NBA Finals - Jerry Zgota

[kekgeek]

I am being completely serious me and my friend had an in-depth debate on this, is this Cavs team better without Irving and Love? You could not play like this the whole season but for a series I honestly believe this Cavs team is better without the two and for me even having this conversation in my head is why I love basketball (most talented team does not mean the best team)

[Monster]

I just finished watching the game here are some thoughts.

1. At one point of this game I thought the series was over and the Cavs would win. GS had nobody that could get them a bucket they looked lost. They came back and made it a game but I still see that as a bit of an issue even though Curry did get back on track which brings be to...

2. Curry and Klay for sure are doing too much taking outside shots and GS in general just isn't moving the ball around. Credit to Cavs D but GS has to find a way to move the ball or they are going to lose period.

3. GS defense is fine what they are doing with James is fine they just can't score.

4. Kerr has been making some of the right moves I suggested this afternoon that Lee may be used because Bogut just isn't effective against the activity of the bigs of TT and Mosgov and tonight they need Lee's offensive abilities.

4. Play of the non stars for GS. Iffy has been terrific Lee was a big shot in the a but green and Barnes have been poor offensive players and Barbosa has been a whacky loose cannon on offense but he has made other plays though so maybe it's a break even type thing.

5. Curry found himself but he needs to adjust to not figure out ways to score but to find teammates. He made some really poor decisions but let's not get too down on the guy this is the Finals and then he gave his team a heck of a shot in this game despite all that.

6. Lebron is taking what is given to him and screw the efficiency what the hell else is he supposed to do. Dude was balling and this might have been his best game of the series on defense and effort plays.

7. Delly and Mosgov. Unbelievable. shumpert and JR probably outplayed a couple of GS guys that should be better.

8. Blatt and his coaching staff have to get some credit for this amazing defensive stuff they are doing. They are shutting down one of the best offensive teams in the league.

9. I listened to Shane Battier a few months ago and he said Lebron cares more about team and his tates than anyone he has ever been around he said he thinks Lebron bought in and then he would make sure to have everyone follow. I think it's time to give the guy credit for being that type of factor in making his teammates and team better not just with his play but otherwise. He has a team up 2-1 in the finals with no sure starters in anyone's mind heading into the playoffs and missing 2 terrific talents in Love and Kyrie. It's unfreaking believable. I was going for the Warriors but damn at this point I am going for the Cavs.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

"LeBron is two wins away from doing something Jordan and Kobe never did. Win a title without a fellow all-star. All role players."

[SameOldNudityDrew]

This series is far from over. Golden State has played badly and these games have been close. Could easily be 2-1 or even 3-0 Golden State. Plus they are still overall the more talented team, though they are not playing like it.

I like Golden State. I love Iggy, and I like Green's passion, and Curry and Thompson are so much fun to watch. That said, holy cow, I totally want the CAVS to win!

They're the underdogs in terms of talent (despite having LeBron), but they're playing balls to the wall. They're basically playing with 7 guys. (Jones and Miller each count for half a player, and that's being generous) Plus Shumpert and Dellavadova are playing hurt and even LeBron started cramping again in that last game. How can you not cheer for that kind of effort against odds despite obstacles?

I've always liked Shumpert. I love to hate-watch Smith (makes insane shots he has no business taking and then makes dumb decisions the next play, which I find incredibly entertaining as a non-Clevelander). Mozgov and Thompson are both playing well and showing great hustle. And Dellavadova has been NUTS. He'll probably have a terrible game statistically the next couple games because he can't possibly keep this up, but he's got that intangible thing every great team needs. (Side note: It's why I love Corey Brewer. Who will be that guy for us going forward, I wonder?)

Edit: Holy crap, just saw Dellavedova was hospitalized for severe cramping after the game! What else can this guy do to make people love him? Save orphans from a burning house? It's almost time to start checking maternity wards in the Cleveland area for new babies named "Dellavedova."

In terms of LeBron, I never hated him as much as many people. The "decision" was poorly handled, but I don't think he's a bad guy for leaving. Plus he came back. To Cleveland. Cleveland! What superstar would ever CHOOSE Cleveland? And Dan freaking Gilbert.

Plus, I love the idea of people speculating that Love's ABSENCE is what helped a team compete for a championship. That's just gravy.

Go Cavs!

[SameOldNudityDrew]

One other thought. This series is the opposite of last year's finals, and I've loved both of them.

Last year was not competitive at all, but it was amazing to watch the Spurs basically display some of the best team basketball EVER SEEN against a very good Miami team. Their whole playoff run after Dallas last year was just absolute dominance personified. A well-oiled machine on both ends of the floor, especially on offense.

This year, the finals so far have given us some ugly, ugly basketball. Offensive stagnation and a lack of ingenuity in the face of relentless defense. And I love it. It's all about the defense and the hustle. But the games have been close, and the level of passion so high. It's not surprising to see this kind of basketball come from Oakland and Cleveland, two cities that have been down on their luck for years. So much more fun to root for one of these cities than for Miami or L.A. or Dallas. LeBron called it exactly when he pointed out that Dellavedova's biggest contribution has been his "grit." This whole series thus far has been about grit, which is partly why Dellabedova's contributions have been so huge.

Just some fun, ugly, riveting basketball to watch.

[MikkeMan]

"LeBron is two wins away from doing something Jordan and Kobe never did. Win a title without a fellow all-star. All role players."

I get your point but still technically Pippen was not all star (at least he was not selected for all star team) in 1990-91 season when Jordan won his 1st championship. He had been selected in previous year though and played actually statistically better almost every category so I don't understand why he wasn't selected that year.

What LeBron is doing currently in finals with Cleveland remaining roster is just unbelievable. Even though I hate the guy, I have to admit that his contribution has been amazing and even if Cleveland would lost, I think he should be selected to Finals MVP. Only roster that I remember that was remotely as bad as Cleveland but still won finals were 93-94 Houston. Their starting four around Hakeem was Thorpe, 2nd year Horry, Maxwell and Smith. Thorpe had been selected to all star game two years earlier but he wasn't anymore as good. Only other player that made all star game during his career was Sam Cassell and he was rookie that year. Those finals between New York and Cleveland remind this years finals because it was pretty horrible shooting performances from both teams and games were really low scoring. Even though Hakeem was really dominating in that series, I think he still got more support from his teammates than LeBron has got.

Dirk got his championship also without any other player that would have been all star that year but he had a lot of former all stars like Kidd, Peja and Marion in his team and from those Kidd had been all star just one year earlier. Also Chandler was selected to all star two years later.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

There are two outstanding posts above by Drew which describe really well what's happening in this fascinating series...I agree with everything in it. And yes, the Warriors are not out of this series at all...as Drew said, all games have been close, and the Warriors could easily be 2-1 or even 3-0. But he neglected to say that the Cavs are just one failed LeBron end-of-game possession away from being in position to sweep this series Thursday night...unbelievable! All three games have been so close you have to believe this is going 7. If I had to predict, I would still go with the Warriors in 7, but I'm cheering for the "cramp brothers"...the incomparable LeBron and the feisty Dellavedova.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I am being completely serious me and my friend had an in-depth debate on this, is this Cavs team better without Irving and Love? You could not play like this the whole season but for a series I honestly believe this Cavs team is better without the two and for me even having this conversation in my head is why I love basketball (most talented team does not mean the best team)

Cam doesn't want to have this discussion, but yes, we should definitely be talking about it. Anybody who watched the Cavs frequently during the regular season and is watching all the playoff games has to see that they are a better team with TT and Delly getting the PF and PG minutes. Not prettier, but better, and better positioned to win it all. Maybe it wouldn't have worked as well during the regular season because Blatt couldn't have played all year with 7 players, but in a short series with days off between games, he can win with the 7-8 players that give him the best chance of winning every night. Blatt knows that defense wins championships, and he knows which PF and PG are going to bring the defensive intensity on every possession. If Irving and Love were healthy, Blatt would be forced to give them the majority of the minutes...they're the "stars" and the casual Cavs fan would demand it. But I think Blatt knows he has two players at PF and PG who know how to put up stats, and two that understand what it takes to win.

[Phenom]

One thing that has stood out to me is how awful Curry defends the pick and roll. He essentially runs away from LeBron and has let him hit a few big 3s late in each game that were huge. Then he shakes his head after the game is over like he cant believe that they lost.

[Leado01]

I like the Warriors - I've always liked the Warriors (big Don Nelson fan), and I've never been a LeBron fan. But he's converting me in this series. This Cavs team that is pushing a historically good GS team is pretty much the castaways from a dark chapter in Knicks history. JR Smith and Iman Shumpert are nut cases. If LeBron can win a championship with this team I'd say he's the best player in my lifetime (50 years).

I still think GS wins this series. But it might be a better story if the Cavs do.