NBA Finals Cleveland vs Golden State

[Hoop Head]

Side note, I think Green is a the closest we'll see to a player like Barkley ever again. He's a bit taller but he's still an undersized PF who's able to put the ball on the floor, drive it to the basket or create for himself and others. He's also a really good rebounder, especially for his size. He doesn't have the post game Barkley did but the NBA is moving away from slow it down and grind it out post oriented offensive sets, even in the playoffs. He's a lot stronger than the majority of players he's matched up against at PF nowadays. His play style reminds me of how Chuck played in Houston mainly.

 

[Mainstreet]

This was the least deserving of a suspension IMO, but he deserved to be suspended for the crap he pulled before. Do the Cavs have a chance in game 5 now, or do they get ran out of the building anyways?

If you are saying much worse has happened in the playoffs, I agree.

 

[JCSunsfan]

If you are saying much worse has happened in the playoffs, I agree.

Right. But this suspension is for the accumulation of flagrants, not just the one.

 

[slinslin]

I think Lebron was the instigator and should have got a technical.

Overall the entire scene is totally overblown. I saw Green lash out but I didnt see him strike and hit Lebron at all really.

Suspension is not justified imo.

 

[Russ Smith]

this is getting humorous now. Apparently what set LeBron off, after he threw Green down and walked over him, is that he says Green called him a bi&ch, and that's a line you do not cross.

So then on camera with the refs there you can see LeBron call Green the same thing at least twice and probably more. So I guess he's saying "he said it first?"

Barkley says Green had a moral obligation to hit James there for stepping over him.

I don't agree I think Green has to show more restraint there, but in the end LeBron is getting off way too easy and let's just say the guys on NBA tv said if LeBron is saying that is what set him off, why did he say it to Curry in the 4th quarter?

I am glad that even NBA plaeyrs are calling out LeBron for whining and at least a few have suggested LeBron did what he did trying to get Green mad so he'd get another flagrant.

 

[Russ Smith]

I think Lebron was the instigator and should have got a technical.

Overall the entire scene is totally overblown. I saw Green lash out but I didnt see him strike and hit Lebron at all really.

Suspension is not justified imo.

He hit him in the goods intentionally. My problem is there's precedent in this very series and playoffs that they are not following. Delly hit Iggy in the goods it sure looked intentional no flagrant. Green got a flagrant for throwing down Beasley in the Houston series, James doesn't get one for throwing down Green.

 

[leclerc]

If you're on the Cavs you get away with it?

Closest to Barkley _ever again_? No, I think in the next 200 years we'll see some little chuksters, but in our life time (50 years) yeah, we'll see 1-2 chuksters.

I agree on the comparison though. He does have some of the qualities Barkley had. At least the big mouth.

 

[Southpaw]

I find it laughable that in the NBA a "walkover" is forbidden, yet in the NFL it happens on nearly every defensive play. What a culture sports is.

 

[TJ]

I think Lebron was the instigator and should have got a technical.

Overall the entire scene is totally overblown. I saw Green lash out but I didnt see him strike and hit Lebron at all really.

Suspension is not justified imo.

There's clear visual evidence that Green his him between the legs, so that can't be disputed.

Also, Green was not suspended for that one instance, but rather, the aggregate of several incidences.

Furthermore, the more I think about it, the more I think that this was a calculated move by LeBron, and one in which he played the league and Green like a fiddle. Green is a hothead. We know this. IMO, I think LeBron knew that Green would react to any sort of altercation in a heated way and take the bait. LeBron then embellished what happened on the podium by ambiguously referencing his family when discussing the trash talking, implying that Green may or may not have said something about LeBron's family. Green earns his fourth point on the flagrant scale, which triggers and automatic suspension. Checkmate.

LeBron knows he has tug-and-pull in the NBA, and would be ignorant not to use it to his advantage. Fans get mad about it and call out LeBron, but if you have a tactical advantage that can only benefit you, use it, provided it doesn't have any repercussions. That's why Ginobili flops all the time. It rubs people the wrong way, but if it keeps getting called and the worst that can happen is a $5k fine, he might as well keep doing it if it continues to give his team a competitive advantage. Same with "Hack-a-Shaq." It's abhorrent to watch and slows down the game, but sending a 40% FT shooter to the line is gaining a competitive edge. At a certain point, the fault is not with LeBron, Ginobili, or the coaches who signal their players to foul DeAndre Jordan, it's with the NBA and its refs who continue to reinforce these behaviors.

 

[Russ Smith]

I find it laughable that in the NBA a "walkover" is forbidden, yet in the NFL it happens on nearly every defensive play. What a culture sports is.

They considered it an attempt to incite retaliation by green apparently.

What I find funny is they don't call fouls on any contact for an entire game, surprise play gets rougher and rougher and we have a conflict, and then they assess a T for a walkover and or a guy using the B word?

If they call it close tonight they better call it close all the way. That is if it's suddenly a foul everytime Green drives to the basket(like last year when he shot 28 FT's in the first 2 games), it better also be a foul everytime Curry or Klay is grabbed, held or bumped intentionally when trying to cut for an open shot. Both are fouls that have not been called. Curry has 14 FTA's and 8 of them were being fouled intentionally end of game. LeBron has 17 and none of them were being fouled intentionally end of game. So if they decide to clean it up and call it close, it better be consistent otherwise they're going to be accused of playing favorites for sure.

yes LeBron is way under his average in FTA's but so is pretty much everyone else

 

[Russ Smith]

Hopefully this link works right.


http://imgur.com/86c64Qs

Apparently this is where Draymond learned it.

 

[leclerc]

Kevin Garnett.

Yeah I remember that "play" where she hit Frye in the nuts.

 

[Covert Rain]

My 5 game prediction looks a little more dim with the suspension but it appears Golden State has a mental edge right now.

 

[Russ Smith]

My 5 game prediction looks a little more dim with the suspension but it appears Golden State has a mental edge right now.

I think there's a sense of urgency to close it out tonight so they don't have to try and win in Cleveland or game 7 in Oakland. ANd you have the win for Draymond angle.

And with all the reports on Curry's knee and shoulders there's the win while Steph is still able to play angle although it sounds like he's denying it's anywhere near as bad as being claimed.

 

[SO91]

The league is in a tough spot. I hope the Warriors pull it out. I hope they run them off the gym, and I hope Oracle is relentless on Lebron. Then I want Draymond running into the arena to celebrate. Even better if he goes full kit ****** like John Terry. I want to be entertained.

 

[Russ Smith]

The league is in a tough spot. I hope the Warriors pull it out. I hope they run them off the gym, and I hope Oracle is relentless on Lebron. Then I want Draymond running into the arena to celebrate. Even better if he goes full kit ****** like John Terry. I want to be entertained.

The claim is Green will be watching from a luxury box at the A's game. If you've never been there Oracle arena is literally right next to the Oakland Coliseum. he could in theory get from one to the other in less than 10 minutes so if the Warriors wrap up tonight, he'll be there eventually.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Such a personal quandary. I can't remember a time I thought such a good player (lebron) was such a bitch. Mj complain like lebron? No way.

But I really can't stomach punks. And regardless of retaliation or not, hitting the 'nads is just a punk move. Stay mind is incredibly talented. But the repeated but shots makes him a punk. And his history of it makes any questionable future nut shots unquestionable imo. He's a punk. And there's no room for punks. He deserved the suspension for repeat offender status.

Russ, your homerism is really shining through. Things being called inconsistently IS the NBA.

 

[Cheesebeef]

He hit him in the goods intentionally. My problem is there's precedent in this very series and playoffs that they are not following. Delly hit Iggy in the goods it sure looked intentional no flagrant. Green got a flagrant for throwing down Beasley in the Houston series, James doesn't get one for throwing down Green.

at least Iggy had the ball in that play and in the moment... and even in replay, I can see the argument that Delly is swatting at the ball, misses and hits Iggy in the balls.

there's literally NOTHING like that in this scenario with Green. Dude's a punk. A punk who I'd love if he was on my team, but a punk just the same.

That said, LeBron really looks like a bitch right now.

 

[TJ]

Such a personal quandary. I can't remember a time I thought such a good player (lebron) was such a bitch. Mj complain like lebron? No way.

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.

 

[Cheesebeef]

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.

they also won a lot more then LeBron in the Finals. To the victor go the spoils.

 

[Russ Smith]

My tv or was Andy Grammer awful singing the national anthem?

 

[Russ Smith]

Such a personal quandary. I can't remember a time I thought such a good player (lebron) was such a bitch. Mj complain like lebron? No way.

But I really can't stomach punks. And regardless of retaliation or not, hitting the 'nads is just a punk move. Stay mind is incredibly talented. But the repeated but shots makes him a punk. And his history of it makes any questionable future nut shots unquestionable imo. He's a punk. And there's no room for punks. He deserved the suspension for repeat offender status.

Russ, your homerism is really shining through. Things being called inconsistently IS the NBA.

Of course it is. I'm just saying if leBron had hit Green in the exact same scenario, LeBron would be playing tonight IMO.

I have no problem with Green being suspended he had too many flagrants, I do think LeBron is getting off easy.

I hope it motivates the Warriors to put them away.

 

[nashman]

Currys wifes tweet to Lebron was the best lol. High road my ass he's a cry baby and got the league to do exactly what he wanted. Can't beat them straight up so gotta be a little bitch. I hope they get their teeth kicked in!

 

[TJ]

they also won a lot more then LeBron in the Finals. To the victor go the spoils.

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.

 

[Russ Smith]

so much for the theory the refs would call it closer tonight.