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[friskykillface]

Mozgov hasn't played meaningful minutes in forever, Lue should have played him more during the sweeps of Detroit X Atlanta

 

[Marz]

I think you guys overplay this Lebron slowing down stuff.

I think he paces himself now more and has picked his spots over the course of this year but I think he is going to go nuts this Finals. Didn't even look like he exerted any effort in most of the Toronto games.

 

[Jonm1010]

I'm just not sure Cleveland has the bigs to do it. Steven Adams and Ibaka are super athletic for their size and sound defensively, a world of difference compared to Frye and Love. Cleveland also wasn't a big offensive rebounding team this year compared to OKC (who led the league in oreb rate all year).

I could be totally wrong, but two big lineups will be letting Kerr off the hook imo. Just don't think any of Cleveland's bigs will hold up.


Agreed. Durant at 4 on defense threw Draymond completely out of wack for most of the last series, and that was on a cross match. Lebron straight up playing the 4 could give him similar fits, and when that happens GS offense gets disrupted. Not completely, but somewhat. Like I said, I could be totally wrong, but I think it could work for them.

edit: hell, even if Draymond is playing center match Lebron up with him and hide Love on Barnes. Whatever you can do to match Lebron up with Draymond.

I think Lue just has got to be flexible. Every lineup people are proposing has some serious drawbacks and the Warriors can pretty much match up or counter on paper any lineup the Cavs have. And other then Lebron, pretty much anything they can do, the Thunder could do better minus three point shooting.

 

[Fjordson]

I think you guys overplay this Lebron slowing down stuff.

I think he paces himself now more and has picked his spots over the course of this year but I think he is going to go nuts this Finals. Didn't even look like he exerted any effort in most of the Toronto games.

Lebron "slowing down" is sort of selling him short. He's still a freak athlete, it's just that in his late Cleveland / Miami days he was an alien. He's definitely not that anymore on defense, and other smaller stats like the percentage of his shots blocked at the rim show that he's lost some athleticism. But his peak was so otherworldly that's it's barely noticeable.

I think Lue just has got to be flexible. Every lineup people are proposing has some serious drawbacks and the Warriors can pretty much match up or counter on paper any lineup the Cavs have. And other then Lebron, pretty much anything they can do, the Thunder could do better minus three point shooting.

There's definitely no perfect solution, I just think multiple bigs for Cleveland is a guaranteed blood bath.

Basically Love at 4 with another big is death imo. Best bet would be at center with Lebron or stash him on Barnes against the death lineup while Lebron matches up with Draymond at center.

 

[Iadien]

Mozgov hasn't played meaningful minutes in forever, Lue should have played him more during the sweeps of Detroit X Atlanta

He hasn't been the same since his knee surgery. That mixed in with his terrible decision making and is inability to catch a ball, has meant he has been useless during games this season.

 

[rambis]

I remember Lebron in Mia casually pouting and sprinting down the floor with the speed of a RB after he didn't get a call. He's certainly not that anymore but still probably top 5 athletically.

 

[PBY]

I think you guys overplay this Lebron slowing down stuff.

I think he paces himself now more and has picked his spots over the course of this year but I think he is going to go nuts this Finals. Didn't even look like he exerted any effort in most of the Toronto games.

I mean... statistically he is slowing down.

I agree that its not a sharp dropoff, but its part of being human.

 

[PadWarrior]

I hope mozgof and varejo get at least a one on one battle lol

 

[Fjordson]

I wish Lue would try to force a Mozgov comeback. Death lineup blew Cleveland up last year when he was on the floor.

 

[bigmit3737]

Cavs should start JR, Kyrie, Shump, Lebron and maybe Love. Or hell, Delly and Kyrie. Hide Kyrie on Barnes or Iggy and let JR/Delly and Shump go at Curry and Klay.

If Lue leans on small ball like this I think they'll have a good chance. Any two big lineups will get run off the court imo. Love and Thompson, Love and Frye, etc. None of that will work. Lebron is hopefully not willing to do this, but he should play a ton of 4 this series matched up with Draymond. And if Lue really has balls he'll play Delly, Kyrie, JR, Shump all together with Lebron at 5 against Draymond.

As a Warriors fan I worry this series will be much, much tougher than some of the odds / models are projecting. I think the Cavs have some decent small lineups if Lebron is willing to play in the front court.

Can't Harrison Barnes just post up kyrie and get easy baskets?

 

[Fjordson]

Can't Harrison Barnes just post up kyrie and get easy baskets?

You would think that, but I've seen teams successfully hide almost anyone on Barnes. Big, small, fast, slow - doesn't matter. I was hoping he'd punish Lillard in the Portland series and he never did.

 

[RedAssedApe]

So first you say Kyrie won't guard Steph. Now you say Kyrie won't guard Klay...So Kyrie won't be guarding anyone? Bold strategy but one that probably plays to his strengths.

sounds about right. everything comes full circle. haha

 

[Subitai]

Isn't Iggy being glued to LeBron what freed the rest of the dubs up last year on offense? He was on Durant to close out the last series, so he should be ready to go again this year. Especially with LeBron's much less reliable jump shot.

 

[Griss]

Prediction time: warriors sweep in five.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

Isn't Iggy being glued to LeBron what freed the rest of the dubs up last year on offense? He was on Durant to close out the last series, so he should be ready to go again this year. Especially with LeBron's much less reliable jump shot.

Historically teams that can play Bron straight up. Not even necessarily stop him or shot him down, but just play him man up and keep him honest, have had success against his teams as it forces everyone else to do a lot more heavy lifting (granted pre-Miami everyone else consisted of garbage). I think Igoudala can at the very least do this.

 

[Scully Scully Scoo]

why are all these matches on so late at night, footy in uk kick off time is 19:45 at the latest. if they want more people around the globe watching nba they need to put these matches on earlier

 

[Joei]

Isn't Iggy being glued to LeBron what freed the rest of the dubs up last year on offense? He was on Durant to close out the last series, so he should be ready to go again this year. Especially with LeBron's much less reliable jump shot.

The problem, I think from the GSW perspective, is that Cleveland has a much more potent offense. Aside from KD and Westbrook, who was A serious threat offensively? Dion Waiters? Last year Iggy played him tight, but Lebron really had no one to give it to. The offense they played last year, or even January when they did Iso on like half their plays, is not a resemblance of what you'll see in this series.

 

[Gully State]

why are all these matches on so late at night, footy in uk kick off time is 19:45 at the latest. if they want more people around the globe watching nba they need to put these matches on earlier

6pm PST...You lose the west coast audience if you start earlier.

 

[phanphare]

why are all these matches on so late at night, footy in uk kick off time is 19:45 at the latest. if they want more people around the globe watching nba they need to put these matches on earlier

games start at 9pm on the east coast which means 6pm on the west coast

they're trying to balance it so they get the best ratings. any earlier and the west coast would suffer, any later and the east coast would suffer.

 

[Jonm1010]

You would think that, but I've seen teams successfully hide almost anyone on Barnes. Big, small, fast, slow - doesn't matter. I was hoping he'd punish Lillard in the Portland series and he never did.

"Who max's Barnes" is going to be my favorite speculative pastime this off season.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

The problem, I think from the GSW perspective, is that Cleveland has a much more potent offense. Aside from KD and Westbrook, who was A serious threat offensively? Dion Waiters? Last year Iggy played him tight, but Lebron really had no one to give it to. The offense they played last year, or even January when they did Iso on like half their plays, is not a resemblance of what you'll see in this series.

The offense won't matter if their defense is terrible. You're not beating the best offensive team maybe ever with a shit defense. Bringing up comparisons to KD and Westbrook last series is disengeous because it completely ignores the fact that OKC outplayed and almost beat the Warrors because of their defensive game plan.

 

[Fatalah]

Prediction time: warriors sweep in five.

How do you sweep in 5?

 

[Gully State]

I've honestly been disappointed with the way Barnes has played in the playoffs. He surprisingly played better coming off the bench in game 7 than as a starter. I just don't know what to make of it considering how solid he looked at the start of the season prior to his knee injury

 

[Fjordson]

The offense won't matter if their defense is terrible. You're not beating the best offensive team maybe ever with a shit defense. Bringing up comparisons to KD and Westbrook last series is disengeous because it completely ignores the fact that OKC outplayed and almost beat the Warrors because of their defensive game plan.

+ Cleveland is a lot better from the outside and will be a different sort of challenge, but OKC was the second best offense all season behind only Golden State. Painting them as some sort of inept team when it comes to scoring is super inaccurate.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

How do you sweep in 5?

Pistons swept the Lakers in 5 in 2004.

 

[Jonm1010]

The problem, I think from the GSW perspective, is that Cleveland has a much more potent offense. Aside from KD and Westbrook, who was A serious threat offensively? Dion Waiters? Last year Iggy played him tight, but Lebron really had no one to give it to. The offense they played last year, or even January when they did Iso on like half their plays, is not a resemblance of what you'll see in this series.

I mean that's what it's all coming down to. Defensively this Cavs team will not be as good. Can Love and Irving and some role players make up that difference and do so at a level that will outpace GS? Or can Cleveland catch a string of luck that debilitates the Warriors?

How do you sweep in 5?

Gentleman's sweep.

 

[phanphare]

How do you sweep in 5?

winning in 5 is referred to as a gentleman's sweep

also anything is a sweep here

 

[rambis]

why are all these matches on so late at night, footy in uk kick off time is 19:45 at the latest. if they want more people around the globe watching nba they need to put these matches on earlier

Pretty sure Americans are the number 1 priority.

 

[Gully State]

The offense won't matter if their defense is terrible. You're not beating the best offensive team maybe ever with a shit defense. Bringing up comparisons to KD and Westbrook last series is disengeous because it completely ignores the fact that OKC outplayed and almost beat the Warrors because of their defensive game plan.

Warriors had trouble because the Thunder were stone walling the Warriors on D and then generating transition buckets off misses. If Cavs slow down the game, there won't be many transition opportunities. If they speed up the game to start a shoot out.. are they going to stop the Warriors at the pace they're naturally comfortable playing in?

Also when I think of the Thunder and reliable scorers, I feel like Adams and Ibaka can be but are just improperly being utilized. TBH, after seeing this series, I'm honestly a bit surprised that the Thunder don't incorporate Ibaka more on pick and pop actions or even dribble handoffs. Adams is only 22 and he's already showing power and some polish in his low post game. Dude is one year away from being Fear the Deer Bogut.

 

[platocplx]

just realized the cavs have some crazy lineups they could run.

I could see them run a lineup with:
Kyrie
JR
Shumpert
Bron
Love

and go super small in that way. got damn the combos...

 

[Cre8]

How do you sweep in 5?

Lose game 1 and win 4 in a row.....technically I think.

 

[Diprosalic]

and go super small in that way. got damn the combos...

yeah go super small, Curry will thank them while sipping champaign.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

Warriors had trouble because the Thunder were stone walling the Warriors on D and then generating transition buckets off misses. If Cavs slow down the game, there won't be many transition opportunities. If they speed up the game to start a shoot out.. are they going to stop the Warriors at the pace they're naturally comfortable playing in?

Also when I think of the Thunder and reliable scorers, I feel like Adams and Ibaka can be but are just improperly being utilized. TBH, after seeing this series, I'm honestly a bit surprised that the Thunder don't incorporate Ibaka more on pick and pop actions or even dribble handoffs. Adams is only 22 and he's already showing power and some polish in his low post game.

That's what I mean, it's easy to look at the WCF as a Cavs fan and say "well the Thunder's offense choked late and cost them those games, our offense is better so it won't cost us the game thus we will win!" But that ignores what got the Thunder to be in the position to win those games in the first place: pick n roll defense, rim protection and rebounding. Three things Cleveland can't replicate.

 

[rokkerkory]

Cavs gonna come out guns blazing tonight.

Dubz gonna make it rain 3s however.

 

[Gigglepoo]

I look forward to both sides thinking the refs and the league is against their team.

 

[Gully State]

who's ref'ing tonight?

 

[phanphare]

I look forward to both sides thinking the refs and the league is against their team.

"of course the NBA wants Lebron to get one for cleveland!"

"of course the NBA wants the Warriors to the chip after 73 wins!"

 

[Gully State]

https://twitter.com/NickDePaula/status/738406781869686784

Cavs guard Matthew Dellavedova leaves Nike and signs a 3-year shoe deal with Chinese brand Peak.

His "Delly 1" shoe will launch July 1.

Is this real?

 

[Fjordson]

just realized the cavs have some crazy lineups they could run.

I could see them run a lineup with:
Kyrie
JR
Shumpert
Bron
Love

and go super small in that way. got damn the combos...

Their best chance. Lebron matched up with Draymond, either at the 4 or the 5. Don't think Love vs. Draymond will work.

 

[nillah]

https://twitter.com/NickDePaula/status/738406781869686784



Is this real?

Delly 1, Day 1 lol

And yeah, dude has his own logo or some shit

 

[MetalFearSolid]

Hahaha

 

[Lionel Richie]

https://twitter.com/NickDePaula/status/738406781869686784



Is this real?

I bet those shoes risk bone injuries.

 

[Messi]

Cleveland sweep in 6.

 

[bionic77]

Can't Harrison Barnes just post up kyrie and get easy baskets?

The Cavs will be happy to let Barnes try and beat them. Even if Kyrie guarding him.

He is just not that kind of player. He is talented and occasionally he can catch fire and make a difference in a game or two, but he is not dependable enough to carry the load with this much pressure on him.

I just hope that the Lakers don't overpay him in the offseason. He is a good player, but someone is going to overpay him for what he is.

 

[platocplx]

Their best chance. Lebron matched up with Draymond, either at the 4 or the 5. Don't think Love vs. Draymond will work.

I would see it as them matching love up with barnes, Bron matched up with draymond. then some combo of shumpert, jr and kyrie matched up with iguodola, thompson and curry.

 

[alr1ght]

https://twitter.com/NickDePaula/status/738406781869686784



Is this real?

Australian market, brehs.

 

[Fjordson]

I would see it as them matching love up with barnes, Bron matched up with draymond. then some combo of shumpert, jr and kyrie matched up with iguodola, thompson and curry.

Agreed.

Even when the Warriors go small they should keep Lebron against Draymond and move Love to the 4 against Barnes.

 

[bionic77]

Agreed.

Even when the Warriors go small they should keep Lebron against Draymond and move Love to the 4 against Barnes.

Warriors are lucky that they can just sit Barnes against the starters and upgrade to Iggy when it is not working out.

Though they would prefer to get his 8-10 points and handful of rebounds and have Iggy lead the bench. When the Warriors bench is productive it is so hard to beat them.

 

[platocplx]

Agreed.

Even when the Warriors go small they should keep Lebron against Draymond and move Love to the 4 against Barnes.

yeah, I think thats a lineup where they could do some damage, because the warriors vs someone like thompson who may be a liablity on the offensive end, but having shump in the mix add some athleticism and arguably one of their better defenders.

Im trying to find if they have ever used that lineup combo in a game. im really curious how that would work.

 

[ryutaro's mama]

Wait, I just realized that THU-SUN-TUE is gone.

What is this fuckery? Was there an explanation why they changed it?