April 2015 Cleveland Cavaliers Wiretap

Kevin Love Expects To Remain With Cavs, Return From Shoulder Injury For Opener

May 31, 2015 10:47 PM

Kevin Love said he will suit up for the Cleveland Cavaliers next season.

Love is recovering from a shoulder injury that required season-ending surgery.

"I truly expect to be suiting up for Game 1," Love said.

Love can opt out of his contract for the 2015-16 season.

Dave McMenamin/ESPN

Tags: Kevin Love, Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA Injury

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LeBron Cites Irving As Major Reason He Returned To Cavs

May 31, 2015 12:24 PM

LeBron James admitted that a major reason he returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers last offseason was due to the future of Kyrie Irving.

Irving signed a maximum contract extension early in free agency last summer.

"Part of the reason I decided to come back from the beginning was how special he was. I noticed that," James said. "To see him grow and see him learn what it means to truly be a professional every day since I've been here is a been a huge reward and it's great to see it. To see his mind process so many different things over the course of these months and be able to translate that not only on the court but off it as well, has been a treat to watch."

Chris Fedor/Cleveland Plain Dealer

Tags: LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Bogut Attempted To Convince Warriors To Sign Dellavedova In 2013

May 31, 2015 1:20 AM

Andrew Bogut had a conversation with Bob Myers in 2013 about the possibility of signing Matthew Dellavedova after the guard went unselected in the draft.

"I was trying to get him (Dellavedova) here actually, but we didn't have a roster spot at the time," Bogut said.

"We had Nedovic and he was in the point guard spot for us. I was trying to tell Bob to get him (Dellavedova) in."

Both Australians will face off in the 2015 NBA Finals this season with the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Sydney Morning Herald

Tags: Andrew Bogut, Matt Dellavedova, Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Kyrie Irving Expects To Start Out Defending Curry

May 29, 2015 2:45 PM

Kyrie Irving told the media that his health has been steady since the end of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Irving sat out Games 2 and 3 of that series with knee tendonitis. 

Irving expects to start out defending Stephen Curry, but added that it will be a team effort to limit his effectiveness.

Dave McMenamin/ESPN

Tags: Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ, NBA Playoffs

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LeBron: Just Like Me, You Can't Slow Down Curry

May 29, 2015 2:42 PM

LeBron James praised the offensive ability of Stephen Curry while also complimenting his own game.

James was asked how the Cleveland Cavaliers might be able to down Curry.

"The same way you slow me down ... You can't," said James.

James' scoring efficiency has been down in the playoffs, but he continues to carry the Cavaliers' offense with his passing.

Dave McMenamin/ESPN

Tags: Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Cavs, Warriors Have Best Combined Playoff Record To Finals Since 1991

May 29, 2015 12:42 PM

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors have a combined 24-5 record in the playoffs this season, which is the best record of the two teams in The Finals since the 1991 edition featuring the Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls (22-4).

The Cavaliers swept the Boston Celtics in the first round, defeated the Chicago Bulls in six games in the second round and swept the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Warriors swept the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round, defeated the Memphis Grizzlies in six games in the second round and defeated the Houston Rockets in five games in the Western Conference Finals.

NBA Stats

Tags: Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, NBA, NBA Playoffs

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Warriors Considered 5-12 Favorites By Vegas To Win Finals

May 28, 2015 11:53 PM

The Golden State Warriors are 5-12 favorites to win The Finals, according to Vegas sportsbooks. The Cleveland Cavaliers are underdogs at 2-1.

"We made the Warriors a six-point favorite in Game 1, then we took the next six games and played it out," said Jeff Sherman, head NBA oddsmaker for the SuperBook. "We take who would be the favorite in each game, by how many points and what the money line would be. We then put individual prices in and it calculates what the series price should be." 

The Cavaliers were longshots at 60-1 to win The Finals this season prior to LeBron James signing with the club, but the books don't have a troublesome amount of liability on those bets.

"We had them at 60-1, but as soon as the rumors started, we dropped it down to 20-1, and then when LeBron announced he was coming back, it was down to 5-2," Sherman said.

 

Jay Rood, the head of the race and sportsbook for MGM Resorts, said his book across 12 properties took about 20 bets at 50-1 on the Cavs before James signed, which is a blip when considering how many total bets were made.

 

The Warriors opened at 25-1 and that number came down as the season progressed, but the books made money off future bets on the Los Angeles Clippers, San Antonio Spurs and even the Los Angeles Lakers.

Darren Rovell/ESPN

Tags: Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, NBA, NBA Playoffs

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Warriors, Cavaliers Efficiency In Regular Season / Playoffs

May 29, 2015 12:15 AM

The Cleveland Cavaliers ranked just 18th in defensive rating during the regular season, but they became a vastly improved side on that end of the floor following the acquisition of Timofey Mozgov.

During the playoffs, the Cavaliers have become even better on defense, allowing 101.9 points per 100 possessions during 14 games against the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks.

The Golden State Warriors were the best team in the regular season on the defensive end, allowing 101.4 points per 100 possessions. In the playoffs, they're also allowing 101.4 points per 100 possessions.

On the offensive end, the Cavaliers scored 111.1 points per 100 possessions, which ranked third in the regular behind the Warriors at 111.6.

The playoffs is heavily skewed by the quality of the competition.

Regular Season (Off / Def / EDiff)

Warriors: 111.6 / 101.4 / 10.3

Cavaliers: 111.1 / 106.3 / 4.8

Playoffs (Off / Def / EDiff)

Warriors: 109.9 / 101.4 / 8.5

Cavaliers: 111.5 / 101.9 / 9.7

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ, NBA Playoffs

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LeBron Believes Finals Return With Cavs Is Unfinished Business

May 27, 2015 12:41 AM

LeBron James will return to the NBA Finals with the Cleveland Cavaliers, taking on either the Golden State Warriors or Houston Rockets.

James discussed his return to the Cavaliers and the Finals.

"I'm a guy who believes in unfinished business," James said.

This will mark James' fifth consecutive Finals appearance.

Dave McMenamin/ESPN

Tags: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Kyrie Irving To Start Game 4 With 25-Minute Time Limit

May 26, 2015 8:07 PM

The Cleveland Cavaliers will play Kyrie Irving in Game 4 with a 25-minute time limit.

Irving has missed the past two games with knee tendonitis.

Irving visited Dr. James Andrew before Game 2.

Irving will also start in the game.

Marc J. Spears/Yahoo! Sports

Tags: Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA, NBA Injury, NBA Playoffs

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Kyrie Irving Could Return For Game 4

Marc J. Spears/Yahoo! Sports

Kevin Love Able To Travel With Cavaliers For Remainder Of Playoffs

Dave McMenamin/ESPN

LeBron Admits Receiving IV After Game 3, Declines To Elaborate On Ailments

Bob Finnan/The Morning Journal

LeBron James Believes Cavs Should Keep Tristan Thompson For His Entire Career

Dave McMenamin/ESPN

NBA Decides Against Moving Up Start Of Finals

Ken Berger/CBS Sports

LeBron: Dellavedova Doesn't Deserve People Giving Him Rep As Dirty Player

Joe Vardon/Cleveland Plain Dealer

NBA Considering Moving Up Finals To June 2nd If Both Series Are Sweeps

Ken Berger/CBS Sports

Kyrie Irving Out Again In Game 3 With Knee Tendonitis

RealGM Staff Report

Insiders Expect Kevin Love To Leave Cavaliers In Free Agency

Brian Windhorst/ESPN (via Zach Lowe Podcast)

LeBron: Shumpert Will Make All-Defensive Team Soon

Ethan J. Skolnick/Bleacher Report

Conference Finals Points Per 100 Possessions (Games 1-2)

RealGM Staff Report

Cavaliers Will Feel Pressure To Re-Sign Free Agents After Miami's Amnesty Of Miller

Brian Windhorst/ESPN

Kyrie Irving Out For Game 2, Questionable For Game 3

Brian Windhorst/ESPN

Kyrie Irving Misses Shootaround, Questionable For Game

RealGM Staff Report

Kyrie Irving: I Just Don't Have It Right Now

Shaun Powell/NBA.com

LeBron Admits Playing Too Much ISO-Ball In Game 1

Dave McMenamin/ESPN

Kyrie Irving To Play In Game 1 Of Conference Finals With Knee, Foot Injuries

Jason Lloyd/Akron Beacon Journal

LeBron: Competing Against Pierce Made Me Strive To Get Better

Chris Haynes/Cleveland Plain Dealer

Team-By-Team Points Per 100 Possessions (Games 1-6)

RealGM Staff Report

Kyrie Irving Misses Practice, Cavs 'Hopeful' He'll Play In Game 1

Tom Withers/AP