2018 Playoffs Thread

[Russ Smith]

I'm curious how many traveling calls have been made against Lebron throughout his career. I doubt he's been called for a dozen. Without being able to look it up easily, would anyone feel comfortable betting the over if it was 15 in total? Which would be once a year.

There was a play last year I think where Westtbrook did that against the Warriors and Steph yelled at the ref who actually called it. And the OKC players actually complained that Steph was whining. I guess they think it doesn't impact the game but as a basketball fan watching a guy running upcourt 4-5 steps without dribbling I just wonder what they are watching.

But the refs were horrible tonight, that last 5 minutes was completely mishandled to the benefit of the Warriors. I'm a Warriors fan and even I think they got help tonight.

Man LeBron is so amazing

 

[HeHasRosen]

This was atrocious. We just got robbed of a series. What a joke

 

[Russ Smith]

Think about this:

Does this happen with a Phil Jackson-coached team? Greg Popavich-coached team? Pat Riley-coached team?

Situations like this simply don’t happen with halfway decently coached teams.

I don't follow do you think JR Smith forgot which end he was shooting at because of his coach, or do you mean something else?

If he doesn't do that, Cleveland wins

 

[Hoop Head]

Not sure how accurate this is, apparently Lebron has averaged 0.13 traveling calls per game. That would be 8.84 this season, so 9. I think that's actually pretty high. I never would have guessed he was whistled that much. You need to scroll down some to see Lebron, he's 4th on the list. The detail all sorts of turnovers, getting into how many turnovers players get for various things like traveling calls, 3 second calls, bad passes, stepping out of bounds. Interesting site.


http://www.nbaminer.com/player-turnover-details/

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[TJ]

I don't follow do you think JR Smith forgot which end he was shooting at because of his coach, or do you mean something else?

If he doesn't do that, Cleveland wins

I’m saying that part of the blame lies on Ty Lue. Good coaches remind players of the score, timeouts, foul situation, what to do if this or that happens, and other pertinent details in the final play of the game/regulation.

 

[TJ]

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

 

[Russ Smith]

I’m saying that part of the blame lies on Ty Lue. Good coaches remind players of the score, timeouts, foul situation, what to do if this or that happens, and other pertinent details in the final play of the game/regulation.

If you have to remind NBA veterans that the score is tied and if the guy misses the 2nd FT they should rebound and score something is wrong. I agree Lue is not a great coach but I can't blame him there.

Hill choked a FT, and Smith screwed up. They're claiming JR thought Cleveland was ahead by 1 point but again I don't think that's the fault of the coach. Warriors local guys are saying they heard JR telling LeBron I thought we were ahead.

 

[Russ Smith]

Adonal Foyle saying he just can't believe how good LeBron is right now. They're also saying on the charge/block controversy neither ref actually made a call. They were both looking at each other waiting for the other one to make the call. If that's true, as Foyle said how do you review a call that wasn't actually made? They were looking to see was leBron in the circle or not. I have to assume one of the refs made the call and nobody saw it otherwise that's crazy.

NBA looks terrible on this game though the refs were awful

 

[Russ Smith]

Kerr just said LeBron is having the greatest playoff run he's ever seen and "I played with Michael."

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

That was just nuts. It was a block by James, not a charge. However, he wasn't that close to the restricted area, so I'm not sure how they were allowed to review. They ultimately got the call right, but it shouldn't have been reviewed.

Still can't believe Hill choked the FT and, KD having inside position for the miss and shrinking and dopey Smith not understanding the game situation.

Dubs won. So, I won't complain.

 

[Covert Rain]

Oh JR. [emoji23]

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

The rule is to review if a player is in the restricted area and they are allowed to view the play in its entirety, including charge/no charge and make the determination, which correctly ruled it was a blocking foul.

I don't think the reversal itself is controversial. I think controversial part is whether or not he was close enough to the R.A. to warrant the review.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I'm curious how many traveling calls have been made against Lebron throughout his career. I doubt he's been called for a dozen. Without being able to look it up easily, would anyone feel comfortable betting the over if it was 15 in total? Which would be once a year.

He's had a lot of traveling calls against him the past few years. Seriously. At least one out of every 30 travels earns him a whistle. Of course that works out to be about one per game. I've never seen anyone travel as flagrantly as he does. Moses Malone, Hakeem, Artis Gilmore have nothing on James when it comes to traveling.

 

[GatorAZ]

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

 

[Hoop Head]

Don't like the Cavs and I'm not a Lebron fan but I wish they would have pulled out that game. Winning game 1 could have made this is a real series. I was surprised the Warriors weren't able to put them away in the 4th. They had a few decent leads in the 2nd half but the Cavs kept fighting back. If this doesn't motivate the Cavs to come out hard next game then that's it. I have a feeling this loss will hurt them more than inspire them.

 

[Hoop Head]

Lebron walked out on the post-game interview when asked a question about whether JR Smith knew the score was tied after they got the rebound from George Hill's missed free throw.

While I understand why he was frustrated I don't think he should have walked out like that. He's supposed to be the face of the league. It may not have been a question he wanted to answer but he had the reporter rephrase it a few times until he decided he wasn't going to bother. Not a good look.

I'm sure he can't wait until this series is over, even if he's on the losing end. He'd probably do well to get eliminated in the 1st round and take a summer off. This year he'll be dealing with free agency again and that comes July 1st. It's amazing how he's able to play as hard as he is knowing he has been to the finals for 8 straight years.

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

 

[Cheesebeef]

I swear to God if @Russ Smith or @LoyaltyisaCurse EVER complain about the freaking refs again, you should be BANNED from the site.

That charge switched to a block call was literally the WORST BS CALL I'VE EVER SEEN.

What a freaking joke.

 

[Cheesebeef]

That was just nuts. It was a block by James, not a charge. However, he wasn't that close to the restricted area, so I'm not sure how they were allowed to review. They ultimately got the call right, but it shouldn't have been reviewed.

Still can't believe Hill choked the FT and, KD having inside position for the miss and shrinking and dopey Smith not understanding the game situation.

Dubs won. So, I won't complain.

HORSE-CRAP.

It was called a charge on the floor. The announcers thought it was a charge on the floor. Instant replaying that crap and then CHANGING a foul call is beyond the pale.

You not acknowledging the ABSOLUTE GIFT you got tonight is a freaking joke.

 

[Cheesebeef]

The rule is to review if a player is in the restricted area and they are allowed to view the play in its entirety, including charge/no charge and make the determination, which correctly ruled it was a blocking foul.

I don't think the reversal itself is controversial. I think controversial part is whether or not he was close enough to the R.A. to warrant the review.

Yeah... I'm sure you would be TOTALLY okay with that if it went the other way.

sorry... checking to see if he was in the restricted area was a joke... then reversing the call was a bigger joke... and you pretending it was the "correct" call is the BIGGEST joke, especially since you're always complaining about the refs.

 

[1tinsoldier]

That was just nuts. It was a block by James, not a charge.

it was a charge, not a block. Lebron had his feet set but moved his body a bit in anticipation of the contact. if what i saw is a block the rule is too hard on the defense. it's enough that they added the "restricted area" in favor of the offense

it's a shame. the Cavs worked hard for a win on the warriors home court and earned it

 

[Cheesebeef]

Have the Warriors gotten more breaks than any dynasty ever? Their first title, they got to play LeBron without Love and Kyrie for 5 games and STILL lost 2 of them. Their second title, they got to play the team in the Conference Finals who gave them the most fits, were down 25 and then their thug took out Kawai.

And what appears to likely be their third title, they were down 3-2 to Houston when Houston lost their best player and then in Game 1 of the Finals, the refs just HAND them the game when they looked like they were screwed.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Lebron walked out on the post-game interview when asked a question about whether JR Smith knew the score was tied after they got the rebound from George Hill's missed free throw.

While I understand why he was frustrated I don't think he should have walked out like that. He's supposed to be the face of the league. It may not have been a question he wanted to answer but he had the reporter rephrase it a few times until he decided he wasn't going to bother. Not a good look.

I'm sure he can't wait until this series is over, even if he's on the losing end. He'd probably do well to get eliminated in the 1st round and take a summer off. This year he'll be dealing with free agency again and that comes July 1st. It's amazing how he's able to play as hard as he is knowing he has been to the finals for 8 straight years.

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

Honestly I thought Lebron showed remarkable restraint. He'd already answered the question before that press conference (as he mentioned in his first response to Mark) and it was obvious what Mark Schwarz was trying to do.

Lebron answered him 2 or 3 times and Mark just kept at it. I'd have rather Lebron responded with a "stop trying to manufacture a story" but that guy just kept hammering at him.

Schwarz tried the same thing earlier with Curry and Green, and met with similar disdain at his attempt to create melodrama. Reporting is one thing, intentionally trying to invent a story, over and over, goes beyond what they should be doing IMO. Personally, I'd never take a question from that guy again. If anyone owes anyone an apology, it's ESPN and Schwarz, not James.

 

[GatorAZ]

Mark Schwartz is a joke and always has been. I remember his coverage of the Arizona/Oregon game after the Miller thing went down. PJC defended Ayton by calling him a “professional” and Swartz said it was regrettable comment by PJC considering the circumstances. He’s an idiot.

 

[GatorAZ]

Have the Warriors gotten more breaks than any dynasty ever? Their first title, they got to play LeBron without Love and Kyrie for 5 games and STILL lost 2 of them. Their second title, they got to play the team in the Conference Finals who gave them the most fits, were down 25 and then their thug took out Kawai.

And what appears to likely be their third title, they were down 3-2 to Houston when Houston lost their best player and then in Game 1 of the Finals, the refs just HAND them the game when they looked like they were screwed.

Maybe the 60’s Celtics who had a super team when there were only 5-6 teams in the league. I can’t think of any else. Maybe the 80’s Lakers that had a really easy path in the West compared to Boston/Detroit/Philly but they still beat them in the Finals.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Mark Schwartz is a joke and always has been. I remember his coverage of the Arizona/Oregon game after the Miller thing went down. PJC defended Ayton by calling him a “professional” and Swartz said it was regrettable comment by PJC considering the circumstances. He’s an idiot.

Yeah, he's a real jerk. And he proved that again last night. ESPN should be embarrassed.