OT: NBA Finals

[TasteofUConn]

But David Lee might be the guy who changes the series - with Cleveland's offense as stale as it is, this is one of the times where you can play him and survive his defensive shortcomings.

I have to admit, I'm a bit ashamed of myself for buying the hype that Blatt was not a good coach because of the TO mistake and the LeBron inbounds mistake in Chicago. Guy is flat out getting it done with an undermanned team. He's going to have 2 days to prepare for the "David Lee" variation. I've got a hunch that David Lee won't be as effective next game as he was this game.

 

[TasteofUConn]

Much like Memphis, I suspect one early-game avalanche from Golden State might be enough to hold them down for the rest of the game.

LeBron.

 

[Kitaman]

Two favorite plays of the game:
1. Green grabs a fistfull of shirt of Cavs player. Holds on for about 4 or 5 seconds, attempting to control the man. Whistle blown. Guy goes nuts. What? Dude, you had a commando grip on his shirt, why are you screaming at the refs.
2. Curry, going through 3 screens and around 3 or 4 Cavs to hit an impossible, crazy 3 to bring it to, three I think, with under a minute. If his mental game ever catches up to his shooting, he'll be the best scorer ever. He was clearly rattled early, and Deli was eating his lunch, but he clearly settled in late and looked unstoppable. If he can start game 4 the way he ended game 3, GS will be tough to beat.

Cavs need game 4. If the GSWs tie it back up to regain home court, the Cavs will have a hell of a time winning another one in GS.

People are putting too much emphasis on "if LeBron pulls this off, then he will be . . . ." People, he already is. The guy is single handedly keeping his team in these games. At the end, his teammates were screwing up left and right and he just stepped in and made it happen. Big shot after big shot. Couple of huge blocks tonight. Guy is in the conversation for best ever, if he never played another game, and I have no idea how he's not a consensus top 2 right now. Power dunk on baseline drive? Check. Blowby on first play of game for easy lay in? Check. Pressure 3 from deep late in game? Check. Cross court pass to Shumpert that no other player could have made? Check. Clutch free throws down the stretch? Check. Guy is the Mozart of basketball.

All those pressure end of game free throws he made trumps the other stuff. Ball is always in his hands so if he misses GSW could have stolen game 3. Just unreal.

 

[4in16]

Im rooting for Lebron its a lot easier to root for him when he's not on the Heat, I like GS and wouldn't mind if they won either, glad its a good series thus far, hope it continues.

Couldn't have said it better myself, his numbers are ridiculous. Single handedly willing Cleveland to the title at this point but if GS wins I've got no problem seeing that either.

 

[James]

i really think green and barnes are toast. and if thats the case, this series is over. 83% of the time the winner of game 3 wins the series...

 

[superjohn]

Maybe I'm the sort that doesn't call 911 until the house has already burned down, but I still think Golden State is going to win this series, probably in six.

To me, Steve Kerr has been outcoached in this series...but I think he figured something out towards the end of game three. So many of Golden States' possessions early in the game seemed to devolve into Curry and Thompson running around in circles trying to free themselves, but as I watched, I couldn't help but feel all they really needed to do was simplify their offense. Even though Curry ball screens haven't yielded as many points as they would have desired so far in this series, I'm still pretty comfortable with the process, and I think the corresponding results are inevitable.

Cleveland's switch-happy defense has forced Golden State into more isolation than they're comfortable with, and their rotations, for the most part, have been on point. But David Lee might be the guy who changes the series - with Cleveland's offense as stale as it is, this is one of the times where you can play him and survive his defensive shortcomings. Cleveland can't switch the 1-5 pick-and-roll with Lee in the game like they could with Bogut or even Ezeli, and he seems a lot more comfortable making reads in the middle of the court than even Green.

Ball movement is imperative to the success of Golden State in the way it is not for Cleveland, and the fact that this series feels like it has been played in a phone booth clearly benefits the Cavs. In a sense, Golden State's commitment to all of their endless pin-downs and curl screens are counter-productive because it creates an environment in which the ball is stationary while the other chess pieces move frenetically.

An other thing...we haven't seen Cleveland play from behind yet. Much like Memphis, I suspect one early-game avalanche from Golden State might be enough to hold them down for the rest of the game.

Great analysis, I'm just not sure Warriors are going to be able to play at their pace and get a big lead, seems the only way it happens is if Kerr goes small and plays Lee more minutes. Totally agree on David Lee, I've never understood why he doesn't play. He has his defensive shortcomings but he's a very good offensive player who makes quick decisions on scoring and passing and he's probably the best rebounder on the team.

 

[TasteofUConn]

i really think green and barnes are toast. and if thats the case, this series is over. 83% of the time the winner of game 3 wins the series...

Is that true? 83%? That's bizarre.
On a side note, the series was over when Irving went down. But it wasn't.
This one won't be over until the buzzer sounds to end the game and one team has 4 wins. Not a moment before. If I was Blatt and we were up 20 with 5 to play my exact instructions would be: "play like the game is tied, because 20 to these guys in 5 minutes is completely doable. And Shump - don't throw 'n ball to a Warrior without one of our guys being within 10 feet, please."

 

[champs99and04]

One other thing, I haven't quite understood Golden State's insistence on switching/fighting over LeBron ball screens. He's been brilliant in this series, but clearly he isn't comfortable with his jump shot, and yet you get the sense he can get a switch against Livingston or Curry whenever he wants it.

I would be inclined to take the Pop approach and slide under.

 

[johnhuskies95]

The Warriors have led for 13 minutes in the entire series. This hasn't been particularly close. I don't think the Warriors are just going to flip a switch and jump on the Cavs.

Edit: seen conflicting information that it may be 27 minutes. Either way, the Cavs are really outplaying the Warriors right now, probably more than the Grizzlies did through 3 games.

 

[aceboon]

Why has Lee been benched all season? Mo Speights isn't even in the same league as him as a player and outside of Draymond the rest of the frontline is offensively anemic.

Injured early, although Kerr wanted to start Draymond at the 4 anyway and the injury made the transition easier. Surprised that Speights moved ahead of him in the rotation to stay tho, a better defender than Lee but not by much, he's mediocre to sub par in that area.

 

[TasteofUConn]

The Warriors have led for 13 minutes in the entire series. This hasn't been particularly close. I don't think the Warriors are just going to flip a switch and jump on the Cavs.

Well, it's hard to know.
Is the Cavs' D just that good?
Will the Cavs tire out?
Are the Ws just cold? Can they snap out of it?

I don't really have a feel for it, but Game 4 is huge. If the Cavs win, gotta favor them winning in 6 at home. If they lose, they may have shot their load, and the GSWs have a much easier road holding serve. Cavs seriously need JR or Shump or James Jones to hit 3 or 4 threes on Thursday. Also, need to rebottle Curry - just gotta make somebody else beat you. Down the stretch there, it probably would have made sense to foul him and put him on the line for 2 rather than let him take 2 more dribbles and shoot the contested 3 - as insane as that sounds.

 

[SallyH]

Last thing we need is Cleveland winning a title in anything, f' that ty city and their fair weather fan base.

Fair weather fan base? Have you spent any time in Cleveland? Who the hell are you to tell anybody f' anything. You prefer the warriors, great, cheer your team on, no need to trash another team of it's fan base.

 

[TasteofUConn]

Fair weather fan base? Have you spent any time in Cleveland? Who the hell are you to tell anybody f' anything. You prefer the warriors, great, cheer your team on, no need to trash another team of it's fan base.

Sally is right - I live in NW PA and the Browns fans here are devoted lifers. Good fans.

 

[lange10]

Lebron smells blood. This time around is different - he realizes it's his legacy series and he cares very much about that. It's over. Cavs in 6

 

[superjohn]

Fair weather fan base? Have you spent any time in Cleveland? Who the hell are you to tell anybody f' anything. You prefer the warriors, great, cheer your team on, no need to trash another team of it's fan base.

He's probably referring to fans burning Lebron's jersey and cursing his name only to be worshipping at his feet a few years later.

 

[kyleslamb]

But the fatigue is starting to show. All conventional wisdom says GS should win, but convention didn't account for the best player in the world.

What fatigue? Did Cleveland not just win a game leading from start to finish -- all 48 minutes?

That didn't look like a tired team to me.

 

[J187Money]

I'm really hoping for Cavs in 5. I'm in Cleveland next week.

 

[Kembacity]

Never been a huge LeBron fan but how can you not root for him in this series? He deserves it.

because you don't want him to win, like me.

I wanted a refreshing finals without any of the teams weve seen year after year, or the players we see year after year. If it weren't for Lebron being there I would have gotten my wish. I hate that the injuries put Lebron into the perfect situation for him. The odds are stacked against him, he's down 2 Allstar caliber teammates, so now, if they lose... big deal, the odds were so against them, what could the fans expect. If they win? well then clearly Lebron is the most amazing athlete of any sport of any era forever, and don't think he will ever let anyone forget that.

I can be more accepting of him winning again now that it has this sort of UConn esque team defense + 1 great offensive player can = a championship

 

[boba]

I'm really hoping for Cavs in 5. I'm in Cleveland next week.

Wouldn't you want it to be the Cav's in 6 so that you are up close and personal to a riot?
As a friend from Ohio always tell me - the smartest people you'll ever meet are from Ohio, because they woke up one morning, realized they were in Ohio, and promptly left.

 

[TasteofUConn]

If they win? well then clearly Lebron is the most amazing athlete of any sport of any era forever, and don't think he will ever let anyone forget that.

If he does, I'll be sure to remind them.
For being a top candidate for "greatest athlete on the planet," the guy is remarkably humble.

 

[CallMeBruce]

If he does, I'll be sure to remind them.
For being a top candidate for "greatest athlete on the planet," the guy is remarkably humble.

No he's arrogant because... reasons.

I've stopped trying to defend LeBron to people who seem hell-bound to hate him. I've found that most of them are Boston sports fans, who are all deranged and come up with excuses to hate every player who is better than their players. But if you're going to hate a generational, all-time, pantheon-level talent like LeBron, what's the point of even being a sports fan? LeBron is among the players I'm most looking forward to telling my kids I saw play.

 

[Kembacity]

No he's arrogant because... reasons.

I've stopped trying to defend LeBron to people who seem hell-bound to hate him. I've found that most of them are Boston sports fans, who are all deranged and come up with excuses to hate every player who is better than their players. But if you're going to hate a generational, all-time, pantheon-level talent like LeBron, what's the point of even being a sports fan? LeBron is among the players I'm most looking forward to telling my kids I saw play.

#1 Thing to me that makes him difficult to respect is the flopping.

He has DEFINITELY toned it way down in that regard, but as recently as a couple of seasons back, he was by far the #1 star caliber player who was flopping, and he repeatedly doubled down on the claim that he HAD NEVER FLOPPED!

When you're going to flop on every play, and you're already getting the calls your way, and then have the nerve to come out and complain about people flopping as you plow through guys 50 lbs lighter and proceed to whine to the zebras for whistles, you deserve no ones respect

 

[CallMeBruce]

#1 Thing to me that makes him difficult to respect is the flopping.

He has DEFINITELY toned it way down in that regard, but as recently as a couple of seasons back, he was by far the #1 star caliber player who was flopping, and he repeatedly doubled down on the claim that he HAD NEVER FLOPPED!

When you're going to flop on every play, and you're already getting the calls your way, and then have the nerve to come out and complain about people flopping as you plow through guys 50 lbs lighter and proceed to whine to the zebras for whistles, you deserve no ones respect

Listen, I don't really care if you like him or not, so whatever you need to tell yourself to justify it, go ahead.

 

[TasteofUConn]

If the Cavs win game 4, they should rest LeBron and Delly for all of game 5.

 

[bear]

Listen, I don't really care if you like him or not, so whatever you need to tell yourself to justify it, go ahead.

I lump Lebron haters in with 9/11 conspiracy theorists and "we never landed on the moon" people.

 

[Matt1010]

If the Cavs win game 4, they should rest LeBron and Delly for all of game 5.

This is INSANE! That is absolutely never going to happen.

 

[FartMan69]

How can Clevelanders be considered "fair weather fans" when the weather hasn't been fair in 50 years? They deserve this

 

[Kembacity]

Listen, I don't really care if you like him or not, so whatever you need to tell yourself to justify it, go ahead.

Sure, and I don't care if.... just kidding, I literally can't understand how any sports fan can overlook the flopping and incessant denial that he has ever flopped. Very talented athlete and basketball player, so talented that the fact that he cuts corners and still has the audacity to whine about any little thing he can come up with drags him down down down as a "Superstar"

 

[Kitaman]

How can Clevelanders be considered "fair weather fans" when the weather hasn't been fair in 50 years? They deserve this

So true, many Clevelan fans have never experienced that Championship feeling!

According to wikipedia:

The Cleveland sports curse is an ongoing sports superstition involving the city of Cleveland, and all of its professional sports teams.

Cleveland has three major sports teams: the Browns of the National Football League, the Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association, and Major League Baseball's Indians. The city's teams have endured an unprecedented combined 156-season championship drought, having not won a title since 1964, when the Browns won the NFL Championship Game, two seasons prior to the first Super Bowl.

 

[Inyatkin]

Sure, and I don't care if.... just kidding, I literally can't understand how any sports fan can overlook the flopping and incessant denial that he has ever flopped. Very talented athlete and basketball player, so talented that the fact that he cuts corners and still has the audacity to whine about any little thing he can come up with drags him down down down as a "Superstar"

This is one of the worst defenses of anti-LeBronism I've ever heard. At least be mad about The Decision or something.