Author Topic: Have the Cavs had it too easy in the playoffs?  (Read 5256 times)

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Re: Have the Cavs had it too easy in the playoffs?
« Reply #15 on: May 27, 2015, 09:21:26 AM »

Offline JohnBoy65

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Let's not forget this. Had the Bulls doubled Lebron in the Corner there in game 5 and not allowed him to get the ball. there's a 99% chance they go up 3-1 in that series. That's HUGE. If that happens we may be talking about how easy it'll be for GSW to win a title at this point.

Re: Have the Cavs had it too easy in the playoffs?
« Reply #16 on: May 27, 2015, 09:43:28 AM »

Offline PhoSita

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The play of the role players for the Cavs is being vastly underrated.

JR Smith, Iman Shumpert, Tristan Thompson, Dellavedova and Timo Mozgov seem to be gelling more and more by the game and growing in confidence.  They are playing like a team on a mission.  I give them a more than fair shot against the Warriors.

The roleplayers have done a great job.  Cleveland would not have reached this point if the role players hadn't stepped up compared to what they were doing earlier in the season.

Doesn't change the fact that this is one of the weakest representatives of the Eastern Conference in the Finals ... ever, right up there with the 2007 version of the team.  It is LeBron, a hobbled scoring point guard (sans defense), and a bunch of role players.  It's LeBron and a roster on par with the Knicks.

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I fully expect James to be guarding Curry, which will pose significant problems for Golden State, just like it did the one time James played against GS in the regular season.  James will be a triple double machine, slow Curry down, and force the Warriors into a style of play they aren't accustomed to.  Cavs will win in 6.


I think you're failing to account for the fact that LeBron is absolutely exhausted.  To reach this point, the Cavs have had to rely on LeBron to do 100% of the heavy lifting. 

LeBron is not going to average a triple double and check Curry on the other end.  I will guarantee that right now.  Not going to happen.

As for the Warriors lacking anybody to cover LeBron, I guess I don't know what the heck you're talking about.  There might not be a team in the league that has more versatile, rangy wing types to throw at LeBron. 

Perhaps none of them can truly "stop" LeBron.  None of them is a wing defender on the level of Kawhi Leonard, for example.  But they have more than enough to slow LeBron down, and slowing LeBron down AT ALL is all it takes to submarine this Cavs team.
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Re: Have the Cavs had it too easy in the playoffs?
« Reply #17 on: May 27, 2015, 09:48:10 AM »

Offline PhoSita

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Re-posting this from the other Cavs thread:

Which team is better, this Cavs team, or the 2007 version that made the Finals and got swept?

2007 supporting cast:

- Big Z
- Gooden
- Larry Hughes
- Varejao
- Sasha Pavlovic
- Eric Snow

2015 supporting cast:

- Irving (severely limited)
- Thompson
- Mozgov
- J.R. Smith
- Shumpert
- Dellevadova

So what do you think?  With a healthy Irving, I think the 2015 team gets the clear edge.  With Kyrie playing at maybe 50%, I don't think it's an easy choice at all.
You値l have to excuse my lengthiness葉he reason I dread writing letters is because I am so apt to get to slinging wisdom & forget to let up. Thus much precious time is lost.
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Re: Have the Cavs had it too easy in the playoffs?
« Reply #18 on: May 27, 2015, 09:49:30 AM »

Online Donoghus

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Re-posting this from the other Cavs thread:

Which team is better, this Cavs team, or the 2007 version that made the Finals and got swept?

2007 supporting cast:

- Big Z
- Gooden
- Larry Hughes
- Varejao
- Sasha Pavlovic
- Eric Snow

2015 supporting cast:

- Irving (severely limited)
- Thompson
- Mozgov
- J.R. Smith
- Shumpert
- Dellevadova

So what do you think?  With a healthy Irving, I think the 2015 team gets the clear edge.  With Kyrie playing at maybe 50%, I don't think it's an easy choice at all.

I still think it's the 2015 Cavs.


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Re: Have the Cavs had it too easy in the playoffs?
« Reply #19 on: May 27, 2015, 09:56:47 AM »

Offline PhoSita

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To me, the big men are no contest.  Big Z, Gooden, and a young Varejao are superior to Mozgov and Tristan Thompson. 

No two players have been elevated in the public estimation more as a result of the Cavs' romp through the midden heap that is the Eastern Conference than those two guys.

So then it comes down to Larry Hughes, Sasha Pavlovic, and Eric Snow versus Irving, Delly, JR, and Shump.

I agree with you -- Irving is what tilts it in favor of the 2015 version of the team.  That's it, though, and he's been limited in a number of these games.
You値l have to excuse my lengthiness葉he reason I dread writing letters is because I am so apt to get to slinging wisdom & forget to let up. Thus much precious time is lost.
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Re: Have the Cavs had it too easy in the playoffs?
« Reply #20 on: May 27, 2015, 10:29:30 AM »

Offline jpotter33

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The easy road to the Finals for the Cavs exaggerates how good the team is.

As others said, they have done the best they can with the talent on their team, and have beaten the opponents put in front of them.

Unless Curry suffers a catastrophic injury, the Cavs have no chance.  Zilch.

The Warriors have the stars and the dominant two-way team game.  The Cavs are as one dimensional as they ever have been with Bron at the helm.

Lebron is a great player, but it is a shame that in his prime he has hardly been challenged in his own conference.  And no, carrying an utterly mediocre roster to the Finals in an absolutely gutted conference isn't the sort of challenge we hope to see an all-time great face.
You are significantly underselling the Cavs roster and seriously underrating how good a chance Cleveland has against the Warriors.  The Warriors have no one that can come close to shutting James down.  He will have a field day.  I mean triple doubles all day long type field day.  And I fully expect James to be guarding Curry, which will pose significant problems for Golden State, just like it did the one time James played against GS in the regular season.  James will be a triple double machine, slow Curry down, and force the Warriors into a style of play they aren't accustomed to.  Cavs will win in 6.

I'm tired of hearing this... James CAN'T guard someone like Curry for more than a couple possessions at a time. He's too quick, with too good of ball-handling for the 6'8" 265 lb. Lebron to guard him most of the game. Hell, Turner's ball-handling was able to get past James in our series, he just wasn't able to finish or kick it out for a finish. James is a good defender, but this whole notion that he can shut down opposing point guards for a whole game like Curry, Paul, or even Irving is just ridiculous.

Re: Have the Cavs had it too easy in the playoffs?
« Reply #21 on: May 27, 2015, 10:33:21 AM »

Offline PhoSita

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The easy road to the Finals for the Cavs exaggerates how good the team is.

As others said, they have done the best they can with the talent on their team, and have beaten the opponents put in front of them.

Unless Curry suffers a catastrophic injury, the Cavs have no chance.  Zilch.

The Warriors have the stars and the dominant two-way team game.  The Cavs are as one dimensional as they ever have been with Bron at the helm.

Lebron is a great player, but it is a shame that in his prime he has hardly been challenged in his own conference.  And no, carrying an utterly mediocre roster to the Finals in an absolutely gutted conference isn't the sort of challenge we hope to see an all-time great face.
You are significantly underselling the Cavs roster and seriously underrating how good a chance Cleveland has against the Warriors.  The Warriors have no one that can come close to shutting James down.  He will have a field day.  I mean triple doubles all day long type field day.  And I fully expect James to be guarding Curry, which will pose significant problems for Golden State, just like it did the one time James played against GS in the regular season.  James will be a triple double machine, slow Curry down, and force the Warriors into a style of play they aren't accustomed to.  Cavs will win in 6.

I'm tired of hearing this... James CAN'T guard someone like Curry for more than a couple possessions at a time. He's too quick, with too good of ball-handling for the 6'8" 265 lb. Lebron to guard him most of the game. Hell, Turner's ball-handling was able to get past James in our series, he just wasn't able to finish or kick it out for a finish. James is a good defender, but this whole notion that he can shut down opposing point guards for a whole game like Curry, Paul, or even Irving is just ridiculous.

Right.  LeBron can play any position offensively, and he can get by defensively against pretty much any player in the league.  He can't, however, shut down anyone he wants. 

Especially since he is actually exhausted.  LeBron is not invincible.  It happened last year, and it'll happen again this year.  LeBron will be running nearly on empty in the Finals.
You値l have to excuse my lengthiness葉he reason I dread writing letters is because I am so apt to get to slinging wisdom & forget to let up. Thus much precious time is lost.
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Re: Have the Cavs had it too easy in the playoffs?
« Reply #22 on: May 27, 2015, 10:33:51 AM »

Offline TheTruthFot18

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Re-posting this from the other Cavs thread:

Which team is better, this Cavs team, or the 2007 version that made the Finals and got swept?

2007 supporting cast:

- Big Z
- Gooden
- Larry Hughes
- Varejao
- Sasha Pavlovic
- Eric Snow

2015 supporting cast:

- Irving (severely limited)
- Thompson
- Mozgov
- J.R. Smith
- Shumpert
- Dellevadova

So what do you think?  With a healthy Irving, I think the 2015 team gets the clear edge.  With Kyrie playing at maybe 50%, I don't think it's an easy choice at all.

Problem is the LeBron then had 0 championship rings and this was his first trip there. All while carrying a worse team than now at just 22.

I personally think this cavs team is much better (not that I tip my hat to JR Smith ever) but I think Golden State is unlike anyone they've played this postseason. Maybe if you took the best features of the Celtics (run and gun), Hawks (floor spacing/bigs), and Chicago (3+D) that's what Cleveland has to deal with now.

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Re: Have the Cavs had it too easy in the playoffs?
« Reply #23 on: May 27, 2015, 10:37:43 AM »

Offline JohnBoy65

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AI, Barnes, Green - All guys that could definitely be thrown on Lebron

Thompson and Speights (if healthy) are guys you could put on him for a limited amount of possessions.

I think GSW can adequately guard LBJ

Re: Have the Cavs had it too easy in the playoffs?
« Reply #24 on: May 27, 2015, 10:57:27 AM »

Offline Vox_Populi

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Yes, of course. Miami breezed through a bad East again last year, beating a shell of a Pacers team in 6 games, and were completely lobotomized by the Spurs. LeBron James is having the least efficient post-season of his career. He can't shoot at all anymore. Their offense is stale and isolation heavy. And yet, they consistently have the two best players on the floor, so it's rarely mattered.

Re: Have the Cavs had it too easy in the playoffs?
« Reply #25 on: May 27, 2015, 11:00:22 AM »

Offline PhoSita

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Yes, of course. Miami breezed through a bad East again last year, beating a shell of a Pacers team in 6 games, and were completely lobotomized by the Spurs. LeBron James is having the least efficient post-season of his career. He can't shoot at all anymore. Their offense is stale and isolation heavy. And yet, they consistently have the two best players on the floor, so it's rarely mattered.

The Hawks, given the injuries they suffered, might be the worst Eastern Conference opponent LeBron has ever faced.

I agree with all of the above.
You値l have to excuse my lengthiness葉he reason I dread writing letters is because I am so apt to get to slinging wisdom & forget to let up. Thus much precious time is lost.
- Mark Twain

Re: Have the Cavs had it too easy in the playoffs?
« Reply #26 on: May 27, 2015, 11:02:08 AM »

Offline slamtheking

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Yes, of course. Miami breezed through a bad East again last year, beating a shell of a Pacers team in 6 games, and were completely lobotomized by the Spurs. LeBron James is having the least efficient post-season of his career. He can't shoot at all anymore. Their offense is stale and isolation heavy. And yet, they consistently have the two best players on the floor, so it's rarely mattered.
sure looked like he could shoot when they played the C's.

Re: Have the Cavs had it too easy in the playoffs?
« Reply #27 on: May 27, 2015, 11:03:08 AM »

Offline PhoSita

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Yes, of course. Miami breezed through a bad East again last year, beating a shell of a Pacers team in 6 games, and were completely lobotomized by the Spurs. LeBron James is having the least efficient post-season of his career. He can't shoot at all anymore. Their offense is stale and isolation heavy. And yet, they consistently have the two best players on the floor, so it's rarely mattered.
sure looked like he could shoot when they played the C's.

It's easy to look like a good shooter when the opponent never puts somebody in your face tall enough to actually properly contest your shot.
You値l have to excuse my lengthiness葉he reason I dread writing letters is because I am so apt to get to slinging wisdom & forget to let up. Thus much precious time is lost.
- Mark Twain

Re: Have the Cavs had it too easy in the playoffs?
« Reply #28 on: May 27, 2015, 11:04:58 AM »

Offline slamtheking

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I wouldn't say that the Cavs have had a cakewalk as much as their playoff opponents have underperformed in the playoffs except maybe the C's who played about to their level.

Lebron looks like he's on a mission this year to get that chip.  with or without Curry, the finals are not going to be a cakewalk for GSW and I wouldn't be the least surprised to see the Cavs win it even with Curry playing at his best.  GSW had the best record but as a team I don't look at them and think they're just unbeatable. 

Re: Have the Cavs had it too easy in the playoffs?
« Reply #29 on: May 27, 2015, 11:07:42 AM »

Offline slamtheking

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Yes, of course. Miami breezed through a bad East again last year, beating a shell of a Pacers team in 6 games, and were completely lobotomized by the Spurs. LeBron James is having the least efficient post-season of his career. He can't shoot at all anymore. Their offense is stale and isolation heavy. And yet, they consistently have the two best players on the floor, so it's rarely mattered.
sure looked like he could shoot when they played the C's.

It's easy to look like a good shooter when the opponent never puts somebody in your face tall enough to actually properly contest your shot.
he hit plenty of contested shots.  not every shot was open.  believe me, I'd love nothing better than to belittle his game/accomplishments but I can't downplay his effort or accomplishments against the C's.  He played like he wants it this year and I seriously think he'll do whatever it takes to win.  I don't think that was always the case in Miami