Épisodes

  • Should the Cavs be asking more of James Harden and Donovan Mitchell?

    Should the Cavs be asking more of James Harden and Donovan Mitchell?
    Oct 30 2026
    In this episode of the Wine and Gold Talk podcast, host Ethan Sands and beat reporter Chris Fedor break down the Cavs' early-season struggles following a 114-111 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. The discussion centers on the team's recurring foundational issues, specifically live-ball turnovers, poor transition defense, and a stagnant offense that leans too heavily on isolation plays from guards Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. They also highlight the alarming statistical underperformance of the Cavs' starting five, the need for the team's star guards to improve their point-of-attack defense, make better late-game decisions, and consistently integrate big men Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen into the offensive flow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    34 min
  • Could Evan Mobley’s shooting leap finally be real?

    Could Evan Mobley’s shooting leap finally be real?
    Oct 29 2026
    In this episode of the Wine and Gold Talk podcast, host Ethan Sands and cleveland.com columnist Jimmy Watkins recap the Cavs' 121-111 comeback victory over the Washington Wizards. The discussion centers on the team's starkly contrasting performance, highlighting a lazy and unengaged first-half defense followed by successful second-half schematic adjustments that secured the win. The guys praise the critical energy and defensive efforts of Jarrett Allen and Peyton Watson for keeping the Cavaliers in the game during the first half. A major focus of the episode is the development of Evan Mobley's 3-point shot. The episode concludes with thoughts on the NBA debut of rookie AJ Dybantsa and a critique of Trae Young's "circus-style" of play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    41 min
  • Will Jarrett Allen continue to be left out of closing lineups? Hey, Chris!

    Will Jarrett Allen continue to be left out of closing lineups? Hey, Chris!
    Oct 28 2026
    In this episode of the Wine and Gold Talk podcast, host Ethan Sands and beat reporter Chris Fedor answer Subtext subscriber questions regarding the Cavs. The discussion focuses on Evan Mobley's mechanical and mental struggles at the free-throw line, head coach Kenny Atkinson's situational strategy for utilizing the two-big lineup of Mobley and Jarrett Allen in late-game scenarios, and the rationale behind keeping James Harden in the starting lineup alongside Donovan Mitchell. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    38 min
  • Analyzing the Cavs' come from behind overtime win over the red-hot Minnesota Timberwolves

    Analyzing the Cavs' come from behind overtime win over the red-hot Minnesota Timberwolves
    Oct 27 2026
    In this episode of the Wine and Gold Talk podcast, host Ethan Sands, cleveland.com Cavs beat reporter Chris Fedor and columnist Jimmy Watkins discuss the Cleveland Cavaliers' impressive comeback overtime victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Key themes include rookie Meleek Thomas's breakout performance and its implications for the team's backup guard rotation, particularly how it affects players like Craig Porter Jr. and Tyrese Proctor. The guys also analyze Peyton Watson's elite defensive playmaking, validating the organization's decision to acquire him over Jonathan Kuminga. Additionally, the conversation touches on the Cavaliers' lingering psychological struggles with holding onto large leads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    37 min
  • How soon is too soon to worry about the Cavs’ old habits?

    How soon is too soon to worry about the Cavs’ old habits?
    Oct 26 2026
    In this episode of the Wine and Gold Talk podcast, host Ethan Sands reviews the Cavs' early-season performances and previews their upcoming matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Despite a 1-1 start, Sands expresses concern over the team's tendency to squander leads, attributing these collapses to poor free-throw shooting, defensive lapses, and a reversion to isolation-heavy basketball. He also calls for a higher level of internal accountability and urgency from the roster. Looking ahead to the Timberwolves, he highlights Minnesota's blend of joyful yet disciplined basketball as the exact standard Cleveland must strive for during their challenging upcoming 11-game stretch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    25 min
  • Reacting to the Cavs’ historic collapse against LeBron and the 76ers: Have they learned anything from past playoff failures?

    Reacting to the Cavs’ historic collapse against LeBron and the 76ers: Have they learned anything from past playoff failures?
    Oct 23 2026
    In this episode of the Wine and Gold Talk podcast, host Ethan Sands and reporter Chris Fedor analyze the Cavs' historic season-opening collapse against the Philadelphia 76ers. Despite building a 29-point lead in the first half, the Cavaliers' subsequent meltdown highlighted recurring franchise issues, including a lack of mental toughness, an over-reliance on isolation play from stars, and the tendency for their offensive struggles to dictate their defensive effort. The guys also discuss the profound impact of LeBron James choosing to sign with the 76ers over Cleveland during the offseason, noting that while there are still 81 games left, this loss reinforces lingering doubts about the Cavaliers' true championship potential. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    38 min
  • Could this be the best NBA season in a decade? And why the Cavs are at the center of it

    Could this be the best NBA season in a decade? And why the Cavs are at the center of it
    Oct 22 2026
    In this episode of the Wine and Gold Talk podcast, host Ethan Sands and Cavs reporter Chris Fedor explore why the upcoming NBA season could be one of the league’s most competitive in a decade and where the Cleveland Cavaliers fit into the bigger picture. From a deeper Eastern Conference and growing championship expectations to questions surrounding Jarrett Allen’s knee, the final rotation spot and the team’s offensive and defensive ceilings, the hosts break down what will shape Cleveland’s season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    41 min
  • Are the Cavs one injury away from a season-long problem?

    Are the Cavs one injury away from a season-long problem?
    Oct 21 2026
    In this episode of the Wine and Gold Talk podcast, host Ethan Sands and beat reporter Chris Fedor discuss the impact of Nae’Qwan Tomlin’s lower back injury and how it will affect head coach Kenny Atkinson’s depth and lineup experimentation to begin the season. They also give an injury update on Sam Merrill. Additionally, the pair analyzes Tom Thibodeau's recent visit to a Cavs practice, the fluid evaluation of Cleveland's two-way roster spots, and their reactions to a highly entertaining opening night across the NBA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    40 min