The Cavs: Why Is Everyone Sleeping On Them? (Plus More NBA Questions) | The Bill Simmons Podcast

[@avauntemiller2377]

It's weird how everyone always mentions everybody else's injuries but never the Cavs injuries taken into consideration

[@fodetoure1576]

Or how the cavs got as many wins in their series with the Celtics as the western conference champs in the finals… Donovan Mitchell stole a game in Boston without Jarrett Allen and Dean Wade and then the team fell apart and nobody seems to remember the Cavs had nobody but Mobley left standing by the time that series was over. I’m glad to see other people challenging this narrative

[@BigginsInAmerica]

You mean like how people talk about the Lions opponent's injuries in games before playing the Lions when the Lions have twice as many injuries as any other team in the NFL? And then they use the opponent's injuries as an excuse why they lost to the Lions.

[@richi1235]

I hate the betting angle in sports media

[@annie420xx]

it has odds in the title just dont watch

[@richi1235]

@annie420xx I wont but it bugs me that you do :-)

[@slightexag]

@@annie420xx might as well just tell him to not watch this pod bc simmons is a gambling addict who threads that shit into every single topic

[@chrisberry7640]

Bill's been talking about sports gambling since his blog in the early 2000s, it's not new. Plus talking about title odds imo is the perfect way to frame the question of "who is the most likely team to win the championship?"

[@cptsketch13]

They're all in bed with the gambling companies at this point. They get paid to do these segments.

[@tomk537]

This guy in Red Hat says Knicks loss to Pacers is OK because of injuries - but Cavs loss in same round (to the champs no less) with their own crazy injuries, including Spida or Allen - is the reason to trust the Knicks?!?! Crazy

[@moej5386]

@@tomk537 couldn’t have said it better myself was thinking the same exact thing

[@greatmaguskyros3975]

The discounting of Cleveland feels like part of what’s going wrong with the league right now. If performing this well in the regular season doesn’t matter, why the hell should we be watching these games?

[@Brantish]

Cleveland has had the around the most home games in the NBA and nearly weakest schedule in the NBA. That is why their performance is being discounted.

[@iank3924]

Nobody in the national media is saying that

[@peacefulwarrior9518]

​@@Brantish It's fair to have some concerns. But the media doesn't care for the small market Cavs no matter the reality until it's undeniable by every metric. And fans being frustrated about that is reasonable too.

[@odonah]

@@Brantish i think by some measure they have had THE weakest schedule with an opponent winrate of 46%. and it's not that regular season doesn't correlate with postseason success but it's just a pretty mild correlation.

[@jasonlevesque6340]

Really there is no reason to mention Cleveland outside of basketball right now. And outside of minimal sports success there is no reason for anyone to ever say the word Cleveland.

[@RaulSmith]

You can't disqualify the Cavaliers' odds citing "performance in the playoffs" and then in the same breath herald the Knicks' odds when they haven't even been to a conference final in a quarter century (that's 25 years in case you needed help)

[@Daz86.]

i think its about expectations. most people had the cavs over the knicks last year or a wash and the knicks looked better when it mattered.

[@user-zu5cw5bc3w]

@@Daz86. Knicks looked better how? Both teams lost in the second round. Both teams had injury issues during the playoffs. Cavs lost to the eventual Champion. Knicks lost to the Pacers. The Knicks looked better losing to a weaker team? GTFOH!

[@dearmas9068]

@@Daz86. wrong. That was 2 years ago when the Cavs were just kids. The Cavs looked better than the Knicks and beat a Magic team that were better than the Knicks last year.

[@jswede1]

@@dearmas9068yup. It was 2023 when Garland was 23 and Mobley 22, both in their first playoff series ever, and Mitchell had just joined the team, that the Knicks beat them.

[@remymorgan9630]

​@jswede1 Cavs have been together for years. So have the Celtics. The Knicks have replaced two starters, and Kat and Brunson have played less than 30 games together, and they are already one of the best pick-and-roll, pick-and-pop tandems in the entire NBA.

[@goldeneye9859]

You can tell who watched that Cavs Celtics playoff series. Cavs had injuries up and down including our top 3 players. It still wasn’t a blow out series. I said I would love to see a rematch where both teams are healthy. I still think celts would have won but I think it would go 7. This year Cavs took the jump and they have all these guys for years so they will keep getting better. I can’t wait to face Boston again hopeful this time healthy.

[@quinnhenshaw7293]

@@goldeneye9859 4-1 is a blow out series.

[@goldeneye9859]

@ 3 or our 4 stars were out. Winning one game and being close in a few is a testament to the players we had subbing. If cavs stay healthy this year it’s going to be a very very tough out for anyone.

[@chesterhigh5886]

Two seasons ago, the lights were too bright for the young Cavs. Last season they were significantly banged up during the playoffs. If they are healthy going into the playoffs this year, look out. Health is the wildcard here in IMHO!

[@Carlo-zk2cy]

The lack of national televised games for the Cavs is a huge disrespect.

[@itsWHOM]

The Knicks and Cavs bounced in the same round last year. The Cavs were injured and even without Mitchell and lost to the champs, the Knicks were healthy and went 7 games with the Pacers (who got swept by the same champs the Cavs won a game against) but they are "unbelievable?" Just say you like New York and keep it moving. Zero logic.

[@Geep1778]

Knicks were not healthy against pacers my friend but don’t be mad they sleep and let them sleep on you. Save that energy up for when you have receipts and then you throw it in their faces in your most obvious way!!! lol

[@LreAccurate]

what sport were you watching last year 😂

[@benjaminwerth]

there is literally no reason why the Thunder should be trusted more to deliver in the playoffs than the Cavs. Last I checked, they also haven't done anything there yet. As far as the Knicks go, they aren't as tough as they were before trading for KAT. They bullied the Cavs be two years ago. That won't happen again with an older Mobley and better coaching. Are the Cavs the favorites, no. Should they be only one tick behind the Celitcs? Yes.

[@pstratos7]

They have a top 5 player, historically that directly correlates to winning in the nba playoffs

[@barrymaslow8441]

Literally?!

[@benjaminwerth]

@pstratos7 Shai is an absolute stud, but hasn't proved anything more in the playoffs than Mitchell has. This isn't a knock on the Thunder. This is more to give credit to a Cavs team that is very different than they were a couple years ago. Coaching and maturity matter. They will have to prove it in the playoffs, but so does that Thunder team.

[@SHITSWEEEK]

@@benjaminwerth mitchell has definitely proved himself in the playoff. just with the jazz tho. 2 years ago yea he wasnt amazing or anything and last year he was injured. but weve seen him average 40 ppg in a series. shai hasnt done anything buts hes still very young

[@studlyasianmatt2440]

Sleep on the Cavs this year at your peril.

[@JasonBrendan-td4qb]

I’d love to see a Cavs-Knicks rematch in the semis this year. Maybe Celtics and Bucks on the other side.

[@Raymidniteypb]

THE DEPTH & PERFORMANCE OF THE CAVS BENCH RIGHT NOW IS IMMACULATE

[@FloydPhillipsII]

1:25 - Knicks lost in round 2 for the second year in a row where they had home court against a lower seed, and the Cavs disappointed in the playoffs? Really?!?!

[@rayzhou3151]

They were super injured last year

[@FloydPhillipsII]

@rayzhou3151 Who wasn't?

[@keysersoze3962]

Against the Pacers, the Knicks were missing their 2nd, 3rd, and maybe 5th best players, along with their 6th man AND their best player broke his hand in game 7. If you just gave them OG Anunoby (got hurt late in game 2) for the series after games 1 and 2, they would have beaten Indy in 5.

[@FloydPhillipsII]

@keysersoze3962 You can't lose on your home court two years in a row to lower seeds. Knicks keep choking. Better hope y'all don't get Trae Young in first round... 🤣

[@joshz2491]

How can people excuse injuries for the knicks and then just totally ignore the fact that the Cavs were without our two or three of our best players against Boston last year and DG was a shell of himself dealing with everything from a broken fucking jaw to the death of a family member. Not to mention we had a coach that had a terrible system for the roster. The names might be the same but this is NOT the same team as last year and anyone who thinks that they are not going to the ECF and that they don't have a great chance to get to and win the title doesn't understand what unselfish basketball is. The national media in particular is just super angry that they were so wrong about everything getting blown up on the Cavs

[@jdankerdake]

They can get buckets, they can shoot threes, their defense is good, the team is balanced and deep, the point differential is elite - I can see the Cavs coming out of the East.

[@jordanpotts99]

The cavs made it just as far as the knicks in the "most recent playoffs" lol

[@mattwhitely1067]

Yeah but knicks had way more injuries that said I think the cavs are very very good.. I mean so we are talking 4th in title odds which means they are a real contender I see that as fine.. Boston if healthy are still my pick after that it's anyone who would be considered a contender.. Knicks cavs Nuggets etc

[@davidwindell]

@@mattwhitely1067Knicks had way more injuries? Mitchell played half the series vs the Celtics, yet Cleveland still played them better than any team in the playoffs, while the Knicks lost to the freeking Pacers.

[@michaelschupska2047]

@@mattwhitely1067 The Cavs literally lost their best player and 2 of their top 4 by the time they got to the Boston series...

[@peacefulwarrior9518]

​​@@mattwhitely1067Cavs were probably more injured if not at minimum equally. I don't even know where to begin with the injuries. Mobley was the only fully healthy starter and three of the others missed games vs Boston. If you want to make an argument against the Cavs it has to be about Wing defense and shot variance on depth players. Anything else and you don't watch them And on both of those points there are reasons to believe Cavs might have answers for them.

[@dearmas9068]

@@mattwhitely1067 wrong again.

[@MarkJones-rl9ph]

The Cavs had injuries too last year in the playoffs...what don't these people understand...Garland never recovered from his broken jaw, Allen had broken ribs, and Mitchell was hurt...our bench wasn't this deep last year either, and Mobley's potential has been unleashed...

[@Mwolves25]

"Knicks were unbelievable." Lol. Cavs are deep, have good coaching, have the young legs, and a new offensive system. Ive been watching the Cavs all my life, and this is like the 2017 Cavs. Just so much better than others. Difference is there is no durant warriors.

[@chrisromero2906]

Knicks where unbelievable in playoffs? How high was this guy when watching knicks game??

[@silewis9396]

I think they were unbelievable to watch. Two games 7's. They lost the 2nd one mainly because their 2 best players were banged up. I hate the Knicks but as a basketball fan they were impressive

[@Busterlanger1]

Fan duel has really taken over this pod lol

[@Earl_E_Burd]

Bill's 1980's Walkman headphones

[@Abhinav-mpeg4]

I said it looked like he’s been using the free headset you get on airplanes 😂

[@mainemusso44]

He is a clown …. The cavs didn’t have Jarrett allen and Donovan Mitchell for majority of the Celtics series

[@shawnm9237]

Buddy said knicks were awesome in the playoffs lmao. They got to play the Pacers who by all accounts were the 2nd easiest East team and still were second round exits. Cavs and knicks had equivalent injuries in round 2.

[@uberneanderthal]

minnesota has a 'superduper star'? who?

[@RaulSmith]

Tell me you've never heard of Anthony Edwards without telling me you've never heard of Anthony Edwards

[@kaceydillin7367]

Minnesota Vikings.

[@SuperDamon95]

Edwards isn't a superstar by any means. He's had one good playoff run, which could easily be a fluke.

[@uberneanderthal]

@@RaulSmith the 17 PER player with a 30% usage rate? Jerry Stackhouse 2.0?

[@zbt62]

@@SuperDamon95he literally took out ur king jokic

[@Smellysmelly62929]

Remember when the warriors would just go on a 16-0 run in the 3rd quarter and just steal your heart in like 4 minutes… we do that every single night ( we as in the Cavs ) ( I’m not on the team)

[@matthewrosser375]

This is the most basic thing ever and it’s hard to assume this isn’t disingenuous, Bill. Odds are based on the amount of people betting a certain way. There are more people who are casual fans of the knicks than those who are sharp on Cleveland. People, in totality, are betting a similar amount of total dollars on the Knicks as they are the cavs even though in most measurable terms the cavs are likely the better team. Money wagered on a side of a bet changes the odds of said bet.

[@4ktkaram395]

How is Edwards a “super duper star” horrible playmaker overrated defender and good scorer not a great scorer (shooting has fallen off since the first 12 games)

[@uberneanderthal]

he's the most overrated player in the league by a lot. shouldn't even be an all-star. but if you squint he kinda looks like MJ sometimes, so i guess that makes him the GOAT

[@deliriumcamper]

I put a decent chunk of change on the Cavs winning the title at +1900 and was shocked that it took until this week to move. And honestly Bill probably took the Cavs at 1700 last week as opposed to 1100 today. Mainstream gambling advice is always a week late

[@KevinJL]

Team House

[@Johnbeardshall-m8r]

Just watched cavs game and damn are they better then I thought actually they are really exciting to watch only problem the Celtics, knicks and the freak back at mvp level the bucks can't see it

[@davidwindell]

Yeah, CLE is undefeated vs .500 or worse, but they’ve also got the NBAs best second best record vs .500 or better, so what’s the issue?

[@jsmallzee1590]

Cavs are 29-4, of course the strength of schedule is going to look weaker, we're the BEST TEAM IN THE NBA, we don't face ourselves, do we? 🤔

[@scottkellogg2180]

Cavs are beyond criminally underrated.

[@alczervik3908]

How did you get Woody Hayes on the show?

[@RichardMyrie-l8s]

@BillSimmons (not a betting comment). but the issue with the Minnesota Timberwolves is NOT the addition of Julius Randle/Donte Divencenzo (nor the loss of KAT). the issue is they do NOT have any good point guard play! last season, Mike Conley Jr had a real impact, this season he doesnt. and off the bench, they dont have a backup PG. the Wolves struggle to get organized offensively; especially in close games. a true table setting PG would help them. thats their problem. the solution isnt looking for a Randle trade, its looking for a trade to net them a point guard. especially one that can organize them and be a trendsetter for the perimeter defense. Two names that come to mind are: Malcolm Brogdon or DeJounte Murray.

[@Veggamattic]

Bill...odds are set by betting numbers...there are way more NY homers + money...that is why.

[@DaPhenomAce]

Don't care at all about the odds. Just talk about why they are good

[@daveclark8337]

For whatever reason, I haven't been watching any games this season and only pulled up the NBA standings after hearing the Kings fired coach Brown. I was shocked to see the Cavs had such a lead over eveyone else.

[@haHAAAAAAA3]

i throw a like on bills vids before i even watch and by the end, im never wrong

[@VesusSheist]

I love how injuries only count for teams that aren’t Cleveland

[@mindyourbuisness8104]

The big 3 model never actually worked. Even with a prime lebron james it only resulted in 3 championships. 2 stars with more good role players has always been a better team structure

[@mattwhitely1067]

This all depends on your take here.. Because heat bombed against dallas with no depth sure but against the spurs wades knees were gone he wasn't a super star anymore.. GSW had well maybe more than a big 3 I mean Klay Steph and KD were 3 max super stars then even prime dray was fantastic and finals mvp iggy so they had all the depth anyway so kinda different.. I dont consider Kevin love a super star but sure a max player I think Klay was better as a max player but thats what buzz saw the cavs ran into once they lost 2015 without love and kyrie then 2016 won and then one more run 2017 lost to a far more stacked team.

[@ABruckner8]

Why not Cleveland? As a CAVS fan for over 40 years, I can tell you: They have not shown that they are mentally tough enough WHEN IT MATTERS. I love their current team, and their approach, but wake me up when the playoffs arrive.

[@Nite2012Mare]

National media HATES Cleveland sports... Cavs are 🔥🔥🔥

[@TheMoparmelton]

What’s the difference between OKC and Cle for the odds? Neither team has made crazy noise in previous playoffs but are dominating this year.

[@LiamborninDC]

Sleeper for ROY is Alex Sarr, who averaged the most points and blocks for rookies in the month of December.

[@Iceman-xe7jo]

Cavs slogan this year is “let em know”

[@jonloffie]

The books want action and more people will bet NY. Be glad the Cavs have worse odds, you can make more money.

[@patwalsh1045]

talking about the nba in terms of betting odds has gotta be one of the lowest forms of discussion humanly possible

[@inandoutoftheabyss9953]

There is CLEARLY a bias in this video. Especially whoever that it on the right side. Two huge points that both carry close to the same weight: They were MEGA INJURED LAST SEASON/POST SEASON(1) and they literally are one of the youngest contenders and have gotten further in the playoffs every year(2). Second point is multi faceted, but still one point.

[@fexcab]

"Beat that ass" Great American Poet Joe House

[@israelbarnes4704]

Why do ppl care about "good" odds on shit that they know for a fact will literally never fucking happen. Who cares if the Wemby mvp odds are good bill???? Such a waste of time to even mention it

[@jaqenjordan3121]

Bill turned his podcast into nothing but talking about gambling and odds and it went completely to shit

[@mindyourbuisness8104]

Would you prefer them to say the celtics are the clear best team in the east?

[@RaulSmith]

I give him credit. He knows his core audience.

[@RaulSmith]

@mindyourbuisness8104 honestly, considering Simmons is an admitted Celtics homer, I'm a little surprised he isn't saying that non-stop

[@Django6052]

Jarret Allen didn’t play in the playoffs due to an injury

[@igz6388]

Cavs have a squad!

[@SuperRay20Allen]

Got Jalen Johnson MIP for +950 in mid-December.. bro was averaging 20, 10, 5

[@raven4475]

Hey Bill... In Australia, DPOY... Dyson Daniels is ranked 12th favourite at 56-1

@@raven4475 Wemby is a LOCK 🔐

[@tombrokow8181]

Don't gamble it's an addiction like alcohol. My dad died from it.

[@Jjohnson27994]

The cavs went 7 games with a magic team that I think is better than New York when healthy, so I don't understand what was disappointing about it. Have you seen the magic this year they have 2 all-stars when healthy

[@burmajones803]

Everyone sleeping on them because NBA media doesn't talk about them incessantly. Y'all talking about Steph, LeBron, Jimmy, Wemby, the Knicks, Jokic, Embiid, and fake trades. Gossip, mostly. That's what y'all deal in. Gossip. Like a buncha clucking hens.

[@skylertaylor7283]

Mobley is gonna prove he is the truth come playoffs. Never sold my stock on him ever since his rookie year

[@michaeldemarco2415]

'Everyone" is not sleeping on the Cavs.

[@jackkaestner7424]

I like the cavs but I think the odds would be based on Donovan Mitchell being their best player. It’s probably a hard sell for a lot of people seeing a team led by him making or not inning the finals

[@The_sports_prophet]

These guys were 1-1 before mithcell got hurt against the Celtics... the knicks lost to the garbage pacers last year lol

[@blancosmoke]

People don’t trust the Cavs for the same reason they didn’t trust the Celtics. They don’t have a top tier star. Neither Tatum, nor Mitchell, are top 5 players. They’re just simply extremely good teams, overall. And,… Tatum and Michell are good enough! Especially if you combine them with a tremendous group of players. It’s a new league and people are slow to accept it.

[@TheTruth923]

Cavs might have the same roster, but they are a completely different team. They were always a great defensive squad but this offensive is historical. Leading in every efficiency statistic and it's all sustainable the way they move the ball and create easy offense. Mobley hasn't only gone up a lvl, he's a legit All-NBA player this season and Darius Garland is fully healthy, stronger and flirting with a historic 50/40/90 season. It's ridiculous how so many people keep calling them second round exits despite the Knicks going as far as them the past two seasons. Difference being the decimated Cavs lost to the eventual Champs and the Knicks lost to the Pacers... This team deserves a shit ton more respect and should have a guaranteed 3 starters in the AS game in Don, Ev and DG.

[@davidfife1547]

I feel like bill knows whats up and the other guy hasnt really watched them. Like he said its the same team from last year but hasnt really got the point that darius is healthy and they have a new coach. Which Bill got immediately.

[@rulifaller8474]

The Knicks in last years playoffs were not unbelievable at all, other than unbelievably spirited. They first only just beat a poor Sixers with their own permanent injury issues. Then they were beaten by the Pacers, who themselves at that point were not nearly as good as earldom that year. More the level that they have this year. Sure, maybe the lessinjuries would have helped, but theywould still not have beaten a great team. And the injuries were also the result of playing the same players all the time throughout the season, which is exactly what they are doing now.

[@Ckproduction03]

This is like one you make one bad investment years ago and go “I’ll never invest in it again” then all the signs completely show it bringing successful but you won’t buy in off the principle that you were burned once years ago LOL. Samething happened with the Celtics now. Cash in now folks this team has a great chance to go to the finals and win it all especially with these odds. TAKE THE BET 😀

[@8utchC4551dy]

Nobody trusts Donovan Mitchell led teams. The Jazz had the best team in the regular season in 2021, and lost in the second round. Once the game slows down and gets more physical, the small guards can't compete with the larger ones. Especially defensively. I just dont see Mitchell guarding anyone on Boston effectively in a 7 game series. Same goes for Darius Garland.

[@dearmas9068]

Well... 99.99% of basketball fans are clueless casuals who dont understand the sport at any level... So I guess that checks out.

[@dearmas9068]

Maybe you should have watched the Cavs/Celtics games. Garland and Mitchell both performed well above expectations defensively

[@rytchydelapena9263]

@@dearmas9068 well, its a regular season game not the playoff!

[@8utchC4551dy]

@dearmas9068 2nd round exit again. It sucks cause I like the Cavs and how they've constructed that roster. But Garland is well below the Defensive average for guards. Donovan is actually better the last couple years, but I don't trust it in the Playoffs.

[@dearmas9068]

@@8utchC4551dy not too bright, are you, son? This Cavs squad has shown an upward trajectory for the last several years. That isn't going to change. Nice try though

[@six7bmb122]

Cavs had more injuries than anyone in the playoffs last year!!

[@RazzyRecess]

BRO ITS NOT THE SAME TEAM. DIFFERENT COACH. DIFFERENT SCHEME. SAME REASON WE 30-4 AND 20-15

[@410Kian]

Not mentioning Norm Powell for most improved?

[@Dog8myhomework]

It’s not that Vegas odds don’t believe in Cleveland, it’s more that they are gonna have to face Boston in the East, THEN beat OKC in the finals (or for all you hopefuls….Mavs, Denver, Memphis, Wolves, Lakers, Clippers, Warriors, Houston. 😂)

[@brianjamesesq747]

The Mighty Thunder, who beat a Zion less pelicans team in the playoffs and that’s it.

[@smartyjonez5470]

The reason Knicks have better odds is because they decimated Cleveland a year and a half ago with subpar roster compared to what they have this year. When the lights get brighter Cleveland will once again revert to being soft - and the Knicks are simply more talented and a mentally tougher team I even expect the Knicks to beat the Celtics at most in 6 games. 1 through 5, the Knicks have the most talented starting line up (not team but starters) in the nba .. This might be the beginning of a Knicks dynasty …

[@godsartist_33]

​@@smartyjonez5470you sound stupid it's a new year, Cleveland is better than New York.

[@RaulSmith]

Accurate. I still have Cleveland vs Boston as my ECF and OKC in the WCF. That was my prediction back in September. Also @brianjamesesq747, you forget OKC added a former Laker and former NBA champ Alex Caruso in the offseason. This is not the same OKC Thunder who essentially beat a G League team in the first round last year.

[@dearmas9068]

Boston is beatable. OKC is MORE beatable

[@HCXWinchester]

Cavs is not the same team. Garland and Mobley yes but Atkinson is the real key. They went from very bad offense to all-time level. They are currently 50/40 as team!

[@Labtiger69]

Bro Bill needs to stop the cap on the Celtics having “injuries” lmao they haven’t had a single player get a long term injury all season.

[@kirtlandpat]

Cavs have beaten the Celtics, Knicks, Bucks (3x), Denver(2x), 76ers(2x), Lakers(2x), Warriors(2x). They have a healthy Garland and a coach who knows how to coach and use his players. They are NOT the same team as last year. But please...tell me more about the Celtics and the Knicks.

[@somedudeontwitterstalkedme3829]

Long rant about the NBA and its media being the reason why Viewership is down and will stay that way: This is one of the better examples of the issues viewers have with the NBA and why ratings are down. The NBA like the MLB, took a National Sport and made it a Regional Sport, instead of using "Market Share" like Baseball to drive the wedge, the NBA and its entertainment division decided to subjegate the game for the celebrity basketball player in the game and around the game. The NBA built a false narrative based around "championships" being all that matter and discounting all other things, including the regular season. That is fine, I guess, but when all you do is show "celebrity basketball" between a bunch of mid-teams, but they have celebrities, you get a bunch of not-very-good games going on, but they have names and cities that pop. How many times has an OKC or Cleveland been on a National t.v game this season? Both of those teams play great basketball and have the best records in the league, but the viewer keeps getting LA, Boston, NY, Philly, Bucks, and the GSW a bunch of iso running, pick and role dudes, with other dudes just standing aroung who play 4 guys a bunch of minutes, so you end up with a battle of attrition, instead of a battle of NBA teams. Because the National Media for sports job is to craft a narrative, when it is a team like Cleveland with no celebrities, a small market, and an NBA history outside of Lebron that is lacking, you can't have a team that is changing how the NBA is operated and not have stars or a big market for the pundits to understand. Very few actually watch all the games, there is not enough time in the day to watch every team, so it becomes easier to craft words that fit the narrative you are trying to build, but if you base those off of the out-dated model, you get a skewed version of the truth. NY and Cleveland both lost in the 2nd rd of the Playoffs, but NY made a sexy trade and got a big name in their off-season, which brings drama, thoughts of "what could be" and intrigue, Cleveland changed the Coach, kept most the same players with no big trade of FA to drive the off-season, so no one was forced to pay attention to what they were actually doing. Cleveland is a different beast, but they are a small market that big-name FAs do not wish to play for, so the Cavs are forced to change how the NBA operates, but their team-build model is one from the 80s, with a San Antonio level of emphasis placed on development, which means no sexy big trades for that one dude to put them over the top at the trade deadline, because 85% of the answers for the Cavs are already in-house (Emoni bates, Jaylon, Thor, Travers the wing defenders with length) It is going to be like this for a minute, because how do you frame a narrative around a retro frame build with analytics touches? Until people actually get to watch the Cavs and OKC play on a regular basis. On Jan 7th the National audience for one of the first times this season will get a chance to watch really good basketball by 2 really good teams, what it will show is how shortchanged they have been with the games placed in front of them. Until you get to see Cleveland play several times to see what is actually going on, I am okay with the National media igoring the Cavs, because listening to National pundits right now talk about Cleveland or OKC is like listening to the kid who you know did not read the book, may have skimmed over the cliff notes not really get the cliff notes. It is okay there is still time, on KZbin there is a GSW/Lebron fan who has been reacting to the games and Brooklyn Nets fan who is doing the same, go check out their journey, it started during the 15 game win streak and they are both still watching..... there is a reason, they are still watching... If you are not watching OKC and Cleveland right now, you are missing out and because so many people are missing out, they only have the iso-basketball, chuck up 3s example and not the ball movement, player movement team basketball those teams are playing. Basketball is a sport, and if you want people to watch you have to show the best examples of that sport, not the best examples of celebrities of that sport or where they pick up their mail. So endth the rant Go Cavs!!!

[@WorldwideWyatt]

House is ready for the Redskins name to come back.

[@jcheena209]

Nice Austrian artist stache!

[@18bschade]

What has Okc proven in the playoffs though?

[@quinnhenshaw7293]

No one is going to put a team in front of the Celtics untill they loose. Thats the way it goes. But I also don’t think that the Celtics are putting anywhere near 100% into every game like OKC and the Cavs. They are on cruise control. Even the warriors with KD went back to back with a sub 60 win season. The Cavs are the real deal but don’t over estimate regular season success with guys who haven’t been out of the second round. They are hungry with something to prove. The playoffs will tell us what we need to know

[@TheRulersBack18]

pretty obvious the reason is bc their best player is donovan mitchell. how many times do we have to see teams like this, the '15 hawks, the '07 mavs, etc. lose before ppl stop asking why ppl don't have faith in regular season teams? i hate the celtics and i hope the cavs smoke them in the playoffs, but i have no faith in that happening (celtics too talented, celtics strengths perfectly attack the cavs weaknesses, etc.)

[@manuelbarros4898]

Knicks fans bet more and are more numerous than Cavs fans. No mystery there.

[@GregPruitt24]

You can tell who actually watch the Cavs play and who are influenced by the national opinion.

[@Ev3rNoor23]

If you just look at the rosters, Knicks, Cavs, Celtics, and Thunder are far and away the most talented teams in the league.

[@johnbailey2024]

One comment talked about sports betting being such a huge part of sports tak now, i agree, a summarized version of why this is common that radio and internet sports talk almost always involves gambling and odds, is because, of course sports betting is legal everywhere, the banking industry owns all media, they own every network, they own every single large casino, and the same group of people own just about every single sports franchise,,, these are facts. Vegas, the networks and the professional sports league all work hand in hand, it's difficult for many die hard sports fans to believe but these games are manipulated to one degree or the other, according to the odds and how much profit can be made by vegas and the leagues, the networks make as much as possible by being provided with entertaining playoff games and championship series, in other words the nfl and college football generate the most interest, and they are rigged and scripted according to, what outcomes bring in the most gambling profits

[@dimitrijetucovic1307]

Denver is 2 games from the 3rd seed in the West, Bill.

[@Youralwayswhining4367]

Knicks have a very small championship window. They best make the most of the nxt 2-3 years.

[@officialras69]

No one is sleeping on them

[@jswede1]

Just got Cle at +1200

[@chrisolivo6591]

Sports betting has always been the elephant in the room, until it was mass legalized and embraced. I know so many people who gamble on sports as it’s the only way to get them to watch games outside their hometown teams. Why do you think the NFL gets big ratings every week? You think people are tuning in on a Thursday Night Game with the Bears vs Buccaneers to sit back and enjoy? No, they have $$$ on the game or fantasy players playing. I’m GenX so my generation has their addictive sports gamblers, but i feel bad for kids under 30. They are growing up with Sports Apps so they can gamble on their phones every night. But society looks the other way because these sports leagues are making too much $$$ and the governments are getting the tax dollars.

[@ineedsaltplease620]

Bill what are you wearing

[@remymorgan9630]

Cavs are good, but their front court players are tall, not heavy. They lost against the Knicks in the playoffs because they couldn't handle the boards against Mitch, Hartenstein, and a hobbled Randle. Mitch out-rebounded the Cavs twin tower 7 footers by himself. So how are the Cavs going to contend with Mitch, Kat (leading the NBA in rebounds, so far), OG, Hart (a guard who rebounds like a forward), and Precious? 🤔 😮 🤔

[@Malo5136]

@@remymorgan9630 they were also (and are still) a veryyyyy young team and was their first time in the playoffs and having any expectations but I'm sure that had nothing to do with it lol

[@nathanedmunds188]

I love recency bias. That’s one of the few ways to exploit Vegas.

[@osirisra1476]

The reason everyone is ignoring the Cavs is because the NBA regular season is devalued. Fans, especially smarks, really don't care about how good the Cavs are in the regular season. They were great in the regular season two years ago, too, and crapped out to the Knicks. We're just waiting for the playoffs.

[@joshz2491]

Yeah but they were not this good two years ago even in the regular season there were obvious signs that the offensive system didn't complement the roster. This is different, this is unselfish basketball with like ten players who can get double-digit points and four that can get 20+ with consistency, and several others who can flip a defensive switch whenever they want.

[@dearmas9068]

Anyone clinging to that Cavs Knicks series from 2 years ago is just simply clueless...

[@michaelsurratt1864]

Yeah, there’s a difference between Great and on a 72 win pace halfway through the season. At that point, it’s nothing but copium thinking that they’re gonna drop down multiple teirs just because it’s the playoffs. Honestly, we able to rest one of our starters every game and still beat most of teams.

[@allanawanyo4966]

Do you watch the lakers bro? Theyre really good you think the spurs can jump the lakers?

[@josephjames9659]

I'm tryna figure out the login here......the Knicks are high then the Cavs because they almost made it to the ECF. To make things worse, they lost to Indiana but the Cavs lost in 7. Please make it make sense 🤔

[@EndlessMahogany]

Cavs already beat Knicks once. we will see who is the better team late in the year for sure. 3 games between the 2 from Feb 21st on

[@dearmas9068]

The Cavs are significantly better than the Knicks

[@Earthling_FC]

Seeing Bill Simmons face just reminds me of how gambling has completely taken over the NBA. It makes me sick.

[@mattwhitely1067]

Wait clippers weathered Kawhi not playing every other year too.. So thats a terrible example 😂

[@mattwhitely1067]

Kawhi is a super duber star when healthy the likes of which is better than edwards

[@edwardfarnsworth5915]

I watched until 1:51. Cleveland was very beat up in their playoff series with Boston. The "expert" is one of the people sleeping on Cleveland, and you can, but I'm not going to listen. Next video