[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

What an ugly game… CLE shot less than 32% (5-30 3 PT) from the floor. GSW didn’t look as great offensively as they normally do (give the CLE defense some credit), but they showed they could win an ugly game. People forget how great they are defensively. 

LBJ really struggled down the stretch of this game… Missed several clutch free-throws. Missed a three badly. GSW single covered him and it just looked like he struggled getting separation. His go-to move is just using his left forearm, shoulder, etc.

I think ppl should stop this Delly can defend Curry non sense. I mean, he does a good job, but it’s clear to see CLE’s defense hedges/doubles him almost every possession when there’s a screen. They even doubled him without screens. Curry makes the right plays (hence why Greeb has wide open space). But when on an island vs Delly, Curry breaks him off easily. 

It’s still a long season, but I think GSW and SAS are far and away the best teams in basketball. IF (they should) meet in the Western Conference Finals, that series will be way better than the Finals. 

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Green*

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Green*

[CameronCrazy11Participant]

Defintiely agree with the Spurs and Warriors being the top 2 teams in the NBA. Think we’re in for a legendary match-up if they continue to stay healthy and stay on opposite sides of the bracket. Today reinforced my belief that the Spurs will be the kryptonite to Golden State this year though. The Spurs’ defense has been historically good so far and usually only gets better as the season progresses.

[CameronCrazy11Participant]

Defintiely agree with the Spurs and Warriors being the top 2 teams in the NBA. Think we’re in for a legendary match-up if they continue to stay healthy and stay on opposite sides of the bracket. Today reinforced my belief that the Spurs will be the kryptonite to Golden State this year though. The Spurs’ defense has been historically good so far and usually only gets better as the season progresses.

[LA12Participant]

 I’ve always been defending LeBron, but he needs to do something about these poor performances down the stretch. It’s not like he always struggles down the stretch, but when he does it’s when EVERYONE’s watching.

 

 Even though I still believe he’s the best player alive and has the biggest impact on any team you put him on, I’m tired of coming up with reasons for these late struggles. What’s bad is that when he does struggle down the stretch, he struggles BAD. I don’t know how to even explain it considering he was looking like he was about to take over like he usually does after those two dunks and the block. 

 

All that aside though, I think people are just predisposed to hating on him. Although he’s putting up 26/7/6 on 50% shooting, people will use these games to bash on him and throw him to the side as waged up and declining. Is he declining? Yes, who wouldn’t be at 31? Is he anywhere near washed up? Try again in 5 years. He’s playing at a high level and isn’t declining THAT fast. I think he’ll be a top ten player up to at least 35. Sorry for the rant, just had to let out the steam before I went crazy on all the casual fans tweeting about the game right now lol

 

 

[LA12Participant]

 I’ve always been defending LeBron, but he needs to do something about these poor performances down the stretch. It’s not like he always struggles down the stretch, but when he does it’s when EVERYONE’s watching.

 

 Even though I still believe he’s the best player alive and has the biggest impact on any team you put him on, I’m tired of coming up with reasons for these late struggles. What’s bad is that when he does struggle down the stretch, he struggles BAD. I don’t know how to even explain it considering he was looking like he was about to take over like he usually does after those two dunks and the block. 

 

All that aside though, I think people are just predisposed to hating on him. Although he’s putting up 26/7/6 on 50% shooting, people will use these games to bash on him and throw him to the side as waged up and declining. Is he declining? Yes, who wouldn’t be at 31? Is he anywhere near washed up? Try again in 5 years. He’s playing at a high level and isn’t declining THAT fast. I think he’ll be a top ten player up to at least 35. Sorry for the rant, just had to let out the steam before I went crazy on all the casual fans tweeting about the game right now lol

 

 

[doubledribblerParticipant]

It’s pretty much Warriors and Spurs, then Cleveland and everyone else. Those are about the only consistent teams I see night in and out. Then you have teams like Chicago and OKC, but you never know what version of them is going to show up.

Warriors play Lebron the best way which is to play him straight up and they got two guys that can keep a body on him to make him work. It eliminates a lot of the other guys when they do this and forces him to do more offensively. Cavs are going to need to get something on the offensive end from Love. Right now he’s pretty much Ryan Anderson with the ability to throw the occassional nice outlet pass. I wouldn’t mind to see a healthy rematch of these two teams, but they need to put some pressure on Curry to play defense. It is hard enough going against him when he stays pretty fresh because they blow so many teams out, but if he’s just able to hide on defense or is defending a guy that is only going to shoot long threes then he’s going to stay fresh as the game goes.

 

[doubledribblerParticipant]

It’s pretty much Warriors and Spurs, then Cleveland and everyone else. Those are about the only consistent teams I see night in and out. Then you have teams like Chicago and OKC, but you never know what version of them is going to show up.

Warriors play Lebron the best way which is to play him straight up and they got two guys that can keep a body on him to make him work. It eliminates a lot of the other guys when they do this and forces him to do more offensively. Cavs are going to need to get something on the offensive end from Love. Right now he’s pretty much Ryan Anderson with the ability to throw the occassional nice outlet pass. I wouldn’t mind to see a healthy rematch of these two teams, but they need to put some pressure on Curry to play defense. It is hard enough going against him when he stays pretty fresh because they blow so many teams out, but if he’s just able to hide on defense or is defending a guy that is only going to shoot long threes then he’s going to stay fresh as the game goes.

 

[Pro-21Participant]

LeBron’s late game struggles come from his inconsistent jumpshot and his average acceleration/start-stop ability in the half court. Its the reason why he took that difficult stepback against iguodala in game one last year. MJ was vastly superior in both areas, which always enabled him to get a relatively easy shot in late game situations, where as LeBron either takes a long jumper, or lowers his shoulder and bulls his way to the rim, where he finished very well, but he also gets hacked and might not get a call. I honestly don’t even remember how he was able to close out games so well back in the day. Maybe he was quicker and could create better separation. Either way, LeBron on your team guarantees 50 wins, which you can’t say about anyone else besides maybe Durant. Not much to complain about. 

Uncle Drew looked more like himself today. His quickness and athleticism is there, just balance and jumpshot and touch need to be worked more. Give it a few more weeks, and I think he’ll be very close to the Kyrie of old. Give him til’ April, he should be unguardable again and the cavs will be as ready for the warriors as they can be. They are DEEP.

 

 

[Pro-21Participant]

LeBron’s late game struggles come from his inconsistent jumpshot and his average acceleration/start-stop ability in the half court. Its the reason why he took that difficult stepback against iguodala in game one last year. MJ was vastly superior in both areas, which always enabled him to get a relatively easy shot in late game situations, where as LeBron either takes a long jumper, or lowers his shoulder and bulls his way to the rim, where he finished very well, but he also gets hacked and might not get a call. I honestly don’t even remember how he was able to close out games so well back in the day. Maybe he was quicker and could create better separation. Either way, LeBron on your team guarantees 50 wins, which you can’t say about anyone else besides maybe Durant. Not much to complain about. 

Uncle Drew looked more like himself today. His quickness and athleticism is there, just balance and jumpshot and touch need to be worked more. Give it a few more weeks, and I think he’ll be very close to the Kyrie of old. Give him til’ April, he should be unguardable again and the cavs will be as ready for the warriors as they can be. They are DEEP.

 

 

[SubZeroParticipant]

Well when he beat my Thunder in the Finals, he was in the post constantly. Don’t know why he doesn’t go to that more often

[SubZeroParticipant]

Well when he beat my Thunder in the Finals, he was in the post constantly. Don’t know why he doesn’t go to that more often

[Greekballin]

 so now it’s all about Lebron coming up short in important late game situations lol? Fun fact, Curry wasn’t great today, couldn’t even win a finals mvp last year, and Lebron showed everybody he still is better than him.

Kyrie still has to get his rythm back, but I think this will be a 7 games series in the finals really if both teams stay healthy.

[Greekballin]

 so now it’s all about Lebron coming up short in important late game situations lol? Fun fact, Curry wasn’t great today, couldn’t even win a finals mvp last year, and Lebron showed everybody he still is better than him.

Kyrie still has to get his rythm back, but I think this will be a 7 games series in the finals really if both teams stay healthy.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

LeBron did struggle though… 1-5 at the line. An air balled three. I think he was 2-6 in the 4th, missing majority of his shots around the rim. 

Curry wasn’t great today, but let’s not be ridiculous. He’s the reason Green is getting that open space and GSW is then basically playing 4 on 3 (Leaving a shooter wide open in corner, big with the lob or a Green three, floater or layup/dunk). Curry is drawing two defenders 100% of the time on screens and he consistently makes the right plays. He’s not being single covered like LBJ is nor is it in the GSW’s plan to break offense and run a bunch of isolations for him, even though I’d love to see him hesi, change speeds and behind the back crossover Delly’s ass more often.

With that being said, CLE is going to be very good. No pushover in the Finals. Obviously Kyrie doesn’t have his legs under him yet. Love missed a lot of makeable shots. I also think they have to get Mozgov going. He just doesn’t look the same physically or mentally like he did last season. I thought CLE acquiring him was the move that changed their season. 

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

LeBron did struggle though… 1-5 at the line. An air balled three. I think he was 2-6 in the 4th, missing majority of his shots around the rim. 

Curry wasn’t great today, but let’s not be ridiculous. He’s the reason Green is getting that open space and GSW is then basically playing 4 on 3 (Leaving a shooter wide open in corner, big with the lob or a Green three, floater or layup/dunk). Curry is drawing two defenders 100% of the time on screens and he consistently makes the right plays. He’s not being single covered like LBJ is nor is it in the GSW’s plan to break offense and run a bunch of isolations for him, even though I’d love to see him hesi, change speeds and behind the back crossover Delly’s ass more often.

With that being said, CLE is going to be very good. No pushover in the Finals. Obviously Kyrie doesn’t have his legs under him yet. Love missed a lot of makeable shots. I also think they have to get Mozgov going. He just doesn’t look the same physically or mentally like he did last season. I thought CLE acquiring him was the move that changed their season. 

[PulseGlazerParticipant]

 The entire Cle defense freaked out every time Curry started a move or came off a screen.  He caused SO many open looks.  Cle decided that Green would have to beat them, and, unsurprisingly, he did.  That’s the problem with stopping Steph. It takes great on ball defense and two extra guys hedging hard, so it doesn’t actually stop GS.

[PulseGlazerParticipant]

 The entire Cle defense freaked out every time Curry started a move or came off a screen.  He caused SO many open looks.  Cle decided that Green would have to beat them, and, unsurprisingly, he did.  That’s the problem with stopping Steph. It takes great on ball defense and two extra guys hedging hard, so it doesn’t actually stop GS.

[Greekballin]

 I think they have a great game plan and teams should do that against the Warriors IMO.. Double Curry everytime and force the others to beat you.. Livingston came up big in this game, and if not for him, they would probably have lost that game.

[Greekballin]

 I think they have a great game plan and teams should do that against the Warriors IMO.. Double Curry everytime and force the others to beat you.. Livingston came up big in this game, and if not for him, they would probably have lost that game.

[Hype Machine]

 To be fair… GSW only scored 89 pts.

Tough to beat…but Cleveland had the right defensive plan. 

It was Offense which was the Cavs problem.

 

 

[Hype Machine]

 To be fair… GSW only scored 89 pts.

Tough to beat…but Cleveland had the right defensive plan. 

It was Offense which was the Cavs problem.

 

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 This game sucked. The players looked tired other than Green, they called TV timeouts every 30 seconds which messed with the flow, wthe officiating was bad, and watching LeBron travel gets annoying.

[OhCanada-Participant]

 This game sucked. The players looked tired other than Green, they called TV timeouts every 30 seconds which messed with the flow, wthe officiating was bad, and watching LeBron travel gets annoying.

[Author]

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