Around the NBA (non-Wolves talk)

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Yeah, unexpected win by the Cavs (or may be not?). Tristian Thompson is so important to that team defensively. I expect he will continue to play a big role from here on out.

[Monster]

Big win for the Cavs tonight in Toronto.

And how about Steph Curry. He's out for a month, enters tonight's game mid-way through the 1st quarter, puts up his first shot and nothing but net for 3 points. That's what superstars do.

Raptors were 2 for their last 20 or something like that? And several were layups. I think the 7-footer, Valunciadfadsafasnous had 5 or 6 missed bunnies in the 4th quarter.

The Cavs are DEEP inside the Raptors heads. Cleveland will be back in the Finals yet again. The East just opens up for them every year. Sure, the Cavs get credit... but it's been pretty ridiculous. The best potential competition is a team led by what's essentially two 1st year players?

I looked at the box score after a friend texted me that Love killed them again missing shots. The Cavs didn't score the last 2:17 of overtime and won. Tristin Thompson had another very productive game.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Big win for the Cavs tonight in Toronto.

And how about Steph Curry. He's out for a month, enters tonight's game mid-way through the 1st quarter, puts up his first shot and nothing but net for 3 points. That's what superstars do.

Raptors were 2 for their last 20 or something like that? And several were layups. I think the 7-footer, Valunciadfadsafasnous had 5 or 6 missed bunnies in the 4th quarter.

The Cavs are DEEP inside the Raptors heads. Cleveland will be back in the Finals yet again. The East just opens up for them every year. Sure, the Cavs get credit... but it's been pretty ridiculous. The best potential competition is a team led by what's essentially two 1st year players?

I looked at the box score after a friend texted me that Love killed them again missing shots. The Cavs didn't score the last 2:17 of overtime and won. Tristin Thompson had another very productive game.

I watched ONLY the 4th quarter... wow.

This morning I read an article that confirmed Valanciunas missed SIX layups in the final 7 minutes of the game. And I saw Jakob Poetl miss 2 more in the 4th quarter. These weren't blocked shots. Some of these were barely contested. It was pretty remarkable.

Toronto shot 5 - 24 in the 4th quarter... and missed its last 11 shots.

Cleveland hasn't been playing well, but I think the knock on Hood, Hill, Love, Smith, Korver is a bit overstated because of their cold shooting. They will start to shoot better. And the Pacers and Raptors will be kicking themselves for not taking advantage of the cold Cavs when they had the chance.

The Cavs are gonna get hot more often... soon. Put them down for another Finals.

[Lipoli390]

The Cavs won last night in spite of some really bad shooting from guys who generally don't shoot that poorly:

1. LeBron shot only 40% from the field, hit only 1 of 8 threes and only 1-6 free throws
2. Kevin Love shot 3-13 from the field and 1-4 from behind the arc
3. Rodney Hood, a good shooter, was 1-5 and 0-2 behind the arc
4. George Hill was 2-7 from the field
5. Clarkson was 2-7

Yes, JR Smith, Korver, Jeff Green and Tristan Thompson stepped up. But Thompson played well in the first game to and I expect that to continue. And even though Korver scored 19 points last night, he shot only 41.2% from the field. He'll likely continue to hit shots and probably do so more efficiently in the coming games.

Bottom line is that things are not looking good for the Raptors, who just lost their home court advantage. The Cavs are not a great team, but they're a very good team with a great player. And the Raptors seem like the same old Raptors when it comes to the playoffs. The best team in the East, when healthy, is Boston. But the Cavs can beat Boston's injury-depleted roster. So I'm with Abe in thinking the Cavs are the most likely East team representative in the finals. Once there, they will be swept by either the Rockets or Warriors.

[Monster]

The Cavs won last night in spite of some really bad shooting from guys who generally don't shoot that poorly:

1. LeBron shot only 40% from the field, hit only 1 of 8 threes and only 1-6 free throws
2. Kevin Love shot 3-13 from the field and 1-4 from behind the arc
3. Rodney Hood, a good shooter, was 1-5 and 0-2 behind the arc
4. George Hill was 2-7 from the field
5. Clarkson was 2-7

Yes, JR Smith, Korver, Jeff Green and Tristan Thompson stepped up. But Thompson played well in the first game to and I expect that to continue. And even though Korver scored 19 points last night, he shot only 41.2% from the field. He'll likely continue to hit shots and probably do so more efficiently in the coming games.

Bottom line is that things are not looking good for the Raptors, who just lost their home court advantage. The Cavs are not a great team, but they're a very good team with a great player. And the Raptors seem like the same old Raptors when it comes to the playoffs. The best team in the East, when healthy, is Boston. But the Cavs can beat Boston's injury-depleted roster. So I'm with Abe in thinking the Cavs are the most likely East team representative in the finals. Once there, they will be swept by either the Rockets or Warriors.

Lip you laid things out pretty well. I'll counter with it's one game and I don't want to dimish them taking that first game...the Cavs could go back to being the Cavs they have been a lot of the season for the next 4-5 games and this series goes to 7 games.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Monster... even if it goes 7... what about the Raptors or about James leads you to any other conclusion than a Cavs win.

I really don't like LeBron James. But I just expect him to win and make the shots he does at this point. Eventually, I gave in to the Jordan hysteria too.

Didn't like him either... but I was resigned to seeing Stockton, Isiah and others become his next victims.

[Monster]

Monster... even if it goes 7... what about the Raptors or about James leads you to any other conclusion than a Cavs win.

I really don't like LeBron James. But I just expect him to win and make the shots he does at this point. Eventually, I gave in to the Jordan hysteria too.

Didn't like him either... but I was resigned to seeing Stockton, Isiah and others become his next victims.

I was just responding to the idea that this series is basically over. Sure if it goes 7 I will take Lebron but that's still a series (and will make people lots of money). I've seen this script before...Based on 1 game in some cases the other team needed up winning the series. Like I said let's see if the Cavs are actually figuring it out or just did for a couple games. Based on what's i saw both teams played far from their best in this game especially down the stretch. I am not dismissing your idea that the Raptors have a mental block (and a real one) when it comes to the Cavs and Lebron. I want to see more than 1 game before I make a judgement on the series though. Fair enough?

To be honest the only series I am actually that interested in watching right now is the Sixers Boston series.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Looking at some of the plays Donovan Mitchell makes you just have to wonder how the hell Pitino did not just give this kid the keys to his offense. It's hard to believe he averaged 15 points and 3 assists last year for Louisville. The passes he makes and the shots he creates aren't things he could have just developed in one summer!

[kekgeek]

Donavan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert as so fricking special. It blows my mind how good those 2 are. Watching Gobert play defense is amazing compared to KAT. Also is Mitchell a top 20 player in the NBA already, I mean he is leading a damn good team as a rookie. Also Ingles is also is maybe the best super role player in the NBA.

[kekgeek]

Looking at some of the plays Donovan Mitchell makes you just have to wonder how the hell Pitino did not just give this kid the keys to his offense. It's hard to believe he averaged 15 points and 3 assists last year for Louisville. The passes he makes and the shots he creates aren't things he could have just developed in one summer!

I am guessing there is someone, but did Patino ever have star players in his time at Lousiville. Always had really good teams but I can't think of any stars he ever had.