Minnesota Sports Forum

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The argument for the Cavs would be they took the Warriors to 6 games last year with only one of the Big 3, so they should be able to improve on that. But the reality is the Cavs are actually a Big 1 and pieces, and GS is playing at a different level. They handled the Cavs easily in both games this year while Love shot 6-21 and Irving 7-26. I see GS taking Game 4 in Cleveland and closing them out in 5 at home.

I'm going with Cavs in 6 and here is why. They combine the ability to play big AND shoot. OKC lost that series on the 3-point shooting differential. They won pretty much every other category - rebounding, turnovers, points in the paint, etc., but the gap was just too damn large in 3-point shooting. The Cavs on the other hand have out-Golden-Stated Golden State. They have been on absolute fire from outside the arc and have multiple guys that can make that shot.

longstrangetrip wrote:The argument for the Cavs would be they took the Warriors to 6 games last year with only one of the Big 3, so they should be able to improve on that. But the reality is the Cavs are actually a Big 1 and pieces, and GS is playing at a different level. They handled the Cavs easily in both games this year while Love shot 6-21 and Irving 7-26. I see GS taking Game 4 in Cleveland and closing them out in 5 at home.

That's kind of how I see it LST. But this is one series where nothing would really surprise me.

CoolBreeze44 wrote:

longstrangetrip wrote:The argument for the Cavs would be they took the Warriors to 6 games last year with only one of the Big 3, so they should be able to improve on that. But the reality is the Cavs are actually a Big 1 and pieces, and GS is playing at a different level. They handled the Cavs easily in both games this year while Love shot 6-21 and Irving 7-26. I see GS taking Game 4 in Cleveland and closing them out in 5 at home.

That's kind of how I see it LST. But this is one series where nothing would really surprise me.

LeBron James makes predictions really difficult. Also a team that relies on outside shooting as much as GS can turn cold. But I don't think the Cavs defense is good enough to prevent open looks for the Splash Brothers, and they will hit them at a good rate over the course of a 7-game series. I also think Iguodola is as good an option to defend James as almost anyone, and that he will get more minutes than Barnes in the finals.

longstrangetrip wrote:

CoolBreeze44 wrote:

longstrangetrip wrote:The argument for the Cavs would be they took the Warriors to 6 games last year with only one of the Big 3, so they should be able to improve on that. But the reality is the Cavs are actually a Big 1 and pieces, and GS is playing at a different level. They handled the Cavs easily in both games this year while Love shot 6-21 and Irving 7-26. I see GS taking Game 4 in Cleveland and closing them out in 5 at home.

That's kind of how I see it LST. But this is one series where nothing would really surprise me.

LeBron James makes predictions really difficult. Also a team that relies on outside shooting as much as GS can turn cold. But I don't think the Cavs defense is good enough to prevent open looks for the Splash Brothers, and they will hit them at a good rate over the course of a 7-game series. I also think Iguodola is as good an option to defend James as almost anyone, and that he will get more minutes than Barnes in the finals.

Obviously, Irving and Love (and Frye) make the Cavs MUCH better offensively than last year's Finals team.

But, the rub has been about them being potentially exposed defensively. (The East just didn't have teams capable of doing so consistently) Can Lue find the right balance with shuffling players/schemes to get the best of both worlds with his roster?

Warriors in 6. They have just been rolling all year and they are the team to beat.

I just can't vote because I could see this series going so many ways. My conventional thought is GS wins the Championship but I am just gonna try and sit back and enjoy it. I was nervous last night for that game 7 and I am guessing I will be for this finals. If/when the Wolves get even to the WCF I'm gonna be a wreck!

The major reason the Cavs were as competitive last season for me was the play of Delli on Curry. (Can he fluster him again this year) Also, who can neutralize Tristan Thompsons board crashing for GS? Is Varajao the X factor? Haha

slimcalhoun27 wrote:The major reason the Cavs were as competitive last season for me was the play of Delli on Curry. (Can he fluster him again this year) Also, who can neutralize Tristan Thompsons board crashing for GS? Is Varajao the X factor? Haha

Thompson will hurt on the boards. But the Warriors might actually be relieved to not see OKC anytime soon. Remember, that team was relentless on the boards, leading the entire league, all season.

If Delly plays... Irving probably sits. This is what I was mentioning earlier... Lue has to figure out the right mix and spots between offense/defense guys.