NBA Playoffs

[Dogdeacon]

I'm with this.

The two mitigating factors in ascending order:
2. Warriors were disinterested all year, I think they'll be motivated to make a statement and annihilate the weaker Cavs. But they could get bored with that after 1 or 2 games or even been undone by going in knowledge that they are vastly superior & able to coast and still win - if somehow their 3rd quarter onslaught shoots blanks they could lose any game.
1. NBA conspiracy theory. League lost a ton of money on shortened playoffs last year. Voila - 2 x 7 game conference finals. Not sure what the money is for every additional finals game, but if it significantly moves the league-wide revenue share look for extreme home cooking officiating in Cleveland and 2+-to-1 foul discrepancy.

 

[superjohn]

I think what will likely be exposed as true is that IF the Celtics can almost win the East while missing 2 stars the east stinks. Warriors in 4

The East is terrible but this Warriors team isn't a vintage team. They are without Iggy and lacking any rim protection and quality depth they used to have. You just can't be that jekyll and hyde and loosey goosey if you expect to sweep against anyone in the finals.

 

[tzznandrew]

The East is terrible but this Warriors team isn't a vintage team. They are without Iggy and lacking any rim protection and quality depth they used to have. You just can't be that jekyll and hyde and loosey goosey if you expect to sweep against anyone in the finals.

I don't think they'll sweep. But they weren't really Jekyll/Hyde. Look at what they did to NO and SA. They went 7 with a 65 win team.

 

[Rocktheworld]

The East is terrible but this Warriors team isn't a vintage team. They are without Iggy and lacking any rim protection and quality depth they used to have. You just can't be that jekyll and hyde and loosey goosey if you expect to sweep against anyone in the finals.

OMG they’re down to just two MVPs and four HOFers. What ever will they do without their fifth-best player? After all, Cleveland is only missing their second-best player!

If this ends in anything more than a gentleman’s sweep they should be embarrassed

 

[superjohn]

I don't think they'll sweep. But they weren't really Jekyll/Hyde. Look at what they did to NO and SA. They went 7 with a 65 win team.

They are absolutely Jekyll and Hyde, Kerr and a couple of the players have even said as much. They've been great in third quarters, last year they were great the whole game going 16-1 in the playoffs.

 

[superjohn]

OMG they’re down to just two MVPs and four HOFers. What ever will they do without their fifth-best player? After all, Cleveland is only missing their second-best player!

If this ends in anything more than a gentleman’s sweep they should be embarrassed

Amazing analysis.

 

[Rocktheworld]

Amazing analysis.

The guy who won Finals MVP by "holding" LeBron to 35/12/10. Huge loss. What ever will the Warriors do on the defensive end.

 

[tzznandrew]

They are absolutely Jekyll and Hyde, Kerr and a couple of the players have even said as much. They've been great in third quarters, last year they were great the whole game going 16-1 in the playoffs.

They beat SA 4-1 by an average margin of 8.8
Then they beat NO 4-1 by an average margin of 8.6

They basically housed two teams about equivalent to the Cavs record-wise. They have an on/off switch, but the bad isn't bad, as it is, say, for the Cavs.

 

[auror]

They beat SA 4-1 by an average margin of 8.8
Then they beat NO 4-1 by an average margin of 8.6

They basically housed two teams about equivalent to the Cavs record-wise. They have an on/off switch, but the bad isn't bad, as it is, say, for the Cavs.

I'm not convinced the Cavs are better than the Pelicans even with Love (especially considering how Mirotic played)

LeBron > ADavis
Hill << Holiday
Love > Mirotic
JR < Playoff Rondo
Thompson > Moore

3 > to 3 <.

 

[intlzncster]

Iguodala might not be gone for the whole series anyway. He says he's close.

 

[EBonz30]

I expect the Warriors to win in 5. If the series goes 6 to me it would feel like the Cavs won the series, that’s how one sided this matchup is.

If somehow the series ever went 7, I could see this NBA Finals battle the 1998 NBA Finals as the highest rated Final on TV in NBA history. LeBron is MUST SEE TV right now and is the closest thing to MJ. On the other hand I could see this be a sweep and be one of the worst rated NBA Finals & unfortunately I see the lather to be the more likely event to happen.

 

[champs99and04]

The guy who won Finals MVP by "holding" LeBron to 35/12/10. Huge loss. What ever will the Warriors do on the defensive end.

You should try looking at some of the available data regarding how LeBron has fared against Iguodala compared to everyone else.

 

[Rocktheworld]

You should try looking at some of the available data regarding how LeBron has fared against Iguodala compared to everyone else.

How big a points/rebounds/assists difference did he make? Pretty sure LeBron shot over 55% for the series; how much more effective would he have been without Iguodala?

 

[Scoe]

This is what the Cavs will need a beat up GSW team the Iguodala injury is big and if Thompson is hurt it could get a little interesting.

 

[Scoe]

So many open 3's for the Cavs gotta hit those.

 

[Robertelamin]

Wow Steph

 

[Rocktheworld]

Man Philly has the worst fans but GSW fans (SF/Oakland fans are notoriously bad in general) can't be far behind. Booing JR after clearly inadvertently slipping in to Thompson, which may be one of the richest things ever; then boo LeBron after he gets raked across the face and eye. I like most of the GSW players but man when this run of their is over I hope that franchise is in the abyss forever.

 

[champs99and04]

How big a points/rebounds/assists difference did he make? Pretty sure LeBron shot over 55% for the series; how much more effective would he have been without Iguodala?

The thing about today's NBA is that you can pretty much get a switch whenever you want, which kind of negates the idea of an individual 'stopper' anyway.

But the Warriors as a whole are a lot better with Iguodala. And yes, they should win this series easily with or without him. If it was going to matter it was last round.

 

[Scoe]

The series will end for Cleveland in 3, 2, 1...

 

[Scoe]

Something about GS this year just seems off so I think Lebron (yes I meant Lebron) can make this a 6 game series.

 

[Rocktheworld]

Damn that was an interesting graphic they had where they had shooting percentages for all 5 offensive players based on where they are on the floor, changing by the step as the play unfolded

 

[Rocktheworld]

lol KD gives up the ball instead of backing down George Hill (who is holding 3 fouls) on the low block/baseline

Soft as Charmin

 

[intlzncster]

Man Philly has the worst fans but GSW fans (SF/Oakland fans are notoriously bad in general) can't be far behind. Booing JR after clearly inadvertently slipping in to Thompson, which may be one of the richest things ever; then boo LeBron after he gets raked across the face and eye. I like most of the GSW players but man when this run of their is over I hope that franchise is in the abyss forever.

Don't forget all the silicon valley band wagon dooshes.

 

[Rocktheworld]

Don't forget all the silicon valley band wagon dooshes.

Honestly those are the ones who fill Oracle. And of course they don't know the first thing about basketball. Hence the behavior we see

Oakland trash can't afford Warriors tickets

 

[superjohn]

JaVale has his best couple of minutes of the season and then follows it up with an all-time Shaqtin' the fool moment.