^^Shump is hurt (banged up the same shoulder he dislocated earlier this year), but we have no other options, so he has to play.

 

Don't get me wrong, Golden State is a great team, but I don't ever recall a path to the championship setting up the way it has for them.  They have faced Memphis, Houston, and the Cavs with their opponents down at least two starters for the entire, or significant parts, of the series.

moz wasn't playing because he isn't quick enough to defend the perimeter when Golden State goes small, which was almost all night.  Remember that when he scored a ton and played a lot of minutes, they lost big. 

 

Everyone has dead legs.  You can see that lebrons effectiveness falters as the game goes on.  There is simply not enough depth or options.  Blatt's only adjustments can come from schemes because they are already using all their personnel.

 

It's hard to win when you have to start your bench role players.

I really want to get into these last few games and feel like this team has a chance, but the officiating was so bad last night that it's almost too frustrating to watch anymore. I'd rather have them be blown out than to be so close that a few bad calls (almost all going the way of Golden State) end up costing them a shot at the game and the series. I'm beginning to remember why I hated the NBA so much a few years back.

 

 

Shumpert is getting a bad rap because his shots can be ugly.  He did have a couple really bad drives, but his defense has been tremendous.  Klay did nothing last night.  Its really a shame, because the cavs have controlled this series with the exception of three quarters....the 4th quarter of games 3,4, & 5 (also OT game 1).  I like to believe we will come out guns a blazing tomorrow night...but I just think they are worn down.  Lebron will be very difficult to put away...but I just think we are running on empty. We shall see. Have to focus and play great D.  Crowd also needs to come up huge.

 

His shots can be real ugly.  He threw down a couple great knee-bending playground moves in the lane yesterday, only to miss the layup.  Should never happen at that level.

I really want to get into these last few games and feel like this team has a chance, but the officiating was so bad last night that it's almost too frustrating to watch anymore. I'd rather have them be blown out than to be so close that a few bad calls (almost all going the way of Golden State) end up costing them a shot at the game and the series. I'm beginning to remember why I hated the NBA so much a few years back.

 

Couldn't agree more. People tell me that you can't pin the game (or series) on the refs... But I tend to disagree. The calls that are being made affect the flow of the game in ways that allow for one team to have more momentum than the other. Pretty upsetting.

I really want to get into these last few games and feel like this team has a chance, but the officiating was so bad last night that it's almost too frustrating to watch anymore. I'd rather have them be blown out than to be so close that a few bad calls (almost all going the way of Golden State) end up costing them a shot at the game and the series. I'm beginning to remember why I hated the NBA so much a few years back.

 

Couldn't agree more. People tell me that you can't pin the game (or series) on the refs... But I tend to disagree. The calls that are being made affect the flow of the game in ways that allow for one team to have more momentum than the other. Pretty upsetting.

 

Also, if you're playing a sport and the officiating is biased against you, it gets between your ears and stays there.  It affects focus and concentration and you make more mistakes.  I learned this playing football  in the GCC against Lake County teams.....

I really want to get into these last few games and feel like this team has a chance, but the officiating was so bad last night that it's almost too frustrating to watch anymore. I'd rather have them be blown out than to be so close that a few bad calls (almost all going the way of Golden State) end up costing them a shot at the game and the series. I'm beginning to remember why I hated the NBA so much a few years back.

 

Couldn't agree more. People tell me that you can't pin the game (or series) on the refs... But I tend to disagree. The calls that are being made affect the flow of the game in ways that allow for one team to have more momentum than the other. Pretty upsetting.

 

I was absolutely SHOCKED that Lebron was not getting any calls going to the rim last night, especially in the 4th.  The conspiracy theorist in me believes everyone wanted GSW to win that game to set up whats coming next (one can always hope).

I really want to get into these last few games and feel like this team has a chance, but the officiating was so bad last night that it's almost too frustrating to watch anymore. I'd rather have them be blown out than to be so close that a few bad calls (almost all going the way of Golden State) end up costing them a shot at the game and the series. I'm beginning to remember why I hated the NBA so much a few years back.

 

Couldn't agree more. People tell me that you can't pin the game (or series) on the refs... But I tend to disagree. The calls that are being made affect the flow of the game in ways that allow for one team to have more momentum than the other. Pretty upsetting.

 

I was absolutely SHOCKED that Lebron was not getting any calls going to the rim last night, especially in the 4th.  The conspiracy theorist in me believes everyone wanted GSW to win that game to set up whats coming next (one can always hope).

 

I mean he was pushed, hacked, molested every time he entered the paint. On the other end, often a Warrior went to the hoop and tossed up garbage and was bailed out. Yes I'm biased, but I know that even at one point Van Gundy (of all people) mentioned that James got nothing called in his favor.

 

And maybe I don't understand what an illegal screen actually looks like, but it appears that Golden State is moving just about every time they set a screen. I know they must be frustrated and that was part of why I think J.R. Smith destroyed Igudoala on a screen (and got a flagrant foul) in the first half of last night's game.

Just a little history Cleveland fun fact on Lebron James :)

 

LeBron James Is Making His Cleveland Ancestors Proud

Posted:  06/15/2015 8:54 am EDT    Updated:  06/15/2015 9:59 am EDT

 

LeBron has classic, Great Migration heritage, and two branches of his family tree made their way from the South to Cleveland. The Gay family was first, arriving from Conyers, Georgia in the 19-teens, and just a few years later, his Anderson line ventured there from Hardeman County, Tennessee. The two families were united through the marriage of LeBron's great-great-grandparents in 1926 (above).

 

Four years later, one of his great-grandmothers would be born in Cleveland, and the 1930 census captured three generations living together at 3158 East 82nd Street.

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/megan-smolenyak-smolenyak/lebron-james-is-making-hi_b_7584918.html

anyone know how far cloning technology has evolved?

 

I really want to get into these last few games and feel like this team has a chance, but the officiating was so bad last night that it's almost too frustrating to watch anymore. I'd rather have them be blown out than to be so close that a few bad calls (almost all going the way of Golden State) end up costing them a shot at the game and the series. I'm beginning to remember why I hated the NBA so much a few years back.

 

Couldn't agree more. People tell me that you can't pin the game (or series) on the refs... But I tend to disagree. The calls that are being made affect the flow of the game in ways that allow for one team to have more momentum than the other. Pretty upsetting.

 

I was absolutely SHOCKED that Lebron was not getting any calls going to the rim last night, especially in the 4th.  The conspiracy theorist in me believes everyone wanted GSW to win that game to set up whats coming next (one can always hope).

 

I mean he was pushed, hacked, molested every time he entered the paint. On the other end, often a Warrior went to the hoop and tossed up garbage and was bailed out. Yes I'm biased, but I know that even at one point Van Gundy (of all people) mentioned that James got nothing called in his favor.

 

And maybe I don't understand what an illegal screen actually looks like, but it appears that Golden State is moving just about every time they set a screen. I know they must be frustrated and that was part of why I think J.R. Smith destroyed Igudoala on a screen (and got a flagrant foul) in the first half of last night's game.

 

Yes. I can't stand Van Gundy. But this whole series he has been critical of the calls being made, and the fact that they aren't consistent from person to person or team to team. I believe the quote he said was, "well, no ones going to be able to say that Lebron got a lot of calls this series".

I wish somebody would smack that mouth guard out of Curry's face.

BTW, if you're planning on going to the game tonight or partake in some of the festivities downtown, allow extra time if you plan to take the Rapid.....

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,4504.msg760223.html#msg760223

I wish somebody would smack that mouth guard out of Curry's face.

 

I wouldn't normally advocate an injury to another team, but dammit when is it our turn!  The first three rounds decimated our squad. 

I don't want him seriously injured, but I would've loved for someone to give him a hard foul in one of the earlier games. Kind of like some of what James has had to deal with all postseason.

http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/outkick-the-coverage/lebron-james-decapitates-haters-061015

Cavs a 4 pt home-dog in most betting houses for tonight's game. 

I don't want him seriously injured, but I would've loved for someone to give him a hard foul in one of the earlier games. Kind of like some of what James has had to deal with all postseason.

 

 

I don't care if he gets hurt, I'm just sick of seeing his face sucking on that stupid mouth guard like he's still weening off his modelesque momma

 

 

http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/outkick-the-coverage/lebron-james-decapitates-haters-061015

 

 

"LeBron is such a physical freak that he gets fouled on virtually every play. Watch him go to the basket, the guy gets more contact than Lil' Kim backstage at the Grammys. "

 

 

Ticket prices on flash seats have gone down from $492 for the worst seats after the game 3 win, to less than $250 as of today for the cheap seats. Way to show your optimism Cleveland.......

^After the Game 3 win, there was the possibility that Game 6 would be a close out game for us.  Now it can't.  That might partially explain the drop in prices.

not convinced windy isnt jonah hill.

 

dt clev looks good on espn - just saw my bro in that crowd lol - the pre-game is onnn go cavs!

not convinced windy isnt jonah hill.

 

dt clev looks good on espn - just saw my bro in that crowd lol - the pre-game is onnn go cavs!

I hate windhorst's journalism skills. He reports on the most obvious things, such as today saying LeBron's confidence is due to them being underdogs.....

I'm not giving up on these finals by any stretch, but to the doom 'n gloom whiners (whom I don't see on this board), consider that around this time last year, we were simply thrilled to get the top Lottery selection and the shot at either Andrew Wiggins or Joel Embiid and a great chance to not be attending the Lottery this year...  and then a certain player decided to come home...  We've had nearly 2 solid months of Cavs playoff basketball and the Cavs are a highly unlikely participant in the finals given our severe injuries, esp Love then Kyrie (who more or less, didn't play between Boston and Game 1 against Golden State), with 2 finals wins, no less, and a chance to force a Game 7...

 

It's been an amazing joy ride and, whatever happens tonight, the future is fantastically bright with LeBron, his All Star-to-very good supporting cast along with a brilliant GM who's only going to make this team even stronger in the off season... Obviously, if we had our full compliment, the roles would be reversed going into tonight (if there was even a Game 6), and if Vegas has any team rated higher than us to win the finals going into next year, they're crazy... GO CAVS!!

... that said, if I were Blatt, I'd go with Mozgov and stick to our Games 1-3 game plan and pound these guys, even if Mozzie occasionally gets caught in no-man's land on D.  Other guys must rotate on the help D and guys not-named-LeBron have got to hit their open looks... If we can do this most of the time tonight, we'll be heading back to Oakland tomorrow.

why is gs rolling over them so far in the 1st qtr?

 

steve kerr aka nph neil patrick harris aka doogie howser

For those with limited experience in losing a championship, my advice as a 48-year-old native Clevelander is to avoid sports news for 2 weeks. You will hear about The Curse and other depressing statistics during that time. Best to avoid the narrative from the media, especially the national media.

I don't care what anybody says, I will never be able to "enjoy the ride" as long as I'm still waiting for a championship. And I will never be able to look forward to "next year" knowing that there are literally thousands of variables that go into determining what that future outcome may look like. We were knocking on the door of a title, we lost, and it hurts. That's all I've got right now and I take no solace in anything else.

Yep. Goodnight Cleveland. "There's always next year." :o

Just couldn't couldn't overcome the injuries. GS beat our bench. Great season though.

Best season in Cavs history. And the opponent still went home with the big trophy. That's so Cleveland sports....

KJP, you were right. I was wrong.  Cavs didn't stand a chance after the Irving injury.  The cupboard was just too bare.  Our only shot was Smith, Jones and Miller hitting three's but Golden State defended the perimeter so well, there was nothing there.  THat is where Iriving would've come up HUGE.  He could have penetrated the lane and completely thrown GSW off balance.  What a great season and as Lebrons letter stated, its not going to be easy and he didn't think we were ready this year....so we are ahead of schedule.  We definitely need some roster moves. I would imagine cavs will pick up Mozgov option, Smith lost any leverage he had on more money, so he will pick up his player option.  I think Tristan and Love get paid.  I don't see too many changes taking place, also because we are out of a lot of assets. 

 

Kyrie needs to find experts in the field of strengthening and conditioning.  Yes he is a brittle person, but some of these guys do everything possible out there to prevent injury, including sleeping in O2 chambers.  Lebron has bionic joints, and Irving needs to treat his body as such if he wants to play in NBA finals moving forward.

 

Great season.  Not doing the whoa is Cleveland thing.  Outside may not know, but my sense is the city is feeling more and more confident by the month....sports are just sports.

I went downtown last nite and sure, we all wish they could have pulled through but dammit- this was a great season! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great season.  Not doing the whoa is Cleveland thing.  Outside may not know, but my sense is the city is feeling more and more confident by the month....sports are just sports.

 

I don't do woe is Cleveland is either. Until a Cleveland team wins it all, this is simply the status quo. We are who we are until the status quo is changed. Maybe the Cavs will change it a year from now. Or it could take much longer. You never know. For all you youngin's in your early 20s, can you imagine having to wait until at least your late 40s or early 50s for a championship? That's where I was and where I am now. I thought the Browns would win a Super Bowl in the late 1980s, and they were challenging for it every year from 1985-89. If someone would have told me then I'd still be waiting almost 30 years later, I probably would have moved to another city and adopted its teams. There's a chance I may never see it or it really may be next year. So you never know how long it will take.

 

A young person on Twitter last night gave me the sage advice of "Wait until next year." Really? My response was "As a 48-year-old who has been hurt every time there's been a championship run, there is no other choice."

Don't you love ESPN? They love the sob stories...

 

ESPN ‏@espn  2m2 minutes ago

Cleveland fans are left to wonder "what if" after a 144th straight pro season without a title: http://es.pn/1N288aD 

 

Great season.  Proud of our team.  They gave it everything they had.  No shame in that.

 

People mention the absence of Kyrie and KLove in this series, and clearly both would've helped (anybody still think we are better without KLove?), but I never heard anything about Andy.  He would have been a perfect counter to that small lineup GS took control of the series with.  Hopefully him coming off the bench next year will help him stay healthy. 

Andy was injured so long ago, I think many folks forgot about him. But considering his injury history, can the Cavs really rely on him anymore? Kyrie's injury history is a growing concern with me.

KJP, you were right. I was wrong.  Cavs didn't stand a chance after the Irving injury.  The cupboard was just too bare.  Our only shot was Smith, Jones and Miller hitting three's but Golden State defended the perimeter so well, there was nothing there.  THat is where Iriving would've come up HUGE.  He could have penetrated the lane and completely thrown GSW off balance.  What a great season and as Lebrons letter stated, its not going to be easy and he didn't think we were ready this year....so we are ahead of schedule.  We definitely need some roster moves. I would imagine cavs will pick up Mozgov option, Smith lost any leverage he had on more money, so he will pick up his player option.  I think Tristan and Love get paid.  I don't see too many changes taking place, also because we are out of a lot of assets. 

 

Kyrie needs to find experts in the field of strengthening and conditioning.  Yes he is a brittle person, but some of these guys do everything possible out there to prevent injury, including sleeping in O2 chambers.  Lebron has bionic joints, and Irving needs to treat his body as such if he wants to play in NBA finals moving forward.

 

Great season.  Not doing the whoa is Cleveland thing.  Outside may not know, but my sense is the city is feeling more and more confident by the month....sports are just sports.

 

Tristan definitely gets paid.  The question is how to make room for what he's going to get paid.  We already have the third-highest payroll in the league (http://hoopshype.com/salaries/cleveland_cavaliers/).  Gilbert didn't scrimp.

 

Love is already getting a lot, and will continue to do so if he stays, most likely with his player option.

 

The one I'm least certain we can keep is Shumpert.  He's expensive enough to be in any discussion about clearing cap room (or reducing luxury tax exposure) but affordable enough that someone else might pick him up.  Smith is more expensive but we can be done with him after next year, unless he really develops a higher level of consistency; $6.4M is not worth paying for what he's given.  (ESPN reports that <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2015/story/_/id/13096193/nba-next-lebron-james-cleveland-cavaliers">Smith is actually expected to decline his player option</a>, so maybe my impression is way off the mark.)  If someone else is willing to take him at that price, by all means let him go.  His shot was inconsistent, but his decision-making with the ball coming up the court was also sometimes questionable as well.

 

Dellavedova becomes interesting.  We obviously make him the qualifying offer--we only need to put $1.1M on the table for that.  The question is how high an offer from another team we would then match in the RFA period.  My guess is that there is at least one team out there that would be willing to take a chance on more than that for him as a backup PG now, so we'd have to match or let him go.

Andy hasn't played anything resembling a full season since 09-10 and has played in 75+ games only three times in his career. I don't think the cavs can rely on him to have significant impact.

 

 

LeBron +"Jordan Rules" = Playoffs Sweep.

 

Not just a finals sweep, a playoffs sweep....

You don't have to 'rely' on Andy.  But he is a great piece to have and you can take some steps to decrease his workload, which I think has already been done with the addition of Timo.  His minutes will be limited and he will be back in his bench role, where he is most effective.  If he is there for the playoffs, great.  We would be four deep in the big man department, which might in fact be more than we need for a playoff run.  He is already signed to an extension, so he will be on the roster.  Quality NBA big men don't grow on trees.  His ability to knock down that mid-range shot pulls his man out of the paint and, consequently, opens up the driving lanes.  Part of winning an NBA championship is luck.  GS had it this year, going into the Finals with a fully healthy roster even though it had several key pieces which you can't 'rely' on year in and year out.

I'll take Andy for only 45 games if those games include the playoffs.  We can make the playoffs without him (obviously, we just did).  He's obviously overpaid (no way he's worth $10M if Timo is only worth $5M), but Gilbert is willing to spend and Andy has good chemistry with LeBron (which isn't nothing) and the rest of the team.

 

The biggest question mark is Kyrie.  Yes, I know, we won two games agaisnt GS without him, but the toll it took became obvious in later games (and we should also have won Game 1 with him) and there were clearly times in Games 4-6 where Smith, Shumpert, or Dellavedova looked and passed up shots (or missed them) when Kyrie would have fired with confidence, or where those other three were otherwise frustrated by sets that Kyrie could have penetrated (or at least threatened convincingly enough to open up other opportunities).  The other question marks are in faded fine print; Kyrie's durability, given that once injured, further injuries become more likely, is the big one.

 

=====================

 

Sidenote that I didn't see anyone else mention yet, but Andre Iguodala winning the MVP award just cemented the unwritten rule that "Finals MVP" really means "Winning Team's MVP," not "Finals MVP."  Under any ordinary English usage of the words "most" and "valuable," LeBron was the MVP of the Finals.

Timo is worth more than $5m and will get more than that once his current deal expires.  Andy's contract is going to look like a bargain deal once the new CBA is negotiated.  That's why I say you can go ahead and give Tristan near max money this summer.  Max contracts are projected to increase by upwards of 50% next summer.

Some of this might be luck, but this is something we definitely ought to be taking notes on either way:

 

http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2015/story/_/id/13098001/golden-state-warriors-show-rest-best

Reality is we were just an inch away from a Shumpert miracle shot in Game 1 which could have led to a 3 to 0 lead in the series. Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good.

Here is a screener from last night.

"The Warriors won the trophy. But the Cavs stole the show." http://www.slate.com/articles/sports/sports_nut/2015/06/_2015_nba_finals_lebron_james_and_the_cleveland_cavaliers_playoff_run_was.html?utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A+Trending+Content&utm_content=558148ec04d30175e4000001&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=facebook

As an outsider, I agree 100%. It'll be interesting to see who's around come the end of the 2016 season...

 

LeBron's handling of Blatt unbecoming

Marc Stein, ESPN Senior Writer

 

I have a question for LeBron James that I really hope he'll field someday.

 

A question that can be asked a variety of ways.

 

What kind of coach do you want?

 

Who out there is a coach you'd actually like to play for?

 

Who could ‎the Cleveland Cavaliers hire who you'd give some meaningful backing?

 

I don't have the answers to any of those queries. Cavs assistant coach Ty Lue is my best guess.

 

I know this much, though: LeBron James is too brilliant as a basketball player, too truly great, to behave the way he did toward David Blatt during the NBA Finals.

 

Cont

At this point in his career, James is basically the coach. I'm not saying that to make him sound more important than he is, nor am I implying that this is a bad thing. But strategically, motivationally, etc., he's running the show and it's the teammates that matter most to him. He'd have a problem with a coach that would try to change that. Blatt is not that type of coach.

^still not buying what media is selling. Lebron is an ornary perfectionist on the court, completely different individual off of it.  If blatt draws up a play and lebron shows disgust, it' doesn't mean he hates blatt. As long as blatt isn't too proud to not be able to handle it, it's a non issue. Lebron is as smart if not smarter than blatt at basketball, but blatt is not a power hungry guy, as long as he is contributing to part of the teams goal, blatt seems happy and as long as lebron is ok with blatt as a coach which all signs from lebron and Griffin point yes, there is no issue. 

There was also a story many months ago about Blatt and LeBron meeting early once LeBron's return was almost a done deal (or maybe even slightly after), and that report was that they actually had good chemistry and shared a vision and philosophy for how to build the team, most particularly an emphasis on defense that proved very effective after the midseason trades to get personnel to fit that philosophy (and after LeBron came back from his own injury--remember, he was out for a bit during the doldrums of the season, too).

 

The defense finally broke against Golden State--the league's best offense against our depleted and exhausted roster.  But it got us a long, long way and I think Blatt and LeBron agree on a heck of a lot more than they disagree.