Curry was awful no matter who was guarding him, it will be interesting to see what happens with "delly" and curry tonight.
NBA Finals thread
- Thread starter OrlandNole
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James is just amazing. Delly is a beast. Guy has tremendous heart. Curry got it going after the cavs got tired. Wonder if they just wear out with so few healthy players left.
Cavs let another big lead go but great finish.
Blatt better never have Thompson guard curry for 3 minutes again in the 4th, what was he thinking!
Tremendous effort by the cavs gotta do it again Thursday.
Blatt better never have Thompson guard curry for 3 minutes again in the 4th, what was he thinking!
Tremendous effort by the cavs gotta do it again Thursday.
Lebron was clutch at the line. 10-12. That was huge.
He continues to shoot a horrible % from the floor, but as long as the Cavs win, I guess that stat doesn't matter.
He continues to shoot a horrible % from the floor, but as long as the Cavs win, I guess that stat doesn't matter.
I'm still not sure how that slide tackle that Lebron put on Curry was not called a foul late in the fourth. There has been some questionable calls, but allowing a slide tackle. That was awful.
This Cavs team must be the team of destiny because this entire season and especially the playoff run completely breaks all the rules. It would be hard to believe if you watched it as a movie.
Best player in the league decides to come home and lead the City that hasn't won a championship in decades to the promised time for the first time for the franchise. New team with new players, including some questionable trades (Wiggins for Love was not what many thought it'd be). The team gets off to a slow start, but finishes strong. First round, they lose Kevin Love. The band of misfits keep finding ways to step up and contribute, most notably JR Smith, Matthew Dellavedova, and Tim Mozgov. Round after the round, the team seems to only get better, ultimately squaring off with the #1 team in the league and the reigning MVP in Steph Curry. Once in the finals, they lose their 2nd best player in Kyrie Irving in a heart-breaking OT loss in game 1 of the finals. counted out by most to potentially get swept now, the team battles back behind huge support from role players on the team and find a way to win games 2 and 3.
Haters of Lebron are going to have a hard time swallowing this one if the Cavs pull it off. There's not much else to say at this point, he didn't have a "big 3" to go to and he played arguably the best team in the league with Golden State.
I haven't been a "fan" of Lebron since the pep rally/announcement, but him going back to Cleveland softened things a lot. This playoffs run has continued that. I don't like a lot of his antics and dramatics, but there is no denying how good he is and has been.
Best player in the league decides to come home and lead the City that hasn't won a championship in decades to the promised time for the first time for the franchise. New team with new players, including some questionable trades (Wiggins for Love was not what many thought it'd be). The team gets off to a slow start, but finishes strong. First round, they lose Kevin Love. The band of misfits keep finding ways to step up and contribute, most notably JR Smith, Matthew Dellavedova, and Tim Mozgov. Round after the round, the team seems to only get better, ultimately squaring off with the #1 team in the league and the reigning MVP in Steph Curry. Once in the finals, they lose their 2nd best player in Kyrie Irving in a heart-breaking OT loss in game 1 of the finals. counted out by most to potentially get swept now, the team battles back behind huge support from role players on the team and find a way to win games 2 and 3.
Haters of Lebron are going to have a hard time swallowing this one if the Cavs pull it off. There's not much else to say at this point, he didn't have a "big 3" to go to and he played arguably the best team in the league with Golden State.
I haven't been a "fan" of Lebron since the pep rally/announcement, but him going back to Cleveland softened things a lot. This playoffs run has continued that. I don't like a lot of his antics and dramatics, but there is no denying how good he is and has been.
Every finals team since Lebron originally left Cleveland has had one of those unexpected guys that saved it for the finals.
Last year it was Patty Mills
Year before that it was Ray Allen/Mike Miller (would have been Danny Green that year if the Spurs won)
Year before that it was Mario Chalmers
Before that was JJ Barea
This year it is certainly Matthew Dellavedova, gutty performance game after game and really been all playoffs long.
This is a different Warriors team compared to the one that played the Rockets. They seem timid. Curry finally goes off in the fourth, but has just had a terrible shooting % since falling on his head. Bogut looks like he doesn't want to be posterized [sic], there was a play in the fourth where he needed to put Lebron on his butt but did a wimpy jump a swipe. They need to find toughness somewhere.
I think they may have found it in David Lee. That guy has been in hibernation all playoffs and sparked the team to rallying in the 4th. Was surprised Kerr pulled him when he did, but Lee was probably gassed from having played only sparingly this playoffs. Should see much more of him in the next game.
You echo my sentiments. Since he left the Heat I have more appreciation for his play. Incredible to watch.
I think it's the Heat fan effect also known as, UM fan or Marlins fans. It's tough to root for someone when a fan base is jus awful. I've moved w/in earshot of their radio broadcast and the fan base down here is sad in regards to Lebron James.
Possibly....he's been DNPCD since the start of the finals. Thursday's game will be pivotal. I have missed large chunks of the playoffs because of work and watching the Astros with Corea coming up...Thursday is an open night....looking forward to it.
Yeah, David Lee is a nice change of pace spark for them but I think Kerr pulled him b/c he doesn't bring what D. Green brings and that's pulling guys out of the paint. I think it's kind of a dumb move b/c Lee can pull guys 15-18 feet away for mid range jumpers but not create bigger lanes. We might see D. Green, Lee and the normal starting line up (Barnes, Curry and Klay) but I think Mozgahv and Triston would murder that front line for extra possessions.
I honestly think that if the Warriors play with fire and match the intensity that the Cavs had (diving on the ground, diving out of bounds, hustle plays), they could easily win this series. I just don't know that in a more finesse league if they have it in them. I see a lot of front runners in the Warriors line up, shimmying when they hit a 3 up 15, not looking at a 3 pointer before it goes in......a lot of the bravado they had in the regular season and running through the playoffs has vanished against the Cavs.
I'd agree with that. From what I've seen, it's almost as if they are saying "we'll get them next year," But, the way the playoffs go, Game 4 could be a Warriors' blowout.
One thing about the Warriors is those players expect every shot to fall. They have had lots of wide-open looks, but the hot shooting doesn't seem to be there consistently. Comes and goes in streaks followed by spells. Maybe it's too much thinking. Thompson/Curry are unconscious shooters, I've watched it for years. Some of Curry's mistakes may be part of what Dirk and Lebron had to overcome early on via the experience of losing in the finals. That behind-the-back pass that was no where close to Green late in the game last night was him just trying to do too much.
Good thing for Curry is there's still time for him to right the ship, just needs to get back to playing with his brain turned off.
Good thing for Curry is there's still time for him to right the ship, just needs to get back to playing with his brain turned off.
The biggest hurdle that the Warriors have to overcome is the Cavs dictating pace. How they do that, I have no idea. Upping the D? More passing?
I doubt anyone would believe me, but I actually turned the game off at halftime, b/c I was pretty sure the Cavs would win. They were steadily dictating pace, Lebron was reading and reacting to how he is being defended, and the Warriors looked like they were going through the motions and that the way the game was being called got to them.
I doubt anyone would believe me, but I actually turned the game off at halftime, b/c I was pretty sure the Cavs would win. They were steadily dictating pace, Lebron was reading and reacting to how he is being defended, and the Warriors looked like they were going through the motions and that the way the game was being called got to them.
Yeah warriors don't want to play physical and the irony is they're murdering James on every trip to the basket, but I'm ok with it as long as they let cavs bigs be physical too.
If I'm blatt I try Marion on curry for a bit when Lebron and dellavedova need a few minutes off. Even the kid Harris can play off the dribble and bring some offense. Lebron on the bench for two minutes last night was a disaster.
If I'm blatt I try Marion on curry for a bit when Lebron and dellavedova need a few minutes off. Even the kid Harris can play off the dribble and bring some offense. Lebron on the bench for two minutes last night was a disaster.
You missed a hell of a nail biter. Could hear a pin drop when Curry found his shot and the lead got cut to 1. Warriors tensed up a bit and Lebron pushed them back.
I counted no less than 2 missed "easy" layups (1 by Barbosa, 1 by Curry) in the 3rd or 4th quarters, with Green and Ezeli missing some point blank shots or getting them blocked. Cavs shut down the paint for a good bit until David Lee entered the game. He was a huge sparkplug in making it a close game.
The momentum swings were fun to watch. 3rd quarter when Dellavedova starting going off, with big plays by Lebron sprinkled in, the arena went to pandemonium as the lead pushed out to 20. I thought it was just going to be one of those basketball moments / blowouts that you can't explain -- was surprised that GS clawed back into it. Really quiet like you say for a little while, but then it racheted back up with the big plays late.
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Sometimes with teams like Goldenstate that never feel like they're out of games regardless of the deficit, you don't get that sense of urgency all the time. They need to play like their backs are against the wall from here on out ... because that's exactly the situation now.
I wonder if they can. I know the western conference is better than the eastern conference but outside of Memphis, no other team is as physical as the Cavs. I know the talking heads like to say the Warriors played against a tough team in Memphis but the Grizzlies don't have Lebron, a guy who can get his shot and make others around him better whenever he wants to. The Griz also lack the spot up shooters that the Cavs have. So, can they start quicker? The clutching, grabbing, pushing, moving physical defense seems to be getting to the GSW and only once the Cavs get tired from chasing, do the shots start to fall.
Like we talked about before, I would have loved to have seen the GSW play the Spurs, who offer physical interior play w/ Duncan and a freak of nature w/ Leonard. It would have been a perfect test to prep against the Cavs (and I'm not sure they could have beaten the Spurs). The stage would have been huge in the western conference title game and the Spurs are savvy vets and Pop is the best coach in the league.
I'm not sure if it was so much Lee as it was two fresh set of legs in the 4th. When Lee and Barbosa came it they seemed to be everywhere on the offensive side. But I think that was just because the Cav's were spent at that point. Kerr would be smart to use his bench more as the Cavs are paper thin now.
James is missing a ton of shots because he's taking a ton of shots. He knows there is no one else out there so he's forced to be the majority of the offense. If the Cavs win it's a testament to his greatness.
I think that any argument about Delly being dirty should be over. He just plays harder than anyone else on the floor. If you call that dirty you need to reevaluate your game.
James is missing a ton of shots because he's taking a ton of shots. He knows there is no one else out there so he's forced to be the majority of the offense. If the Cavs win it's a testament to his greatness.
I think that any argument about Delly being dirty should be over. He just plays harder than anyone else on the floor. If you call that dirty you need to reevaluate your game.
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I do wonder if Blatt will try to give LeBron and Delly a few more minutes on the bench early in the game. Marion and Joe Harris could maybe/possibly give them a couple minutes here and there. I thought Shumpert was seriously hurt after that one play which would have been crazy to lose another guy.
Originally thought you were crazy to think the Spurs could have beat this Warriors team. They seemed unbeatable earlier, however the Grizzlies team they beat was severely hampered by Mike Conley's injury. Spurs team this year was a shell of its former self from either 2013 or 2014, but they certainly showed they could beat the Warriors as evidenced by their late season match-up. You may have been right, and definitely would have seen a better tune-up test for the Warriors than the path they had to take out West this year.
I'd still like to see one game where the Warriors play "their" game, but I don't see the Cavs letting them go high-paced.
I think had the GSW gone through the Spurs instead of the Rockets, I think they roll the Cavs.
Instead they go through a newbie Pelican team that fired their coach, a hampered Griz team and a no guts no defense Rockets squad.
Having watched enough tough games that FSU has played, I tend to look for little things like that (the missed bunnies) as indicators that it isn't going to go well for one team that night. Its played out more as I have watched given that a lot of players in the league now I have seen play college ball, side note I am getting old.
Dave and I watched Game 2 and when Thompson missed the FT to complete the 4 point play in the 3rd quarter, I turned to him and said that is huge as that would have tied the game.
So how bout them warriors huh?
Looked like two completely different teams on both ends of the court. Interesting strategy in giving up on Mozgov, but they took the rest of the team out of the game.
That Lebron fall seemed to be mostly a result of Lebron trying to sell the hard fall by making a dramatic fall and the camera got in the way. The gash definitely looked bad though. Surprised they let him play in that condition without stitches or bandages.
Looked like two completely different teams on both ends of the court. Interesting strategy in giving up on Mozgov, but they took the rest of the team out of the game.
That Lebron fall seemed to be mostly a result of Lebron trying to sell the hard fall by making a dramatic fall and the camera got in the way. The gash definitely looked bad though. Surprised they let him play in that condition without stitches or bandages.
It helps that GS didn't need to worry about JR Smith either. That guy was horrible last night (2-12, 0-8). GS wasn't lights out, but were basically right on their season stats for both FG and 3-pt shooting percentages. The 15% shooting from 3-pt range for the Cavs was 22% below their season average. An extra ten 3's would have tightened the game up considerably.
Kerr went small and pushed the ball and the Cavs (i.e., Lebron) looked gassed. The two days off will help the Cavs out. But seeing what Lebron has to work with on this Cavs team w/o Love and Irving, I'm amazed at their success.
Yep, I was posting earlier about wanting to at least see one game where the Warriors played their usual game. As you said, they didn't shoot lights-out, it was a pretty average game for them based on the rest of the season.
BTW, how weird was it when Lebron's mom came down and kissed his cheek after he got injured? Something I'd expect Curry's (hot) mom to do, but not Lebron's. Especially considering the history w/ herped-up Delonte West.
Doesn't look like a sales job, just a normal loss of balance by a guy who was fatigued. He was reaching out trying to brace himself but before his arms could grasp something, head impacted the camera.
http://blog.chron.com/ultimaterocke...d-the-camera-bad-fall-or-bad-flop/#33606101=0
Looked to me like Lebron was selling the contact and his flailing caused him to take an odd step where he lunged towards the camera man. Looks even more so that way from the angle behind him and Bogut. I don't think he intended to travel as far as he did or hit the camera man, obviously, but the flailing arms certainly didn't help his ability to keep himself from falling forward.
Blatt or whomever made a critical and dumb error not matching the GSW small line up by player Miller and Marion, that's what they're there for.
Can't disagree there at all. Not sure WTF was going on with James Jones guarding Curry on a few rotations. Too many bigs in the game at the same time for Cleveland. GS went way deeper into their bench earlier in the game than Cleveland did. Just like Cleveland has done in every 4th quarter this series, the Cavs ran out of gas to close the game.
Miller and Marion aren't "great" but they have pseudo fresh legs (old and tired but haven't logged a lot of minutes) and they match the line up better than Triston and Mazg. Mike Miller played all last season w/ his last team, he can spread the floor for you and help create driving lanes for James. It's a no brainer to me. They need reps to get in game mode.
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