 5 (15:26):
Yeah, I don't know. I mean, you know, JB talked
about before the break about, you know, kind of going
in with let's see who's who's hot, let's see how
the matchups are working, and then we'll we'll go in
the second half like that, we'll see who's who's playing well.
But again, that's a that's a tough thing to do,
it is there, you know, I mean, it's it's it's
(15:47):
a good problem to have, but it's kind of a
problem in that you got to find the right combination
and like you said, Jim, I mean, come playoff time,
you are probably going to whittle that down to eight
or nine guys.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
Well, good stuff, Joe G. Has always great to have
you on Cavs HQ. We love your insights and of
course for the fans and listeners if you're not on
Cavs dot Com reading Jog's stuff. As Jim Jones always says,
he steals it all the time.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
Joe, Joe, I'm sorry, Joe, but I'm still not giving
you credit.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
We appreciated Joe. Thank you, Thank you very much, Thank you,
Joe G. Joe Gabriel joining us here on Cavs HQ
presented by Betway a quick time out and on the
back half of the show, we'll be entertained by one
Cedric Court and Bred Maxwell. So stay with us on
a medical Mutual Cavaliers audio verse.
Speaker 7 (16:46):
Last week, as part of math Hoops Live presented by
Rocket Mortgage, the Cavaliers hosted students from Pinnacle Academy and
made their elementary for math Hoops Live, where the basketball
court gets turned into a real life version of the
math Hoops board game. As part of the event, at
Rocket Mortgage Field House. The students also got to enjoy
appearances from Calv's legend Daniel Booby Gibson and mascot Sir Ceci,
(17:11):
who helped bring the board game to life. Calves in
the Community is brought to you by Discount Drug mart.
We'll be back with the second half of Calves HQ,
presented by Betway right after this. On the Medical Mutual
Cavaliers audio verse, He's.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
Red red.
Speaker 6 (17:42):
Entry past deflected by hole for stolen I Fatum, so'll
become a chance to go up by fifty holiday for
Jalen Brown, spins in the pain, kicks out of the
last second Tatum, Oh but threat it is a fifty
one point Costant League.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
Welcome back Kev's HQ pay On the Medical Mutual Cavaliers
audio verse, tim Elcorn along with Jim Jones of course,
the two guys on the other side of the window,
rocking it with a little corn bread as we bring
you some Celtics highlights of their demolition of the Golden
State Warriors on Sunday. My goodness and yes it's Cedric Cornbread. Maxwell,
(18:22):
one of our favorite guests on Calves HQ that stops
buy and pays a visit, and of course the Celtics
in town tomorrow night to take on the Cavaliers right
here at Rocket Mortgage Field House. That, as I said,
you're one of our favorites. Great to have you back
on the show.
Speaker 4 (18:37):
Thank you, gentlemen. It is great to be on your
show and looking forward to come and see what the
Cavs have. Special chef that that Shrews's half cor heave Man,
I was like, I thought you guys went until you gave.
Speaker 3 (18:52):
Me the news.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
Well we'll delve deep into that. But man, the Boston Celtics,
I hear Sean Grandy say right, they're a fifty point lead,
and you almost have to say, is did I hear
that right? Even though it's twenty four hours later? I mean,
this team is just rolling. When's the last time you
saw a team play this well for such a sustained
(19:18):
period of time? Said?
Speaker 4 (19:20):
Maybe for the Celtics, I think would be when Kevin
Garnett and Paul Pierces from Ray Allen that first year
that they win the championship in eight. I think that
they were just that good, rolling on both sides. That
next year played probably even better before Kevin Garnett went down.
But this team is on the mission and they seem
(19:41):
like they understand. I looked at this week and I said,
some huge games you had Dallas home. I said, that's
gonna be a statement. Golden State has been the team
that's been in the Celtics head for the last couple
of years since they lost the championship to them. And
so another huge mark. And then you guys and Denver
(20:02):
and then you have Phoenix. So big games right now
coming up, and that's gonna tell me a lot about
the character of this team.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
We would talk a little bit about the Calves, but
they're struggling right now because of health and other issues.
But how good are the Celtics.
Speaker 4 (20:18):
We don't give a damn about that. I don't care
about whether Calves are struggling or not.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
I know this.
Speaker 4 (20:23):
I know you guys got nice talk radio, but no,
you know, the Cavaliers are Cavaliers team. One of my
favorite players you have right now, and and no exaggeration,
is Donovan Mitchell. I love Donovan Mitchell. The fact that
his father went to school at UNC Charlotte and play baseball.
Oh okay, you know, we not a lot of sympathy.
(20:45):
You know, at this time of the year for any
team out there, gym.
Speaker 3 (20:49):
Oh, yeah, so it won't work. Set it won't work.
Speaker 4 (20:53):
No, No, I'm old school gym. You can save that
for the next callar Okay.
Speaker 3 (21:00):
But said, it's always about health, isn't it.
Speaker 4 (21:03):
Yes, it is. You know if gim you've been around
long enough to know that that's not the formula. If
you and I knew that formally, gym, we wouldn't be
in radio right now. We'd be something someplace, sitting on
the holland counting. Not money. It's something. It's just the luck,
the luck of the year. When you have guys like
(21:24):
the Celtics for most of the year they have been healthy.
One thing they've done which has been cool is they've
been able to rest people throughout the year. They'd spot
poor Zingers, he didn't play last night, or Brown might
not play, or Tatum might not play, or you know
you have white or you have such a long, deep
bench and guys who want to come in and play,
(21:45):
you get the opportunity to rest. Guys always said, My
one thing I always said about the NBA, either you
rest your body or your body's gonna rest. Shield and
in this case, the southerns will be able to rest
players and keep them healthy.
Speaker 3 (21:59):
That's great.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
Again, we're talking with Cedric Cornbread, Maxwell, Boston Celtic legend,
and of course now just does an awesome job on
the radio side of things with his broadcast partner Sean Grandy,
and said. I mentioned Sean Grandy because when the Calves
were in Boston for the two games in three days
back in December, we had Sean on Calves HQ, and
(22:20):
I asked him if this was basically a championship or
bust type of season, and you, just a couple of
minutes ago, said, this team is on a mission. Talk
about that mindset that, hey, if we don't win this
whole thing that's our goal, then we're gonna come up shy.
Speaker 4 (22:37):
Yeah. I think that brass Stevens is right now looking
at be an Executive of the Year. He's put together
a great team, a great format. You go out and
you lose Marcus Smart, one of my favorite players, but
you bring in Drew Holliday. He comes in. You get
Drew Holliday, you add for Marcus Smart, you get for Zingis.
For Zingis has straightened up a lot of the woes
(22:59):
of Southern have had over the last couple of years
that he can score in the paints, and a couple
of games here I think it was a couple of
games ago, playing a smaller team, the subjects decided that
they weren't going to be a three point team, and
they went to the hole and they shot about thirty
five free throws. That, to me is the evolution of
(23:20):
a good team. You win is Jim with Jim. They're
certain nice that you win in different ways. And every
night you can't knock down the three. That's a pretty
shot and all that, but sometimes you got to get
in the mud like the pigs and then wabble and
win those kind of games. And the subjicts have been
able to do that because they seem like they've learned
(23:40):
now that we have to adjust to what the defense
gives us.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
Is there anyone in the East that you know, you
mentioned the Cavaliers because of their size inside, but is
there anyone else in the East that really when you
think about them, you said and lose that first game.
Talk a little bit about that.
Speaker 4 (23:59):
Well, I think that you look at obviously, look at Milwaukee.
What Milwaukee has with Giannis and Doc seems to have
gotten those guys playing better defense. But being very honest, Jim,
the Celtics right now are the best team in the
league right now, and that's today, But it doesn't count
(24:19):
until you get in the playoffs. Sean Grandy gives these
great stats where we talk about in the history of
the NBA, this is the greatest scoring team around, the
Boston Celtics. But at the end of the day, Jim,
it's all about another banner here, putting one up to
the roof. And if you don't do that, then your goal,
your mindset is skewed if you don't accomplish that particular thing.
(24:43):
Boston fans are very very smart, they're very savvy, and
they understand that. Look, the big picture here is that
the Boston Celtics go out and get.
Speaker 3 (24:52):
Another ring boy.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
Great stuff from Cedric Cornbread Maxwell. As he joins us
here on Cavs HQ, he said, how surprised are you
that Porzingis has blended in and this team has gelled
as well as they have with Christops now in the
lineup and on the roster.
Speaker 4 (25:12):
Yeah, I'm a little surprised. You know, you lose a
guy like Marcus smart. But for Zingi's for most part,
people always talk about his health. He's been healthy. He
was healthy in Washington and then Washington shut him down
and didn't let him play anymore. Last year, I think
he played about fifteen to fifty five games. But he's
(25:32):
been healthy. Knock on wood, ankles, a little bit fraid sometimes.
But the thing that he brings to the table is
a mindset that you know, you have five three point
shooters out there all the time against the balls and subject,
so a guy like thrown Allen has to come out
of that zone. Mobley can't play in the bag trying
(25:53):
to block shots because you'll have somebody wide open in
the corner. Steve Kerr yesterday in the game with Golden State, decided,
you know what we're gonna do. We don't let Jaylen
Brown shoot threes by himself. How'd that work out for him?
Jalen had I think twenty six twenty seven in the
first half. So I think you're going to have to
(26:14):
pick your poison with this team, and we're cussed off
out there. It creates mismatches that a lot of teams
just can't handle.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
And again we're talking with Cedric Cornbread Maxwell. He's our
guest on CAVS HQ presented by Betwag. Great insights as
always from the Celtic legend, and of course we'll bump
into said tomorrow night when the Celtics are in town
to take on the Cavaliers. More with Cedric Maxwell after
this on Cavs HQ presented by Betwag. On the Medical
Mutual Cavaliers audio Verse.
Speaker 1 (26:48):
This is calvs HQ on the Medical Mutual Cavaliers audio Verse.
Everything you need to know about the Calves and the NBA.
Here again are Tim Alcorn and Jim Chones.
Speaker 2 (26:59):
Great to have you back on Cav's HQ, presented by Betway.
As always, technical director Marty Allen on the other side
of the window, keeping us entertained, and we're always entertained
by the presidence of one Cedric Courtbrett Maxwell, who joins
us this week on CAVS h Q. Jimmy had a
question for said before we took the break.
Speaker 3 (27:19):
Well, I've always been needling, said that I never thought
that Brown and Tatum could play together, Remember said, I've
said that repeatedly. But what happened? Something had to happen
for them to have a meeting of the mind. Something happened.
Was it a meeting, Was it Brad Stevens getting them together?
What happened?
Speaker 4 (27:39):
I think the biggest thing about Jim is that they
addressed it probably about a year ago, and they said, look,
we like each other. And I think a lot of
people didn't think that they liked each other, but they
found a way to coinxist and play great basketball together.
It's not my as The biggest thing I've seen here
(28:01):
lately is been maybe a growth of Tatum. Tatum last night,
in the last couple of games he's played, gets Dallas
and he played the game against Golden State, didn't score
in the first half or the first quarter, and a
couple of years ago, he gets anxious he doesn't get
(28:22):
a shot and he's going to hoist up something. This year,
he knows he's a volume He finally realizes he's a
volume scorer, and if he gets other people involved in
the game early, like Brown, he is going to benefit
that filifit from that, because nobody's going to be able
to go over and double team. So that's why I
(28:43):
believe that they've understood who they are and what they
need to do, and just believing that that guy beside
them is going to help them instead of impede them.
Speaker 2 (28:55):
He said, it's hard to needle or hard to really
nitpick with the Celtics team when they're sitting here with
a record of forty eight and twelve and just rolling
up everybody. But I guess if I've heard a question
or two, it's about the Celtics bench, especially when you
get into postseason play, talk a little bit about that.
Is this team deep enough when you get into that
(29:16):
rugged seven game type of series.
Speaker 4 (29:20):
Well, if you have al horp for coming off the bench,
they normally has very reliable. It's had a great year.
Pritchett's been good, Houses been good, Luke has been good.
This team has really had a lot of pieces and
some of them they haven't even used yet. Pssett has
been a good player for this team this year. So
(29:42):
people are talking about this bench. Maybe they don't have
the marquee names, but what they have is the ability
to go out and play defense and maintain the lead
and sometimes increase that lead, and that's all that matters.
I think the biggest knock on the Celtics this year
for me, has been here lately. It's one of the
(30:04):
things the Cavaliers really do well, and that's offensive rebound
The Celtics have not in the last couple of weeks.
They have not been a good offensive rebounding team. And
both you guys know, if you give up second chance opportunities, man,
they can hurt you because your defense is already imbalanced.
Speaker 3 (30:23):
What about Missoula, What adjustment says he made? As of
course he's got more talent this year, but Missoula made
some changes. I've listened to a couple of his postgame interviews.
He seems more comfortable.
Speaker 4 (30:36):
Said well, I think that the people around him have
made him more comfortable. Sam Counsel has done a great
job of being a earpiece to the players. One thing
he's done with Jason Tatum, he explained to Tatum. He says, Jason,
(30:56):
see some go in Sometimes you don't always have to shoot,
and once you knock down one or two, then now
you go back to the three point shots. So I
think the different voices around Joe have made him a
lot more calm. And in fact, your team's just playing
well and he doesn't feel like he has to be
as combative because he's combative coach, but he wants to
(31:20):
do it his way, and a lot of the media
wants to do it another way. So but I think
he's feeling more comfortable in who he is right now.
Speaker 2 (31:31):
Said when you're forty eight and twelve, I don't know
if you can find a moment or a game that
really stood out when you go, Wow, this team's special.
We got something really brewing here as you look back,
was there a moment where you thought, Okay, there's something
that really is taking shape here that could take us
a long way down that road?
Speaker 4 (31:54):
I mean last night's game. Every game I see is
said to be another foe and what they can do.
Joe Mazzola has said that himself, the head coach of
the Subjects, said we are evolving. He said offenses only
can only get better. When he said that, I was like, Okay,
but that's Garrett for the rest of the league. The
way they're shooting the ball, the way they move it,
(32:17):
the consistent consistency they've had, you know, even there, sometimes
I think they get a little ball stagnant. When I
see a Donovan Mitchell, a Garland sometimes hold the ball
a little too much. Luca would drive me crazy if
I was playing with him, because He's a great player,
but he dominates the ball so much that you're sitting
(32:40):
around watching subjects have done that a little bit with
Tatum and Brown, but for the most part, great ball movement.
The thing that the backbone of this team, though, the
mean and just as good is Tatum and Brown. You
start looking at those guards, you start looking at Derek White,
and you start looking at you start looking at Drew Holliday,
(33:00):
two guys right now, they are exceptional, controlling the initial
point of attack.
Speaker 3 (33:06):
Are the fans controlling their emotions right now? Because what's
happened in the last three or four years, Remember the
three to three and then we came back to your
place and blew you guys out in that in that
seventh game. Are they reserving their emotions?
Speaker 4 (33:23):
I think Boston fans are very smart, and I think
that they're cautiously optimistic about where this team can go.
Like any other city, it's like, you know, the sky
is falling. Everybody always is on kind of pins and needles.
But sometimes Sean Grandy has said that my broadcast partner
(33:44):
just enjoyed the ride. These guys are playing great basketball.
Understand who they are. Limit if they eliminate the turnovers
and do things like that, then they'll be purplectly fine again.
Speaker 2 (33:56):
We're talking with Cedric Cornbread, Maxwell, Celtics and Calves tomorrow
night at Rocket Mortgage field House and said, before we
let you go, just some thoughts on this Cavaliers team
from your perspective as you watch them from AFAR. I
know you're honed in on your own club Boston, but uh,
what do you see here with this Cavalier team.
Speaker 4 (34:17):
Well, I was a little surprised when both you guys
said that the only team the Calves had beat without
that half hourt shot was Washington and Detroit. I was
I was really a little surprised by that, because from Afar,
I thought this team was really playing well. When I
look at dovin Mitchell, when I look at Garland, look
(34:38):
at you guys starting to get healthy, I see a young,
dynamic club that can be explosive. Now, how they're gonna
do with their bench and all those other things that
come along with it, I don't know. But what I
do know is you have two superior guards and you
have Limb and it seemed like you guys seem like
(34:58):
they play hard and their rugget and the physicality that
they have with Allen and Mobley, those sometimes can be
stoppers for other teams getting involved. So I just thought
you guys were playing much better than you know what
you what you guys indicated here in the last couple
of weeks.
Speaker 2 (35:17):
Well, you and the Boston Celtics will present a major
challenge on Tuesday Night. There's no doubt about that. By
the way, I know everybody has personal goals. Said, do
you have a personal goal for the amount of wings
you'll have up in the Joe Tate perch Tarta. Have
you set a number the over under on Cedric Maxwell
(35:39):
and wings.
Speaker 4 (35:41):
I'm thinking I'm thinking right now ten ten wings with that,
with that, with with the dry rub, right now, a
large coat, that would do me well.
Speaker 2 (35:53):
Yes, well, Jim and I'll be right next to you,
so we'll be watching and keeping dabs. My friend.
Speaker 3 (36:00):
Thank you, appreciate it. Appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (36:02):
Make sure make sure you make sure you guys have
some nap.
Speaker 2 (36:09):
All right, all right, Jim, you heard it? Ten ten
over ten ten or more. Cedric Cordbred Maxwell from the
Boston Celtics joining us on this week's edition of Cavs HQ,
presented by bet Way always entertaining and we look forward
to seeing said tomorrow night when the Celtics are in town.
We'll take a quick time out and we'll wrap things
(36:31):
up on this week's edition of Cavs HQ. Following this
on the Medical Mutual Cavaliers Audio Burst. That's gonna do
it for this week's edition of Cavs HQ, presented by
Betway Boy. Two terrific guests in Joe Gabriel and then
as always Jim Jones. Cedric Maxwell never fails to entertain.
(36:53):
But that shouldn't make people think that he's not a
great color commentator on the radio side. He doesn't make
job with Sean Grandy on the Celtics Network.
Speaker 3 (37:03):
Yeah, I think he's the best in our league. You know,
he has that longevity as far as a color commentator.
You know, he's been through the Wars, he's been MVP
of the NBA Finals, and I love his commentary and
of course Joe g And if you put those two
guys together, information and entertainment, that was the denominator today, boy,
(37:24):
no doubt about it.
Speaker 2 (37:25):
And again the denominator with Cedric Maxwell ten wings in
the Joe taper. That was a great way to wrap
up that conversation, So again, Jim, thanks to you, of course,
thanks to the dynamic duo on the other side of
the window, technical director Marty Allen, Senior producer Kurt McLoughlin.
Jim and I will be back with you again tomorrow night,
(37:47):
and it's a challenge. The Boston Celtics at forty eight
and twelve come to town to take on the Cavaliers.
That game will tip off at seven thirty Huntington tip
Off show at seven on the Medical Mutual Cavalier's Audio Verse.
So until then, this is to Melcorn saying thanks for
listening to CALVS HQ and until tomorrow night, so long, everybody,
Welcome to calves HQ, presented by bet Way. Thank you
for joining us on the Medical Mutual Cavaliers audiovers. Here
are your hosts, Tim Alcorn and Jim Jones.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
From the Cavaliers production studios at Rocket Mortgage field House
in downtown Cleveland. Hi again, everybody, and welcome to calves HQ.
Great to have you with us on this Monday night,
Cavaliers coming off a tough loss on Sunday when they
were down here at Rocket Mortgage field House by the
New York Knicks. And now another busy week for the
(00:42):
Cavaliers Tomorrow night it's Boston, Wednesday night in Atlanta, and
then back home for a tough contest on Friday night
with the Tea Wolves from Minnesota. As always, great to
have Jim Jones by my side, and Jim, we've got
a busy show this week and two terrific guests. Of course,
we all read and follow jog Joegabriel from Cavs dot com.
(01:05):
We're gonna hear from him. And then I know one
of your best friends and one of our great guests
on Cavs HQ, Cedric Cortenbrad Maxwell, will join us a
little bit later.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
On Yeah, it'll be interesting to see what Max has
to say, especially after a fifty two point blowout of
one of the superior franchises. They call themselves the Warriors. Well,
they played anything but like Warriors the other night. Fifty
two point differential that is unheard of at this time
of the year, when basically the Warriors were playing pretty strong.
(01:35):
And then Joe g I have to say at every
show or else, I feel guilty. I steal so much
of your stuff and use it and I don't give
you credit for it. I'm sorry.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
Man.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Well, apologize to Joe when we come back, as he
will join us on Cavs HQ presented by Betway. We'll
hear from Joe Gabriel after this on The Medical Mutual
Cavaliers audio verse. Garlic top of the three point arc,
left in the lane.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
Loved Allan Garland with the throat to the froom early
in the clock. That's our best extent.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Went the other end. Merril Pree got it zem Merril
with twenty one on seven to three ball.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
Just gotta find it, Tip, you gotta find him.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
DG left wing top three god DG. He's got three
threes here in the fourteen nineteen overall Cavs with it three.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
What a difference the three can make, and.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
We welcome you back, Cavs HQ presented by bet Wake.
Great to have you with us on this Monday night.
Great as always to look on the other side of
the window and see the dynamic duo of Kurt McLoughlin
and Marty Allen. Thanks to them for putting together that
highlight montage from last night's loss to the New York
Knicks at Rocking Mortgage field House. Calves fell one seven
(02:57):
to ninety eight Caves now thirty nine in twenty one
on the air, and they dip into that number three
spot in the Eastern Conference, a half game behind the
Milwaukee Bucks. So we've got a lot of ground to
cover as far as the game last night and the
way things have gone for the Cavaliers post All Star Break.
And who better to talk about Cavalier basketball than the
(03:20):
guy who covers it game in game out, day in
day out on calves dot com. One Joe Gabriel joj
from Calves dot Com stops by to pay us a
Visit always great to have Joe g Joe. We appreciate
you taking the time thank you, sir.
Speaker 5 (03:34):
Hey, thanks for having me on. Guys, thank you.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Well, we were chatting before we rolled here. That's a
tough loss last night. You can't sugarcoat that New York
without Randall, without Ananobi, without Robinson, and then basically without
Jalen Brunson. And yet they come up and they basically
punch the Calves in the face with a one oh
seven ninety eight win. Boy, that's a bitter loss. How
(03:58):
did the Calves bounce back for that, especially with Boston
coming to town tomorrow night.
Speaker 5 (04:03):
Yeah, I mean they have no choice but to bounce
back from that. You have Boston, you have another trip,
then you have Minnesota on Friday night. So I mean
it doesn't get any easier. But you're right last night
was that was a discouraging loss. I can't lie again.
We didn't have two of our top guys, but they
were down big and they had been struggling and they
(04:24):
came in and I think the worst part about it
was they were more physical, they were more aggressive. It
looked a lot like last April, and that was something
that they did not want to have happened last night.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
You know, right after the All Star break, expectations were
so high, but then Donovan doesn't play those first few games,
and I just think it just put us in a
wrong mental state of mind. Because he is our leader.
It's very evident now we're only going to go as
good as he can play. What does the loss of
a Donovan Mitchell mean, Joe, other than what Jim Chulones
(04:56):
and old guy says, you.
Speaker 5 (05:00):
Say, means a lot him Donovan To me, I've heard
Austin say he's the best combo garden in the league.
I'd agree with that, but I think I think he's
the best leader in the NBA. I mean, he's a
great player, but he's a great leader. And when you
are missing him, that true leader and closer and closer,
you're really missing a lot. He's It's not just the
(05:23):
points in the rebounds he assists. He's the impetus behind
the calves. He's the head of the true head of
the snake. And when he's out you can just tell
they they're just not right. Like I said, it's not
just a basketball thing. It's a leadership thing. And when
he's out, you really miss it.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Well, that's a great point. Again, we're talking with Joe
G Fromcaves dot com And let's delve a little further
into that because and Jim, I certainly want your feedback
on this as well. Leadership that's not an X and
O thing, but let's talk about how that can impact
a team on the floor as far as just the
(06:01):
overall play. Again, leadership doesn't draw up the plays and
doesn't run the scheme. But Joe talk about that, and
then Jim, if you could follow up, well.
Speaker 5 (06:10):
I just think, like last night, you know, and not
that they don't have leaders but for the most part,
again you saw it last year, they're a quiet team.
They're just you know, Jarrett Hevan, these guys are quiet
guys for the most part. Darius is a you know,
he's a tough guy, but he likes to get along
with guys. Last night and again the Josh Hart where
he hit the three pointer and flipped Donovan Mitchell's necklace.
(06:32):
I don't know if other people are talking about that,
but that really bothered me. And maybe it doesn't even
bother Donovan, but the fact that they kinda that they
think they're kind of the big brother on us, and
you brought in guys like Struce and George Niang to
kind of to kind of counterbalance that. So you need
you need guys to step up and say we're not
(06:54):
the same calves. And last night, like I said, they
looked a little like last April's calves.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
You know, we still don't know if Donovan's gonna play,
he's got any soreness, and that's huge, you know, because
his whole game is based on changing directions, stop and go.
But we've really missed the intangibles that he brings down.
You know, we get within three I think once, we
got within one point, and that's Donovan Mitchell time, either
as the first option, the second option, or just a
(07:23):
great decoy. And we didn't have that last night. And
they knew that, they knew that they double team Garland
every time they had a chance. The Knicks just seemed
to have our number.
Speaker 5 (07:33):
And again I mentioned the word closer. Donovan is a closer.
I mean you give him the ball at the end,
whether he takes the shot or facilitates the shot. He's
the guy at the end of the game that you
want making decisions, yep, and not having him And I'm
not saying the other guys can't. I'm just saying he's
your guy and Jim, you mentioned intangibles, the guy that
(07:53):
gives you the most intangibles on the team, ker Slaburpian.
Speaker 4 (07:56):
Out, Yeah, saying it cost team but huge.
Speaker 5 (08:00):
It's huge, and he's been playing so well, especially distributing
the ball. He's your, you know, your secondary ball handler,
so not having your secondary and your your third top
ball handler, it really hurt him last night. So you
saw what happened exactly.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Well, take a quick time out. We're talking with Joe
Gabriel from Calves dot Com. Always great to have Joe
G on the show. We'll get more of his insights
after this. Calves HQ presented by bet Way coming your
way on the Medical Mutual Cavaliers audio Verse.
Speaker 6 (08:34):
You're listening to Calves HQ on the Medical Mutual Cavaliers
audio Verse.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
Let's get back to Tim Alcorn and Jim Jones.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
And let's get back with Joe G. Joe Gabriel our
guest from Calves dot com joining with us here on
Cavs HQ. Jim Jones, you want to get started with
jo G.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
Joe, you know, I'm looking at these Cavaliers and this
is the stretch run. This is when the focus in
spite of injuries or whatever. You know, you really have
to pay attention to detail. Do you have any concerns
based about what's happened since the All Star Break?
Speaker 5 (09:12):
Well, it's funny, Jim, that's kind of been the narrative,
of course, you know, because of our history the last
two seasons that after the All Star Break, they've they've
taken a dip, and there is that concern. But I
just feel like we have too many weapons, We're too
well balanced. Let's see what happens when Donovan and Carris
(09:34):
get back. And again, like I'm looking at you know me,
I'm an optimistic guy. I'm looking at, you know, some
of the good things that are developing. And I think
I echo the sentiments of all Cleveland when I say,
you got to find minutes for Sam Merril. He can't
get another DNP. You have to find a way to
use that guy. That's one thing. And then Isaac has
(09:55):
just been so good, so I'm looking forward to seeing
him the rest of the year. And like I said,
once we get healthy, get back in a rhythm, I'm
not too concerned. But there is that history that's kind
of hanging over Cav's head right now.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
Well, I want to circle back because you read my
mind on the next question I wanted to throw at
you about Sam Merrill. You go back to training camp
in preseason and you watch this kid shoot and you think, wow,
he could be a real weapon. But I don't know
if anybody saw what was going to develop with Sam Merrill.
This kid is a real weapon. And Jog I totally
(10:32):
agree with you. You've got to find minutes for him
because he's instant offense off that bench.
Speaker 5 (10:38):
Instant offense. And I mean he's not shy anymore. You know,
he used to be looking over his shoulder when he
got in Now he's not. He gets in there, he's
ready to fire. They want him to shoot, So yes,
you have to find room for him. And also another
thing about Sam is you know you see him as
kind of a Utah State, you know, spot up shooter
kind of guy. He's actually a pretty tough defender.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
I mean, you're not going to.
Speaker 5 (11:01):
Confuse him with Isaaca Corro, but he's stout, I mean,
you know, and he spent a lot of the offseason
working on his body, lifting weights and things like that,
so he's not a defensive sieve in any respect. He
can d up so again, I know it's tough, but
you got to five minutes for that guy the rest
of the year.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
Yeah, you're all over, Joe g I watched that last
night two or three times. They were looking to score
later in the clock and they passed the ball to
Sam Merrill's man, and Sam have him pass or hold
the ball up. I just think that he's much improved.
He does have the respect of the team because coming
out of a couple of time outs, you know, they
ran a couple plays for him. Everybody knows you gotta
(11:42):
have eight or nine strong. Can you still stay in
that traditional mode of eight or nine down the stretch
and eight or nine in the playoffs when you have
such depth that we have.
Speaker 5 (11:54):
That's a tough one because Jim, as you know, like
eight is kind of the standard for playoffs. You know,
that's eight is a deep rotation for playoffs usually, but
the Cats almost need to go eight or nine deep
in that Isaac Corroll has to play, Sam Merrill has
to play, Dean Wade has to play. These guys, you
(12:14):
look at their numbers in terms of I'm gonna use
JB's phrase, how they impact winning. When you look at
the winning numbers of Isaac and Wade and now Merrill,
they're undeniable. So again, I don't know how JB's going
to figure out eight or nine or ten or however
it's going to be, but that rotation has to be
(12:34):
figured out down the stretch.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
Do you know the reason why they do that? The
main reason that a lot of people are forgot is
because of continuity, and you know, so that you can
keep a focus and a rhythm based on your substitution,
you know, rather than having guys come in and have
to warm up or he miss a couple early, but
you sort of get into it. What to call it
an accelerated chemistry groove. It's great. Yeah, But Joe, the depth,
(13:00):
I mean, I mean, that's been our strength all season.
Speaker 5 (13:03):
Yeah, and it's and I'll tell you what. When you
look at depth and you look at other teams and
you see, you know, and I don't want to say
I don't, well, I'm gonna say, look at a team
like Dallas. You know they have two strong Look at
the Lakers, they're top heavy. Once you get past those
two top guys, it starts getting a little thin. Whereas
the Cavaliers, that's their strength. The strength of the Cavs
(13:26):
is depth, and you also have, you know, a superstar,
so they have the formula. It's just a matter of
figuring it out.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Joji, you mentioned the head of the Snake as far
as Donovan Mitchell's impact on this basketball team and what
he means. But one guy can't do it alone. And
while we all know what Donovan can do, who's that
next guy, Who's the guy that we look at on
this roster or in that rotation that you say he
(13:57):
needs to step up, that needs to be one.
Speaker 5 (14:00):
B Well, I think people will probably disagree with this,
but Jim knows how much I love this guy. Evan
Mobley is very slowly taking those steps. And somebody mentioned
last night that guy should eventually be a twenty to
ten guy, and I agree with that. I think Evan
(14:23):
is now starting to find it. You know, again, the
easy answer is Darius. He's so fantastic, He's so explosive.
But Evan is the guy. I mean, if you know,
if you want to if you want to take the
next step as a team, that guy needs to take
the next step as a player. Everybody else is kind
of where they need to be. He's close, but Evan.
(14:47):
I think once he starts turning it up, that's going
to be your your number two guy.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
Well, you know when you look at JB and the
job that he has, Oh man, it's it's just tough
because Allen has carried you along with Donovan, and then
you bring Mobili in. It's a crowded floor. The vert
had to make the adjustment because of the room had slacked.
So then you start spacing those guys out and truly
(15:14):
their strength at being big just playing them together, but
then Jared wouldn't get the touches and Mobiley wouldn't get
the touches. I mean, this is just crazy, man. You know,
I don't know how you navigate all of that.
Speaker 5 (15:26):
Yeah, I don't know. I mean, you know, JB talked
about before the break about, you know, kind of going
in with let's see who's who's hot, let's see how
the matchups are working, and then we'll we'll go in
the second half like that, we'll see who's who's playing well.
But again, that's a that's a tough thing to do,
it is there, you know, I mean, it's it's it's
(15:47):
a good problem to have, but it's kind of a
problem in that you got to find the right combination
and like you said, Jim, I mean, come playoff time,
you are probably going to whittle that down to eight
or nine guys.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
Well, good stuff, Joe G. Has always great to have
you on Cavs HQ. We love your insights and of
course for the fans and listeners if you're not on
Cavs dot Com reading Jog's stuff. As Jim Jones always says,
he steals it all the time.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
Joe, Joe, I'm sorry, Joe, but I'm still not giving
you credit.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
We appreciated Joe. Thank you, Thank you very much, Thank you,
Joe G. Joe Gabriel joining us here on Cavs HQ
presented by Betway a quick time out and on the
back half of the show, we'll be entertained by one
Cedric Court and Bred Maxwell. So stay with us on
a medical Mutual Cavaliers audio verse.
Speaker 7 (16:46):
Last week, as part of math Hoops Live presented by
Rocket Mortgage, the Cavaliers hosted students from Pinnacle Academy and
made their elementary for math Hoops Live, where the basketball
court gets turned into a real life version of the
math Hoops board game. As part of the event, at
Rocket Mortgage Field House. The students also got to enjoy
appearances from Calv's legend Daniel Booby Gibson and mascot Sir Ceci,
(17:11):
who helped bring the board game to life. Calves in
the Community is brought to you by Discount Drug mart.
We'll be back with the second half of Calves HQ,
presented by Betway right after this. On the Medical Mutual
Cavaliers audio verse, He's.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
Red red.
Speaker 6 (17:42):
Entry past deflected by hole for stolen I Fatum, so'll
become a chance to go up by fifty holiday for
Jalen Brown, spins in the pain, kicks out of the
last second Tatum, Oh but threat it is a fifty
one point Costant League.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
Welcome back Kev's HQ pay On the Medical Mutual Cavaliers
audio verse, tim Elcorn along with Jim Jones of course,
the two guys on the other side of the window,
rocking it with a little corn bread as we bring
you some Celtics highlights of their demolition of the Golden
State Warriors on Sunday. My goodness and yes it's Cedric Cornbread. Maxwell,
(18:22):
one of our favorite guests on Calves HQ that stops
buy and pays a visit, and of course the Celtics
in town tomorrow night to take on the Cavaliers right
here at Rocket Mortgage Field House. That, as I said,
you're one of our favorites. Great to have you back
on the show.
Speaker 4 (18:37):
Thank you, gentlemen. It is great to be on your
show and looking forward to come and see what the
Cavs have. Special chef that that Shrews's half cor heave Man,
I was like, I thought you guys went until you gave.
Speaker 3 (18:52):
Me the news.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
Well we'll delve deep into that. But man, the Boston Celtics,
I hear Sean Grandy say right, they're a fifty point lead,
and you almost have to say, is did I hear
that right? Even though it's twenty four hours later? I mean,
this team is just rolling. When's the last time you
saw a team play this well for such a sustained
(19:18):
period of time? Said?
Speaker 4 (19:20):
Maybe for the Celtics, I think would be when Kevin
Garnett and Paul Pierces from Ray Allen that first year
that they win the championship in eight. I think that
they were just that good, rolling on both sides. That
next year played probably even better before Kevin Garnett went down.
But this team is on the mission and they seem
(19:41):
like they understand. I looked at this week and I said,
some huge games you had Dallas home. I said, that's
gonna be a statement. Golden State has been the team
that's been in the Celtics head for the last couple
of years since they lost the championship to them. And
so another huge mark. And then you guys and Denver
(20:02):
and then you have Phoenix. So big games right now
coming up, and that's gonna tell me a lot about
the character of this team.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
We would talk a little bit about the Calves, but
they're struggling right now because of health and other issues.
But how good are the Celtics.
Speaker 4 (20:18):
We don't give a damn about that. I don't care
about whether Calves are struggling or not.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
I know this.
Speaker 4 (20:23):
I know you guys got nice talk radio, but no,
you know, the Cavaliers are Cavaliers team. One of my
favorite players you have right now, and and no exaggeration,
is Donovan Mitchell. I love Donovan Mitchell. The fact that
his father went to school at UNC Charlotte and play baseball.
Oh okay, you know, we not a lot of sympathy.
(20:45):
You know, at this time of the year for any
team out there, gym.
Speaker 3 (20:49):
Oh, yeah, so it won't work. Set it won't work.
Speaker 4 (20:53):
No, No, I'm old school gym. You can save that
for the next callar Okay.
Speaker 3 (21:00):
But said, it's always about health, isn't it.
Speaker 4 (21:03):
Yes, it is. You know if gim you've been around
long enough to know that that's not the formula. If
you and I knew that formally, gym, we wouldn't be
in radio right now. We'd be something someplace, sitting on
the holland counting. Not money. It's something. It's just the luck,
the luck of the year. When you have guys like
(21:24):
the Celtics for most of the year they have been healthy.
One thing they've done which has been cool is they've
been able to rest people throughout the year. They'd spot
poor Zingers, he didn't play last night, or Brown might
not play, or Tatum might not play, or you know
you have white or you have such a long, deep
bench and guys who want to come in and play,
(21:45):
you get the opportunity to rest. Guys always said, My
one thing I always said about the NBA, either you
rest your body or your body's gonna rest. Shield and
in this case, the southerns will be able to rest
players and keep them healthy.
Speaker 3 (21:59):
That's great.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
Again, we're talking with Cedric Cornbread, Maxwell, Boston Celtic legend,
and of course now just does an awesome job on
the radio side of things with his broadcast partner Sean Grandy,
and said. I mentioned Sean Grandy because when the Calves
were in Boston for the two games in three days
back in December, we had Sean on Calves HQ, and
(22:20):
I asked him if this was basically a championship or
bust type of season, and you, just a couple of
minutes ago, said, this team is on a mission. Talk
about that mindset that, hey, if we don't win this
whole thing that's our goal, then we're gonna come up shy.
Speaker 4 (22:37):
Yeah. I think that brass Stevens is right now looking
at be an Executive of the Year. He's put together
a great team, a great format. You go out and
you lose Marcus Smart, one of my favorite players, but
you bring in Drew Holliday. He comes in. You get
Drew Holliday, you add for Marcus Smart, you get for Zingis.
For Zingis has straightened up a lot of the woes
(22:59):
of Southern have had over the last couple of years
that he can score in the paints, and a couple
of games here I think it was a couple of
games ago, playing a smaller team, the subjects decided that
they weren't going to be a three point team, and
they went to the hole and they shot about thirty
five free throws. That, to me is the evolution of
(23:20):
a good team. You win is Jim with Jim. They're
certain nice that you win in different ways. And every
night you can't knock down the three. That's a pretty
shot and all that, but sometimes you got to get
in the mud like the pigs and then wabble and
win those kind of games. And the subjicts have been
able to do that because they seem like they've learned
(23:40):
now that we have to adjust to what the defense
gives us.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
Is there anyone in the East that you know, you
mentioned the Cavaliers because of their size inside, but is
there anyone else in the East that really when you
think about them, you said and lose that first game.
Talk a little bit about that.
Speaker 4 (23:59):
Well, I think that you look at obviously, look at Milwaukee.
What Milwaukee has with Giannis and Doc seems to have
gotten those guys playing better defense. But being very honest, Jim,
the Celtics right now are the best team in the
league right now, and that's today, But it doesn't count
(24:19):
until you get in the playoffs. Sean Grandy gives these
great stats where we talk about in the history of
the NBA, this is the greatest scoring team around, the
Boston Celtics. But at the end of the day, Jim,
it's all about another banner here, putting one up to
the roof. And if you don't do that, then your goal,
your mindset is skewed if you don't accomplish that particular thing.
(24:43):
Boston fans are very very smart, they're very savvy, and
they understand that. Look, the big picture here is that
the Boston Celtics go out and get.
Speaker 3 (24:52):
Another ring boy.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
Great stuff from Cedric Cornbread Maxwell. As he joins us
here on Cavs HQ, he said, how surprised are you
that Porzingis has blended in and this team has gelled
as well as they have with Christops now in the
lineup and on the roster.
Speaker 4 (25:12):
Yeah, I'm a little surprised. You know, you lose a
guy like Marcus smart. But for Zingi's for most part,
people always talk about his health. He's been healthy. He
was healthy in Washington and then Washington shut him down
and didn't let him play anymore. Last year, I think
he played about fifteen to fifty five games. But he's
(25:32):
been healthy. Knock on wood, ankles, a little bit fraid sometimes.
But the thing that he brings to the table is
a mindset that you know, you have five three point
shooters out there all the time against the balls and subject,
so a guy like thrown Allen has to come out
of that zone. Mobley can't play in the bag trying
(25:53):
to block shots because you'll have somebody wide open in
the corner. Steve Kerr yesterday in the game with Golden State, decided,
you know what we're gonna do. We don't let Jaylen
Brown shoot threes by himself. How'd that work out for him?
Jalen had I think twenty six twenty seven in the
first half. So I think you're going to have to
(26:14):
pick your poison with this team, and we're cussed off
out there. It creates mismatches that a lot of teams
just can't handle.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
And again we're talking with Cedric Cornbread Maxwell. He's our
guest on CAVS HQ presented by Betwag. Great insights as
always from the Celtic legend, and of course we'll bump
into said tomorrow night when the Celtics are in town
to take on the Cavaliers. More with Cedric Maxwell after
this on Cavs HQ presented by Betwag. On the Medical
Mutual Cavaliers audio Verse.
Speaker 1 (26:48):
This is calvs HQ on the Medical Mutual Cavaliers audio Verse.
Everything you need to know about the Calves and the NBA.
Here again are Tim Alcorn and Jim Chones.
Speaker 2 (26:59):
Great to have you back on Cav's HQ, presented by Betway.
As always, technical director Marty Allen on the other side
of the window, keeping us entertained, and we're always entertained
by the presidence of one Cedric Courtbrett Maxwell, who joins
us this week on CAVS h Q. Jimmy had a
question for said before we took the break.
Speaker 3 (27:19):
Well, I've always been needling, said that I never thought
that Brown and Tatum could play together, Remember said, I've
said that repeatedly. But what happened? Something had to happen
for them to have a meeting of the mind. Something happened.
Was it a meeting, Was it Brad Stevens getting them together?
What happened?
Speaker 4 (27:39):
I think the biggest thing about Jim is that they
addressed it probably about a year ago, and they said, look,
we like each other. And I think a lot of
people didn't think that they liked each other, but they
found a way to coinxist and play great basketball together.
It's not my as The biggest thing I've seen here
(28:01):
lately is been maybe a growth of Tatum. Tatum last night,
in the last couple of games he's played, gets Dallas
and he played the game against Golden State, didn't score
in the first half or the first quarter, and a
couple of years ago, he gets anxious he doesn't get
(28:22):
a shot and he's going to hoist up something. This year,
he knows he's a volume He finally realizes he's a
volume scorer, and if he gets other people involved in
the game early, like Brown, he is going to benefit
that filifit from that, because nobody's going to be able
to go over and double team. So that's why I
(28:43):
believe that they've understood who they are and what they
need to do, and just believing that that guy beside
them is going to help them instead of impede them.
Speaker 2 (28:55):
He said, it's hard to needle or hard to really
nitpick with the Celtics team when they're sitting here with
a record of forty eight and twelve and just rolling
up everybody. But I guess if I've heard a question
or two, it's about the Celtics bench, especially when you
get into postseason play, talk a little bit about that.
Is this team deep enough when you get into that
(29:16):
rugged seven game type of series.
Speaker 4 (29:20):
Well, if you have al horp for coming off the bench,
they normally has very reliable. It's had a great year.
Pritchett's been good, Houses been good, Luke has been good.
This team has really had a lot of pieces and
some of them they haven't even used yet. Pssett has
been a good player for this team this year. So
(29:42):
people are talking about this bench. Maybe they don't have
the marquee names, but what they have is the ability
to go out and play defense and maintain the lead
and sometimes increase that lead, and that's all that matters.
I think the biggest knock on the Celtics this year
for me, has been here lately. It's one of the
(30:04):
things the Cavaliers really do well, and that's offensive rebound
The Celtics have not in the last couple of weeks.
They have not been a good offensive rebounding team. And
both you guys know, if you give up second chance opportunities, man,
they can hurt you because your defense is already imbalanced.
Speaker 3 (30:23):
What about Missoula, What adjustment says he made? As of
course he's got more talent this year, but Missoula made
some changes. I've listened to a couple of his postgame interviews.
He seems more comfortable.
Speaker 4 (30:36):
Said well, I think that the people around him have
made him more comfortable. Sam Counsel has done a great
job of being a earpiece to the players. One thing
he's done with Jason Tatum, he explained to Tatum. He says, Jason,
(30:56):
see some go in Sometimes you don't always have to shoot,
and once you knock down one or two, then now
you go back to the three point shots. So I
think the different voices around Joe have made him a
lot more calm. And in fact, your team's just playing
well and he doesn't feel like he has to be
as combative because he's combative coach, but he wants to
(31:20):
do it his way, and a lot of the media
wants to do it another way. So but I think
he's feeling more comfortable in who he is right now.
Speaker 2 (31:31):
Said when you're forty eight and twelve, I don't know
if you can find a moment or a game that
really stood out when you go, Wow, this team's special.
We got something really brewing here as you look back,
was there a moment where you thought, Okay, there's something
that really is taking shape here that could take us
a long way down that road?
Speaker 4 (31:54):
I mean last night's game. Every game I see is
said to be another foe and what they can do.
Joe Mazzola has said that himself, the head coach of
the Subjects, said we are evolving. He said offenses only
can only get better. When he said that, I was like, Okay,
but that's Garrett for the rest of the league. The
way they're shooting the ball, the way they move it,
(32:17):
the consistent consistency they've had, you know, even there, sometimes
I think they get a little ball stagnant. When I
see a Donovan Mitchell, a Garland sometimes hold the ball
a little too much. Luca would drive me crazy if
I was playing with him, because He's a great player,
but he dominates the ball so much that you're sitting
(32:40):
around watching subjects have done that a little bit with
Tatum and Brown, but for the most part, great ball movement.
The thing that the backbone of this team, though, the
mean and just as good is Tatum and Brown. You
start looking at those guards, you start looking at Derek White,
and you start looking at you start looking at Drew Holliday,
(33:00):
two guys right now, they are exceptional, controlling the initial
point of attack.
Speaker 3 (33:06):
Are the fans controlling their emotions right now? Because what's
happened in the last three or four years, Remember the
three to three and then we came back to your
place and blew you guys out in that in that
seventh game. Are they reserving their emotions?
Speaker 4 (33:23):
I think Boston fans are very smart, and I think
that they're cautiously optimistic about where this team can go.
Like any other city, it's like, you know, the sky
is falling. Everybody always is on kind of pins and needles.
But sometimes Sean Grandy has said that my broadcast partner
(33:44):
just enjoyed the ride. These guys are playing great basketball.
Understand who they are. Limit if they eliminate the turnovers
and do things like that, then they'll be purplectly fine again.
Speaker 2 (33:56):
We're talking with Cedric Cornbread, Maxwell, Celtics and Calves tomorrow
night at Rocket Mortgage field House and said, before we
let you go, just some thoughts on this Cavaliers team
from your perspective as you watch them from AFAR. I
know you're honed in on your own club Boston, but uh,
what do you see here with this Cavalier team.
Speaker 4 (34:17):
Well, I was a little surprised when both you guys
said that the only team the Calves had beat without
that half hourt shot was Washington and Detroit. I was
I was really a little surprised by that, because from Afar,
I thought this team was really playing well. When I
look at dovin Mitchell, when I look at Garland, look
(34:38):
at you guys starting to get healthy, I see a young,
dynamic club that can be explosive. Now, how they're gonna
do with their bench and all those other things that
come along with it, I don't know. But what I
do know is you have two superior guards and you
have Limb and it seemed like you guys seem like
(34:58):
they play hard and their rugget and the physicality that
they have with Allen and Mobley, those sometimes can be
stoppers for other teams getting involved. So I just thought
you guys were playing much better than you know what
you what you guys indicated here in the last couple
of weeks.
Speaker 2 (35:17):
Well, you and the Boston Celtics will present a major
challenge on Tuesday Night. There's no doubt about that. By
the way, I know everybody has personal goals. Said, do
you have a personal goal for the amount of wings
you'll have up in the Joe Tate perch Tarta. Have
you set a number the over under on Cedric Maxwell
(35:39):
and wings.
Speaker 4 (35:41):
I'm thinking I'm thinking right now ten ten wings with that,
with that, with with the dry rub, right now, a
large coat, that would do me well.
Speaker 2 (35:53):
Yes, well, Jim and I'll be right next to you,
so we'll be watching and keeping dabs. My friend.
Speaker 3 (36:00):
Thank you, appreciate it. Appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (36:02):
Make sure make sure you make sure you guys have
some nap.
Speaker 2 (36:09):
All right, all right, Jim, you heard it? Ten ten
over ten ten or more. Cedric Cordbred Maxwell from the
Boston Celtics joining us on this week's edition of Cavs HQ,
presented by bet Way always entertaining and we look forward
to seeing said tomorrow night when the Celtics are in town.
We'll take a quick time out and we'll wrap things
(36:31):
up on this week's edition of Cavs HQ. Following this
on the Medical Mutual Cavaliers Audio Burst. That's gonna do
it for this week's edition of Cavs HQ, presented by
Betway Boy. Two terrific guests in Joe Gabriel and then
as always Jim Jones. Cedric Maxwell never fails to entertain.
(36:53):
But that shouldn't make people think that he's not a
great color commentator on the radio side. He doesn't make
job with Sean Grandy on the Celtics Network.
Speaker 3 (37:03):
Yeah, I think he's the best in our league. You know,
he has that longevity as far as a color commentator.
You know, he's been through the Wars, he's been MVP
of the NBA Finals, and I love his commentary and
of course Joe g And if you put those two
guys together, information and entertainment, that was the denominator today, boy,
(37:24):
no doubt about it.
Speaker 2 (37:25):
And again the denominator with Cedric Maxwell ten wings in
the Joe taper. That was a great way to wrap
up that conversation, So again, Jim, thanks to you, of course,
thanks to the dynamic duo on the other side of
the window, technical director Marty Allen, Senior producer Kurt McLoughlin.
Jim and I will be back with you again tomorrow night,
(37:47):
and it's a challenge. The Boston Celtics at forty eight
and twelve come to town to take on the Cavaliers.
That game will tip off at seven thirty Huntington tip
Off show at seven on the Medical Mutual Cavalier's Audio Verse.
So until then, this is to Melcorn saying thanks for
listening to CALVS HQ and until tomorrow night, so long, everybody,
Hosts And Creators
Tim Alcorn
Jim Chones
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