I won't be surprised either way. It seems a win-win for the Cavs as long as you don't get blown out, you either beat GSW, or GSW had to sign freaking KD to beat you.

 

I do feel like the cavs lost those first two games last year in part to them trying to run complex switching schemes on D. It seemed once they simplified their D and trusted their talent things got much tighter the rest of the series. Plus they started running straight at Steph on offense.

 

Is possible JR and Draymond will make through the series without getting T'd up? Now that's unbelievable.

 

Edit: Holy crap, I forgot GSW only score 89pts in game 7.

 

ESPN (Zach Lowe?) had a good piece yesterday on the switching D.  And on offense, the Cavs opted to try a pick-and-roll for LeBron with whoever Steph Curry was guarding.  This put Curry through punishing screen after screen on the defensive end and forced him into likely foul situations (fouled out in Game 6 with his mouthguard tantrum to boot).  They also benefited from Draymond being an idiot and getting suspended for Game 5, which set the stage for Kyrie/Lebron 40 nights.

 

Iguodala is not 100% this year and he's 3 for 27 from deep in the playoffs - if the Warriors want to use him as the primary defender on LeBron, that's a huge liability on the offensive end for them.  Will the Cavs have issues with Zaza & McGee as the rim protectors for GS?  Cavs also benefited last year with Bogut going down to injury which opened up the lane more for them.

 

I still think the Cavs have to play nearly flawless for 2 games and then hope for Kyrie/LeBron to have an insane game or two to carry them to 4 wins.  For as crazy efficient as they've been on offense, the Warriors are even better.

I found the Zach Lowe article. It's a good breakdown of the X's and O's.

 

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/19500294/zach-lowe-2017-nba-finals-preview-prediction-golden-state-warriors-vs-cleveland-cavaliers

10 hours to go!!!!

 

Cavs in 6.

Listen to honest Abe.

 

^What does Abe know about basketball?

 

Cavs in 6 indeed.  Stay patient Cavs fans i think the first few games may be bumpy!!

^What does Abe know about basketball?

 

 

Abe was a baller in his day.  At 6"4" one of the tallest players of his era. 

Albert Breer on twitter trying to claim LeBron invented the term "The Land"

 

Sh!t, my friends and I called it that while LeBron was probably still in diapers.  I know we didn't invest it, so it's been around for awhile. 

Albert Breer on twitter trying to claim LeBron invented the term "The Land"

 

Sh!t, my friends and I called it that while LeBron was probably still in diapers.  I know we didn't invest it, so it's been around for awhile. 

 

I thought Bone Thugs & Harmony invented it 20 years ago?

we are going to need ri ri to up her game sunday:

 

http://nypost.com/2017/06/02/rihannas-heckling-and-dabbing-outbursts-eclipse-nbas-big-night/

Klay is no bum.

 

3-16.

My takeaway:  We did NOT play well at all and the sloppy turnovers killed us, yet we were still very much in the game until about the third quarter.  If the Cavs play at their best, no reason they can't win.  Remember we lost the first two games last year.  That being said- not sure I am going to get through another potentially 7 game series... its already exhausting! :)

Our defense was horrendous from the opening tip when Durant and Zaza started storming the lane for uncontested dunks as if they were mimicking the Allied troops at Omaha Beach on D-Day.  Tristan Thompson must have been in witness protection, because he was invisible all night.  And even though LeBron got his points, rebounds and some assists, his ball control was horrendous -- 7 turnovers in the 1st half alone; 20 for the team vs. 4 for the Warriors all night.  It always seems LeBron has a stinker in opening games of big series -- he's only, what, 1-7 in Game 1's of finals' series?  And of course, aside from some hustle and 6 or so points from RJ, the rest of the bench gave us nothing -- I think the only other points were Shumpert's lone 3-pointer in the 2nd quarter.  Our inability to stop Golden State's offensive rebounding was so bad that, in one case toward the end of the 2nd quarter, little Steph Curry actually grabbed an O-board away from both Tristan and LeBron... Jeez!

 

Quite obviously, if we can't defend better, especially against Durant, the Warriors could end up being the 1st team to sweep the entire playoffs.

Klay is no bum.

 

3-16.

 

You really want to go down this road with me again?  Can't we just agree that he is better than Erick Smith?  :-D :-D  :wink: :wink:

 

Or we could just look at his season long stat line while he was playing on a team loaded with superstars - 22.3ppg - 46.8 FG% - 41.4 3pt%.  Not to mention an elite defender.

 

I'd take that "bum" on my team any day.

Cavs reverted to standing around looking at LeBron and Kyrie yesterday.  They'd better break out of that by Sunday.

My opinion is it came down to (a) the Warriors were ON... for the most part... especially Durant and Curry, and (b) the Cavs role players did not contribute.  Korver and Williams gave us nothing.  Tristan and JR did not impact the game either.  There were opportunities to swing the momentum and we just didn't take advantage.  Both teams are fueled by their 'swagger'.  They had it last night and we did not.

My opinion is it came down to (a) the Warriors were ON... for the most part... especially Durant and Curry, and (b) the Cavs role players did not contribute.  Korver and Williams gave us nothing.  Tristan and JR did not impact the game either.  There were opportunities to swing the momentum and we just didn't take advantage.  Both teams are fueled by their 'swagger'.  They had it last night and we did not.

 

agree here.  I said Cavs in 6 in the beginning and i will stick to that.  I felt the Warriors will win early in the series.  I feel (hope) the cavs will win Sunday and drop game 3.  I then believe Cavs will win games 4-6.  Reason?  Because Lebron is the smartest guy on the court in addition to his talent.  They will find out where GS is killing them and address it.  I dont think Durant will keep this up the whole time...i think once GS hits some bumpy water they may have some issues...Lebron has been here before, only 1-7 in his game 1's and the one he won they lost the series.  He is 3-3 in the others and lets throw out 2007 because Cavs had no business being there, that wasnt a next generation Lebron team.  So in reality, since 2012...Lebron has not won a game 1 and he is 3-2 in those series...If we want to dig even deeper, the 2015 cavs team was a mess.

Klay is no bum.

 

3-16.

 

You really want to go down this road with me again?  Can't we just agree that he is better than Erick Smith?  :-D :-D  :wink: :wink:

 

LOL, well played..

I had a bad feeling about the game last night. Plus where I live in San Diego is inundated with bandwagon Warriors "fans." They are insufferable.

 

Solution? Took the gf to a wine bar (No tv) and ditched my cell phone to avoid my dad's angry sports texts. Mmmm.....flat bread pizza and several blonde ales, it was a good night.

 

I came home wondering who won and was promptly heckled by my elderly neighbor. Not a good sign, as she's originally from the Bay area. She often yells at her tv during sporting events and her dog is an internet celebrity. She invited my gf and I over to watch "the sweep" on her big screen, but I believe that the invite was insincere.

 

Bright note. My other neighbor, guy who just moved in yesterday, comes slinking home and to my amazement, he's rocking a Cavs jersey and hat.

 

Turns out he's from Solon haha. 

 

CAVS IN FIVE.

My opinion is it came down to (a) the Warriors were ON... for the most part... especially Durant and Curry, and (b) the Cavs role players did not contribute.  Korver and Williams gave us nothing.  Tristan and JR did not impact the game either.  There were opportunities to swing the momentum and we just didn't take advantage.  Both teams are fueled by their 'swagger'.  They had it last night and we did not.

 

I don't disagree... With these Golden State finals, it always seems LeBron and the Cavs need a game or 2 just to get used to the Warriors after the haze of a month and a half of mowing down playoff cupcakes.  And on top of GSW's usual/unusual run/gun, 3's and swarming defense, now we have to deal with Durant.  But as you (and I earlier) note, we got zero from our support players, especially Thompson.  I've come not to expect much from JR except on defense -- if he's on it's gravy, but otherwise his shooting is too erratic to count on; I'll bet Lue feels the same way.  But if we get almost no rebounding and zero inside points from Tristan and no points from Williams or Korver, while turning the ball over as if turnovers are going out of style, we're in trouble... But like last year, I'm hoping LeBron and the team will lock in to GSW and begin to shut their water off.

 

As you note, there was a sequence, even after that 3rd quarter opening barrage which lead to a 21-point deficit, where we got it down to 12 and seemed to be getting the momentum.  But then we a combo of bad possessions, turnovers and letting Durant get loose, and the lead was quickly back up to 18-to-20 again and you could feel us getting demoralized.

 

Let's see if we can turn the tables on Sunday.

Korver and Williams gave us nothing.

 

Korver was missing his shots.  He'll probably have a game or two where he can't miss.

 

What really worries me is Williams.  He looked like a complete stiff yesterday.  He's usually much more smooth.

Tristan Thompson must have been in witness protection, because he was invisible all night.

 

He wasn't invisible to the GSW defenders, who had a field day blocking his "telegraph dunks".

Warriors blow out Cavs again.

 

This just feels different than last year's 0-2 deficit.  Don't know if Cavs even pull out a single win.

^ Cavs lost by 33pts in last year's game 2.  This series is far from over..

Warriors blow out Cavs again.

 

This just feels different than last year's 0-2 deficit.  Don't know if Cavs even pull out a single win.

 

it doesnt feel at all different than last years deficit.  We all felt hopeless going into game 3.  I still believe they need to just get that first win and have golden state thinking.  GS hasnt dealt with a loss since March.  I believe if they win game 3 on Wednesday they still have a great opportunity.  Have to get production from more than lebron/Love.  Kyrie cant keep going iso on Klay, kaly is too good defensively.  Either get him someone else on screens or set plays to get him open shots.  cant waste possessions on these guys, too much of that going on.

Lue needs to start Shumpert over JR immediately.  The only contribution JR is making now is silly fouls, esp on Curry who is automatic at the FT line.  JR is MIA just as he was in the 2015 finals and Shumpert has been effectively defending Durant which takes a lot of pressure off LeBron.

GS hasnt dealt with a loss since March.

 

Yes, that's kind of the point.

We are not going to outscore these guys.  We have to make this a defensive battle.  I'm just not sure we can given how we constructed the team this year to be an offensive force.

^We had a very good 1st half yesterday.  We were only down by 3, (Shumpert) had held Durant in check, we were forcing turnovers and LeBron was getting other guys involved in the scoring, particularly bench guys... Unfortunately it fell apart late in the 3rd after we narrowed the lead to 1 point.  Suddenly we had a number of missed shots (mainly Kyrie's), we started turning the ball over again as well as started giving up the offensive board again... Thompson only had 4 rebounds again and only 1 offensive board that I recollect.  I'm not sure, when we go "big" that Frye may be the better option at this point.  If Thompson isn't rebounding and/or clogging up the lane he's practically useless except for a dunk or 2 -- I recall him having 1 yesterday.  Frye isn't nearly as strong defensively, but he does have length and, of course, he's a weapon to stretch the floor with his 3s.

I'm totally disgusted with JR Smith at this point.  He's less than zero with his only contribution in these finals being his commission of silly fouls.  At this point, I would start Shumpert and may consider giving Korver and/or Williams the balance of his minutes.  I guess we can see how JR responds to home cooking on Wednesday.  He started slow last finals but did come around toward the end, and had some HUGE buckets in Game 7, so I'm not wont to just throw him under the bus ... not just yet, at least.

^ Cavs lost by 33pts in last year's game 2.  This series is far from over..

 

Come on.  A 73-win team that was a Draymond kick to the nads (or Bogut's injury) away from winning back-to-back titles (probably) just added the 2nd best player in the world and are an unstoppable force the last two months.  Cavs on pure home adrenaline will win one but the Warriors finish it off in Game 5.

 

The Warriors have perhaps the most talented team of the last 25+ years, possibly ever.  4 of the top 20 players in the NBA, two league MVPs, multiple HOFers, some of the best shooters the league has ever seen...they're just an absolute machine.

^ Cavs lost by 33pts in last year's game 2.  This series is far from over..

 

Come on.  A 73-win team that was a Draymond kick to the nads (or Bogut's injury) away from winning back-to-back titles (probably) just added the 2nd best player in the world and are an unstoppable force the last two months.  Cavs on pure home adrenaline will win one but the Warriors finish it off in Game 5.

 

The Warriors have perhaps the most talented team of the last 25+ years, possibly ever.  4 of the top 20 players in the NBA, two league MVPs, multiple HOFers, some of the best shooters the league has ever seen...they're just an absolute machine.

 

You believe in media hype too much...Were you even around for the Lakers and Boston teams of the 80's?

^We had a very good 1st half yesterday. 

 

Except for the fact that we gave up 67 points.  That's my point.  We can't play that way with GSW.  That is their game.  They want games that are in the 130s.  They don't want games like Game 7 from last year where neither team scores 100

^We had a very good 1st half yesterday. 

 

Except for the fact that we gave up 67 points.  That's my point.  We can't play that way with GSW.  That is their game.  They want games that are in the 130s.  They don't want games like Game 7 from last year where neither team scores 100

 

I agree 100%, we can't out run and gun this team. We tried last year and it didn't work then either. Who on this team can muck it up and slow it down while Lebron and Kryrie handle the offense? Shump? Derrick Williams? D Jones? Who else? Normally I would say JR but he's MIA except for committing horrible fouls.TT has either been figured out or khloe has ruined another NBA player.

 

One other observation, is it me or are both teams slipping and sliding all over the place at Oracle? JR literally planted and slid into Steph on that one foul I just see the guy with the towel wiping up the sweat instead of the big mop things the Cavs have at home.

^ Cavs lost by 33pts in last year's game 2.  This series is far from over..

 

Come on.  A 73-win team that was a Draymond kick to the nads (or Bogut's injury) away from winning back-to-back titles (probably) just added the 2nd best player in the world and are an unstoppable force the last two months.  Cavs on pure home adrenaline will win one but the Warriors finish it off in Game 5.

 

The Warriors have perhaps the most talented team of the last 25+ years, possibly ever.  4 of the top 20 players in the NBA, two league MVPs, multiple HOFers, some of the best shooters the league has ever seen...they're just an absolute machine.

 

You believe in media hype too much...Were you even around for the Lakers and Boston teams of the 80's?

 

Notice how I said "the last 25 years".....

^ Cavs lost by 33pts in last year's game 2.  This series is far from over..

 

Come on.  A 73-win team that was a Draymond kick to the nads (or Bogut's injury) away from winning back-to-back titles (probably) just added the 2nd best player in the world and are an unstoppable force the last two months.  Cavs on pure home adrenaline will win one but the Warriors finish it off in Game 5.

 

The Warriors have perhaps the most talented team of the last 25+ years, possibly ever.  4 of the top 20 players in the NBA, two league MVPs, multiple HOFers, some of the best shooters the league has ever seen...they're just an absolute machine.

 

You believe in media hype too much...Were you even around for the Lakers and Boston teams of the 80's?

 

Notice how I said "the last 25 years".....

 

So you were around for some of the Bulls' teams from the 90's....

 

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-best-nba-teams-of-all-time-according-to-elo/

^ Cavs lost by 33pts in last year's game 2.  This series is far from over..

 

Come on.  A 73-win team that was a Draymond kick to the nads (or Bogut's injury) away from winning back-to-back titles (probably) just added the 2nd best player in the world and are an unstoppable force the last two months.  Cavs on pure home adrenaline will win one but the Warriors finish it off in Game 5.

 

The Warriors have perhaps the most talented team of the last 25+ years, possibly ever.  4 of the top 20 players in the NBA, two league MVPs, multiple HOFers, some of the best shooters the league has ever seen...they're just an absolute machine.

 

You believe in media hype too much...Were you even around for the Lakers and Boston teams of the 80's?

 

Notice how I said "the last 25 years".....

 

So you were around for some of the Bulls' teams from the 90's....

 

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-best-nba-teams-of-all-time-according-to-elo/

 

That's funny...the article isn't updated for this year's Warriors.  I do see '14-'15 and oh wait, the Warriors have improved from that squad.

the big problem is the cavs seemed horribly older and gassed in the 3rd-4th quarters. the third was such a blur i dont think even now they know what hit them, it was an astounding and sustained lightening attack from gsw. the cavs looked defeated and going through the motions almost all second half too. i dk why i hung in there to the bitter end, but i did. i think gsw would have continued to be beatable, but durant makes it just too much. i hope we catch a win or two as moral victories, but its looking grim. yeah more shump and less jr and lets be real unfortunately lebron is going to have to uncork a few of those nuts unhuman 40pt ironman performances.

I'd agree that the Warriors are "perhaps" as "talented" as any team in NBA history, including the 80's Celtics/Lakers and 90s Bulls.  They have two MVP winners who are both offensive juggernauts, a perennial DPOY candidate (Green) who is also a top 15 player, an elite wing defender (Klay) who averages over 22ppg and shoots over 40% from 3, as well as some elite bench players (Iggy, Livingston) who are also close to elite defenders.  Only weakness may be that they only have serviceable centers, but so did the Bulls..... and Green can guard center better than Horace Grant could. 

 

It's really hard to compare the eras because the game was played so differently back then.  The reliance on three point shooting was much, much less and there was no zone defense allowed, yet hand checking was allowed.  Players also stayed more in their traditional positions.

the big problem is the cavs seemed horribly older and gassed in the 3rd-4th quarters. the third was such a blur i dont think even now they know what hit them, it was an astounding and sustained lightening attack from gsw. the cavs looked defeated and going through the motions almost all second half too. i dk why i hung in there to the bitter end, but i did. i think gsw would have continued to be beatable, but durant makes it just too much. i hope we catch a win or two as moral victories, but its looking grim. yeah more shump and less jr and lets be real unfortunately lebron is going to have to uncork a few of those nuts unhuman 40pt ironman performances.

 

I agree with all this but I don't think scoring is our problem.  We gotta get more stops.  How many 2nd & 3rd shots did GS get last night?  Alot.  That's a back breaker to force them into a bad shot, then they get their own rebound & knock down a 3 or an easy inside layup.  Way too many points scored in the paint.  Last year we shut down their shooters outside & forced them inside.  It was huge when Curry didn't get double digit scoring.  Not sure how to do that now, esp since they added Durant who can drive inside better than Curry.

^ Rebounds were killing us.

Watching the game right now and ABC just showed a picture of the Columbus skyline in between two images of Cleveland. I also didn't notice the Hilton in the first photo, and it would have been visible from the location the photo was taken from, so they're definitely using old images. Disappointing for the NBA finals.

You should call them out on that on Twitter. That's ridiculous.

Like I've been saying, the Golden State super team is just too good.

Like I've been saying, the Golden State super team is just too good.

 

Friday the greatest comeback against the greatest team begins. Lets just enjoy the ride.

The NBA has 4 tiers right now.

 

Tier 1 - Golden State

Tier 2 - Best team you can think of in the history of the NBA

Tier 3 - Cleveland, San Antonio and MAYBE Houston

Tier 4 - Everybody else

 

If they stay healthy they're set up for a long stretch of championships. 

Like I've been saying, the Golden State super team is just too good.

 

You never miss an opportunity to gloat.  Wait until the series is over, kid.

The NBA has 4 tiers right now.

 

Tier 1 - Golden State

Tier 2 - Best team you can think of in the history of the NBA

Tier 3 - Cleveland, San Antonio and MAYBE Houston

Tier 4 - Everybody else

 

If they stay healthy they're set up for a long stretch of championships.

 

I might not watch the NBA until 2021.

Like I've been saying, the Golden State super team is just too good.

 

You never miss an opportunity to gloat.  Wait until the series is over, kid.

 

Not gloating, just thought Cavs fans were setting themselves up.  This Warriors team is just on another level.

Like I've been saying, the Golden State super team is just too good.

 

You never miss an opportunity to gloat.  Wait until the series is over, kid.

 

Not gloating, just thought Cavs fans were setting themselves up.  This Warriors team is just on another level.

 

No, they're not on another level....  The Cavs are just playing like crap.