December 28, 2022 • 41 mins
In this week's episode, Tim Alcorn and Jim Chones talk to Chris Fedor from Cleveland.com about the continued Cavs growth and where they go from here. They also sit down with Chicago Bulls play-by-play announcer Chuck Swirsky to get a preview of the Bulls who are on the calendar twice in the next week.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Welcome to Cavs HQ presented by bet Way. Thank you
for joining us on the Cavaliers Audio Verse. Now here
your host, Tim Alcorn and Jim Jones from the Cavaliers
Radio production studios at Rocket Mortgage field House in downtown Cleveland.
Hyak and everybody, and welcome to cabs HQ presented by
(00:32):
bet Waite. Great to have you with us for another
outstanding program. Jim Jones, We're gonna have a lot of
fun this week. Calves wrapped up their six game homestand
tough loss to the Brooklyn Nets last night. We'll hit
the road for two games starting Thursday in Indiana and
Saturday in Chicago, so we thought we'd preview those games.
(00:52):
Chris feed Or from Cleveland dot Com is going to
stop by and pay us a visit. And then one
of our best friends in the league, the radio play
by Playboys of the Chicago Bulls, Chuck Swirsky's gonna pay
us a bit. Always a lot of fun when Chuck
comes on the show, Yes there is. You know, Chuck
has some industry things to say, but I just want
to hear some responses from two of our best players.
(01:14):
That's Mitchell and Garland about the game the other night. Yeah,
that'll be coming up in our next segment as well.
Look back on the game last night against Brooklyn and
a heck of a ball game. Nets win at one
seventeen despite a forties six point effort from Darius Garland.
He was absolutely sensational last night. So we'll talk about
(01:35):
that game, we'll talk about the week up coming. We've
got a lot going on, so we'll sneak in a
quick time out. Well when we come back, we'll look
back on that loss to the Nets. That follows this
on CABS HQ presented by Betwave on the Cavaliers Audio verse.
(01:58):
Garland just holding the ball to one o'clock. Garland steps
right along three Garden. Oh, by goodness, Darius Garland knock
it in from the Pennsylvania Porter d G right of
the lane into the lane float score d G makes
it a four point game, one seventeen, forty four seconds
(02:20):
to go. Garland with forty six. But you called it
till four seconds. You play good, d You'll get another
shot and maybe two. This is Darius Garland. You listen
to calvs HQ, hits him, I'll corn and Jim Cholson
l d G with a huge night last night. Those
highlights from the game against Brooklyn on Monday, Calves fell
(02:41):
in that on to one seventeen. D G tried to
bring the Calves all the way back. In fact, he
carried them on his back with a forty six point
effort on Monday night wrapped up a six game homestand
for the Cavaliers in which they went four and two,
although they lost the last two games of that homestand
uh Toronto on Friday night and then Brooklyn last night,
(03:04):
But Jim, all in all, if you go four and
two on a homestand, and there was some rugged competition
that came in here, and that was a pretty solid
six games for the Cavaliers. Yeah, they resurrected themselves to him.
You know, they won the game on the road, then
they came home and won fourth straight. The point is
that the team that they lost to the other night,
there's no shame in that. Easily. The Nets are the
(03:26):
best team the Cavaliers have played this season, and they
had two dominating players. And I know that no matter
what scouting that's represented and done, there was nothing that
could have prepared them for what they went through against
the nets. Durrett and Irving are the greatest shooters in
(03:46):
our game right now, and they did a great job
of playing under control. They kept their game playing simple
and it didn't have to be complicated because those two
players were so great. Durant before he fouled out thirty
six minutes thirty two points, nine rebounds, five assists, Kyrie
and just under forty minutes last night thirty two points
(04:09):
in the ball game eleven of nineteen from the field.
And as you said, Jim, two of the greatest of
all times, especially when a big shot is needed. They
are the ultimate closers. Yeah, and that's been proven that
we can go all the way back to both of
those guys playing in the World Championship games when Durant
(04:31):
was with Golden State and we were within the two
points and they think it was less than a minute
to go and Durant comes down full court, dribble, pulls
up out of nowhere from three point range, sinks the three,
game over. And I can remember many a time Kyrie
doing the same the year before that when the Cavaliers
(04:52):
came in there and uh, he shot from his favorite
spot on the that wing, three pointer fade away when
all we needed was two to tie. He went for
the win and he made it. And that he's been
proving that all his career, perhaps the biggest shot, single
shot in Cavalier's history. But again d G last night
(05:13):
with just a masterful performance forty six points on fourteen
of twenty from the field, including five of seven beyond
the arc that ran out front against Jetty by Jetty
bounces it underneath the Clashton Clashton with the hook with
the left hand, miss didn't rebound. Jared Allen quickly to
Jetty down the FLORDA Garland stops three fools. That's right,
(05:33):
that's what stops. What do you get stops? You have
a greater chest of making shots time out Brooklyn Man.
D G was pumping in shots all night long. It
just wasn't enough. And then after the ball game on Monday,
d G talked about a tough loss to the nets.
They punched, and he just got on my heels and
we didn't fight back into the second half, and so
(05:54):
we knew we had to just turn it up a notch. So,
I mean, that was just the whole game. Like I said,
a half was totally different. Our first half defense and
just our aggression was just totally different that that being said,
after the ballgame, JB was upbeat even though they had
lost the contest. JB Bickerstaff said, listen, we've shown we
can play with anybody. I believe we can play with
(06:15):
these teams. Um. I think we did enough to give
me confidence in that. I think we just waited too long,
too long to believe we could. Um. And you know,
you allow a team to get out to a lead
like we did, it's gonna be extremely difficult to come
back and you have to be almost perfect. Jim. No
such thing as moral victories. But following up on what
(06:38):
JB just said right there, how much confidence can you
take out of a game like last night? Well, I
think you can take a lot because that is the
best team in basketball. And there's been contradictions, but anyone
who's seen the Nets player the last couple of weeks
will oblige you and tell you the same. The Nets
are really, really good, and their nine straight games, they've
(07:02):
been everywhere trying to win games, but they always come
out on top. Tim This team came in here shooting
from the field and from three point range. In the
eight consecutive wins, they're averaging they were averaging a hundred
twenty five points, and what they scored the other night
the same thing. I mean, they're just a dominating team
(07:22):
right now, and nobody has stepping has stepped forward but them,
and Philly's trying to. And Donovan Mitchell after the game said, listen,
playing elite teams, championship caliber teams. That's a great experience
for our club playing against these teams and compete, and
we're gonna see these guys in the playoffs. We got
understand that this is just what it's gonna be like.
And this is part of the learning, learning lesson, And
(07:43):
you know, I always say it's great to learn and wins,
but you know, learning and defeat, you know, d g
let us. You know we all tried to kind of
combat or do our thing around that, but you know,
as we fall short, and you know, we can look
at this, look at how they guard us, look at
how we guarded them. Take it in filming and learn
from him. So the Calves get ready for Indiana on
Thursday night, and of course we'll have it on the
(08:03):
Cavaliers audio verse. That game will tip off at seven.
We'll take a quick time out, we'll talk more Calves basketball.
Chris feed Or from Cleveland dot Com joins us next,
So stay with us on cavi's h coop presented by
bet Way on the Cavaliers audio Verse. Bob down the lane?
(08:25):
Up what the left hand? Good in a foul them
and Bob took a rate to Kevin Durant. Well we
need that search score. We know that our back court
can dominate. Got it out front of Kevin p I
like that, Dave is down nine. Here comes Garlett quickly
into the paint. Garlett up God with the right hand.
(08:46):
If that is the formula JP's been trying to put it,
push it forget the five five, Push that ball up
the floor. Welcome back Cav's HQ presented by bet Way
on the Cavaliers audio Verse, Tim l Corn along with
Jim Jones, and of course those highlights put together by
our dynamic duo Senior producer Kurt McLaughlin and technical director
(09:10):
Marty Allen from last night's game against Brooklyn. Stuff loss
for the Cavaliers as the Nets beat the Calves one
to one seventeen despite forty six from d G. With
the lost Calves now twenty two and thirteen and Brooklyn
Nudge is a half game ahead of the Calves in
the Eastern Conference. The Nets are now twenty two and twelve.
(09:32):
And a guy that was there last night, he's there
all the time, covers the Calves for Cleveland dot Com.
Just extraordinary work. Uh. Follow him on Twitter if you're
a Cavs fan. One Chris feed or we've had him
on before. Great to have him back once again. Chris.
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year to you. Merry Christmas and
(09:52):
happy New Year to you. Guys. How are you? We're
doing well. So let's start with the game twenty four
hours ago. And Rocket or Gage field House JB after
the ballgame said listen, so as we can play with anybody,
and Donovan Mitchell saying you play elite teams like that,
that's a great experience. So, uh, taking those comments into
(10:13):
account and just your observations, Uh, what can you take
from that game last night? Yeah, I think that's the
big thing, guys. I think there's a reality that the
Calves are facing and they have an enemy that they
can't control at this point in time, and it's experienced.
Look at Brooklyn, look at Milwaukee, look at Boston, even
look at Philadelphia. The other top level teams in the
(10:35):
Eastern Conference have done things that the Calves haven't done.
They have felt things that the Calves haven't felt. They
have seen things that the Calves haven't seen, and that's
not necessarily their fault. It's just a reality and that
experience can only be gained through games like the other
night against Milwaukee or last night against the Brooklyn Nets.
(10:56):
So I think these kinds of things that they're going
through now are going to benefit them greatly if they
respond properly in March, April, May, June, if they're lucky
enough to get that one. You know, uh, I see
doing one thing I did want to talk about in specific.
We can always go back to the inexperience because you're
all over it as usual. But we've seen two dominating
(11:21):
performances by Darius Garland in less than a month. And
the thing that's so amazing about it is that, in
my estimation, he's just as good as Mitchell, but you
can't compare him to Mitchell because they play a little
bit differently well. Mitchell is a is a score that
can shoot well. Darius Garland is a shooter that can
(11:44):
score and had added responsibilities to organize the offense. But
in my estimation, he's just as good as Mitchell, and
that's the dilemma for him and for Mitchell. You know,
how do they slice it up? If the way the
nets played last snipe, the way they distribute the ball
between Durant and Irving, is any indication on how to
(12:05):
do it, I should hope we take that, Yeah, exactly.
I mean I think it's something that that Darius has
to continue to get reps that, and then something that
Donovan has to continue to get reps that because guys,
you're right, like when it comes to Donovan, as much
as he was surrounded by talent in Utah, it was
a different kind of talent. It was a different kind
(12:26):
of playing style. And this kind of dynamic guard like
Darius is one that Donovan has never played alongside. And
Darius has never played alongside a dynamic scoring guard like Donovan.
So they both wanted to work and I think stylistically
they can find a way to make it work, and
I think J. D. Bickerstaff can find the right one
(12:47):
for them. But it's different and it's going to take time,
and it wasn't going to look steamless you know, thirty
thirty five games into the season. Um, these guys are
still trying to figure it out as they go while
laying against the top top, top, top competition in the
East and in the Western Conference. UM So it's just
like harder than I think a lot of people anticipated
(13:10):
it being. Um. In saying all of that, I think
you've seen signs of it. And it's interesting because Jav
Bickerstaff talked about it the other night. Guys, when it
comes to Darius, everybody in the organization, top to bottom,
they've all encouraged Darius to just be Darius and be aggressive,
and I think he's just programmed to try and make
(13:31):
the right play, get his teammates involved. But you saw
him last night against Brooklyn going to take over mode.
You saw him earlier this year when Donovan was out
against Minnesota going to take over more. So that like
is there for Darius. Those opportunities can be there, especially
if teams are going to load up the way that
Brooklyn did to try and steiny Donovan. And that's where
(13:53):
Darius needs to take that next step and understand, Okay,
forget setting up Jared, forget setting Evan. I've got the advantage.
I'm going to go to work again. We're talking with
Chris feed Or from Cleveland dot Com as he joins
us on this week's edition of CAP's HQ presented by
bet Way. Chris, we're not quite halfway home. Two and
(14:14):
thirteen my Kent State Matt says, that's thirty five games,
but we're close. But size up the first half and
then what do you see second half of the season
for this Cavalier team. How will it evolve? I think
they've been good given everything that they've dealt with. Guys.
We talked about Garius and Donovan trying to figure it
out together. Um, that's been something that has caused growing pains.
(14:37):
Obviously the Calves have you sixteen different starting lineups, which
is almost unheard of, but because of injury, because of illness,
because of trying to find the right combinations in the
right mixture, that's been their reality. So given those things, um,
and the fact that they haven't shown an ability to
consistently play at a high level on the road like
(14:59):
they do at home, for them to be fourth place
in the Eastern Conference, which is just loaded at the top,
and it's going to be a dog fight. The rest
of the way for them to be twenty two and
thirteen and be as dominant as they've been at home.
I think they're in a great spot, um, And at
the same time, you see signs of them learning from
(15:19):
things earlier on in the season, Right like, they got
smacked against Milwaukee twice in Milwaukee, and one of those
losses led to them staying in the locker room afterward
for a lengthy heart to heart chat where they needed
to have difficult conversations and they needed to make some
lineup changes. But then you you saw what they were
(15:40):
able to do at home against Milwaukee. They learned from
that experience, So I think they're going to continue to
learn as this season goes on. I think they're going
to continue to take the experience gained as the season
goes on. And I think the Calves are the kind
of team UM, based on how they're construc did that
(16:01):
can be better by the end of the season than
they were at the beginning of the season, and that's
been their goal all along. But it's great insights, great
stuff from Chris feed Or from Cleveland dot com as
he joins us on this week's edition of CABS HQ.
Presented by Bettwabe Very Quick Break and then more with Chris,
so stay with us on the Cavaliers Audio Verse. The
(16:30):
Cleveland Cavaliers recently hosted Kylan Cone and his family to
grant his special wish to become an NBA reporter for
the Cleveland Cavaliers. Shortly after Kylin was born, he was
diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Due to his condition,
he is unable to play sports, so he loves to
pretend to broadcast and interview players. The Calves were proud
to partner with a Special Wish to grant Kyland's big
(16:52):
wish of becoming an NBA reporter with the Calves. During
the Calves and Bucks game last week, they gave him
the most amazing experience with the evlier's broadcast team as
part of the Calves Care Special Wish Grant. Oh, this
is Kyla Coon, and I just want to thank the
Cleveland Cavaliers for making my special wish. Kylan. You were
absolutely amazing and a true natural. Calves in the community
(17:15):
is brought to you by Discount Drug Marts. We'll be
back with more Calves HQ presented by Betway. Right after
this on the Cavaliers Audio Verse. You're experiencing Calves HQ
(17:35):
on the Cavaliers Audio Verse once again. Here's Tim Alcorn
and Jim Chews. Welcome back Cavs HQ, presented by Betway.
Great to have you with us, and it's great to
have with us Chris feed Or from Cleveland dot Com.
His coverage is just extraordinary. If you're not following him
(17:55):
on social media, especially on Twitter, do so you'll get
more Calves info. Uh, then your brain can handle. It's
just awesome stuff. Jim. Let's start things off with you
in segment too with Chris, Thank you too. Yeah. One
of the things just uh talk a little bit about
Evan Mobley and his ups and downs and what he's
going through. It's very similar to your what you talked
(18:16):
about earlier with our back court. Yeah. I think it's
interesting when it comes to Evan because I think when
you're talking about his impact, that's very very different than
his production, right, And I think he's always the kind
of guy who's going to be defined more by impact
as opposed to production. Like his stats are very very
similar guys to what he did as a rookie, but
(18:38):
I think what he did as a rookie was so
rare that it kind of spoiled people and they came
to expect like this huge production leap from Evan, and
I don't think that was ever going to happen, in
part because his role offensively fluctuates on a night to
night basis, Like there are some nights where he's going
to get fourteen shots and then other nights where he's
(18:59):
probably going to get six to ten. Most nights, he's
going to be the fourth offensive option in terms of
his involvement on the offensive end, because Jared Allen is
involved in like everything that the Calves do from a
pick and roll standpoint, So it's Darius Garland, it's Donovan Mitchell,
it's Jared Allen, then it's Evin Mowgli. So it's just
not easy for him to get consistent touches and consistent
(19:20):
shot attempt but he's still making an impact on everything
that the Calves do, both offensively and defensively. Especially on
the defensive end of the floor. His impact metrics are
off the charts, especially for a twenty one year old kid.
And I think you feel that on a possession of
possession basis. I think you feel that on a nightly basis.
(19:41):
I think there are times where he can be more aggressive,
when he can try and assert himself more underneath, where
he can demand the basketball. I would like to see
him take that next step in terms of his evolution,
but in terms of just his offensive and defensive impact,
I think it's being felt by the Calves on a
nightly basis. You used impact quite a bit in your
(20:03):
response there, So I want to talk about future impact.
I don't know if it's imminent, but at some point
in the near future, we will see the return of
Ricky Rubio. So let's talk about the potential impact of
the return of Rubio will have on this team. Chris so,
because there are a lot of factors that I think
led to Ricky being as good as he was for
(20:26):
the Calves at the beginning of the season last year.
At that point, I was considering putting him on a
six Man of the Year ballot because he was playing
that well and he was making that kind of difference
for the Cavs. Statistically, the best two man lineup that
the Cavs had was Darius and Ricky. They were just
destroying opponents together and it was beautiful to see. But
(20:48):
a lot of that tied into he was coming off
the national team experience with Spain. He was in an
environment where he was really, really comfortable. He was getting
a lot of freedom from the bickerstaff, he was playing
big minutes, he had a huge role, and he was healthy.
By the way, those factors aren't necessarily in play right
now for Ricky. He's had about a year off. He
(21:12):
isn't coming off a national team experience, so he's going
to need time to shake off the rust. He's going
to need time to get himself back involved, and he's
coming to a team that is pretty well established, Like, yes,
they can use the things that he can bring, they
need the things that he can bring, but there's a
pretty set hierarchy when it comes to how the offense
(21:35):
is going to run and function already. So I think
it's going to take him time to blend into the
fabric of the team that way and continue to show
that he can be healthy. It's his second torn a
c L. Like I said, he's been off for about
a year recovering, and I just don't think it's realistic
to expect the Ricky Rubio that comes back this year
(21:56):
for the final couple of months to be as impo
toll as the one last year. And that's not to
say that he can't make an impact, because he can.
He can organize the team, he can make things easier
on Kevin Love, Jetty Osman, Harris LeVert. In that second unit,
he can handle pressure. He can just get the offense
into the right plays and the right set and there's
(22:18):
value in that. And he brings a positivity and an
infectious energy. But I just think we have to be
honest about the things that he's trying to come back from.
And statistically, if you look at past years, guys that
are coming back from a torn a c L they
make more of a difference in year two of the
recovery as opposed to year one. And I think the
(22:39):
Calves understand that good stuff. You know. One of the things,
you know, Chris, when you and I look at the Cavaliers,
we see them in three parts, their back court, the
Twin Towers, and then their bench play and get this
far without really have any real leadership in that second unit.
It's pretty good for them. There's been talk and never
(23:00):
but he keeps calling me and people that I meet
around the league, the Calves. Had you heard any rumors
or anything about them looking for maybe a small forward.
They want to upgrade that spot. I don't think it's
any secret um, It's just there are some complications involved
with that. I think. I think they've been looking for
(23:21):
a small forward for the last two and a half years.
But they're very, very difficult to get because number one,
the teams that have those guys are asking for a
premium or just aren't making them available because they're so valuable.
In today's NBA, the Calves are in a club with
five to ten teams that are looking for an upgrade
(23:42):
on the wing because that's what the game. You need
a two way wing, and the Calves know that they
need an upgrade there right. The problem is JB. Bickerstaff
continues to make these offense defense substitutions because every guy
that he could put at that spot, there's a give
and take involved tetard to core of it. They don't
guard Lamar Stevens, you know what I mean. You might
(24:03):
be gaining defensively, but you're losing offensively, and the Calves
need somebody that that can bring it at both ends
of the floor. But the other problem, they don't have
anything to offer at this point in time, they cannot
by rule in the n they cannot offer a first
round pick at the trade dedn't they cannot? And then
(24:26):
if you talk about the other assets that they could dangle,
you know, Harris LeVert, Jetty Osman, Dylan Windler, multiple second
round picks. But yeah, you could probably get somebody that
could help. But is that going to be the long
term answer that that position that has been a problem
for the last couple of years. Um, I think, to
(24:49):
be honest with you, guys, that's one of the reason
why there are naysayers when it comes to the Calves.
Beyond the fact that they are inexperience, beyond the fact
that their starters play big minutes and people expect them
to be exhausted by the end of the year, they
look at the small forward spot and say, how am
I supposed to take a team seriously when the other
guy has Jason Tatum, Chris Middleton, Jalen Brown, Jimmy Butler,
(25:11):
Tobias Harris, Steven, Dean Wade, and Isaaca Coora. Yeah, that's
great stuff. As they say in radio and television, stay tuned,
Chris feed or as always man, just great insights, great info,
and as I told our listeners and fans, if they're
not following you on Twitter and reading your stuff, they
(25:32):
are missing out great information. Hey to you and your family,
Married Christmas, Happy New Year, and we'll see you on
the road this week. Always happy and you. Chris feed
Or from Cleveland dot Com joining us on CAB's HQ
presented by bet Way. Quick Time Out. Chuck Swirsky, the
radio voice of the Chicago Bulls, is up next, so
(25:55):
stay with us. He's always a lot of fun. We'll
hear from Chuck after this. On the Cavaliers, the overse
De Rosan wide left just over the timeline pressure by
Holiday Derosan with the game hot twenty eight. De Rosen
in the middle of the floor, settles top side three.
Damn big time shot. Onions Baby Onions. The roles have
(26:20):
a thirty one. Oh you gotta love it. The radio
play by playboys of the Chicago Bulls, Chuck Swirsky and
his patented onions Baby Onions. Great to have Chuck joining
us on this week's edition of CALVS h Q presented
by Betway. And of course we're going to be seen
(26:42):
quite a bit of the Chicago Bulls here in the
near future. Calves with a quick two game road swing
this week Thursday night in Indiana, Saturday at Chicago, and
then Monday Chicago comes here. So we thought we'd get
an update and a little bit of a preview of
these upcoming matchups with the Bulls with Chuck Sworsky. Chuck
as always a pleasure to have you on Cam's HQ. Hey, Tim,
(27:05):
always a pleasure. We having to hold on for a second.
Tim shoones with a ball in the low post, works
on jump up with the right hand. Got it now?
Going way back to you know you just you just
gave up your age. Now, Chuck, I've got rid in
(27:25):
front of me. Here my notes twenty five years NBA
play by play with the bull You don't go as
far back as choons. Come on now, I saw I
saw Ji. Listen. Here's the story. I grew up in
Seattle and I would go. I would go to the
University of Washington games, pay two dollars. I would sit
(27:48):
in the fieldhouse and heck Edmondson Pavilion, and I would
watch U. C. L A come in with lu All
Sender cream and tool Jabbar, Steve Addison, Bill Walton that
whole gang. And I mean you at USC coming in
with Paul Westfall and a guy by the name of
John Block who played in the NBA. I mean it
(28:11):
was the Pack eight Conference him at the time, I
became a huge college ball fan, and Jim Jones was
bigger than life in the Midwest, and they had this
battle going on. Tim, And for your listeners, I want
you to google the American Basketball Association. That league had
(28:31):
some hooksters and they could flat out ball. And Jim
was played at Marquette, and Marquette was a basketball power.
And Al McGuire was a guy who had no filters.
He loved life, burned Jim. He spurned the n C
Double a tournament for the n I t Okay. He
(28:54):
was a magnificent motivator and coach. And Jim Jones was
larger than life as a colle ledge player. And Jim,
I'm sure you agree with one of everything. Chuck just said. Well, well,
Chuck is never led and and truth change is not
well Chuck, as we said, Uh, We're gonna see you
(29:16):
guys a couple of times here the next week Saturday night,
New Year's Eve in Chicago, and then Monday, the first
game of three here at the Rocket Mortgage Field House.
But kind of bring us up to date on the
Bulls tough loss last night to Houston fourteen and nineteen.
On the year. What can you tell us about what's
happened with the Chicago team so far this season? Well,
(29:38):
Tim and Jim, thank you so much for the invitation
to have a good day. Oh yeah, oh yeah, the Bulls, Jim,
they take one step forward and a step and a
half back, and then they go on. They gave up
a hundred and fifty points to Minnesota to start a
four game road trip. But I'm thinking to myself, you
(29:59):
gotta be kitty like, we've got Miami, Atlanta and the
Nix on the road. How were you get to manage
to get a w? But sure enough, they went three straight.
So then they get a two day break and they
got the first of four straight at home, and they
lose to Houston. A very athletic club. But these Rockets
(30:19):
are so young and they play with so much energy,
and the greatest strength is that they're young, and their
biggest weaknesses they're young. So they're up by eighteen, and
Tim and Jim here's the story. They're up by a team.
The Bulls come back take the lead, and then Porter
went off and he had a great game. And Jalen Green,
(30:42):
who I think is going to be a star in
this league, he went off and Shangoon was outstanding in
the post, and the Bulls lose at home. So if
you can figure out the Bulls, you let me know,
because I mean, it's very perplexing. You know. One of
the things took I wanted to talk to you about,
and I think it's the key to your pro problems,
(31:03):
any problem that you might have, is the loss of
Alonzo Ball. I always thought that he was so unselfish,
the great defender. I just thought that that acquisition made
everything else work for you absolutely. And I know every
team has injuries and every team has it, and I
get that, and you're right, because you know, the ball
(31:25):
club was the number one seed in the Eastern Conference
last year at the All Star break and things were great.
I mean, Alonso was having a career year, shooting the three,
defending his vision. You know, as soon as he received
the outlet pass from Boots or power forward, his head
was up. He was looking down court and he wouldn't
(31:48):
pull around with this East or West dribble, every dribble,
every possession. Jim had a purpose, okay, and then all
of a sudden the knee issue. Served says, we haven't
seen him after intergoing surgery in January on the floor.
He's around the ball club. He wants to play. He's
had surgery twice since that span, and I don't know
(32:13):
when he's coming back. And you know, the team really
doesn't speculate on an E t A. But again, you
know you've got to play with two you have. Again,
we're talking with Chuck Swirsky, the radio play by play
voice of the Chicago Bulls. Kvas and Bulls will meet
up later this week Saturday night in Chicago and then
Monday night here at Rocket Mortgage field House. So Chuck,
(32:35):
knowing that for the foreseeable future, Alonzo ball isn't in
the picture for the Chicago Bulls, is there enough there
with the likes of Derosan and Levine and Voots, Well,
this club right down to Jim has a major glaring issue.
And that's because the loss of Alex Caruso over the
shoulder injury. He suffered a concussion. He has passed several
(32:59):
tests in the protocol, but he still needs to cap
things off with a hard contact practice because they want
to see all his body handles that before they can
move on to an issue that right now I think
is a great concern for the Bulls, and that's the
shoulder string. And I'm not a doctor. I'm not going
(33:19):
to speculate on how long he's out. He's missed a
couple of games, so we'll have to see. But I mean,
Caruso is a down, blue collar, you know, grinded out
defensive player. I think that you know, with the loss
of Caruso, you're going with Io Dosumu at the point,
(33:39):
and uh Io in the second year, I think has
brought a lot. I think he's improved in certain areas
and I think he's still trying to find his way
as a point guard in this league, which is extremely difficult.
So right now, you know, you're seeing guys like the
Rosen Levine advanced the ball in the front court and
they are starting the initiating dribble pass where at times
(34:04):
you would think wing players are big guards are playing
off the ball. You know, I was just thinking, I
hate to be so morbid this today, but I just
want to see if if my thinking is correct. You know,
I remember when the injury page used to be one page,
and but now it's six pages. Chuck your thoughts and
(34:24):
what do you think is causing all of these darn injuries?
You know what, Jim, I have spoken to so many
people about this, and you know, is that the fact
that from the age of nine ten years old, these
kids aren't playing other sports and they're not developing other muscles.
I think that's part of the reason, because Jim, listen,
(34:47):
you were the exception of very tall human beings like
yourself and Bill Wennington, who got into basketball because you know,
the coach said, hey, you're tall, play or you developed
the skill set. I mean, Bill was a hockey player
until they couldn't find skates for him at the end
went to basketball. He grew up in Montreal and he
(35:09):
wanted to be a hockey player. He had no desire
to play basketball until his feet got to the point
they couldn't find him skates and the coaches said, hey,
try this game basketball. And so I don't know if
it's kids not playing multiple sports, I don't know. As
soon as the season ends, we got to get in
the lab two and a half weeks after the season's over,
(35:32):
and these then their bodies just aren't equipped because they
have the best nutritions, they have the best developmental coaches,
they have the best assistant coaches, they've got analytics, and
they've got everything. Get your fingertips. I mean, this isn't
Bill Fitch and Jimmy Rogers and Charlie Strosser here with
three people on an airplane. Okay, So I don't get it.
(35:56):
I just don't get it. I don't understand. And then
you know this rest management, and I'm thinking to myself,
you know, these fans deserve players. If you can play,
you should be in a uniform. There's a big difference, guys,
between hurt and injured. If you're injured, you couldn't play.
(36:17):
If you're hurt, everyone's hurt. I mean your knees are parking,
your joints are flair and all that stuff. I get it.
It's easy for me to come on your show and
talk about because I'm not a doctor and I don't
feel the pain and the player's body. But I'm just saying,
you know, I mean I want to see guys on
the floor. I don't want to see well, hey, listen,
(36:39):
if you can play sixty five games this year. It's
a bonus. What yeah, great point. Hey, Chuck, we know
you're pressed for time. We've only got a couple of minutes.
But I want to give you the opportunity to talk
about your book. Not only are you a great NBA
play by play, announced are one of the best in
the league. Now you're an author. Tell our listeners and
(37:00):
ands about always a pleasure. All right, Well, I'm gonna
do this. I'm just gonna give out the address where
you can find the book because I want to close
on your show with a story about the late Paul Silas.
If I may um, that's to me, he's a very
dear to my heart, but real quickly for the book,
Chuck Swarsky, the book dot com. Chuck Swarsky the book
(37:23):
dot com. A lot of stories about my Cleveland experiences,
including the Calves, and also about Frank Robinson when he
managed the Indians now Guardians. So I want to tell
a quick story about Paul Silas. I graduate from Ohio University,
I go back to Seattle. I'm twenty two years old.
I get a job as an intern at radio station
k i r O was the news talk radio station
(37:47):
One of my jobs and the elements of the job,
was to go into professional locker rooms, whether it was
the Mariners, Sonics, Seahawks. Holed up a microphone, get the
twenty second sound. I go to the radio station, cut
up the table and let the caster do the inque
in morning drive. I go into the Sonics locker room.
(38:09):
This is and I took the Sonics locker room. I'm intimidated.
You had a huge personality in Freddie Brown. You had
big time stars like Dennis Johnson. Jack Sikma was a rookie,
and then there was including John Johnson, a former CAB
was on that team. And then there was Paul Silas.
(38:29):
And I was so nervous. And about two weeks into
my internship, two weeks into the NBA season of seventy
seventy eight, Paul Silas pulls me aside and says, tell
me about yourself. I told him what I did. He said,
I'm going to tell you this right now. If any
of our players disrespects you or gives you a bad time,
(38:52):
there's my locker you come see me. I'll take care
of it. And it went what he goes, You heard me,
I will take care of it. If any player is
rude to you, if a player disrespects you because you're
young and you know you're trying to, you know, find
your way around in your career, you come to me.
(39:14):
From that point on. This is a true story. I'm
not embellishing one moment of this. At that point in time,
he gave me confidence as a twenty two year old kid.
And from that moment on, I had Paul Silas a
number one and I stayed in touch with him. I
(39:34):
told his son Stephen last night, UH this story. And
I never shared this publicly because I wanted Stephen to
hear it from me first. That's the type of man
Paul Silas was. He was a great, great human being period. Wow, Chuck,
that's an awesome story. Thank you for sharing that with
our listeners and our fans. That's tremendous. And of course
(39:57):
Paul Silas with the Calves connection, as he was the
coach here during his career. Well, that's an awesome story.
All right, my friend, We'll see you Saturday night in Chicago.
Great story, great story, Thank you guys all the best,
Happy New Year, and do you as well. We'll see
you Saturday. Well, that's a great story. Chuck Swirsky, the
radio play by play voice of the Chicago Bulls, joining
(40:20):
us here on kev's h Q presented by Bet Waite.
We'll be back. We'll but the finishing touches on this
week's show after this on the Cavaliers Audio Verse. That's
gonna do it for this week's edition of kev's HQ,
presented by Bet way Boy. A great big thank you
(40:40):
to both of our guests. You just heard from Chuck Swirsky,
the voice of the Chicago Bulls. Always a lot of
fun to talk to Chuck, Chris feed or earlier in
the program, Huge thank you to him. The two guys
on the other side of the window that make it work,
the dynamic duo of Marty Allen and Kurt McLoughlin. Biggest
thanks goes to you, the listeners. Talk to you again
Thursday from Indiana when the Calves take on the Pacers.
(41:03):
So until then, Tim Elkhorn saying thanks for listening and
so long everybody,
Welcome to Cavs HQ presented by bet Way. Thank you
for joining us on the Cavaliers Audio Verse. Now here
your host, Tim Alcorn and Jim Jones from the Cavaliers
Radio production studios at Rocket Mortgage field House in downtown Cleveland.
Hyak and everybody, and welcome to cabs HQ presented by
(00:32):
bet Waite. Great to have you with us for another
outstanding program. Jim Jones, We're gonna have a lot of
fun this week. Calves wrapped up their six game homestand
tough loss to the Brooklyn Nets last night. We'll hit
the road for two games starting Thursday in Indiana and
Saturday in Chicago, so we thought we'd preview those games.
(00:52):
Chris feed Or from Cleveland dot Com is going to
stop by and pay us a visit. And then one
of our best friends in the league, the radio play
by Playboys of the Chicago Bulls, Chuck Swirsky's gonna pay
us a bit. Always a lot of fun when Chuck
comes on the show, Yes there is. You know, Chuck
has some industry things to say, but I just want
to hear some responses from two of our best players.
(01:14):
That's Mitchell and Garland about the game the other night. Yeah,
that'll be coming up in our next segment as well.
Look back on the game last night against Brooklyn and
a heck of a ball game. Nets win at one
seventeen despite a forties six point effort from Darius Garland.
He was absolutely sensational last night. So we'll talk about
(01:35):
that game, we'll talk about the week up coming. We've
got a lot going on, so we'll sneak in a
quick time out. Well when we come back, we'll look
back on that loss to the Nets. That follows this
on CABS HQ presented by Betwave on the Cavaliers Audio verse.
(01:58):
Garland just holding the ball to one o'clock. Garland steps
right along three Garden. Oh, by goodness, Darius Garland knock
it in from the Pennsylvania Porter d G right of
the lane into the lane float score d G makes
it a four point game, one seventeen, forty four seconds
(02:20):
to go. Garland with forty six. But you called it
till four seconds. You play good, d You'll get another
shot and maybe two. This is Darius Garland. You listen
to calvs HQ, hits him, I'll corn and Jim Cholson
l d G with a huge night last night. Those
highlights from the game against Brooklyn on Monday, Calves fell
(02:41):
in that on to one seventeen. D G tried to
bring the Calves all the way back. In fact, he
carried them on his back with a forty six point
effort on Monday night wrapped up a six game homestand
for the Cavaliers in which they went four and two,
although they lost the last two games of that homestand
uh Toronto on Friday night and then Brooklyn last night,
(03:04):
But Jim, all in all, if you go four and
two on a homestand, and there was some rugged competition
that came in here, and that was a pretty solid
six games for the Cavaliers. Yeah, they resurrected themselves to him.
You know, they won the game on the road, then
they came home and won fourth straight. The point is
that the team that they lost to the other night,
there's no shame in that. Easily. The Nets are the
(03:26):
best team the Cavaliers have played this season, and they
had two dominating players. And I know that no matter
what scouting that's represented and done, there was nothing that
could have prepared them for what they went through against
the nets. Durrett and Irving are the greatest shooters in
(03:46):
our game right now, and they did a great job
of playing under control. They kept their game playing simple
and it didn't have to be complicated because those two
players were so great. Durant before he fouled out thirty
six minutes thirty two points, nine rebounds, five assists, Kyrie
and just under forty minutes last night thirty two points
(04:09):
in the ball game eleven of nineteen from the field.
And as you said, Jim, two of the greatest of
all times, especially when a big shot is needed. They
are the ultimate closers. Yeah, and that's been proven that
we can go all the way back to both of
those guys playing in the World Championship games when Durant
(04:31):
was with Golden State and we were within the two
points and they think it was less than a minute
to go and Durant comes down full court, dribble, pulls
up out of nowhere from three point range, sinks the three,
game over. And I can remember many a time Kyrie
doing the same the year before that when the Cavaliers
(04:52):
came in there and uh, he shot from his favorite
spot on the that wing, three pointer fade away when
all we needed was two to tie. He went for
the win and he made it. And that he's been
proving that all his career, perhaps the biggest shot, single
shot in Cavalier's history. But again d G last night
(05:13):
with just a masterful performance forty six points on fourteen
of twenty from the field, including five of seven beyond
the arc that ran out front against Jetty by Jetty
bounces it underneath the Clashton Clashton with the hook with
the left hand, miss didn't rebound. Jared Allen quickly to
Jetty down the FLORDA Garland stops three fools. That's right,
(05:33):
that's what stops. What do you get stops? You have
a greater chest of making shots time out Brooklyn Man.
D G was pumping in shots all night long. It
just wasn't enough. And then after the ball game on Monday,
d G talked about a tough loss to the nets.
They punched, and he just got on my heels and
we didn't fight back into the second half, and so
(05:54):
we knew we had to just turn it up a notch. So,
I mean, that was just the whole game. Like I said,
a half was totally different. Our first half defense and
just our aggression was just totally different that that being said,
after the ballgame, JB was upbeat even though they had
lost the contest. JB Bickerstaff said, listen, we've shown we
can play with anybody. I believe we can play with
(06:15):
these teams. Um. I think we did enough to give
me confidence in that. I think we just waited too long,
too long to believe we could. Um. And you know,
you allow a team to get out to a lead
like we did, it's gonna be extremely difficult to come
back and you have to be almost perfect. Jim. No
such thing as moral victories. But following up on what
(06:38):
JB just said right there, how much confidence can you
take out of a game like last night? Well, I
think you can take a lot because that is the
best team in basketball. And there's been contradictions, but anyone
who's seen the Nets player the last couple of weeks
will oblige you and tell you the same. The Nets
are really, really good, and their nine straight games, they've
(07:02):
been everywhere trying to win games, but they always come
out on top. Tim This team came in here shooting
from the field and from three point range. In the
eight consecutive wins, they're averaging they were averaging a hundred
twenty five points, and what they scored the other night
the same thing. I mean, they're just a dominating team
(07:22):
right now, and nobody has stepping has stepped forward but them,
and Philly's trying to. And Donovan Mitchell after the game said, listen,
playing elite teams, championship caliber teams. That's a great experience
for our club playing against these teams and compete, and
we're gonna see these guys in the playoffs. We got
understand that this is just what it's gonna be like.
And this is part of the learning, learning lesson, And
(07:43):
you know, I always say it's great to learn and wins,
but you know, learning and defeat, you know, d g
let us. You know we all tried to kind of
combat or do our thing around that, but you know,
as we fall short, and you know, we can look
at this, look at how they guard us, look at
how we guarded them. Take it in filming and learn
from him. So the Calves get ready for Indiana on
Thursday night, and of course we'll have it on the
(08:03):
Cavaliers audio verse. That game will tip off at seven.
We'll take a quick time out, we'll talk more Calves basketball.
Chris feed Or from Cleveland dot Com joins us next,
So stay with us on cavi's h coop presented by
bet Way on the Cavaliers audio Verse. Bob down the lane?
(08:25):
Up what the left hand? Good in a foul them
and Bob took a rate to Kevin Durant. Well we
need that search score. We know that our back court
can dominate. Got it out front of Kevin p I
like that, Dave is down nine. Here comes Garlett quickly
into the paint. Garlett up God with the right hand.
(08:46):
If that is the formula JP's been trying to put it,
push it forget the five five, Push that ball up
the floor. Welcome back Cav's HQ presented by bet Way
on the Cavaliers audio Verse, Tim l Corn along with
Jim Jones, and of course those highlights put together by
our dynamic duo Senior producer Kurt McLaughlin and technical director
(09:10):
Marty Allen from last night's game against Brooklyn. Stuff loss
for the Cavaliers as the Nets beat the Calves one
to one seventeen despite forty six from d G. With
the lost Calves now twenty two and thirteen and Brooklyn
Nudge is a half game ahead of the Calves in
the Eastern Conference. The Nets are now twenty two and twelve.
(09:32):
And a guy that was there last night, he's there
all the time, covers the Calves for Cleveland dot Com.
Just extraordinary work. Uh. Follow him on Twitter if you're
a Cavs fan. One Chris feed or we've had him
on before. Great to have him back once again. Chris.
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year to you. Merry Christmas and
(09:52):
happy New Year to you. Guys. How are you? We're
doing well. So let's start with the game twenty four
hours ago. And Rocket or Gage field House JB after
the ballgame said listen, so as we can play with anybody,
and Donovan Mitchell saying you play elite teams like that,
that's a great experience. So, uh, taking those comments into
(10:13):
account and just your observations, Uh, what can you take
from that game last night? Yeah, I think that's the
big thing, guys. I think there's a reality that the
Calves are facing and they have an enemy that they
can't control at this point in time, and it's experienced.
Look at Brooklyn, look at Milwaukee, look at Boston, even
look at Philadelphia. The other top level teams in the
(10:35):
Eastern Conference have done things that the Calves haven't done.
They have felt things that the Calves haven't felt. They
have seen things that the Calves haven't seen, and that's
not necessarily their fault. It's just a reality and that
experience can only be gained through games like the other
night against Milwaukee or last night against the Brooklyn Nets.
(10:56):
So I think these kinds of things that they're going
through now are going to benefit them greatly if they
respond properly in March, April, May, June, if they're lucky
enough to get that one. You know, uh, I see
doing one thing I did want to talk about in specific.
We can always go back to the inexperience because you're
all over it as usual. But we've seen two dominating
(11:21):
performances by Darius Garland in less than a month. And
the thing that's so amazing about it is that, in
my estimation, he's just as good as Mitchell, but you
can't compare him to Mitchell because they play a little
bit differently well. Mitchell is a is a score that
can shoot well. Darius Garland is a shooter that can
(11:44):
score and had added responsibilities to organize the offense. But
in my estimation, he's just as good as Mitchell, and
that's the dilemma for him and for Mitchell. You know,
how do they slice it up? If the way the
nets played last snipe, the way they distribute the ball
between Durant and Irving, is any indication on how to
(12:05):
do it, I should hope we take that, Yeah, exactly.
I mean I think it's something that that Darius has
to continue to get reps that, and then something that
Donovan has to continue to get reps that because guys,
you're right, like when it comes to Donovan, as much
as he was surrounded by talent in Utah, it was
a different kind of talent. It was a different kind
(12:26):
of playing style. And this kind of dynamic guard like
Darius is one that Donovan has never played alongside. And
Darius has never played alongside a dynamic scoring guard like Donovan.
So they both wanted to work and I think stylistically
they can find a way to make it work, and
I think J. D. Bickerstaff can find the right one
(12:47):
for them. But it's different and it's going to take time,
and it wasn't going to look steamless you know, thirty
thirty five games into the season. Um, these guys are
still trying to figure it out as they go while
laying against the top top, top, top competition in the
East and in the Western Conference. UM So it's just
like harder than I think a lot of people anticipated
(13:10):
it being. Um. In saying all of that, I think
you've seen signs of it. And it's interesting because Jav
Bickerstaff talked about it the other night. Guys, when it
comes to Darius, everybody in the organization, top to bottom,
they've all encouraged Darius to just be Darius and be aggressive,
and I think he's just programmed to try and make
(13:31):
the right play, get his teammates involved. But you saw
him last night against Brooklyn going to take over mode.
You saw him earlier this year when Donovan was out
against Minnesota going to take over more. So that like
is there for Darius. Those opportunities can be there, especially
if teams are going to load up the way that
Brooklyn did to try and steiny Donovan. And that's where
(13:53):
Darius needs to take that next step and understand, Okay,
forget setting up Jared, forget setting Evan. I've got the advantage.
I'm going to go to work again. We're talking with
Chris feed Or from Cleveland dot Com as he joins
us on this week's edition of CAP's HQ presented by
bet Way. Chris, we're not quite halfway home. Two and
(14:14):
thirteen my Kent State Matt says, that's thirty five games,
but we're close. But size up the first half and
then what do you see second half of the season
for this Cavalier team. How will it evolve? I think
they've been good given everything that they've dealt with. Guys.
We talked about Garius and Donovan trying to figure it
out together. Um, that's been something that has caused growing pains.
(14:37):
Obviously the Calves have you sixteen different starting lineups, which
is almost unheard of, but because of injury, because of illness,
because of trying to find the right combinations in the
right mixture, that's been their reality. So given those things, um,
and the fact that they haven't shown an ability to
consistently play at a high level on the road like
(14:59):
they do at home, for them to be fourth place
in the Eastern Conference, which is just loaded at the top,
and it's going to be a dog fight. The rest
of the way for them to be twenty two and
thirteen and be as dominant as they've been at home.
I think they're in a great spot, um, And at
the same time, you see signs of them learning from
(15:19):
things earlier on in the season, Right like, they got
smacked against Milwaukee twice in Milwaukee, and one of those
losses led to them staying in the locker room afterward
for a lengthy heart to heart chat where they needed
to have difficult conversations and they needed to make some
lineup changes. But then you you saw what they were
(15:40):
able to do at home against Milwaukee. They learned from
that experience, So I think they're going to continue to
learn as this season goes on. I think they're going
to continue to take the experience gained as the season
goes on. And I think the Calves are the kind
of team UM, based on how they're construc did that
(16:01):
can be better by the end of the season than
they were at the beginning of the season, and that's
been their goal all along. But it's great insights, great
stuff from Chris feed Or from Cleveland dot com as
he joins us on this week's edition of CABS HQ.
Presented by Bettwabe Very Quick Break and then more with Chris,
so stay with us on the Cavaliers Audio Verse. The
(16:30):
Cleveland Cavaliers recently hosted Kylan Cone and his family to
grant his special wish to become an NBA reporter for
the Cleveland Cavaliers. Shortly after Kylin was born, he was
diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Due to his condition,
he is unable to play sports, so he loves to
pretend to broadcast and interview players. The Calves were proud
to partner with a Special Wish to grant Kyland's big
(16:52):
wish of becoming an NBA reporter with the Calves. During
the Calves and Bucks game last week, they gave him
the most amazing experience with the evlier's broadcast team as
part of the Calves Care Special Wish Grant. Oh, this
is Kyla Coon, and I just want to thank the
Cleveland Cavaliers for making my special wish. Kylan. You were
absolutely amazing and a true natural. Calves in the community
(17:15):
is brought to you by Discount Drug Marts. We'll be
back with more Calves HQ presented by Betway. Right after
this on the Cavaliers Audio Verse. You're experiencing Calves HQ
(17:35):
on the Cavaliers Audio Verse once again. Here's Tim Alcorn
and Jim Chews. Welcome back Cavs HQ, presented by Betway.
Great to have you with us, and it's great to
have with us Chris feed Or from Cleveland dot Com.
His coverage is just extraordinary. If you're not following him
(17:55):
on social media, especially on Twitter, do so you'll get
more Calves info. Uh, then your brain can handle. It's
just awesome stuff. Jim. Let's start things off with you
in segment too with Chris, Thank you too. Yeah. One
of the things just uh talk a little bit about
Evan Mobley and his ups and downs and what he's
going through. It's very similar to your what you talked
(18:16):
about earlier with our back court. Yeah. I think it's
interesting when it comes to Evan because I think when
you're talking about his impact, that's very very different than
his production, right, And I think he's always the kind
of guy who's going to be defined more by impact
as opposed to production. Like his stats are very very
similar guys to what he did as a rookie, but
(18:38):
I think what he did as a rookie was so
rare that it kind of spoiled people and they came
to expect like this huge production leap from Evan, and
I don't think that was ever going to happen, in
part because his role offensively fluctuates on a night to
night basis, Like there are some nights where he's going
to get fourteen shots and then other nights where he's
(18:59):
probably going to get six to ten. Most nights, he's
going to be the fourth offensive option in terms of
his involvement on the offensive end, because Jared Allen is
involved in like everything that the Calves do from a
pick and roll standpoint, So it's Darius Garland, it's Donovan Mitchell,
it's Jared Allen, then it's Evin Mowgli. So it's just
not easy for him to get consistent touches and consistent
(19:20):
shot attempt but he's still making an impact on everything
that the Calves do, both offensively and defensively. Especially on
the defensive end of the floor. His impact metrics are
off the charts, especially for a twenty one year old kid.
And I think you feel that on a possession of
possession basis. I think you feel that on a nightly basis.
(19:41):
I think there are times where he can be more aggressive,
when he can try and assert himself more underneath, where
he can demand the basketball. I would like to see
him take that next step in terms of his evolution,
but in terms of just his offensive and defensive impact,
I think it's being felt by the Calves on a
nightly basis. You used impact quite a bit in your
(20:03):
response there, So I want to talk about future impact.
I don't know if it's imminent, but at some point
in the near future, we will see the return of
Ricky Rubio. So let's talk about the potential impact of
the return of Rubio will have on this team. Chris so,
because there are a lot of factors that I think
led to Ricky being as good as he was for
(20:26):
the Calves at the beginning of the season last year.
At that point, I was considering putting him on a
six Man of the Year ballot because he was playing
that well and he was making that kind of difference
for the Cavs. Statistically, the best two man lineup that
the Cavs had was Darius and Ricky. They were just
destroying opponents together and it was beautiful to see. But
(20:48):
a lot of that tied into he was coming off
the national team experience with Spain. He was in an
environment where he was really, really comfortable. He was getting
a lot of freedom from the bickerstaff, he was playing
big minutes, he had a huge role, and he was healthy.
By the way, those factors aren't necessarily in play right
now for Ricky. He's had about a year off. He
(21:12):
isn't coming off a national team experience, so he's going
to need time to shake off the rust. He's going
to need time to get himself back involved, and he's
coming to a team that is pretty well established, Like, yes,
they can use the things that he can bring, they
need the things that he can bring, but there's a
pretty set hierarchy when it comes to how the offense
(21:35):
is going to run and function already. So I think
it's going to take him time to blend into the
fabric of the team that way and continue to show
that he can be healthy. It's his second torn a
c L. Like I said, he's been off for about
a year recovering, and I just don't think it's realistic
to expect the Ricky Rubio that comes back this year
(21:56):
for the final couple of months to be as impo
toll as the one last year. And that's not to
say that he can't make an impact, because he can.
He can organize the team, he can make things easier
on Kevin Love, Jetty Osman, Harris LeVert. In that second unit,
he can handle pressure. He can just get the offense
into the right plays and the right set and there's
(22:18):
value in that. And he brings a positivity and an
infectious energy. But I just think we have to be
honest about the things that he's trying to come back from.
And statistically, if you look at past years, guys that
are coming back from a torn a c L they
make more of a difference in year two of the
recovery as opposed to year one. And I think the
(22:39):
Calves understand that good stuff. You know. One of the things,
you know, Chris, when you and I look at the Cavaliers,
we see them in three parts, their back court, the
Twin Towers, and then their bench play and get this
far without really have any real leadership in that second unit.
It's pretty good for them. There's been talk and never
(23:00):
but he keeps calling me and people that I meet
around the league, the Calves. Had you heard any rumors
or anything about them looking for maybe a small forward.
They want to upgrade that spot. I don't think it's
any secret um, It's just there are some complications involved
with that. I think. I think they've been looking for
(23:21):
a small forward for the last two and a half years.
But they're very, very difficult to get because number one,
the teams that have those guys are asking for a
premium or just aren't making them available because they're so valuable.
In today's NBA, the Calves are in a club with
five to ten teams that are looking for an upgrade
(23:42):
on the wing because that's what the game. You need
a two way wing, and the Calves know that they
need an upgrade there right. The problem is JB. Bickerstaff
continues to make these offense defense substitutions because every guy
that he could put at that spot, there's a give
and take involved tetard to core of it. They don't
guard Lamar Stevens, you know what I mean. You might
(24:03):
be gaining defensively, but you're losing offensively, and the Calves
need somebody that that can bring it at both ends
of the floor. But the other problem, they don't have
anything to offer at this point in time, they cannot
by rule in the n they cannot offer a first
round pick at the trade dedn't they cannot? And then
(24:26):
if you talk about the other assets that they could dangle,
you know, Harris LeVert, Jetty Osman, Dylan Windler, multiple second
round picks. But yeah, you could probably get somebody that
could help. But is that going to be the long
term answer that that position that has been a problem
for the last couple of years. Um, I think, to
(24:49):
be honest with you, guys, that's one of the reason
why there are naysayers when it comes to the Calves.
Beyond the fact that they are inexperience, beyond the fact
that their starters play big minutes and people expect them
to be exhausted by the end of the year, they
look at the small forward spot and say, how am
I supposed to take a team seriously when the other
guy has Jason Tatum, Chris Middleton, Jalen Brown, Jimmy Butler,
(25:11):
Tobias Harris, Steven, Dean Wade, and Isaaca Coora. Yeah, that's
great stuff. As they say in radio and television, stay tuned,
Chris feed or as always man, just great insights, great info,
and as I told our listeners and fans, if they're
not following you on Twitter and reading your stuff, they
(25:32):
are missing out great information. Hey to you and your family,
Married Christmas, Happy New Year, and we'll see you on
the road this week. Always happy and you. Chris feed
Or from Cleveland dot Com joining us on CAB's HQ
presented by bet Way. Quick Time Out. Chuck Swirsky, the
radio voice of the Chicago Bulls, is up next, so
(25:55):
stay with us. He's always a lot of fun. We'll
hear from Chuck after this. On the Cavaliers, the overse
De Rosan wide left just over the timeline pressure by
Holiday Derosan with the game hot twenty eight. De Rosen
in the middle of the floor, settles top side three.
Damn big time shot. Onions Baby Onions. The roles have
(26:20):
a thirty one. Oh you gotta love it. The radio
play by playboys of the Chicago Bulls, Chuck Swirsky and
his patented onions Baby Onions. Great to have Chuck joining
us on this week's edition of CALVS h Q presented
by Betway. And of course we're going to be seen
(26:42):
quite a bit of the Chicago Bulls here in the
near future. Calves with a quick two game road swing
this week Thursday night in Indiana, Saturday at Chicago, and
then Monday Chicago comes here. So we thought we'd get
an update and a little bit of a preview of
these upcoming matchups with the Bulls with Chuck Sworsky. Chuck
as always a pleasure to have you on Cam's HQ. Hey, Tim,
(27:05):
always a pleasure. We having to hold on for a second.
Tim shoones with a ball in the low post, works
on jump up with the right hand. Got it now?
Going way back to you know you just you just
gave up your age. Now, Chuck, I've got rid in
(27:25):
front of me. Here my notes twenty five years NBA
play by play with the bull You don't go as
far back as choons. Come on now, I saw I
saw Ji. Listen. Here's the story. I grew up in
Seattle and I would go. I would go to the
University of Washington games, pay two dollars. I would sit
(27:48):
in the fieldhouse and heck Edmondson Pavilion, and I would
watch U. C. L A come in with lu All
Sender cream and tool Jabbar, Steve Addison, Bill Walton that
whole gang. And I mean you at USC coming in
with Paul Westfall and a guy by the name of
John Block who played in the NBA. I mean it
(28:11):
was the Pack eight Conference him at the time, I
became a huge college ball fan, and Jim Jones was
bigger than life in the Midwest, and they had this
battle going on. Tim, And for your listeners, I want
you to google the American Basketball Association. That league had
(28:31):
some hooksters and they could flat out ball. And Jim
was played at Marquette, and Marquette was a basketball power.
And Al McGuire was a guy who had no filters.
He loved life, burned Jim. He spurned the n C
Double a tournament for the n I t Okay. He
(28:54):
was a magnificent motivator and coach. And Jim Jones was
larger than life as a colle ledge player. And Jim,
I'm sure you agree with one of everything. Chuck just said. Well, well,
Chuck is never led and and truth change is not
well Chuck, as we said, Uh, We're gonna see you
(29:16):
guys a couple of times here the next week Saturday night,
New Year's Eve in Chicago, and then Monday, the first
game of three here at the Rocket Mortgage Field House.
But kind of bring us up to date on the
Bulls tough loss last night to Houston fourteen and nineteen.
On the year. What can you tell us about what's
happened with the Chicago team so far this season? Well,
(29:38):
Tim and Jim, thank you so much for the invitation
to have a good day. Oh yeah, oh yeah, the Bulls, Jim,
they take one step forward and a step and a
half back, and then they go on. They gave up
a hundred and fifty points to Minnesota to start a
four game road trip. But I'm thinking to myself, you
(29:59):
gotta be kitty like, we've got Miami, Atlanta and the
Nix on the road. How were you get to manage
to get a w? But sure enough, they went three straight.
So then they get a two day break and they
got the first of four straight at home, and they
lose to Houston. A very athletic club. But these Rockets
(30:19):
are so young and they play with so much energy,
and the greatest strength is that they're young, and their
biggest weaknesses they're young. So they're up by eighteen, and
Tim and Jim here's the story. They're up by a team.
The Bulls come back take the lead, and then Porter
went off and he had a great game. And Jalen Green,
(30:42):
who I think is going to be a star in
this league, he went off and Shangoon was outstanding in
the post, and the Bulls lose at home. So if
you can figure out the Bulls, you let me know,
because I mean, it's very perplexing. You know. One of
the things took I wanted to talk to you about,
and I think it's the key to your pro problems,
(31:03):
any problem that you might have, is the loss of
Alonzo Ball. I always thought that he was so unselfish,
the great defender. I just thought that that acquisition made
everything else work for you absolutely. And I know every
team has injuries and every team has it, and I
get that, and you're right, because you know, the ball
(31:25):
club was the number one seed in the Eastern Conference
last year at the All Star break and things were great.
I mean, Alonso was having a career year, shooting the three,
defending his vision. You know, as soon as he received
the outlet pass from Boots or power forward, his head
was up. He was looking down court and he wouldn't
(31:48):
pull around with this East or West dribble, every dribble,
every possession. Jim had a purpose, okay, and then all
of a sudden the knee issue. Served says, we haven't
seen him after intergoing surgery in January on the floor.
He's around the ball club. He wants to play. He's
had surgery twice since that span, and I don't know
(32:13):
when he's coming back. And you know, the team really
doesn't speculate on an E t A. But again, you
know you've got to play with two you have. Again,
we're talking with Chuck Swirsky, the radio play by play
voice of the Chicago Bulls. Kvas and Bulls will meet
up later this week Saturday night in Chicago and then
Monday night here at Rocket Mortgage field House. So Chuck,
(32:35):
knowing that for the foreseeable future, Alonzo ball isn't in
the picture for the Chicago Bulls, is there enough there
with the likes of Derosan and Levine and Voots, Well,
this club right down to Jim has a major glaring issue.
And that's because the loss of Alex Caruso over the
shoulder injury. He suffered a concussion. He has passed several
(32:59):
tests in the protocol, but he still needs to cap
things off with a hard contact practice because they want
to see all his body handles that before they can
move on to an issue that right now I think
is a great concern for the Bulls, and that's the
shoulder string. And I'm not a doctor. I'm not going
(33:19):
to speculate on how long he's out. He's missed a
couple of games, so we'll have to see. But I mean,
Caruso is a down, blue collar, you know, grinded out
defensive player. I think that you know, with the loss
of Caruso, you're going with Io Dosumu at the point,
(33:39):
and uh Io in the second year, I think has
brought a lot. I think he's improved in certain areas
and I think he's still trying to find his way
as a point guard in this league, which is extremely difficult.
So right now, you know, you're seeing guys like the
Rosen Levine advanced the ball in the front court and
they are starting the initiating dribble pass where at times
(34:04):
you would think wing players are big guards are playing
off the ball. You know, I was just thinking, I
hate to be so morbid this today, but I just
want to see if if my thinking is correct. You know,
I remember when the injury page used to be one page,
and but now it's six pages. Chuck your thoughts and
(34:24):
what do you think is causing all of these darn injuries?
You know what, Jim, I have spoken to so many
people about this, and you know, is that the fact
that from the age of nine ten years old, these
kids aren't playing other sports and they're not developing other muscles.
I think that's part of the reason, because Jim, listen,
(34:47):
you were the exception of very tall human beings like
yourself and Bill Wennington, who got into basketball because you know,
the coach said, hey, you're tall, play or you developed
the skill set. I mean, Bill was a hockey player
until they couldn't find skates for him at the end
went to basketball. He grew up in Montreal and he
(35:09):
wanted to be a hockey player. He had no desire
to play basketball until his feet got to the point
they couldn't find him skates and the coaches said, hey,
try this game basketball. And so I don't know if
it's kids not playing multiple sports, I don't know. As
soon as the season ends, we got to get in
the lab two and a half weeks after the season's over,
(35:32):
and these then their bodies just aren't equipped because they
have the best nutritions, they have the best developmental coaches,
they have the best assistant coaches, they've got analytics, and
they've got everything. Get your fingertips. I mean, this isn't
Bill Fitch and Jimmy Rogers and Charlie Strosser here with
three people on an airplane. Okay, So I don't get it.
(35:56):
I just don't get it. I don't understand. And then
you know this rest management, and I'm thinking to myself,
you know, these fans deserve players. If you can play,
you should be in a uniform. There's a big difference, guys,
between hurt and injured. If you're injured, you couldn't play.
(36:17):
If you're hurt, everyone's hurt. I mean your knees are parking,
your joints are flair and all that stuff. I get it.
It's easy for me to come on your show and
talk about because I'm not a doctor and I don't
feel the pain and the player's body. But I'm just saying,
you know, I mean I want to see guys on
the floor. I don't want to see well, hey, listen,
(36:39):
if you can play sixty five games this year. It's
a bonus. What yeah, great point. Hey, Chuck, we know
you're pressed for time. We've only got a couple of minutes.
But I want to give you the opportunity to talk
about your book. Not only are you a great NBA
play by play, announced are one of the best in
the league. Now you're an author. Tell our listeners and
(37:00):
ands about always a pleasure. All right, Well, I'm gonna
do this. I'm just gonna give out the address where
you can find the book because I want to close
on your show with a story about the late Paul Silas.
If I may um, that's to me, he's a very
dear to my heart, but real quickly for the book,
Chuck Swarsky, the book dot com. Chuck Swarsky the book
(37:23):
dot com. A lot of stories about my Cleveland experiences,
including the Calves, and also about Frank Robinson when he
managed the Indians now Guardians. So I want to tell
a quick story about Paul Silas. I graduate from Ohio University,
I go back to Seattle. I'm twenty two years old.
I get a job as an intern at radio station
k i r O was the news talk radio station
(37:47):
One of my jobs and the elements of the job,
was to go into professional locker rooms, whether it was
the Mariners, Sonics, Seahawks. Holed up a microphone, get the
twenty second sound. I go to the radio station, cut
up the table and let the caster do the inque
in morning drive. I go into the Sonics locker room.
(38:09):
This is and I took the Sonics locker room. I'm intimidated.
You had a huge personality in Freddie Brown. You had
big time stars like Dennis Johnson. Jack Sikma was a rookie,
and then there was including John Johnson, a former CAB
was on that team. And then there was Paul Silas.
(38:29):
And I was so nervous. And about two weeks into
my internship, two weeks into the NBA season of seventy
seventy eight, Paul Silas pulls me aside and says, tell
me about yourself. I told him what I did. He said,
I'm going to tell you this right now. If any
of our players disrespects you or gives you a bad time,
(38:52):
there's my locker you come see me. I'll take care
of it. And it went what he goes, You heard me,
I will take care of it. If any player is
rude to you, if a player disrespects you because you're
young and you know you're trying to, you know, find
your way around in your career, you come to me.
(39:14):
From that point on. This is a true story. I'm
not embellishing one moment of this. At that point in time,
he gave me confidence as a twenty two year old kid.
And from that moment on, I had Paul Silas a
number one and I stayed in touch with him. I
(39:34):
told his son Stephen last night, UH this story. And
I never shared this publicly because I wanted Stephen to
hear it from me first. That's the type of man
Paul Silas was. He was a great, great human being period. Wow, Chuck,
that's an awesome story. Thank you for sharing that with
our listeners and our fans. That's tremendous. And of course
(39:57):
Paul Silas with the Calves connection, as he was the
coach here during his career. Well, that's an awesome story.
All right, my friend, We'll see you Saturday night in Chicago.
Great story, great story, Thank you guys all the best,
Happy New Year, and do you as well. We'll see
you Saturday. Well, that's a great story. Chuck Swirsky, the
radio play by play voice of the Chicago Bulls, joining
(40:20):
us here on kev's h Q presented by Bet Waite.
We'll be back. We'll but the finishing touches on this
week's show after this on the Cavaliers Audio Verse. That's
gonna do it for this week's edition of kev's HQ,
presented by Bet way Boy. A great big thank you
(40:40):
to both of our guests. You just heard from Chuck Swirsky,
the voice of the Chicago Bulls. Always a lot of
fun to talk to Chuck, Chris feed or earlier in
the program, Huge thank you to him. The two guys
on the other side of the window that make it work,
the dynamic duo of Marty Allen and Kurt McLoughlin. Biggest
thanks goes to you, the listeners. Talk to you again
Thursday from Indiana when the Calves take on the Pacers.
(41:03):
So until then, Tim Elkhorn saying thanks for listening and
so long everybody,
Hosts And Creators
Tim Alcorn
Jim Chones
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Therapy Gecko
An unlicensed lizard psychologist travels the universe talking to strangers about absolutely nothing. TO CALL THE GECKO: follow me on https://www.twitch.tv/lyleforever to get a notification for when I am taking calls. I am usually live Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays but lately a lot of other times too. I am a gecko.