Cavs the Blog Podcast

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209: The Worst? Aug 15, 2019

Show notes

As the slow NBA summer drips like molasses on a hot Ohio day, about the only new information we have regarding the Cavaliers is that they're predicted by most prognosticators to be the worst team in the League this season. The Worst? I mean... Kevin Love isn't exactly chopped liver... and the wine & gold do have some promising young talent. But, sure... maybe they really want to make sure that Atlanta trade never nets the Hawks more than two second rounders.

To discuss the dismal view on the Cavs, Nate and EG spent a lazy summer evening in the podcast booth. We attempted to look for bright spots, but also wondered aloud about how much worse the US Men's Basketball Team can get, how much worse things could be for certain paper thin NBA benches this season, and much more. Nate included his search for a basketball worthy shoe, and EG started a re-naming contest for the Clippers. Yeah, we got waaaay too much time on our hands... pass the liverwurst.

208: So Long-abardi! Jul 26, 2019

Show notes

So long… Farewell… Aufwiedersehn… Goodbye!
I leave and heave a sigh and say goodbye…

For well and for true, the Mike Longabardi Era is finally at an end in Cleveland as he joins Sashi Brown as part of the crack team of former Cleveland sports icons Ted Leonsis has wrangled together. So, of course, we had to jump in the podcast booth and talk about it.

Nate, Tom (for a while), Eli and EG gave the long and short of the defensive “wizard’s” time here, and also hit on Kevin Love pulling out of Team USA activities, the ~~possible~~ probable issues of free agency tampering in the NBA, and finished our marathon recap of the offseason moves of the Western Conference. There’s also plenty of irrational shade for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from EG, possibly irrational love of Brandon Clarke from Nate, sharp So Cal criticism from Eli, and out of context outrage about rice cookers from Tom. So, your average two hour plus, insane content jammed Thursday night pod in the dead of summer…

207: The Long Summer Drain Jul 19, 2019

Show notes

Sorry we've been absent for so long this off season... but it's been one of the longest, slowest and most inactive in Cleveland Cavalier history. Sure, there was some flow on draft night... but the action has trickled to the point where even those new rookies barely saw the court in the Summer League. The one thing that did happen, is that the team at long last officially parted ways with J.R. Smith. The featured graphic pays tribute to the man with the pipe, as we fondly remember all of his contributions, hijinx and antics over the course of his illustrious stint in the wine & gold.

To further reminisce about JR's time with the team, Nate, Tom and EG shook off the summer doldrums and poured into the podcast booth. We also touch on the Cavs' summer of sloth, give our grades on how the rest of the teams in the East did on their summer vacation, and spend a bunch of time breaking down our top sports movies of all time. There's even bonus content of Tom explaining a physics book he's reading and Nate explaining what Stranger Things is to Tom. Yeah... so... how's your summer going?

Podcast 206: Taking Swings, Dodging Bols Jun 21, 2019

Show notes

Whew. That was a close one. Almost lost EvilGenius who pledged to ghost this team if they ended up with Bol Bol. Fortunately for us, the Cavs passed. Bol ended up lasting until the 44th pick, when the Nuggets traded with the Heat to grab the oddly proportioned human. After the 26th pick, the Cavs followed up their selection of Darius Garland at No. 5 by selecting Dylan Windler of Belmont. During the pod, they surprised us all by trading back into the first round and grabbing Kevin Porter Jr. from USC, who'd been rumored to the Cavs as early as the late lotter.

Nate Smith, Evil Genius, Eli Kim, and Tom Pestak all squeezed into the podcast booth for a draft pod, and broke down all the Cavs' big swings: the pros and cons of Darius Garland (and his Jedi Robes), the surprise of J.R. Smith being moved on draft night, and the Cavs' and the NBA's focus on shooting. Then we picked the biggest winners and losers of draft night. Winners included Atlanta, Memphis, Cam Johnson, and definitely New Orleans. Losers included Boston, Phoenix, and Jay Bilas' draft board. We wrapped it all up with some talk of NBA free agency, a tour San Diego's finest eateries, and tales of Tom Pestak's little league savants.

205: Dark Knight Endgame May 29, 2019

Show notes

Not a ton happening with the Cavs as we careen into The Finals, but that doesn't mean there aren't interesting things to talk about happening around the Association. So, if you'll forgive our Memorial Day weekend coverage lapse, as we spent more time hanging with our respective families in lieu of deep dive profiles into upcoming draft prospects, hopefully you'll enjoy some humorous deviations.

Nate and EG hung out for a spell in the podcast booth to muse a bit about the draft, reflect on a wild Eastern Conference Finals, discuss potential Finals outcomes... and, of course dish gleefully about Rob Pelinka's Dark Knight of the soul and dig through the newest layers of the raging dumpster fire that is the Los Angeles Laker franchise. We also finally have a long chat about Avengers: Endgame and a bit of Game of Thrones finale to boot... Spoilers Ahead!!!

204: Ping Pong Balls, Hotcakes, & Beelines to Hot Takes May 15, 2019

Show notes

Well... the Cavaliers weren't able to pull off another NBA Lottery bonanza tonight... in fact, they fell all the way to fifth behind the Pelicans, Grizzlies, Knicks and Lakers. Whether you believe in karma or conspiracy theories, in the end it looks like New Orleans got a potential lifeline back to relevancy as the almost assuredly winner of the Zion Williamson sweepstakes. Yet, there may still be some sneaky good talent available in the five hole for newly minted head coach, John Beilien to impart wisdom to this summer.

To recap all of the Lottery shenanigans, as well as weigh in on the surprising and polarizing coaching hire, we jammed the podcast booth with three old men, your favorite millenial and his frisky, stereo-tipping canine. We fogged the glass for hours (we had a lot to cover), debating top five mock drafts, throwing down over the projections for Zion's career, mixing it up over the coaching decision and much, much, much more. In a pod that easily went to four overtimes, EG relates his epic witnessing of Game 3 between the Blazers and Nuggets in Portland, Nate regales us with his own Pablo Torres story, Tom spins a massive yarn about his daughter's confusingly overzealous softball coach, and David bodyslams us all with a pancake throwing wrestling metaphor... Seriously, you might be as old as Coach Beilien when you get to the end of this.

203: Dunking all over the Playoffs May 03, 2019

Show notes

Nate Smith and David Wood had a much needed reunion in the pod booth. There isn't much going on as far as the Cavs are concerned, so they hopped around the league. They went into James Harden's foul seeking Rockets and how their methods make them feel. They talked about the twiggy stature of this years draft class and their favorite players: De'Andre Hunter and Brandon Clarke. From there they hit on whether or not college players should be getting paid.

And, as if that last topic wasn't hot enough for you, they tackled a real dividing question:

Who is the tallest player in the NBA who can't Dunk. They might not know the real answer, but they know the heart and soul of the no-dunking team is Raymond Felton.....

Because if he could, there would be new rims left in the league.

Of course, there's NBA playoff talk too.

Speaking of not dunking? Why is it that Kyle Lowry seems to be a no-show every year? Can the 76ers real do some damage? Will anyone challenge the Warriors in the West and their enjoyment of the Nuggets-Blazers serious? Why does Al Horford get so much love?

If you survive all of serious topics, you get to hear their Game of Thrones thoughts and why Ohio independent wrestling is really alright.

202: First Round of the Off Season Apr 26, 2019

Show notes

Because they generally have nothing better to do on a Thursday night in late April... Nate and EG hung out in the podcast booth tonight to catch up. We spend some time touching on the NFL Draft (which the Browns aren't expected to participate in until tomorrow), recapping the first round matchups (that neither of us watched all that much of), keeping tabs on the Cavs' coaching search, and projecting where the league is headed with an increase of lawyer ball, 37 foot daggers, social media beefs and decreased viewer ratings. It's a remarkably short (for us anyway) podcast, but we promise more to come in the next few weeks.

Podcast 201: Who's In Charge? Apr 19, 2019

Show notes

It's a strangely unfamiliar time right now for Cavs fans. With the regular season behind us, the draft ahead, and maybe only passing interest in this year's first round playoff matchups, it's time to wonder who exactly is in charge? The wine & gold don't seem to be in any hurry to hire their next leader, now that they've parted ways with Larry Drew... though, maybe it could be a former leader of the Charge? Meanwhile, over in Lakerland... is anyone calling the shots now that the Magic is gone? Or, are they just going to make the inevitable Ty Lue hire and hand the reins to LeBron? Full disclosure... we spend waaaaay too much time discussing the purple & gold. Who's in charge here anyway?!

To decipher those things, Nate, Mike and EG hopped into the podcast booth tonight for a spell. We prod through the rumors and purported truths of coaching searches, impending free agency moves, organizational directions, the already weird post season and much much more. Oh, and Nate finally gets to share a few more of his girls basketball coaching stories. We promise there will be nothing redacted...

Episode 200: Rocketing to Retirement Apr 10, 2019

Show notes

Welcome to CtB's 200th podcast! On Channing Frye's last night as a Cavalier, in the last quarter of the last game of the season, the smiling big man fired off one last flurry of fireworks... scoring 10 points in just seven minutes. He left the court to chants of "MVP! MVP!" from the adoring crowd at the ~~Quicken Loans Arena~~ Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (ay yay yay). The Cavs still lost by a wide margin, but you'd never guess given the rousing ovations bestowed upon Frye and his teammates.

To recap Channing's launch into retirement, Nate and EG fired up the podcast rocket and climbed inside. We don't just stop at his retirement celebration, but span the rest of the NBA to hit the DWade parade of long goodbyes in South Beach and the sudden (yet pretty expected and classy) Dirk Nowitski sayonara in Dallas. We also shoot over to Los Angeles where Magic hit the ejector seat button without apparently telling anyone... including LeBron, and examine the nearly final playoff picture. Stick around to the end to catch Nate's story about his very own Kobe experience... in of all places, his elementary school girls basketball team.

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