NBA Playoffs

[Jar11591]

Amazing what the Celtics can do when they don't have to make up for the lack of defense from Isaiah Thomas who is their "best player". They are a better team with him off the floor. They should try to trade him while his value is high. 

[deaknh03]

21 hours ago, Jar11591 said:

Amazing what the Celtics can do when they don't have to make up for the lack of defense from Isaiah Thomas who is their "best player". They are a better team with him off the floor. They should try to trade him while his value is high. 

And replace 29 points a game with whom? LeBron had an "off" night, otherwise cavs win, regardless of Thomas playing or not. I agree, he's no D, mostly due to his size, but there has been and are tons of guys just like him on good teams. During the season they were under 500 without him. That cavs game was an anomoly.

[Jar11591]

1 hour ago, deaknh03 said:

And replace 29 points a game with whom? LeBron had an "off" night, otherwise cavs win, regardless of Thomas playing or not. I agree, he's no D, mostly due to his size, but there has been and are tons of guys just like him on good teams. During the season they were under 500 without him. That cavs game was an anomoly.

 

Those 29 points per game are the solution to the very problem that his defense creates. But playing against an offensive juggernaut like Cleveland, it doesn't work which has been proven clearly this season. Even when Boston played Cleveland a day after moving into the 1-seed, they got blown out. It's not just that he is a bad individual defender, the whole Boston team plays worse defense with him on the floor and it's not even close. And yes, there has been tons of offensive oriented, poorly defensive players but with Thomas it's more than that. If you pay attention to advanced metrics (which I do) you'll find that he is historically bad on defense. Boston could get by playing most of the teams in the East, but against an offensive juggernaut like Cleveland it simply doesn't work. Not for 35+ minutes a game anyway. His niche is as a 6th man of an offensive team such as Houston. Somebody who can come off the bench and drop 20 when the starters go out. 

[Jar11591]

Boston is looking good. Good ball movement and it's leading to open looks. Cleveland better tighten up their D if they want to finish the Cs in 5. 

 

Boston is a really deep team. So many solid rotational players and most of them are active on both ends of the floor. Lots of depth at the wing. But even if they somehow manage to get by Cleveland, GS is gonna spank them. The Warriors defense isn't porous like the Cavs. 

[Jar11591]

Celtics are getting away from what they were doing to get the lead. They started going all iso-ball or the only ones moving are the ball handler or the the guy setting the pick and all they've gotten were quick shots and bad looks. 

Have yourself a game Kyrie. Wow. 

[Dwight Hottle]

Great game.

[jbsoonerfan]

Ok, so the playoffs officially start June 1st. Who you got and why?

 

I'm taking GSW (but I pray they don't win) in 6. I just think they can outscore Cleveland in the end. I hope I'm wrong because I DO NOT want to see KD win, but I think they will be too much offense for Cleveland to match.

[716RAVEN]

Cleveland... Kyrie is becoming one of my favorite players in the NBA... Rooting for that city..  The fans deserve it for having to go through the Browns continuous dysfunction..  As a Bills fan and living in Buffalo, i have been to a couple Browns games in Cleveland and the fans are good people.. I plan on taking a trip to a Cavs game next season if i can..

[Jar11591]

For me it's impossible to decide. I can see both teams winning easily, but I can also see it going to 7 games. I'll give the slight edge to Cleveland because Klay Thompson hasn't been good these playoffs on the offensive end and Curry's last 2 finals haven't been great. Of course having Durant will make it easier. 

[J._Bricker]

Looking forward to Thursday. Go Dubs!

[deaknh03]

As a lifelong NBA fan I'm still in amazement that Cleveland and Golden State are the top 2 teams year after year.

[Jar11591]

It's too bad the Finals aren't on TNT. I'd love to see Shaq, Chuck, the Jet and EJ do the pre-post game and halftime show. Although Jalen Rose and Chauncey aren't bad. I see they've added Paul Pierce as well. I'm just glad basketball is back.

[jbsoonerfan]

Dang, I was afraid the scoring wasn't going to be there for Cleveland.

[J._Bricker]

Looking forward to Game 2 and what adjustments each team has made, not to mention whether or not Klay gets untracked offensively. But then again, he was definitely locked in on "D" last night. Kerr's apparently feeling better and may coach Sunday...

[jbsoonerfan]

Another blow out by GSW and another pitiful National Anthem by Santana. Please, please, please, let this guy go away and get someone to sing the anthem like it was meant to be sung. He is a disgrace and an embarrassment to the song.

[Jar11591]

Pretty strong opinion on Santana? I thought it was excellent. 

 

Anyway, if the Cavs want a shot they need to slow the pace way down. Especially if Klay Thompson has found his shot again. They have too many weapons for the Cavs to allow over 100 field goal attempts. 

[J._Bricker]

10 hours ago, Jar11591 said:

Pretty strong opinion on Santana? I thought it was excellent. 

 

Anyway, if the Cavs want a shot they need to slow the pace way down. Especially if Klay Thompson has found his shot again. They have too many weapons for the Cavs to allow over 100 field goal attempts. 

 

'I can't comment on the national anthem as I was in Oakland with my daughter buying her first car. I'm just glad to hear it is still played before games. Granted, the television networks only show it being played before major contests, otherwise it seems sponsored commercials and what the announcers have to say takes precedence over the national anthem.

 

Jar11591, I had to fact check on the FGA's and was kind I was kinda surprised at the box score. The Cavs put up 100 attempts to the Dubs 89 shots. It was the three point line where the Dubs poured in 18 3's to the Cavs 8 which really stood out as the difference in my opinion.

 

The Cavs played hard, but the Warriors matched and then surpassed the Cavs energy level and matching every run in game two. These 2017 Dubs are healthy, focused, and appear to be on a mission excorcise a 3-1 collapse. 

 

Gotta wait for Wednesday evening and in the mean time good fishing all, JB 

 

 

 

I just had to add a pic of my happy little girl and her new ride. So I missed the start of the game. It was worth it.

[Jar11591]

3 minutes ago, J._Bricker said:

 

'I can't comment on the national anthem as I was with my daughter buying her first car. I'm just glad to hear it is still played before games. Granted, the television networks only show it being played before major contests, otherwise it seems sponsored commercials and what the announcers have to say takes precedence over the national anthem.

 

Jar11591, I had to fact check on the FGA's and was kind I was kinda surprised at the box score. The Cavs put up 100 attempts to the Dubs 89 shots. It was the three point line where the Dubs poured in 18 3's to the Cavs 8 which really stood out as the difference in my opinion.

 

The Cavs played hard, but the Warriors matched and then surpassed the Cavs energy level and matching every run in game two. These 2017 Dubs are healthy, focused, and appear to be on a mission excorcise a 3-1 collapse. 

 

Gotta wait for Wednesday evening and in the mean time good fishing all, JB 

 

 

You're right, the Warriors didn't have 100 shot attempts like they did game 1. I just assumed since they scored 132 points. Golden State allowed more points but when they're hitting the 3 point shot at a clip like that it won't matter. Cleveland's back is against the wall. 

 

[Skeeter Dan]

 Labon can't do it by himself. He needs his teammates to do their part. It's starting to look like a blow out. It's sad that the Calv don't have what it takes to beat GS

[Darren.]

I'm rooting for GS, but I wouldn't count out LeBron and

the team...made that mistake after the first two games

last year.

 

However, KD is a massive difference from last year. Not

sure Cavs will be able to answer him. We'll see!

 

Go DUBS!!

[J._Bricker]

3 hours ago, Jar11591 said:

 

You're right, the Warriors didn't have 100 shot attempts like they did game 1. I just assumed since they scored 132 points. Golden State allowed more points but when they're hitting the 3 point shot at a clip like that it won't matter. Cleveland's back is against the wall. 

 

 

Agreed. I heard one of the talking heads mention the Cavs took 100 shots and after your post I had to see for myself. Towards the end of the the game there was a shot of a gassed LeBron who appeared to me to be kind of shocked that the effort his team put forth would have beaten the Dubs last year but not on this game.

 

BTW, at this point KD is looking like the MVP these Finals...

[Darren.]

53 minutes ago, J._Bricker said:

 

Agreed. I heard one of the talking heads mention the Cavs took 100 shots and after your post I had to see for myself. Towards the end of the the game there was a shot of a gassed LeBron who appeared to me to be kind of shocked that the effort his team put forth would have beaten the Dubs last year but not on this game.

 

BTW, at this point KD is looking like the MVP these Finals...

 

100% agree -- at this point. If he keeps it up, he's got the votes in the bag.

[jbsoonerfan]

16 hours ago, Jar11591 said:

Pretty strong opinion on Santana? I thought it was excellent. 

 

Anyway, if the Cavs want a shot they need to slow the pace way down. Especially if Klay Thompson has found his shot again. They have too many weapons for the Cavs to allow over 100 field goal attempts. 

 

I guess if you don't mind the Anthem being screwed up, then I suppose it was excellent. Playing the same verse twice is excellent????? Maybe you didn't watch,

[Jar11591]

6 hours ago, jbsoonerfan said:

 

I guess if you don't mind the Anthem being screwed up, then I suppose it was excellent. Playing the same verse twice is excellent????? Maybe you didn't watch,

 

I watched, and listened and enjoyed it as with most things by Carlos. To be honest I didn't even notice the extra verse probably because I was too busy enjoying the guitar and also because I didn't have my mind made up before hand. He's a great guitar player, and the anthem was great, even if it was extended a little bit. 

[Dwight Hottle]

21 hours ago, Skeeter Dan said:

 Labon can't do it by himself. He needs his teammates to do their part. It's starting to look like a blow out. It's sad that the Cavs don't have what it takes to beat GS

 

The Cavs did have what it takes to beat GS but not with GS 's addition of KD. The Cavs need their own KD to be competitive now.