February 14, 2024 • 50 mins
On this week's episode, Tim Alcorn and Jim Chones connect with Cavaliers General Manager, Mike Gansey, as the team closes out the first half of the season before the start of All-Star Weekend.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
Welcome to CALVS HQ presented by Betway.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Thank you for.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Joining us on the Medical Mutual Cavaliers Audio Verse.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
Here are your hosts, Tim Alcorn and Jim Jones.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Problem the Cavaliers production studios at Rock and Mortgage Field
House in downtown Cleveland. Hi again, everybody, and welcome to
CALVS HQ presented by Betway. It's great to have you
with us as the Cavaliers continue to roll along. Tough
night last night, tough loss to Philadelphia one twenty three
to one, twenty one game tomorrow night against Chicago and
(00:44):
then the All Star break. Jim Jones, great to have
you back on Cavs HQ and great to have you
back in the Joe Tate perch like you were last
night and you will be tomorrow night. And even though
that was a tough loss, this Calves team is situated very,
very well going into the break for the stretch run.
Speaker 4 (01:01):
Yeah, it is Tim. They've figured some things out. And
what they've figured out is that they can defend and
play offense with the same veracity. And that's why they're
better this year because they have tremendous balance on both
sides of the ball, which puts a lot of pressure
on the opposition. They don't have a chance to exhale
(01:24):
because they're trying to defend us, which is tough because
of our depth and our ability and our strategy to
push the ball up the floor with Donovan Mitchell or
anyone who has possession. And then the defense has been
something exceptional because now we have both bigs back and
they're rolling and patrolling. That paint makes it awfully tough
for teams to score against us tim and puts a
(01:46):
lot of pressure on the opposition to be effective. This
is the best Cavalier balance I've seen since our championship season.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Yeah, just playing outstanding ball. So coming up tonight on
Cavs HQ, we're gonna hear from Mike Gansey Caves GM
and then later on in the show, Chuck Swirski, the
outstanding radio voice of the Chicago Bulls, will stop by,
So stay with us. Cavs HQ, presented by Betway, continues
after this on the Medical Mutual Cavaliers Audio Verse. LeVert
(02:19):
to the baseline in front of the Caves bench, Lavert
and heavy traffic. Then it's a Bubbley Pow with two hands,
Karis Lavert with four assists into paint.
Speaker 4 (02:29):
Everything's into paint.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Mitchell between his legs steps back three right on the bar.
Who that was gorgeous from.
Speaker 4 (02:37):
Donovan Stavs needed dead too, Tip. They've missed a couple
of bunnies, but Donovan Mitchell is always there.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Garland driving on Maxie Scoot score. That was a quick step,
my dg.
Speaker 4 (02:50):
Off their defense, Tive, That's what sparks this team.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
Welcome back keVs HQ, presented by Betway all along the
Cavaliers audio verse to Melcorn along with Jim Jones. Boy,
it's great to have Jim back in the Joe Tate perch.
He was with me last night, tough loss to Philadelphia.
Jim will be with me again tomorrow night when Chicago
comes into town, as the Cavaliers will finally get a
(03:17):
break the All Star break coming up following that game
against the Bulls on Wednesday night. But Jim, a quick
look back to the game last night, and you caught
it early on. You thought the Cavs looked a little
bit fatigue and it seemed to play a factor as
that game rolled along before they fell one twenty three,
one twenty one.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
Yeah, Tim, I thought I saw it in the starters,
but it was real evident in our bench played the bench,
which is the strength of our team. They were three
or thirteen in that first half, so they lost something.
Then I thought back and I said, well, they played
three games, and four they were on the road, you know,
so that takes a little more out of you at
(03:56):
this point in the season. I just thought that the
legs were gone, and they made a valiant effort at
the end and gave themselves a chance to win the game.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
And that's the mark of a quality team, a playoff
caliber basketball team, that when you're not on your best game,
you still find a way to give yourself a chance
to win.
Speaker 4 (04:16):
Yeah, and they did that tim a lot of clever playing,
And of course it doesn't hurt to have Donovan Mitchell
on your team either. Donovan was magnificent, but you could
tell he was dragging. And Garland's not there yet, you know,
but he's coming.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Like Donovan last night with a thirty six point outburst,
just having an MVP caliber season. We'll talk about that
in a moment. But of course, the Calves were down
seven with under a minute to go. They rattled off
six straight points, got to within one Philly had a
free throw put it back up to two, and then
the Calves had the ball a chance to tire or
(04:52):
win it at the end. Donovan shot fell off, Jared
grabbed the rebound, kicked it to dg in the corner.
Ind GE's three ball just came up a little bit short.
So Philly wins it one twenty three to one twenty one.
And after the game, JB. Bickerstaff talked about that final sequence.
Speaker 5 (05:09):
I mean, it's a two point game. You know, Donovan
had an opportunity drove to the basket. That's what you're
looking for. You know, we got an offensive rebound and
we had a guy wide open in the corner, so
Jarrett made the play to you know, one of our
best shooters, and again it just came up a little short.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
And as JB said, Jim, really you'll take that every time,
and hey, not every SHOT's going to go in.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
No, And that's what you have to look at it. Tim.
We played so many games eighty two not counting playoffs
in preseason, and all any coach can ask for. In
the end, there's an opportunity to be there at the
end of games, either with a shot or a free
throw that gives you a distinct advantage, and they got it.
They got the corner shot. It wasn't off by much,
(05:51):
tim it was off by inches. Trust me, it would
have hit the front part of the rim from the corner,
but it was just inches off.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
And of course, as you mentioned, Jim DG had a
terrific ballgame just over thirty minutes nine of sixteen from
the field twenty one points, matched his season high and
assist with nine. And after the ballgame, Darius said, listen,
I missed the shot, but I'm not going to let
it bother me.
Speaker 4 (06:17):
I mean, I'm living with that shot. I'm going home
happy with that shot.
Speaker 6 (06:21):
Nothing that's going to like moralize it and just bring
me down because I missed it. Hopefully I have plenty
of others to come so I can hopefully make the
other listen, yet live with this. Hopefully everybody else in
this locker room lived through the too.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
And DG's backcourt made Donovan Mitchell said, yeah, no doubt,
we made a nice comeback.
Speaker 4 (06:39):
We did a lot of things.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
You know, well, we got a few good looks in
that one possession where you know, and I hit that
last shot. You know, we got stops. We got twenty
four second violation. You know, understand the nine of them
on the inbounds. You know, I make a read and
we get a steal. You know, so different things you
can learn from that. But ultimately you want to learn.
I always say through wins and through losses. But you know,
we were always going to give ourselves a chance. But
you know, we should have taken campuses early, you know,
(07:01):
and we did it, and that's.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
On us and Jim, let's go back to what you
were talking about earlier points in the paint. Big games
from the big guys, both Jared Allen and Evan Mobley
with double doubles, Jared with twenty one and ten, Evan
Mobley with fourteen and ten. So that low post presence
that they provide really paying dividends.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
Yeah, it is, especially through dribble penetration when you have
two guards and then if you count the vert off
the bench, you've got three guards that like to get
into paint. And when they get into paint. The advantage
of definitely the Cavaliers because they have two seven footers
who can play above the rim, who can finish around
the rim. I just think that they figured some things out.
(07:42):
I think the thing that's helped us Tim as far
as touches for the bigs, they're playing faster, so there's
more opportunities.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
And of course after the ballgame, Jared and Evan met
with the media and Evan said, listen, we both got
double doubles, but that's something that we need to do.
Speaker 7 (07:59):
Yeah, we're just trying to do our jobs out there.
John's is protecting the pain and rebounding taking the shots
we get, and I feel like we've been doing that
pretty well. And yeah, the double doubles, I feel like,
is it kind of expected from both of us.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Yeah, the way they're playing, Jim, double doubles seemed to
be a nightly occurrence.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
Yeah, it can be, Tim, but there's gonna be a
lot of nights where both guys won't get double doubles.
But you still have to do your job. And that's
the mindset that those two young guys have. They just
want to do what they're supposed to do. The main
reason they're in there is because they're so talented, not
only on the offensive side, but their defense is the
(08:42):
foundation of how we win.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
Great point, all right, So the Cavs come up short
last night, tomorrow night, they'll take on Chicago and then
the All Star Break. In fact, a little bit later
on the show, we'll hear from Chicago's great radio voice,
Chuck Swirsky. But coming up next on CALVS HQ presented
by Betway, we'll hear from Cavaliers general manager Mike Gansey.
(09:04):
We'll talk about where this team is at heading to
the All Star Break, so stay with us. Mike Gansey's
up next on kv's HQ, presented by Betway. On the
Medical Mutual Cavaliers audio Verse boldly knocked them all away
from Maxie craft by Mitchell ahead to Garland in the
latest truce plead, hit up to lops it and stolen
(09:27):
by Mitchell. Mitchell on the right sideline Mitchell with a
stutter step Banks scores bowl rebound LeVert out front Mitchell
pre ball Donovan don Pitchel hit the pre ball Tat's
within one Boko back kev's HQ, presented by Betway. All
(09:49):
along the Medical Mutual Cavaliers audio Verse huge thanks to
the dynamic duo on the other side of the window,
technical director Marty Allen Senior producer Kurt McLoughlin for formulating
that highlight montage from last night's game against Philly. Tough
loss for the Calves as they fill to the Sixers
one twenty three to one twenty one. But all in all,
(10:10):
this Cavalier team, while they're playing some outstanding basketball as
they are now thirty five and seventeen, and a guy
that certainly keeps a close eye and ear we hope
on all things Cavaliers is their general manager, Mike Gansey,
who now joins us on the show. Mike, as always,
we know you're very, very busy. Appreciate the time anytime. Man.
Speaker 8 (10:33):
Good to hear you, guys, and it's been a fun
time for Cavaliers basketball.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
Well, Mike, I know, the season for the most part
is broken up. There's different benchmarks as the marathon goes along.
Twenty games, halfway point, all Star break, one more game
before that All Star break. But just size up this
Cavs team for us, and would you say that, especially
with injuries, they've performed beyond expectations.
Speaker 9 (10:59):
I think.
Speaker 8 (11:00):
I mean, you know when Evan and Darris went out,
and even if you go all the way back to
the beginning of the year, you know Jared missed the
first three four games and we just haven't had a
full squad, and I think, you know, blessing in disguise
with the injuries with Darris and and Evan out, especially
in that stretch. You know, Sam Meryl stepped up, Craig Porter,
you know, Tristan like everyone that wasn't necessarily playing the
(11:22):
beginning of the year, you know, is almost you know,
most of those guys are in the rotation now every night,
and it's a hard it's a hard job by JB
trying to get those guys to play. But you know,
in a way, those guys had to play, and they played,
and they played well.
Speaker 9 (11:36):
They helped us win a lot of games.
Speaker 8 (11:38):
And now now we have a deeper bench, probably deeper
than we thought. You know at the beginning of the year.
Speaker 4 (11:43):
Looks like Mike that you did your homework early and
that started in the summer when you picked up kneeang
and you picked up strups. Talk a little bit about that.
Speaker 8 (11:51):
Yeah, you know, those two were who are two top
targets and free agency, and we're very, very fortunate to
get them. You know, obviously they provide a lot of
shooting and spacing, which is what we needed. But just
the locker room, the culture. You know, especially Max. You know,
he's a gritty, tough guy, you know, plays with an edge.
Same thing with George. George is always talking out there,
maybe too much at times, but you know, the guys
(12:15):
love him, you know. I think the city's embraced those two.
They're kind of like Cleveland guys, you know, Midwestern hard knows.
Speaker 9 (12:21):
You know, put your hard hat on and go out
and compete.
Speaker 8 (12:24):
And you know, those guys not only with their shooting,
but just all the little things that they've done, especially Max,
and you know, the two man game he's developed with
Jarrett this last month has been incredible to watch. And
you know, those guys have just been been awesome for
us this year, and I don't know where we'd do
without him.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
I'm getting talking with Cavis general manager Mike Gansey, and
Mike I mentioned some of the benchmarks that are there
throughout the year in the NBA, and I left one
out and that was the trade deadline, and yet the
Cavs stood pad and I thought Kobe's comments on trade
deadline day, we're interesting. Listen, We've got a good thing
going here. But just talk a little bit about sizing
(13:03):
up the roster and saying we've got a roster that
can make a deep run.
Speaker 9 (13:08):
Yeah, you know, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
You know.
Speaker 8 (13:10):
We we feel like we have twelve, maybe thirteen guys
that can go out and play and help us. And
you know, obviously we didn't see any significant upgrades that
you know, giving up some of our own guys and
that could get us, you know, even better. And I
think I think the big thing is, like we have
such a continuity a chemistry our guys. Our guys love
(13:32):
playing with each other. I mean they they just you.
Speaker 9 (13:35):
Know, you just feel it.
Speaker 8 (13:37):
I mean, you guys are around it every day, like
you just feel the unit always together. And you know,
just seeing Donovan this year, like you know, I think
last year a lot, he just kind of took on
himself to go win us games by himself, which he
can do and he's more than capable of. But now
he's trusting everyone all the way down to like Sam Merril.
You know, he's looking for him instead of his shot.
(13:57):
And I think I think that says a lot about
our team and the way they're playing. And you know,
they gave us, they give us no choice but to
not do anything because the way we're playing and the
way the way things are going.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
Tell me if this is a fair assessment. The teams
that needed to trade for stars after you looked at
your own possibilities, they didn't have enough assets to do so,
So I know that had to be part of the
answer and the reasoning too.
Speaker 8 (14:24):
Right, Yeah, I mean, you know, there wasn't that big
marquee superstar out there that was available, and you know
a lot of teams obviously did you know smaller deals
where they got you know, maybe traded some rotational players
for rotational players and you know, needed more shooting here,
more defense here. But but we like our guys one
through one through twelve and even our two way guys.
(14:46):
So we're excited about our group and you know, just
wanted to see what it looks like here, you know,
as we as we get here to the All Star
break and you know, twenty five thirty games left here
in the season.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
My final question before we take our break. You're an
end guy. You're watching the deals that unfold on trade
deadline day. Some of them don't impact you the Eastern
Conference or whatever the case may be, But do you
look at the deals that do have a residual effect
on the calves and go, wow, what New York did
(15:18):
there was interesting, or what Philly did there was interesting.
How do you look at when other teams are making
deals in so far as how it impacts the calves?
Speaker 8 (15:28):
Yeah, you know, I mean obviously we're we're following it
very very closely. I mean, you know, for the majority
of it, we're talking to those teams probably as well,
you know, just kind of scouring the market, and you know,
we're always aggressive looking for ways to get better. And
you know, of course we're looking at other teams and
you know, we saw you know, the Knicks, the Bucks,
you know teams obviously Philly, you know, they made some
(15:50):
moves where they're right near us in the standing. So
we're obviously monitoring it, but you know, we're more worried
about ourselves, and you know, obviously leading up to this deadline,
we didn't want to necessarily make any moves unless it
was just an absolute or no brainer. And we like
our group, and you know, teams are gonna make trades
and try to get better, but we like our chances
(16:11):
against anyone.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
Yep, well said well put Mike Gnsey, Cavaliers general manager,
our guest on Cavs HQ presented by Betway. We're gonna
sneak in a quick time out. We have more ground
to cover with Mike, so stay with us. We're coming
back after this. Cavs HQ presented by Betway returns after
this on the Medical Mutual Cavaliers Audiovers.
Speaker 10 (16:38):
This week, in celebration of the Cleveland Cavaliers court refurbishment
and grand opening of the Fairfax Recreation Center in Cleveland,
the team will host a press conference, including an official
ribbon cutting, followed by both the basketball and dance clinic
for local youth as they take in their new space.
Calves in the Community is brought to you by Discound
(16:59):
Up March. We'll be back with the second half of
Calv's HQ, presented by Betway right after this. On the
Medical Mutual Cavaliers Audio Verse.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Here's Buddy healed into the paint, has past stolen by
Donovan Mitchell loobs it ahead to Struce, Struce left side, LeVert.
LeVert heads to the bucket, Cape sit in.
Speaker 4 (17:19):
I like it. Time's the game turn overs the point.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
Obama checks it. Bobley block the shot of the glass.
Holy Bobly. Hobly left wing three ball god boy, haven't
bobly getting more and more confident with the long ball.
Speaker 3 (17:41):
This is calvs HQ and the Medical Mutual Cavaliers audio
Verse presented by Betway. Now back to the second half
of the show with Tim Alcorn and Jim Jones.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
And we welcome you back, and of course we have
welcomed back with open arms Jim Jones. He's been with
me and the Joe Tad Perch for the past few
games and great to have them back with us on
Cavs HQ. Jim and I will be together tomorrow night
Cavaliers and the Chicago Bulls at Rocket Mortgage field House,
final game before the All Star Break. Jim, why don't
(18:12):
you get things started with Mike Gansey here in segment
two with the Cavs GM.
Speaker 4 (18:16):
Mike, it just seems like the NBA's wide open this season,
a lot of new faces at the top of the
leader board. What are your thoughts about where the NBA
is right now, because I'm sure that had to have
a place in your decision making. Also, is that it
just seems to me from the outside looking in, it
looks wide open. Mike.
Speaker 8 (18:35):
I mean, I think the league is in a great place.
I mean there's so many young stars and you go
through thirty teams. I mean, someone's got a young star
that's going to be really good in this league. And
some of those teams are obviously maybe on the you know,
near the bottom of the standings. But that's just the
way the league is, you know. I mean obviously with
all the new rules with the CBA and you know,
no more super teams necessarily, with with how the rules are,
(18:58):
that's just kind of how it's going to be. I mean,
there's gonna be parody and you're gonna have to build
a team roster instead of just you know, three stars necessarily.
And I think it's great for the league because any
given night you can get beat you know, it's not
like there's no pushovers anymore. And you know, these guys
are professional basketball players and guys get rhythm and confidence
(19:19):
in a game, can beat you because they're that good.
So I think the league's in a great place, and
it's exciting for us because we got good young stars
that are just entering their prime or not even in
their prime yet. So we're very very excited about where
the league is at and the future.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
Well, Mike, you just used the term star, and of
course after tomorrow night it's All Star break time. Donovan
Mitchell obviously an All Star, and there's been talk about
MVP conversation, which certainly everybody thinks is justified. But talk
a little bit about the play of Donovan this year.
I know he has said, Jab has said, Kobe has
(19:56):
said he's probably playing the best overall game he's played
in his career.
Speaker 9 (20:02):
Yeah, I mean, I don't know what else Moore he
can do, you know.
Speaker 4 (20:05):
I mean.
Speaker 8 (20:07):
We have Evanth and Darris out for a month and
like we didn't miss the beat, we got better, you know,
and obviously Jared Allen.
Speaker 9 (20:15):
Was a huge piece to that.
Speaker 8 (20:16):
All of us in the building think he's an All Star.
And I just don't know what else to say about Donovan.
I mean, not only just himself and his play, but
the way he's elevated really the whole building, the coaching staff, us,
you know, and and all his teammates. I mean, all
his teammates have have contributed, and you know, he's up
there their value and their play with every single game.
(20:38):
So we're just can't really explain how Donovan has been
playing and how much he's meant to this organization, and
you know, I think it's crazy why he's not in
any MVP talk. I mean, he's missing two of his
best two of his top four players, you know, so
to speak, and and he's and we're what second in
the East, so you know, top five record with half
(20:59):
our team out.
Speaker 9 (21:00):
Or majority of the season.
Speaker 4 (21:01):
You know, I asked him that question in my first
game back. You know, what did you see sitting on
the side when you were out and they were still winning?
I said, but it looked like when you came back,
you're playing the best ball ever, he said, I am,
because he made the adjustment. He saw the potential of
this team too, didn't he.
Speaker 9 (21:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 8 (21:20):
I mean, you know, Donovan is one of the best
teammates you'll ever have, and you know, he empowers the guys,
and you know you see it every day in practice
and shoot around and just PREDI and post practice, like
he's encouraging guys. You know, I mean, obviously he's so
good and he can go win a game by himself,
but he wants other guys to get better, and he
has gotten guys better, and he gives them the confidence
(21:41):
and the belief that they can go out and help him,
and it's just been fun to watch. And you know
he's humble. He won't talk about the MVP talk or anything,
but you know, the Calves are second and the East
for a reason, and Donovan's a big, big piece to that.
Speaker 2 (21:55):
Again, we're talking with Cavs General manager Mike Gansey gracious
enough to spend a few moments with us on Cavs HQ,
presented by Betway and Mike. I think our listeners, Cavs
fans might be interested in knowing about your role in
player procurement. Jim earlier in the in the interview, talked
about Niang and Strus in the summer. But you scour
(22:18):
the country, the world for players. We're catching you on
the road right now. I won't divulge where you are
if you don't want me to, but talk a little
bit about the planning that goes into that. How do
you determine where you're going on the globe, who you're scouting,
where you're scouting. Put that all in layman's terms.
Speaker 8 (22:39):
For us, we have a great scouting department, you know,
Brandon Wims and Brandan you kind of had that with
our college group and you know, we got our international
guys as well as well as our pro guys, and
we got ten to eleven scouts you know, throughout the
world watching guys every day, and we put together our
list of guys throughout the year, and you know, whether
it's preseason, mid season, and then obviously at the end
(23:01):
of the year once once we know who's in the draft,
and obviously trade deadline.
Speaker 9 (23:05):
With the pro names.
Speaker 8 (23:06):
But those guys do a tremendous job and they all
have their certain areas or leagues that they're in charge of,
and you know, they know those guys, they're experts in
that area, and they.
Speaker 9 (23:17):
They tell us, hey, there, guys, you got to watch.
Speaker 8 (23:20):
They're draftable. You know that these guys have have potential
to be maybe future Cleveland Cavaliers. And you know, myself
and Kobe and all the rest of our scouts, you know,
they'll they'll kind of criss cross and go to their
different areas and we just follow these guys all year.
So you know, me going to a game tonight, I
know the two or three two or three guys that
I'm gonna go see and watch them closely and kind
(23:43):
of take some notes on them. And then you know,
obviously when we meet and stuff later in the year,
you know we're going to talk about them.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
Have you ever calculated your mileage?
Speaker 9 (23:53):
I have not, but last.
Speaker 8 (23:55):
Year I think I saw over was it like one
hundred and eighty five like a single college game over
the year. So obviously some of those games. There's tournaments
where there's four in a day, but two hundred is
probably a little too much.
Speaker 9 (24:09):
But I love it.
Speaker 8 (24:10):
I mean, you know, especially where our team is now,
we got such a great group that you know, like
me and Kobe and JB always talked about we want
to bring hard working, high character and guys that want
to be in Cleveland. And you know, speaking of George
and Max are two big free agent signings this summer.
I mean, those guys fit those to a tee and
you know, not only if it's the drafts, but free agency,
(24:33):
you know, all the way down to our G League team.
We want to bring people like that in this building
and you know, grow them, develop them, and you know,
hopefully keep them in our in our organization to help
us win some games.
Speaker 4 (24:44):
Well, Mike, I know we're closing in on something, but
I just want to talk about the big band we've
got young, homegrown. We've got Wimbo Yama, We've got Joki
Sabonis Embiid, and we've got our two big Alan and
Mobley is the big man back finally after small ball.
Speaker 9 (25:04):
I think.
Speaker 8 (25:05):
So, I mean, the skill level of these guys is
just incredible. I mean, you know, even back in your day,
I mean the big guy would just rebounded and you know,
posted up and right hand hook, left hand hook, and
you know that was it. But now these guys are
putting on the floor. You know, Evan's shooting threes. You know,
they're they're taking it off the rim and dribbling up
court making plays for guards. I mean, the skill level
(25:27):
in this league is just ridiculous. That size, that length,
that fluidity, and to be able to dribble, pass and
shoot like a guard's it's just absurd. And you know,
I'm lucky we have two guys that are well, not
that we skilled offensively, but also defensively, like how these
guys can move their feet, switch on guards, block shots,
(25:49):
you know, slide with six foot you know, road runners
that are fast as heck. You know, so we're just
really really lucky to have those guys in this league.
Is in it's in a special place because there's you know,
we have two of them, but around the rest of
the league, and you know the MVPs, there's some high
level talent and a lot of them are are big.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
Well, you and everybody involved with this organization has assembled
some special talent wearing wine and gold. Mike, uh, hats
off to you and Kobe and everybody, and get in
some more scouting here the next few weeks and then
we'll see you back in Cleveland.
Speaker 9 (26:26):
Thank you for your Guyank you Cavs.
Speaker 4 (26:29):
There you go.
Speaker 2 (26:30):
Mike Cansey, Cavs General Manager, joining us on Cavs HQ
presented by Betway. We'll take a quick time out when
we come back. Chuck Swersky, the Voice of the Bulls,
will join us. Chicago's in town tomorrow night, so we'll
get a read on what's happening with the Bulls. So
stay with us. Coming back after this on the Medical
Mutual Cavaliers audiovers in the page turn out jump for
(26:55):
thirteen thrill Old Kobe tups I three tabh Koby White,
Put him in the Hall, put him in the Hall
of Fame.
Speaker 4 (27:03):
Inside Aisle four three.
Speaker 1 (27:05):
Big Time Onions, Mile Dosuvu, the Chicago Kid, right down
the pipe of the Bulls sleeve.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
Welcome back cavs HQ, presented by Betway on the Medical
Mutual Cavaliers Audio Verse. Great to have you with us
and great to have joining us on this week's edition
of Cavs HQ. You just heard that voice as Electric
calls for the Chicago Bulls on their radio network one,
Chuck Swirski and Chuck, Obviously, you're coming in with a
(27:37):
team that certainly has had ups and downs, and yet
a win the other night against Atlanta, So you bring
that to Rocket Mortgage field House. But great to have
you back on the show and just kind of give
our listeners a synopsis of how this season has gone
and where it may be going for Chicago.
Speaker 1 (27:55):
So the Bulls, actually they were nine games under five hundred,
and all of a sudden things click, and now this
team is playing really well. I'm not saying they're, you know,
a top three.
Speaker 9 (28:08):
Or fourteen in the East, but I think this.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
Ball club is making in roads and I think they
could be a dark horse as far as making some
noise in April. Now what's that mean, I'm not sure,
but I like the way the team is coming together.
Speaker 4 (28:22):
Chuck quite about Kobe White. For a while, it seemed
like you were disappointed in him, but it seemed like
your coach stayed with him because he understood he was young.
But all of a sudden, the light goes on this
year and he's making plays. Talk a little bit about Kobe.
Speaker 1 (28:35):
Well, you know what, Jim, here's what happens a lot
of times. You know, players come into the league and
all of a sudden, these scouts and player personnel directors
is he a one?
Speaker 4 (28:45):
Is he a two?
Speaker 1 (28:47):
Is he something? And you know what, let's get back
to the days when hey, this guy is a basketball player.
Speaker 9 (28:54):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
So in the case of Kobe, I think the Bulls
basically said, we need to turn you loose and be
the player that you are. And that doesn't mean that
he's got the green light or that he can't pass
the ball, or that you know, they want him to
strictly think about being a distributory facilitator. But I mean,
(29:17):
this guy has arrived. This is not a fluke, Jim
and Tim, this is the real deal. What you're seeing
out of Kobe is somebody that is really starting to
figure it out, putting it together, and the Bulls have benefited.
You know, for some players it takes two years, some
players it takes four years. And for Kobe it's the
(29:37):
real deal.
Speaker 4 (29:37):
He's arrived again.
Speaker 2 (29:39):
We're talking with Chuck Swirsky, the voice of the Chicago Bulls.
Chicago in town tomorrow night, Cavs and Bulls right here
at Rocking Mortgage Field House. It'll tip off at seven
point thirty. And Chuck, I want to circle back on
something you said a moment ago about the fact that
this team, meaning Chicago, is playing some very good basketball,
and of course you haven't had ball, You've lost Levine.
(30:01):
So what has keyed this, what has sparked this turnaround?
Speaker 1 (30:05):
Well, I mean the turnaround, by the way, is a
record at twenty one and fourteen since that horrible start,
and they're still you know, they're trying to knock on
the door for the five hundred mark, and they're almost there,
and then they slip back and they lose two out
of three and they're three four games hundred, five hundred.
Then they win two in a row. But when I
(30:25):
look at it, I look at two things. Number One, DeRozan,
Vucevich and White have really carried this ball club. But
I'm going to give you a name, and the fans
are going to be listening to your broadcast tomorrow and
you're going to say, hey, I remember him in the
Big ten, and I know that he had a decent
rookie year. Kind of slipped a little bit in year
(30:47):
number two, but in year number three he is putting
it together and that's Iyo Dosumu and Io is playing
with confidence. He's always been a really good defender. That's
never been the question. I mean, he was really well
schooled in high school in the Chicago Land area at
Morgan Park, really well coached at Illinois, comes into the league,
(31:11):
has some success. Then the league kind of figured him
out here too, and he started working on his left hand.
He started playing defenses better as far as playing angles,
because in this league the players are so good guys,
and Jim you know this, that it's hard to stop
coverage one on one. I mean, he's only a handful
(31:33):
of players can do this. So he learned how to
play angles and now he's making shots. Before they would
kind of sag off on him from the elbow, they'd
give him that eighteen to twenty four footer. But now
he's making those shots and He's in a great group,
and he has become a player that as the Bulls
(31:54):
moved forward with talent, he definitely is now on the
first page.
Speaker 8 (32:00):
You know.
Speaker 4 (32:00):
One of the things when I looked at your Bulls team,
it always seemed like they were an injury away from
being better. And it just seems like now DeRozan can
focus more on not competing for touches. You know, old
guys they always think about touches, you know, and then
you have the steadiness of Vucevich in the middle. It
(32:21):
just seems like it's all coming together for you. Yo Jo.
Speaker 1 (32:24):
I am a huge fan of DeMar DeRozan first and
foremost as a man and as a leader, and the
young players love coming to Tomorrow for guidance, direction, wisdom,
what to eat, when do sleep, how to take care
of your love, these things, you know. I mean, something
(32:46):
is to be said because as broadcasters fans, we get
caught up in numbers and stats and all these things
and friends, you know this guy, and analytics. I want
to talk about the analytics of a heart. I want
to talk about the soul of a locker room, because
in my opinion, Damar has come into Chicago and He's
(33:09):
exactly what this franchise needed. And so he comes in.
His mid range jumper is still unbelievable.
Speaker 4 (33:17):
He's getting to the.
Speaker 1 (33:18):
Foul line now four of the last six games double
figure free throw attempts, and he's doing that little head
and shoulder double pump, triple pump. And the only player
that I've seen this year that's been able to shut
him down, and he came in the Orlando game in
the fourth quarter in overtime, and that was Jonathan Isaac
(33:40):
with those long arms. I mean, I mean, it's it
was unbelievable, and Damar just he had to give up
the ball. But against you know, players that are six ' eight,
six ' nine that are covering him, they've got no chance.
When Damar does that fade at the foul line or
big block post up and then those that little head
(34:04):
and shoulder and then ducks underneath for up and under,
he's awesome. I would say that tomorrow he's going the
Hall of Fame. I don't think there's any question about it.
If you compare us numbers to players that are already
in the Hall of Fame, he's in it. So now
you know, I think his legacy is let's move the
needle and let's get this thing back on track with
(34:24):
the bulls.
Speaker 4 (34:25):
Chuck.
Speaker 2 (34:26):
We got time for one final question, and I want
to shift to you personally, because you posted something on
social media a couple of weeks back. You reached a
milestone birthday. I don't know if you want me to
announce that or not.
Speaker 1 (34:38):
Yeah, go ahead, is I don't care.
Speaker 2 (34:42):
Seventy seventy years old and yet we heard those highlights
coming in. I listened to league audio pass You still
broadcast with as much fire and passion, as energy as
you did when you started. And in your social media
post you said, I'm going to keep going for as
long as I can go. But what keeps that fire going?
Speaker 1 (35:04):
You know what, Tim, and all of us and Jim
is a player yourself, Tim me as a broadcaster, this
is my passion, this is my love, and I've never
taken it for granted from day one, and I still
had the same passion as I did when I was
doing Athen's High School bulldog football and basketball as a
(35:25):
student at Ohio University or in college with De Paul
or the University of Michigan. Because this is an opportunity
to do something I wanted to do when I was
five years young. So every day is a blessing. I
never go into a game taking it for granted. I
never take prep for granted. And I love it. Now,
(35:47):
There's going to be a time they're going to tell
me to take my Wilson and go home. There's gonna
be a time, because it happens to all of us
where we start losing it. And you know, a player
at twenty two can run up and down the floor
a thousand times, and then all of a sudden, those
des start barking, you know, seven, ten, twelve years later,
(36:11):
and they can't jump as high, and they can't reach
as high, and they just can't spend thirty five minutes
on the floor and their lungs are burning up after
twelve minutes or fifteen minutes. It happens, and the clarity
of a broadcaster and tim the integrity of the broadcast
is still forefront. And so when the time comes when
(36:34):
I start to lose it and the clarity is diminished
by the play by play and the crispness of the broadcast,
that's when it's time for me to say that's it.
Speaker 2 (36:47):
Well, as our dear friend Joe used to say, you
never know who's listening or where they're listening. But Chuck,
I listened to you a lot, and I just think
you're one of the most entertaining NBA play by Plague Eyes.
There is so uh when you're on that mic. Aside
from tomorrow night, because I have a game to call myself,
think about the fact that Elcorn is listening somewhere. Because
(37:08):
I just think you're brilliant.
Speaker 1 (37:09):
I think, yes, well you guys, You guys are too kind.
I'll tell you what, working you have a great relationship
with each other. I've got a great relationship with Bill Wennington.
I mean he is just you know who. He reminds
me of guys. You ever see the movie Big with
Tom Hanks. Yes, yes, he is a character in the
(37:31):
movie because he's just a.
Speaker 2 (37:34):
Big Oh that's a great description. Well, Chuck, we'll see
you tomorrow night in.
Speaker 4 (37:42):
The friend Thank you, you man, Thank you Joe.
Speaker 2 (37:49):
Chuck Swirsky. He does a great Joe Tate as well.
But he's the radio voice of the Chicago Bulls. Bulls
in town tomorrow night to take on the calves. We'll
put the finishing touches on this week's show after this
on Cavs HQ presented by Betway on the Medical Mutual
Cavaliers Audio Verse. That's Gonna do It for this week's
(38:10):
edition of Cavs HQ presented by Betway Boy, huge thank
you to Chuck Swersky for dropping by. Earlier we heard
from Cavs GM Mike Ganzy, what good stuff happening with
the Cavaliers, thanks of course to the Dynamic duo Marty Allen,
Kurt McLoughlin, Jim Jones. Great, big thank you to you,
biggest thanks to you the listeners. Jim and I will
(38:31):
be back tomorrow night Calves and Bulls final game before
the All Star Game. It takes place at Rocket Mortgage
field House seven point thirty Tip seven o'clock with the
Huntington Tip Off Show. So until then, tim Elcorn saying
thank you very much for listening and so long everybody.
Speaker 1 (39:00):
Now, don't
Speaker 7 (39:07):
No no, no
Welcome to CALVS HQ presented by Betway.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Thank you for.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Joining us on the Medical Mutual Cavaliers Audio Verse.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
Here are your hosts, Tim Alcorn and Jim Jones.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Problem the Cavaliers production studios at Rock and Mortgage Field
House in downtown Cleveland. Hi again, everybody, and welcome to
CALVS HQ presented by Betway. It's great to have you
with us as the Cavaliers continue to roll along. Tough
night last night, tough loss to Philadelphia one twenty three
to one, twenty one game tomorrow night against Chicago and
(00:44):
then the All Star break. Jim Jones, great to have
you back on Cavs HQ and great to have you
back in the Joe Tate perch like you were last
night and you will be tomorrow night. And even though
that was a tough loss, this Calves team is situated very,
very well going into the break for the stretch run.
Speaker 4 (01:01):
Yeah, it is Tim. They've figured some things out. And
what they've figured out is that they can defend and
play offense with the same veracity. And that's why they're
better this year because they have tremendous balance on both
sides of the ball, which puts a lot of pressure
on the opposition. They don't have a chance to exhale
(01:24):
because they're trying to defend us, which is tough because
of our depth and our ability and our strategy to
push the ball up the floor with Donovan Mitchell or
anyone who has possession. And then the defense has been
something exceptional because now we have both bigs back and
they're rolling and patrolling. That paint makes it awfully tough
for teams to score against us tim and puts a
(01:46):
lot of pressure on the opposition to be effective. This
is the best Cavalier balance I've seen since our championship season.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Yeah, just playing outstanding ball. So coming up tonight on
Cavs HQ, we're gonna hear from Mike Gansey Caves GM
and then later on in the show, Chuck Swirski, the
outstanding radio voice of the Chicago Bulls, will stop by,
So stay with us. Cavs HQ, presented by Betway, continues
after this on the Medical Mutual Cavaliers Audio Verse. LeVert
(02:19):
to the baseline in front of the Caves bench, Lavert
and heavy traffic. Then it's a Bubbley Pow with two hands,
Karis Lavert with four assists into paint.
Speaker 4 (02:29):
Everything's into paint.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Mitchell between his legs steps back three right on the bar.
Who that was gorgeous from.
Speaker 4 (02:37):
Donovan Stavs needed dead too, Tip. They've missed a couple
of bunnies, but Donovan Mitchell is always there.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Garland driving on Maxie Scoot score. That was a quick step,
my dg.
Speaker 4 (02:50):
Off their defense, Tive, That's what sparks this team.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
Welcome back keVs HQ, presented by Betway all along the
Cavaliers audio verse to Melcorn along with Jim Jones. Boy,
it's great to have Jim back in the Joe Tate perch.
He was with me last night, tough loss to Philadelphia.
Jim will be with me again tomorrow night when Chicago
comes into town, as the Cavaliers will finally get a
(03:17):
break the All Star break coming up following that game
against the Bulls on Wednesday night. But Jim, a quick
look back to the game last night, and you caught
it early on. You thought the Cavs looked a little
bit fatigue and it seemed to play a factor as
that game rolled along before they fell one twenty three,
one twenty one.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
Yeah, Tim, I thought I saw it in the starters,
but it was real evident in our bench played the bench,
which is the strength of our team. They were three
or thirteen in that first half, so they lost something.
Then I thought back and I said, well, they played
three games, and four they were on the road, you know,
so that takes a little more out of you at
(03:56):
this point in the season. I just thought that the
legs were gone, and they made a valiant effort at
the end and gave themselves a chance to win the game.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
And that's the mark of a quality team, a playoff
caliber basketball team, that when you're not on your best game,
you still find a way to give yourself a chance
to win.
Speaker 4 (04:16):
Yeah, and they did that tim a lot of clever playing,
And of course it doesn't hurt to have Donovan Mitchell
on your team either. Donovan was magnificent, but you could
tell he was dragging. And Garland's not there yet, you know,
but he's coming.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Like Donovan last night with a thirty six point outburst,
just having an MVP caliber season. We'll talk about that
in a moment. But of course, the Calves were down
seven with under a minute to go. They rattled off
six straight points, got to within one Philly had a
free throw put it back up to two, and then
the Calves had the ball a chance to tire or
(04:52):
win it at the end. Donovan shot fell off, Jared
grabbed the rebound, kicked it to dg in the corner.
Ind GE's three ball just came up a little bit short.
So Philly wins it one twenty three to one twenty one.
And after the game, JB. Bickerstaff talked about that final sequence.
Speaker 5 (05:09):
I mean, it's a two point game. You know, Donovan
had an opportunity drove to the basket. That's what you're
looking for. You know, we got an offensive rebound and
we had a guy wide open in the corner, so
Jarrett made the play to you know, one of our
best shooters, and again it just came up a little short.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
And as JB said, Jim, really you'll take that every time,
and hey, not every SHOT's going to go in.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
No, And that's what you have to look at it. Tim.
We played so many games eighty two not counting playoffs
in preseason, and all any coach can ask for. In
the end, there's an opportunity to be there at the
end of games, either with a shot or a free
throw that gives you a distinct advantage, and they got it.
They got the corner shot. It wasn't off by much,
(05:51):
tim it was off by inches. Trust me, it would
have hit the front part of the rim from the corner,
but it was just inches off.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
And of course, as you mentioned, Jim DG had a
terrific ballgame just over thirty minutes nine of sixteen from
the field twenty one points, matched his season high and
assist with nine. And after the ballgame, Darius said, listen,
I missed the shot, but I'm not going to let
it bother me.
Speaker 4 (06:17):
I mean, I'm living with that shot. I'm going home
happy with that shot.
Speaker 6 (06:21):
Nothing that's going to like moralize it and just bring
me down because I missed it. Hopefully I have plenty
of others to come so I can hopefully make the
other listen, yet live with this. Hopefully everybody else in
this locker room lived through the too.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
And DG's backcourt made Donovan Mitchell said, yeah, no doubt,
we made a nice comeback.
Speaker 4 (06:39):
We did a lot of things.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
You know, well, we got a few good looks in
that one possession where you know, and I hit that
last shot. You know, we got stops. We got twenty
four second violation. You know, understand the nine of them
on the inbounds. You know, I make a read and
we get a steal. You know, so different things you
can learn from that. But ultimately you want to learn.
I always say through wins and through losses. But you know,
we were always going to give ourselves a chance. But
you know, we should have taken campuses early, you know,
(07:01):
and we did it, and that's.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
On us and Jim, let's go back to what you
were talking about earlier points in the paint. Big games
from the big guys, both Jared Allen and Evan Mobley
with double doubles, Jared with twenty one and ten, Evan
Mobley with fourteen and ten. So that low post presence
that they provide really paying dividends.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
Yeah, it is, especially through dribble penetration when you have
two guards and then if you count the vert off
the bench, you've got three guards that like to get
into paint. And when they get into paint. The advantage
of definitely the Cavaliers because they have two seven footers
who can play above the rim, who can finish around
the rim. I just think that they figured some things out.
(07:42):
I think the thing that's helped us Tim as far
as touches for the bigs, they're playing faster, so there's
more opportunities.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
And of course after the ballgame, Jared and Evan met
with the media and Evan said, listen, we both got
double doubles, but that's something that we need to do.
Speaker 7 (07:59):
Yeah, we're just trying to do our jobs out there.
John's is protecting the pain and rebounding taking the shots
we get, and I feel like we've been doing that
pretty well. And yeah, the double doubles, I feel like,
is it kind of expected from both of us.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Yeah, the way they're playing, Jim, double doubles seemed to
be a nightly occurrence.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
Yeah, it can be, Tim, but there's gonna be a
lot of nights where both guys won't get double doubles.
But you still have to do your job. And that's
the mindset that those two young guys have. They just
want to do what they're supposed to do. The main
reason they're in there is because they're so talented, not
only on the offensive side, but their defense is the
(08:42):
foundation of how we win.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
Great point, all right, So the Cavs come up short
last night, tomorrow night, they'll take on Chicago and then
the All Star Break. In fact, a little bit later
on the show, we'll hear from Chicago's great radio voice,
Chuck Swirsky. But coming up next on CALVS HQ presented
by Betway, we'll hear from Cavaliers general manager Mike Gansey.
(09:04):
We'll talk about where this team is at heading to
the All Star Break, so stay with us. Mike Gansey's
up next on kv's HQ, presented by Betway. On the
Medical Mutual Cavaliers audio Verse boldly knocked them all away
from Maxie craft by Mitchell ahead to Garland in the
latest truce plead, hit up to lops it and stolen
(09:27):
by Mitchell. Mitchell on the right sideline Mitchell with a
stutter step Banks scores bowl rebound LeVert out front Mitchell
pre ball Donovan don Pitchel hit the pre ball Tat's
within one Boko back kev's HQ, presented by Betway. All
(09:49):
along the Medical Mutual Cavaliers audio Verse huge thanks to
the dynamic duo on the other side of the window,
technical director Marty Allen Senior producer Kurt McLoughlin for formulating
that highlight montage from last night's game against Philly. Tough
loss for the Calves as they fill to the Sixers
one twenty three to one twenty one. But all in all,
(10:10):
this Cavalier team, while they're playing some outstanding basketball as
they are now thirty five and seventeen, and a guy
that certainly keeps a close eye and ear we hope
on all things Cavaliers is their general manager, Mike Gansey,
who now joins us on the show. Mike, as always,
we know you're very, very busy. Appreciate the time anytime. Man.
Speaker 8 (10:33):
Good to hear you, guys, and it's been a fun
time for Cavaliers basketball.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
Well, Mike, I know, the season for the most part
is broken up. There's different benchmarks as the marathon goes along.
Twenty games, halfway point, all Star break, one more game
before that All Star break. But just size up this
Cavs team for us, and would you say that, especially
with injuries, they've performed beyond expectations.
Speaker 9 (10:59):
I think.
Speaker 8 (11:00):
I mean, you know when Evan and Darris went out,
and even if you go all the way back to
the beginning of the year, you know Jared missed the
first three four games and we just haven't had a
full squad, and I think, you know, blessing in disguise
with the injuries with Darris and and Evan out, especially
in that stretch. You know, Sam Meryl stepped up, Craig Porter,
you know, Tristan like everyone that wasn't necessarily playing the
(11:22):
beginning of the year, you know, is almost you know,
most of those guys are in the rotation now every night,
and it's a hard it's a hard job by JB
trying to get those guys to play. But you know,
in a way, those guys had to play, and they played,
and they played well.
Speaker 9 (11:36):
They helped us win a lot of games.
Speaker 8 (11:38):
And now now we have a deeper bench, probably deeper
than we thought. You know at the beginning of the year.
Speaker 4 (11:43):
Looks like Mike that you did your homework early and
that started in the summer when you picked up kneeang
and you picked up strups. Talk a little bit about that.
Speaker 8 (11:51):
Yeah, you know, those two were who are two top
targets and free agency, and we're very, very fortunate to
get them. You know, obviously they provide a lot of
shooting and spacing, which is what we needed. But just
the locker room, the culture. You know, especially Max. You know,
he's a gritty, tough guy, you know, plays with an edge.
Same thing with George. George is always talking out there,
maybe too much at times, but you know, the guys
(12:15):
love him, you know. I think the city's embraced those two.
They're kind of like Cleveland guys, you know, Midwestern hard knows.
Speaker 9 (12:21):
You know, put your hard hat on and go out
and compete.
Speaker 8 (12:24):
And you know, those guys not only with their shooting,
but just all the little things that they've done, especially Max,
and you know, the two man game he's developed with
Jarrett this last month has been incredible to watch. And
you know, those guys have just been been awesome for
us this year, and I don't know where we'd do
without him.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
I'm getting talking with Cavis general manager Mike Gansey, and
Mike I mentioned some of the benchmarks that are there
throughout the year in the NBA, and I left one
out and that was the trade deadline, and yet the
Cavs stood pad and I thought Kobe's comments on trade
deadline day, we're interesting. Listen, We've got a good thing
going here. But just talk a little bit about sizing
(13:03):
up the roster and saying we've got a roster that
can make a deep run.
Speaker 9 (13:08):
Yeah, you know, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
You know.
Speaker 8 (13:10):
We we feel like we have twelve, maybe thirteen guys
that can go out and play and help us. And
you know, obviously we didn't see any significant upgrades that
you know, giving up some of our own guys and
that could get us, you know, even better. And I
think I think the big thing is, like we have
such a continuity a chemistry our guys. Our guys love
(13:32):
playing with each other. I mean they they just you.
Speaker 9 (13:35):
Know, you just feel it.
Speaker 8 (13:37):
I mean, you guys are around it every day, like
you just feel the unit always together. And you know,
just seeing Donovan this year, like you know, I think
last year a lot, he just kind of took on
himself to go win us games by himself, which he
can do and he's more than capable of. But now
he's trusting everyone all the way down to like Sam Merril.
You know, he's looking for him instead of his shot.
(13:57):
And I think I think that says a lot about
our team and the way they're playing. And you know,
they gave us, they give us no choice but to
not do anything because the way we're playing and the
way the way things are going.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
Tell me if this is a fair assessment. The teams
that needed to trade for stars after you looked at
your own possibilities, they didn't have enough assets to do so,
So I know that had to be part of the
answer and the reasoning too.
Speaker 8 (14:24):
Right, Yeah, I mean, you know, there wasn't that big
marquee superstar out there that was available, and you know
a lot of teams obviously did you know smaller deals
where they got you know, maybe traded some rotational players
for rotational players and you know, needed more shooting here,
more defense here. But but we like our guys one
through one through twelve and even our two way guys.
(14:46):
So we're excited about our group and you know, just
wanted to see what it looks like here, you know,
as we as we get here to the All Star
break and you know, twenty five thirty games left here
in the season.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
My final question before we take our break. You're an
end guy. You're watching the deals that unfold on trade
deadline day. Some of them don't impact you the Eastern
Conference or whatever the case may be, But do you
look at the deals that do have a residual effect
on the calves and go, wow, what New York did
(15:18):
there was interesting, or what Philly did there was interesting.
How do you look at when other teams are making
deals in so far as how it impacts the calves?
Speaker 8 (15:28):
Yeah, you know, I mean obviously we're we're following it
very very closely. I mean, you know, for the majority
of it, we're talking to those teams probably as well,
you know, just kind of scouring the market, and you know,
we're always aggressive looking for ways to get better. And
you know, of course we're looking at other teams and
you know, we saw you know, the Knicks, the Bucks,
you know teams obviously Philly, you know, they made some
(15:50):
moves where they're right near us in the standing. So
we're obviously monitoring it, but you know, we're more worried
about ourselves, and you know, obviously leading up to this deadline,
we didn't want to necessarily make any moves unless it
was just an absolute or no brainer. And we like
our group, and you know, teams are gonna make trades
and try to get better, but we like our chances
(16:11):
against anyone.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
Yep, well said well put Mike Gnsey, Cavaliers general manager,
our guest on Cavs HQ presented by Betway. We're gonna
sneak in a quick time out. We have more ground
to cover with Mike, so stay with us. We're coming
back after this. Cavs HQ presented by Betway returns after
this on the Medical Mutual Cavaliers Audiovers.
Speaker 10 (16:38):
This week, in celebration of the Cleveland Cavaliers court refurbishment
and grand opening of the Fairfax Recreation Center in Cleveland,
the team will host a press conference, including an official
ribbon cutting, followed by both the basketball and dance clinic
for local youth as they take in their new space.
Calves in the Community is brought to you by Discound
(16:59):
Up March. We'll be back with the second half of
Calv's HQ, presented by Betway right after this. On the
Medical Mutual Cavaliers Audio Verse.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Here's Buddy healed into the paint, has past stolen by
Donovan Mitchell loobs it ahead to Struce, Struce left side, LeVert.
LeVert heads to the bucket, Cape sit in.
Speaker 4 (17:19):
I like it. Time's the game turn overs the point.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
Obama checks it. Bobley block the shot of the glass.
Holy Bobly. Hobly left wing three ball god boy, haven't
bobly getting more and more confident with the long ball.
Speaker 3 (17:41):
This is calvs HQ and the Medical Mutual Cavaliers audio
Verse presented by Betway. Now back to the second half
of the show with Tim Alcorn and Jim Jones.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
And we welcome you back, and of course we have
welcomed back with open arms Jim Jones. He's been with
me and the Joe Tad Perch for the past few
games and great to have them back with us on
Cavs HQ. Jim and I will be together tomorrow night
Cavaliers and the Chicago Bulls at Rocket Mortgage field House,
final game before the All Star Break. Jim, why don't
(18:12):
you get things started with Mike Gansey here in segment
two with the Cavs GM.
Speaker 4 (18:16):
Mike, it just seems like the NBA's wide open this season,
a lot of new faces at the top of the
leader board. What are your thoughts about where the NBA
is right now, because I'm sure that had to have
a place in your decision making. Also, is that it
just seems to me from the outside looking in, it
looks wide open. Mike.
Speaker 8 (18:35):
I mean, I think the league is in a great place.
I mean there's so many young stars and you go
through thirty teams. I mean, someone's got a young star
that's going to be really good in this league. And
some of those teams are obviously maybe on the you know,
near the bottom of the standings. But that's just the
way the league is, you know. I mean obviously with
all the new rules with the CBA and you know,
no more super teams necessarily, with with how the rules are,
(18:58):
that's just kind of how it's going to be. I mean,
there's gonna be parody and you're gonna have to build
a team roster instead of just you know, three stars necessarily.
And I think it's great for the league because any
given night you can get beat you know, it's not
like there's no pushovers anymore. And you know, these guys
are professional basketball players and guys get rhythm and confidence
(19:19):
in a game, can beat you because they're that good.
So I think the league's in a great place, and
it's exciting for us because we got good young stars
that are just entering their prime or not even in
their prime yet. So we're very very excited about where
the league is at and the future.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
Well, Mike, you just used the term star, and of
course after tomorrow night it's All Star break time. Donovan
Mitchell obviously an All Star, and there's been talk about
MVP conversation, which certainly everybody thinks is justified. But talk
a little bit about the play of Donovan this year.
I know he has said, Jab has said, Kobe has
(19:56):
said he's probably playing the best overall game he's played
in his career.
Speaker 9 (20:02):
Yeah, I mean, I don't know what else Moore he
can do, you know.
Speaker 4 (20:05):
I mean.
Speaker 8 (20:07):
We have Evanth and Darris out for a month and
like we didn't miss the beat, we got better, you know,
and obviously Jared Allen.
Speaker 9 (20:15):
Was a huge piece to that.
Speaker 8 (20:16):
All of us in the building think he's an All Star.
And I just don't know what else to say about Donovan.
I mean, not only just himself and his play, but
the way he's elevated really the whole building, the coaching staff, us,
you know, and and all his teammates. I mean, all
his teammates have have contributed, and you know, he's up
there their value and their play with every single game.
(20:38):
So we're just can't really explain how Donovan has been
playing and how much he's meant to this organization, and
you know, I think it's crazy why he's not in
any MVP talk. I mean, he's missing two of his
best two of his top four players, you know, so
to speak, and and he's and we're what second in
the East, so you know, top five record with half
(20:59):
our team out.
Speaker 9 (21:00):
Or majority of the season.
Speaker 4 (21:01):
You know, I asked him that question in my first
game back. You know, what did you see sitting on
the side when you were out and they were still winning?
I said, but it looked like when you came back,
you're playing the best ball ever, he said, I am,
because he made the adjustment. He saw the potential of
this team too, didn't he.
Speaker 9 (21:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 8 (21:20):
I mean, you know, Donovan is one of the best
teammates you'll ever have, and you know, he empowers the guys,
and you know you see it every day in practice
and shoot around and just PREDI and post practice, like
he's encouraging guys. You know, I mean, obviously he's so
good and he can go win a game by himself,
but he wants other guys to get better, and he
has gotten guys better, and he gives them the confidence
(21:41):
and the belief that they can go out and help him,
and it's just been fun to watch. And you know
he's humble. He won't talk about the MVP talk or anything,
but you know, the Calves are second and the East
for a reason, and Donovan's a big, big piece to that.
Speaker 2 (21:55):
Again, we're talking with Cavs General manager Mike Gansey gracious
enough to spend a few moments with us on Cavs HQ,
presented by Betway and Mike. I think our listeners, Cavs
fans might be interested in knowing about your role in
player procurement. Jim earlier in the in the interview, talked
about Niang and Strus in the summer. But you scour
(22:18):
the country, the world for players. We're catching you on
the road right now. I won't divulge where you are
if you don't want me to, but talk a little
bit about the planning that goes into that. How do
you determine where you're going on the globe, who you're scouting,
where you're scouting. Put that all in layman's terms.
Speaker 8 (22:39):
For us, we have a great scouting department, you know,
Brandon Wims and Brandan you kind of had that with
our college group and you know, we got our international
guys as well as well as our pro guys, and
we got ten to eleven scouts you know, throughout the
world watching guys every day, and we put together our
list of guys throughout the year, and you know, whether
it's preseason, mid season, and then obviously at the end
(23:01):
of the year once once we know who's in the draft,
and obviously trade deadline.
Speaker 9 (23:05):
With the pro names.
Speaker 8 (23:06):
But those guys do a tremendous job and they all
have their certain areas or leagues that they're in charge of,
and you know, they know those guys, they're experts in
that area, and they.
Speaker 9 (23:17):
They tell us, hey, there, guys, you got to watch.
Speaker 8 (23:20):
They're draftable. You know that these guys have have potential
to be maybe future Cleveland Cavaliers. And you know, myself
and Kobe and all the rest of our scouts, you know,
they'll they'll kind of criss cross and go to their
different areas and we just follow these guys all year.
So you know, me going to a game tonight, I
know the two or three two or three guys that
I'm gonna go see and watch them closely and kind
(23:43):
of take some notes on them. And then you know,
obviously when we meet and stuff later in the year,
you know we're going to talk about them.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
Have you ever calculated your mileage?
Speaker 9 (23:53):
I have not, but last.
Speaker 8 (23:55):
Year I think I saw over was it like one
hundred and eighty five like a single college game over
the year. So obviously some of those games. There's tournaments
where there's four in a day, but two hundred is
probably a little too much.
Speaker 9 (24:09):
But I love it.
Speaker 8 (24:10):
I mean, you know, especially where our team is now,
we got such a great group that you know, like
me and Kobe and JB always talked about we want
to bring hard working, high character and guys that want
to be in Cleveland. And you know, speaking of George
and Max are two big free agent signings this summer.
I mean, those guys fit those to a tee and
you know, not only if it's the drafts, but free agency,
(24:33):
you know, all the way down to our G League team.
We want to bring people like that in this building
and you know, grow them, develop them, and you know,
hopefully keep them in our in our organization to help
us win some games.
Speaker 4 (24:44):
Well, Mike, I know we're closing in on something, but
I just want to talk about the big band we've
got young, homegrown. We've got Wimbo Yama, We've got Joki
Sabonis Embiid, and we've got our two big Alan and
Mobley is the big man back finally after small ball.
Speaker 9 (25:04):
I think.
Speaker 8 (25:05):
So, I mean, the skill level of these guys is
just incredible. I mean, you know, even back in your day,
I mean the big guy would just rebounded and you know,
posted up and right hand hook, left hand hook, and
you know that was it. But now these guys are
putting on the floor. You know, Evan's shooting threes. You know,
they're they're taking it off the rim and dribbling up
court making plays for guards. I mean, the skill level
(25:27):
in this league is just ridiculous. That size, that length,
that fluidity, and to be able to dribble, pass and
shoot like a guard's it's just absurd. And you know,
I'm lucky we have two guys that are well, not
that we skilled offensively, but also defensively, like how these
guys can move their feet, switch on guards, block shots,
(25:49):
you know, slide with six foot you know, road runners
that are fast as heck. You know, so we're just
really really lucky to have those guys in this league.
Is in it's in a special place because there's you know,
we have two of them, but around the rest of
the league, and you know the MVPs, there's some high
level talent and a lot of them are are big.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
Well, you and everybody involved with this organization has assembled
some special talent wearing wine and gold. Mike, uh, hats
off to you and Kobe and everybody, and get in
some more scouting here the next few weeks and then
we'll see you back in Cleveland.
Speaker 9 (26:26):
Thank you for your Guyank you Cavs.
Speaker 4 (26:29):
There you go.
Speaker 2 (26:30):
Mike Cansey, Cavs General Manager, joining us on Cavs HQ
presented by Betway. We'll take a quick time out when
we come back. Chuck Swersky, the Voice of the Bulls,
will join us. Chicago's in town tomorrow night, so we'll
get a read on what's happening with the Bulls. So
stay with us. Coming back after this on the Medical
Mutual Cavaliers audiovers in the page turn out jump for
(26:55):
thirteen thrill Old Kobe tups I three tabh Koby White,
Put him in the Hall, put him in the Hall
of Fame.
Speaker 4 (27:03):
Inside Aisle four three.
Speaker 1 (27:05):
Big Time Onions, Mile Dosuvu, the Chicago Kid, right down
the pipe of the Bulls sleeve.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
Welcome back cavs HQ, presented by Betway on the Medical
Mutual Cavaliers Audio Verse. Great to have you with us
and great to have joining us on this week's edition
of Cavs HQ. You just heard that voice as Electric
calls for the Chicago Bulls on their radio network one,
Chuck Swirski and Chuck, Obviously, you're coming in with a
(27:37):
team that certainly has had ups and downs, and yet
a win the other night against Atlanta, So you bring
that to Rocket Mortgage field House. But great to have
you back on the show and just kind of give
our listeners a synopsis of how this season has gone
and where it may be going for Chicago.
Speaker 1 (27:55):
So the Bulls, actually they were nine games under five hundred,
and all of a sudden things click, and now this
team is playing really well. I'm not saying they're, you know,
a top three.
Speaker 9 (28:08):
Or fourteen in the East, but I think this.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
Ball club is making in roads and I think they
could be a dark horse as far as making some
noise in April. Now what's that mean, I'm not sure,
but I like the way the team is coming together.
Speaker 4 (28:22):
Chuck quite about Kobe White. For a while, it seemed
like you were disappointed in him, but it seemed like
your coach stayed with him because he understood he was young.
But all of a sudden, the light goes on this
year and he's making plays. Talk a little bit about Kobe.
Speaker 1 (28:35):
Well, you know what, Jim, here's what happens a lot
of times. You know, players come into the league and
all of a sudden, these scouts and player personnel directors
is he a one?
Speaker 4 (28:45):
Is he a two?
Speaker 1 (28:47):
Is he something? And you know what, let's get back
to the days when hey, this guy is a basketball player.
Speaker 9 (28:54):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
So in the case of Kobe, I think the Bulls
basically said, we need to turn you loose and be
the player that you are. And that doesn't mean that
he's got the green light or that he can't pass
the ball, or that you know, they want him to
strictly think about being a distributory facilitator. But I mean,
(29:17):
this guy has arrived. This is not a fluke, Jim
and Tim, this is the real deal. What you're seeing
out of Kobe is somebody that is really starting to
figure it out, putting it together, and the Bulls have benefited.
You know, for some players it takes two years, some
players it takes four years. And for Kobe it's the
(29:37):
real deal.
Speaker 4 (29:37):
He's arrived again.
Speaker 2 (29:39):
We're talking with Chuck Swirsky, the voice of the Chicago Bulls.
Chicago in town tomorrow night, Cavs and Bulls right here
at Rocking Mortgage Field House. It'll tip off at seven
point thirty. And Chuck, I want to circle back on
something you said a moment ago about the fact that
this team, meaning Chicago, is playing some very good basketball,
and of course you haven't had ball, You've lost Levine.
(30:01):
So what has keyed this, what has sparked this turnaround?
Speaker 1 (30:05):
Well, I mean the turnaround, by the way, is a
record at twenty one and fourteen since that horrible start,
and they're still you know, they're trying to knock on
the door for the five hundred mark, and they're almost there,
and then they slip back and they lose two out
of three and they're three four games hundred, five hundred.
Then they win two in a row. But when I
(30:25):
look at it, I look at two things. Number One, DeRozan,
Vucevich and White have really carried this ball club. But
I'm going to give you a name, and the fans
are going to be listening to your broadcast tomorrow and
you're going to say, hey, I remember him in the
Big ten, and I know that he had a decent
rookie year. Kind of slipped a little bit in year
(30:47):
number two, but in year number three he is putting
it together and that's Iyo Dosumu and Io is playing
with confidence. He's always been a really good defender. That's
never been the question. I mean, he was really well
schooled in high school in the Chicago Land area at
Morgan Park, really well coached at Illinois, comes into the league,
(31:11):
has some success. Then the league kind of figured him
out here too, and he started working on his left hand.
He started playing defenses better as far as playing angles,
because in this league the players are so good guys,
and Jim you know this, that it's hard to stop
coverage one on one. I mean, he's only a handful
(31:33):
of players can do this. So he learned how to
play angles and now he's making shots. Before they would
kind of sag off on him from the elbow, they'd
give him that eighteen to twenty four footer. But now
he's making those shots and He's in a great group,
and he has become a player that as the Bulls
(31:54):
moved forward with talent, he definitely is now on the
first page.
Speaker 8 (32:00):
You know.
Speaker 4 (32:00):
One of the things when I looked at your Bulls team,
it always seemed like they were an injury away from
being better. And it just seems like now DeRozan can
focus more on not competing for touches. You know, old
guys they always think about touches, you know, and then
you have the steadiness of Vucevich in the middle. It
(32:21):
just seems like it's all coming together for you. Yo Jo.
Speaker 1 (32:24):
I am a huge fan of DeMar DeRozan first and
foremost as a man and as a leader, and the
young players love coming to Tomorrow for guidance, direction, wisdom,
what to eat, when do sleep, how to take care
of your love, these things, you know. I mean, something
(32:46):
is to be said because as broadcasters fans, we get
caught up in numbers and stats and all these things
and friends, you know this guy, and analytics. I want
to talk about the analytics of a heart. I want
to talk about the soul of a locker room, because
in my opinion, Damar has come into Chicago and He's
(33:09):
exactly what this franchise needed. And so he comes in.
His mid range jumper is still unbelievable.
Speaker 4 (33:17):
He's getting to the.
Speaker 1 (33:18):
Foul line now four of the last six games double
figure free throw attempts, and he's doing that little head
and shoulder double pump, triple pump. And the only player
that I've seen this year that's been able to shut
him down, and he came in the Orlando game in
the fourth quarter in overtime, and that was Jonathan Isaac
(33:40):
with those long arms. I mean, I mean, it's it
was unbelievable, and Damar just he had to give up
the ball. But against you know, players that are six ' eight,
six ' nine that are covering him, they've got no chance.
When Damar does that fade at the foul line or
big block post up and then those that little head
(34:04):
and shoulder and then ducks underneath for up and under,
he's awesome. I would say that tomorrow he's going the
Hall of Fame. I don't think there's any question about it.
If you compare us numbers to players that are already
in the Hall of Fame, he's in it. So now
you know, I think his legacy is let's move the
needle and let's get this thing back on track with
(34:24):
the bulls.
Speaker 4 (34:25):
Chuck.
Speaker 2 (34:26):
We got time for one final question, and I want
to shift to you personally, because you posted something on
social media a couple of weeks back. You reached a
milestone birthday. I don't know if you want me to
announce that or not.
Speaker 1 (34:38):
Yeah, go ahead, is I don't care.
Speaker 2 (34:42):
Seventy seventy years old and yet we heard those highlights
coming in. I listened to league audio pass You still
broadcast with as much fire and passion, as energy as
you did when you started. And in your social media
post you said, I'm going to keep going for as
long as I can go. But what keeps that fire going?
Speaker 1 (35:04):
You know what, Tim, and all of us and Jim
is a player yourself, Tim me as a broadcaster, this
is my passion, this is my love, and I've never
taken it for granted from day one, and I still
had the same passion as I did when I was
doing Athen's High School bulldog football and basketball as a
(35:25):
student at Ohio University or in college with De Paul
or the University of Michigan. Because this is an opportunity
to do something I wanted to do when I was
five years young. So every day is a blessing. I
never go into a game taking it for granted. I
never take prep for granted. And I love it. Now,
(35:47):
There's going to be a time they're going to tell
me to take my Wilson and go home. There's gonna
be a time, because it happens to all of us
where we start losing it. And you know, a player
at twenty two can run up and down the floor
a thousand times, and then all of a sudden, those
des start barking, you know, seven, ten, twelve years later,
(36:11):
and they can't jump as high, and they can't reach
as high, and they just can't spend thirty five minutes
on the floor and their lungs are burning up after
twelve minutes or fifteen minutes. It happens, and the clarity
of a broadcaster and tim the integrity of the broadcast
is still forefront. And so when the time comes when
(36:34):
I start to lose it and the clarity is diminished
by the play by play and the crispness of the broadcast,
that's when it's time for me to say that's it.
Speaker 2 (36:47):
Well, as our dear friend Joe used to say, you
never know who's listening or where they're listening. But Chuck,
I listened to you a lot, and I just think
you're one of the most entertaining NBA play by Plague Eyes.
There is so uh when you're on that mic. Aside
from tomorrow night, because I have a game to call myself,
think about the fact that Elcorn is listening somewhere. Because
(37:08):
I just think you're brilliant.
Speaker 1 (37:09):
I think, yes, well you guys, You guys are too kind.
I'll tell you what, working you have a great relationship
with each other. I've got a great relationship with Bill Wennington.
I mean he is just you know who. He reminds
me of guys. You ever see the movie Big with
Tom Hanks. Yes, yes, he is a character in the
(37:31):
movie because he's just a.
Speaker 2 (37:34):
Big Oh that's a great description. Well, Chuck, we'll see
you tomorrow night in.
Speaker 4 (37:42):
The friend Thank you, you man, Thank you Joe.
Speaker 2 (37:49):
Chuck Swirsky. He does a great Joe Tate as well.
But he's the radio voice of the Chicago Bulls. Bulls
in town tomorrow night to take on the calves. We'll
put the finishing touches on this week's show after this
on Cavs HQ presented by Betway on the Medical Mutual
Cavaliers Audio Verse. That's Gonna do It for this week's
(38:10):
edition of Cavs HQ presented by Betway Boy, huge thank
you to Chuck Swersky for dropping by. Earlier we heard
from Cavs GM Mike Ganzy, what good stuff happening with
the Cavaliers, thanks of course to the Dynamic duo Marty Allen,
Kurt McLoughlin, Jim Jones. Great, big thank you to you,
biggest thanks to you the listeners. Jim and I will
(38:31):
be back tomorrow night Calves and Bulls final game before
the All Star Game. It takes place at Rocket Mortgage
field House seven point thirty Tip seven o'clock with the
Huntington Tip Off Show. So until then, tim Elcorn saying
thank you very much for listening and so long everybody.
Speaker 1 (39:00):
Now, don't
Speaker 7 (39:07):
No no, no
Hosts And Creators
Tim Alcorn
Jim Chones
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