February 8, 2023 • 52 mins
Tim Alcorn and Jim Chones are joined by Mr. Cavalier, Austin Carr, to discuss the win streak to end the week. Former Pistons player and current radio analyst Rick Mahorn comes on to talk about the Cleveland-Detroit matchup on Wednesday.
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Speaker 1 (00:08):
You. Welcome to Cavs HQ presented by bt Way. Thank
you for joining us on the Cavaliers Audio Verse. Now
here's your host, Tim Alcorn and Jim Jones. Good evening, everyone,
and welcome to Cav's HQ presented by pet Lay. On
the Cavaliers Audio Verse, Tim elk Gorn along with Jim
Jones Cavaliers off tonight, back in action tomorrow night, quick
(00:33):
stop at home when the Pistons are in town. Cavaliers
currently writing a three game winning streak following their win
last night over Washington down in the nation's capital, and Jim,
we'll talk about that as well, chat with Mr Cavalier himself.
Austin Carr is gonna stop by and pay us a visit,
and a little bit later on in the show, one
(00:53):
of our friends from the Pistons and a good friend
of yours, Rick Mahorne's gonna say hello to us on
Cav's HQ. It'll be nice to hear Big Rick talk
about their development with their franchise, because there where we
were two years ago. They've got a lot of talent
on that team and one of the most well loved
and respected coaches, coach Casey does a great job in
(01:17):
developing players. And then of course the great Austin Car
Mr Cavalier. Can't wait to hear his comments. Yeah, we're
gonna have some great insights from a C. And as
you said, Jim Rick Mahorne is always entertaining as well,
so stay with us. We've got a lot to talk
about him. This week's edition of CAP's HQ. It's presented
(01:37):
by bet Way and we're coming back with more after
this on the Cavaliers Audiover. Welcome about cavs Q, presented
by bet Way. On The Cavalier's Audiover, Kim L. Corn
along with Jim Jones and our guest this week. He's
made many appearances on campsis Que before, but it's all
(02:00):
is the pleasure to have Cavalier legend, both on and
off the floor. Austin Card, of course a C. His
number hangs in the rafters and now he does outstanding
work following the Calves on the television side with Valley
Sports as well as other endeavors with the Cavaliers. A
C has always great to have you on the show.
We appreciate your stopping by this week. It's always good
(02:21):
to be on with you. Guys. Man, it's a good
time always. The three of us last night read at
about this time. We're in Washington. Of course that's a
CS hometown, but we were there to watch the NBA
basketball the Cavaliers with an impressive win over the Wizards
to complete a back to back roady with big wins
over the Pacers and then the Wizards last night, and
(02:42):
a C. Do you feel as though the momentum is
now building with this Cavalier basketball team. It seems like it.
I mean, it feels more like they're starting to understand
that the intensity they have to start games with. I mean,
even because of who the hone it is, you know,
you have to come out ready to play it because
(03:03):
it's about maturity for them now. I mean, they have
to get to a point where, especially every game now
before the All Start break, after All Start break, it's
not gonna be many games up, so you gotta establish
yourself now. I agree, Mr Cavalier. It's always good to
talk to you, a C. Talk a little bit about
what JV has done. He's gone to an eighth man rotation.
(03:27):
Give our fans, you know they hear me enough. Give
our fans an idea what advantage is that for the
Cavaliers to go to an eight man rotation, well, I mean, really,
when you look at it, what it does, First of all,
it makes the game easy to call for him as
far as when to put a guyame, to take him out,
the whole thing. But it it gives him an opportunity
(03:48):
to really zero in on how he wants to attack
his opponent because he knows he's only bringing in three
other guys. He knows what their stimps are, so that
way he knows how to implement them into the game.
I mean, they all come in at certain times of
the game, but you wanna put them in there when
(04:09):
you feel they are going to be the most effective
and and get everything going. And I think really the
eighth man rotation is is the way to go right now,
because that's what he's gonna do. You know that gym
doing the playoffs, that's what he's gonna do. I mean,
because he's already had success with it now. So I mean,
when it comes to the playoffs is like home in pigeons.
(04:30):
Everybody's going back to what they feel is their best
way to attack things. And I think it really gives
a good feel for each individual and how to use
them properly in the lineup, because that's so important when
it comes because if you need a little extra boost,
you gotta know who to put in there for that
extra boost. You gotta know if you need some shooting,
(04:51):
you gotta know who to put in because when you're
trying to put more than eight in there, it really deludes.
What you're trying to do is for is keeping the
pressure on your opponent, because there's very few teams that
can go non intent deep and keep the same intensity level.
That's a great point. Again, we're talking with Austin carr
as Jim said Mr Cavalier as he joins us on
(05:14):
this week's edition of Cavs HQ presented by bet Way.
And you see, I want to follow that up the
Cavalier bench. A few weeks ago, there were a lot
of questions about the Cavalier bench and whether it was
one that can compete as far as the Eastern Conference
was concerned as far as the depth. But now with
the return of Ricky Rubio, the return of Dean Wade,
(05:36):
Harris Laverte goes back to coming off the bench. With
Isaaca Cora now in the starting lineup, and even Jetty Osmond.
Do you feel as though the bench has become a
strength of this team. Yes, I think it has because
Rubio's presence is used not just for the bench, but
for the starters. I mean, I watched Rubio how he
stays in Garland's head now. He's always constantly talking to
(05:58):
him about situations and what's going on. I mean, and
the whole team seems to be bullianted because of his presence.
And when you have that, it's something that that I
think even coach Bickerstaff was looking forward to to bring
him back. See how he goes because he understands how
to play the game, and when you watch him orchestrate
(06:18):
out there, man, he really And I only think Garland's
game has started to improve now that he's back, because
he's playing more of a legitimate point guard now instead
of trying to be a scoring guard first, inner point guard,
He's starting to know when to add the scoring to
being the point guard. And and and if if that happens,
(06:40):
that means him and Donovan can can coexist. And coexisting
is what you're gonna need in the playoffs, because you're
gonna need that type of intensity all game. You can't
just have it one guy in, one guy out. You
gotta have them both in there to try and and
win these games in the in the playoffs situation. So
I'm looking forward to um to what we have to
(07:01):
bring it to the table now with the bench and
rewheel and what's coming now and how they're playing now,
because if they all seem to be a little bit
more happy. And then when you think about it, it's
coming at the right time too, because this is the
time you want to be starting to get it together.
You have to start winning games now. You have to
win the games you supposed to win, and you split
(07:23):
with the teams that you are level with. And if
you can do that, we should make the playoffs great
stuff they see really really great. Hey, look it. As
far as development, probably the most pleasant surprise has got
to be Isaac o Coral and his ability to make
that shot. Talk a little bit about his improvement, Oh,
Jim Man, I mean, well, you're not both bad practice
(07:46):
watching him work on it and me And really, when
if practice first started back in training camp, man I
was sitting there and saying, WHOA, I don't know if
this is gonna work. I mean, because it really didn't
look like it was. It was he was gonna take
it to the to where he is now. But he's
a relentless worker. And if you add his numbers to
(08:09):
the Cavaliers other four guys, man, we're gonna have him
started five along with his defense, you can have him
start in five. Is gonna be hard to handle because
you see how important hitting that shot from the corner,
because especially when you have Alan or Mobile on his
side or the floor, his man seems to always be
(08:29):
the one cheating to try to double team and help out,
and now they can't do that. And if this continues
and he's starting to get better vision, what I mean
by vision is when you see the ball in a
in in in a five man situation, when you see
that ball, you have to look and you have to
either have a field or look on where you can
(08:50):
go with the ball as far as putting it on
the floor or not putting it on the floor, of
trying an open man. You have to have a feel
for that, and Isaac was not showing that last season,
but he's starting the show now he has a feel
for because what I noticed now he hits a couple
of those shots and that next two or three times
that the guys running at him. He's starting to put
(09:12):
it on the floor now, whereas before he was just
standing like a frozen like he was frozen. But now
he's starting to see and understand how to get it
because he made a shot yesterday that I really didn't
think he could see because when he went in from
the corner and he had that little alley move where
he came up. You have to see those type of situations.
(09:32):
You can't just going there and just randomly just throwing
up there. You have to when you get into those situations.
You know, Jim, when you get into those situations like that,
it's all impromptu, so you have to react to what's
happening to you. But you have to feel it and
see it. And he did a good job of feeling
in and I really, uh, I'm really starting to get
him pressed now because if he can give us tend
(09:55):
the fifteen points he hit those key shots, that's really
gonna put us in a great position the playoffs start. Well,
there's no doubt. Again. We're talking with a c Austin Carr,
our guest on this week's edition of CAB's h CO
presented by bet Wave, A quick time out. We're gonna
have a lot more with Austin, so stay with us
on CAB's HQ on the Cavaliers Audio Verse. His three
(10:22):
balls short rebound Alan on the hand off to Mitchell.
Mitchell streets to the four court in the lane, gave
it to Garland, touches it to Mobli paw with two hands.
Oh my goodness, right side to a corral in e
lane Allen look out, Oh by a thunders tomahawk jam
from Jared Allen. Here comes Garland to the other end.
Love to Mitchell, pow with the right hand. Well, what
(10:45):
a play this is, Donovan Mitchell. Welcome back to cav's HQ. Well,
your host Tim and Jim welcome back CAB's HQ, presented
by Betway on the Cavaliers Audio Verse. Great to have
you with us, Tim elk Gorn along with Jim Jones,
and great to have with us is Austin card. Of course,
a c and Jim Jones were teammates of those Wine
(11:05):
and Gold Cavalier teams back in the seventies, and now
their teammates on the broadcast team. As far as the
Calves are concerned. Jim on the radio side with yours truly,
and A C of course does tremendous work on the
television side on Bally's Sports. So I'll let one teammate
ask another teammate a question to get things started here. Jim,
(11:25):
thank you to him. He see I want to stay
in development. Talk a little bit about the consistency of
Mobley over the last three and a half weeks. Yes, Jim,
I tell you, it's amazing. It seems like not only
is as it coming along, but now you know Mobley's
coming along. I mean when you look at all of
(11:47):
a sudden attribute a lot of his development coming from
the calves trying to get more involved and getting the
ball below the free throw nine. They have started to
really understand. And then they're putting him on the side
of the floor by himself as opposed to I mean,
once in a while he and Alan will a little run,
(12:07):
a little stunt, plays together and they are accepted with
passing the ball to each other. It's around that basket.
But they put him on the floor now and he's
not hesitating, and consequently the defense can't sit on him
because the one thing he does do a little bit
too much is dribble the ball too high and crowded situations.
But he's moving so fast with it now, quickly and
(12:30):
going strong that it's really putting them in situations where
he only has to deal with one man and you're
not gonna stop in one man. I mean, it's amazing
Like watching him last night, how you know, because Porsingas
is such a tall guy. He blocked his first shot
like that and with causing problem. But after that he
started giving them a little hid fake or just hesitating
(12:52):
briefly to get Porsinga to commit, and then he would
either dunk it or make a little shot at me.
He's really starting to get you know, we already know
he is proudless on defenses off the chart. To me,
if he doesn't be on the defensive team, it's his
third team, second team. He might not make the first team,
but I think he should be there. But I think
(13:12):
if the Calves getting the top four the Eastern confidence,
he might make first team on defensive team. But now
his offensive game is coming along and he's starting to
have more freedom. He's feeling strong. He's really starting to
get more aggressive now. I don't know if that's from
being in the weight room or Garland pushing him to
give him more aggressive but he's starting to be real
(13:34):
physical around that basket now and letting people have a
little taste of those elbows where they need him. And
that is something that you have to have in this
league if you're gonna survive. In that page, A C.
Jim asked you about Isaaca Coro and now Evan Mobley,
So I'm gonna ask you about one more player. Uh,
and you love those backcourt guys. Let's talk about Darius Garland.
(13:54):
His play as of late has just been elite to
it has been All Star status even though he won't
be in the All Star Game. But talk a little
bit about d G. And for you, as an off
guard the shooting guard, how does a terrific and elite
point guard benefit the two guards which will in this
case would be Donovan Mitchell. It's great because when you
(14:17):
have a guy like that who is so adapt with
the ball having and beat you off the dribble, you
always have In other words, I would almost bait my
man to go try to double team because I know
all that's gonna do is open up things for the
week side of the court. Because if you go to
double team. There is there's if he is just one
(14:39):
of the best in the league that beating the double
team or finding the open man off the double team,
and I mean you almost give the Cavalier's points when
you do that. Now you almost have to take your
chance with one man dealing with him because if you
let him beat that double team as easy as he does,
it really makes it tough on the defensive team. And
(14:59):
now you can see what I've seen the last couple
of times is how Donovan is realizing when he's moving
to you beating off that double team, then you have
to float. You have to float with him, but away
from him, because now what's gonna happen is when you
float with him and away from his man is gonna
have to it's gonna start cheating because after a while,
(15:21):
the coach is gonna say, you gotta stop this penetration,
and they're gonna start cheating that way, and he's gonna
get those little fifteen twenty footshots wide open there on
the obviously side of the floor, or the three point shots.
So with his ability, I'm really starting to get really
confident that you know, if that they're starting to play
together but I have to attribute it all to Rubio
(15:43):
coming back, because Rubio is constantly in his ear teaching
him and telling them certain things. And that's how there
has improved last season. What's through Rubio's tooledge. And I
mean he he's really showing him areas because Rubio is
not task, he's not quick, but at the same time,
(16:03):
he gets the job done, he gets to where he
wants to get to, he gets the shots he wants.
He I mean, he does it all because he knows
how to play the game. And and then that's where
Darius is gonna add. The more he's been Rubio in
his ear, the more he's gonna add that to his game.
And I really think he's been playing solid point guard
since he's been back, Since Rubio has been back in
(16:25):
his ear, great stuff, I see. You know, you and
I talked so often that I know one of the
other things that we talked about was Rubio plays like
we used to play. You know, there was there was
a time, faithful and fans that I don't care how
high you could jump, or how fast you were, or
even if you could shoot, if you didn't understand how
(16:47):
to play, how to set pigs, how to be a
scoring thread, you know, making good decisions on the floor
with it without the ball. Back then, those guys didn't
make the NBA, you know, they had to go to
the A B A over in Europe. But Rubio plays
in that vein they see it. I'm amazing and you're
and you're right. He has helped uh, young Garland become
(17:10):
the great guard that he has becoming. You know, a
couple of people trying to tell me that Mitchell was
better than Garland, but you know what, there are different
types of players. Darius is definitely a point guard and
then uh Mitchell is definitely a big time score. There's
a difference, isn't there. Oh yes, it's a huge difference.
(17:30):
I mean when you look at it, even though Donovan
can run the team from his position, there is the
one that has to understand the floor of the game.
He has to understand who's hot, He has to get
anybody off the floor on the floor shot right away.
I mean, those are situations that I learned. I came in.
All I was was give me the ball, I'm gonna
(17:52):
put it in the basket and that's it. And then
Lenny taught me the little nuances of the game, and
how to set guys up, how to get guys involved,
get them going early, find out who's who's ready to
play tonight, who's not. I mean, all those little things,
and that's what there's just learning from Rubio, and uh,
those are just those are invaluable parts of the game
(18:14):
because that's winning basketball. That's how you win in this
league of professional players and everybody's good. And I really
like the fact that we have a Rubio in the
house because he's gonna it all spreads through the whole team.
If we keep playing like we're playing now. I think,
like I said on the air last night, I envisioning
(18:36):
this team as being nobody getting more than twenty five points.
But you have everybody in double figures one or two
on the bench and double figures anywhere between twenty five
and thirty five assist the game. You're not gonna beat
the Calves that way. You're not gonna beat us if
we're getting all of that, because that's like we have
been to play these last two games. That's when we're
(18:58):
at our optimus, when we're passing the ball. We got
everybody involved. To me, that's why you see the surge
of energy. Now. It's because everybody's is invested in it now,
because everybody's touching the ball, everybody's getting the piece of
the action. And Jim, you know how that that's contagious, man.
That gets going where you can almost walk on water
(19:19):
when you start playing because everybody is involved. And when
you have every all fifteen players involved in it like
they are now, I mean, it's kinds of situation where
you don't feel like you can lose, and that's how
you win the important ball game. That's a great, great point.
A c has always great info, great insights. We appreciate
(19:40):
it so so much, and not only Jim and I
but our fans and our listeners as well. Great to
have you on this week and uh look forward to
more appearances with you on cabs HQ. This was terrific.
Thank you so much. Thank thank both of you, and
let's get another win. Here we go Pistons in town
on Wednesday. We'll take a quick time out. More to
(20:02):
come on Cav's HQ following this on the Cavaliers Audio
d in partnership with First Energy and Scholastic. Last week,
the Cleveland Cavaliers Mobile Book Fair set up a wide
variety of books at Helen Arnold Community Learning Center in Akron, Ohio,
(20:24):
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The Cavaliers are proud to promote reading and literacy in
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HQ presented by bet Way right after this on the
(20:45):
Cavaliers Audio Verse. You're experiencing Calves HQ on the Cavalier
His Audio Verse once again. Here's Tim Alcorn and Jim Jones.
Welcome back. It's Cav's HQ presented by bed Way. On
(21:07):
the Cavalier's Audio vers Tim L. Gorn along with Jim Jones.
I've got a great big thank you to Austin Carr
for stopping by and paying us a visit here on
Cavs HQ. When we go from one legend to another,
as now stepping into that legend's chair and joining us
as a guest. It's not his first appearance on Cavs HQ.
It's great to have him back. Rick Mhorne, Piston legend
(21:31):
and now a member of the Piston broadcast crew. Rick,
it is great to have you on Cav's HQ. Well,
you know, Tim, I get beat up by by Chones
because you know what, man, this this guy has been
abusing me since I was a rookie. Fact of the
matter is that, Tim, Yeah, I feel for you because
you gotta deal with him on a day to day basis. Well,
(21:54):
he hasn't beat me up yet, but I'm sure he's
been tempted a timer too. No, he can't fight now,
you know when you get all the knuckles hurt, and
his knuckles when he try to even eat food, his
hands hurt trying to feed himself. How do you know that? Man?
I know because I'm starting to get that. Now. What's up? Chelsea?
(22:16):
You Bubay, You You're the one I'm trying to look
in this world. I'm just trying to make it to
the next day. There we go, Hey, Reck, When we
opened up the show and we were announcing our guests
and again Austin joined us in our previous segments and
now it's your turn. But Jim mentioned your role with
(22:36):
the Pistons as a broadcaster, and Jim said, the Pistons
now are where the Calves were a year or two
ago that they're on that climb. Do you agree with
Jim's assessment? You know it when you when you draft,
you when you go through draft, you go through this rebuilding, rejoice,
whatever we were redoing. You know, it becomes uh kind
(23:00):
of mind mind taking because you want to win, but
you know you're looking for the future. Business. Got some
nice pieces. But you know, when you're healthy and everything
starts to fall into place, it looks good because you
know you can. You know we didn't have we had
a first round pick and Kate Cunningham just like Cavaliers
had and Lebron James and Kyrie and Bennett and so
(23:24):
on and so on. But you know you have to
get better sooner or later, and hopefully these young pieces
come together soon. But the way the the way the
NBA is, you don't know how long you're gonna have
these pieces because it's maybe a quick turnaround or maybe
a little longer turnaround. So it's kind of fickled now
for me as I assess it and look at it
(23:45):
because you know this rookie contracts deals are short. Then
you see um, you see Kye re tell them you
know you've got guys that we have player em powerment now,
So you I really don't know, but hopefully we are
on that on that um better curve of trying to
get better Rick this kid cutting Ham and Ivy. It
(24:07):
looks like you get two players that you can really
build on. You know, having you know guys that you
can build on is how quick they can learn crush.
You know, we look at players, we look at talent wise,
but we also look at the mental side of it.
How quickly can they adapt to the NBA game, because
you know, in this league with the other twenty nine
other teams, they're studying your game. You have to learn,
(24:29):
you have to learn to play different paces. You have
to know how to take the the first step and
know how to finish on the next step. So it's
always gonna be a work in progress because when you
you're one to two years away from being in high
school basketball and you're in the NBA and next thing
you know, you're playing against these these these young men
(24:51):
that's been there for a while, and all of a sudden,
it's like, whoa where did this come from? So that's
that's got to come with the you developing into a
better player, but also your mental edge. Rick. You mentioned
the loss of Kate Cunningham for the rest of this year,
and you've used the term learning and development. Uh how
much did that not only hurt Kaide obviously in his
(25:13):
second year, but just the overall development of this Pistons
team for the plan that's in place. Well to him,
I wish I had the crystal ball and I could
say this team could be this in two years, or
this team could be this in a year. It's all
about coming and understand basketball one oh one. You could
(25:34):
jump out of the gym, you can fly, you can
you can run faster and uh faster than the flash
across the world. But if you don't know how to
stop in between played a short game like on on
the golf course. You may drive far, but you may
not put worth anything, but you can't get in the middle.
And that's where we have to find out if these
(25:55):
players can you know, mold themselves into those players that
we perceived them to be. I always used to look
at players throwbacks. I look at throwbacks. I look at
like the other night we played eight and with the Sons,
and I said, boy, that's that's that's Bill Russell blocking
shots and shooting that little jumper like that. You know,
you look at and try to compare them to someone
(26:17):
in the past, to put them in the present, to
see what potential they can that they can be if
they continued on that curve, be getting better, you know, Rick,
I'm looking at the Eastern Conference and so far we're
ahead of the Western wins and losses. Uh, the East
is really tough. Talk a little bit about the top
(26:37):
five teams, a little bit about where they are. Well,
I just saw the Boston Celtics other night, and they
didn't even have Jalen Brown. I mean, they had Jason Tatum,
but didn't even have Jalen Brown. They have a good team.
They're very deep, you know, they can go down the line.
They're not when they become whole with Marcus Smart and
if you if Dolla Aari can come back and give
(26:58):
them something off that bench, that's gonna be the team
to beat in the East. But then I look at
the Milwaukee Bucks. They won the championship and then they
got this other m v P named Johanna's onto the Coompole,
and I just think his game is really developed. Now.
That's when you talk about guys understanding and not Crushia.
We we knew back in the day. We weren't friends.
(27:21):
Off we weren't friends. Basically, we weren't friends. On the
court we were we were combatants. We were we didn't
like you, You ain't like us. And it's like, you
know what, It's all good. You wanted to compete. But
when I look at the way that Milwaukee with Johannice
is as long as Jhanna is playing the way he plays,
this whole team follows. And if they get hold with
(27:43):
Chris Middleton, that's another team you have to look at.
But to meet the surprise team, and I look at
it the Philadelphia seventy sixers. If Joe Lymbat stays healthy
and you you look at the way he plays, and
if if p. J. Tucker can get four points instead
of no points, they could be a team that you
go wow. All of a sudden, you see a new
(28:04):
James Harden, a guy that you go man. He used
to shoot the ball so much all the time. Every
time he touched the ball, he shot it. But yet
he knew he couldn't win a championship. So now this
is the course that I see Philadelphia as they moved forward,
and then I look at the Cavaliers don Donovan Mitchell, man,
we should have had him in Detroit, and uh we
(28:26):
we took Luke Kennard. And I'm not saying Luke Canard
is a bad player, but Donovan Mitchell got a chip
on his show every time he's on the court. And
you have to look at the way that Evan Mobley
is playing. And also Jared Allen. That was a great trade.
You know, if from the nets of Brooklyn that right
now look like you might as well just throw a
(28:47):
grenade in there. Just fell in that room. But that team,
when I look at it, I'm going they could be
good with the little pieces they got. With Durant, they
ain't gonna win a championship. But the east Man they
and get real thick here. Do you know? Orlando is
a team that I picked earlier in the year to
be a surprise team and I and this Eastern Conference
(29:09):
has become a gauntlet. I don't know what's going on
in Atlanta, but I see Orlando coming, uh, you know, developing.
They got the Wagner brothers, who guys that went to college.
This is the funny thing, Crusher and you know, and
Tim you also know when you go to college and
develop the maturity and you can learn your game. You
(29:30):
got the Wagner brothers who basically played three four years
at Michigan, and you go, okay, they're they're fundamentally sound.
That's what's missing in a lot of to me and
the NBA when you do get a lot of younger players,
just the two dribble drives. You see guys like I
saw the other night Malcolm Brognan, who was the Rookie
(29:51):
of the Year, second round pick that plays in between
the game. I look at Uh Green for the Golden
State Warriors, their development. I look at the way Memphis
has done their player development by getting guys that played
like Clark, guys that played three or four years in college.
If they got a low first round pick and then
(30:13):
you throw in John Moran, next thing you know, you're
seeing teams good. You know, developed quicker because those those
years in college. It becomes disciplined and it also becomes
the fact that they have to really work on their
fundamental points. Just outstanding points from Rick Mahorne, our guest
on Cavs HQ presented by Bet Waite. We're gonna hear
(30:36):
more from Rick, so stay with us. We'll be back
after this time. Out of the Cavaliers Audio Verse. You're
listening to calvs HQ on the Cavaliers Audio Verse. Now
once again, here's Tim Alkhorn and Jim Jones. Welcome back
(30:59):
gets ms HQ presented by that Way on the Cavaliers
Audio versus Tim old Corn along with Jim Jones. Let's
not forget our dynamic duo. The guys who make it
sound good. Our producers are Kurt McLoughlin, Senior producer and
technical director, Marty Allen. And again we're thrilled to have
Rick Mahorn joining us this week on cavs h Q
and Wreck. You called Jim Jones during his playing days
(31:22):
are combatant, But now I know he's a friend of yours,
So run friend to another, Jim. I'll let you get
started with things. And Rick here in the second half. Yeah, Hey, Rick,
I just wanted to know about your show. What did
I do wrong on your national podcast show that I
can't be on anymore? And you didn't listen? Man, you
didn't do nothing. You gotta pay your bill, little rushes sotimes.
(31:43):
You know a lot of times, you know you Tim
listen My history goes back to Austin Carr. Austin Carr
was it was he. I was his rookie, my rookie year,
and I'm sitting there. Austin Cark comes here with that
deep boy, Hey, you gotta take me to practice rookie.
I'm sitting there like then I get the next year
they trade the bullets, trade for Jim Tones. The next
(32:07):
thing you know, I'm fitting. Look, I'm I'm trying to
be a guy. I'm trying to be a guy with
him Spencering Heywood, and they're talking to me like I've
been in the league for like four years and I'm
sitting there looking at him. It's only my second year
and it's the first year I even started. And they
just looking at me saying, well, you gotta do you
know you remember? And so from that's what you And Hey, Rick,
(32:33):
what's the name of your show so our fans can
tune in? Well, you know, it's The bottom Line Sports
Show with Gerald Brown. We're on a serious satellite radio
NBA channel channel eighty six. I don't know the other channel.
You know, it's x and Radio. Come on every Saturday
from ten to one and we have a good time.
You know, we we take callers, just a three hour
(32:53):
show and crushing and you know you'll be on this Saturday.
I promised that you. Thank you, thank you. I appreciate hey,
Ricky rick Moving forward, I wanted to talk a little
bit about about Coach Casey because he seems like the
right man for the right show with his patients and
his discipline and his toughness. Talk a little bit about
(33:13):
coach we'll I tell you that I know Dwayne, I
mean Casey, you know everybody. You know, it's funny that
I'm on the first name basis with even the coach,
the general manager, the president. It's like, I ain't got
time to mess with Chull. I'm old too, I ain't
got time. But you know, Casey is that has the
patience of a saint, and it's like I want to
(33:33):
call him sat Kasey because when you're dealing with a
lot of difficult things that you're in this development, he's
accustomed to winning in Toronto and they really treated him
bad up in Toronto. I thought he was the right
man there, but hey, this is the business of basketball,
as we see, and as they moved forward, Coach Casey
does things you know, trying to make sure that these
(33:56):
players be more responsible and be accountable for each other
of it. And you know Crussia where we played and
you played with the Lakers, it was about accountability and
a lot of times I'll be looking at, you know,
mistakes on the basketball court, it's like, Okay, you made
that mistake last game, that let's dot make it the
next game. That's the learning and that's the patients that
(34:18):
coach Casey has as that coach and he's not a
yellow he's not a screamer, and that's that's good. You
want to have that Colm presence around the team that
struggles mentally when you're losing games. Yeah, again, we're talking
with Rick Mahorne, Detroit Piston legend and now a part
of the Detroit broadcast team and as you just heard,
also hosted a very very popular podcast. So great to
(34:40):
have Rick joining us Pistons in town tomorrow night to
take on the Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Field House. And Rick,
I had somebody asked me this question the other day
and I had to ponder it for a little bit.
So I'll ask you the question asked of me. You
go back to those Cavalier teams that played at the
Coliseum after Jim and Austin, the already hot Rod Nance
(35:01):
Harper team. And I was asking if this team, meaning
the Cavaliers, reminds me of that team, a young team
that's growing and learning how to win. Now you played
against that team, do you see similarities? You know what
I do see similarities to that. I mean hot Rod
(35:21):
Williams coming off the bench, and Elo and and uh
Ron Harper and uh what's the point price? And I
mean you even had Larry Nance, even though Larry. I
saw Larry Nance Jr. Last year when y'all had him.
He said to me, I set up saw him after
the game. I said, what's up, Larry, how you doing?
(35:41):
He was like, I can't talk to you. I said why.
He said, you know in my house you're the Boogeyman.
And I'm I said, your father's your father gave you
that because I used to go at his behind and
try to break his back. No, but it was that
you know, this team, your team that I see now
and what they had last year. And then to add
(36:05):
Donovan Mitchell, I mean even marketing in an All Star
this year. You you look at you the skill set
that he has is being that small forward. But yeah,
I do see some similarity similarities to that. But man,
we used that to battle them boys out in rich Field.
We those were some battles and and Doherty was a beast.
(36:25):
You know at that time. He didn't get He doesn't
get enough respect even though he's doing all these hot
rods and cars and stuff like that. But at Doherty,
that was a team that we had to we had
to climb above in order to win a championship. And
we did that by just you know, pure grit and
we just knew that we can beat him. Great stuff. Hey, Rick,
(36:46):
what were the main ingredients for you guys winning those
two championships? Talk a little bit about what it takes. Well,
you know, Crusher, you dealt with that with the with
the Lakers, and you did with that with that in
your career. It's about having an intestinal fortitude to say,
you know what, you're not gonna beat us. We're gonna
be with defense. You know, now, I don't do you
(37:09):
both of you guys? Do you even see defense anymore?
Notch is it it's allowed in the NBA anymore? Some
days I'll be sitting there going like, are you serious?
The offense has the advantage, and that record the Pistons
had against the Denver Nuggets one eight six or one
eight eight and all that stuff that they that's gonna
(37:30):
be broken probably by the end of this year. I
just sit back and go, wow. But but we did.
We played defense and and we we matched up against you,
and we just was that intestinal fortitude that these guys
you know that I played with and still keeping contact with,
that we really wanted to beat you, and we wanted
(37:51):
to beat you back. Jim always or I shouldn't say always,
but recently has been referencing a quote from Steve Kerr
where he said the league doesn't reward good defense anymore. No,
they don't. I'm watching some stuff, man, Man, I just
sit back and go like, you gotta be kidding me.
(38:12):
That's a foul. Or it's the fact that you can
take a guy off the dribble, but you keep position
and the guy just well flails his arms up in there.
That's a foul. Wow. This, you know, the advantages of
offense is the same as it in football. You can't
even touch a guy, you know, grab a guy, not
(38:34):
even five that's a foul. That's a foul. That's a penalty.
And you know the Super Bowls coming up, and I'm like, okay,
I want to see what calls they do. Now. Well, well,
Rick again, we cannot thank you enough for stopping buying
paying us a visit. Uh. I know you're gonna pound
on us up on the Joe Take Perch tomorrow night
(38:56):
in Rocket Mortgage field House. But yeah, because my money,
you better make sure you Chones, you better have my mind.
If I don't get any ice cream, I'm a bus
Jones in his head. Hey, I've been killing it lately
to chocolate took cookies with Mitt Chip and Vanilla. A monster.
It's a monster. I bet I better see one in
(39:19):
front of me otherwise I'm gonna chip you and met you. Well,
you got it, you got it, because I'm too old
to take any blows right now. You know, boys, he's
not exaggerating. I've seen it live in person every game.
And the Joe Take Perch, the double cookie, double scoop
from Jim Chones. Oh it's good, y'all know what, y'all
(39:43):
could call me anytime once I get that, call me anytime. Well,
we'll see you for ice cream and the Joe take perch.
Thanks guys, I really appreciate you. Thank you, Rick, Rick Morn,
Detroit Piston legend. Now I'll standing broadcaster joining us here
on Cavs d Q presented by bet Way. We'll come back,
(40:05):
we'll wrap it all up after this on the Cavaliers
Audio Verse. That's gonna do it for this week's edition
of Cav's HQ presented by bet Way. That was a
fun show. Again, A great big thank you to Cavalier
(40:25):
legend Austin Carr for stopping by. Some great insights from
a c And then you just heard from the always
entertaining Rick Mahorn and Jim. I know you guys used
to be combatants, but he's a great friend of yours
now and he's a great guest on Cav's HQ. Yes
he is. You know I love a c he's Mr
Cavalier and stands for all the right things in our organization.
(40:49):
And uh, I love Rick because I raised Rick his
rookie year when he came in. Everybody else was so
afraid of him because he had a hell of a temper,
physical player, but one of the smartest rookies that I've
ever had a chance to play with. He understood the game.
He was fearless, he would guard anybody, and he brought
(41:09):
physicality not only to that Bullet team, but he was
the cornerstone of physicality. In fact, ahead of Robman and Lamber.
It was all about Rick Mhorn. When the fight started,
they all ran behind. Rick one of the most fierce
competitors that I could ever imagine. He was just unbelievable.
Now he's doing a great job for Detroit. Great stuff
(41:31):
from wreck. So that's gonna do it. Jim and I
will be back with you again tomorrow night from the
Joe Take perch when the Cabs take on the Pistons.
Tips at seven, Huntington tip Off Show comes your way
at six thirties. So until then, tim Elorn saying thank
you much for listening, and so long everybody,
You. Welcome to Cavs HQ presented by bt Way. Thank
you for joining us on the Cavaliers Audio Verse. Now
here's your host, Tim Alcorn and Jim Jones. Good evening, everyone,
and welcome to Cav's HQ presented by pet Lay. On
the Cavaliers Audio Verse, Tim elk Gorn along with Jim
Jones Cavaliers off tonight, back in action tomorrow night, quick
(00:33):
stop at home when the Pistons are in town. Cavaliers
currently writing a three game winning streak following their win
last night over Washington down in the nation's capital, and Jim,
we'll talk about that as well, chat with Mr Cavalier himself.
Austin Carr is gonna stop by and pay us a visit,
and a little bit later on in the show, one
(00:53):
of our friends from the Pistons and a good friend
of yours, Rick Mahorne's gonna say hello to us on
Cav's HQ. It'll be nice to hear Big Rick talk
about their development with their franchise, because there where we
were two years ago. They've got a lot of talent
on that team and one of the most well loved
and respected coaches, coach Casey does a great job in
(01:17):
developing players. And then of course the great Austin Car
Mr Cavalier. Can't wait to hear his comments. Yeah, we're
gonna have some great insights from a C. And as
you said, Jim Rick Mahorne is always entertaining as well,
so stay with us. We've got a lot to talk
about him. This week's edition of CAP's HQ. It's presented
(01:37):
by bet Way and we're coming back with more after
this on the Cavaliers Audiover. Welcome about cavs Q, presented
by bet Way. On The Cavalier's Audiover, Kim L. Corn
along with Jim Jones and our guest this week. He's
made many appearances on campsis Que before, but it's all
(02:00):
is the pleasure to have Cavalier legend, both on and
off the floor. Austin Card, of course a C. His
number hangs in the rafters and now he does outstanding
work following the Calves on the television side with Valley
Sports as well as other endeavors with the Cavaliers. A
C has always great to have you on the show.
We appreciate your stopping by this week. It's always good
(02:21):
to be on with you. Guys. Man, it's a good
time always. The three of us last night read at
about this time. We're in Washington. Of course that's a
CS hometown, but we were there to watch the NBA
basketball the Cavaliers with an impressive win over the Wizards
to complete a back to back roady with big wins
over the Pacers and then the Wizards last night, and
(02:42):
a C. Do you feel as though the momentum is
now building with this Cavalier basketball team. It seems like it.
I mean, it feels more like they're starting to understand
that the intensity they have to start games with. I mean,
even because of who the hone it is, you know,
you have to come out ready to play it because
(03:03):
it's about maturity for them now. I mean, they have
to get to a point where, especially every game now
before the All Start break, after All Start break, it's
not gonna be many games up, so you gotta establish
yourself now. I agree, Mr Cavalier. It's always good to
talk to you, a C. Talk a little bit about
what JV has done. He's gone to an eighth man rotation.
(03:27):
Give our fans, you know they hear me enough. Give
our fans an idea what advantage is that for the
Cavaliers to go to an eight man rotation, well, I mean, really,
when you look at it, what it does, First of all,
it makes the game easy to call for him as
far as when to put a guyame, to take him out,
the whole thing. But it it gives him an opportunity
(03:48):
to really zero in on how he wants to attack
his opponent because he knows he's only bringing in three
other guys. He knows what their stimps are, so that
way he knows how to implement them into the game.
I mean, they all come in at certain times of
the game, but you wanna put them in there when
(04:09):
you feel they are going to be the most effective
and and get everything going. And I think really the
eighth man rotation is is the way to go right now,
because that's what he's gonna do. You know that gym
doing the playoffs, that's what he's gonna do. I mean,
because he's already had success with it now. So I mean,
when it comes to the playoffs is like home in pigeons.
(04:30):
Everybody's going back to what they feel is their best
way to attack things. And I think it really gives
a good feel for each individual and how to use
them properly in the lineup, because that's so important when
it comes because if you need a little extra boost,
you gotta know who to put in there for that
extra boost. You gotta know if you need some shooting,
(04:51):
you gotta know who to put in because when you're
trying to put more than eight in there, it really deludes.
What you're trying to do is for is keeping the
pressure on your opponent, because there's very few teams that
can go non intent deep and keep the same intensity level.
That's a great point. Again, we're talking with Austin carr
as Jim said Mr Cavalier as he joins us on
(05:14):
this week's edition of Cavs HQ presented by bet Way.
And you see, I want to follow that up the
Cavalier bench. A few weeks ago, there were a lot
of questions about the Cavalier bench and whether it was
one that can compete as far as the Eastern Conference
was concerned as far as the depth. But now with
the return of Ricky Rubio, the return of Dean Wade,
(05:36):
Harris Laverte goes back to coming off the bench. With
Isaaca Cora now in the starting lineup, and even Jetty Osmond.
Do you feel as though the bench has become a
strength of this team. Yes, I think it has because
Rubio's presence is used not just for the bench, but
for the starters. I mean, I watched Rubio how he
stays in Garland's head now. He's always constantly talking to
(05:58):
him about situations and what's going on. I mean, and
the whole team seems to be bullianted because of his presence.
And when you have that, it's something that that I
think even coach Bickerstaff was looking forward to to bring
him back. See how he goes because he understands how
to play the game, and when you watch him orchestrate
(06:18):
out there, man, he really And I only think Garland's
game has started to improve now that he's back, because
he's playing more of a legitimate point guard now instead
of trying to be a scoring guard first, inner point guard,
He's starting to know when to add the scoring to
being the point guard. And and and if if that happens,
(06:40):
that means him and Donovan can can coexist. And coexisting
is what you're gonna need in the playoffs, because you're
gonna need that type of intensity all game. You can't
just have it one guy in, one guy out. You
gotta have them both in there to try and and
win these games in the in the playoffs situation. So
I'm looking forward to um to what we have to
(07:01):
bring it to the table now with the bench and
rewheel and what's coming now and how they're playing now,
because if they all seem to be a little bit
more happy. And then when you think about it, it's
coming at the right time too, because this is the
time you want to be starting to get it together.
You have to start winning games now. You have to
win the games you supposed to win, and you split
(07:23):
with the teams that you are level with. And if
you can do that, we should make the playoffs great
stuff they see really really great. Hey, look it. As
far as development, probably the most pleasant surprise has got
to be Isaac o Coral and his ability to make
that shot. Talk a little bit about his improvement, Oh,
Jim Man, I mean, well, you're not both bad practice
(07:46):
watching him work on it and me And really, when
if practice first started back in training camp, man I
was sitting there and saying, WHOA, I don't know if
this is gonna work. I mean, because it really didn't
look like it was. It was he was gonna take
it to the to where he is now. But he's
a relentless worker. And if you add his numbers to
(08:09):
the Cavaliers other four guys, man, we're gonna have him
started five along with his defense, you can have him
start in five. Is gonna be hard to handle because
you see how important hitting that shot from the corner,
because especially when you have Alan or Mobile on his
side or the floor, his man seems to always be
(08:29):
the one cheating to try to double team and help out,
and now they can't do that. And if this continues
and he's starting to get better vision, what I mean
by vision is when you see the ball in a
in in in a five man situation, when you see
that ball, you have to look and you have to
either have a field or look on where you can
(08:50):
go with the ball as far as putting it on
the floor or not putting it on the floor, of
trying an open man. You have to have a feel
for that, and Isaac was not showing that last season,
but he's starting the show now he has a feel
for because what I noticed now he hits a couple
of those shots and that next two or three times
that the guys running at him. He's starting to put
(09:12):
it on the floor now, whereas before he was just
standing like a frozen like he was frozen. But now
he's starting to see and understand how to get it
because he made a shot yesterday that I really didn't
think he could see because when he went in from
the corner and he had that little alley move where
he came up. You have to see those type of situations.
(09:32):
You can't just going there and just randomly just throwing
up there. You have to when you get into those situations.
You know, Jim, when you get into those situations like that,
it's all impromptu, so you have to react to what's
happening to you. But you have to feel it and
see it. And he did a good job of feeling
in and I really, uh, I'm really starting to get
him pressed now because if he can give us tend
(09:55):
the fifteen points he hit those key shots, that's really
gonna put us in a great position the playoffs start. Well,
there's no doubt. Again. We're talking with a c Austin Carr,
our guest on this week's edition of CAB's h CO
presented by bet Wave, A quick time out. We're gonna
have a lot more with Austin, so stay with us
on CAB's HQ on the Cavaliers Audio Verse. His three
(10:22):
balls short rebound Alan on the hand off to Mitchell.
Mitchell streets to the four court in the lane, gave
it to Garland, touches it to Mobli paw with two hands.
Oh my goodness, right side to a corral in e
lane Allen look out, Oh by a thunders tomahawk jam
from Jared Allen. Here comes Garland to the other end.
Love to Mitchell, pow with the right hand. Well, what
(10:45):
a play this is, Donovan Mitchell. Welcome back to cav's HQ. Well,
your host Tim and Jim welcome back CAB's HQ, presented
by Betway on the Cavaliers Audio Verse. Great to have
you with us, Tim elk Gorn along with Jim Jones,
and great to have with us is Austin card. Of course,
a c and Jim Jones were teammates of those Wine
(11:05):
and Gold Cavalier teams back in the seventies, and now
their teammates on the broadcast team. As far as the
Calves are concerned. Jim on the radio side with yours truly,
and A C of course does tremendous work on the
television side on Bally's Sports. So I'll let one teammate
ask another teammate a question to get things started here. Jim,
(11:25):
thank you to him. He see I want to stay
in development. Talk a little bit about the consistency of
Mobley over the last three and a half weeks. Yes, Jim,
I tell you, it's amazing. It seems like not only
is as it coming along, but now you know Mobley's
coming along. I mean when you look at all of
(11:47):
a sudden attribute a lot of his development coming from
the calves trying to get more involved and getting the
ball below the free throw nine. They have started to
really understand. And then they're putting him on the side
of the floor by himself as opposed to I mean,
once in a while he and Alan will a little run,
(12:07):
a little stunt, plays together and they are accepted with
passing the ball to each other. It's around that basket.
But they put him on the floor now and he's
not hesitating, and consequently the defense can't sit on him
because the one thing he does do a little bit
too much is dribble the ball too high and crowded situations.
But he's moving so fast with it now, quickly and
(12:30):
going strong that it's really putting them in situations where
he only has to deal with one man and you're
not gonna stop in one man. I mean, it's amazing
Like watching him last night, how you know, because Porsingas
is such a tall guy. He blocked his first shot
like that and with causing problem. But after that he
started giving them a little hid fake or just hesitating
(12:52):
briefly to get Porsinga to commit, and then he would
either dunk it or make a little shot at me.
He's really starting to get you know, we already know
he is proudless on defenses off the chart. To me,
if he doesn't be on the defensive team, it's his
third team, second team. He might not make the first team,
but I think he should be there. But I think
(13:12):
if the Calves getting the top four the Eastern confidence,
he might make first team on defensive team. But now
his offensive game is coming along and he's starting to
have more freedom. He's feeling strong. He's really starting to
get more aggressive now. I don't know if that's from
being in the weight room or Garland pushing him to
give him more aggressive but he's starting to be real
(13:34):
physical around that basket now and letting people have a
little taste of those elbows where they need him. And
that is something that you have to have in this
league if you're gonna survive. In that page, A C.
Jim asked you about Isaaca Coro and now Evan Mobley,
So I'm gonna ask you about one more player. Uh,
and you love those backcourt guys. Let's talk about Darius Garland.
(13:54):
His play as of late has just been elite to
it has been All Star status even though he won't
be in the All Star Game. But talk a little
bit about d G. And for you, as an off
guard the shooting guard, how does a terrific and elite
point guard benefit the two guards which will in this
case would be Donovan Mitchell. It's great because when you
(14:17):
have a guy like that who is so adapt with
the ball having and beat you off the dribble, you
always have In other words, I would almost bait my
man to go try to double team because I know
all that's gonna do is open up things for the
week side of the court. Because if you go to
double team. There is there's if he is just one
(14:39):
of the best in the league that beating the double
team or finding the open man off the double team,
and I mean you almost give the Cavalier's points when
you do that. Now you almost have to take your
chance with one man dealing with him because if you
let him beat that double team as easy as he does,
it really makes it tough on the defensive team. And
(14:59):
now you can see what I've seen the last couple
of times is how Donovan is realizing when he's moving
to you beating off that double team, then you have
to float. You have to float with him, but away
from him, because now what's gonna happen is when you
float with him and away from his man is gonna
have to it's gonna start cheating because after a while,
(15:21):
the coach is gonna say, you gotta stop this penetration,
and they're gonna start cheating that way, and he's gonna
get those little fifteen twenty footshots wide open there on
the obviously side of the floor, or the three point shots.
So with his ability, I'm really starting to get really
confident that you know, if that they're starting to play
together but I have to attribute it all to Rubio
(15:43):
coming back, because Rubio is constantly in his ear teaching
him and telling them certain things. And that's how there
has improved last season. What's through Rubio's tooledge. And I
mean he he's really showing him areas because Rubio is
not task, he's not quick, but at the same time,
(16:03):
he gets the job done, he gets to where he
wants to get to, he gets the shots he wants.
He I mean, he does it all because he knows
how to play the game. And and then that's where
Darius is gonna add. The more he's been Rubio in
his ear, the more he's gonna add that to his game.
And I really think he's been playing solid point guard
since he's been back, Since Rubio has been back in
(16:25):
his ear, great stuff, I see. You know, you and
I talked so often that I know one of the
other things that we talked about was Rubio plays like
we used to play. You know, there was there was
a time, faithful and fans that I don't care how
high you could jump, or how fast you were, or
even if you could shoot, if you didn't understand how
(16:47):
to play, how to set pigs, how to be a
scoring thread, you know, making good decisions on the floor
with it without the ball. Back then, those guys didn't
make the NBA, you know, they had to go to
the A B A over in Europe. But Rubio plays
in that vein they see it. I'm amazing and you're
and you're right. He has helped uh, young Garland become
(17:10):
the great guard that he has becoming. You know, a
couple of people trying to tell me that Mitchell was
better than Garland, but you know what, there are different
types of players. Darius is definitely a point guard and
then uh Mitchell is definitely a big time score. There's
a difference, isn't there. Oh yes, it's a huge difference.
(17:30):
I mean when you look at it, even though Donovan
can run the team from his position, there is the
one that has to understand the floor of the game.
He has to understand who's hot, He has to get
anybody off the floor on the floor shot right away.
I mean, those are situations that I learned. I came in.
All I was was give me the ball, I'm gonna
(17:52):
put it in the basket and that's it. And then
Lenny taught me the little nuances of the game, and
how to set guys up, how to get guys involved,
get them going early, find out who's who's ready to
play tonight, who's not. I mean, all those little things,
and that's what there's just learning from Rubio, and uh,
those are just those are invaluable parts of the game
(18:14):
because that's winning basketball. That's how you win in this
league of professional players and everybody's good. And I really
like the fact that we have a Rubio in the
house because he's gonna it all spreads through the whole team.
If we keep playing like we're playing now. I think,
like I said on the air last night, I envisioning
(18:36):
this team as being nobody getting more than twenty five points.
But you have everybody in double figures one or two
on the bench and double figures anywhere between twenty five
and thirty five assist the game. You're not gonna beat
the Calves that way. You're not gonna beat us if
we're getting all of that, because that's like we have
been to play these last two games. That's when we're
(18:58):
at our optimus, when we're passing the ball. We got
everybody involved. To me, that's why you see the surge
of energy. Now. It's because everybody's is invested in it now,
because everybody's touching the ball, everybody's getting the piece of
the action. And Jim, you know how that that's contagious, man.
That gets going where you can almost walk on water
(19:19):
when you start playing because everybody is involved. And when
you have every all fifteen players involved in it like
they are now, I mean, it's kinds of situation where
you don't feel like you can lose, and that's how
you win the important ball game. That's a great, great point.
A c has always great info, great insights. We appreciate
(19:40):
it so so much, and not only Jim and I
but our fans and our listeners as well. Great to
have you on this week and uh look forward to
more appearances with you on cabs HQ. This was terrific.
Thank you so much. Thank thank both of you, and
let's get another win. Here we go Pistons in town
on Wednesday. We'll take a quick time out. More to
(20:02):
come on Cav's HQ following this on the Cavaliers Audio
d in partnership with First Energy and Scholastic. Last week,
the Cleveland Cavaliers Mobile Book Fair set up a wide
variety of books at Helen Arnold Community Learning Center in Akron, Ohio,
(20:24):
where two fifty students had the great opportunity to select
two new books to take home at no cost to them.
The Cavaliers are proud to promote reading and literacy in
our communities. Calves in the Community is brought to you
by Discounts rug Mart. We'll be back with more calvs
HQ presented by bet Way right after this on the
(20:45):
Cavaliers Audio Verse. You're experiencing Calves HQ on the Cavalier
His Audio Verse once again. Here's Tim Alcorn and Jim Jones.
Welcome back. It's Cav's HQ presented by bed Way. On
(21:07):
the Cavalier's Audio vers Tim L. Gorn along with Jim Jones.
I've got a great big thank you to Austin Carr
for stopping by and paying us a visit here on
Cavs HQ. When we go from one legend to another,
as now stepping into that legend's chair and joining us
as a guest. It's not his first appearance on Cavs HQ.
It's great to have him back. Rick Mhorne, Piston legend
(21:31):
and now a member of the Piston broadcast crew. Rick,
it is great to have you on Cav's HQ. Well,
you know, Tim, I get beat up by by Chones
because you know what, man, this this guy has been
abusing me since I was a rookie. Fact of the
matter is that, Tim, Yeah, I feel for you because
you gotta deal with him on a day to day basis. Well,
(21:54):
he hasn't beat me up yet, but I'm sure he's
been tempted a timer too. No, he can't fight now,
you know when you get all the knuckles hurt, and
his knuckles when he try to even eat food, his
hands hurt trying to feed himself. How do you know that? Man?
I know because I'm starting to get that. Now. What's up? Chelsea?
(22:16):
You Bubay, You You're the one I'm trying to look
in this world. I'm just trying to make it to
the next day. There we go, Hey, Reck, When we
opened up the show and we were announcing our guests
and again Austin joined us in our previous segments and
now it's your turn. But Jim mentioned your role with
(22:36):
the Pistons as a broadcaster, and Jim said, the Pistons
now are where the Calves were a year or two
ago that they're on that climb. Do you agree with
Jim's assessment? You know it when you when you draft,
you when you go through draft, you go through this rebuilding, rejoice,
whatever we were redoing. You know, it becomes uh kind
(23:00):
of mind mind taking because you want to win, but
you know you're looking for the future. Business. Got some
nice pieces. But you know, when you're healthy and everything
starts to fall into place, it looks good because you
know you can. You know we didn't have we had
a first round pick and Kate Cunningham just like Cavaliers
had and Lebron James and Kyrie and Bennett and so
(23:24):
on and so on. But you know you have to
get better sooner or later, and hopefully these young pieces
come together soon. But the way the the way the
NBA is, you don't know how long you're gonna have
these pieces because it's maybe a quick turnaround or maybe
a little longer turnaround. So it's kind of fickled now
for me as I assess it and look at it
(23:45):
because you know this rookie contracts deals are short. Then
you see um, you see Kye re tell them you
know you've got guys that we have player em powerment now,
So you I really don't know, but hopefully we are
on that on that um better curve of trying to
get better Rick this kid cutting Ham and Ivy. It
(24:07):
looks like you get two players that you can really
build on. You know, having you know guys that you
can build on is how quick they can learn crush.
You know, we look at players, we look at talent wise,
but we also look at the mental side of it.
How quickly can they adapt to the NBA game, because
you know, in this league with the other twenty nine
other teams, they're studying your game. You have to learn,
(24:29):
you have to learn to play different paces. You have
to know how to take the the first step and
know how to finish on the next step. So it's
always gonna be a work in progress because when you
you're one to two years away from being in high
school basketball and you're in the NBA and next thing
you know, you're playing against these these these young men
(24:51):
that's been there for a while, and all of a sudden,
it's like, whoa where did this come from? So that's
that's got to come with the you developing into a
better player, but also your mental edge. Rick. You mentioned
the loss of Kate Cunningham for the rest of this year,
and you've used the term learning and development. Uh how
much did that not only hurt Kaide obviously in his
(25:13):
second year, but just the overall development of this Pistons
team for the plan that's in place. Well to him,
I wish I had the crystal ball and I could
say this team could be this in two years, or
this team could be this in a year. It's all
about coming and understand basketball one oh one. You could
(25:34):
jump out of the gym, you can fly, you can
you can run faster and uh faster than the flash
across the world. But if you don't know how to
stop in between played a short game like on on
the golf course. You may drive far, but you may
not put worth anything, but you can't get in the middle.
And that's where we have to find out if these
(25:55):
players can you know, mold themselves into those players that
we perceived them to be. I always used to look
at players throwbacks. I look at throwbacks. I look at
like the other night we played eight and with the Sons,
and I said, boy, that's that's that's Bill Russell blocking
shots and shooting that little jumper like that. You know,
you look at and try to compare them to someone
(26:17):
in the past, to put them in the present, to
see what potential they can that they can be if
they continued on that curve, be getting better, you know, Rick,
I'm looking at the Eastern Conference and so far we're
ahead of the Western wins and losses. Uh, the East
is really tough. Talk a little bit about the top
(26:37):
five teams, a little bit about where they are. Well,
I just saw the Boston Celtics other night, and they
didn't even have Jalen Brown. I mean, they had Jason Tatum,
but didn't even have Jalen Brown. They have a good team.
They're very deep, you know, they can go down the line.
They're not when they become whole with Marcus Smart and
if you if Dolla Aari can come back and give
(26:58):
them something off that bench, that's gonna be the team
to beat in the East. But then I look at
the Milwaukee Bucks. They won the championship and then they
got this other m v P named Johanna's onto the Coompole,
and I just think his game is really developed. Now.
That's when you talk about guys understanding and not Crushia.
We we knew back in the day. We weren't friends.
(27:21):
Off we weren't friends. Basically, we weren't friends. On the
court we were we were combatants. We were we didn't
like you, You ain't like us. And it's like, you
know what, It's all good. You wanted to compete. But
when I look at the way that Milwaukee with Johannice
is as long as Jhanna is playing the way he plays,
this whole team follows. And if they get hold with
(27:43):
Chris Middleton, that's another team you have to look at.
But to meet the surprise team, and I look at
it the Philadelphia seventy sixers. If Joe Lymbat stays healthy
and you you look at the way he plays, and
if if p. J. Tucker can get four points instead
of no points, they could be a team that you
go wow. All of a sudden, you see a new
(28:04):
James Harden, a guy that you go man. He used
to shoot the ball so much all the time. Every
time he touched the ball, he shot it. But yet
he knew he couldn't win a championship. So now this
is the course that I see Philadelphia as they moved forward,
and then I look at the Cavaliers don Donovan Mitchell, man,
we should have had him in Detroit, and uh we
(28:26):
we took Luke Kennard. And I'm not saying Luke Canard
is a bad player, but Donovan Mitchell got a chip
on his show every time he's on the court. And
you have to look at the way that Evan Mobley
is playing. And also Jared Allen. That was a great trade.
You know, if from the nets of Brooklyn that right
now look like you might as well just throw a
(28:47):
grenade in there. Just fell in that room. But that team,
when I look at it, I'm going they could be
good with the little pieces they got. With Durant, they
ain't gonna win a championship. But the east Man they
and get real thick here. Do you know? Orlando is
a team that I picked earlier in the year to
be a surprise team and I and this Eastern Conference
(29:09):
has become a gauntlet. I don't know what's going on
in Atlanta, but I see Orlando coming, uh, you know, developing.
They got the Wagner brothers, who guys that went to college.
This is the funny thing, Crusher and you know, and
Tim you also know when you go to college and
develop the maturity and you can learn your game. You
(29:30):
got the Wagner brothers who basically played three four years
at Michigan, and you go, okay, they're they're fundamentally sound.
That's what's missing in a lot of to me and
the NBA when you do get a lot of younger players,
just the two dribble drives. You see guys like I
saw the other night Malcolm Brognan, who was the Rookie
(29:51):
of the Year, second round pick that plays in between
the game. I look at Uh Green for the Golden
State Warriors, their development. I look at the way Memphis
has done their player development by getting guys that played
like Clark, guys that played three or four years in college.
If they got a low first round pick and then
(30:13):
you throw in John Moran, next thing you know, you're
seeing teams good. You know, developed quicker because those those
years in college. It becomes disciplined and it also becomes
the fact that they have to really work on their
fundamental points. Just outstanding points from Rick Mahorne, our guest
on Cavs HQ presented by Bet Waite. We're gonna hear
(30:36):
more from Rick, so stay with us. We'll be back
after this time. Out of the Cavaliers Audio Verse. You're
listening to calvs HQ on the Cavaliers Audio Verse. Now
once again, here's Tim Alkhorn and Jim Jones. Welcome back
(30:59):
gets ms HQ presented by that Way on the Cavaliers
Audio versus Tim old Corn along with Jim Jones. Let's
not forget our dynamic duo. The guys who make it
sound good. Our producers are Kurt McLoughlin, Senior producer and
technical director, Marty Allen. And again we're thrilled to have
Rick Mahorn joining us this week on cavs h Q
and Wreck. You called Jim Jones during his playing days
(31:22):
are combatant, But now I know he's a friend of yours,
So run friend to another, Jim. I'll let you get
started with things. And Rick here in the second half. Yeah, Hey, Rick,
I just wanted to know about your show. What did
I do wrong on your national podcast show that I
can't be on anymore? And you didn't listen? Man, you
didn't do nothing. You gotta pay your bill, little rushes sotimes.
(31:43):
You know a lot of times, you know you Tim
listen My history goes back to Austin Carr. Austin Carr
was it was he. I was his rookie, my rookie year,
and I'm sitting there. Austin Cark comes here with that
deep boy, Hey, you gotta take me to practice rookie.
I'm sitting there like then I get the next year
they trade the bullets, trade for Jim Tones. The next
(32:07):
thing you know, I'm fitting. Look, I'm I'm trying to
be a guy. I'm trying to be a guy with
him Spencering Heywood, and they're talking to me like I've
been in the league for like four years and I'm
sitting there looking at him. It's only my second year
and it's the first year I even started. And they
just looking at me saying, well, you gotta do you
know you remember? And so from that's what you And Hey, Rick,
(32:33):
what's the name of your show so our fans can
tune in? Well, you know, it's The bottom Line Sports
Show with Gerald Brown. We're on a serious satellite radio
NBA channel channel eighty six. I don't know the other channel.
You know, it's x and Radio. Come on every Saturday
from ten to one and we have a good time.
You know, we we take callers, just a three hour
(32:53):
show and crushing and you know you'll be on this Saturday.
I promised that you. Thank you, thank you. I appreciate hey,
Ricky rick Moving forward, I wanted to talk a little
bit about about Coach Casey because he seems like the
right man for the right show with his patients and
his discipline and his toughness. Talk a little bit about
(33:13):
coach we'll I tell you that I know Dwayne, I
mean Casey, you know everybody. You know, it's funny that
I'm on the first name basis with even the coach,
the general manager, the president. It's like, I ain't got
time to mess with Chull. I'm old too, I ain't
got time. But you know, Casey is that has the
patience of a saint, and it's like I want to
(33:33):
call him sat Kasey because when you're dealing with a
lot of difficult things that you're in this development, he's
accustomed to winning in Toronto and they really treated him
bad up in Toronto. I thought he was the right
man there, but hey, this is the business of basketball,
as we see, and as they moved forward, Coach Casey
does things you know, trying to make sure that these
(33:56):
players be more responsible and be accountable for each other
of it. And you know Crussia where we played and
you played with the Lakers, it was about accountability and
a lot of times I'll be looking at, you know,
mistakes on the basketball court, it's like, Okay, you made
that mistake last game, that let's dot make it the
next game. That's the learning and that's the patients that
(34:18):
coach Casey has as that coach and he's not a
yellow he's not a screamer, and that's that's good. You
want to have that Colm presence around the team that
struggles mentally when you're losing games. Yeah, again, we're talking
with Rick Mahorne, Detroit Piston legend and now a part
of the Detroit broadcast team and as you just heard,
also hosted a very very popular podcast. So great to
(34:40):
have Rick joining us Pistons in town tomorrow night to
take on the Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Field House. And Rick,
I had somebody asked me this question the other day
and I had to ponder it for a little bit.
So I'll ask you the question asked of me. You
go back to those Cavalier teams that played at the
Coliseum after Jim and Austin, the already hot Rod Nance
(35:01):
Harper team. And I was asking if this team, meaning
the Cavaliers, reminds me of that team, a young team
that's growing and learning how to win. Now you played
against that team, do you see similarities? You know what
I do see similarities to that. I mean hot Rod
(35:21):
Williams coming off the bench, and Elo and and uh
Ron Harper and uh what's the point price? And I
mean you even had Larry Nance, even though Larry. I
saw Larry Nance Jr. Last year when y'all had him.
He said to me, I set up saw him after
the game. I said, what's up, Larry, how you doing?
(35:41):
He was like, I can't talk to you. I said why.
He said, you know in my house you're the Boogeyman.
And I'm I said, your father's your father gave you
that because I used to go at his behind and
try to break his back. No, but it was that
you know, this team, your team that I see now
and what they had last year. And then to add
(36:05):
Donovan Mitchell, I mean even marketing in an All Star
this year. You you look at you the skill set
that he has is being that small forward. But yeah,
I do see some similarity similarities to that. But man,
we used that to battle them boys out in rich Field.
We those were some battles and and Doherty was a beast.
(36:25):
You know at that time. He didn't get He doesn't
get enough respect even though he's doing all these hot
rods and cars and stuff like that. But at Doherty,
that was a team that we had to we had
to climb above in order to win a championship. And
we did that by just you know, pure grit and
we just knew that we can beat him. Great stuff. Hey, Rick,
(36:46):
what were the main ingredients for you guys winning those
two championships? Talk a little bit about what it takes. Well,
you know, Crusher, you dealt with that with the with
the Lakers, and you did with that with that in
your career. It's about having an intestinal fortitude to say,
you know what, you're not gonna beat us. We're gonna
be with defense. You know, now, I don't do you
(37:09):
both of you guys? Do you even see defense anymore?
Notch is it it's allowed in the NBA anymore? Some
days I'll be sitting there going like, are you serious?
The offense has the advantage, and that record the Pistons
had against the Denver Nuggets one eight six or one
eight eight and all that stuff that they that's gonna
(37:30):
be broken probably by the end of this year. I
just sit back and go, wow. But but we did.
We played defense and and we we matched up against you,
and we just was that intestinal fortitude that these guys
you know that I played with and still keeping contact with,
that we really wanted to beat you, and we wanted
(37:51):
to beat you back. Jim always or I shouldn't say always,
but recently has been referencing a quote from Steve Kerr
where he said the league doesn't reward good defense anymore. No,
they don't. I'm watching some stuff, man, Man, I just
sit back and go like, you gotta be kidding me.
(38:12):
That's a foul. Or it's the fact that you can
take a guy off the dribble, but you keep position
and the guy just well flails his arms up in there.
That's a foul. Wow. This, you know, the advantages of
offense is the same as it in football. You can't
even touch a guy, you know, grab a guy, not
(38:34):
even five that's a foul. That's a foul. That's a penalty.
And you know the Super Bowls coming up, and I'm like, okay,
I want to see what calls they do. Now. Well, well,
Rick again, we cannot thank you enough for stopping buying
paying us a visit. Uh. I know you're gonna pound
on us up on the Joe Take Perch tomorrow night
(38:56):
in Rocket Mortgage field House. But yeah, because my money,
you better make sure you Chones, you better have my mind.
If I don't get any ice cream, I'm a bus
Jones in his head. Hey, I've been killing it lately
to chocolate took cookies with Mitt Chip and Vanilla. A monster.
It's a monster. I bet I better see one in
(39:19):
front of me otherwise I'm gonna chip you and met you. Well,
you got it, you got it, because I'm too old
to take any blows right now. You know, boys, he's
not exaggerating. I've seen it live in person every game.
And the Joe Take Perch, the double cookie, double scoop
from Jim Chones. Oh it's good, y'all know what, y'all
(39:43):
could call me anytime once I get that, call me anytime. Well,
we'll see you for ice cream and the Joe take perch.
Thanks guys, I really appreciate you. Thank you, Rick, Rick Morn,
Detroit Piston legend. Now I'll standing broadcaster joining us here
on Cavs d Q presented by bet Way. We'll come back,
(40:05):
we'll wrap it all up after this on the Cavaliers
Audio Verse. That's gonna do it for this week's edition
of Cav's HQ presented by bet Way. That was a
fun show. Again, A great big thank you to Cavalier
(40:25):
legend Austin Carr for stopping by. Some great insights from
a c And then you just heard from the always
entertaining Rick Mahorn and Jim. I know you guys used
to be combatants, but he's a great friend of yours
now and he's a great guest on Cav's HQ. Yes
he is. You know I love a c he's Mr
Cavalier and stands for all the right things in our organization.
(40:49):
And uh, I love Rick because I raised Rick his
rookie year when he came in. Everybody else was so
afraid of him because he had a hell of a temper,
physical player, but one of the smartest rookies that I've
ever had a chance to play with. He understood the game.
He was fearless, he would guard anybody, and he brought
(41:09):
physicality not only to that Bullet team, but he was
the cornerstone of physicality. In fact, ahead of Robman and Lamber.
It was all about Rick Mhorn. When the fight started,
they all ran behind. Rick one of the most fierce
competitors that I could ever imagine. He was just unbelievable.
Now he's doing a great job for Detroit. Great stuff
(41:31):
from wreck. So that's gonna do it. Jim and I
will be back with you again tomorrow night from the
Joe Take perch when the Cabs take on the Pistons.
Tips at seven, Huntington tip Off Show comes your way
at six thirties. So until then, tim Elorn saying thank
you much for listening, and so long everybody,
Hosts And Creators
Tim Alcorn
Jim Chones
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