December 15, 2022 • 45 mins
On this week's episode, Tim Alcorn sits down with Cavaliers legend Campy Russell as he shares his thoughts first quarter of the season for the Wine & Gold. Tim also discusses the Texas roadtrip with Dallas Mavericks play-by-play announcer Chuck Cooperstein.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:08):
Welcome to Calvs HQ presented by bet Way. Thank you
for joining us on the Cavaliers Audio Verse. Now here
your host Kim Alcorn and Jim Jones. Good evening everyone,
and welcome to Cavs HQ presented by Bett Wait. Great
(00:29):
to have you with us as we continue on with
this weekly programming recapping Calves basketball and the like. Of course,
the Cavaliers opened up a quick two game Texas road
trip with a tough loss last night in San Antonio,
being down by the Spurs one twelve to one eleven,
(00:50):
so we'll recap that on this week's program. Will also
hear from Cavalier legend Can't be Russell, and a little
bit later on in the show, we'll talk to the
radio voice of the Dallas Mavericks, Chuck Cooperstein. Now we're
gonna see a lot of Dallas this week. Luca don
Chins and the Gang. Cavaliers will conclude the two game
(01:11):
trip in Texas tomorrow night with a game against the
Mavericks and then the Calves come back home for sixth
straight at Rock and Mortgage field House and Game two
will be against Dallas on Saturday night. So we thought
it would be interesting to hear from Chuck Cooperstein, the
great voice of the Dallas Mavericks. Jim Jones does have
the night off tonight, so Jim enjoined his night off
(01:34):
in Texas. But Jim will be back with me of
course tomorrow night with the Cavaliers and the Mavericks. So
we've got a great show lined up for you when
we come back. We don't take a look back at
last night's tough loss to the Spurs, and we'll hear
from Donovan Mitchell after that defeat, So stay with us.
Cav's H two, presented by Bet Wade, continues after this
on the Cavaliers audio verse. Here's Mitchell, what are the
(02:07):
late stopit home? Oh my Donovan Mitchell with our authority,
Donovan Mitchell in the the lane, Euro steps up with
the left hand and he rolled at home. Donovan's three
short follows in the lane h God as he rolled
at home, and the Calves are with it too. With
under a minute to go, This is Donovan Mitchell. Welcome
(02:30):
back to calvs H. Well your host Tim and Jim, Well,
thank you very much, Donovan Mitchell. Although Jim Jones off tonight,
of course, the Calves and the San Antonio Spurs last
night down in Texas as you heard those Donovan Mitchell highlights,
and it was a tough loss for the Cavaliers, stumbling
(02:53):
against San Antonio, losing one twelve to one eleven. With
that loss, the Calves now seventeen and eleven on the year.
Their road record drops to five and nine, and their
last two road games have been a couple of clunkers.
Of course, last night in San Antonio and then last
week at Madison Square Garden against the New York Nicks. So, uh,
(03:17):
Calves trying to find their footing on the road. Uh.
Recapping last night a little bit, Calves trailed by two
at the end of one seven and then we're down
sixteen at the half, fell behind by nineteen in the
third before he kind of made a comeback late in
the third quarter and then really turned it on in
(03:37):
the fourth quarter of play. But uh, it was too little,
too late. In fact, JB. Bickerstaff saying after the ball
game that you know what, the basketball gods don't smile
upon those who basically didn't play hard for four quarters,
and that's what happened last night. So a tough loss
to the San Antonio Spurs dropping the Calves to seventeen
(03:58):
and eleven, and after the ball game, Donovan Mitchell had
some very interesting things to say about the laws to
the Spurs. We can't keep, you know, putting ourselves in
this position, and we gotta find we gotta continue to
to grow on and be the team we want to be.
We can't be in these you know, we can't be
any situations. Um And you know, losses like that tonight
hurt because we know we're better than this and it's
(04:19):
gonna be better. When you think about going into Dallas
in this next game, what's the biggest takeaway from tonight?
That you want to regroup for the next game, set
the tone earlier, you know, come out aggressive, you know,
don't kind of wait. You know we've been we haven't
been ground on the road. We've gotta go out there
and and take it. It's not gonna be given to us.
And that's just part of the learning process. And I
hate to say it, but you know, you run through
rosses and you know we just we this. These can't
(04:41):
keep these games can't keep happening. You know, we gotta
take it upon ourselves to make an effort. Coach can
say that I can say, you can say, we all
can say to each other. By the end day, we
gotta go out there and do it um and otherwise
we're gonna keep having nights like tonight and then we're
gonna make a valley after a moment and bms because
we're towns are enough. But you know, we can't keep
you know, getting from getting down or letting teams come
back in the game. Like you know, in order to
(05:01):
be a championship contender caliber team that we want to be, ultimately,
we have to find ways to keep either step on
the gas, really keep our full and what do you
think it's reading to the slow starts on the road.
I think, you know the biggest thing is, you know,
just our attention to detail early, you know, coming out.
You know, we gotta be we gotta we have a
(05:22):
game plan. We gotta stick to it. You know, we can't,
like I said, we can't expect things to just be
given to us because of what we are and who
we we can. We gotta target on our back, man,
like teams want to go at us, and you know
it's time for us to to set that standard. You know,
it's no more, uh, you know, we're figuring things out.
You know, we're twenties and whatever game is in like
it's it's time and you know this is a running lesson,
(05:42):
as I've been saying, but you know, it's the point
in time where we gotta start to show ourselves and
to show the league what we are, you know, and
we we haven't done, especially on the road, like we
gotta take care of business man, and you know that's
I think we all feel that there's no secret, but
we gotta. We gotta set tone from the jump otherwise
we're gonna keep having these these dog fights. And you know,
if we're at home and we win this game, could
be the crowd behind, so we're not you know, not
could be at home on game four, game five, game six,
(06:05):
whatever it may be. So we gotta be ready to
We gotta learn and take take these lessons that we're
getting in the season and win and and then do well.
Because that's something that you guys are feeling in the
locker room. But at the end of the day, you
can we can keep feeling this, but you know, then
we gotta go out there and do it. Um. I
can't keep you guys the same spiel every time. We
gotta go out there and do it as a group.
It's not on one individual. We got it together defensively, offensively. Um.
(06:28):
You know, like I hold myself accountable, you know, we
all hold each other accountable and all different ways, and
we do it as a group. But you know, we
have to do it in the flow, in the moment,
because we can't keep getting off the starts like this.
We can't keep playing this in the road if we
want to be a team, you want to be What
were you looking for there at the end of the game,
last possession there. I was always taught if you get
the rebound, especially like that, just to go ahead and
attack as opposed to calling the time. I let them
(06:48):
set up. Um, I didn't think Kevin Johnson was gonna
leave Darius on the wing. You know, he made a play,
help a play. Credit to him. I got the rebound
kicked at the d G. You know he meant a shot.
I got the rebound, and you know, I I probably
should have known if I was. I paused to see
if we had a time out. I thought about it.
I didn't know if we had Once instead of con
I tried to throw out the vote and it was
too late. Um, but I should have best. We did
(07:09):
have one at the end of the game, and you know,
I gotta know that going into those situations, and that's
on me. So that was Donovan Mitchell after the loss
last night to San Antonio. Of course, Mitchell put together
an outstanding effort. He had twenty eight points twelve of
twenty four from the field, although only two of seven
beyond the ark and Evan Mobley had another double double
with seventeen points and thirteen rebounds. But again it just
(07:32):
wasn't enough from the Cavaliers. Played hard in that fourth quarter,
but just too tall of a mountain to climb. So
h the first step of that Texas two step doesn't
go well. It'll be the Cavs in Dallas tomorrow night,
and of course, UH American Airlines Arena is always a
tough place to play, so the Cavs can ill afford
(07:53):
to come out of the gate slowly on a Wednesday
night when they take on the Mavericks. Well, coming up
next on Cav's HQ presented by bet Way, we're gonna
talk about the Calves road woes and their season overall
with Campy Russell. He'll stop by to pay us a
visit on Cav's HQ. So stay with us on the
Cavaliers Audio Verse, Mitchell spit us away from Lebron lot
(08:21):
the alice. What a sequence, darling Outcron long three sweash
LeVert into the lane, hands off bodle pal with two
hands hand couple pass by little Bert find Mitchell gets
by Lebron crhymes up and learn good with the right head.
What a move by Donovan Mitchell. Welcome back Cav's HQ,
(08:46):
presented by bet Way. On the Cavaliers Audio Verse, Jamel
Corn with you, Jim Jones as the week off. Of course,
the Cavaliers with one more step in their Texas to
step tough lost last night to San Antonio. Tomorrow night
Dallas and then the Calves will come back home and
(09:06):
of course, uh that'll be a nice six game home
stretch for the Cavaliers. But yeah, that Texas two steps
got off to a bumpy start last night with the
loss in San Antonio to the Spurs one twelve to
one eleven. Well, Jim isn't with us, but we have
another Cavalier legend stopping by to pay us a visit.
(09:27):
On this week's edition of calvs HQ. He's been on
several times before. We love to have him, can't be
Russell joined us for this week's show, can't He has
always a pleasure to have a conversation with you. Well,
thank you very much, man, I'm always available when you
want to have a conversation you and Jim just let
me know, and uh, we're not go ahead it well
(09:48):
before we talk about last night's game, just to look
at the season overall. It's been a while since you
and I and you Jim and I have had a
chance to chat. So let's kind of look at this
season as a whole. After the loss last night, Caps
now stand at seventeen and eleven. Uh So, how do
you look at that big picture wise, as far as
(10:08):
how things have unfolded so far? Well, big picture wise,
you know, there's no question in my mind that this
team is who they say they are. You know, the
seventeen eleven record is a I believe it's an outstanding
record at this particular point and where we're standing in
the overall Eastern Conference. Yes, we have not been as
solid as we have in our facility in the Rocket
(10:31):
Bargains field House, but on the road, you know, we've
had some good wins on the road as well as
we've had some bad losses on the road. So you know,
when you're dealing with a team such as this caval
the team that is a young, developing, skilled, um, tough minded,
tough attitude type team, you know, I just see them
(10:53):
getting better as the season wears on. Yes, again, we've
had struggles on the on the road, but know, I
just see this team it will definitely work themselves through
that and allow that You're gonna have to do with
coach bigger staff and his staff in terms of getting
them in the right frame of mind to approach these
games the right way. And I think delaw Was said
(11:14):
that really well last night when he said, when you
approach a team that you're looking at them as an
easy opponent, you know, that's when you're active with trouble.
And I think his term was you have to have
a certain amount of fear in yourself about that team.
You can't just go in there and just think that
(11:35):
you're gonna you know, run through that's any team, and
I think that's the place that this Cavalier team have
to get is to hell and understand that you have
to bring a certain level of fear and respect for
your opponent, and then go out there and play the
game that you're capable of playing. K I want to
follow up on that because it's an interesting point. In essence,
(11:57):
playing on the road is much more of a mental factor.
Then agree, Well, it's definitely a mental it's your overall
approach to the game. It's understanding that you have to
go out there and play. You know, I'm gonna saying
on the Youth World complete game, but you have to
be able to go out there and play on both
(12:19):
ends of the court at a high level and for
forty eight minutes or for as long as it takes
to secure a victory. You know, road games are always
tough because just like how good we are at home,
most teams are good at home as well, because they're
playing in their own confines. They feel good about their fans,
(12:41):
they're in there, they're in there. I say, they're slippers.
They got their road on their at home, so they're
comfortable and they want to play. So for me, that's
why you have to have this mentality when you go
on the road of hey, I'm not even concerned about
their records. I'm not concerned out any of that. I'm
just concerned about our team and giving them the appropriate
(13:04):
respect so that we come out with the right attitude
and play the right way to win the game. And
I guess the good news with that camp is the
fact that a mentality and approach to the ball game,
it's a fixable thing, per se. It's not something that
can't be adjusted. Well, uh, it is a fixable thing,
but it is more a thing of everybody, all fifteen men,
(13:30):
the coach staff, everybody just being locked in lockstep and
understanding that, hey, you know, we gotta follow the game
plan the way the game plan has been carried out.
We have to do the things we have to do
relative to rebound the ball, not giving up a lot
of second chance points like they did last night early
on in the game. Uh, you know, clean up those
(13:52):
kind of things, you know, just be who they are,
which is a really good defensive team and a very
good offensive team. They are really they balanced well overall.
But again it goes out to what will be your
approach when you go and look at the team that
directly may not be as good as yours, And the
worst thing you can do is go look at somebody
(14:13):
else's window and make a determination of how you're gonna
play your game. You have to just go out and
play your game that you're capable of playing on both
ends of court. That is when this Capital team is
really good, when they performed that way. And again we're
talking with can't be Russell great insights from the Cavalier legend,
and of course you see him on Bally's Sports during
(14:33):
Cavalier's broadcasts on the television side, can't be gracious enough
to stop by enjoin us on calvs HQ. Can't be
When you look at the Calves overall, how do you
see this team still evolving? There's still two thirds of
the year yet to go. So where do you see
this team either making tweaks getting better? How do you
(14:54):
see this thing unfolding for the next two thirds of
the year. You know, because of the say, the nature
of this team, and the thirst of this team, and
the camaraderie of this team and the fellowshipping of this team,
I believe that this team is going to continue to grow,
you know, and I think it really starts again with
our big You know, when our bigs are in the
(15:16):
game together, they are just so dynamic. They opened up
so many opportunities on the defensive side. You know, it
allows our guards and perim the players to be more
active out there on the floor defensively because of the
presidence of mobili as well as Jarreted and what they bring.
So as far as I'm concerned, I believe that this
team is going to continue to get better because they
(15:38):
got their makeup is that they have a coach that's
gonna drive them that way. All the elements that they
need to be the team that they want to be
are there. You know, the thing is always gonna be
about where is your health, who's healthy and who's not.
But no matter who's health and who's not, you still
(15:58):
have to go out there and play at a certain
level to give yourself an opportunity to win basketball games.
So for me, we got a really good balanced team.
You know, there's been some up and downs from the
bent standpoint, and a lot of that has to do
with just injuries. But I just like this team. I
like to overall balance of it, and I see them
being successful and continuing to to be in the fight
(16:22):
and to let everybody know that this is a formvultable
team that can win basketball games, and and and well,
we'll have an out there in the season again. We're
talking with Campy Russell, as he joins us on this
week's edition of Cav's HQ presented by bet Waite. Always
some great insights from the Cavalier legend. We're not done
with CAMPI will take a quick time out when we
(16:43):
come back. More from Camp Russell as he joins us
on Cav's HQ on the Cavalier's Audio Verse. In partnership
with First Energy and Elastic, the Cleveland Cavaliers Mobile Book
There will set up a wide variety of books at
(17:05):
Mayfair Elementary School in East Cleveland. Were children in underserved
communities who have the great opportunity to select two new
books to take home at no cost to them. Calves
volunteers will help the children pick out books and check
out to help leave a lasting and positive impression on
the youth and their families by supporting their literacy growth
Calves in the community. It's brought to you by Discount
(17:26):
Drug Mart. We'll be back with more Calves HQ presented
by bet Way right after this on the Cavaliers Audio Verse,
you're experiencing Calves HQ on the Cavaliers Audio Verse once again,
(17:46):
Here's Tim Alcorn and Jim Chills and we welcome you
back to this week's edition of CALVS HQ. I am
Tim Lcorn Jim chillons with the night off tonight. Of course,
Jim will be back tomorrow or night with years truly
on the call of the Cavaliers and the Doubtllas Mavericks
says Wednesday night, the Calves will finish up that Texas
(18:08):
two steps with the MAVs and then the Calves will
come home for six straight home games. Joining us this
week on calvs HQ is Can't Be Russell by Can't
We had some great insights during the first segment, so
we continue along with camping and can't be. I want
to follow up with where we left off in the
first segment of our chat talking about the Calves bigs
(18:32):
and as much as people really focus in and hone
in on that great backcourt of Garland and Mitchell and
it is an elite backcourt is the key to this
Calv's success. Those big guys up front Jared Allen, Evan Mobli, well,
there's no question in my mind about that, you know,
because of what they bring because of their great length,
(18:52):
their ability to run the floor, their abilities to shut
down the paint, whether it's on the defensive side of
the ball, whether it's the offensive rebounding side of the ball,
their ability to score, their ability to pass the ball,
the ability to share the ball between them too, as
well as set good solid picks for our guards and
get our small forward open and available. I mean, those
(19:16):
two guys, for me, epitome of what six and level
seven Frothers are in terms of being able to catch
the ball and finished shoot the mid range shot, step
somewhat out to the three ball area and knock those
three balls down you know from time to time. But truly,
those guys are the heart and soul is this team
(19:37):
in my opinion, as great as our backcourt is, you know,
they are a big part of what we do as well,
offensively and defensively because both of those guys to me,
are just so dynamic and how they play and how
they produced and how consistent they are. So for me,
(19:58):
that's the thing that I like about this team, and
so I have to really take another step. I think
it's gonna come from curing our bitch. Also in terms
of mobile becoming more aggressive and we're beginning to see that.
I'm beginning to see it every single game in terms
of things that he's doing offensively, defensively making plays. I mean,
(20:21):
you see a young guy, second year in this league
who is really taking another step. And I think that's
the beauty of having a talented guy like Mobley is
that he is always in the improving mode. And I
think that's really critical for he as well as Jared,
cause Jared is just as young as him, not as young,
(20:43):
but Jared is the same way he impact the game,
very similar to how Mobile impacted because of their length
and their great skill set. Caffie, I've used the term
blue with Jared Allen. Everything seems to stick a little
bit better her when he's on the floor, both offensively
and defensively. He's he's at the hub of everything when
(21:05):
Jared's out there, and you're absolutely right, you know, uh,
you know, Jared is the guy that you know, it
just kind of holds everything together. He gives this team
a great deal of confidence on both sides of the ball.
And I'm telling I'm here to tell you that there's
nothing better than having the center that you know, or
having guys on the back line that you know, can
(21:28):
cover up a lot of sins that may happen out
there on that floor as well as not be upset
at you if you get beat from time to time,
you know. And when I look at Jared, Jared never
gives off any kind of negative vibes, and I think
that's the thing that allows him to be so good
(21:49):
as well as allows him to really impact the game
because you never see highs and loads from either Jared
or Mobly, but Jared clearly is. When both of those
guys are out there together, it's a beautiful thing to
watch and see how they impact our basketball team. Again,
we're talking with Campy Russell, he joins us on Calvi's
(22:10):
HQ presented by bet Way. You're hearing Campy right now.
Of course, you can see Campy on Bally Sports during
the television broadcast of Cavalier's basketball can't Be. You alluded
earlier to the bench play, and I want to ask
you about a guy that can put the ball in
the bucket. Uh, Carris Laverte the last three games has
really stepped up another Michigan guy just like you. But
(22:34):
aside from that, you gotta love the way Carriss has
been playing as of late. Well, you know, when Harris
is in a mode of just being who he is
and being the best version of himself, you know, that
is when a lot of good things happened for our
team as well as for Carrots. And as of late,
(22:56):
I mean, he's really in a good spot. I mean
he's doing a great job of taking the shot that
comes to him within the flow of the game, as
well as running the break making plays out there. Being
solid defensively. I mean, Carris has shown me some things
that I wasn't sure whether he had it, but watching
him this year and even through his all his career
(23:19):
that he's a great offensive player, a very good defensive player,
he's a solid rebounder. I mean, he has all the
elements that you need to impact the game. And like
in anybody in this league, everything is about consistency of play.
That is the most important thing that anybody wants from
(23:41):
a player is consistency of play. And you look at Carris,
He's becoming more and more consistent because of the his
approach to the game every night, and here of late,
i mean he's just been off the chart in terms
of rebounding, defending, assisting the ball, you know, just keeping
the flow of the game going. I mean, those are
the element that he and the bench bunch as a
(24:04):
whole have to bring every single night, is to be
prepared to play as well as play within the confines
of their offense and their defensive teams with great stuff.
Can't be before we let you go. I mentioned your
work with Bally Sports, but of course here within the organization, uh,
you're involved with community relations and alumni relations with former
(24:25):
Calves players. So even though Jim has the night off tonight,
I know he would ask you, so I'll ask you, uh,
just anything that fans of the Cavaliers should know as
far as alumni relations and things that are percolating there
with former Calves players. Well, there's there's some things that's
coming down the pack here. I'm not at liberty right
(24:46):
now to really exiously because it's, uh, it's gonna be
something that everybody is gonna really feel good about. That's awesome,
you know, So I'm gonna just leave that keys out
there in that respect. But as it relates to other
things that the legends are doing, you know, we're definitely
at all games, uh, every you know, every game that
we play, we're constantly out in the community in terms
(25:09):
of just giving input, whether it's in the schools or
just at rec centers and what have you. So you know,
we're we want to be as active as we possibly
can be because we know that we can give back
to our community with our voices, with our presence and
with our availability. So uh, at this point, I want
(25:31):
to hold that other piece on the side. But once
you hear it, everyone is going to be very happy
about that situation, So I'll just leave it there. That's
awesome and at all seriousness can't be I will say,
I don't know too many other NBA organizations in which
(25:52):
the fans embrace the past and the past players are
still as involved with the organization like the cal leaders.
And that's a real credit to this team. Oh there there,
there's no questions about that. Tim. When Dan Gilbert took
over the team back in the day, uh, that was
one of the things that he wanted to do, was
(26:14):
to embrace the past and the brain the pass along
with the president. And to me, that is uh that
that has been a great situation because what it does
it allows the current guys to be engaged in some
form with the pass and if you don't know anything
about your past, how can you go forward into the future.
(26:37):
So for me, that was a stroke of genius as
relates to UH our owner and understanding that fact and
then putting it in place to support your organization and
our current players. And that's the beautiful thing. And I'm
I really enjoy doing what I do. And all the
(26:58):
guys who have been engaged at with that, they are
elated that we are reaching out to them wanting tump
them to be a part of what we're trying to
do here with the Cleveland Cavalators. That's fantastic. Can't be
as always. Can't thank you enough for stopping by and
paying us a visit. So UH, if this is our
last chat before the holidays, the warmest of holidays to
(27:21):
you and your family, and UH again we'll be chatting
again as the year moves along. Well, Cam, thank you
very much man, and you just, you know, continue to
do what you do. I love that voice, you know,
and I love the things that you and Jimmy does
do together. And just continue to do what you guys
are doing. And UH, great holiday and I'll see you
another side sounds great, Thanks camp Campy Russell joining us
(27:45):
here on Captain's HQ, presented by bed Way. Always great
insights with the Cavalier legend. We'll take a time out,
Lord to come after this on the Cavalier's audio verse,
looking already towards the corner, trying to get it to Luca.
They do, but way outside Jackson switches onto him. Can
he get it away? And time on the step back
(28:06):
He got he hads, he hads, Mavericks have won the game.
Gets it on the trive all the way around around
everybody up eight seven, six five and half court four
three two against Richardson fading away again he did again.
(28:30):
Welcome back Cavs HQ, presented by bet Way. On the
Cavaliers audio verse, Jamal Coorn with you, Jim Jones with
the night off. Jim and I will be back together
tomorrow night as the Calves will finish up this very
quick two game road swing in Texas when they take
on the Dallas Mavericks. And that was the voice of
(28:52):
the Dallas Mavericks on the radio side, Chuck Cooperstein who
now joins us on CALVS HQ. Jock and those are
some awesome calls. And I have to tell a quick
story before we get into the Calves and the MAVs.
A couple of weeks ago, I was out and about
and decided to dial up the MAVs and the Golden
State Warriors, and I so much enjoyed your call. I mean,
(29:18):
your enthusiasm just came pounding through the radio of that
MAV's Warriors matchup. You have such a passion for play
by play, it is so enjoyable. I appreciate that. And uh,
but the Mavericks can be really good material and seventy
seven gives me really really good materials. It's pretty hard
(29:39):
to mess it up, it really is. But uh, you know, listen,
I love the NBA. I've loved basketball my entire life,
and you know, now to watch it every night at
the highest level, and arguably watching the you know, the
best player in the game today do his thing eighty
two nights a year, it's extraordinarily special. Look, I've been
doing this eighteen years. I had the the last fourteen
(30:00):
years of Dirk, you know, and then the out a
a year where you know, both Dirk and Luca were together,
and that was Dirk's last year and now you know,
Lucas taken over and done all these things that there's
no one in the world who was luckier than I am. Okay,
let's let's just get this right out there right now.
You are extraordinarily blessed, but don't sell yourself short. You're
(30:23):
extraordinarily talented as well, so we appreciate you coming on
the show. Calves and MAVs are gonna get to know
each other pretty well this week. H matchup in Dallas
on Wednesday night, matchup in Cleveland on Saturday night. So
we thought, well, who better to have on the show
this week than the voice of the MAVs. So fourteen
and thirteen, off the win last night against Oklahoma City,
(30:46):
share with Calves, fans and our listeners what the journey
has been like so far for the Mavericks this season.
It's been a very bizarre journey, to say the least.
They're they're pretty much at the same point record wise
that they were a year ago. But I'll be lead
this year. The expectations are significantly higher coming off the
Western Conference Finals, and on opening night the Mavericks were
(31:07):
in Phoenix, had a twenty two point lead UH in
the early part of the second half, had a fifteen
point lead with about eight minutes to go, at a
ten point lead with four minutes to go, and wound
up losing the game. And that began a trend that
we've seen of them having big leads losing those leads. Uh,
they've had four losses this year when they've led by
(31:29):
fourteen or more. They've had three other games where they've
had a sixteen point lead, lost the lead, but somehow
managed to win the game. So you know, it's it's
never a dull moment. We've the Mavericks have played more
clutch games than any team in the NBA. They played nineteen.
They have I think ten games that have been decided
by five points or fewer. And and this is all
(31:51):
with Luca playing at an m v P level, And
I don't think there's any other way to describe that
leads the league and scoring, Uh, he's the fourth and
assists he was, he's in the top ten still and
assists in steels. I believe his defense has improved dramatically,
and h you know, he's desperately trying to get others
(32:11):
to come along for the party, and the Mavericks have
not had enough guys on a regular basis come along
for the party. You know, one or two guys might
on an individual night, and then it might be a
couple of other guys. There's been very very little consistency
in that, and so, uh, it's it's led to I
think frustration from the fan base. Uh, some frustration from
(32:33):
the team because they know there's so much better. When
you look at our game against Milwaukee on Friday night,
the Mavericks were ten of twenty four from the foulon
ten of twenty four. These are professional these are professional
basketball players. Almost impossible to do that, and yet they
did that, and they lost by one. And uh, you
know the number that came out yesterday, which was really
(32:53):
fascinating that if the Mavericks had just shot the league
average from the free throw line A and Phoenix, Denver,
New Orleans, Milwaukee and one other that that escapes me
right now, they would be at the top of the
Western Conference. If you just just shot the average in
(33:14):
those games, they would be at the top of the
Western Conference right now. Instead, they find themselves an eighth
and trying to still figure out exactly what their identity is. Chuck.
You mentioned earlier that Lucas trying to drag other guys
along for the ride. Who could or who should be
that number two guys? Well, I mean they really you know,
(33:35):
Jalen Brunson became that number two guy last year and
they missed him and Spencer Dinwood. He has moved up
into the Brunson role and has been terrific, just been
terrific eleven games at twenty and more shooting from three.
He's never been a great three point shooter, but until
he came to Dallas and started playing with Luca and
started getting all kinds of open looks and he's making them.
(33:56):
And you know that happened last year and he's continued
on to this year. What they've not been able to
do is replaced Dinwidi's role coming off the bench as
a third ball handlers, so that the Mavericks could always
have two ball handlers on the floor at any one time. Uh.
They passed on the opportunity to do that in the
off season. UH. They brought up for Kuna Compozzo just
(34:16):
before the beginning of the year. Didn't work out. Kemba
Walker is here now. He only has played in one
game the other night against Chicago. UH. So they're still
trying to figure that out. But Dinwood has been great.
Tim Hardaway since he's moved back into the starting lineup,
has been really hot and really good. Uh. You know
guys like Dorrian Finney Smith and Reggie Bullock who were
(34:37):
just totally instrumental as two way players for their run
to the conference finals last year. Uh, they've not played
as well there and and certainly they've not shot as
well and they're not guarding as well. Although Bullock had
a really good game last night, I thought against Oklahoma City.
So uh, you know, those guys need to play better.
(34:57):
And you know they've certainly gotten some help from the
merchants of Josh Green, who may or may not play
tomorrow night. Uh, he's got in a hyper extended elbow,
but his his energy level is it really helps this
team when he comes off the bench. Um, you know
I've not mentioned Christian would you know? We we all
know he can score and he can rebound, and you
know his numbers, his efficiency numbers look great, but you
(35:21):
know he's not been able to be consistent enough night
after night that you know he's getting that he gets
the thirty or thirty one minutes that you would you
would think that somebody who averages those numbers ought to
be able to get again. We're talking with Chuck Cooperstein
in his eighteenth year as the radio voice of the
Dallas Mavericks Kavis in Dallas tomorrow night and Saturday night
(35:45):
back here in Cleveland. Final question for you, Chuck, as
you size up the West, you see the West a
lot more than we do. What have you seen so far?
And can Dallas get back to where they were last year?
As you alluded to a Western Conference finals team, Well,
you know, you get to the playoffs, tim as you know,
it's all about matchups. It's just how well do you
(36:07):
does your personnel match up with with the opponent? How
well they play? Uh, you know, I think the West
this year, Uh, I think everybody's got a flaw somewhere
in there. You know, right now, the Pelicans are hiding
it better than anybody else because they're they're on a
terrific run and they're at the top and they absolutely
deserve to be where they are. But that doesn't mean
(36:28):
that the Clippers, you know, who blew out Boston last
night and they just got Kauai back, and Kauai looked
like Kauai last night. Uh, you know, depending on how
much they play. Uh, you know, Phoenix I think still
has a really good team, although I think their benches
an issue. Golden State is in the same boat, um,
and the and the Mavericks in some way it are
(36:49):
in that same boat as well. I mean, Luca is great,
but what the flaw, as we talked about, is that
there's not been enough consistency in their play to you know,
have a really long winning streak. Can you move themselves up?
But again, everybody else seems to be in that same boat,
so you know, it's it seems like, I mean, we're
in the middle of December, and yet every game seems
(37:10):
ridiculously important because the last thing you want to do
is be uh you know, somewhere below six and you've
got to go into the plane. The Cavaliers know all
too well from last year. That's the truth. Chuck again,
can't thank you enough. Nice sneak peek at the matchup
tomorrow night and Saturday night back here in Cleveland. Your
work is extraordinary. Keep it up down there in Dallas
(37:32):
and look forward to seeing you soon. I appreciate it.
Ten thanks and looking forward to being on the Joke
Tape perch on Saturday Night. Again There you go, I
love it. Cooper Stein, the voice of the Dallas Mavericks,
joining us here on Cabs HC presented by bet waye
Quick time out and a quick wrap up of the show.
Following this on the Cavaliers audiover That's Gonna Do It
(38:00):
This week's edition of Calv's HQ, presented by bet way
Great big thank you to the dynamic duo, the two
guys on the other side of the windows, Senior producer
Kurt McLaughlin, Technical director Marty Allen. Huge thanks to our guests,
Can't be Russell and Chuck. Cooperstein, the radio voice of
the Dallas Mavericks. Biggest thanks goes to you the listeners.
(38:20):
Talk again tomorrow night from Dallas when the Calves take
on the MAVs tip off at nine Huntington tip Off
show at eight thirty. So until then, Tim L. Corn
saying thank you much for listening and so long everybody,
Welcome to Calvs HQ presented by bet Way. Thank you
for joining us on the Cavaliers Audio Verse. Now here
your host Kim Alcorn and Jim Jones. Good evening everyone,
and welcome to Cavs HQ presented by Bett Wait. Great
(00:29):
to have you with us as we continue on with
this weekly programming recapping Calves basketball and the like. Of course,
the Cavaliers opened up a quick two game Texas road
trip with a tough loss last night in San Antonio,
being down by the Spurs one twelve to one eleven,
(00:50):
so we'll recap that on this week's program. Will also
hear from Cavalier legend Can't be Russell, and a little
bit later on in the show, we'll talk to the
radio voice of the Dallas Mavericks, Chuck Cooperstein. Now we're
gonna see a lot of Dallas this week. Luca don
Chins and the Gang. Cavaliers will conclude the two game
(01:11):
trip in Texas tomorrow night with a game against the
Mavericks and then the Calves come back home for sixth
straight at Rock and Mortgage field House and Game two
will be against Dallas on Saturday night. So we thought
it would be interesting to hear from Chuck Cooperstein, the
great voice of the Dallas Mavericks. Jim Jones does have
the night off tonight, so Jim enjoined his night off
(01:34):
in Texas. But Jim will be back with me of
course tomorrow night with the Cavaliers and the Mavericks. So
we've got a great show lined up for you when
we come back. We don't take a look back at
last night's tough loss to the Spurs, and we'll hear
from Donovan Mitchell after that defeat, So stay with us.
Cav's H two, presented by Bet Wade, continues after this
on the Cavaliers audio verse. Here's Mitchell, what are the
(02:07):
late stopit home? Oh my Donovan Mitchell with our authority,
Donovan Mitchell in the the lane, Euro steps up with
the left hand and he rolled at home. Donovan's three
short follows in the lane h God as he rolled
at home, and the Calves are with it too. With
under a minute to go, This is Donovan Mitchell. Welcome
(02:30):
back to calvs H. Well your host Tim and Jim, Well,
thank you very much, Donovan Mitchell. Although Jim Jones off tonight,
of course, the Calves and the San Antonio Spurs last
night down in Texas as you heard those Donovan Mitchell highlights,
and it was a tough loss for the Cavaliers, stumbling
(02:53):
against San Antonio, losing one twelve to one eleven. With
that loss, the Calves now seventeen and eleven on the year.
Their road record drops to five and nine, and their
last two road games have been a couple of clunkers.
Of course, last night in San Antonio and then last
week at Madison Square Garden against the New York Nicks. So, uh,
(03:17):
Calves trying to find their footing on the road. Uh.
Recapping last night a little bit, Calves trailed by two
at the end of one seven and then we're down
sixteen at the half, fell behind by nineteen in the
third before he kind of made a comeback late in
the third quarter and then really turned it on in
(03:37):
the fourth quarter of play. But uh, it was too little,
too late. In fact, JB. Bickerstaff saying after the ball
game that you know what, the basketball gods don't smile
upon those who basically didn't play hard for four quarters,
and that's what happened last night. So a tough loss
to the San Antonio Spurs dropping the Calves to seventeen
(03:58):
and eleven, and after the ball game, Donovan Mitchell had
some very interesting things to say about the laws to
the Spurs. We can't keep, you know, putting ourselves in
this position, and we gotta find we gotta continue to
to grow on and be the team we want to be.
We can't be in these you know, we can't be
any situations. Um And you know, losses like that tonight
hurt because we know we're better than this and it's
(04:19):
gonna be better. When you think about going into Dallas
in this next game, what's the biggest takeaway from tonight?
That you want to regroup for the next game, set
the tone earlier, you know, come out aggressive, you know,
don't kind of wait. You know we've been we haven't
been ground on the road. We've gotta go out there
and and take it. It's not gonna be given to us.
And that's just part of the learning process. And I
hate to say it, but you know, you run through
rosses and you know we just we this. These can't
(04:41):
keep these games can't keep happening. You know, we gotta
take it upon ourselves to make an effort. Coach can
say that I can say, you can say, we all
can say to each other. By the end day, we
gotta go out there and do it um and otherwise
we're gonna keep having nights like tonight and then we're
gonna make a valley after a moment and bms because
we're towns are enough. But you know, we can't keep
you know, getting from getting down or letting teams come
back in the game. Like you know, in order to
(05:01):
be a championship contender caliber team that we want to be, ultimately,
we have to find ways to keep either step on
the gas, really keep our full and what do you
think it's reading to the slow starts on the road.
I think, you know the biggest thing is, you know,
just our attention to detail early, you know, coming out.
You know, we gotta be we gotta we have a
(05:22):
game plan. We gotta stick to it. You know, we can't,
like I said, we can't expect things to just be
given to us because of what we are and who
we we can. We gotta target on our back, man,
like teams want to go at us, and you know
it's time for us to to set that standard. You know,
it's no more, uh, you know, we're figuring things out.
You know, we're twenties and whatever game is in like
it's it's time and you know this is a running lesson,
(05:42):
as I've been saying, but you know, it's the point
in time where we gotta start to show ourselves and
to show the league what we are, you know, and
we we haven't done, especially on the road, like we
gotta take care of business man, and you know that's
I think we all feel that there's no secret, but
we gotta. We gotta set tone from the jump otherwise
we're gonna keep having these these dog fights. And you know,
if we're at home and we win this game, could
be the crowd behind, so we're not you know, not
could be at home on game four, game five, game six,
(06:05):
whatever it may be. So we gotta be ready to
We gotta learn and take take these lessons that we're
getting in the season and win and and then do well.
Because that's something that you guys are feeling in the
locker room. But at the end of the day, you
can we can keep feeling this, but you know, then
we gotta go out there and do it. Um. I
can't keep you guys the same spiel every time. We
gotta go out there and do it as a group.
It's not on one individual. We got it together defensively, offensively. Um.
(06:28):
You know, like I hold myself accountable, you know, we
all hold each other accountable and all different ways, and
we do it as a group. But you know, we
have to do it in the flow, in the moment,
because we can't keep getting off the starts like this.
We can't keep playing this in the road if we
want to be a team, you want to be What
were you looking for there at the end of the game,
last possession there. I was always taught if you get
the rebound, especially like that, just to go ahead and
attack as opposed to calling the time. I let them
(06:48):
set up. Um, I didn't think Kevin Johnson was gonna
leave Darius on the wing. You know, he made a play,
help a play. Credit to him. I got the rebound
kicked at the d G. You know he meant a shot.
I got the rebound, and you know, I I probably
should have known if I was. I paused to see
if we had a time out. I thought about it.
I didn't know if we had Once instead of con
I tried to throw out the vote and it was
too late. Um, but I should have best. We did
(07:09):
have one at the end of the game, and you know,
I gotta know that going into those situations, and that's
on me. So that was Donovan Mitchell after the loss
last night to San Antonio. Of course, Mitchell put together
an outstanding effort. He had twenty eight points twelve of
twenty four from the field, although only two of seven
beyond the ark and Evan Mobley had another double double
with seventeen points and thirteen rebounds. But again it just
(07:32):
wasn't enough from the Cavaliers. Played hard in that fourth quarter,
but just too tall of a mountain to climb. So
h the first step of that Texas two step doesn't
go well. It'll be the Cavs in Dallas tomorrow night,
and of course, UH American Airlines Arena is always a
tough place to play, so the Cavs can ill afford
(07:53):
to come out of the gate slowly on a Wednesday
night when they take on the Mavericks. Well, coming up
next on Cav's HQ presented by bet Way, we're gonna
talk about the Calves road woes and their season overall
with Campy Russell. He'll stop by to pay us a
visit on Cav's HQ. So stay with us on the
Cavaliers Audio Verse, Mitchell spit us away from Lebron lot
(08:21):
the alice. What a sequence, darling Outcron long three sweash
LeVert into the lane, hands off bodle pal with two
hands hand couple pass by little Bert find Mitchell gets
by Lebron crhymes up and learn good with the right head.
What a move by Donovan Mitchell. Welcome back Cav's HQ,
(08:46):
presented by bet Way. On the Cavaliers Audio Verse, Jamel
Corn with you, Jim Jones as the week off. Of course,
the Cavaliers with one more step in their Texas to
step tough lost last night to San Antonio. Tomorrow night
Dallas and then the Calves will come back home and
(09:06):
of course, uh that'll be a nice six game home
stretch for the Cavaliers. But yeah, that Texas two steps
got off to a bumpy start last night with the
loss in San Antonio to the Spurs one twelve to
one eleven. Well, Jim isn't with us, but we have
another Cavalier legend stopping by to pay us a visit.
(09:27):
On this week's edition of calvs HQ. He's been on
several times before. We love to have him, can't be
Russell joined us for this week's show, can't He has
always a pleasure to have a conversation with you. Well,
thank you very much, man, I'm always available when you
want to have a conversation you and Jim just let
me know, and uh, we're not go ahead it well
(09:48):
before we talk about last night's game, just to look
at the season overall. It's been a while since you
and I and you Jim and I have had a
chance to chat. So let's kind of look at this
season as a whole. After the loss last night, Caps
now stand at seventeen and eleven. Uh So, how do
you look at that big picture wise, as far as
(10:08):
how things have unfolded so far? Well, big picture wise,
you know, there's no question in my mind that this
team is who they say they are. You know, the
seventeen eleven record is a I believe it's an outstanding
record at this particular point and where we're standing in
the overall Eastern Conference. Yes, we have not been as
solid as we have in our facility in the Rocket
(10:31):
Bargains field House, but on the road, you know, we've
had some good wins on the road as well as
we've had some bad losses on the road. So you know,
when you're dealing with a team such as this caval
the team that is a young, developing, skilled, um, tough minded,
tough attitude type team, you know, I just see them
(10:53):
getting better as the season wears on. Yes, again, we've
had struggles on the on the road, but know, I
just see this team it will definitely work themselves through
that and allow that You're gonna have to do with
coach bigger staff and his staff in terms of getting
them in the right frame of mind to approach these
games the right way. And I think delaw Was said
(11:14):
that really well last night when he said, when you
approach a team that you're looking at them as an
easy opponent, you know, that's when you're active with trouble.
And I think his term was you have to have
a certain amount of fear in yourself about that team.
You can't just go in there and just think that
(11:35):
you're gonna you know, run through that's any team, and
I think that's the place that this Cavalier team have
to get is to hell and understand that you have
to bring a certain level of fear and respect for
your opponent, and then go out there and play the
game that you're capable of playing. K I want to
follow up on that because it's an interesting point. In essence,
(11:57):
playing on the road is much more of a mental factor.
Then agree, Well, it's definitely a mental it's your overall
approach to the game. It's understanding that you have to
go out there and play. You know, I'm gonna saying
on the Youth World complete game, but you have to
be able to go out there and play on both
(12:19):
ends of the court at a high level and for
forty eight minutes or for as long as it takes
to secure a victory. You know, road games are always
tough because just like how good we are at home,
most teams are good at home as well, because they're
playing in their own confines. They feel good about their fans,
(12:41):
they're in there, they're in there. I say, they're slippers.
They got their road on their at home, so they're
comfortable and they want to play. So for me, that's
why you have to have this mentality when you go
on the road of hey, I'm not even concerned about
their records. I'm not concerned out any of that. I'm
just concerned about our team and giving them the appropriate
(13:04):
respect so that we come out with the right attitude
and play the right way to win the game. And
I guess the good news with that camp is the
fact that a mentality and approach to the ball game,
it's a fixable thing, per se. It's not something that
can't be adjusted. Well, uh, it is a fixable thing,
but it is more a thing of everybody, all fifteen men,
(13:30):
the coach staff, everybody just being locked in lockstep and
understanding that, hey, you know, we gotta follow the game
plan the way the game plan has been carried out.
We have to do the things we have to do
relative to rebound the ball, not giving up a lot
of second chance points like they did last night early
on in the game. Uh, you know, clean up those
(13:52):
kind of things, you know, just be who they are,
which is a really good defensive team and a very
good offensive team. They are really they balanced well overall.
But again it goes out to what will be your
approach when you go and look at the team that
directly may not be as good as yours, And the
worst thing you can do is go look at somebody
(14:13):
else's window and make a determination of how you're gonna
play your game. You have to just go out and
play your game that you're capable of playing on both
ends of court. That is when this Capital team is
really good, when they performed that way. And again we're
talking with can't be Russell great insights from the Cavalier legend,
and of course you see him on Bally's Sports during
(14:33):
Cavalier's broadcasts on the television side, can't be gracious enough
to stop by enjoin us on calvs HQ. Can't be
When you look at the Calves overall, how do you
see this team still evolving? There's still two thirds of
the year yet to go. So where do you see
this team either making tweaks getting better? How do you
(14:54):
see this thing unfolding for the next two thirds of
the year. You know, because of the say, the nature
of this team, and the thirst of this team, and
the camaraderie of this team and the fellowshipping of this team,
I believe that this team is going to continue to grow,
you know, and I think it really starts again with
our big You know, when our bigs are in the
(15:16):
game together, they are just so dynamic. They opened up
so many opportunities on the defensive side. You know, it
allows our guards and perim the players to be more
active out there on the floor defensively because of the
presidence of mobili as well as Jarreted and what they bring.
So as far as I'm concerned, I believe that this
team is going to continue to get better because they
(15:38):
got their makeup is that they have a coach that's
gonna drive them that way. All the elements that they
need to be the team that they want to be
are there. You know, the thing is always gonna be
about where is your health, who's healthy and who's not.
But no matter who's health and who's not, you still
(15:58):
have to go out there and play at a certain
level to give yourself an opportunity to win basketball games.
So for me, we got a really good balanced team.
You know, there's been some up and downs from the
bent standpoint, and a lot of that has to do
with just injuries. But I just like this team. I
like to overall balance of it, and I see them
being successful and continuing to to be in the fight
(16:22):
and to let everybody know that this is a formvultable
team that can win basketball games, and and and well,
we'll have an out there in the season again. We're
talking with Campy Russell, as he joins us on this
week's edition of Cav's HQ presented by bet Waite. Always
some great insights from the Cavalier legend. We're not done
with CAMPI will take a quick time out when we
(16:43):
come back. More from Camp Russell as he joins us
on Cav's HQ on the Cavalier's Audio Verse. In partnership
with First Energy and Elastic, the Cleveland Cavaliers Mobile Book
There will set up a wide variety of books at
(17:05):
Mayfair Elementary School in East Cleveland. Were children in underserved
communities who have the great opportunity to select two new
books to take home at no cost to them. Calves
volunteers will help the children pick out books and check
out to help leave a lasting and positive impression on
the youth and their families by supporting their literacy growth
Calves in the community. It's brought to you by Discount
(17:26):
Drug Mart. We'll be back with more Calves HQ presented
by bet Way right after this on the Cavaliers Audio Verse,
you're experiencing Calves HQ on the Cavaliers Audio Verse once again,
(17:46):
Here's Tim Alcorn and Jim Chills and we welcome you
back to this week's edition of CALVS HQ. I am
Tim Lcorn Jim chillons with the night off tonight. Of course,
Jim will be back tomorrow or night with years truly
on the call of the Cavaliers and the Doubtllas Mavericks
says Wednesday night, the Calves will finish up that Texas
(18:08):
two steps with the MAVs and then the Calves will
come home for six straight home games. Joining us this
week on calvs HQ is Can't Be Russell by Can't
We had some great insights during the first segment, so
we continue along with camping and can't be. I want
to follow up with where we left off in the
first segment of our chat talking about the Calves bigs
(18:32):
and as much as people really focus in and hone
in on that great backcourt of Garland and Mitchell and
it is an elite backcourt is the key to this
Calv's success. Those big guys up front Jared Allen, Evan Mobli, well,
there's no question in my mind about that, you know,
because of what they bring because of their great length,
(18:52):
their ability to run the floor, their abilities to shut
down the paint, whether it's on the defensive side of
the ball, whether it's the offensive rebounding side of the ball,
their ability to score, their ability to pass the ball,
the ability to share the ball between them too, as
well as set good solid picks for our guards and
get our small forward open and available. I mean, those
(19:16):
two guys, for me, epitome of what six and level
seven Frothers are in terms of being able to catch
the ball and finished shoot the mid range shot, step
somewhat out to the three ball area and knock those
three balls down you know from time to time. But truly,
those guys are the heart and soul is this team
(19:37):
in my opinion, as great as our backcourt is, you know,
they are a big part of what we do as well,
offensively and defensively because both of those guys to me,
are just so dynamic and how they play and how
they produced and how consistent they are. So for me,
(19:58):
that's the thing that I like about this team, and
so I have to really take another step. I think
it's gonna come from curing our bitch. Also in terms
of mobile becoming more aggressive and we're beginning to see that.
I'm beginning to see it every single game in terms
of things that he's doing offensively, defensively making plays. I mean,
(20:21):
you see a young guy, second year in this league
who is really taking another step. And I think that's
the beauty of having a talented guy like Mobley is
that he is always in the improving mode. And I
think that's really critical for he as well as Jared,
cause Jared is just as young as him, not as young,
(20:43):
but Jared is the same way he impact the game,
very similar to how Mobile impacted because of their length
and their great skill set. Caffie, I've used the term
blue with Jared Allen. Everything seems to stick a little
bit better her when he's on the floor, both offensively
and defensively. He's he's at the hub of everything when
(21:05):
Jared's out there, and you're absolutely right, you know, uh,
you know, Jared is the guy that you know, it
just kind of holds everything together. He gives this team
a great deal of confidence on both sides of the ball.
And I'm telling I'm here to tell you that there's
nothing better than having the center that you know, or
having guys on the back line that you know, can
(21:28):
cover up a lot of sins that may happen out
there on that floor as well as not be upset
at you if you get beat from time to time,
you know. And when I look at Jared, Jared never
gives off any kind of negative vibes, and I think
that's the thing that allows him to be so good
(21:49):
as well as allows him to really impact the game
because you never see highs and loads from either Jared
or Mobly, but Jared clearly is. When both of those
guys are out there together, it's a beautiful thing to
watch and see how they impact our basketball team. Again,
we're talking with Campy Russell, he joins us on Calvi's
(22:10):
HQ presented by bet Way. You're hearing Campy right now.
Of course, you can see Campy on Bally Sports during
the television broadcast of Cavalier's basketball can't Be. You alluded
earlier to the bench play, and I want to ask
you about a guy that can put the ball in
the bucket. Uh, Carris Laverte the last three games has
really stepped up another Michigan guy just like you. But
(22:34):
aside from that, you gotta love the way Carriss has
been playing as of late. Well, you know, when Harris
is in a mode of just being who he is
and being the best version of himself, you know, that
is when a lot of good things happened for our
team as well as for Carrots. And as of late,
(22:56):
I mean, he's really in a good spot. I mean
he's doing a great job of taking the shot that
comes to him within the flow of the game, as
well as running the break making plays out there. Being
solid defensively. I mean, Carris has shown me some things
that I wasn't sure whether he had it, but watching
him this year and even through his all his career
(23:19):
that he's a great offensive player, a very good defensive player,
he's a solid rebounder. I mean, he has all the
elements that you need to impact the game. And like
in anybody in this league, everything is about consistency of play.
That is the most important thing that anybody wants from
(23:41):
a player is consistency of play. And you look at Carris,
He's becoming more and more consistent because of the his
approach to the game every night, and here of late,
i mean he's just been off the chart in terms
of rebounding, defending, assisting the ball, you know, just keeping
the flow of the game going. I mean, those are
the element that he and the bench bunch as a
(24:04):
whole have to bring every single night, is to be
prepared to play as well as play within the confines
of their offense and their defensive teams with great stuff.
Can't be before we let you go. I mentioned your
work with Bally Sports, but of course here within the organization, uh,
you're involved with community relations and alumni relations with former
(24:25):
Calves players. So even though Jim has the night off tonight,
I know he would ask you, so I'll ask you, uh,
just anything that fans of the Cavaliers should know as
far as alumni relations and things that are percolating there
with former Calves players. Well, there's there's some things that's
coming down the pack here. I'm not at liberty right
(24:46):
now to really exiously because it's, uh, it's gonna be
something that everybody is gonna really feel good about. That's awesome,
you know, So I'm gonna just leave that keys out
there in that respect. But as it relates to other
things that the legends are doing, you know, we're definitely
at all games, uh, every you know, every game that
we play, we're constantly out in the community in terms
(25:09):
of just giving input, whether it's in the schools or
just at rec centers and what have you. So you know,
we're we want to be as active as we possibly
can be because we know that we can give back
to our community with our voices, with our presence and
with our availability. So uh, at this point, I want
(25:31):
to hold that other piece on the side. But once
you hear it, everyone is going to be very happy
about that situation, So I'll just leave it there. That's
awesome and at all seriousness can't be I will say,
I don't know too many other NBA organizations in which
(25:52):
the fans embrace the past and the past players are
still as involved with the organization like the cal leaders.
And that's a real credit to this team. Oh there there,
there's no questions about that. Tim. When Dan Gilbert took
over the team back in the day, uh, that was
one of the things that he wanted to do, was
(26:14):
to embrace the past and the brain the pass along
with the president. And to me, that is uh that
that has been a great situation because what it does
it allows the current guys to be engaged in some
form with the pass and if you don't know anything
about your past, how can you go forward into the future.
(26:37):
So for me, that was a stroke of genius as
relates to UH our owner and understanding that fact and
then putting it in place to support your organization and
our current players. And that's the beautiful thing. And I'm
I really enjoy doing what I do. And all the
(26:58):
guys who have been engaged at with that, they are
elated that we are reaching out to them wanting tump
them to be a part of what we're trying to
do here with the Cleveland Cavalators. That's fantastic. Can't be
as always. Can't thank you enough for stopping by and
paying us a visit. So UH, if this is our
last chat before the holidays, the warmest of holidays to
(27:21):
you and your family, and UH again we'll be chatting
again as the year moves along. Well, Cam, thank you
very much man, and you just, you know, continue to
do what you do. I love that voice, you know,
and I love the things that you and Jimmy does
do together. And just continue to do what you guys
are doing. And UH, great holiday and I'll see you
another side sounds great, Thanks camp Campy Russell joining us
(27:45):
here on Captain's HQ, presented by bed Way. Always great
insights with the Cavalier legend. We'll take a time out,
Lord to come after this on the Cavalier's audio verse,
looking already towards the corner, trying to get it to Luca.
They do, but way outside Jackson switches onto him. Can
he get it away? And time on the step back
(28:06):
He got he hads, he hads, Mavericks have won the game.
Gets it on the trive all the way around around
everybody up eight seven, six five and half court four
three two against Richardson fading away again he did again.
(28:30):
Welcome back Cavs HQ, presented by bet Way. On the
Cavaliers audio verse, Jamal Coorn with you, Jim Jones with
the night off. Jim and I will be back together
tomorrow night as the Calves will finish up this very
quick two game road swing in Texas when they take
on the Dallas Mavericks. And that was the voice of
(28:52):
the Dallas Mavericks on the radio side, Chuck Cooperstein who
now joins us on CALVS HQ. Jock and those are
some awesome calls. And I have to tell a quick
story before we get into the Calves and the MAVs.
A couple of weeks ago, I was out and about
and decided to dial up the MAVs and the Golden
State Warriors, and I so much enjoyed your call. I mean,
(29:18):
your enthusiasm just came pounding through the radio of that
MAV's Warriors matchup. You have such a passion for play
by play, it is so enjoyable. I appreciate that. And uh,
but the Mavericks can be really good material and seventy
seven gives me really really good materials. It's pretty hard
(29:39):
to mess it up, it really is. But uh, you know, listen,
I love the NBA. I've loved basketball my entire life,
and you know, now to watch it every night at
the highest level, and arguably watching the you know, the
best player in the game today do his thing eighty
two nights a year, it's extraordinarily special. Look, I've been
doing this eighteen years. I had the the last fourteen
(30:00):
years of Dirk, you know, and then the out a
a year where you know, both Dirk and Luca were together,
and that was Dirk's last year and now you know,
Lucas taken over and done all these things that there's
no one in the world who was luckier than I am. Okay,
let's let's just get this right out there right now.
You are extraordinarily blessed, but don't sell yourself short. You're
(30:23):
extraordinarily talented as well, so we appreciate you coming on
the show. Calves and MAVs are gonna get to know
each other pretty well this week. H matchup in Dallas
on Wednesday night, matchup in Cleveland on Saturday night. So
we thought, well, who better to have on the show
this week than the voice of the MAVs. So fourteen
and thirteen, off the win last night against Oklahoma City,
(30:46):
share with Calves, fans and our listeners what the journey
has been like so far for the Mavericks this season.
It's been a very bizarre journey, to say the least.
They're they're pretty much at the same point record wise
that they were a year ago. But I'll be lead
this year. The expectations are significantly higher coming off the
Western Conference Finals, and on opening night the Mavericks were
(31:07):
in Phoenix, had a twenty two point lead UH in
the early part of the second half, had a fifteen
point lead with about eight minutes to go, at a
ten point lead with four minutes to go, and wound
up losing the game. And that began a trend that
we've seen of them having big leads losing those leads. Uh,
they've had four losses this year when they've led by
(31:29):
fourteen or more. They've had three other games where they've
had a sixteen point lead, lost the lead, but somehow
managed to win the game. So you know, it's it's
never a dull moment. We've the Mavericks have played more
clutch games than any team in the NBA. They played nineteen.
They have I think ten games that have been decided
by five points or fewer. And and this is all
(31:51):
with Luca playing at an m v P level, And
I don't think there's any other way to describe that
leads the league and scoring, Uh, he's the fourth and
assists he was, he's in the top ten still and
assists in steels. I believe his defense has improved dramatically,
and h you know, he's desperately trying to get others
(32:11):
to come along for the party, and the Mavericks have
not had enough guys on a regular basis come along
for the party. You know, one or two guys might
on an individual night, and then it might be a
couple of other guys. There's been very very little consistency
in that, and so, uh, it's it's led to I
think frustration from the fan base. Uh, some frustration from
(32:33):
the team because they know there's so much better. When
you look at our game against Milwaukee on Friday night,
the Mavericks were ten of twenty four from the foulon
ten of twenty four. These are professional these are professional
basketball players. Almost impossible to do that, and yet they
did that, and they lost by one. And uh, you
know the number that came out yesterday, which was really
(32:53):
fascinating that if the Mavericks had just shot the league
average from the free throw line A and Phoenix, Denver,
New Orleans, Milwaukee and one other that that escapes me
right now, they would be at the top of the
Western Conference. If you just just shot the average in
(33:14):
those games, they would be at the top of the
Western Conference right now. Instead, they find themselves an eighth
and trying to still figure out exactly what their identity is. Chuck.
You mentioned earlier that Lucas trying to drag other guys
along for the ride. Who could or who should be
that number two guys? Well, I mean they really you know,
(33:35):
Jalen Brunson became that number two guy last year and
they missed him and Spencer Dinwood. He has moved up
into the Brunson role and has been terrific, just been
terrific eleven games at twenty and more shooting from three.
He's never been a great three point shooter, but until
he came to Dallas and started playing with Luca and
started getting all kinds of open looks and he's making them.
(33:56):
And you know that happened last year and he's continued
on to this year. What they've not been able to
do is replaced Dinwidi's role coming off the bench as
a third ball handlers, so that the Mavericks could always
have two ball handlers on the floor at any one time. Uh.
They passed on the opportunity to do that in the
off season. UH. They brought up for Kuna Compozzo just
(34:16):
before the beginning of the year. Didn't work out. Kemba
Walker is here now. He only has played in one
game the other night against Chicago. UH. So they're still
trying to figure that out. But Dinwood has been great.
Tim Hardaway since he's moved back into the starting lineup,
has been really hot and really good. Uh. You know
guys like Dorrian Finney Smith and Reggie Bullock who were
(34:37):
just totally instrumental as two way players for their run
to the conference finals last year. Uh, they've not played
as well there and and certainly they've not shot as
well and they're not guarding as well. Although Bullock had
a really good game last night, I thought against Oklahoma City.
So uh, you know, those guys need to play better.
(34:57):
And you know they've certainly gotten some help from the
merchants of Josh Green, who may or may not play
tomorrow night. Uh, he's got in a hyper extended elbow,
but his his energy level is it really helps this
team when he comes off the bench. Um, you know
I've not mentioned Christian would you know? We we all
know he can score and he can rebound, and you
know his numbers, his efficiency numbers look great, but you
(35:21):
know he's not been able to be consistent enough night
after night that you know he's getting that he gets
the thirty or thirty one minutes that you would you
would think that somebody who averages those numbers ought to
be able to get again. We're talking with Chuck Cooperstein
in his eighteenth year as the radio voice of the
Dallas Mavericks Kavis in Dallas tomorrow night and Saturday night
(35:45):
back here in Cleveland. Final question for you, Chuck, as
you size up the West, you see the West a
lot more than we do. What have you seen so far?
And can Dallas get back to where they were last year?
As you alluded to a Western Conference finals team, Well,
you know, you get to the playoffs, tim as you know,
it's all about matchups. It's just how well do you
(36:07):
does your personnel match up with with the opponent? How
well they play? Uh, you know, I think the West
this year, Uh, I think everybody's got a flaw somewhere
in there. You know, right now, the Pelicans are hiding
it better than anybody else because they're they're on a
terrific run and they're at the top and they absolutely
deserve to be where they are. But that doesn't mean
(36:28):
that the Clippers, you know, who blew out Boston last
night and they just got Kauai back, and Kauai looked
like Kauai last night. Uh, you know, depending on how
much they play. Uh, you know, Phoenix I think still
has a really good team, although I think their benches
an issue. Golden State is in the same boat, um,
and the and the Mavericks in some way it are
(36:49):
in that same boat as well. I mean, Luca is great,
but what the flaw, as we talked about, is that
there's not been enough consistency in their play to you know,
have a really long winning streak. Can you move themselves up?
But again, everybody else seems to be in that same boat,
so you know, it's it seems like, I mean, we're
in the middle of December, and yet every game seems
(37:10):
ridiculously important because the last thing you want to do
is be uh you know, somewhere below six and you've
got to go into the plane. The Cavaliers know all
too well from last year. That's the truth. Chuck again,
can't thank you enough. Nice sneak peek at the matchup
tomorrow night and Saturday night back here in Cleveland. Your
work is extraordinary. Keep it up down there in Dallas
(37:32):
and look forward to seeing you soon. I appreciate it.
Ten thanks and looking forward to being on the Joke
Tape perch on Saturday Night. Again There you go, I
love it. Cooper Stein, the voice of the Dallas Mavericks,
joining us here on Cabs HC presented by bet waye
Quick time out and a quick wrap up of the show.
Following this on the Cavaliers audiover That's Gonna Do It
(38:00):
This week's edition of Calv's HQ, presented by bet way
Great big thank you to the dynamic duo, the two
guys on the other side of the windows, Senior producer
Kurt McLaughlin, Technical director Marty Allen. Huge thanks to our guests,
Can't be Russell and Chuck. Cooperstein, the radio voice of
the Dallas Mavericks. Biggest thanks goes to you the listeners.
(38:20):
Talk again tomorrow night from Dallas when the Calves take
on the MAVs tip off at nine Huntington tip Off
show at eight thirty. So until then, Tim L. Corn
saying thank you much for listening and so long everybody,
Hosts And Creators
Tim Alcorn
Jim Chones
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