^I'm gonna disagree there.  I believe everyone when they say they were riding the hot hands.  Kyrie played poorly but I'm not buying a "message". Everyone knows they stand no chance of winning a title without Kyrie. He did the same thing last year in the finals games 5-7, except he made the shots

Good to see that the Cavs are back at full strength (TT broke it off with the ugly Kardashian)

Good to see that the Cavs are back at full strength (TT broke it off with the ugly Kardashian)

 

She was at the game last night

the indiana series caused the great larry bird to quite the game lol!

 

 

Larry Bird quits Pacers in abrupt NBA shakeup

 

By Associated Press April 28, 2017

 

 

more:

http://nypost.com/2017/04/28/larry-bird-stepping-down-from-pacers/

A little shaky in game 4 today, but still moving on!  8 more wins to repeat!

We fell asleep in the late 3rd, early 4th and nearly blew a game we were clearly in the driver's seat with a 16-18 point lead.  We started that infamous stop n' pop offense and then started turning the ball over like it was going out of style; or as Tyronn Lue says: we started messing with the game.  But fortunately Kyrie woke up and had one of those 4th quarters.  LeBron was his usual great self ... sans the turnovers, and Korver was in a zone like we haven't seen as a Cavalier except maybe one hot regular season game. 

 

I don't want to look too far ahead, and I'm still believing that Washington will be our next opponent.  But it sure seems like we're on a collision course with the Warriors.  My only concern with that is that, with Jefferson now effectively out of our rotation, one of our best Warriors defenders in last year's finals may not be available ... unless Lue juggles things, but then an older RJ will be somewhat out of playing shape.  We obviously need some big defenders with both Green and Durant to deal with this year... Oh well, we'll cross that bridge...

 

Btw, I'm hoping Deron Williams wasn't seriously injured on that hard smash to his ribcage.  Any word on that?

I don't know how anyone can complain about anything, tbh. They are playing great basketball and sure it gets ugly on the road, but it's the road it's the playoffs. As easy as the Cavs make it look, the other teams are really good.  I've changed my tune, the Cavs can certainly win it all, in fact they look better than the warriors so far in the playoffs.

 

Let's remember this next year when the Cavs don't try for 4 months and have the 6th seed in the east

Its's ok with me. It's the playoffs. The two games from the regular season that don't make me discount the sweep of a depleted Raptors team are Christmas Warriors game and the beat down of Boston late in the season. This team can compete and beat anyone in the NBA anytime they want.

I've never seen LeBron better.  He's peaking.... maybe.... at 32

I've never seen LeBron better.  He's peaking.... maybe.... at 32

 

Someone p***ed him off.  Might even be one of the less astute media types dismissing his GOAT status.

 

The thing is, I'm pretty sure once age starts to catch him he retires sooner rather than later. 

 

I'm also 90% convinced he's the future owner of the Cavaliers.

I've never seen LeBron better.  He's peaking.... maybe.... at 32

 

He's at or near the peak intersection of his physical ability and a mental awareness of the game around him. His physical ability is at or near the top and his mental awareness of the finer points of the game continues to climb. If the inevitable physical decline remains in the future for as long as possible, his mental awareness will only continue to improve through his 30s, and he will continue to push the intersection of physical/mental even higher. One can only hope.

 

I noticed the Raptors were trying to knock him around in the paint when he didn't have the ball. An elbow here. A push there. A jab there. It didn't work for them, but it will take its toll on LeBron if team(s) in the next round(s) continue it. Cavs need a new enforcer to protect LeBron.

Not to take the ECF for granted, but i will anyway.  Neither of those two will beat him...im really looking forward to the Warriors.  Think about this:

 

The warriors have 6 combined rings, all with an asterisk because they beat a depleted cavs team: Curry, Iguodala, Thompson, MacAdoo, Livingston, Green

 

The Cavs have 14 combined rings: Lebron (3), Jones (3), Thompson, Irving, Smith, Shumpert, Love, Jefferson, Frye, Jones

 

The Cavs have the last laugh on the Warriors, certainly part of the mental aspect for the Warriors that will be very difficult to overcome.  You dont just show up in the Finals and be the same team you were all season... There is significant resistance and you have to adjust.  The Cavs currently have a place in the Warriors head.  While the warriors may exhibit a revenge game and get their frustrations out, they still need to beat Lebron 3 more times.

 

The Warriors are coached by Mike Brown, one of the worst adjustment coaches to ever hold a head coach gig. 

 

Durant does NOT have a ring.  Getting that monkey off of his back will be one of the hardest things he will ever have to do...and he will have to do it against a guy that has had his number his whole career.  I dont care how good he will look, he will still have to finish off Lebron at some point.  Good Luck.

 

Lebron is able to play loose, his legacy is already built.  He knows he can beat those guys.  He just has to go execute.

 

Just a different angle.  The "Hot take" media will just lead you to believe nobody can possibly beat the Warriors

I am waiting to see how it plays out with Durant. I feel like he is the most physically gifted on that team, but it seems like you can get in his head.

 

BTW did anybody see Draymond running his mouth about dirty players? LOL

 

Being totally objective, if everyone is healthy, the Warriors have to be the favorite.  BUT, the past two Finals have been impacted by injury.  Cavs went in without Love and Irving two years ago and LeBron and Delly both suffered from severe cramping during the series.  Last year, Bogut went down, Iggy was seriously hampered, and Green got suspended for a game.  I suspect some similar phenomena is going to impact this year's series.

The Cavs are like the Tortoise and the Warriors, the Hare.  Last year they ran up the highest regular win total ever and the media were fawning all over them esp Steph... but the Cavs, of course, had the last laugh... I could see that happening again, given the presence of LeBron and the way he and the team are clicking right now, although it would be foolhardy to pick against GSW with Durant...

 

... I still would feel more comfortable if Lue was working RJ back into the lineup.  I see a potential nightmare trying to deal with both Green and Durant.  Love played some great spot D in Game 7, but I still feel he lacks the foot speed to keep up with those guys.  LeBron, Tristan and maybe Shumpert will be called up, but I still like Jefferson given his size and (still) mobility on D... It'll be interesting if, in fact, there is a rematch of these 2 titanic teams. 

lets get to the finals first.

 

whether its wall and washington or the damn celts it will be the first competition the cavs have faced.

 

if we go 4-0 through one those teams too, and stay healthy, i will be seriously hyped for the finals.

 

otoh if it goes back and forth, its a worry because i agree the cavs are in the warriors heads and a struggle like that will only give them too much heart.

 

im rooting for the Celtics.  not only do i think its the path of least resistance, but if there is a game 5 in Boston, i will be there for work and most certainly be attending the Garden to see them get eliminated.

I think Lebron is playing some of his best ball too, but mostly because of his bball brain and efficiency. He is well past his physical peak. Go watch some replays from the 2009 playoffs. That was peak physical Lebron.

I've never seen LeBron better.  He's peaking.... maybe.... at 32

 

He's at or near the peak intersection of his physical ability and a mental awareness of the game around him. His physical ability is at or near the top and his mental awareness of the finer points of the game continues to climb. If the inevitable physical decline remains in the future for as long as possible, his mental awareness will only continue to improve through his 30s, and he will continue to push the intersection of physical/mental even higher. One can only hope.

 

I noticed the Raptors were trying to knock him around in the paint when he didn't have the ball. An elbow here. A push there. A jab there. It didn't work for them, but it will take its toll on LeBron if team(s) in the next round(s) continue it. Cavs need a new enforcer to protect LeBron.

 

Been saying that for a couple years.  It used to just make him mad and more focused, and for the most part still does.  He needs a McSorley.  For awhile it was Kendrick Perkins.

lebron is certainly up for it, but he is playing his best ball against some bum opponents so far. the few quarters the cavs even seemed to struggle was of their own doing, falling into that bored lull they are prone to at times.

hows everyone feeling about Cavs-C's?  Obviously we are the favorites.  I think the Celtics win tonight.  They are having a huge week, riding momentum and a high.  I even think it will carry over to Friday for a quarter or two before the Cavs calibrate and choke them out.  They will win Friday and sweep at home and finish them out in 5 games.

Cavs in 3

Cavs will sweep.

LOL Boston fans chanted "We want LeBron" at the end of their Wizards series.

 

No.  No you don't.

I've never seen LeBron better.  He's peaking.... maybe.... at 32

 

He's at or near the peak intersection of his physical ability and a mental awareness of the game around him. His physical ability is at or near the top and his mental awareness of the finer points of the game continues to climb.

 

In terms of pure athletic physical ability, everyone "peaks" around age 23-24.  Should we go pull up video of some of his insane dunks from '04-'08?  He's certainly a better basketball player over the last few years, but he's way past his athletic prime (again, in terms of physical abilities). 

 

Still, I think he'll age like Tom Brady.  Both guys are absolute tacticians about everything they do and both have invested heavily in dieting and training.  I wouldn't be surprised to see both of them get another ring or two (it helps that LeBron is what, 7 years younger?).  Modern day science can prolong careers via diet and training.  Most guys in the past didn't care (or didn't have the science available) to try and prolong their careers.

His skills ten years ago and today are completely different.  10 years ago he could whirl through guys and dunk over Rasheed Wallace like a limp noodle.  Today, he completely controls games.  He controls the pace, dictates who scores the ball and when based on what the other team is doing.  he is literally one of the smartest to ever play the game.  He would make an incredible coach if he wanted, but i think he will go above that calling

i agree with stephen a., hard to admit lol, but if boston does not win the next one there is no way they win in cleveland.

 

i give them that they were wiped out physically and emotionally from their own series win and also probably the good news boston got regarding the draft, but game two is really key for the celts.

Love was playing like he had something of a score to settle.

 

Hopefully he isn't feeling like it's settled yet.

As much as the boredom kills us as fans, and as much as pundits like Brian Windhorst want to believe the team will be rusty, these long breaks-after-sweeps play right into No. 23's hands.  He was fresh as a daisy and attacking the lane all night yesterday.  With the beating he takes during games, esp during the regular season, and the long minutes Lue plays him, LeBron needs that rest...

 

...btw, I noted a week or so ago my concern that Richard Jefferson had dropped out of the rotation, thinking we'd need him for Golden State... Lue played RJ last night ahead of Frye.

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/19411428/lebron-james-cleveland-cavaliers-all-nba-record-tying-11th

 

LeBron named to a record-tying 11th All-NBA 1st team.  There was some jabrone who didn't vote LBJ or Westbrook first team and they should immediately be launched into the sun for gross incompetence.

^It's absurd to me that season averages of 27/7/7/2 only got him 2nd team All NBA in 2005 and 27/7/6 and leading a pack of nobodies to the NBA Finals in '07 also only got him 2nd team. 

Stop the fight!

Unbelievable next level stuff the last two games. The Cavs should be viewed as title favorites at this point. I've never seen more perfect basketball in my life and they look like they invented the sport. Warriors have shown vulnerability and Durant still has a giant elephant in the room. I'm not sure I can envision them winning it all

It's going to be tough for Vegas and the national press to favor the Cavs given the huge star power of the Warriors -- esp after picking up Durant -- as well as their, once again, runaway best regular season record... But I agree with you, in looking at the Cavs right now... I myself and not comfortable with predicting a Cavs repeat, but I think we're at least a 50-50 bet to do it.

Stop the fight!

 

NO MAS!!

You know it was harsh when the TNT post game crew was making references to confetti buckets.

 

One wonders if people will learn.  Do not trash talk him.  Do not "call him out".  Do not suggest he's not who he once was.

 

On second thought, please continue...

Al Horford, Demare Carroll and Jeff Teague have a combined 2-38 playoff record vs Lebron.  They have each played on two different teams. It's remarkable they couldn't even stumble upon hot nights to make that record better. Lebron ruins people's careers and really destroys franchises.  Boston is in the honeymoon phase so they are ok and they have a lot of picks. Washington has upside after the Lebron era too. But if you are Toronto, Indiana, bulls, and dare I say it....warriors (if the Cavs beat them), your franchise has an issue. If the Cavs beat the warriors, they really can't improve anymore with having to resign curry and Durant. And Lebron is actually getting more dominant...I think he has another 3 years at this level the way he treats his body.  If your the warriors u just have to pray that somehow those guys can get better and get over the mountain

^ some people are saying the celts are much better off now with a hurting isaiah out, but that brings their dream back down to earth lol.

 

lets not get ahead on the warriors matchup though, they are destroying their competition too and the cavs havent played anybody.

Have the Warriors played anybody significantly better than the a Pacers, Celtics and Raptors?  Sure, they are rolling over a SAS team which is without an MVP finalist and starting PG.  you play who you play.  We've played three legit playoff teams and haven't lost in 10 games

When's the #CelticsFuneral?

???

That's what happens when you get too cocky - yeah Cavs will win the series but what a bad loss by the Cavs - LeBron out of sync tonight

They are so bad when they get sloppy.  Half the team couldn't even dribble without the ball going off their knee, etc.  This is the first playoff game I've watched in entirety....I'll take the blame!

Cavs were so full of Kool Aid they couldn't see straight.

When's the #CelticsFuneral?

???

 

Not yet.

I checked the score on FB and we were up 16, and then again when I was right about to go to bed and the Celtics were up by 1 or 2 with around 4:30 to play, so I only watched the last 4:30 or so of the game because that's when I turned it on.  I figured with a 16-point lead we were golden, considering what happened in Game 2.  But for the last 4:30 or so, we were basically neck and neck (Boston got the last shot and made it count).  So I didn't get to see whatever stretch it was that actually got the Celtics back from 16 down to leading between halftime and the closing minutes.

Embarrassing performance by LeBron.

This team goes as LeBron goes.  It is specifically built around him.  When he is off or absent, it doesn't work

Very true.  Thankfully that doesn't happen too often.  Embarrassing yes, but LeBron has been so incredibly dominant we forget that he is a human.

I would say the Cavs performed as lackadaisical as the fans. The Celtics knew if they pressed hard in the 2nd half and got lucky with better shooting they could steal a win. The Cavs figured it was a foregone conclusion they would win. Hard to stay focused for just maintaining the lead.