NBA Finals Cleveland vs Golden State

[Russ Smith]

MJ was one of the biggest whiners in league history. So was Magic. So was Kobe. So was just about every single legendary player in league history. Likely, the reason these players' bitchiness doesn't resonate with fans as much as it did is when these players were in their primes,social media was not mainstream like it is now. We also didn't have the clickbait monsters on the internet like we do now.

Part of being an elite player is not just about skill, but basketball IQ; and part of the IQ piece is knowing what you can and can't get away with. The dynastic Spurs were the best at bitching at and negotiating with the officials to the point in which calls began to shift to their direction towards the end of games. Phil Jackson did the same thing.

For all the heat LeBron is taking for this War of Words, the way he handled the situation was masterful. He was able to take out Golden State's most versatile player for a game. As I said before, use whatever leverage you got to gain a competitive advantage, especially when your team is overmatched.

Sure but then it's easier to do that when you're LeBron James.

Put it this way a hot woman can get away with all sorts of bad treatment of people because she's hot. That doesn't mean she's got better social IQ it just means she's hot.

LeBron got away with it because he's one of the best players in NBA history and the NBA doesn't want to go into game 5 of the NBA finals with him not able to play because he called 2 players a b word.

 

[Russ Smith]

I really hope the Warriors don't keep Varejao I hate watching him play.

On that one play on the defensive end he flopped trying to draw a foul on the rebound, then goes down the other end hooks Delly and flopped and got that call.

And aside from that he's just like Ezeli he constantly has the ball where if he looked at the basket he'd have a dunk and he just passes it out.

 

[TJ]

Golden State played 11 players in the first quarter.

Had D'Antoni had this kind of trust in his bench throughout the seasons he coached the Suns, the starters would've been fresher in the playoffs.

IMO, a deeper rotation and more emphasis on defense would have given Phoenix 1-2 championships.

As much as I like Golden State, particularly my brethren, it's kind of depressing watching this team be as successful as it is knowing that it's more-or-less the same mold of the mid-2000s Suns

 

[Russ Smith]

Man Ezeli is absolutely killing the Warriors the only reason this game is close is he's playing so much because Green is out.

He can't finish on offense so they can't pass to him, and on defense he keeps coming up one step too high and getting beat off the dribble.

 

[Russ Smith]

any question the Warriors miss Green. Bogut 3 fouls in 6 , Ezeli god awful, Varejao flopping over and over and Speights missed both open shots he had.

Cavs shooting 54%, James and Irving 18-28 combined but it's tied because Curry and Klay are 9-14 from 3.

 

[elindholm]

Man Ezeli is absolutely killing the Warriors the only reason this game is close is he's playing so much because Green is out.

Bogut needs to stop being an offensive liability, so that they can keep him on the floor. I think two of his fouls were offensive (or it was one plus one other turnover). With Green out, they need Bogut's defense, but he has to be able to contribute on both ends.

 

[Russ Smith]

Bogut needs to stop being an offensive liability, so that they can keep him on the floor. I think two of his fouls were offensive (or it was one plus one other turnover). With Green out, they need Bogut's defense, but he has to be able to contribute on both ends.

Yeah the 5 bigs replacing Green combiend for 1 point while not being guarded.

Bogut I agree, he can defend and pass. Speights is great when his shot is falling but it's not tonight and his defense was terrible.

 

[Russ Smith]

Boy you want to win tonight if you're the Warriors that looks like a series ending injury for Bogut.

 

[Cheesebeef]

What's your point? The three I specifically mentioned had significantly more quality talent, depth, and coaching than LeBron has ever had on any team he's ever been apart of, despite the whole "Big 3" notion.

I'd agree with you on Magic and Kobe having more talent, but not Jordan.

 

[Cheesebeef]

man, how USELESS is Love?

 

[Russ Smith]

I love Iggy but he has a remarkable knack of turning layups into bad shots or turnovers. Just shoot the damn ball in there Iggy he's done that 4 times tonight.

 

[elindholm]

We're still pretending that Bledsoe is better than Irving, right? I just want to be sure I remember.

 

[Russ Smith]

Man Kyrie is unreal tonight, 17-22 and 5-7 from 3. Nothing you can do when he's making those shots.

Looks like the Warriors have to win game 7 on the road.

 

[Russ Smith]

I love Iggy but he has a remarkable knack of turning layups into bad shots or turnovers. Just shoot the damn ball in there Iggy he's done that 4 times tonight.

13-4 Cleveland since that play. Warriors with 4 points in 5 minutes.

 

[Cheesebeef]

We're still pretending that Bledsoe is better than Irving, right? I just want to be sure I remember.

ha! whoever said that is drinking drano.

LeBron was a monster, carrying them in the first half and Kyrie was the killer in the 2nd.

I'm pretty stoked for Game 6... with Draymond back, in Cleveland with the chance to push to 7? The NBA got exactly what they wanted tonight.

 

[Cheesebeef]

meanwhile, Curry was not impressive again tonight.

 

[GatorAZ]

Man Kyrie is unreal tonight, 17-22 and 5-7 from 3. Nothing you can do when he's making those shots.

Looks like the Warriors have to win game 7 on the road.

Hero ball is fun to watch when the shots go down.

 

[TJ]

I'd agree with you on Magic and Kobe having more talent, but not Jordan.

Jordan had Phil Jackson and Scottie Pippen in each of his six championships, to go with a host of quality players with clearly-defined roles.

Pick your three-peat team: BJ Armstrong, Horace Grant, Dennis Rodman, Steve Kerr, John Paxton mad, Ron Harper (went from averaging 20 ppg for crap teams to 7 ppg as a role player for the Bulls), Kukoc, etc.

Despite the talent with which they were surrounded, I will say that Phil Jackson is the most important variable in the Jordan/Kobe championship years.

 

[Russ Smith]

meanwhile, Curry was not impressive again tonight.

He missed a bunch of open shots in the 2nd half.

The guy who really hurt the Warriors on offense was Barnes though,. 2-14 mostly wide open shots or at the rim plays.

 

[Russ Smith]

Hero ball is fun to watch when the shots go down.

I think there's a difference between iso's when a team has no rim protection like tonight and hero ball.

But yes the odds are if he and LeBron play this way the next game, and the next if there is one, they will probably shoot them out of one of those games.

3-21 from 3 in teh 2nd half for the warriors.

Very concerned about bogut the way he was acting he's done for the series.

 

[Mainstreet]

Man Kyrie is unreal tonight, 17-22 and 5-7 from 3. Nothing you can do when he's making those shots.

Looks like the Warriors have to win game 7 on the road.

I think Lebron set the tone although Kyrie was beyond outstanding tonight. Lebron was not to be denied especially when he was hitting all his shots.

Harrison Barnes was really off tonight.

 

[95pro]

Refs gave the Warriors a ton of calls tonight, or should i say let the Warriors get away with a lot of fouls that could have been called. And that stupid out of bounds call when the ball didn't go out of bounds.

 

[82CardsGrad]

First time in NBA history for two players going over 40 points in the finals... Wow. Ya think Green was missed tonight??

 

[Cheesebeef]

Jordan had Phil Jackson and Scottie Pippen in each of his six championships, to go with a host of quality players with clearly-defined roles.

Pick your three-peat team: BJ Armstrong, Horace Grant, Dennis Rodman, Steve Kerr, John Paxton mad, Ron Harper (went from averaging 20 ppg for crap teams to 7 ppg as a role player for the Bulls), Kukoc, etc.

Slight quibble with the Harper stuff. Ron Harper's game fell off a cliff the year before Jordan came back for the three-peat, scoring 7 ppg on 42% shooting in the 1994-95 season. I remember well because I was going to U of I at the time and everyone was talking about how they just got Ron Harper to fill the Jordan void and how he was gonna be the dynamic scorer the 1993-4 team was missing... and then it was apparent his game was mostly gonzo.

And LeBron's first three Heat teams were pretty well stacked, IMO. Bosh was better then any 3rd member of any team and Wade was just as much Pippen's equal, if not better, IMO.

Throw in your Haslems, Ray Allen, Battiers, Mike Millers and you had solid role players on all those teams as well.

Despite the talent with which they were surrounded, I will say that Phil Jackson is the most important variable in the Jordan/Kobe championship years.

can't argue with this.

Just saying, LeBron has played with a lot of talented guys. His most impressive feats for me aren't either of his titles. It was getting that AWFUL 2007 Cavs team to the Finals and what he did last year.

 

[Cheesebeef]

is it me, or does this just seem like a joyless NBA Finals? You watch the after game pressers, and everyone is so ho-hum.

Really hope we see something special the next two games (or at least one game) because for the most part, these games haven't really been competitive.