It was a painful NBA Finals – both figuratively and literally – for LeBron and the Cavs. Dodgy officiating, a killer mental mistake and a punched white board punctuated Game 1, and the Wine and Gold never recovered for the remainder of the series. The guys discuss the late-game proceedings in Game 1, LeBron’s busted hand, the burden on the Cavs’ front office navigating the draft and free agency in light of LeBron’s potential departure this summer, the Warriors’ weird dynamic with Kevin Durant, and how long Golden State can keep its nucleus together.
Let’s be honest: The Cavs are facing some of the longest odds in NBA Finals history when they tip off against Golden State for the fourth straight season. But is all hope lost? David Zavac, contributor for The Athletic, is back on The Nail to dive into what the Cavs can try to do to make this a competitive series. The guys also touch on the absence of Andre Iguodala and most likely Kevin Love for Game 1, how some of Cleveland’s new faces can fit into this four-year rivalry and the difference for the Cavs between playing as the team to beat in the East playoffs vs. having nothing to lose in the Finals.
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.)
From the final numbers on the scoreboard at Quicken Loans Arena on Monday night to the grim anonymous quotes from players in stories published in early Tuesday morning, the consensus is clear: The Cavs, as presently constructed, won’t beat the Warriors. Friend of the show and longtime Cavs fan Nick Carrabine is back on The Nail as the guys discuss what has happened to J.R. Smith, Isaiah Thomas’ fit and whether he’s playable against Golden State, and whether Ty Lue is getting the most out of this Cavs roster. Plus: The Cavs have assets, but in the face of what looks like increasingly long championship odds, is there a deal out there worth gambling on with a summer of uncertainty for the franchise ahead?
Scott Sargent, editor and co-founder of WaitingForNextYear.com and a contributing writer for Bleacher Report, joins the show to bring the guys up to speed on the state of the Cavs heading into another Christmas showdown with the Warriors. New faces such as Dwyane Wade, Jose Calderon and Jeff Green have the team surging after a rough start to the year. Scott explains what has made the Cavs’ excellent second unit work so well, why Calderon has been a surprisingly good fit with the starters, where Isaiah Thomas and Derrick Rose will fit moving forward, what Tristan Thompson’s role will look like and whether any roster moves are coming later this season. … Plus: A quick rundown on the Warriors, and the LeBron James vs. James Harden MVP debate.
Two nights removed from the end of the Finals, the guys give a spirited send-off to the Cavs’ run as the reigning NBA champions. Topics covered include: the Cavs’ historic offensive performance in Game 4 even with the series likely out of reach, chaotic moments defining the last two games, Golden State needing Kevin Durant more to beat the Cavs than Durant needed Golden State to win a title, and an appreciation for the Cavs’ core over the past three years as we head into a summer of uncertainty.
With the Cavs on the verge of being swept in The Finals by Golden State, the guys begin to look ahead to an uncertain, unsettling future for the team in the wake of what has been an abrupt and demoralizing series.
After nearly a full year of anticipation, it's time. With Cavs-Warriors III beginning Thursday night, the guys discuss what has become arguably the best rivalry in sports, who has the most at stake in this year's Finals, and how the Larry O'Brien Trophy will be won.
With an alley-oop off the backboard from Kyrie to LeBron 3 minutes into Game 1, the Cavs were on their way to dismantling the Raptors, and they never relented en route to a decisive and dominant four-game sweep. The guys discuss LeBron’s transcendent play through the first two rounds, the Cavs’ switch officially having been flipped, and what’s ahead after the team’s next lengthy layoff.
With the Cavs and Warriors set to deliver the latest installment of the best rivalry in the NBA on Christmas Day, David Zavac, editor of FearTheSword.com, joins the show to set the stage. After adding Kevin Durant and turning over half their roster, the Warriors haven’t missed a beat this season. The Cavs, meanwhile, have some holes to address, but continue to dominate the East. David sizes up both teams heading into Sunday and dives into some of the big storylines around the NBA thus far, including trade targets for the Cavs, as well as teams and players to keep an eye on.
Dropped a big leg, hit ’em with a steel chair, threw them through the Barber Shop window…Take your pick of wrestling metaphors. Kevin Durant made a shocking heel turn this week by walking away from the Thunder to join the Warriors. The guys dive into NBA free agency with the fallout of the most surprising move in six years, as well as its implications for the Cavs and the rest of the league. … Plus: From memes and custom championship belts to T-shirts and locker room beer baths, WWE has developed an unlikely crossover appeal with mainstream pro sports and Sports Illustrated’s oral history of ‘American Gladiators.’
Winding down a week for the ages, the guys take a victory lap after the Cavs won the NBA championship on Sunday night and the city of Cleveland threw the parade of the century on Wednesday afternoon. Relive the best moments from Game 7, the ensuing celebrations all over Cleveland and the arrival of a new era in the City of Champions. Life is good in The Land.
On the eve of the biggest game in Cavaliers franchise history, Bill Bender, who has been covering the NBA Finals for The Sporting News, joins the show to talk Game 7. Left for dead after two blowout losses to start the series and again after falling behind 3-1, the Cavs have found new life. The guys dig into what turned the tide, LeBron’s transcendent performance, what each team needs to do in Game 7, and which role players could make the difference in determining the team that will walk out of Oracle Arena with the Larry O’Brien trophy on Sunday night.
After two games in the NBA Finals, the Cavaliers are officially a collection of mad men, down 2-0 to the Warriors. The guys welcome Tom’s dad, Tom Sr., to try to sort out what has gone horribly wrong and what, if anything, can be done to salvage the series. … Plus, the guys pay homage to Muhammad Ali, and Tom Sr. shares a story of meeting The Greatest in Chicago.
An NBA Finals rematch of the century deserves an all-out preview podcast to match. With another epic showdown between the Cavs and Warriors set to tip off on Thursday night, the guys welcome Mark Meszoros and Mark Koestner aboard for a wide-ranging Finals roundtable discussion. It’s a whole new world for the Cavs since the last time these teams met in January. How will the Cavs cover for the defensive deficiencies of Kevin Love, and to a lesser degree, Kyrie Irving? What difference will Coach Ty Lue and sharpshooting power forward Channing Frye make? Will LeBron continue to start games as a facilitator or will he look to take over from the jump? And finally, will the dastardly Draymond Green’s antics finally draw a suspension from the league? (Hint: Probably not.)
The Cavs are showing no signs of slowing down on this postseason run, relentlessly attacking the rim en route to a blowout of the Raptors in Game 1 of the East finals. Is there any chance this series can become interesting? (Spoiler: Probably not.) … Plus: The guys were both leery of what a documentary about Cleveland’s history of sports heartbreak would look like under the auspices of ESPN. Did the “Believeland” 30 for 30 documentary do our city justice? Sort of, but there were some definite sticking points.
After demoralizing and decimating the Hawks, the Cavs get a week off as they wait for an Eastern Conference Finals opponent. The guys discuss how the team has developed into a cohesive, balanced, 3-point-shooting juggernaut that doesn’t rely solely on out-of-this world performances by LeBron James. Plus: Sizing up the other remaining playoff series and a (surprisingly somewhat needed) defense of ESPN analyst Hubie Brown.
It was a more competitive series than many anticipated, but the Cavs were able to close out the Pistons in a first-round sweep. The guys discuss the big winners from the series, including Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love and Coach Ty Lue. … PLUS: An assessment of the Browns’ decision to trade down from the No. 2 spot in the draft – and potentially trade down again on draft night this week.
Even with three days off, things are never quiet in The Land. Half-baked “reports” say Kyrie Irving wants out of Cleveland. LeBron is sending ominous tweets and then heading to South Beach to work out with his old pal Dwyane Wade. Our pets’ heads are falling off! (Our pets’ heads are not actually falling off.) The guys try to figure out what to make of this latest nonsense, what has caused this friction to manifest in the Cavs locker room and where things go from here. Maybe this whole episode is actually a Machiavellian scheme by LeBron in his quest to lead this group to the Promised Land? Hmm…
Nick Carrabine, a lifelong Cavs fan whose family has had Cavs season tickets for 30 years, joins the show to sort out Monday night’s debacle against the Warriors. What has gone wrong in big games this year? What is going on with Kevin Love since Kyrie Irving returned to the lineup? And can the Cavs win a Finals series vs. Golden State or San Antonio with their roster as presently constructed?
