EPT2015 NBA Finals - Page 2
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Zidane
United States1689 Posts
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Ace
United States16096 Posts
On May 30 2015 01:21 darthfoley wrote: Cavs 4-2 if Kyrie is anything like 100%. For some reason I don't really like the Warriors; maybe it's Draymond Green getting hyped after backing down a SG into a foul, or Bogut looking like he's in perpetual pain, or Curry trying to draw contact on half of his corner threes lol. On the other hand, I've had fun rooting for the Cavs since the Spurs were eliminated. It would be great for the city, and because I genuinely think Lebron gets way too much hate. I'm not sure who they're going to guard James with (probably Thompson/Barnes/Green), and I think Tristan Thompson is going to go off in the finals. Even Mozgov has been playing some productive minutes. It's really going to depend on Kyrie Irving's health and how hot JR Smith is. I almost think Lebron loves FINALLY being the underdog in a finals series. It might take some pressure on him and allow him to play more fluidly. Well, Cavs are a massive, massive, massive underdog this series. Miami was also the underdog in the Finals last year, and Lebron was a massive dog (even worse) in 2007. He knows the feeling. | ||
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oneofthem
Cayman Islands24199 Posts
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whatisthisasheep
624 Posts
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DystopiaX
United States16236 Posts
like it is what it is but the Rockets were missing a bunch of players, the Cavs are missing a bunch of players, the Hawks were banged up/missing a bunch of players. It's not really the Dubs fault and I'd call them a favorite even if everyone were healthy but they have had great injury luck as well. | ||
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Vindicare605
United States16109 Posts
Cleveland in my eyes is massively disadvantaged in this series, because their perimeter defense is not that great. They've been hiding Kyrie Irving on defense all post season. If they try and match up to defend Golden State's guards their offense will suffer for it, if they try and put out offensive line ups then Golden State will just out score them. Golden State has better defense AND better offense with a better bench. The only advantage the Cavs have is Lebron, we saw how that worked last year against the Spurs when the same was pretty much true. The Warriors are hugely favored. They are the team to beat. | ||
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Itsmedudeman
United States19229 Posts
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ticklishmusic
United States15977 Posts
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oneofthem
Cayman Islands24199 Posts
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Skynx
Turkey7150 Posts
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rabidch
United States20289 Posts
On May 30 2015 20:50 Itsmedudeman wrote: Before people say Cavs have no chance, so far they have swept a team with a better record than any team GS has beaten. I think GS are favored too, but it's not like the East is so weak that Cavs had a completely free trip. They've shown they can take down teams with better records. what. playoffs are a different beast than regular season, otherwise people would still be bringing up gsw's insane regular season record which is tied with a handful of other seasons for 6th best in the nba all time. hawks sputtered out in the series against the wizards; their numbers were already way down from regular season but you didnt even need to look at those numbers to realize it. the cavs sweeping them is meaningless and ultimately the modern nba playoffs is a game of matchups and adaptations, meaning that the warriors are highly favored thanks to their stockpile of elite 2 way options. if a case is to be made for the cavs is that 1. lebron 2. they have a good and solid front court (but without a rotation) 3. jr smith can get hot 4. della can possibly injure/eject somebody and get away with it On May 30 2015 21:36 ticklishmusic wrote: IIRC Hawks were like bottom 5 for strength of schedule though, and they were pretty depleted by the time the Cavs played them according to basketball reference they had the easiest schedule in the nba, espn puts them tied for 3rd with a few other eastern teams (behind ny and boston) | ||
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xDaunt
United States17988 Posts
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OkMong
76 Posts
I mean these two are obviously the best teams, but I think the Cavaliers are better because of Lebron, playoffs defense, Thompson and Mozgov, wild x-factor JR Smith, and Kyrie at point. Could someone give a thorough and objective explanation how the Warriors are better and can win against the Cavaliers. | ||
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AgentW
United States7725 Posts
Warriors in 5. EDIT: I'd also reject the notion that these two were the best teams. I may still put the Clippers or San Antonio ahead of Cleveland in their current form. | ||
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OkMong
76 Posts
On June 01 2015 11:09 AgentW wrote: They're the best defensive team in the league, and were just barely the second best offensive team in the league. Conversely, Cleveland was like the fifth best offensive team, but like 20th on defense. Furthermore, LeBron can't shoot a jumper if his life depended on it as of this moment, Love is out, and Irving is most likely still going to be hampered and likely can't defend Curry in the first place. I haven't a clue how the Cavs plan to defend Green with Thompson, and Kerr is a superior coach to Blatt. Last, Cleveland's offense has devolved into LeBron isos into drive and kicks, and the Dubs are by far the best defensive team that they'll have faced, which means that he likely won't be able to kick to open shooters nearly as easily. Warriors in 5. EDIT: I'd also reject the notion that these two were the best teams. I may still put the Clippers or San Antonio ahead of Cleveland in their current form. You're using regular season record. PO record has Cavaliers as the best defensive team. Thompson and Mozgov have given opposing front court players hell the entire playoffs, I don't think Green would be a problem. In fact, this finals will expose the warriors interior. Lebron isos have evolved so much this year. He has become more comfortable and prolific with 15-18-foot post up plays that end either with him dominating the defender (which I think he will do with Thompson, Igoudala, or Green) or kicking out for open shots. This routine alone, along with Mozgov and Thompson, will shred the Warriors defense to pieces. | ||
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Ace
United States16096 Posts
On June 01 2015 11:56 OkMong wrote: You're using regular season record. PO record has Cavaliers as the best defensive team. Thompson and Mozgov have given opposing front court players hell the entire playoffs, I don't think Green would be a problem. In fact, this finals will expose the warriors interior. Lebron isos have evolved so much this year. He has become more comfortable and prolific with 15-18-foot post up plays that end either with him dominating the defender (which I think he will do with Thompson, Igoudala, or Green) or kicking out for open shots. This routine alone, along with Mozgov and Thompson, will shred the Warriors defense to pieces. Gotta go by something like playoff Point Differential or SRS to know the true strength of teams, The Cavs aren't even close to the Warriors in anything with the exception of OREBs. Thompson and Mozgov aren't going to see the court once Kerr plays small with Barnes/Green/Iggy permutations in the front court. Lebron at the 4 - a regular season weapon is no longer an option vs GS. Lebron is having the 3rd worst post season of his career. They'll let him shoot. | ||
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Disregard
China10252 Posts
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AgentW
United States7725 Posts
On June 01 2015 11:58 Ace wrote: Clippers, SA, Houston, and Memphis all would have walked through the East and stomped the Cavs on the way too. Only one I could see an argument against is Memphis. Gotta go by something like playoff Point Differential or SRS to know the true strength of teams, The Cavs aren't even close to the Warriors in anything with the exception of OREBs. Thompson and Mozgov aren't going to see the court once Kerr plays small with Barnes/Green/Iggy permutations in the front court. Lebron at the 4 - a regular season weapon is no longer an option vs GS. Lebron is having the 3rd worst post season of his career. They'll let him shoot. Re: They'll let LeBron shoot: I've heard the idea floated that the Warriors will let LeBron drive as many times as he wants and just blanket everyone else. I don't know if that will work because he's basically a free two points if you don't double him on the block but they might play into his ego and let him chuck. Could also exhaust him. Would definitely be interesting to see. | ||
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Dreamer.T
United States3584 Posts
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andrewlt
United States7702 Posts
On June 01 2015 11:56 OkMong wrote: You're using regular season record. PO record has Cavaliers as the best defensive team. Thompson and Mozgov have given opposing front court players hell the entire playoffs, I don't think Green would be a problem. In fact, this finals will expose the warriors interior. Lebron isos have evolved so much this year. He has become more comfortable and prolific with 15-18-foot post up plays that end either with him dominating the defender (which I think he will do with Thompson, Igoudala, or Green) or kicking out for open shots. This routine alone, along with Mozgov and Thompson, will shred the Warriors defense to pieces. Cavs playoff record has been against a dreadful conference. The only other good team in that conference, the Hawks, haven't been the same since they got NYPD'd. | ||
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