OT: NBA Finals: Cavs v. Warriors

[sunsfan88]

Not surprised by LeBron's fourth quarter struggles

https://twitter.com/tomhaberstroh/status/609205545149562880

 

[TJ]

Right but I just don't think it's choking. I think they're exhausted as pretty much everyone expected they would be.



Iggy and Livingston have been the difference tonight for the Warriors. Kept saying play Shaun more, when he's in you can take some of ballhandling off Curry so he can look to score more, and Shaun is a very solid defender.

I never said they choked, I said they'd choke away a 3-0 lead due to canyon-sized gap in talent. I think Golden State found the winning formula.

 

[TJ]

Not surprised by LeBron's fourth quarter struggles

https://twitter.com/tomhaberstroh/status/609205545149562880

The Lebron hate is in full force tonight. Give the haters and inch., and, well......

 

[HooverDam]

Up tempo jump shooting teams with small lineups and no traditional center will never win in the NBA finals!

 

[TJ]

Up tempo jump shooting teams with small lineups and no traditional center will never win in the NBA finals!

Add to that formula a commitment to defense and a 10-man rotation, something D'Antoni never understood.

 

[Cheesebeef]

kinda feel like going back to my Warriors in 6 prediction. That was ugly tonight. One man can only do so much.

 

[Phrazbit]

Not surprised by LeBron's fourth quarter struggles

https://twitter.com/tomhaberstroh/status/609205545149562880

Not surprised by SF88's continued inability to express original thought.

 

[Phrazbit]

LeBron played well, he faded down the stretch but the guy has carried that team for this entire series. He is the only guy on the Cavs who would even start for the Warriors. Most of the Cavs wouldn't even make the Warriors rotations.

Its only been by his Herculean efforts that the series didn't end tonight.

 

[slinslin]

The Cavs are toast, it was predictable that Lebron can't keep this inhuman production up to that level for a full series against a 67 win team.

Take Lebron off that team and they are as bad as the Knicks or 76ers.

 

[Hoop Head]

The Lebron hate is in full force tonight. Give the haters and inch., and, well......

In reality though how many people are actually rooting for the Warriors to win compared to rooting for Lebron to lose?

I'd have to say I fall into the category of rooting for him to lose. I know he's the best player of this generation but I'm not a fan of his going back to "The Decision". Sure he's back in Cleveland now but his ego is pretty massive and winning a ring without Kyrie or Love playing in the series, Love for most of the playoffs, with a 1st time head coach, and maybe 5 quality players on their roster other than him, counting the 2 All Stars who are injured, would inflate his ego even more. On top of that his fans would be absolutely unbearable with their gloating.

 

[Russ Smith]

I never said they choked, I said they'd choke away a 3-0 lead due to canyon-sized gap in talent. I think Golden State found the winning formula.

I don't get the difference? I don't think if that happened it would be due to choking it would be due to exhaustion and lack of players beyond LeBron.

I think in all reality this series should have been a sweep or 5 games but LeBron has been so good they somehow managed to win2 and have a realistic chance at the series if he can get his legs back.

 

[Russ Smith]

LeBron played well, he faded down the stretch but the guy has carried that team for this entire series. He is the only guy on the Cavs who would even start for the Warriors. Most of the Cavs wouldn't even make the Warriors rotations.

Its only been by his Herculean efforts that the series didn't end tonight.

The way Thompson has been playing he'd start and I'd take Mozgov over Bogut but yeah it's hard to quantify how good they actually are because they play with leBron so everything is easier.

Mike and Mike were talking about concussions this mornign so I assume there is concern LeBron has one.

 

[Absolute Zero]

They have other people to bring the ball up, so pressing Lebron at half court isn't a complete solution. Maybe its part of it.

I think they have to at least try trapping and doubling him, perhaps on alternating possessions to mix it up. Guarding him 1 on 1 isn't working. Sure, they will give up some 3's, but the missed 3's may also yield long rebounds and more fast break opportunities.

I would also mix up the starting line up, starting Iguodala in place of Barnes, and finding a way to get David Lee more minutes. Have Iguodala be agressive offensively to make Lebron work hard on defense.

They have to try something, what they are doing now is not working. They are lucky that they are not down 0-3.

Except that it was Bogut that that sat in place of Iguodala.

Great moves by Kerr. I thought the doubling of LeBron, forcing him to pass to others that were clanking the 3's was pretty effective.

 

[Russ Smith]

Except that it was Bogut that that sat in place of Iguodala.

Great moves by Kerr. I thought the doubling of LeBron, forcing him to pass to others that were clanking the 3's was pretty effective.

I think it was the right move but I'm not sure making it 2 games later qualifies as great?

I like Kerr but I think he waited too long on the assumption they will get it going before finally deciding look that guy is the best player on the planet, we're going to have to do something else.


Iggy has been remarkable, he completely changes the matchups, and then when they have Livingston in there they are so flexible because they can switch everything.

Cleveland had lots of success throwing the ball inside, but if you're the Warriors anything that does not involve LeBron taking the ball to the basket is good for you.

 

[SirStefan32]

In reality though how many people are actually rooting for the Warriors to win compared to rooting for Lebron to lose?

I'd have to say I fall into the category of rooting for him to lose. I know he's the best player of this generation but I'm not a fan of his going back to "The Decision". Sure he's back in Cleveland now but his ego is pretty massive and winning a ring without Kyrie or Love playing in the series, Love for most of the playoffs, with a 1st time head coach, and maybe 5 quality players on their roster other than him, counting the 2 All Stars who are injured, would inflate his ego even more. On top of that his fans would be absolutely unbearable with their gloating.

I am always rooting for him to lose, but I do have to say that I really like the Warriors. Their team seems to be full of "good guys". Non-douche bag star along with a bunch of hard-working, likeable players, coached by a great guy with a great assistant.

While I would root for the King D-Bag to lose against anyone (including the Clippers, who happen to be my least favorite team), I can honestly say that I am rooting for the Warriors.

 

[chickenhead]

Add to that formula a commitment to defense and a 10-man rotation, something D'Antoni never understood.

+1 Sadly, this should have been happening 10 years ago. Without a few bad breaks it could have, but the Suns were thinner than they could have been, too.

 

[chickenhead]

I would say I'm honestly cheering for the Warriors and not against Cleveland. I have a healthy respect for Warriors fans' dedication, and they've also had some fun teams over the years, not unlike the Suns.

I have a couple good friends from Cleveland, and seeing them enjoy a championship would probably outweigh any negatives. But from "King James" to "We are all witnesses" to "The Decision" to "The Letter" ... I'm just tired of being sold all these prepackaged narratives.

 

[ArizonaSportsFan]

I am always rooting for him to lose, but I do have to say that I really like the Warriors. Their team seems to be full of "good guys". Non-douche bag star along with a bunch of hard-working, likeable players, coached by a great guy with a great assistant.

While I would root for the King D-Bag to lose against anyone (including the Clippers, who happen to be my least favorite team), I can honestly say that I am rooting for the Warriors.

Disagree. If Klay were the star (instead of 1A on many nights and 2 the others), then I could agree.
He was already headed there, for me, but the kid-in-the-interview the second time completed the job.
He is good, definitely, and I would want him on the Suns, no doubt.

 

[sunsfan88]

JR Smith has reverted back to his Knicks days.

Shumpert, JR and Dellavadova shot a combined 7-30 or something like that. Not gonna win anything with that type of perimeter performance.

 

[sunsfan88]

At least the league finally fixed David Stern's 2-3-2 anti-home court advantage Finals format a couple years ago.
This series would have a different tone if the next TWO games were in Cleveland.

GSW has shown they can win on the road with no problems all year long.

 

[sunsfan88]

Boy, ESPN sure did drop the ball big time during pre game broadcast.

 

[NoelPHX]

Lebron now has to register as a sex offender in all 50 states for indecent exposure.....

 

[sunsfan88]

Lol Warriors fans, I like how she got all quiet and scared once she got called out :big laugh:

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

 

[JCSunsfan]

At least the league finally fixed David Stern's 2-3-2 anti-home court advantage Finals format a couple years ago.
This series would have a different tone if the next TWO games were in Cleveland.

Wow do I agree with this one.

 

[JCSunsfan]

OK. Not anything new here.

Small ball works, in specific situations. I am so glad that is finally settled. If the Warriors win BC might just have to stop posting .

Steve Kerr is a very good coach. I wish we had him. He is a better coach than a GM (because he is a horrible negotiator). He had the courage to do what was obvious--run a thin team out of the gym.

DAntoni left because Kerr asked him to hire a defensive specialist assistant. DAntoni had the right idea, but he was stubbornly deficient in two areas. He did not run a deeper rotation and he did not emphasize defense, especially on the perimeter.

I hope the Warriors win because their brand of basketball is a beautiful thing to watch.