2016 NBA Finals

[smizzy]

I know I'm not the only who's ecstatic for this. My money would go towards the Warriors but my support will be with The King and the Cavs. Regardless this is going to be a wild ride!

 

[Da Prophet]

Lebron about to lose three finals in a row.

Can't even beat Golden State's second team.

Cavs are doomed. Lebron should just leave already.

 

[A11oftheLights]

It'll be over in 6, probably 5

 

[Khalifa]

I still think Cavs take this series. Cavs missed some easy shots at the ring today and I know the splash bros had an off night, but if Lebron, Love and Thompson were making those lay ups in the fourth then I think it could've been a different game. It is still embarrassing for the Cavs regardless.

Cavs in 7.

 

[Poop Master Flex]

If you can't beat Golden State when Curry and Thompson scored a combined 20 points then you have no shot. Defense wins championships and considering LeBron is the only one in Cleveland who has a clue on how to play defense they're fucked.

I was hoping for a good series, I'm all for either team winning quite frankly but this looks like it will go 5 games max at this point.

 

[BringThePain834]

The same bullshit we had last year...

 

[SSJPhenom]

If you can't beat Golden State when Curry and Thompson scored a combined 20 points then you have no shot. Defense wins championships and considering LeBron is the only one in Cleveland who has a clue on how to play defense they're fucked.

I was hoping for a good series, I'm all for either team winning quite frankly but this looks like it will go 5 games max at this point.

Actually, you're wrong. The Cavs did exactly what they wanted to do. They shut down Curry and Thompson and forced the others to beat them. It just so happens that the others were able to pull through, however, I wouldn't count on Golden States bench being and role players being that good that often. If the Cavs continue to shut down the Splash Brothers like they did, you'll see this series take a drastic turn.

 

[George Steele's Barber]

I didn't think the Cavs shut down Curry and Thompson as much as both guys had off shooting nights, which is kind of rare. Possibly tired legs after a seven game series and definitely were some erratic double teams from the Cavs but legs are going to heal and double teams allow easy baskets for the other guys.

If the Cavs are going to win they need to get hot like they were in the previous rounds or LeBron needs to be the greatest player in the world again for four games.

 

[Poop Master Flex]

Actually, you're wrong. The Cavs did exactly what they wanted to do. They shut down Curry and Thompson and forced the others to beat them. It just so happens that the others were able to pull through, however, I wouldn't count on Golden States bench being and role players being that good that often. If the Cavs continue to shut down the Splash Brothers like they did, you'll see this series take a drastic turn.

I wouldn't say they shut them down as they were just not shooting as good as they usually do. They played decent defense against both guys no question but it came at the expense of constant double and Triple teams, often leading to guys like Livingston, Green and Igoudala wide open to take care of business. With Golden State they've got too many bodies that can pick up the slack and I promise playing good defense on only 2 guys isn't going to be enough to get the job done against Golden State.

Love, James and Irving can have all the big games they want but until the bench can figure out Golden States defense it isn't going to matter, they're fucked.

 

[Da Prophet]

Actually, you're wrong. The Cavs did exactly what they wanted to do. They shut down Curry and Thompson and forced the others to beat them. It just so happens that the others were able to pull through, however, I wouldn't count on Golden States bench being and role players being that good that often. If the Cavs continue to shut down the Splash Brothers like they did, you'll see this series take a drastic turn.

More like the Cavs took a wrong turn rather than a drastic one.

 

[Poop Master Flex]

48 points, that's the differential of the last 2 games between Golden State and Cleveland. Good on Golden State but at this point I'd really like the see something resembling a competitive series.

I'll say it again, defense wins championships and Cleveland better learn how to play it. LeBron is the only person on that team that knows how to play 2 way ball.

 

[BestSportsEntertainer]

Jesus Christ...

 

[BestSportsEntertainer]

Looks like Lebron is going to 2-5 in the Finals.

At this point he's going to be remembered for losing so many Finals and not getting CLE a title.

 

[OYDK]

I was getting angry watching Lebron last night, and I'm not even a fan of his. In fact, I'm a Raptors fan, but still, his showing has been pathetic the past couple of games. He's barely generating offense, he's turning the ball over, he's missing easy shots and layups, and it seems like he's second guessing himself. This is supposed to be the guy who people compare to Jordan? A guy who's going to have a Finals record of 2-5? If he can't lead his team to championships, he shouldn't even be compared to Kobe.

These playoffs have been boring as hell and the refs make it tough to get through a game without smashing the TV. I'm just salty at the lack of excitement in these playoffs, who the fuck wants to watch a game that's over by the end of the half? That's been basically every game in the past two rounds.

Rant over.

 

[Khalifa]

Don't worry guys, Cavs will wins the next 2 at home and then win the series from there. Irving is gonna break out next game and Lebron will get a triple double.

 

[OYDK]

Don't worry guys, Cavs will wins the next 2 at home and then win the series from there. Irving is gonna break out next game and Lebron will get a triple double.

I said before the series, if Cleveland could take one game in Golden State, they had a good shot of winning the series, but they NEEDED to take one of the first two. It will still be tough to beat Cleveland at home, but now GS has all the momentum and plus, they're winning largely with their role players (meaning not Curry and Thompson).

Now with Love out... if Lebron doesn't show up next game, I'm predicting a clean sweep for GS and that always makes for a shitty Finals. I bet you that would get Lebron running straight out of Cleveland again too.

 

[Khalifa]

I bet you that would get Lebron running straight out of Cleveland again too.

Haha I was actually going to say "and back Miami we go" after today's game.

As good as Love is, if him being out means lebron plays the 4 almost exclusively then I like it. Thompson is a great pick and roll defender so having him at the 5 or on the floor more because Love is out helps defensively.

I've just got a feeling Cavs get super hot from down town. Lebron will step up, I think he gets it that even with Love and Irving he still needs to be the best player on the floor by a long margin. Irving needs to make Curry work more as well. If Cavs win the next 2 games I'm very confident they win game 5 in Oakland. I hate GSW too much to hope for anything else god dammit.

 

[Da Prophet]

As I said elsewhere, historically you're better off betting against Lebron in the finals.

He can only carry the team so far. Irving is meh in this series and I doubt that changes.

 

[George Steele's Barber]

I hate GSW too much to hope for anything else god dammit.

At this point this comment is far more interesting than this series. GS has been an NBA doormat for years whose claim to fame is Run TMC and a great home crowd. Why would you hate GS of all teams? Aren't you and Bogut both Australian?

With their success hating will eventually become a thing but at this point they seem pretty universally likeable. Are you just hating ahead of the curve?

On topic, didn't watch last night. By the time I had a chance the game was pretty much in hand for GS so I watched GoT instead. At this point it looks like GS will be NBA champs and sitting on the Iron Throne as well.

 

[JGlass]

I don't hate GS by any means, but I'm already over them. I was very happy for them last season even though they beat the Cavs, whom I was rooting for, but I was happy to see someone besides the Spurs/Lakers/Heat win the title.

I think the reason I'm over them is because they are, without a doubt in my mind, the best basketball team ever. It's crazy how good they are. They're so good that even when their best players don't play well, their bench players go off for ridiculous games. It's amazing.

There's no fun in rooting for them because, in my mind anyway, they are the heavy favorites in any situation. They went from being the plucky unknown to the evil empire in two seasons. It reminds me of what happened to the Red Sox after they won that first World Series in 2004: they went from being the lovable losers to Yankees Lite in a heartbeat.

As for the actual play of this series...

Lebron is looking rough. I don't know what it is. He's shown instances of his typical brilliance, but more often than not he's looked neutered out there. My hypothesis is that he's being forced to do too much by himself, a role he can play and has in the past, but has not been forced to this season. Under David Blatt, the style allowed Lebron to get into iso situations where it's him vs. one other guy, and smart money bets on Lebron every time in that scenario. But now under Tyronn Lue, the team is much more fluid and dependent on each other. It makes for more exciting basketball and has allowed the Cavs to put on some spectacular offensive shows, but it requires the entire team to be performing at a high level, and they just haven't been.

The biggest issue I've noticed, and this is one of the most simple explanations that requires no insight, so don't make fun of me for pointing this out: the Warriors have been hitting their shots and the Cavs have not. Both teams have played some great defense, but both teams have also have gotten their share of good looks. When those looks come, the Warriors have been capitalizing on them, but the Cavs have not, and against a team like the Warriors who will find ways to bury you whenever they can, the Cavs can't afford to miss good looks.

I'm very pessimistic that the Cavs will turn this around. I'm hopeful that they will take two games in Cleveland and will reverse their fortunes, blowing out the Warriors in the second half and regaining some confidence and momentum... but I think the Warriors are too good of a team to let that happen. I wouldn't be surprised if the Cavs took the next two games, but I don't see them being easy wins, and I don't see them going back to Oakland with any doubts in their mind that they can win this series on their home court.

 

[BestSportsEntertainer]

I hate GS because of how ridiculous their (bandwagon) "fans" are.

When they went 73-9 - "Curry is the best player ever!"
When they were down 3-1 to the Thunder - "Westbrook and Durant were the best players ever!"
When they won the series against the Thunder - "I told you Curry is the best player ever!"
If the Cavs would've won Game 1 - "Lebron is the greatest player ever!"
When the Warriors go up 2-0 - "Man how good is Curry!"

It's pretty comical to say the least.

 

[Poop Master Flex]

I hate GS because of how ridiculous their (bandwagon) "fans" are.

When they went 73-9 - "Curry is the best player ever!"
When they were down 3-1 to the Thunder - "Westbrook and Durant were the best players ever!"
When they won the series against the Thunder - "I told you Curry is the best player ever!"
If the Cavs would've won Game 1 - "Lebron is the greatest player ever!"
When the Warriors go up 2-0 - "Man how good is Curry!"

It's pretty comical to say the least.

That covers a lot of teams over the years spanning over multiple sports, at this point its just something you have to expect when there are teams like Golden State who are just head and shoulders above the rest. It's pretty eye rolling for sure it is what it is.

 

[JGlass]

I think that Golden State bandwagons are mostly comprised of people that want to see Lebron not only fail, but be dethroned. There are many people who are already calling Curry the greatest player since Jordan, which, compared to Lebron, os ludicrous.

 

[Poop Master Flex]

Yeah I agree with that. Coming from a HUGE Jordan fan I just like seeing greatness, who cares where it comes from. I've been pretty hard on Lebron but that's just because I feel too many people overrate him which to be fair isn't on Lebron at all. I think pretty highly of Curry but he hasn't been around enough to claim he's as good as Jordan or even Lebron, it will take a good 5-10 years of stellar play before it's even worth going down that road.

 

[Khalifa]

At this point this comment is far more interesting than this series. GS has been an NBA doormat for years whose claim to fame is Run TMC and a great home crowd. Why would you hate GS of all teams? Aren't you and Bogut both Australian?

With their success hating will eventually become a thing but at this point they seem pretty universally likeable. Are you just hating ahead of the curve

I use to love The Warriors like 3 years ago. In fact they use to be the only team I go for against any other team bar Lakers. Curry was also my boy coming out of Davidson. The first year he was drafted I knew the kid would be special and he was actually battling with Kobe as my favourite player at the time. This was in the first year I'll add again. Everyone doubted Curry and thought he was nothing. I enjoyed being on the Curry train by myself, well with very few people in sight. This really has nothing to do why I dislike everything Warriors now, just saying I was to Warriors for a good 4/5/6 years.

Then last year happened and now every single person is a Curry fan and a Warriors fan. I know as people get better they become more liked and people have every right to like who they want, but it's just ridiculous the love he gets now and it's all because he can pop a 3. Well atleast that is all people actually notice because I'm not gonna sit here and say he isn't the best dribbler in the NBA. Now those people are calling him the greatest ever. Like piss off. I love Draymond Green but he just gets away with too much. Actually I like almost every player on the GS squad but I can't stand Curry anymore.

As for the squad as a whole all I can say is I guess I'm just all old school and don't like more 3s to be taken than all other shots combined. The team is just so luckily put together (arguably the two greatest shooters ever on the same team, iggy/green as big guys who love to pass but play D, a 10ft 7 back up point guard) that I'm not hypnotized by their greatness.

If not everyone jumped on GS's dick out of nowhere (like Miamis big 3) then I wouldn't have a problem.