October 23, 2024 • 9 mins
"The Voice of the Cavs" Tim Alcorn joined Todd Walker on the Wednesday edition of "Lima's Morning News" to preview the new season. Tonight the Cavs visit Toronto in their first game of the season. The game can be heard on 1150 WIMA.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
The NBA season has arrived, actually tipt off last night
with a couple of games, but as far as we're concerned,
its real arrival is tonight the Cavaliers a tip off
in Toronto against the Raptors. You'll hear the game right
here on eleven fifty WIMA, and it means you'll hear
this guy, Tim Alcorn on the call. TA good morning.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Good morning. Now are you Todd? It's been a while.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Yeah, it's great to hear from you again, and good
to have the Calves back and a successful season last year,
a playoff series victory. So they're trying to build each year.
And the number one question was and would Donovan Mitchell
be back? That was the first thing to get taken
care of, and they did that, signing him to a
nice contract. So that was good to get that out
(00:44):
of the way pretty early in the offseason. Right.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Oh, there's no doubt about that. Donovan mentioned on media
day it was a huge relief and a load off
his shoulders to go into a media day not having
to ask questions about where are you playing next year.
He's a Cavalier for the foreseeable future, and that's a
great thing. It's a big win for the organization and
certainly Donovan Mitchell has shown that he loves this organization,
(01:11):
he loves the city of Cleveland, and so yeah, you're
gonna have one of the bona fide stars in the
NBA locked up for the next few years along with
Evan Mobley, Darius Garland, Jared Allen, Isaacaccoro. Towards the end
of summer rate before training camp, he re upped. So
this is a team that the personnel stays the same,
(01:33):
but they're going to be together for quite some time.
They've got a long runway in so far as championship aspirations.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
Yeah, and that really sets the tone for the mindset
instead of guys wondering what their next stop is, there
where their feet are, so to speak, and that's always
a big plus. As we talk with Tim Alcorn, the
voice of the Cavaliers, So I guess the the bad
news Max Struce will miss the first what couple of months,
maybe with an inje talk about what he brought to
(02:02):
the team and who can fill that void.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Yeah, great question, and certainly, as you indicated, that's a
big loss, that's significant. Six weeks he'll be reevaluated. So
that's a real severe ankle spraying that he sustained last
week in practice in Chicago. So yeah, he brings grit,
he brings offensive firepower when he's got it going from
beyond the arc, a real mental toughness to him. Now,
(02:29):
the good thing is the Cavaliers. We mentioned, they've brought
pretty much the entire roster back from last year. And
one of the reasons that Kenny Atkinson was really attracted
to this job was the depth of the basketball team. Now,
who will start for Max Shrews tonight. That remains to
be seen. Kenny's been somewhat coy about. That could be
(02:49):
Karris LeVert, could be Dean Wade, maybe even Isaacacorro. It
might depend on the matchup game by game here through
the first six weeks until Max Scruce is evaluated. So
one night it could be one guy, one night it
could be the other. But this is a deep basketball
team and that's a good thing.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Yeah, when they say he'll be evaluated in six weeks,
immediately my brain goes to, oh, so he'll be out
for ten weeks. But you know that's just me. You know,
we'll see how it goes when he's evaluated. But this
Cavaliers team, the last couple of years, we've seen them
really step into the forefront of the Eastern Conference. Of Course,
you've got the Bucks have won a championship recently. The
(03:30):
Celtics are the defending champions. But the Cavaliers have been
in the mix the last couple of years, and maybe
this is the year they try to kick that proverbial
door down. Is that the mentality right now?
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Absolutely, you're one correct. They've they've made steps the last
two years. Two years ago, get to the playoffs, knocked
out in the first round. Last year, get back to
the playoffs, win that first round series in an epic
seven game matchup against Orlando, and then get bounced by Boston. Boston,
as you said, went on to win the World Championship.
(04:05):
But the Calves battled in those five games, and they
didn't have Jared Allen and they didn't have Donovan Mitchell
for a couple of those. So I think the Calves
feel as though when we're healthy. Of course we've lost
strews Now for six weeks, but when this team is
healthy and this roster is fully together, it can compete
in that Eastern Conference. But to your point, Boston, Philly,
(04:27):
New York, Milwaukee who you alluded to, Orlando, Indiana made
the Eastern Conference finals last year. So this is going
to be a real tough battle starting tonight in Toronto.
All the way through Game eighty two, there's six seven
teams that are pretty closed as far as their competitive
level is concerned.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
We're talking with Tim Alcorn and the voice of the
Cavaliers says, the Calves open the season tonight at Toronto.
We'll have it for you right here. Pregame at seven
point thirty. And you mentioned the coach, and even they
had a successful season, they made the coaching change. Take
us back to that why they let go of a JB.
(05:08):
Bickerstaff and made the.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
Change, great question, and I think they really took their time.
It wasn't something that they got beat in that fifth
game against Boston and the next day JB was out,
because I think they really wanted to delve deep into
not only what had JB accomplished, which was a lot.
You'll never hear me say a negative word about JB.
(05:33):
Bickerstaff from where the team was when he took over
to where it was when he was let go a
Final four team in the Eastern Conference. He accomplished so
much in Cleveland that said, I think keeping the roster together.
They looked at it and said, man, maybe there's a
different voice, a different vision for this roster. And so
(05:55):
they went out and got Kenny Atkinson and a proven coach,
had a four year year run in Brooklyn where he
did a similar job that JB did here in Cleveland.
He took a team that was down in the dumps
and got them to a playoffs level and then stepped
back the last few years an assistant coach with Steve Kerr.
So he'll bring a different perspective in a different vision,
(06:16):
and I think that's why the change was made.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
Well, Tim, you talked about all the familiar names coming back,
so we really know what to expect from a lot
of those guys. But is there a new face or
an addition to this team that might step into an
expanded role.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
You know, Todd, that's a great question. And a guy
that we've talked about during the preseason. He really wasn't
an acquisition, but in essence he is because he only
played two games last year. Ty Jerome. He was signed
last summer summer of twenty three as a free agent
off that Golden State team, and he was expected to
be a backed up point guard and a contributor. And
(06:55):
he got two games into the year and had that
ankle injury and he was done for the season. So
in essence, he becomes a newcomer, and he has looked very,
very good in the preseason and he'll be a contributor.
And then of course first round draft choice Jalen Tyson
out of cal I. Don't know early on if he's
going to crack the rotation and be in the lineup,
but he will be at some point. He's opened eyes.
(07:19):
He's impressive. So Jalen Tyson. As this season moves along,
Will Garner more minutes with this team.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Tim, What about the Raptors. They have a recent championship pedigree,
but seems they've taken a step back over the last
couple of years. What's a little bit of a scout
for tonight here.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Yeah, there's no doubt about that. Last year they only
won twenty five games, but they've got a tremendous player
in Scottie Barnes was an All Star for the first
time last year before a broken finger ended his season.
Of course, last year, even before the trade deadline, they
kind of jumped the gun on that and brought in R. J.
(07:56):
Barrett and Emmanuel quickly from the New York Nicks. They're
a young team, they're building, so they've got some pieces
in place. But there'll be three rookies in their lineup tonight,
or at least on their roster, so they're young, but
they've got some pieces in place. In Toronto, for whatever reason,
has always been a real tough place for the Cavs
(08:18):
to play, so this will be a challenge tonight.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
TA final thoughts of voices. Well, here on the broadcast,
we bring him back to the same guys. You and
Jim Chones. You're going to be his team again.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
We will be, although Jim's going to miss the first
couple of games. He actually has a family wedding out
of state, so I'll be solo tonight. But yes, it'll
be yours truly in Jim throughout the year and a
great broadcast partner as well as a great friend. Looking
forward to hooking up with him again this season, except
for the first few games, and he's tending to a family.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
Matter, not a problem. We'll catch up with you guys
when you get back together. We've got the broadcast tonight
seven o'clock pre game seven thirty tip off the CA
at the Raptors. Tim Alcorn will have the call. Tim,
thanks for checking in with us and hopefully here's too
a successful season.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
God, great to talk to you again. I love the
fact that folks out in the Limay area can listen
on WIMA and let's do this several times during the
course of the campaign.
The NBA season has arrived, actually tipt off last night
with a couple of games, but as far as we're concerned,
its real arrival is tonight the Cavaliers a tip off
in Toronto against the Raptors. You'll hear the game right
here on eleven fifty WIMA, and it means you'll hear
this guy, Tim Alcorn on the call. TA good morning.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Good morning. Now are you Todd? It's been a while.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Yeah, it's great to hear from you again, and good
to have the Calves back and a successful season last year,
a playoff series victory. So they're trying to build each year.
And the number one question was and would Donovan Mitchell
be back? That was the first thing to get taken
care of, and they did that, signing him to a
nice contract. So that was good to get that out
(00:44):
of the way pretty early in the offseason. Right.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Oh, there's no doubt about that. Donovan mentioned on media
day it was a huge relief and a load off
his shoulders to go into a media day not having
to ask questions about where are you playing next year.
He's a Cavalier for the foreseeable future, and that's a
great thing. It's a big win for the organization and
certainly Donovan Mitchell has shown that he loves this organization,
(01:11):
he loves the city of Cleveland, and so yeah, you're
gonna have one of the bona fide stars in the
NBA locked up for the next few years along with
Evan Mobley, Darius Garland, Jared Allen, Isaacaccoro. Towards the end
of summer rate before training camp, he re upped. So
this is a team that the personnel stays the same,
(01:33):
but they're going to be together for quite some time.
They've got a long runway in so far as championship aspirations.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
Yeah, and that really sets the tone for the mindset
instead of guys wondering what their next stop is, there
where their feet are, so to speak, and that's always
a big plus. As we talk with Tim Alcorn, the
voice of the Cavaliers, So I guess the the bad
news Max Struce will miss the first what couple of months,
maybe with an inje talk about what he brought to
(02:02):
the team and who can fill that void.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Yeah, great question, and certainly, as you indicated, that's a
big loss, that's significant. Six weeks he'll be reevaluated. So
that's a real severe ankle spraying that he sustained last
week in practice in Chicago. So yeah, he brings grit,
he brings offensive firepower when he's got it going from
beyond the arc, a real mental toughness to him. Now,
(02:29):
the good thing is the Cavaliers. We mentioned, they've brought
pretty much the entire roster back from last year. And
one of the reasons that Kenny Atkinson was really attracted
to this job was the depth of the basketball team. Now,
who will start for Max Shrews tonight. That remains to
be seen. Kenny's been somewhat coy about. That could be
(02:49):
Karris LeVert, could be Dean Wade, maybe even Isaacacorro. It
might depend on the matchup game by game here through
the first six weeks until Max Scruce is evaluated. So
one night it could be one guy, one night it
could be the other. But this is a deep basketball
team and that's a good thing.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Yeah, when they say he'll be evaluated in six weeks,
immediately my brain goes to, oh, so he'll be out
for ten weeks. But you know that's just me. You know,
we'll see how it goes when he's evaluated. But this
Cavaliers team, the last couple of years, we've seen them
really step into the forefront of the Eastern Conference. Of Course,
you've got the Bucks have won a championship recently. The
(03:30):
Celtics are the defending champions. But the Cavaliers have been
in the mix the last couple of years, and maybe
this is the year they try to kick that proverbial
door down. Is that the mentality right now?
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Absolutely, you're one correct. They've they've made steps the last
two years. Two years ago, get to the playoffs, knocked
out in the first round. Last year, get back to
the playoffs, win that first round series in an epic
seven game matchup against Orlando, and then get bounced by Boston. Boston,
as you said, went on to win the World Championship.
(04:05):
But the Calves battled in those five games, and they
didn't have Jared Allen and they didn't have Donovan Mitchell
for a couple of those. So I think the Calves
feel as though when we're healthy. Of course we've lost
strews Now for six weeks, but when this team is
healthy and this roster is fully together, it can compete
in that Eastern Conference. But to your point, Boston, Philly,
(04:27):
New York, Milwaukee who you alluded to, Orlando, Indiana made
the Eastern Conference finals last year. So this is going
to be a real tough battle starting tonight in Toronto.
All the way through Game eighty two, there's six seven
teams that are pretty closed as far as their competitive
level is concerned.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
We're talking with Tim Alcorn and the voice of the
Cavaliers says, the Calves open the season tonight at Toronto.
We'll have it for you right here. Pregame at seven
point thirty. And you mentioned the coach, and even they
had a successful season, they made the coaching change. Take
us back to that why they let go of a JB.
(05:08):
Bickerstaff and made the.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
Change, great question, and I think they really took their time.
It wasn't something that they got beat in that fifth
game against Boston and the next day JB was out,
because I think they really wanted to delve deep into
not only what had JB accomplished, which was a lot.
You'll never hear me say a negative word about JB.
(05:33):
Bickerstaff from where the team was when he took over
to where it was when he was let go a
Final four team in the Eastern Conference. He accomplished so
much in Cleveland that said, I think keeping the roster together.
They looked at it and said, man, maybe there's a
different voice, a different vision for this roster. And so
(05:55):
they went out and got Kenny Atkinson and a proven coach,
had a four year year run in Brooklyn where he
did a similar job that JB did here in Cleveland.
He took a team that was down in the dumps
and got them to a playoffs level and then stepped
back the last few years an assistant coach with Steve Kerr.
So he'll bring a different perspective in a different vision,
(06:16):
and I think that's why the change was made.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
Well, Tim, you talked about all the familiar names coming back,
so we really know what to expect from a lot
of those guys. But is there a new face or
an addition to this team that might step into an
expanded role.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
You know, Todd, that's a great question. And a guy
that we've talked about during the preseason. He really wasn't
an acquisition, but in essence he is because he only
played two games last year. Ty Jerome. He was signed
last summer summer of twenty three as a free agent
off that Golden State team, and he was expected to
be a backed up point guard and a contributor. And
(06:55):
he got two games into the year and had that
ankle injury and he was done for the season. So
in essence, he becomes a newcomer, and he has looked very,
very good in the preseason and he'll be a contributor.
And then of course first round draft choice Jalen Tyson
out of cal I. Don't know early on if he's
going to crack the rotation and be in the lineup,
but he will be at some point. He's opened eyes.
(07:19):
He's impressive. So Jalen Tyson. As this season moves along,
Will Garner more minutes with this team.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Tim, What about the Raptors. They have a recent championship pedigree,
but seems they've taken a step back over the last
couple of years. What's a little bit of a scout
for tonight here.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Yeah, there's no doubt about that. Last year they only
won twenty five games, but they've got a tremendous player
in Scottie Barnes was an All Star for the first
time last year before a broken finger ended his season.
Of course, last year, even before the trade deadline, they
kind of jumped the gun on that and brought in R. J.
(07:56):
Barrett and Emmanuel quickly from the New York Nicks. They're
a young team, they're building, so they've got some pieces
in place. But there'll be three rookies in their lineup tonight,
or at least on their roster, so they're young, but
they've got some pieces in place. In Toronto, for whatever reason,
has always been a real tough place for the Cavs
(08:18):
to play, so this will be a challenge tonight.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
TA final thoughts of voices. Well, here on the broadcast,
we bring him back to the same guys. You and
Jim Chones. You're going to be his team again.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
We will be, although Jim's going to miss the first
couple of games. He actually has a family wedding out
of state, so I'll be solo tonight. But yes, it'll
be yours truly in Jim throughout the year and a
great broadcast partner as well as a great friend. Looking
forward to hooking up with him again this season, except
for the first few games, and he's tending to a family.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
Matter, not a problem. We'll catch up with you guys
when you get back together. We've got the broadcast tonight
seven o'clock pre game seven thirty tip off the CA
at the Raptors. Tim Alcorn will have the call. Tim,
thanks for checking in with us and hopefully here's too
a successful season.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
God, great to talk to you again. I love the
fact that folks out in the Limay area can listen
on WIMA and let's do this several times during the
course of the campaign.
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