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United States22883 Posts
On May 23 2009 02:12 XaI)CyRiC wrote:Show nested quote +On May 23 2009 01:57 Jibba wrote:And who can guard Lebron and Williams? The point is the Cavs shot uncharacteristically poorly, besides Lebron, and still almost won the game. If Williams' shot goes in, the tune around here is totally different. To be fair, Lebron was having an AMAZING night as well, so it's not like everything for the Cavs was par aside from MoWill and Delonte. If the Magic can slow Lebron even a little (like they did multiple times during the regular season) and continue to make his teammates struggle (again like they did multiple times during the regular season), they have a great shot at winning the series.
Yeah, but I still think it's a pretty even match up. I'd love to see Dwight continue putting up those kinds of point totals.
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LeBron was tired for sure, but I do think Cle needs to play better defense. If they continue to allow 55% shooting they will be in trouble every single game. Some may still go their way, but others may not.
Last game Cle had a bad shooting night outside of LeBron, but they also only had 5 turnovers to 19 assists - which is quite good. On other nights these offensive things will balance out - its the defence they need to work on.
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United States4471 Posts
On May 23 2009 02:33 oneofthem wrote:
did they stop lebron then, or lebron just wasn't playing fully. if his midrange shots are falling, he will get 40+ points on 55%+ shooting. orlando MUST lock down the other scoring options. either that or tire out lebron in some way
I think Orlando has enough scoring punch with their 3pt shooting to win if it's going to be Lebron vs the Magic. If Orlando can continue to contain the rest of the Cavs players and make Lebron carry them single-handedly, they might be able to pull off another upset. However, I have a feeling that the Cavs will figure out how to get some of the other players involved this game, and that we might see a one-sided affair for one game. However, I would not be surprised at all if Orlando gives them hell again tonight and maybe even pulls off another win. They really do match up well against CLE.
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United States4471 Posts
On May 23 2009 02:36 Jibba wrote:Show nested quote +On May 23 2009 02:12 XaI)CyRiC wrote:On May 23 2009 01:57 Jibba wrote:And who can guard Lebron and Williams? The point is the Cavs shot uncharacteristically poorly, besides Lebron, and still almost won the game. If Williams' shot goes in, the tune around here is totally different. To be fair, Lebron was having an AMAZING night as well, so it's not like everything for the Cavs was par aside from MoWill and Delonte. If the Magic can slow Lebron even a little (like they did multiple times during the regular season) and continue to make his teammates struggle (again like they did multiple times during the regular season), they have a great shot at winning the series. Yeah, but I still think it's a pretty even match up. I'd love to see Dwight continue putting up those kinds of point totals.
It's definitely an even matchup, no doubt about that. A lot of people were talking about how ORL was screwed because all CLE has to do is get a few more points from MoWill and/or Delonte, but are ignoring the fact that it's almost impossible that Lebron plays like he did in Game 1 for every game of this series.
As for Howard, he'll continue to put up those point totals if CLE continues to just let him go 1on1 against Big Z.
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Cayman Islands24199 Posts
i don't think it will be a surprise if lebron repeats or nears that performance. it all depends on whether his shots are falling. the biggest worry for cleveland is not really in how they played on offense, but how orlando played. outside of the first quarter, orlando got every shot they wanted, and cleveland can't even stop that down the stretch.
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On May 23 2009 04:04 oneofthem wrote:
i don't think it will be a surprise if lebron repeats or nears that performance. it all depends on whether his shots are falling.
that contradicts itself.
a) he can have a similar performance if he shoots well
b) his shot isn't good enough for him to do that more than 2-3 times in a series
if they need 50 points from him to have a shot at winning, they WONT win, guaranteed. he can't score 50 a game because his shot is too inconsistent, and Orlando can close out the paint very well so he won't get 50 points in the paint.
Clevland needs to think of another way to beat Orlando.
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Yeah, shooting a 0.553 0.380 is really inconsistent throughout the playoffs.
He needs to work on his free throws though. If he shot 85%+ from the line...
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so like, I've barely been keeping up with this thread and I missed the last LA-Denver game so my prediction:
Lakers and Cavs in 6.
I never buy into the hype ^_^
Carmelo will have to consistently drop 30+ every game for Denver to do the unbelievable.
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Cayman Islands24199 Posts
On May 23 2009 04:41 Xeris wrote:Show nested quote +On May 23 2009 04:04 oneofthem wrote:
i don't think it will be a surprise if lebron repeats or nears that performance. it all depends on whether his shots are falling. that contradicts itself. a) he can have a similar performance if he shoots well b) his shot isn't good enough for him to do that more than 2-3 times in a series if they need 50 points from him to have a shot at winning, they WONT win, guaranteed. he can't score 50 a game because his shot is too inconsistent, and Orlando can close out the paint very well so he won't get 50 points in the paint. Clevland needs to think of another way to beat Orlando.
no it doesn't. there is just an unstated premise, that lebron shooting well is not surprising. lebron has shown that he can shoot reasonably well for half a year now.
Carmelo will have to consistently drop 30+ every game for Denver to do the unbelievable. he is doing that, and denver isn't a huge upset pick .
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On May 23 2009 05:25 oneofthem wrote:
no it doesn't. there is just an unstated premise, that lebron shooting well is not surprising. lebron has shown that he can shoot reasonably well for half a year now.
Show nested quote +Carmelo will have to consistently drop 30+ every game for Denver to do the unbelievable. he is doing that, and denver isn't a huge upset pick .
It's only been 2 games, how is that really consistent? 
They are a huge upset pick. You mean to tell me a ton of people legitimately had Denver as going to the Finals all this time?
okkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk whatever you say!
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Cayman Islands24199 Posts
melo has been doing it for this playoffs, at least. that is not 2 games.
as for the upset question, it depends on when it was asked. at the beginning of this series, denver is the trendy pick, maybe 40/60 for them winning. yes, they were not seen as a serious contender when the playoffs started, but given the way lakers played against the rockets and denver's performance in the first 2 rounds, la's favorite status was on very shaky grounds.
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On May 23 2009 04:53 Ace wrote:
Carmelo will have to consistently drop 30+ every game for Denver to do the unbelievable.
I really don't know about that Ace. Just watching the games on the floor it looks like the entire nuggets squad with the exception of J.R. smith really wants to win and has the right focused mindset. Every time J.R. smith gets the ball though is like an accident waiting to happen. Rather than a nice play or pimp shot I am looking for a turnover / bad play / a missed shot and he seems to consistently deliver some suck. And he doesn't seem to have the same focus or intensity on defense that billups / melo have. Not to mention really stupid fouls. Not that many possessions and he has 6 turnovers already. I think it'll be a really fun and close series to watch either way and I think they have what it takes to win this series.
I know where you're coming from though when you say that though. But with melo playing this amazingly it's hard to imagine lakers in 6. I just hope his limp from game 2 doesn't carry over. He said he'd be fine though.
Yes but Denver did what they were supposed to do with their bracket. They crushed it. L.A. showed inconsistency and struggled against a yao-less rockets.
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um...no it wasn't. LA was in the hardest side of the bracket and Denver was in the easiest - no one except a few people who every year like to pick some random team to go "aha! I told you guys" really thought Denver wasn't an underdog against LA. They still are.
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On May 23 2009 05:40 MYM.Testie wrote:Show nested quote +On May 23 2009 04:53 Ace wrote:
Carmelo will have to consistently drop 30+ every game for Denver to do the unbelievable. I really don't know about that Ace. Just watching the games on the floor it looks like the entire nuggets squad with the exception of J.R. smith really wants to win and has the right focused mindset. Every time J.R. smith gets the ball though is like an accident waiting to happen. Rather than a nice play or pimp shot I am looking for a turnover / bad play / a missed shot and he seems to consistently deliver some suck. And he doesn't seem to have the same focus or intensity on defense that billups / melo have. Not to mention really stupid fouls. Not that many possessions and he has 6 turnovers already. I think it'll be a really fun and close series to watch either way and I think they have what it takes to win this series. I know where you're coming from though when you say that though. But with melo playing this amazingly it's hard to imagine lakers in 6. I just hope his limp from game 2 doesn't carry over. He said he'd be fine though.
well you already know my opinions on J.R. Smith (he sucks).
But what happens when Pau and Lamar wake up? Come on, you don't think Denver really has a shot do you? I'm not even a Lakers fan but I just don't know where people are getting this "Denver is champ material" shit from when they've had the EASIEST path of anyone to their spot, and that includes Cleveland.
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Cleveland had it much easier don't shit yourself.
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Cayman Islands24199 Posts
of course they are still the upset pick, the question was whether they are a huge upset. they are not, and a lot of that is because of the lakers. yea, you can count on gasol and odom, they've just been disappointing for so long that people have gotten tired of waiting. and you have a better shot of waiting for godot than you do waiting for bynum
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Cayman Islands24199 Posts
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Hmmmm Pau is playing fine and he's the big reason they won game one + kobe's 4th quarter play&free throws. He killed them on the boards. He's just shooting bricks for free throws. And I only caught the 2nd half of last game but Lamar at least contributed.
Gasol is doing fine.
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On May 23 2009 05:46 tonight wrote:
Cleveland had it much easier don't shit yourself.
no they didn't genius.
New Orleans had 5 banged up starters vs Detroit who still had their core.
The non defensive Mavs who had trouble with Tony Parker as the only legit threat on a hobbled Spurs team vs the Atlanta Hawks with only Marvin Williams being their only "problem".
Get your head on straight Denver had the easiest path of any team.
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EPT
