Game #43 | Cavaliers vs. Warriors | January 15th, 2017 @ 8 PM EST

[Return of the King]

Tim Reynolds

✔@ByTimReynolds

LeBron finishes with 32, 8 and 6.

Cavs are 31-7 in the last four seasons when he's done that.

Six of those seven losses have come against Golden State.

 

[Jontibs]

The minute games get tight, Lebron will go back to pick and roll iso game.

That probably beats every other team in a 7 game series but against THIS Warriors team, not a chance.

That is exactly what the Warriors want to happen as well. Simplifies their defensive schemes and boils down to attrition. At some point Lebron and Kyrie/It fatigue and it is game over.

There is where a stronger coach would help, someone with a vision of how to play. Needs LBJ to buy in and I doubt he can change at this point.

 

[fan0283]

We do not play well with LeBron as the primary ball handler - his turnovers kills us.

He still somehow hasn't learnt that his cavalier style passes don't work against this team. Their defensive awareness is elite.

 

[godfather]

Totally agree.

Cavs will win the East. Then lose to GSW.

No use flipping out about this game. We've all known how each year ends, ever since Durant signed with GSW.

Just hope we don't get embarrassed. Really all we can hope for.

Or an injury to them.

Yes they can but it's easier for them to do when IT

I don't see IT's defensive woes going away against them.

 

[Rainman]

But yet Boston can handle this team.

 

[6.19.2016]

They didn't even have to use desperation tactics like in our past few meetings. Didn't post up IT or really sag off TT that badly etc. Wonder how KD feels happy winning this way. Feel retire with 5-6 rings and wonder why no one has him in their top 8 Goats

Haven't you heard? Him and Curry are already ahead of Bron, as are Kobe/every other Lakers great, Duncan, etc, and Bron's only even with Stockton/Malone/Barkley/other ringless stars, not to mention Kyrie's closing in on him. Yes, those are close to actual realgm quotes.

I can't believe I heard twice this evening announcers, and CLE ones no less, saying how "underrated" the Dubs defense is. LOLwut? It gets almost as much slobbering over in the media as the offense.

Every one of the main rotation except Curry gets talked about as a top-tier defender, every pace-adjusted stat indicates the team is and is noted in the media, and the only number that leads people to think it's not is raw ppg due to their high pace, which people already understand doesn't matter.

 

[David.]

They looked tired as fuck to me. That's why they lost. They were fine until that last 6.

 

[MirORich]

I don't see IT's defensive woes going away against them.

I'm not sure that's why we lost tonight. Yes, his defense will always be limited at best. But until we see what type of impact his offense has(especially how it affects the workload others currently have to carry) when fully healthy and fully integrated to this team, it's just hard to know exactly where this matchup lies. I mean, we'll be underdogs no doubt. I don't think there is a trade we could make that would result in us not being the underdogs against GS

 

[MirORich]

But yet Boston can handle this team.

Is this a joke or a serious question? Boston has never faced GS in the Finals.

Like are you mocking the people who think Boston can "handle" this team or are you seriously saying that BOS can "handle" GS based on a few regular season matchups?

 

[TitleTown]

I don't think there is a trade we could make that would result in us not being the underdogs against GS

Lue for Fizdale would be a trade that I'd love to see.

 

[PIP]

But yet Boston can handle this team.

Boston plays defense.

 

[Taiter]

Warriors literally toyed with us all game long. They are so far above us right now it’s not even funny. Hard to even get pissed, they just have better talent AND coaching

Yep, a devastating injury is the only hope this team and any other team has.

 

[MirORich]

Lue for Fizdale would be a trade that I'd love to see.

Wouldn't hate it as I like Fizdale and obviously so does LeBron and Wade but I don't think it would change the equation that much and trust me on a few things:

1. We can change coaches every 18-24 months as much as we want. New coaches. Old coaches. Scheme coaches. Feel coaches. But a LeBron James team is going to play a certain way overall(for better and for worse) no matter who you bring in. Especially at this point in his career.

2. The majority, vast majority of posters who not just have some issues with Lue but hate him or say that he's terrible, would find themselves with a similar outlook on Fizdale or just about any other coach we have while LeBron is here.

 

[KilgoreTrout]

Totally agree.

Cavs will win the East. Then lose to GSW.

No use flipping out about this game. We've all known how each year ends, ever since Durant signed with GSW.

Cavs will not make it out of the East this year. This isn't the normal dysfunction.

 

[KilgoreTrout]

Hopefully Durant leaves after they win this year.

Durant has said he is in The Bay Area for the long haul.