Cavs: the Podcast

Postgame the CtB trio of Nate Smith, Chris Francis, and Chris Lyden hopped into the podcast resort studios to recap the Cavs' loss against the Brooklyn Nets 115-108. They break down the game from all angles, who stood out, who stepped up, who disappeared? The gang goes down every Cavs' rabbit hole.

The boys also go into the Nets' playoff prospects, and some erudite conversation flows. Lastly, some NBA awards are handed out and if you love hometown picks, this pod's for you. Last but not least, we have some hot off the presses music recommendations for your listening pleasure.

Emerging from their winter hibernation, Nate Smith, Elijah Kim, Chris Francis, and Chris Lyden took a spring break trip to the Cavs: the Podcast resort studios to catch up on all the craziness of the Cavs' season post-All Star Break. In true CtB fashion, they push this episode as best as they could to the two hour mark. So don't worry, if it has anything to do with the Cavs, the quartet has got you covered.

They break down the latest Cavs games against the Magic and Bulls, break down where things have gone wrong and right this season, hold yet another referendum on JB Bickerstaff, look forward to the regular season stretch run, make some bold post-season and off-season predictions, look at the rest of the NBA, and praise Elijah Kim and his Amazing Technicolor Cavs Coat. it's a long podcast for a very long month!

To celebrate Sunday's win over the Pacers and the newly acquired LeVert, the CtB faithful squeezed into the podcast studios. Nate Smith, Elijah Kim, Tom Pestak, and Chris Francis kicked it off by holding a (Kevin) Love fest for what we'd all just witnessed. After breaking down the game and the Cavalanche, the guys got into the LeVert trade and broke down how he helped the Cavs, how he fits their timeline, and what other moves the Cavs might have considered or what they may be considering still.

The CtB brain trust tried to nail down the origins of the Cavs' 90's mascot, Boomer, played a game of "who he play for?" with an early aughts Cavs squad, Tom penned an ode to Bill Fitch, Eli (the Korean Channing Frye) regaled us with the details of his Sunday night pick-up glory, Tom and Nate traded epic tales of bureaucracy and wisdom, and then the old men sang the praises of the OG computer store, Micro Center. What a night. What a win. What a trade. What a season.

Nate Smith, and the Chrises (Mr. Lyden and Mr. Francis) gathered together in the CtB podcast resort studios for a Podcap Two-fer to cover the awful loss in Detroit and the gritty home win against the New Orleans Pelicans. The trio covers all aspects of both games, with a deep dive into Coach JB Bickerstaff's changes between the two games.

Nate also lobs Mr. Francis a softball to wax poetic on the inaction of Cavs' GM Koby Altman. For those who can his pain, join him.

Finally, the trio dives into All-Star Reserves nominations, which should be coming out shortly this week! There's the strong possibility Cavs fans will see some of their own during All-Star weekend in Cleveland...?

Nate Smith and the two Chrises (Mr. Lyden and Mr. Francis) hop into the CtB podcast studio resort to bask in the glory of the Cavs' statement win against the Milwaukee Bucks, 115-99. The win puts the Cavs in 3rd place of the Eastern Conference and in the hunt for the first seed. The Cavs dominated the game even though they were easily the more shorthanded team and the Bucks came out like gangbusters in a fantastic first quarter performance. But NBA Champion Kevin Love and Cedi "the Jedi" Osman stepped up for the team and delivered MVP performances and serving a beatdown of the reigning champions.

Conspicuously absent from the CtB trademark rap session was trade talk because, why ruin the good vibes? One of the most underrated aspects of team building is chemistry, and the Cavs have found something special. Just watch NBA Champion Kevin Love's postgame comments, he knows what winning at the highest level looks like. So no trade talk, just good vibes...

After the valiant effort the Cavs put forth in Chicago, losing to the Chicago Bulls 117-104 in a game that was more more hotly contested than the score suggests, Nate Smith and Chris Squared (Mr. Lyden and Mr. Francis) hopped into the CtB Podcast resort studios to take the temperature of Cavsland after a wildly successful road trip and signature win Monday against the Brooklyn Nets. The CtB trio break down the Chicago game, Brooklyn game, trade rumors, and hand out some Cavs' prognostications.

The theme (shoutout to legendary local rap group, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony) that emerged from this exciting discussion: Have the Cavs reached the Crossroads? The Cavs have found their franchise pieces and their title window. But how do they go from feel good playoff story to legitimate contention? Are the Cavs the team that beat the Nets or the team that lost to the Bulls? Where will Dan Gilbert, Koby Altman, and J.B. Bickerstaff lead this organization? Are there moves that they should make now? Or do they play the long game? Enjoy the discussion and sound off with your thoughts on CavstheBlog.com.

Tonight, a long winter's night in the dead of January, Nate Smith, the official train conductor of Cavs: the Blog, rounds up two of his best train engineers Elijah Kim and Chris Francis, both of whom with vast experience on the Trade Express, to take stock of three major stories in CavsLand: 1. the Midseason report card, 2. the extension of Koby Altman, and 3. the Chris Fedor tweet on possible trade targets.

The trio lists their Favorite Things about the first half of the season. They dream a little dream about the improvements they're looking forward to for the second half of the year. But let's be honest, the buzz is growing about trade deadline 2022. So hop aboard the Trade Express if you dare, and let the dulcet tones of Cavs: the Podcast take you on a NBA odyssey through the long winter's night...

CtB emeritus Tom Pestak is in the house! That's right, Nate Smith and the Chrises (Mr. Lyden and Mr. Francis) have gone to the North Pole, busted out Tom from the cryochamber, and gathered in the CtB podcast resort studios for a Christmas Podcast Miracle. The quartet revel in the success of Tower City and the Cleveland Cavaliers, and break down how the Rockets beatdown and the first third of the season has gone.

The vibes were incredible with Tom back on, bringing some great new insights to the team this year and of course "Tales from Americana." Mr. Lyden and Mr. Francis were armed and ready with spreadsheets, calculators, and box scores to contextualize this amazing start the Cavs have had, Mr. Francis' hot take about championship caliber basketball got Tom juiced up and comparing this team to the underrated 2014 San Antonio Spurs squad. The CtB gang dreams big... but the real ones know, there's something special brewing with these Cavs. Also! Don't miss Nate Smith properly hazing Tom with the legendary and rousing game, "Who he play for???" GO CAVS!

Nate, Chris Francis, and Eli break down the Cavs' last three games, gush over Evan Mobley, J.B. Bickerstaff, Jarrett Allen, the Big Finnish, Cedi Osman, Darius the Great, and so much more. It's a fun and yuletide inspired podcast. The title is copped from Chris Lyden's brilliant recap of the 115-92 beatdown of the bulls but also refers to Billy Donovan's entreaty of referee Jonathan Sterling, to "blow the whistle" on the Cavs. The title also evokes notes of the Cavs' winter train leaving the station and picking up steam as they head towards the easier part of their schedule as well as the sad train whistle of leaving things behind, like Eli's Summer trade dreams.

Tonight, Nate Smith and the Chrisses (Mr. Lyden and Mr. Francis) hop into the CtB podcast studio resort to celebrate the Cavs' jackpot win over the hapless Miami Heat, 111-85. It's been a dozen years since the Cavs have won in South Beach... Since Shaq, Boobie, LeBron (1.0), Z, and Delonte West were Cavaliers (Check it out the classic recap in CtB wayback machine). So, what changed tonight (aside from Butler and Bam being out of commission)? The Koby Altman assembled team is firing on all cylinders and rounding into form... The Cavs had six guys in double figures, led by Kevin Love's 22, and pitched in 14 blocks, and outrebounded Miami 46-28. Only 20 turnovers besmirched a dominating performance.

Chris, Chris, and Nate break down all the angles of the game, plus the All-Star candidacy of Jarrett Allen, the DPOY campaign of Evan Mobley, the renaissance of Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio, and the growth of Darius Garland and Isaac Okoro. The trio asks and answers the question of the night, "was this roster luck for Koby, or was it skill?" Another important question loomed large: "do the Cavs need to make a move this year to sustain the success or take it to the next round?" And as always of course, stick around for the CtB pitches... GO CAVS