Game 34 | Cavs (24-9) @ Warriors (25-6) Monday December 25, 2017 | 3:00 PM EST (Merry Christmas)

[Return of the King]

Kevin Durant is allowing 22% shooting on 100% fouling in one-on-one situations this season

 

[cavsfever]

If IT can score 23-25 a game efficiently and fits well, I don't think we're in for another 5 game series. I think we can really battle them to 6 or 7 games. Still going to be extremely difficult to win 4 out of 7 but I think we have a better shot than we did last year.

The question is what he'll do to our half court defense, especially with Curry in there.

On offense don't think he needs to try to be Kyrie 2.0 and score 25...letting Lebron move more off the ball will be huge.

 

[czvo]

Agreed. On the bright side I really think having Crowder+Green for Durant defensive purposes are going to be godsends for this team. I know they didn't have Curry but it's not like we doubled Durant much either. Wade also is a big help against them defensively.

If IT can score 23-25 a game efficiently and fits well, I don't think we're in for another 5 game series. I think we can really battle them to 6 or 7 games. Still going to be extremely difficult to win 4 out of 7 but I think we have a better shot than we did last year.

I was very pleased with Jae, Love and Wade. LeBron had a subpar game, but I don't expect that to happen offensively. The bigger concern is his total lack of focus defensively. We've said, "oh, he'll turn it up in the playoffs," but it cost the team big time in the finals last year. I don't know what his deal is, but it's almost like he just expects to switch everything on every play, but that's not the case.

The Cavs will finish better at the rim, and IT will give them a much needed creator alongside LeBron. JR just missed shots, but it comes with the territory. TT's lack of lift and energy is really concerning, but I don't know how much of that is conditioning.

I just don't know what you take away from this game because the Golden State offense is just so much better with Curry. If you told me the Cavs would be totally healthy, and they'd play the dubs without Steph? Cavs in five. Both teams fully healthy? I don't know... but I do know LeBron has to be superhuman to win that series.

 

[inliner311]

JR and TT are basically unplayable against the Warriors. We already knew this but it's clear

Korver almost falls in that category too. We need a combo guard who plays good defense to slot in for JR and/or Korver, while possible playing backup PG in tandem with Wade.

 

[mAo_mAo]

My biggest take away is LeBron did not care about this game.

 

[mhi]

Today's injuries aside, I think one thing that's missing from this team is the realization that the entire organization must be clicking at 110% to even have a chance against these Warriors.

The means the FO, coaching staff and players must be in their best possible shape.

Ask yourself, how close are we to that?

 

[bboy]

Welp, this one is over. Some bad calls but we had bigger problems, honestly.

positives:
- Any talk of Love not being playable against the W's has to stop now. He's one of the main reasons we were even in the game
- We did extremely well in the half court defense, for what it's worth. Obviously it isn't going to be that easy once Curry comes back, so I don't know how much stock we can put in that one, honestly.
- Jeff Green did well defending Durant, that is big time going forward

Negatives:
- We need more scoring, end of discussion. The Warriors are too good defensively, we need to make LeBron's job easier.
- JR played awful basketball
- TT played awful basketball
- LeBron needs to change it up. They're wise to his kickouts and they're targeting them to get out in transition and it was a major problem all night. He did not look good tonight, and regardless of the no calls late, Durant looked like the better player out there. This isn't to say that he is the better player but GS are doing a much better job of putting him in a position to be so than the Cavs are doing with LeBron. At least I hope that's what it is, because this is simply how the LeBron - Durant match up plays out we don't have a prayer in the finals.

That's what I think...LBJ needs a new approach against GS...he's working too hard

 

[czvo]

Today's injuries aside, I think one thing that's missing from this team is the realization that the entire organization must be clicking at 110% to even have a chance against these Warriors.

The means the FO, coaching staff and players must be in their best possible shape.

Ask yourself, how close are we to that?

I don't understand what this means.

 

[czvo]

My biggest take away is LeBron did not care about this game.

Well... this is another aspect at play. LeBron when he cares parks his ass in the post against these guys. I think he does that in the future when matched up against Bell. He's not quick enough to beat him off the dribble.

 

[inliner311]

I was very pleased with Jae, Love and Wade. LeBron had a subpar game, but I don't expect that to happen offensively. The bigger concern is his total lack of focus defensively. We've said, "oh, he'll turn it up in the playoffs," but it cost the team big time in the finals last year. I don't know what his deal is, but it's almost like he just expects to switch everything on every play, but that's not the case.

The Cavs will finish better at the rim, and IT will give them a much needed creator alongside LeBron. JR just missed shots, but it comes with the territory. TT's lack of lift and energy is really concerning, but I don't know how much of that is conditioning.

I just don't know what you take away from this game because the Golden State offense is just so much better with Curry. If you told me the Cavs would be totally healthy, and they'd play the dubs without Steph? Cavs in five. Both teams fully healthy? I don't know... but I do know LeBron has to be superhuman to win that series.

I was happy with what I saw from Wade, Crowder, and Love too. We need options at SG though. Korver is going to get abused on defense and JR is so streaky that we need someone just in case he goes cold like tonight. I'd prefer a combo guard that could possibly help guard Curry.

 

[Pjlea28]

Guys, we won’t beat this GSW team! They are playing without their best player and they were toying with us and beat us!
To much dead body we have in this team from JR to TT, Calderon...... and ad to this that idiot that we have in the bench who leaves Love in the bench when we needed to rebound the ball.


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Well look how much free time you have cleared from your calendar since you know all the answers and there is no reason to watch them anymore this season.

 

[Jontibs]

Eh this game showed we still need a lot of work. Honestly it looked like the finals.

- Breakdowns defensively late in the 4th.
-Out rebounded in crucial situations.
- Odd rotations
- Our offense resorts to LeBron 30 feet from the hoop dribbling out the clock...while we're down.

Warriors 4th Quarter defense on the Cavs has been great going back to the finals.

This is why I say that type offense against teams like the Bulls, Nets, etc doesn't even matter. We need real offense against the Warriors or they'll lock us up.

LeBron dribbling that far away against KD doesn't favor us. We need him cutting and moving off the ball.

The Lebron ISO in the last 5 mins is an issue, can not expect to keep making these step back 3's at the rate he has been. Hoping that when IT comes back they just do not fall back on taking turns in that situation. Some of the bench play this year with the ball movement, cutting off the ball, awareness of the passing option have been the most impressive ball the Cavs have played. Points the way forward.

Calderon/JR/Shumpert is a problem, starting guard pair must be among the least productive in the league. For all the talk of trading the pick for a 5 I wonder if looking for a high end defensive guard might be the better use for it, especially with IT to come in. Who that is I have no idea.

Crowder/Green do give the Cavs much better defensive versatility.

 

[LeShaq]

My biggest take away is LeBron did not care about this game.

I think he cared, but I also think this was kind of a "feel out" game (new Cavs squad) for LeBron.

LeBron has some match up issues against the Warriors. They can make him look bad in a way that many teams cannot.

LeBron's driving ability has declined as his legs have aged, and the Warriors' switching and defensive rotations make it harder to drive for anyone.

Also, Durant's length makes it harder for LeBron to shoot over him. And Durant, with a great team around him, is trying to go all-out every time he faces LeBron now.

LeBron can play better than he did today, of course, but the Warriors are not an easy match up for him. And as others have pointed out, the Warriors have LeBron's tendencies scouted out pretty well, too.

 

[Gus Zing]

So many overreactions to a game that means very little.

I saw some serious concerns in terms of our late game offense, defensive breakdowns (non Steph team), and the Warriors addition of Jordan Bell. The Warriors have a habit of making our role players struggle. Korver again strapped up.

They now have someone playing the 5 who is not automatically toast when he switches on LeBron.

Yes getting IT on the team makes the offense better/easier. However, are we really going to resort to my turn/your turn again? All 5 players should have been an option on the floor.

As @gourimoko @cavsfever said before if we're really just resorting to the same stuff but swapping IT for Kyrie....thats not making anything changes for the better.

Wade should have handled the ball more. LeBron should have been cutting more. I hope and pray IT gets the calls he was getting in Boston cause with Durant, Green, Bell's length on the outside/inside we're going to miss those crazy Kyrie layups. Warriors rarely get called for fouls.

LeBron/Lue's gotta stop resorting to LeBron save us mode cause the Warriors are just now too good. That isn't Harrison Barnes out there..

 

[CHIMOCHIS]

I think he cared, but I also think this was kind of a "feel out" game (new Cavs squad) for LeBron.

LeBron has some match up issues against the Warriors. They can make him look bad in a way that many teams cannot.

LeBron's driving ability has declined as his legs have aged, and the Warriors' switching and defensive rotations make it harder to drive for anyone.

Also, Durant's length makes it harder for LeBron to shoot over him. And Durant, with a great team around him, is trying to go all-out every time he faces LeBron now.

LeBron can play better than he did today, of course, but the Warriors are not an easy match up for him. And as others have pointed out, the Warriors have LeBron's tendencies scouted out pretty well, too.

LeBron has bad games when his shot isn’t falling

The warriors are allowed to hack if you drive at them