NBA Finals

[Hawkfnntn]

Well Lebron has put up a fight but I don't see him bringing them back to win it now. He is about as much of a one man team out there as a guy can be. Golden State is interesting to watch to say the least. It's like they don't run an offense it's just run down and first man with an inch can jack it up. Last night they just got hot down the stretch.

I don't think the league will do it but Lebron is probably in line to get the MVP win or lose. What he's done so far is pretty nuts. I hope they don't cause that'll be a weird position to be in. Um yeah hey I'm the greatest but we lost... Just give it to someone on winning team for crying out loud. That's about the only drama I see left to this series as Cleveland is just too undermanned...

Curry is probably the closest thing to Pete Marovich as there has ever been. With his ball handling and shooting. I'm in my 30s and didn't any of Pistol Pete other then highlights and some ball handling videos he'd made once he was retired and from what I'd seen of Curry he's a mix of him and that Chris Jackson/Abdul-Rauf guy. Very fun to watch when he's on that's for sure.

 

[HawkeyeMike23]

I hope LeBron wins Finals MVP, he deserves it. I think there would be very few people who disagree with that decision, he's having a historically great Finals performance.

 

[EST1847]

How much different would this finals be Irving and Love playing? I could see the Cavs winning in 5 with those guys.

And please just go away JR Smith.

 

[HawkeyeMike23]

How much different would this finals be Irving and Love playing? I could see the Cavs winning in 5 with those guys.

And please just go away JR Smith.

I don't think the final outcome would be much different. Cleveland's defense is much improved without those two in the lineup. Golden St is a better team no matter who Cleveland has, it would have been a much "prettier" type of basketball though.

 

[CPHAWK82]

How much different would this finals be Irving and Love playing? I could see the Cavs winning in 5 with those guys.

And please just go away JR Smith.

This is an interesting question because Love going down was the emergence of Tristen Thompson who has been a beast on the offensive boards and has played very solid basketball. If Lebron had Irving I do think that it would help to tire out GS on the defensive end more and give them more to deal with. Irving is also a lot more clutch than J.R. Smith and wouldn't being scoring zero points in the second half. The biggest benefit of having Irving would be that he could handle the ball more and Lebron could be playing off of him rather than having to post up and go 1 on 5 most the game. It would keep Lebron fresher in the 4th quarter. They'd no doubt be a better offensive team with Love and Irving. GS is so good though, it's hard to say for sure they wouldn't still be ahead in the series. Watching Lebron has been so freaking fun to watch though. Throw that guy on the Bobcats and they're a playoff team.

 

[HawkeyeMike23]

This is an interesting question because Love going down was the emergence of Tristen Thompson who has been a beast on the offensive boards and has played very solid basketball. If Lebron had Irving I do think that it would help to tire out GS on the defensive end more and give them more to deal with. Irving is also a lot more clutch than J.R. Smith and wouldn't being scoring zero points in the second half. The biggest benefit of having Irving would be that he could handle the ball more and Lebron could be playing off of him rather than having to post up and go 1 on 5 most the game. It would keep Lebron fresher in the 4th quarter. They'd no doubt be a better offensive team with Love and Irving. GS is so good though, it's hard to say for sure they wouldn't still be ahead in the series. Watching Lebron has been so freaking fun to watch though. Throw that guy on the Bobcats and they're a playoff team.

He'd be getting destroyed on pick and rolls in the other end though.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

I hope LeBron wins Finals MVP, he deserves it. I think there would be very few people who disagree with that decision, he's having a historically great Finals performance.

Yeah it is strait up historic what he's doing. If ever there's a case to give it to someone on the losing team this is it. Imagine being him though. Say after they lose would you want to be paraded out there as your opponents are celebrating on your court or even worse in Oakland? Now Lebrons ego is as big as any superstars I'm sure but even that might just be too much. Luckily Curry has put up like 26-6-and 5 type numbers so him getting it won't seem way out of wack if they go that route. We very well might know in a couple days

 

[HawkeyeMike23]

Yeah it is strait up historic what he's doing. If ever there's a case to give it to someone on the losing team this is it. Imagine being him though. Say after they lose would you want to be paraded out there as your opponents are celebrating on your court or even worse in Oakland? Now Lebrons ego is as big as any superstars I'm sure but even that might just be too much. Luckily Curry has put up like 26-6-and 5 type numbers so him getting it won't seem way out of wack if they go that route. We very well might know in a couple days

Why wouldn't they just present it to him in the locker room?

 

[trj]

I am not a fan of iso ball it reminds me of the NBA of the late 90's, early 2000's where everybody else is standing around while one person is jacking up shots. That being said I realize the only shot Cleveland has to win is for Lebron to play this way.

As for for Curry I simply got it wrong, I didn't think he was big enough or athletic enough to be a 2 guard and his skill set wouldn't translate to a NBA PG. His handles, his basketball IQ is off the charts, he isn't the force of nature Lebron is, but he will be good for a long time.

These NBA Finals haven't been well played, but they have been compelling and entertaining. Love the purity of the NBA playoffs, if this was the NCAA tournament Cleveland would ride the momentum and win, Golden St. will likely win simply because they are the best team.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

Why wouldn't they just present it to him in the locker room?

Maybe they would if that's the case. Can't say this has ever happened before in recent history. They love to have the winner at midcourt raising that trophy too. If I had to bet what the league will do they'll give it to Curry to avoid having to do something like that. But that sure doesn't mean Lebron hasn't earned it.

As far as the what ifs in Love and Irving being out what I see is that Lebron needed more then them is a backup SF for him.... He just needs to play less for multiple reasons. For one in the first half and 3rd q you see him pacing himself out there. Not running so hard on fast breaks in either direction it seemed. He was pretty reluctant to push the ball even though he had an advantage a few times it seemed. I feel he didn't cause if it wasn't a clear lane he wasn't going to push himself. He really seemed to be picking and choosing his spots to save himself for the 4th q it seemed like. Now granted that's nitpicking and me playing coach from my couch. But it's pretty safe to say if he could have 3 to 5 more mins a rest a game it would make a world of difference to even his outstanding play all game/series long.

 

[HawkeyeMike23]

I am not a fan of iso ball it reminds me of the NBA of the late 90's, early 2000's where everybody else is standing around while one person is jacking up shots. That being said I realize the only shot Cleveland has to win is for Lebron to play this way.

As for for Curry I simply got it wrong, I didn't think he was big enough or athletic enough to be a 2 guard and his skill set wouldn't translate to a NBA PG. His handles, his basketball IQ is off the charts, he isn't the force of nature Lebron is, but he will be good for a long time.

These NBA Finals haven't been well played, but they have been compelling and entertaining. Love the purity of the NBA playoffs, if this was the NCAA tournament Cleveland would ride the momentum and win, Golden St. will likely win simply because they are the best team.

I don't think LeBron embraces this style of play as much if it wasn't for last year's Finals. Miami had built a pretty complex offense based on spacing and ball movement, designed perfectly for LeBron, with tons of on and off the ball actions and it worked great until the Finals last year when their shooters went cold and Chalmers fell off a cliff and their lack of depth was exposed. LeBron was great in the Finals last year but for the most part he kept playing within their offense and the supporting guys didn't step up as needed. This year, he's been forcing the issue and just doing everything himself.

 

[CPHAWK82]

He'd be getting destroyed on pick and rolls in the other end though.

True, but I'd trade that for the 25-30 points he'd score. In his defense he was starting to play some decent defense when he went down.

 

[trj]

I don't think LeBron embraces this style of play as much if it wasn't for last year's Finals. Miami had built a pretty complex offense based on spacing and ball movement, designed perfectly for LeBron, with tons of on and off the ball actions and it worked great until the Finals last year when their shooters went cold and Chalmers fell off a cliff and their lack of depth was exposed. LeBron was great in the Finals last year but for the most part he kept playing within their offense and the supporting guys didn't step up as needed. This year, he's been forcing the issue and just doing everything himself.

This is the only shot Cleveland has to winning. Some are critical because Lebron's efficiency numbers aren't great, but this is one of those times where you have to ignore analytics and go with what your eyeballs are telling you.

 

[Hawk4Fan]

Refs really trying hard to force a game 7......they are calling everything on GS and letting the Cavs get away with knocking the crud out of people

 

[RocknRollface]

He'd be getting destroyed on pick and rolls in the other end though.

Dude don't even attempt an argument as asinine as saying Irving is not a huge upgrade over JR Smith.

As if pick n roll defense for a great offensive player some how cancelles out an all around horrible ****** of a player.

Kyrie could easily go off for for 40 on Currys weak ***.

 

[RocknRollface]

I am not a fan of iso ball it reminds me of the NBA of the late 90's, early 2000's where everybody else is standing around while one person is jacking up shots. That being said I realize the only shot Cleveland has to win is for Lebron to play this way.

As for for Curry I simply got it wrong, I didn't think he was big enough or athletic enough to be a 2 guard and his skill set wouldn't translate to a NBA PG. His handles, his basketball IQ is off the charts, he isn't the force of nature Lebron is, but he will be good for a long time.

These NBA Finals haven't been well played, but they have been compelling and entertaining. Love the purity of the NBA playoffs, if this was the NCAA tournament Cleveland would ride the momentum and win, Golden St. will likely win simply because they are the best team.

He's a good regular season player, kind of like Harden but no where near an MVP.

He got out played 2 games in the finals by a complete scrub.

Can you imagine Drlevadova trying to defending a guy like Russel Westbrook?

If the Cavs had anything but Lebron GS losses.

Two worst teams to play in the finals ever IMO.

 

[RocknRollface]

Maybe they would if that's the case. Can't say this has ever happened before in recent history. They love to have the winner at midcourt raising that trophy too. If I had to bet what the league will do they'll give it to Curry to avoid having to do something like that. But that sure doesn't mean Lebron hasn't earned it.

As far as the what ifs in Love and Irving being out what I see is that Lebron needed more then them is a backup SF for him.... He just needs to play less for multiple reasons. For one in the first half and 3rd q you see him pacing himself out there. Not running so hard on fast breaks in either direction it seemed. He was pretty reluctant to push the ball even though he had an advantage a few times it seemed. I feel he didn't cause if it wasn't a clear lane he wasn't going to push himself. He really seemed to be picking and choosing his spots to save himself for the 4th q it seemed like. Now granted that's nitpicking and me playing coach from my couch. But it's pretty safe to say if he could have 3 to 5 more mins a rest a game it would make a world of difference to even his outstanding play all game/series long.

What your not realizing is that Love and Irving could have got points in bunches against the guys GS would have put against the which would have allowed Lebron more rest and vice versa.

Love is one of the best low post scores in the leauge.

Draymon vs Love? Love wins that all day.

 

[imported_ankle23]

He's a good regular season player, kind of like Harden but no where near an MVP.

He got out played 2 games in the finals by a complete scrub.

Can you imagine Drlevadova trying to defending a guy like Russel Westbrook?

If the Cavs had anything but Lebron GS losses.

Two worst teams to play in the finals ever IMO.

not many better regular season records than golden state this year - the thing about curry - like you could see tonight - he is so good at making great decisions, getting a double team and finding the open guy - hitting jump shots, driving to the hole, nonpareil as far as dribbling. la ron called him one of the two best in the league.

 

[HawkeyeMike23]

He's a good regular season player, kind of like Harden but no where near an MVP.

He got out played 2 games in the finals by a complete scrub.

Can you imagine Drlevadova trying to defending a guy like Russel Westbrook?

If the Cavs had anything but Lebron GS losses.

Two worst teams to play in the finals ever IMO.

Golden St went 67-15 in one of the toughest conferences ever and was one of only four teams in the last 30 years to outscore opponents by 10 or more points per game. Get the **** out of here with that "two worst teams" ********.

 

[HawkeyeMike23]

What your not realizing is that Love and Irving could have got points in bunches against the guys GS would have put against the which would have allowed Lebron more rest and vice versa.

Love is one of the best low post scores in the leauge.

Draymon vs Love? Love wins that all day.

The Cavs hardly ever used Love on the block this year, plus post ups in general are pretty low efficiency possessions and Green is one of the five best defenders in the league. Golden St would be just fine if the Cavs were trying to score that route, Love is also terrible on defense, and Golden St would have ate him up in pick and rolls.