OT: Draymond Green suspended for Game 5

[superjohn]

Sound a little like ayesha curry there. Curry throwing his mouth guard at dan Gilbert's son was scripted? Gsw had plenty of chances to cut it to 6-8 couldn't stop bron

Not suspending Green when he should have been suspended for teeing off on Adams nuts because they wanted the Warriors to advance, suspending Green for that nonsensical stuff with Lebron because they want the series extended. This is nothing new, Phoenix Suns got screwed out of a finals appearance and Kings got jobbed by the refs against the Lakers. Lebron has been killing it and deserved all the kudos, I just wish the NBA was more on the up and up.

 

[kcc1442]

Like I said LeBron would have to be incredible to win...

As Warriors made their run in the 4th, the King only scores 18 straight points...

Finishes it with...

41 points 11 ass 8 REB 4 stl 3 blk 1 TO

What a performance!!

Can he give us one more??

I'll be on the edge of my seat...

Responding to your own hedged bet prediction huh. Couldn't be wrong with that one. LeBron was incredible so post his stats to prove your point. Yet you stated GS is the MUCH better team and it was over. Better to try and forget those posts than rehash them.

 

[Scoe]

This a weird series excitement as far as legacies and story lines, but uneventful blowouts.

 

[EBonz30]

Responding to your own hedged bet prediction huh. Couldn't be wrong with that one. LeBron was incredible so post his stats to prove your point. Yet you stated GS is the MUCH better team and it was over. Better to try and forget those posts than rehash them.

Never said it was OVER (guys love to put extra words in my posts), yes Warriors are better, but it is basketball and 1 player can change the outcome of the game more than any other sport, only other sport that is near is the Quarterback position in the NFL.

If James is going to play like one of the greatest ever the Cavs have a shot to win like I stated from day 1 and from the start of the series.

 

[superjohn]

Losing a lot of respect for Kerr's coaching. How does Mo Buckets get no time? I could understand it if you had some good bigs but when your bigs are Ezeli and Verajao it's inexcusable. Speights is pretty bad on D but he can at least fill it up on offense. Ezeli and Verajao give you nothing and when you always have one of them on the court along with Barnes, you only have three players who contribute. At a minimum Speigrs at least brings Tristan Thompson out of the paint where he has been killing the Warriors.

 

[BUConn10]

All hail LBJ

 

[UChusky916]

Crazy for me to say, but I don't think Love should see more than 10 minutes in Game 7. You got guys with literally twice as many years in the league (Jefferson) offering more on both sides. GSW smaller lineup is built to exploit players like him.

Love picking up 2 fouls in the first 90 seconds tonight was a blessing in disguise for the Cavs. Jefferson seems like a more natural fit and your comment about 'both sides' is so true... he's WAY better defensively for the Cavs than Love is.

 

[James]

Klay thompson walking off the court early, hilarious. GSW are a bunch of brats.

 

[3rdbass]

Yep him and curry seem like entitled brats but lbj is a cry baby so. Guess it evens out. Lol

 

[superjohn]

Klay thompson walking off the court early, hilarious. GSW are a bunch of brats.

Like Lebron hasn't done that several times, he's even done it at the end of series not shaking hands with the other team.

 

[James]

Like Lebron hasn't done that several times, he's even done it at the end of series not shaking hands with the other team.

the game was still going on there was time on the clock superjohn, lebron has never done that. its utterly classless. You could hear MJax stunned when they cut to him walking away.

edit : i guess he did do it 2006, i stand corrected

 

[champs99and04]

Just when I thought LeBron was descending to something less than he was in the Miami years, he submits two of his best playoff performances ever to fend off elimination. It's crazy how he has suddenly been lighting it up from the outside after struggling so badly for the large part of the season - if he brings the jumper one more time, you have to at least feel like you have a shot if you're Cleveland.

It's hard to imagine that the Golden State Warriors - a team some pronounced the best team ever - not only lost, but haven't even really been in it in the fourth quarter two straight times in attempt to clinch the title.

 

[BUConn10]

Just when I thought LeBron was descending to something less than he was in the Miami years, he submits two of his best playoff performances ever to fend off elimination. It's crazy how he has suddenly been lighting it up from the outside after struggling so badly for the large part of the season - if he brings the jumper one more time, you have to at least feel like you have a shot if you're Cleveland.

It's hard to imagine that the Golden State Warriors - a team some pronounced the best team ever - not only lost, but haven't even really been in it in the fourth quarter two straight times in attempt to clinch the title.

He has ALWAYS had that extra gear, but this year he is showing us who the best player in the league really is, "first unanimous MVP" be da-mned.

 

[kyleslamb]

Losing a lot of respect for Kerr's coaching. How does Mo Buckets get no time? I could understand it if you had some good bigs but when your bigs are Ezeli and Verajao it's inexcusable. Speights is pretty bad on D but he can at least fill it up on offense. Ezeli and Verajao give you nothing and when you always have one of them on the court along with Barnes, you only have three players who contribute. At a minimum Speigrs at least brings Tristan Thompson out of the paint where he has been killing the Warriors.

Not trying to be smug, but if you've been paying attention, Thompson has been living outside the paint all series already. The Cavs have been switching screens 1-5 and Thompson has spent more time guarding the perimeter than actually being inside. In fact, the past two games, LeBron has been used more as a rim protector than Thompson has.

Speights hasn't played because last few games he was getting abused on the pick & roll. Yea he can stretch the defense, but right now, Cleveland is already switching everything and having some level of success with it, so Speights doesn't bring anything that the "death" lineup doesn't already do. I will grant you I think he's a better option than Varejao. However, the way he was rocked on switches the other day, I don't blame Kerr for being a bit concerned about putting him out there.

 

[superjohn]

Not trying to be smug, but if you've been paying attention, Thompson has been living outside the paint all series already. The Cavs have been switching screens 1-5 and Thompson has spent more time guarding the perimeter than actually being inside. In fact, the past two games, LeBron has been used more as a rim protector than Thompson has.

Speights hasn't played because last few games he was getting abused on the pick & roll. Yea he can stretch the defense, but right now, Cleveland is already switching everything and having some level of success with it, so Speights doesn't bring anything that the "death" lineup doesn't already do. I will grant you I think he's a better option than Varejao. However, the way he was rocked on switches the other day, I don't blame Kerr for being a bit concerned about putting him out there.

Speights scored more in 1:30 than Barnes, Ezeli and Varejao did combined for the entire game.

 

[kyleslamb]

Speights scored more in 1:30 than Barnes, Ezeli and Varejao did combined for the entire game.

I know. He's definitely a better offensive option than F.E. and A.V., for certain. But how many points is he giving away defensively? I'm guessing a ton. I don't know if he's a net gain.

If Barnes doesn't play better in game 7, it might not matter. They might be in trouble anyhow.

 

[ihatepants]

Lebron now leads both teams in Points, Assists, Rebounds. Blocks and Steals

He also has the best single finals game in at least the last thirty years:

Player        Date        Finals Single GmSc (since 1984)
LeBron James    6/16/2016    42.5   
Tim Duncan    6/4/2003    40.8   
LeBron James    6/13/2016    39.2   
Michael Jordan    6/16/1993    38.9   
Shaquille O'Neal 6/7/2000    37.9   
Charles Barkley    6/11/1993    37   
Michael Jordan    6/3/1992    36.9   
Charles Barkley    6/16/1993    35.6   
Magic Johnson    6/7/1987    35   
James Worthy    6/21/1988    35

If he has a solid G7 he'll have the greatest finals series since at least 1978:

Finals GmSc    Player        Year
183.3        Shaquille O'Neal 2000
177.8        Michael Jordan    1993
170.6        Magic Johnson    1988
169.8        Magic Johnson    1987
165.7        Larry Bird    1984
162.4        LeBron James    2016 ***
157.7        LeBron James    2013
155        Michael Jordan    1992
152.3        Dwyane Wade    2006
147        Hakeem Olajuwon    1994

 

[methodology]

That elite defender Draymond Green did a number on LeBron James last night lol

Meanwhile LeBron ended up with 4 steals and 3 blocks. He has been unquestionably the best player and best defender in this series and it's not close. That's even with his subpar outings

 

[EBonz30]

Someone or something has woke up the KING.

 

[UConn990411]

Someone or something has woke up the KING.

Maybe calling him a crybaby and subtweeting about him before they had the series won wasn't the smartest move in the world.

Not a LeBron fan at all, but when he has his jumper going he's so much fun to watch.

 

[TasteofUConn]

I get the angst about the officiating. It can be brutal. Love had a foul called on him for a block that was almost no contact. In a prior game, guy gives him a concussion from behind with an elbow to the head and there is no call.

Problem is, a call here and a call there can radically affect the game. Take guys out of a rhythm, get guys in early foul trouble. Establish a tone for picks and defending, allow guys to get more free on the outside.

Not claiming conspiracy (but not saying impossible), but any time there is a lot of money on the line, you've got to wonder . . .

It strikes me that the refs get too caught up in the crowd noise and reaction.

We'll see in game 7. Officiating will be crucial. And keep K. Love mostly on the bench. That experiment is over.

 

[lange10]

@kyleslamb that's 2 perfect games in a row for Lebron. You said demanding perfection from a man was ludicrous. While I never said I expected it I said it was most likely needed for the Cavs to win this series and that it was certainly possible because he is just THAT good. A third near perfect game from Lebron (which would likely ensure a victory) will seal his fate as the #2 player of all time and one of the most epic finals performances ever.

 

[Scoe]

Love has to do something for them in game 7 something set picks rebound maybe wipe lebron's ass anything. A war face at least

 

[superjohn]

I crack up every time I think back to Harrison Barnes thinking he's a max contract player.

 

[TasteofUConn]

Like Lebron hasn't done that several times, he's even done it at the end of series not shaking hands with the other team.

When he left Cleveland for Miami, I really, really disliked him. The whole "decision" thing was "look at me" lameness. The take-the-camera when he was dunked on in some clinic was embarrassing. The throwing the talc in the air was stupid.
But since then I've come to the conclusion that the dude has been famous since 8th grade, and, all things considered, he has done a pretty decent job of handling his fame. He seems like a genuinely good person.
Most importantly, I think that he'd be about the same person if he never played basketball again, because I think he views basketball as an unessential part of his life, which is quite the opposite of many sports stars, who live and die by their sport.

Of course, even when I disliked him, I always had massive respect for his game. Best all-around player I've ever seen.

 

[EBonz30]

@kyleslamb that's 2 perfect games in a row for Lebron. You said demanding perfection from a man was ludicrous. While I never said I expected it I said it was most likely needed for the Cavs to win this series and that it was certainly possible because he is just THAT good. A third near perfect game from Lebron (which would likely ensure a victory) will seal his fate as the #2 player of all time and one of the most epic finals performances ever.

I had LeBron in my top 5 of all time coming into the series, if he wins Sunday I will then shift him to top 3 of all time....


I am 30 years old so it is a little difficult to say this guy is better than him or LeBron is better than this guy..

He's definitely the second best player I've ever seen, with Jordan being the best.

 

[superjohn]

When he left Cleveland for Miami, I really, really disliked him. The whole "decision" thing was "look at me" lameness. The take-the-camera when he was dunked on in some clinic was embarrassing. The throwing the talc in the air was stupid.
But since then I've come to the conclusion that the dude has been famous since 8th grade, and, all things considered, he has done a pretty decent job of handling his fame. He seems like a genuinely good person.
Most importantly, I think that he'd be about the same person if he never played basketball again, because I think he views basketball as an unessential part of his life, which is quite the opposite of many sports stars, who live and die by their sport.

Of course, even when I disliked him, I always had massive respect for his game. Best all-around player I've ever seen.

I think he's a good guy and means well but he cares too much about wanting everyone to love him and it often times causes him to put his foot in his mouth when he opens it. There is no denying his immense talent and it would be hard to argue that he's not a top 5 player all-time. I thought he was having a lackluster finals but the last two games he has been epic, if he closes it out Sunday it will go down as one of the all-time performances.

 

[Burnsbros23]

Fouls were 25 to 25 last night. More fouls were called on the cavs the previous two games. The NBA is rigged stuff is nonsense. They can't make shots for Kyrie or Lebron.

You hit two guys in the nuts plus other flagrants how can you complain?

I don't think Mo Speights is the solution to their problem.

Harrison Barnes who was tremendous game 1-4. Has completely disappeared and then Igoudala was basically out the second half.

 

[champs99and04]

Some of the calls on Curry were questionable (what bothers me about them is not so much the call themselves, but the fact that they seem predetermined based on the result; they weren't going to call the foul on Steph until Irving lost the ball, and they weren't going to call the sixth until LeBron flopped), but for the most part, he has been his own worst enemy by playing recklessly defensively.

I haven't loved Golden State's coverage of pick-and-rolls. If you can't switch with Irving, you're better off trapping. If you soft hedge...he's hard to stop when he gets a head of steam going to the basket. I don't feel like Green played a good game last night - maybe the flagrant foul stuff was in his head, I don't know. If LeBron's going to drill some of the jumpers he hit last night, I'm not sure what you do, but Golden State has been far from schematically sound in recent games.

And as I say from my couch every night, Cleveland shouldn't be able to guard Golden State when they play Draymond at the five. It feels like they might be over-complicating things a little, and perhaps they're a bit spooked by some of the things LeBron and Thompson can do switching onto Steph. I still say, though, that if you spread them out and put the ball in Steph's hands, you should be fine (one assist last night from Steph is baffling).

 

[James]

@champs99and04 Yeah the problem is lebron has stepped up and completely turned draymond into a zero in this series. TT is a very versatile 'screen' and 'outside the paint' defender, so essentially lebron is playing center in CLE most effective lineup. Turning draymond into a below average player makes the splash bros job that much more difficult. If iggy is still hobbled, and Kerr is forced to use green on lebron, I really like CLE chances.