I predict with all certainty that the guy born at Akron City Hospital will win the NBA Finals! GUARANTEED!

oof

They looked horrible the last 10 minutes of game time. Zero ball movement. Tons of isolation and bad shots.

lebron ruined the last possession of regulation

^ You live with LeBron, you die by him too. We've seen this all season and playoffs. You just hope his shots fall and,  if they aren't, somebody else's is.

Nothing I saw tonight changes my prediction of Cavs in 6. They were lucky to hold home.  I suspected Cavs would lose 2. Here is one of them

LeBron should have driven the lane at the end of regulation, score or get fouled and go to the line to win it.... and save Kyrie, who was nearly heroic tonight with his defense and, potentially, game-changing block on Curry inside 24 seconds.  But it's hard to criticize the King with 44 points... Our bench really blew tonight, even JR in the 2nd half when we needed him...

 

... we still can steal Sunday, hopefully. 

How can Lebron go to a 22 foot fade away to win it in a tie game?  Drive & shoot or kick it out for an open look!

I'm not as much worried about losing the game as potentially losing Kyrie.

They looked horrible the last 10 minutes of game time. Zero ball movement. Tons of isolation and bad shots.

 

Yeah, but we were playing mostly iso during the time we built up leads, too.  And it almost worked.  But I agree that LeBron should have driven and looked for the foul rather than taking a contested long-range off-balance jumper at the end; that said, he had taken some crazier and more contested shots than that earlier in the game (including some that were much closer but where he had three defenders on him) and made them.

 

I'm more stunned that he missed back-to-back free throws a few minutes before that.  You can't always focus on the very last play as the one that "lost it."  Easy points left on the table earlier matter just as much.

How can Lebron go to a 22 foot fade away to win it in a tie game?  Drive & shoot or kick it out for an open look!

 

definitely a "me" moment for LeBron, but in his defense he has hit game winners TWICE in that arena from that exact spot.  I still don't think it was the right basketball play.  That being said...again, the warriors are lucky to get out of there with a win.  I don't believe they will win in Cleveland regardless of who is on the floor for the cavs...meaning cavs have to win games 2 or 5 if we are going to win in 6.

Yeah..... the game winner against Chicago was a 22 foot fade away.  I'm fine with winning or losing with LeBron.  And I really don't get all the criticism of isolation basketball.  It got us here.  We have two of the best, if not THE best, isolation players in the league.  Play to your strength.

 

But, I can't lie, that Shump shot/put-back at the end of regulation which was an INCH short of going in is going to haunt me the next few days.  We win it there and we don't go to OT and Kyrie doesn't go down again.

But, I can't lie, that Shump shot/put-back at the end of regulation which was an INCH short of going in is going to haunt me the next few days.  We win it there and we don't go to OT and Kyrie doesn't go down again.

 

Yep. That was the OT from hell. Kyrie injury. Bad shots. No ball movement.

 

Sorry to bring this up, but in my 40 years of watching Cleveland sports, this championship run is going just as "well" as all the others I've seen. And yet I keep watching expecting a different result. I must be insane.

But, I can't lie, that Shump shot/put-back at the end of regulation which was an INCH short of going in is going to haunt me the next few days.  We win it there and we don't go to OT and Kyrie doesn't go down again.

 

Same thoughts here, and one tactical question that sticks in my mind again is why LeBron waited so long before starting his play; while I'm sure he thought he could make the shot, we've been one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the playoffs and even if he took his shot with 4 seconds left and they got the rebound, we're tough on defense and a 4-second coast-to-coast is tough even for a team with the NBA's most lethal sharpshooter.  If LeBron had taken the exact same shot 1 second earlier (and again, he held the ball out near midcourt for a time before moving into his play), Shump could have taken another heartbeat after the offensive board to square up.

But, I can't lie, that Shump shot/put-back at the end of regulation which was an INCH short of going in is going to haunt me the next few days.  We win it there and we don't go to OT and Kyrie doesn't go down again.

 

Yep. That was the OT from hell. Kyrie injury. Bad shots. No ball movement.

 

Sorry to bring this up, but in my 40 years of watching Cleveland sports, this championship run is going just as "well" as all the others I've seen. And yet I keep watching expecting a different result. I must be insane.

 

Ive heard so much of this on radio and on twitter.  people are freaking out.  The injury sucks, but they have shown they can win in the playoffs without Kyrie.  We were going to lose games in this series...we knew that.  Id rather lose them early than late.  Better to be in this position than in 2007 getting blown out in game 1 or 2. We are right there, we did not account for iguodala or speights, who effectively beat us.  That wont happen another 3 times.  They game plan they had for curry and klay was good...they got theirs on some transition plays, but they in now way dictated the game.  Lebron will probably have his way in every game this series....nobody can guard him.  WHen they come to Cleveland I think they will get beat down here regardless if kyrie is playing or not.  We just need a magical night on the road from our role guys at some point...this group is capable.

I've thought the same thing many times before, too. It's like reading the same ending in every book I read. After I while, you don't want to read anymore. Until someone proves to me this book has an enjoyable ending, I'm not too interested in seeing how it ends. So I'm getting to the point where a team is going to have to win a championship for me to go back and watch a recording of it. Sure, that means diminished enjoyment. But I think I would prefer diminished enjoyment vs. being 0-51.

 

EDIT: I'm not even watching my usual ESPN in the morning and listening to 92.3. I just can't take this anymore.

Reminder: Lebron lost the first game in his previous two championships series he ended up winning

 

Just saying

 

 

---- the optimist

^You ARE insane if you think there is some pattern which will inevitably play out.

 

But, I can't lie, that Shump shot/put-back at the end of regulation which was an INCH short of going in is going to haunt me the next few days.  We win it there and we don't go to OT and Kyrie doesn't go down again.

 

Same thoughts here, and one tactical question that sticks in my mind again is why LeBron waited so long before starting his play; while I'm sure he thought he could make the shot, we've been one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the playoffs and even if he took his shot with 4 seconds left and they got the rebound, we're tough on defense and a 4-second coast-to-coast is tough even for a team with the NBA's most lethal sharpshooter.  If LeBron had taken the exact same shot 1 second earlier (and again, he held the ball out near midcourt for a time before moving into his play), Shump could have taken another heartbeat after the offensive board to square up.

 

I disagree.  I think it was the right choice to either win it or go to OT..... especially on the road.  You can't give these Warriors a chance to ice you at the buzzer. 

^You ARE insane if you think there is some pattern which will inevitably play out.

 

 

I don't think the past portends a specific outcome. But I do believe that after getting beaten up every single time, without exception, you choose to believe a championship may be close at hand, you become trained to duck and expect another beating.

Reminder: Lebron lost the first game in his previous two championships series he ended up winning

 

Just saying

 

 

---- the optimist

 

Lebron also lost the 1st game in a Finals series where his team was swept.

 

---the realist

Kyrie had the ball up top. lebron should have settled in the post.  Irving could have milked the clock, passed it into lebron and lebron could have dominated the post like he did all night. 

Kyrie had the ball up top. lebron should have settled in the post.  Irving could have milked the cock, passed it into lebron and lebron could have dominated the post like he did all night.

Quoted for posterity.

my bad

Reminder: Lebron lost the first game in his previous two championships series he ended up winning

 

Just saying

 

 

---- the optimist

 

Lebron also lost the 1st game in a Finals series where his team was swept.

 

---the realist

 

1 Like Donyell Marshall likes this

Reminder: Lebron lost the first game in his previous two championships series he ended up winning

 

Just saying

 

 

---- the optimist

 

Lebron also lost the 1st game in a Finals series where his team was swept.

 

---the realist

 

 

 

Kyrie out 3-4 months with fractured knee cap... Great.

aww man it figures -- breaking news on espn2 re serious kyrie injury

the curse dot com hashtag patent pending remains in full effect  :-(

Ugh.  Well, it could be worse, we could be the Columbus Blue Jackets.

^ oh i wouldnt go there. they are likely to win it all over any cleveland team. ditto cinci. it has been ordained by the fates. and the hates.

I'm Going to go the other way on this one. I'm not being a homer, but looking at things objectively. Can any argue the statement that the cavs have looked BETTER in the playoffs when Kyrie is out? He dazzled in game 1 of bulls and we lost. He dazzled last night and made big plays. But game 6 chicago, games 1-3 atlanta, we just look nastier and tougher. And I feel like when kyrie is out we put all the kyrie news behind us and play meaner. 

 

Obviously can't afford to lose that talent, and on paper...sure. But think about that for a second.  We may have a tougher and more resilient team who is angry

I'm Going to go the other way on this one. I'm not being a homer, but looking at things objectively. Can any argue the statement that the cavs have looked BETTER in the playoffs when Kyrie is out? He dazzled in game 1 of bulls and we lost. He dazzled last night and made big plays. But game 6 chicago, games 1-3 atlanta, we just look nastier and tougher. And I feel like when kyrie is out we put all the kyrie news behind us and play meaner. 

 

Obviously can't afford to lose that talent, and on paper...sure. But think about that for a second.  We may have a tougher and more resilient team who is angry

 

I was going to say the same thing.  I feel like the bench rises to the occasion in Kyrie's absence.  We need them ALL contributing and this series can look a lot like the Chicago round.

You understand that golden state is a lot better than Chicago?

^ we'll see how it goes. not talking about opponents. I'm saying can you argue against that the cavs have played better, tougher team basketball in kyries absence or when he was minimally engaged.

 

I think the answer is no. Look, the guys have to step up, all there is to it. They were going to have to with kyrie as well. Role player had bad game 1's

Losing Kyrie can never be a good thing but I'm honestly more worried about our lack of front court depth in the rotation at this point. GS is playing four Bigs. We have two in our rotation and both start.  Speights got healthy just in the nick of time for GS and he played a big part in game 1 getting GS back in the game

One thing for sure, if we take this it will be because LeBron stepped up.  And if that's the case there's no more simply dismissing the argument that he's reached Jordan's level.

True regarding bigs. This will be lebrons tallest task in his career. We know nothing is easy.

 

I'm not saying losing kyrie is good. I love the guy and hope he recovers back to 100%. But maybe there is something about us being a better team when we lack an extreme individual talent

Keep trying to convince yourselves there's some rays of hope here. I'm not even watching tomorrow night's game. Though my having to wake up at 5 a.m. has much to do with that too!

Let's not even play the rest of the games.

I've had an Indians 95 feeling really. Getting into the finals substantially outweighs the frustration of them losing. And that's still a long ways away

Let's not even play the rest of the games.

 

Does it matter that much to you that I watch or don't watch? The world will go on either way.

I agrree. I personally don't care if we win or lose. Obviously I WANT them to win, but life is good either way.  But Im not ready to write it off

this is probably a discussion for another time, but i wonder if this cavs team can ever really be healthy enough again. varejao, love and irving's injuries are all pretty serious to come back to top nba form from. shumpert is understandably not in top form either and to a noteworthy but thankfully much lesser extent lebron has his battle pain and injuries as well. it may be that major roster changes will be needed sooner than later.

this is probably a discussion for another time, but i wonder if this cavs team can ever really be healthy enough again. varejao, love and irving's injuries are all pretty serious to come back to top nba form from. shumpert is understandably not in top form either and to a noteworthy but thankfully much lesser extent lebron has his battle pain and injuries as well. it may be that major roster changes will be needed sooner than later.

 

I'd like to see LeBron, Kyrie, K Love and Andy all play fewer minutes during the regular season. Let's make it the MOZ and Tristan show. Those two guys are impervious to fatigue or injury.

^ yeah given what we have that sounds like the best scenario to start with.

 

another big?

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/draft/mock-draft/round/2

Andy will never play a full season again.

I agrree. I personally don't care if we win or lose. Obviously I WANT them to win, but life is good either way.  But Im not ready to write it off

 

I'm not giving up yet. Our starters slaughtered their starters and we led practically the whole game.  When the Iguodala-led  Warriors did take a slim 4-point lead with less than 5 minutes left, we quickly caught them (Kyrie's D-technical foul shot + LeBron's 3), and had the ball with 24-seconds left in regulation; we clearly ran out of gas in OT because of GSW's long bench ... It was ours to lose and, unfortunately, it did... The odds are against us, no question, but I think the cracked open window for us to win rests on 4 things:

 

1. swing the ball and hit the open guy

 

2. lock down D with our bigs,

 

3. pick n' rolls to the hoop and crush them in the paint (I'll take Tristan and Mozgov over Green and Bogut any day), and

 

4. stretch the bench... at least get guys like Marion, Perk and even Harris on the floor for stretches -- not long, but spell our starters, and focus them on D... Good defense doesn't rely on talent so much as it does, effort. ... We've obviously got to get more points from other guys like JR, Shumpert, Jones and Tristan, who scored the opening bucket for the series and then, never again.  LeBron, Kyrie and Mozgov were the only Cavs who scored in the 2nd half and, obviously, we've got to spread it around if we're going to have any chance with Love and, now, Kyrie gone... but there IS a chance.

Folks on Twitter are so creative.....

 

NBA News and Rumors ‏@NBAFantasyInfo  54m54 minutes ago

BREAKING NEWS: #Cavaliers unveil new team motto..

yeah keep hope alive -- but to be realistic we need to start thinking about a moniker for this one that will fit in with all the others like red right 88, the shot, etc. -- the wounds? no love? lebron's cross? the collective sighs? hmm.

Big 3 down to The Chosen One