Ifs and what ifs do not matter (other than water cooler discussion topics).
Cleveland played better in game 4 and avoided a sweep. I hope game 5 (and possibly 6 and 7) is/are close like game 3. Much more entertaining and compelling that way instead of blowouts.
Officiating was crap last night. Both ways. Cleveland was lights out though. I kept thinking the Dubs were wiggling back into the game, but anytime they got within 11-12, it was back to 18-21 just like that. Bron is Bron but Kyrie was incredible. And Love had that game he's been looking for. He was much lighter on the glass, but that'll happen when you're camped at the arc and draining. The Cavs efficiency was ridiculous and they D'd up hard. That said, the Warriors stats were pretty decent and aside from 3 shooting, the box was pretty even...despite it never really being close.
I wonder if the old-timers feel they could sweep the Cavs as easily as they believe they could sweep the Dubs. Those dudes need to get off the "stuff" and just appreciate the level these teams are playing at.
52-90 All Sports, Mostly Topps, Mostly HOF, and some assorted wax.
Mark is neither stupid nor a conspiracist, though he does have a sarcastic twist that I tend to like and appreciate. it's a pretty safe bet that the Warriors didn't want to make their owners any extra money or preferred to win it at home, none of that worked out for them last year. I don't think they choked either or don't know how to close things out. I think it is all very simple: after going what, 30-1 over the past two months and 15-0 through the playoffs they finally played like human beings and lost.
the test for the Warriors will be game five tonight. if they rebound and win they are true Champions, if they lose they are in serious, serious trouble. should the Cavs manage to force game six back in Cleveland I think that game seven is an almost certainty. that will be a "most watched" televised sporting event if it takes place!!!
to vintagefun --- if you really think the Officiating is bad this year than you must not have watched the finals last season.
the announcers, paid by the NBA, have gone out of their way to protect the officials. there have been as many phantom calls as there have been non-calls. David West should have been ejected, he should have gotten a second technical when Smith and Thompson got t's, why was he not given the second one when he was the aggressor backing up Thompson??
the pattern has been the same, the game has gotten away from the officials..............again.
With no rooting interest ( although I almost got into a fistfight with a drunk in a Guadalajara sportsbar) I throughly enjoyed tonight's game. Cleveland showed a lot of toughness. Too much Durant
Keets FWIW I watched the series in Mexico City, Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara and everyone was a Cav's fan. Even the announcers were biased towards Cleveland.
mark
Walker Proof Digital Album Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
@BLUEJAYWAY said:
Must be a sweet feeling for GSW asst. coach Mike Brown.
I was happy for him as well
mark
Walker Proof Digital Album Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
As much as I enjoyed these last 3 years of Finals, it would not disturb me to see 2 different teams next season in the Finals. GSW must go through the competitive West teams:Spurs, always a valid opponent,OKC,Houston will improve and maybe a sleeper team may arise. If GSW are befallen with an injury or two and the other contenders "soften" up the GSW, we could see a different team representing the West. On paper and due to the moment, the words "potential Dynasty" has been thrown around by the media. Only concern there is they don't play the game on paper, but on a hard court.
Successful transactions:Tookybandit. "Everyone is equal, some are more equal than others".
Actually it's a pretty good bet that a Lebron James team will be back again next year. He is always in the finals. The irony is that all these finals without wins hurts him in the GOAT discussion. Especially when compared to Jordan. MJ's led teams vs LBJ led teams in the finals is quite the contrast. I will be the first to say i would rather have James on my team then Jordan regardless. Then again they played two different positions and have much different games. They are however linked together as they were the iconic player of there respective era.
m
Walker Proof Digital Album Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
I think what ultimately won the game and the series for the Warriors is that they never struggled through any extended periods where they were cold, where they just couldn't score. even when they lost game four they continued to score and never really went cold. Cleveland lost because of that. absent that stretch in the second quarter which turned into a 19-2 Golden State run the game was pretty close.
the Cavs were able to close but just didn't have enough left in the tank to overtake the Warriors. a key again in this game was what really helped them in 2015, Andre Iguadala. once Pachulia sat and Andre stayed in there was a real difference in the GSW offense, he defends as well as the piece of crap and moves so nicely on offense, tough to guard.
Cleveland can't really improve much . No help is coming from the draft any time soon and I think they don't have much cap space unless they dump something.
Cleveland doesn't really need more players. They are actually closer to the Warriors talent wise than the 4-1 outcome showed. They just need to improve the way they play. I would recommend a new coach That can get the best out of what he has. JMHO.
@DIMEMAN said:
Cleveland doesn't really need more players. They are actually closer to the Warriors talent wise than the 4-1 outcome showed. They just need to improve the way they play. I would recommend a new coach That can get the best out of what he has. JMHO.
Starting with dumping Lebron , his style of play is old and like the dinosaurs should be extinct . Thats how I'd phrase it if I was the team when he flies the coop to chase another ring elsewhere. .
Of course it doesn't make a lot of sense for him to leave for a ring unless he goes to the warriors. I mean he is on the best team in the east now and no one in the west is going to beat the warriors anytime soon.
@DIMEMAN said:
Cleveland doesn't really need more players.
Yes, they most certainly do. That's why there were Paul George rumors before the finals even ended. And adding him still won't be enough to close the gap completely.
They are actually closer to the Warriors talent wise than the 4-1 outcome showed.
Could not disagree more. Cleveland is a very good team and is clearly the best in the (putrid) east, but when matched up against the Warriors they bring a knife to a gunfight.
LeBron & Kyrie are otherworldly, but they are surrounded by a very inconsistent supporting cast. J.R. Smith scored 25 last night, but had 3 points combined in the first two games. Kevin Love -- the supposed third member of the Big 3 -- had 6 points last night. Tristan Thompson had a good game last night, but did next to nothing the first three games of the series. Those are the other three starters, and that's pretty much what you can expect from each of those guys: good players who will never be consistently great. And that simply will not fly when matched up against Golden State. You better come loaded, and you better have some production coming off the bench to match them (also something Cleveland did not have).
But don't take my word for it. In case you haven't seen, the Warriors are -200 to take it down next year. That is the highest favorite ever.......any team, any sport.
g27 - you pointed out what I was saying. They (Cavs) have the players. They need to get more consistant and play better all the time. They need a top coach. To me their coach is just a bystander on the floor.
It's hard to match up against the Warriors....especially after they added KD. And when they are all hitting those 3's they can't be beat. But game 4 showed that you can't hit those 3's EVERY game.....if they did they would go 82-0!
I'd like to chime in on this dynasty talk. The Warriors have won 2 of 3, against the same opponent; being the same opponent takes nothing away from their accomplishment. What does take away, IMO, is the caliber of play league wide over the course of 82 games.
The teams that GS, CLE, BOS, HOU, etc are playing (even the #8 seeds) are not the same quality as they were in the 90s. Take a look back at the stiff competition from 1-8 from 1993-98 or so. Nobody that knew they wouldn't make the playoffs would phone it in, they played until the clock stopped on game #82. Maybe I'm just griping, but things seem quite watered down in my opinion. Congrats to both teams once again this year....
@DIMEMAN said:
g27 - you pointed out what I was saying. They (Cavs) have the players. They need to get more consistant and play better all the time. They need a top coach. To me their coach is just a bystander on the floor.
lol.
They have players, but they do not have the players. Of course they need to be more consistent and play well all the time.
If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we'd all have a Merry Christmas. The point is that they're not good enough, Dimeman. Good enough to get to the Finals? Yes. Because the Eastern Conference is abysmal. Good enough to beat Golden State as currently constructed? No way in living hell.
One of two things are going to happen this off-season. The Cavs are a) going to shake things up, or b) proceed without any significant roster changes (i.e., the starting lineup remaining the same). If it's b), pop this thread at the beginning of next season and I will gladly pad your PayPal account to the tune of $100.
@SirLurksALot said:
I'd like to chime in on this dynasty talk. The Warriors have won 2 of 3, against the same opponent; being the same opponent takes nothing away from their accomplishment. What does take away, IMO, is the caliber of play league wide over the course of 82 games.
The teams that GS, CLE, BOS, HOU, etc are playing (even the #8 seeds) are not the same quality as they were in the 90s. Take a look back at the stiff competition from 1-8 from 1993-98 or so. Nobody that knew they wouldn't make the playoffs would phone it in, they played until the clock stopped on game #82. Maybe I'm just griping, but things seem quite watered down in my opinion. Congrats to both teams once again this year....
I totally agree. Back then the East was like the West is now. When the Bulls made their 3-peats twice in the 90's they had to go thru teams like the Nicks, Celtics, Pistons, Pacers and both the Florida teams.
While 2 out of 3 is good lets wait and see what the future holds before we start talking Dynasty.
To me there have been 3 Dynasty teams. The Celtics....what they did will never be repeated. The Bulls....... their 2 3-peats will probably never be broken. And the Lakers.
the Golden State Warrior TEAM is better than the Cleveland Cavaliers TEAM but I don't really think there is much difference in the starting five, the Cavs may even have the edge. the Warriors have much better options when it comes to substitutions, that is why they have won and why they dominate their opponents.
Cleveland needs to improve their bench and their options to match opponents when they need to either hold a lead or close when trailing. the starters need to rest and having Deron Williams, Kyle Korver and Richard Jefferson on the floor at the same time during the critical fourth quarter in a close-out game doesn't cut it.
now, to the really good stuff......................bronco, you are either stupid, ignorant of the game, just hate Lebron James or are being sarcastic. if you watched the series you would understand that Lebron James is everything but an extinct species, he still does what no player in the history of the NBA has been able to do. you can most likely bring up that he is 3-5 in a Team series, but he does everything and more in every game he's in. I know you will laugh, but the argument could be made that he was every bit the MVP that Kevin Durant was, he just happened to be on the losing Team. the unwritten rule prevents that from happening.
if you look at the stat sheet for game five it is slightly tilted towards James as is the fact that he averaged a triple-double for the series. Kevin Durant's play will be what everyone remembers, though.
I have watched pro basketball since the late 1960's to the present (ABA and NBA). In every decade since the 1960's there have been teams that stand out and above their peers. The same thing probably happened in the 1950's on back to the 1920's when pro leagues got started.
There have been and always will be discussions about which era's teams could beat and would beat other era's teams. There will always be discussions about which of the top players from each era are "the best". It all makes sports a more enjoyable experience to have these discussions.
For me, some of my absolute favorite players and teams were those from the 1960's, 1970's and 1980's because that was when I was most interested in pro hoops. My eldest son is 26 and he is a hoops fans. For him the MJ teams from the 1990's are ones he reads about. His interest in hoops and the NBA dates primarily from the 2000's forward.
@keets said:
the Golden State Warrior TEAM is better than the Cleveland Cavaliers TEAM but I don't really think there is much difference in the starting five, the Cavs may even have the edge. the Warriors have much better options when it comes to substitutions, that is why they have won and why they dominate their opponents.
Cleveland needs to improve their bench and their options to match opponents when they need to either hold a lead or close when trailing. the starters need to rest and having Deron Williams, Kyle Korver and Richard Jefferson on the floor at the same time during the critical fourth quarter in a close-out game doesn't cut it.
now, to the really good stuff......................bronco, you are either stupid, ignorant of the game, just hate Lebron James or are being sarcastic. if you watched the series you would understand that Lebron James is everything but an extinct species, he still does what no player in the history of the NBA has been able to do. you can most likely bring up that he is 3-5 in a Team series, but he does everything and more in every game he's in. I know you will laugh, but the argument could be made that he was every bit the MVP that Kevin Durant was, he just happened to be on the losing Team. the unwritten rule prevents that from happening.
if you look at the stat sheet for game five it is slightly tilted towards James as is the fact that he averaged a triple-double for the series. Kevin Durant's play will be what everyone remembers, though.
I was being mostly sarcastic , I do feel like he is the most talented player in the league. I wonder though if the style of play might be moving away from what he does towards what golden state is doing. Is golden state the NBA version of what the Patriots do in the NFL ?
@keets said:
the Golden State Warrior TEAM is better than the Cleveland Cavaliers TEAM but I don't really think there is much difference in the starting five, the Cavs may even have the edge. the Warriors have much better options when it comes to substitutions, that is why they have won and why they dominate their opponents.
Cleveland needs to improve their bench and their options to match opponents when they need to either hold a lead or close when trailing. the starters need to rest and having Deron Williams, Kyle Korver and Richard Jefferson on the floor at the same time during the critical fourth quarter in a close-out game doesn't cut it.
now, to the really good stuff......................bronco, you are either stupid, ignorant of the game, just hate Lebron James or are being sarcastic. if you watched the series you would understand that Lebron James is everything but an extinct species, he still does what no player in the history of the NBA has been able to do. you can most likely bring up that he is 3-5 in a Team series, but he does everything and more in every game he's in. I know you will laugh, but the argument could be made that he was every bit the MVP that Kevin Durant was, he just happened to be on the losing Team. the unwritten rule prevents that from happening.
if you look at the stat sheet for game five it is slightly tilted towards James as is the fact that he averaged a triple-double for the series. Kevin Durant's play will be what everyone remembers, though.
I don't think there is any arguement that James is the best player in the NBA right now. And yes...the MVP always goes to a player on the winning team. And usually the player with the best stats is on the winning team. Key word is usually.
I really think that if James wanted to and the game plan was for him to do it.........he could probably score 100 points in a game. But he really is a team player and one of the best passers around.
the game has evolved into a three point shooting game and the two Teams we just watched are two of the best at it. I much prefer the game in the paint and the little 15' pull up jumpers to a game of shooting threes. in that regard I am a dinosaur. I prefer to watch the style of play from Irving over Curry and how Green and Iguadala did the alley-oop a few times.
An interesting aspect of last nights game is that Curry scored the bulk of his points on drives to the basket (like Irving) and free throws. He did not shoot from the perimeter last night as he has done in prior games during this year's playoffs.
James could, if he chose to do so, score 50+ per game.
So also could Durant and Westbrook and Hardin and Curry, etc. So could have Kobe, MJ and others. Doing so would not always produce a winning record and playoff success.
I learned this morning that the parade for the Warriors is going to take place on Thursday in Oakland, starting at Lake Merritt, next to the Alameda County Superior Court. I had a court hearing scheduled in that court for Thursday afternoon. This morning the judge contacted all attorneys and advised that the hearing is being advanced to tomorrow because the Presiding Judge of the court has decided that the court will close tomorrow due to the parade.
James will demand change and will get it. Lots of change. They need additional guard help for starters and Korver, Smith and Jefferson all need to go. The game has passed them by.
mark
Walker Proof Digital Album Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
I can agree that Jefferson has reached the end of the line, but Korver and James are OK as long as they are used correctly. that means that they should alternate and never be on the court at the same time. Deron Williams and Channing Frye will probably be gone, also.
one thing that is NEVER mentioned about this season with Cleveland is the injuries which affected a large part of the season, the run-up leading to the playoffs and the playoffs altogether. Kevin Love and JR Smith both missed time mid-season but the biggest injuries were to players that most fans don't even know the Cavs had, I think there were three of them. to be honest, I can't recall the names of two!!! one was injured and done for the season so Cleveland signed Andrew Bogut --- he actually played in one game...................for 59 seconds before he was injured and done for the season. his replacement suffered a broken hand, I believe it was during practice while the Cavs waited for Raptors to complete their series.
those guys were all Centers, but the player who was hurt by that was Kevin Love.
the reasoning for signing a Center was obvious, to give a good substitute for Tristan Thompson to rest. the way things worked out with the injuries meant that whenever Thompson rested the Cavs actually had to substitute for Love, he moved over and played Center. that created problems because the Team suffered horribly whenever both guys were off the floor.
I am not complaining because I accept injuries as a major part of all sports and a key to success. to that end, Golden State has been fortunate. they have had injuries such as the one to Durant and I know Iguadala was hurt, but their opponents have seen some major players go down in the playoffs. in 2015 it was the Cavs without Love and Irving and this year it was San Antonia without Leonard. that really changes things.
healthy Teams in any sport tend to have the advantage, especially when the key guys go down.
Comments
Hey, I say what I think. If we agree....we agree.
Ifs and what ifs do not matter (other than water cooler discussion topics).
Cleveland played better in game 4 and avoided a sweep. I hope game 5 (and possibly 6 and 7) is/are close like game 3. Much more entertaining and compelling that way instead of blowouts.
Officiating was crap last night. Both ways. Cleveland was lights out though. I kept thinking the Dubs were wiggling back into the game, but anytime they got within 11-12, it was back to 18-21 just like that. Bron is Bron but Kyrie was incredible. And Love had that game he's been looking for. He was much lighter on the glass, but that'll happen when you're camped at the arc and draining. The Cavs efficiency was ridiculous and they D'd up hard. That said, the Warriors stats were pretty decent and aside from 3 shooting, the box was pretty even...despite it never really being close.
I wonder if the old-timers feel they could sweep the Cavs as easily as they believe they could sweep the Dubs. Those dudes need to get off the "stuff" and just appreciate the level these teams are playing at.
Money is never the objective of professional sports. It is teamwork and giving back to the loyal fans. Yes indeed.
Mark is neither stupid nor a conspiracist, though he does have a sarcastic twist that I tend to like and appreciate. it's a pretty safe bet that the Warriors didn't want to make their owners any extra money or preferred to win it at home, none of that worked out for them last year. I don't think they choked either or don't know how to close things out. I think it is all very simple: after going what, 30-1 over the past two months and 15-0 through the playoffs they finally played like human beings and lost.
the test for the Warriors will be game five tonight. if they rebound and win they are true Champions, if they lose they are in serious, serious trouble. should the Cavs manage to force game six back in Cleveland I think that game seven is an almost certainty. that will be a "most watched" televised sporting event if it takes place!!!
to vintagefun --- if you really think the Officiating is bad this year than you must not have watched the finals last season.
interesting first half.
the announcers, paid by the NBA, have gone out of their way to protect the officials. there have been as many phantom calls as there have been non-calls. David West should have been ejected, he should have gotten a second technical when Smith and Thompson got t's, why was he not given the second one when he was the aggressor backing up Thompson??
the pattern has been the same, the game has gotten away from the officials..............again.
You really shouldn't complain.....Love just got away with a hold on Thompson.
Well, you can't blame James....he had his 41 points.
And then there was 1.
Must be a sweet feeling for GSW asst. coach Mike Brown.
With no rooting interest ( although I almost got into a fistfight with a drunk in a Guadalajara sportsbar) I throughly enjoyed tonight's game. Cleveland showed a lot of toughness. Too much Durant
Keets FWIW I watched the series in Mexico City, Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara and everyone was a Cav's fan. Even the announcers were biased towards Cleveland.
mark
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
I was happy for him as well
mark
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
As much as I enjoyed these last 3 years of Finals, it would not disturb me to see 2 different teams next season in the Finals. GSW must go through the competitive West teams:Spurs, always a valid opponent,OKC,Houston will improve and maybe a sleeper team may arise. If GSW are befallen with an injury or two and the other contenders "soften" up the GSW, we could see a different team representing the West. On paper and due to the moment, the words "potential Dynasty" has been thrown around by the media. Only concern there is they don't play the game on paper, but on a hard court.
Actually it's a pretty good bet that a Lebron James team will be back again next year. He is always in the finals. The irony is that all these finals without wins hurts him in the GOAT discussion. Especially when compared to Jordan. MJ's led teams vs LBJ led teams in the finals is quite the contrast. I will be the first to say i would rather have James on my team then Jordan regardless. Then again they played two different positions and have much different games. They are however linked together as they were the iconic player of there respective era.
m
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
Both teams were and are great. Congrats to both.
congratulations to the Golden State Warriors!!!
I think what ultimately won the game and the series for the Warriors is that they never struggled through any extended periods where they were cold, where they just couldn't score. even when they lost game four they continued to score and never really went cold. Cleveland lost because of that. absent that stretch in the second quarter which turned into a 19-2 Golden State run the game was pretty close.
the Cavs were able to close but just didn't have enough left in the tank to overtake the Warriors. a key again in this game was what really helped them in 2015, Andre Iguadala. once Pachulia sat and Andre stayed in there was a real difference in the GSW offense, he defends as well as the piece of crap and moves so nicely on offense, tough to guard.
Andre Iguadala should be the NBA sixth man.
Cleveland can't really improve much . No help is coming from the draft any time soon and I think they don't have much cap space unless they dump something.
Cleveland doesn't really need more players. They are actually closer to the Warriors talent wise than the 4-1 outcome showed. They just need to improve the way they play. I would recommend a new coach That can get the best out of what he has. JMHO.
Starting with dumping Lebron , his style of play is old and like the dinosaurs should be extinct . Thats how I'd phrase it if I was the team when he flies the coop to chase another ring elsewhere.
.
Of course it doesn't make a lot of sense for him to leave for a ring unless he goes to the warriors. I mean he is on the best team in the east now and no one in the west is going to beat the warriors anytime soon.
Yes, they most certainly do. That's why there were Paul George rumors before the finals even ended. And adding him still won't be enough to close the gap completely.
Could not disagree more. Cleveland is a very good team and is clearly the best in the (putrid) east, but when matched up against the Warriors they bring a knife to a gunfight.
LeBron & Kyrie are otherworldly, but they are surrounded by a very inconsistent supporting cast. J.R. Smith scored 25 last night, but had 3 points combined in the first two games. Kevin Love -- the supposed third member of the Big 3 -- had 6 points last night. Tristan Thompson had a good game last night, but did next to nothing the first three games of the series. Those are the other three starters, and that's pretty much what you can expect from each of those guys: good players who will never be consistently great. And that simply will not fly when matched up against Golden State. You better come loaded, and you better have some production coming off the bench to match them (also something Cleveland did not have).
But don't take my word for it. In case you haven't seen, the Warriors are -200 to take it down next year. That is the highest favorite ever.......any team, any sport.
you'll never be able to outrun a bad diet
g27 - you pointed out what I was saying. They (Cavs) have the players. They need to get more consistant and play better all the time. They need a top coach. To me their coach is just a bystander on the floor.
It's hard to match up against the Warriors....especially after they added KD. And when they are all hitting those 3's they can't be beat. But game 4 showed that you can't hit those 3's EVERY game.....if they did they would go 82-0!
I'd like to chime in on this dynasty talk. The Warriors have won 2 of 3, against the same opponent; being the same opponent takes nothing away from their accomplishment. What does take away, IMO, is the caliber of play league wide over the course of 82 games.
The teams that GS, CLE, BOS, HOU, etc are playing (even the #8 seeds) are not the same quality as they were in the 90s. Take a look back at the stiff competition from 1-8 from 1993-98 or so. Nobody that knew they wouldn't make the playoffs would phone it in, they played until the clock stopped on game #82. Maybe I'm just griping, but things seem quite watered down in my opinion. Congrats to both teams once again this year....
lol.
They have players, but they do not have the players. Of course they need to be more consistent and play well all the time.
If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we'd all have a Merry Christmas. The point is that they're not good enough, Dimeman. Good enough to get to the Finals? Yes. Because the Eastern Conference is abysmal. Good enough to beat Golden State as currently constructed? No way in living hell.
One of two things are going to happen this off-season. The Cavs are a) going to shake things up, or b) proceed without any significant roster changes (i.e., the starting lineup remaining the same). If it's b), pop this thread at the beginning of next season and I will gladly pad your PayPal account to the tune of $100.
you'll never be able to outrun a bad diet
I totally agree. Back then the East was like the West is now. When the Bulls made their 3-peats twice in the 90's they had to go thru teams like the Nicks, Celtics, Pistons, Pacers and both the Florida teams.
While 2 out of 3 is good lets wait and see what the future holds before we start talking Dynasty.
To me there have been 3 Dynasty teams. The Celtics....what they did will never be repeated. The Bulls....... their 2 3-peats will probably never be broken. And the Lakers.
the Golden State Warrior TEAM is better than the Cleveland Cavaliers TEAM but I don't really think there is much difference in the starting five, the Cavs may even have the edge. the Warriors have much better options when it comes to substitutions, that is why they have won and why they dominate their opponents.
Cleveland needs to improve their bench and their options to match opponents when they need to either hold a lead or close when trailing. the starters need to rest and having Deron Williams, Kyle Korver and Richard Jefferson on the floor at the same time during the critical fourth quarter in a close-out game doesn't cut it.
now, to the really good stuff......................bronco, you are either stupid, ignorant of the game, just hate Lebron James or are being sarcastic. if you watched the series you would understand that Lebron James is everything but an extinct species, he still does what no player in the history of the NBA has been able to do. you can most likely bring up that he is 3-5 in a Team series, but he does everything and more in every game he's in. I know you will laugh, but the argument could be made that he was every bit the MVP that Kevin Durant was, he just happened to be on the losing Team. the unwritten rule prevents that from happening.
if you look at the stat sheet for game five it is slightly tilted towards James as is the fact that he averaged a triple-double for the series. Kevin Durant's play will be what everyone remembers, though.
I have watched pro basketball since the late 1960's to the present (ABA and NBA). In every decade since the 1960's there have been teams that stand out and above their peers. The same thing probably happened in the 1950's on back to the 1920's when pro leagues got started.
There have been and always will be discussions about which era's teams could beat and would beat other era's teams. There will always be discussions about which of the top players from each era are "the best". It all makes sports a more enjoyable experience to have these discussions.
For me, some of my absolute favorite players and teams were those from the 1960's, 1970's and 1980's because that was when I was most interested in pro hoops. My eldest son is 26 and he is a hoops fans. For him the MJ teams from the 1990's are ones he reads about. His interest in hoops and the NBA dates primarily from the 2000's forward.
I was being mostly sarcastic , I do feel like he is the most talented player in the league. I wonder though if the style of play might be moving away from what he does towards what golden state is doing. Is golden state the NBA version of what the Patriots do in the NFL ?
I don't think there is any arguement that James is the best player in the NBA right now. And yes...the MVP always goes to a player on the winning team. And usually the player with the best stats is on the winning team. Key word is usually.
I really think that if James wanted to and the game plan was for him to do it.........he could probably score 100 points in a game. But he really is a team player and one of the best passers around.
the game has evolved into a three point shooting game and the two Teams we just watched are two of the best at it. I much prefer the game in the paint and the little 15' pull up jumpers to a game of shooting threes. in that regard I am a dinosaur. I prefer to watch the style of play from Irving over Curry and how Green and Iguadala did the alley-oop a few times.
An interesting aspect of last nights game is that Curry scored the bulk of his points on drives to the basket (like Irving) and free throws. He did not shoot from the perimeter last night as he has done in prior games during this year's playoffs.
James could, if he chose to do so, score 50+ per game.
So also could Durant and Westbrook and Hardin and Curry, etc. So could have Kobe, MJ and others. Doing so would not always produce a winning record and playoff success.
I learned this morning that the parade for the Warriors is going to take place on Thursday in Oakland, starting at Lake Merritt, next to the Alameda County Superior Court. I had a court hearing scheduled in that court for Thursday afternoon. This morning the judge contacted all attorneys and advised that the hearing is being advanced to tomorrow because the Presiding Judge of the court has decided that the court will close tomorrow due to the parade.
Now you're speaking sensibly. This was a very sick dime.
nba.com/video/2017/06/12/0041600405-vo-cle-thompson-alley-oop-q3
you'll never be able to outrun a bad diet
James will demand change and will get it. Lots of change. They need additional guard help for starters and Korver, Smith and Jefferson all need to go. The game has passed them by.
mark
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
I can agree that Jefferson has reached the end of the line, but Korver and James are OK as long as they are used correctly. that means that they should alternate and never be on the court at the same time. Deron Williams and Channing Frye will probably be gone, also.
one thing that is NEVER mentioned about this season with Cleveland is the injuries which affected a large part of the season, the run-up leading to the playoffs and the playoffs altogether. Kevin Love and JR Smith both missed time mid-season but the biggest injuries were to players that most fans don't even know the Cavs had, I think there were three of them. to be honest, I can't recall the names of two!!! one was injured and done for the season so Cleveland signed Andrew Bogut --- he actually played in one game...................for 59 seconds before he was injured and done for the season. his replacement suffered a broken hand, I believe it was during practice while the Cavs waited for Raptors to complete their series.
those guys were all Centers, but the player who was hurt by that was Kevin Love.
the reasoning for signing a Center was obvious, to give a good substitute for Tristan Thompson to rest. the way things worked out with the injuries meant that whenever Thompson rested the Cavs actually had to substitute for Love, he moved over and played Center. that created problems because the Team suffered horribly whenever both guys were off the floor.
I am not complaining because I accept injuries as a major part of all sports and a key to success. to that end, Golden State has been fortunate. they have had injuries such as the one to Durant and I know Iguadala was hurt, but their opponents have seen some major players go down in the playoffs. in 2015 it was the Cavs without Love and Irving and this year it was San Antonia without Leonard. that really changes things.
healthy Teams in any sport tend to have the advantage, especially when the key guys go down.