the nail in the coffin | A Cleveland sports podcast: Jordan Clarkson

Showing posts with label Jordan Clarkson. Show all posts

Friday, October 25, 2019

Episode 162 – New attractions and familiar faces: Cavs continue roster rebuild in remodeled home

It’s the start of year five for The Nail and the 50th season of Cavaliers basketball. The Cavs tipped off this week in Orlando, and their first game at the newly minted Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse is set for Saturday night. The guys welcome back longtime friend of the show Mark Meszoros to shift into basketball mode, starting with first impressions of rookie guard Darius Garland and new head coach John Beilein.

Plus: Collin Sexton and Cedi Osman survived early stumbles and played better over the second half of last season. What can we realistically expect from that duo in a more stable situation this year? Will Tristan Thompson or Jordan Clarkson, both with expiring deals, still be here by the end of the season? And finally, the guys discuss the renovations to the former Quicken Loans Arena and the Cavs’ creative monthly ticket pass.

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Intro/outro music: "The 3rd" by Anitek

Photo from Getty Images | Photo illustration by The Nail in the Coffin

Friday, May 18, 2018

Episode 119 – Gloom, doom (but hopefully not a broom): Cavs struggling in ECF

Baffling coaching decisions, blown defensive assignments, bad shooting and a battered jaw for one LeBron James have left the Cavs halfway to getting swept in the Eastern Conference Finals. With the next two games at The Q, the Wine & Gold aren't completely in dire straits just yet. Still, it’s been ugly so far. The guys discuss Ty Lue’s decision to ride with JR Smith over Kyle Korver in the starting lineup, the struggles of the newer members of the roster, the “organizational fatigue” plaguing everyone who has been around for the long haul, and the weight of trying to fight back in a series knowing what would await in the Finals (and *not* knowing what awaits this summer).

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Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Play Music | Stitcher

Catch us on WaitingForNextYear.com

Like us on Facebook: Facebook.com/TheNailPodcast

Follow us on Twitter: @TheNailPodcast

Email us: thenailpodcast [at] gmail.com

Intro/outro music: "The 3rd" by Anitek

Friday, April 13, 2018

Episode 115 – Mike Zavagno on the Cavs and the NBA playoffs (and Taylor Swift?)

Mike Zavagno of FearTheSword.com and the Cavalytics podcast joins the show to help the guys get ready for the NBA playoffs. It was a strange season—or maybe even four or five seasons rolled into one—for the Cavs. But as they get ready for the Pacers in the first round, the Wine and Gold appear to finally have their full lineup available for the first time since the trade deadline. The guys discuss players like Jeff Green and Jose Calderon going from afterthoughts at the beginning of the year to key members of the playoff rotation, how the players acquired at the deadline—Larry Nance Jr., George Hill, Rodney Hood and Jordan Clarkson—will fit into the Cavs’ plans, familiar faces who could have reduced (or entirely eliminated) roles, and what more to expect from LeBron James after a tremendous 15th regular season. Plus, a rundown of the rest of the playoffs: Are the Sixers the Cavs’ biggest threat in the East? Was Golden State gifted a path to the Western Conference finals? And can anyone challenge the Rockets or Warriors in the early rounds? ... Oh, and there's also a story in the first five minutes about the time Mike encountered Taylor Swift at customs in the U.S. Virgin Islands and ended up in tabloids around the world. (Yes, really.)

Thursday, February 22, 2018

Episode 109 – I love these games! Catching up on the Cavs and Olympics

Cleveland is buzzing about basketball again as the Cavs kick off the unofficial second half of the NBA season on Thursday night. As we saw in a two-game preview before the All-Star break, the excitement comes with good reason. LeBron James is engaged, the team is rejuvenated and the games are once again must-see TV. The guys talk about the early returns from Larry Nance, Jordan Clarkson, Rodney Hood and George Hill, and what to look forward to down the stretch. … Plus: The most fun events to watch in the Winter Olympics, why not even commentary by wet blanket Bode Miller can ruin downhill skiing, and a quick thought on potential free agent QB targets for the Browns.

Friday, February 9, 2018

Episode 108 – No half measures: Cavs break from the bad, reload roster

Within the past month, it became apparent that the Cavs were dead in the water as constructed. The only question that remained was how far they were willing to go to change their fortunes. As we found out Thursday, the answer was “pretty damn far.” The team tied its own NBA trade deadline day record, sending out six players in three deals and bringing in four new faces. Jeff Nomina of Waiting For Next Year joins the guys to discuss how a front office under fire for months stood up and overhauled a fractured roster to rebuild the team’s culture. Whether it is enough to overcome the Warriors (…or Rockets?) remains to be seen for now. ... Plus: The guys wrap up the show with a salute to WFNY on its 10th anniversary.