Randolph Freelander
Member
LeBron is just waiting for the offseason when he Dan Griffin can announce that Kevin Love has been traded for a box of cracker jacks and a subscription to Mad magazine.
NBA Finals 2016 |OT| - The King demands seconds. The Chef delivers.
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LyleLanley
Banned
A box of cracker jacks or the subscription but not both!
I kinda do, but it's sports, man. Play like shit and there's nowhere to hide. That's why we're all fascinated by it. Trying to analyse the psychology of the players on the floor.
I was shocked that he came out so weak after the team showing so well without him in the previous game and all that criticism. Didn't expect much because he's not a great player, but he still didn't clear that low bar. Expected some fire, or something. Anything.
Ninja Scooter
Member
Kevin had that "I hate it here, I can never do anything right!" disappointed 15 year old son look on his face.
Does anybody have a gif or clip of this?
Nevermind.
a guy who didn't play defense and didn't score going +15 means he had no impact on the game, he just got out of the way of Lebron and Kyrie. He has had a terrible finals.
Somebody in this thread a couple days ago accurately described Kyrie as a guy who on any given night is a realistic threat to drop 50. He is that talented, and last night was not a fluke performance. More importantly, he is keyed in. In game 1 the moment was too big for him. He looked timid and he played like it was a first week of the season game. Since then he and Lebron have been all-in. The thing is, the Cavs need at least one more guy to step up, whether it's JR with the threes or whomever. I am really surprised they haven't played Mo Williams more. Sure he's a defensive liability, but he can also get hot (he dropped 50 last year right?). You give him an open shot or the lane and he will score.
I still think this thing going to 7 will require Love to actually contribute, even if it's just knocking down wide open shots and grabbing rebounds.
I still think this thing going to 7 will require Love to actually contribute, even if it's just knocking down wide open shots and grabbing rebounds.
Randolph Freelander
Member
The cracker jacks and a future subscription that may be converted to 3 issues.
Why do most Cavs' plays have Kevin Love standing in place at the 3 point line the whole time? Surely there are betters ways to use him than that.
Also really impressed by Richard Jefferson (especially since we're the same age). He is totally locked in. Even though he makes the odd mistake, his defense has been good, and he makes quick decisions with the ball, which the Cavs (and most other NBA teams) need more of.
Also really impressed by Richard Jefferson (especially since we're the same age). He is totally locked in. Even though he makes the odd mistake, his defense has been good, and he makes quick decisions with the ball, which the Cavs (and most other NBA teams) need more of.
SparkleMotion
Member
Bad coaching.
HAHAH yup! He looks scared to dribble and he can't even post anybody up.
Still like everyone has said can't expect similar performances from Kyrie and Lebron. Best you can realistically get is 30 points from each for combined 60 something. One of the other guys has to step up and give them 15-25.
Love's best shot is at home game 6.
Dova is pure garbage and anytime the offense is run by him the possession is a waste. GS is defending the pick and roll with him and TT real well. As a result he gets lost.
Jag
Member
This is exactly what I thought of when I saw that clip. I watched Bron rip Rio apart for years, but nothing was as cold as Love looking like a beaten puppy.
clevbrowns94
Member
Yeah, I wouldn't play Delly either. He had three fouls in like three minutes (granted one was an Andy flop) and he missed a few baskets and had a turnover. Not a good showing.
clevbrowns94
Member
Proud of the Cavs. Great road win, even without Green playing. Game 6 will be tough as well. Green will come back with a chip on his shoulder, but at least it's at home. Game 7 will be even tougher if they can make it there. It will depend on Lebron and Kyrie. Love is a non-factor as are the rest of the starters and bench, although they need at least some help from Jefferson, Smith, etc. At any rate, they have already exceeded expectations. This looked like a sweep after the game 1 and 2 beatdowns.
LyleLanley
Banned
Seems like something the Cavs would do.
XiaNaphryz
LATIN, MATRIPEDICABUS, DO YOU SPEAK IT
You're all gonna be fine. 96 Bulls were up 3-0 and that Finals still ended up going 6 games. And you're supposed to be better than that squad right?
Epsilon-delta
Banned
Don't forget the 01' 15-1 Lakers in the playoffs.
Kyrie would be my biggest concern. Dude has found the basket. Best you can hope for is his efficiency to tank.
Latvian Hitman
Member
I think it's pretty clear at this point that they're not. The Dubs are a historically great team, but they're not the 96 Bulls or the 01 Lakers.
I thought they defended him fine aside from a few open 3's, he just went nuts. 80% EFG last night after being 45% for the series.
But Lebron...if they can't go under screens anymore then yikes.
BadAss2961
Member
Game 5 would be worth it to see the Warriors celebrate on Cleveland's floor again.
Golden State pulls through when the chips are down.
True. You just knew those teams weren't going to lose. The Warriors, not so much.
Golden State pulls through when the chips are down.
True. You just knew those teams weren't going to lose. The Warriors, not so much.
Agreed. Game 6 is the end.
Unless LeBron has a sharpshooter in the audience taking out Curry's knee plus getting Green kicked out of game 6 + suspension for 7.
SparkleMotion
Member
If Cleveland wins the series now, what is the narrative around Draymond Green? The guy cost his team a chance at closing the finals at home because he put his personal pride over the good of his team.
If the Cavs actually had a coach, that is exactly what they should do. Get aggressive with him and let him lash out. He cost them Game 5, he will cost them game 6 and 7 if you get at him.
clevbrowns94
Member
The narrative should be the same whether they win or lose. He's a head case. A great player as well, but he does stupid things when it matters the most. He lucked out when kicking Adams in the nuts, but now he probably cost his team a win. Although, if the Warriors really lose 3 straight, the blame is hardly going to fall on just him.
sf2fanatic
Member
Download almost complete?
diffusionx
Gold Member
Are you serious? Do you realize the Bulls won the NBA FInals that year in six?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996_NBA_Finals
crimzonflame
Member
Where's the disagreement?
Latvian Hitman
Member
I think he meant that we all knew they weren't going to lose a series, not that they weren't going to lose a game.
I lived in Chicago during the Bulls entire run and I think people seriously have rose-colored glasses as to how indomitable they were. It really wasn't that far off from the Warriors today, certainly early in the run. They were recognized as the best team, sure, but nothing was assumed to be a given at all and there were series where things got scary, including the Finals. Only in retrospect have they really been given this aura of invincibility.
Walter White
Member
I think it'll be more like how many people put the asterisk next to the Spurs lockout season title. The Cavs needing Drummond to be suspended to help them out. This should have been over in 5 had it not been for that suspension and if the Cavs somehow pull out the miracle, people will look back at the suspension and not see a Cavs title as legitimate.
Those people will be dumb. There are always circumstances such as these. Cleveland was missing Kyrie and Love last year and still took it to 6, is that title for GS not legitimate?
ratcliffja
Member
The Warriors don't need Curry to play well this series to win it all. They just need to defend the Cavs' big two and let the role players try to beat them. Frye has been a no-show this series and JR has been decent at best. The only concern I would have if I were a Warriors fan is whether or not they can get Bogut back to defend the paint. Even then, if Klay stays hot, it might not even matter. Of course, I'm pulling for the Cavs, but I just don't see them winning this year.
Atomic Playboy
Member
It's also a pretty big "if." Y'all are making a lot out of a single game. I'm rooting for a close series because drama is more fun than a foregone conclusion, but expecting the Cavs to win three games in a row, two in Oakland? That's a really tall order.
Maybe. I don't know.
I could be overreacting, but seeing Lebron and Kyrie do what they did live last night was scary.
Gully State
Member
Every missed open 3 pointer last night by Barnes and Curry in the second half was like a dagger to the heart. I can't believe how open Barnes was for those 3's. Also, as a fan, the wait to Thursday is just excruciatingly painful.
biosnake20
Member
Yeah Barnes played awful yesterday.
Gully State
Member
I think Klay did well on Kyrie defensively. Just Kyrie was en fuego...I mean you have to just give props to the Lebron and Kyrie for coming out to ball. That was just an amazing performance by the both of them.
Small ball lineup only works if a) Curry is hitting shots and/or b) Draymond is at center. I think that was very much proven last night.
Small ball lineup only works if a) Curry is hitting shots and/or b) Draymond is at center. I think that was very much proven last night.
Yeah, I thought Klay did fine.
Definitely agree about the small ball also. And Lebron feasted on our centers in the pick & roll. Draymond was sorely missed there. You could see guys like Varejao and Speights just totally lost on what to do when Lebron got the switch.
Yeah but it's not like they were running a sophisticated offense while doing that. I think it's hard to believe GS will continue missing open threes and that iso ball can beat GS three straight games.
At this point I'm not expecting Curry to be anything more than decent the rest of the series.
Gully State
Member
There were quite a few times last night where Speights and Verajao would be switched onto Lebron and rather than back off and cede the jumper, they'd try to D up lebron tight which resulted in him blowing by them (a good portion were stupid and 1's too).
Yep. Lebron had a nasty and 1 dunk because Speights literally jumped at him. Not only was he out of position, but the way Speights hopped at him he was totally off balance and had no chance of recovery. Just bizarrely awful footwork.
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