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00:00He is on the wise heart, right, make it, we make it right, call Kyle Wright hotline.
00:05Brian, good morning to you.
00:07Good morning.
00:08That was easy for you to say.
00:09How are you today?
00:10All right.
00:10It's been a morning.
00:11Yeah.
00:12Lima was getting into it with listeners about LeBron James coming back and calling them
00:15idiots and saying their heads were up their ass.
00:17But other than that, you know, things are going well, Brian.
00:19I'll get the LeBron coming up here in a bit.
00:21I'm sure.
00:22That Mrs. Lincoln, that was the play, right?
00:24I'll get the LeBron coming up here in a bit.
00:26However, I said, if the Cavs have not won on the road throughout the postseason, it's
00:31only been two rounds, but they haven't won on the road.
00:33I said, if the Cavs win tonight, the series is over.
00:36Cavs win in six.
00:38Tell me why I'm right or wrong, Brian.
00:41I think you're right.
00:42I just think it's, I just think it's one of those big ifs.
00:45And I think that's, you know, the Cavs 0-5 on the road here in these playoffs.
00:50And they have been a very different team on the road than at home.
00:53And I think where it really gets highlighted in a series like this is the physical toughness
00:58aspect.
00:59You know, the Cavs, that was a weakness last year.
01:02It's emerging as a weakness again this year.
01:05This is a gritty, grindy team that they're against.
01:07It's an extremely physical basketball team.
01:10Detroit has to play that way because they just don't shoot the ball well enough on offense
01:14to play any other way.
01:15And for the Cavs, they get pulled into these half-court, like, you know, defensive struggle
01:22types of games that are really rock fights.
01:24And it's not where they're at their best.
01:26And that's been an issue for them in this series.
01:29But again, you know, you go out and you get a player like James Harden because you understand
01:34that at a certain point in time and an important spot in the playoffs, he's going to carry you
01:39down the stretch of the game.
01:40And he was able to do that in Game 3 and had some very big buckets in the fourth quarter.
01:47And then you also understand when you have a superstar of the caliber, Donovan Mitchell,
01:51there's going to be times, as in Game 4, where he takes the whole thing on his back
01:54and carries it, which is what he did in the second half of that game.
01:57He was absolutely phenomenal.
01:59So, again, they got the performances from their main guys that they need to get, but that
02:03doesn't necessarily change what is the big issue for them as they go on the road here
02:09in a Game 5, which is the physicality aspect.
02:12And listen, you know, I'm sure a lot of your listeners feel the same way.
02:16You know, Evan Mobley is, you know, it's one of those things where it reminds me of the
02:21old Brady Bunch episodes, guys.
02:22Like, he fits the suit.
02:24Well, yeah, but can he walk the walk?
02:26Like, you know, remember Greg Brady?
02:28They made him and tried to make him a rock star because he fit the suit?
02:31Evan Mobley looks the part.
02:32But when push comes to shove, he doesn't always play the part.
02:35And in a series like this, his lack of physical toughness gets absolutely high.
02:40Listen, Jared Allen is who he is, and he's always going to be what he is right now.
02:43And there's going to be times that guys like Dern and Isaiah Stewart push him around.
02:47You need Evan Mobley at this stage to make a jump when it comes to strength and physicality.
02:52I just don't know that it's there.
02:54Why are they able to avoid that at home then?
02:58I mean, I think a lot of Cavs fans may agree with you.
03:01I mean, I got my little nitpicky things here, but, you know, whatever.
03:04I mean, why are they able to avoid that type of game then at home instead of on the road
03:08and they get sucked into it?
03:10I don't know that they're totally avoiding it at home.
03:12I think at home what's happened to them here is that they've gotten some fantastic performances
03:17from the guys that are supposed to give them fantastic performances.
03:20You know, Schroeder flat out won them a game in the first round in the Toronto Series.
03:25They've had now two games here at home that they've won, one where it was a very close game
03:30and James Harden made some big shots late.
03:32And then Donovan Mitchell carried them.
03:34So I don't know that it's not an issue at home.
03:36I just think what they've been able to get at home is better, more efficient guard play
03:40and having their guys that have the capability to carry the entire basketball team offensively,
03:46being able to do that in the fourth quarter of these games.
03:48I don't necessarily think that the toughness thing hasn't reared its ugly head at home.
03:53I think it has.
03:54I think that's why some of these games have been, frankly, closer than they should be.
03:57But again, when you have these extraordinary shot makers that have done it for years upon years upon years,
04:03and I know James Harden's, you know, his playoff record is very, very sketchy.
04:07And up until game three, the Cavs return, Cav fans turn around saying,
04:10why the hell we trade for this guy?
04:11Because he's coming as advertised.
04:13Came up big in a game, but you don't need him.
04:16The beautiful part about having James Harden here is you don't need him to come up big in every single
04:20game.
04:21He doesn't have to do that for this team because you have someone like Donovan Mitchell,
04:25which shows you that in game four.
04:26But I think the toughest thing continues to be a problem at home as well.
04:30But I think tonight it gets highlighted a little bit because for Detroit,
04:34Detroit is a classic example of the Hubie Brown role player theory.
04:38Their role players, their lesser guys play a whole lot better at home than they do on the road.
04:44One other thing I will tell you, and, you know,
04:46Tobias Harris was a force in that first round series against Orlando for Detroit.
04:51He's hurt the Cavs in this series too.
04:52And I do think part of a defensive philosophy here has to be we need to focus on shutting down
04:58the second scorer.
04:59And with the understanding, no matter who we put on Cade Cunningham, he's going to get his.
05:03But they need to worry a whole lot more.
05:05And that'd be an adjustment I would make here going into game five for the Cavs is to what are
05:11we going to do to keep Tobias Harris from getting 20?
05:14Because to me, that's been the one thing that's been able to put Detroit over the hump here when they've
05:18had some times that they've struggled to score.
05:20We talked about it, you know, for a while. Why didn't they go get a second scorer at the trade
05:24deadline?
05:24Well, this is the reason. And I love Tobias Harris.
05:27I have all the respect in the world for him. A pro's pro, two-way player.
05:30But you're telling me that the Cavs can't unleash something defensively that makes life harder for Tobias Harris?
05:35If you can't do that, you don't deserve to go to the next round.
05:38All right, Brian Getseiler joining us.
05:39You mentioned those role players playing better at home.
05:41But the bad news is for the Pistons that on the injury report yesterday, I don't think this went unnoticed.
05:47All of a sudden, two of their shooters, you know, Karis LeVert was their entire offense in the first half
05:52of the last game in game four.
05:53He's on that report. So is Duncan Robinson, who was putrid in game four.
05:58Couldn't even get shots off because the Cavs had stepped up, you know, their off-ball defense and physicality.
06:03And so it's something to monitor.
06:05I will also ask you this, like, I've seen four games.
06:08Look, the Cavs, they had as badly as they played the first two games.
06:11They were right there in the final four minutes of both games.
06:14And then Detroit pulled away at home.
06:16And then the Cavs had a 17-point lead in game three and in game four during that incredible run
06:22where their superstar was just on another level.
06:26I do think the further along this series goes, is there a chance the Cavs are figuring stuff out, including
06:31Evan Mobley defensively looking like young KG?
06:34I wonder about the body language and all of that on Detroit.
06:37You know, the rest of this series, because they look like they were doubting themselves the last two games.
06:42I think that's a fair take.
06:43And here's what I'll say.
06:44First of all, let's start with Levert.
06:46If Levert's going to be your guy here, that's fool's gold for the Pistons.
06:51Because Levert's going to shoot you out of more games he shoots you in.
06:54So that's Karis Levert for his entire career.
06:56So that's not something from a Cavs standpoint that I get concerned about at all.
07:01You guys understand.
07:02You get it with Karis Levert.
07:03The Duncan Robinson thing matters because he has been a difference maker.
07:08The fact that he stunk in game four, it was very, very important for the Cavs.
07:12But the Cavs played a very big role in that.
07:14Because here's the thing about Duncan Robinson.
07:17Yes, he's a catch-and-shoot guy.
07:19But he's also a sneaky, good cutter.
07:23When you don't pay attention to him off the ball, he's going to backdoor you.
07:27You know, he's a really intelligent, intellectual, intuitive type of player.
07:33And it's really, it's hurt the Cavs.
07:35His IQ stuff has hurt the Cavs here up until game four.
07:38I think for the Cavs, it's very, very important.
07:41And again, it kind of plays into my Harris strategy.
07:44Where you need to stay at home on these other guys.
07:47You have to go with the theory that Cade isn't going to beat us alone.
07:50Because you're not going to guard Cade effectively.
07:52Whatever defensive resources you're going to put on Cade Cunningham, you don't have the player on this team.
07:58You don't have an OG Ananobi that you can put on Cade for an entire series and make his life
08:03difficult.
08:04So now what are you going to do otherwise?
08:06It's about shutting down these other guys.
08:08And that's a great point about Duncan Robinson in game four.
08:11He has been an engine for Detroit here.
08:13For a team that struggles to score, his shots have been extremely meaningful.
08:17And they do, they're an excellent defensive basketball team, Detroit.
08:20They do a wonderful job of hiding the fact that Duncan Robinson can't guard a chair.
08:25And so they're able to switch him off ball at times.
08:27And it keeps him on the floor.
08:29I thought Cleveland did a much better job of exploiting him in game four.
08:32That's got to carry over to game five.
08:34But to your point, yes, there is some things the Cavs are starting to figure out.
08:38But again, keep one thing in mind about Detroit's energy level for the other guys.
08:43Not named Cade Cunningham and Tobias Harris when they're in their own building.
08:46For whatever reason, they seem to respond better.
08:49The support around them.
08:51The comfort.
08:51You know, you can go through all the reasons in the world.
08:54But I do think, you know, where the Cavs have been a different team the entire playoffs at home than
09:00on the road,
09:01Detroit in this series has been a different team at home than on the road.
09:05Ryan Getziler, join us on the hotline.
09:08The James Harden part of this is so interesting because, you know, if you look,
09:12I've pointed out his true shooting percentage in the playoffs this year.
09:15It's the same as Jalen Brunson's.
09:17And Brunson, his is a career high in the playoffs.
09:19Not saying Harden's better than him.
09:21I'm just saying I found that interesting.
09:22Also, Harden in the clutch, if you look at his field goal percentage and clutch shooting in the playoffs,
09:28has been some of the best in the NBA this year.
09:30Yet, we know what the narrative is.
09:32And we know how easy it is to trot out the same talking points when it comes to James Harden.
09:37What do you think of Harden now that he's been with the Cavs since February?
09:40His numbers are all way better than Darius Garland's were, especially in the playoffs.
09:45But yet, the turnovers.
09:47So, what are your thoughts on the James Harden experience so far?
09:52He comes as advertised for the most part.
09:55But I will tell you this, and he has not been bad.
09:58He's been pretty good, as you just outlined.
10:01Kenny Atkinson's role definition for him on this team I think has been a very big key.
10:06There is a level of expectations for James Harden that he hasn't had in any other location in his career.
10:11Maybe since he was at OKC early in his career.
10:13Right now, he's a secondary player.
10:16It's Donovan Mitchell's team, and it's Harden and Mobley behind him.
10:19And we're going to need James Harden to hit some big shots.
10:22They're also giving him some tough defensive assignments at times.
10:24They're leaning into the fact that he's a physically strong player defensively.
10:29And Kenny Atkinson has not gone out of his way to hold him.
10:33And he's actually held up quite well, I've thought.
10:37So, listen, I think the Harden narrative of the playoff failures is going to follow him until he's on an
10:43NBA champion.
10:44I really do.
10:44I mean, maybe he never does get on an NBA champion.
10:46But I think we have to look past the narrative and understand that trade was made for this year.
10:52Right now, at this moment, it looks successful.
10:55But, guys, you understand this.
10:56We're in a results-based business.
10:58If they lose this series, it will not be deemed successful.
11:01Because one thing we do know regarding that trade is that the Cavs are going to get filleted in the
11:07future for trading up 10 years.
11:09For trading a 26-year-old for a 36-year-old.
11:12And, yes, it's better this year.
11:13It certainly is.
11:14And you can't tell me.
11:15Listen, Garland ended up back on the floor and playing very well for the Clippers at the end of the
11:19season.
11:19And one of the reasons they got rid of him was the questionable health issues with him.
11:23If he was going to be available.
11:25If he was available, I can't imagine him doing much more than Harden.
11:28And you can make the case that Harden's elevated level of physicality on both ends of the floor suits this
11:35Cavs team better than Darius Garland would have.
11:38So I do think, you know, the whole thinking behind making that deal, you see it on the court.
11:45You see the logic of it.
11:46And it's working out to a certain extent.
11:48The question is, is it going to be enough that, you know, to get you as far as you want
11:52to go with the fact that you just sacrificed 10 years.
11:55And you're going to look up at Darius Garland of four years and watch him killing it for the Clippers.
11:59And James Harden is going to be sitting on a couch, you know, sipping some margaritas, watching basketball, and not
12:05playing for you anymore.
12:06That's the danger in that deal.
12:08But right now, you're certainly seeing the logic behind it.
12:11Brian Geltziler, Sirius XM, NBA Radio, NBA TV.
12:15What should LeBron do?
12:17What will LeBron do?
12:20So here's where it gets difficult for Cavs fans.
12:23Because here's what I'm going to say.
12:25I find it very hard to believe that LeBron James is going to leave California.
12:31He's got his base of operations business-wise.
12:34LeBron has not been able to make it any clearer of the fact that he loves his life with his
12:40family.
12:40And he's talked about spending time with his wife, and he hasn't spent enough time over the years.
12:45And leaving California for a year or two to continue to play is not going to help that.
12:49And I just, I don't think he's going to, I don't even think really coming back to Cleveland is going
12:54to be on his radar.
12:55I think it makes for an awesome media story.
12:57I just don't think it's on his radar.
12:58I think he lands with one of three teams.
13:00I think he very well could be back with the Lakers.
13:03But I think so much of that is going to depend upon money.
13:07And the thought that LeBron's going to take a whole lot less to make life easier for the Lakers with
13:12Austin Reams, I'm not so sure.
13:13I don't know that that's going to be the case.
13:15I think the Warriors could certainly be a team that he could end up with.
13:20And teaming with Steph Curry and seeing they could do something together, kind of an expendables type of thing at
13:25the end of their career.
13:26And LeBron is a very short private flight back to L.A. from there.
13:30The other team I would not rule out are the L.A. Clippers, because there's been a lot of bad
13:35blood between LeBron and the Lakers.
13:36And, yes, it's a brand-new ownership group.
13:38But, nonetheless, if LeBron wants to stay in L.A., doesn't necessarily love what the Lakers are offering him,
13:44I'd have the Clippers stand there with open arms, bring Kawhi back for his last year,
13:48have Darius Garland find the right kind of contract for LeBron.
13:52They've got the No. 5 overall pick, put a young player there.
13:54And, you know what, let's go and see what we can do with LeBron James.
13:57So, to me, I think it's going to be one of those three teams.
14:00I just don't think it's going to be the Cavs.
14:02And, listen, here's the other thing.
14:03I'm not positive that would be great for the Cavs.
14:05This is Donovan Mitchell's show.
14:06And anybody that's been around the team and spent time, I have.
14:10You see that Donovan Mitchell is the core of all this.
14:13He's the hub.
14:14You bring LeBron in and you risk altering that.
14:17And I think you're moving in the right direction if you're the Cavs.
14:21And I know you'll see Donovan Mitchell is eligible for a contract extension in the offseason.
14:24Not signing it equates to essentially a pass and trade demand.
14:28You have all those things in play.
14:30I don't know that bringing LeBron in makes that any easier.
14:33I think for Donovan Mitchell, he has to feel like he has ownership in where this organization is going.
14:39And I don't know that he continues to feel that way if the Cavs kind of make, you know,
14:44googly eyes at LeBron James looking to bring him in.
14:46And I think Mitchell would feel a little usurped in that situation.
14:50And I don't think that's something the Cavs want right now,
14:52considering that he's eligible for a contract extension.
14:55At BGeltzNBA on Twitter, SiriusXMNBA, NBA TV,
15:01Brian Geltziler on the Wiseheart Right, We Make It Right, Call Kyle Right hotline.
15:06Brian, thank you so much for the time.
15:07We'll hopefully run you down again very soon.
15:10I hope so, guys.
15:11It's always my pleasure.
15:12Take care.
15:13You as well.
15:14Brian Geltziler on the show.
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