Very Cavalier: Recent Episodes
Eric Rieser, Matt Hayes
Eric Rieser and Matty "Ice" Hayes host a very Cleveland-centric NBA show...from Columbus. "Very Cavalier" is from the perspective of 2 Cavs fans that were raised in the LeBron era and appreciate, yet harbor disdain, for the way Steph and Klay changed how basketball is played.
The boys discuss the up and down season to this point, at 13-11 Matty tries to talk Eric back off the ledge with his "just make the playoffs" expectations. Is JB Bickerstaff the coach that can elevate this team or simply a product of the failed John Beilein "era"? The In-Season Tournament was a success and why is everyone Fat-Shaming Zion Williamson?
The boys discuss the weird situation(s) that coaches were in because of the NBA's in-season tournament on the final night of Group Play. Would Billy Donovan have done the same thing as Joe Mazzulla if his Bulls were in the same situation? Despite not making the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup, the Cavaliers are moving along nicely as November comes to an end. Wine and Gold are in for a busy December, but will it be a long one? Eric and Matty also discuss why Greg Popovich feels sorry for what happened to Kawhi Leonard in San Antonio.
The boys get right into the Draymond Green/Rudy Gobert incident where Green put Gobert into a WWF sleeper hold. Did Draymond intentionally get ejected or was he really trying to protect Klay Thompson? Should there be any concern over the start to Evan Mobley's season? Should JB Bickerstaff FORCE the ball to Mobley more often? Also, Eric was totally wrong about Anthony Davis and he could very well be DPoY,
The guys got right into a discussion about NBA television rights and how the Cavaliers should take a page out of the Jazz playbook and move AWAY from the RSN model...but would Dan Gilbert ever say "No" to basically free money? On the court the Cavs are 1-1 with the starting 5 that was promised in the offseason...can anything really be learned so early into the season? Also, is the In-Season tournament something that anyone needs?
The boys are back and dive right in to the Cavaliers 1-3 start! How should expectations have been managed going INTO the '23-'24 season? Can the fanbase fall back on "just wait until we're healthy!" or is there legitimacy in early-season panic? Have the additions to this roster delivered on their promise to help on the perimeter? What about Evan Mobley? Also, would Tyronn Lue actually consider starting James Harden with the Clippers?
Eric and Matty react to the Cavaliers being on the other end of a "Gentleman's Sweep" to the New York Knicks. Who deserves the MOST blame for Cleveland's flame out in the 1st round. What needs to happen this off-season to ensure this franchise moves past the 2nd round? Should the Cavaliers move on from JB Bickerstaff and what should be done with Jarrett Allen? Eric and Matty discuss whether or not this season should be considered a "Failure" Also, Jimmy Butler can't keep doing this...can he?
The Cavs locked up their 12th 50-win-seaon in franchise history as well as the 4 seed in the NBA Playoffs in a one-week span, something not don since before LeBron donned the wine and gold. Eric and Matty discuss how important it it for this team to keep stacking those accolades en route to an eventual NBA Finals run (we hope!) Has Evan Mobley done enough to win DPoY? Has Donovan Mitchell done enough to earn 1st team all-NBA honors? Who in the West terrifies the boys?
Eric dubs this "this most optimistic time of the year" for sports fans. The Cavs have optimism heading into the playoffs secure as the 4 seed. Browns, Guardians, Reds and Bengals fans have optimism that 2023 can be BETTER than 2022. Also "The Showcase of the Immortals" is this weekend in Los Angeles, Matty gives his WrestleMania 39 preview!
As the regular season winds down, are the Cavaliers locked into the 4 spot in the East? The guys discuss the progression of Evan Mobley and Darius Garland in the Donovan Mitchell-led offense. Why is everyone so surprised LeBron has made the most 3's in Cavs franchise history? In the span of a month, the West has made the East look boring. What's next for Ja Morant now that he's back from a 9-game suspension. Does anyone look like the best team in the West?
Deals done at the NBA trade deadline shifted the balance of power in the association. The East is now a little weaker after departures of KD and Kyrie. How will it affect the Cavaliers? What do the guys think of the lack of movement from Cleveland at the deadline? Does adding Danny Green make the Cavs a deeper team...or just an older one?
The Brooklyn Nets traded Kyrie...they actually did it. Are the Mavericks the new favorite in the West or is there another team that Matty Ice just cant quit? The Cavs put together back-to-back wins for the first times since "Happy New Year!", what can this team do down the stretch with the easiest remaining schedule in the NBA? The Nets jumped ahead of the NBA in trading Kyrie 5 days before the deadline, should Cavs fans expect Kevin Love and/or Caris LeVert to be moved on or by February 9th?
The guys recap the weekend that was, 2 games to begin a road trip out west(ish) with two very different results. How many McNuggets could Eric and Matty eat? Could they keep up with the Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets? Should there be concern with Evan Mobley? Should the Cavs be intense buyers at the trade deadline? Can the Nets survive the next month without Kevin Durant? Does Brooklyn become a major trade player in the event KD is out for an extended time?
Spida Mitchell scored 71 points (a new single game franchise record) and the Cavaliers needed every single one of them to beat the Bulls. What does Donovan's historic night mean for the team moving forward? Especially without Darius Garland and Evan Mobley? Do the Cavs need to make a move at the NBA's trade deadline? Could either Eric or Matty eat more chicken nuggets than points scored by the Denver Nuggets? They'll find out in February!
The Cavs FINALLY put together a complete game against the Milwaukee Bucks and came away with an impressive win. There's still plenty of work to be done, especially on the road...but the Holidays have brought some good news in the readiness of Ricky Rubio after the 1st of the new year. Matty and Eric think Donovan Mitchell should be getting more love for MVP AND should NBA teams refund fans when their superstars decide to rest on their only trip to a certain city?
Matty and the Cavaliers have brought Eric back from the ledge! While not having Jarrett Allen and Kevin Love, this Cleveland team has been able to maintain their pace in the East with the 3rd best home record in the NBA. Beating the Sixers by 28 points the night before recording this episode helps, too. Eric and Matty discuss how Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell have continues to gel, how the Cavs look compared to the other contenders in the East AND why British royals should get NO LOVE in Boston.
Matty helps walk Eric back from the ledge after the Cavaliers losing streak extends to 5...thanks to Brook Lopez?!?! Can the Wine and Gold find that "Junkyard Dog" mentality they started the season with, or will they continue to play like "Fat Cats"? Should this team be judged by November losses to title contenders (especially without their full roster)? Are concerns with this team legitimate or can they be smoothed over with a few quick wins? Also, Kevin Durant gave a pair of interviews in which he takes zero responsibility for the Nets' struggles all while trying to portray himself as the man who is keeping it all together. Is KD still a Brooklyn Net on February 10th? What about Kyrie Irving? Ben Simmons?
Eric and Matty discuss the Cavs 2-game losing streak, one in which JB Bickerstaff critized his team for playing "arrogant basketball". Could it have something to do with BonusFinder naming 2 members of the roster as "Most Attractive" in the entire NBA? Eric and Matty also discuss the Cavs new "City Edition" uniforms as well as the turmoil surrounding the Brooklyn Nets. Does Kyrie Irving ever put on a Brooklyn uniform again?
In the span of a week, the Cavs have 2 OT wins over the Boston Celtics! Eric and Matty discuss the most recent OT thriller in Cleveland and a much-quicker-than-expected "gelling" of Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell. Also, can Ime Udoka save the Brooklyn Nets?
Eric does a horrible job intro-ing himself and Matty...but they're both enthused about the Cavaliers' 3-1 start to the season! Timmy Hall jumps on to discuss how the Donovan Mitchell experience is going, what to do about the 3 (small forward) and is there a chance BOTH Cleveland and Utah "won" the Spider Trade? Also, the show deviates into discussing whether or not Giannis would build a house with cabinets that are higher than traditional homes.
Eric and Matty sit down before Game 1 against Toronto to discuss the origins of their Cavaliers fandom, the addition of Donovan Mitchell, a stolen ROY and a possible LeBron James return to Cleveland.