2018 NBA Playoffs

[ajz20]

The Cavs have not drafted, developed, or coached, in any non-obvious way (four #1 overalls, 1 botched horribly).

Very very true. The owner does not understand the importance of a strong front office. He has been disillusioned by the success with Lebron, to think you can be a great franchise without a stable and high level front office. It seems like the 4 years of horrid play when Lebron was in Miami taught him very little. Now imagine how bad those 4 years would have been had they gotten pick 2 and drafted Derek Williams who was the second player on thier board and not Irving.

That is the reason many us are not that optimistic we will be able to rebuild the right way. Honestly it may take a failed rebuild or two over several years before Gilbert learns his lesson.

 

[Surge]

Watching the Rockets was like looking in a mirror.

 

[Rich]

Watching the Rockets was like looking in a mirror.

That's exactly it. They just have two elite pick and roll ball handlers to our 1. And one elite rim runner to our none.

It's kinda why I like their chances. Cause we beat them playing 1on1 basketball.

 

[Rich]

I would love to think Houston can keep it close. But, after watching the game tonight, I just cannot see them taking this series past 5 games. I don't consider it melting down. The Warriors are just better.

Look, as Cavs fans I think we'd of all teams know that you can't judge a series over after one game. For the better part of the first 8 quarters in 2016 we got our asses kicked. It looked like a sweep was incoming. We weren't terribly competitive.

This is my honest take: The Warriors were awesome. That was the best game they've played in the playoffs so far. Durant was great. Thompson was great. Green was great. They got good production from Nick Young and Shaun Livingston. When they play an A game, they win. And i thought that was pretty damn close to their A game.

But ANY other team in the league would have been run out of the gym in that 3rd quarter. Only Houston could withstand a barrage like that and keep it close. Everyone else would have been down by 20 entering the 4th at least.

James Harden was awesome, but it's not like Houston was guns blazing that game. None of their wings did shit the entire night. Capela was neutralized on the offensive glass, and for whatever reason D'Antoni decided to give Ryan Anderson 1st half burn.

I think there's more wiggle room in this than people wanna believe.

Look, if they lose game 2, the series is over. If they win game 2, they'll be the first team since Durant went there to be tied with them in a series.

 

[K1rieIrving>AllOtherPG's]

Yea but if we beat Boston only to get fucked in the ass I'd probably just say fuck it and rather lose. I don't want to be demoralized and drained from all positive energy. These Warriors are taking souls. Houston fans are already holding their heads down.

We still have 3 games for Houston to man up and lunge into Durant’s skinny ass knees, do what must be done to kill the snake and save the NBA from doom.

Watching the Rockets was like looking in a mirror.

It’s crazy how much they ISO and how simple their offense is, we have very little movement in our offense but the Rockets have even less which is crazy, I didn’t watch Houston play this year, I assumed Mike D'antoni is having them moving and running non stop P&Rs

 

[czvo]

That's exactly it. They just have two elite pick and roll ball handlers to our 1. And one elite rim runner to our none.

It's kinda why I like their chances. Cause we beat them playing 1on1 basketball.

This is absolutely true, and it probably means nothing since that happened pre-Durant.

I honestly think all this talk about the best style to beat the Warriors misses the point.

 

[Rich]

This is absolutely true, and it probably means nothing since that happened pre-Durant.

I honestly think all this talk about the best style to beat the Warriors misses the point.

Then it misses the point dude. I'm not gonna sit here and cry "woe is me" every night because the Warriors are really good. I still enjoy watching the game and trying to figure things out.

If you guys don't, if you find the league boring now because of GS, what the fuck are you doing still watching?

 

[czvo]

Then it misses the point dude. I'm not gonna sit here and cry "woe is me" every night because the Warriors are really good. I still enjoy watching the game and trying to figure things out.

If you guys don't, if you find the league boring now because of GS, what the fuck are you doing still watching?

No, you misunderstand. I'm not saying you're wrong, or anyone's wrong, about the way to beat them. And I agree, there's no point to watch if you're just going to accept it.

It's not about having to play this way or that way. It's that, whatever way you decide to play, you better maximize the shit out of it. You need to have a clear organizational vision, get players that fit that vision, then drill it over and over and over until you're at the top of your game.....

And it still probably won't be enough because the Warriors are so good, and their talent so diverse, that they just do whatever it is the opponent does, and they do it better. Them's the breaks.

 

[Lets_Nance]

This is my honest take: The Warriors were awesome. That was the best game they've played in the playoffs so far. Durant was great. Thompson was great. Green was great. They got good production from Nick Young and Shaun Livingston. When they play an A game, they win. And i thought that was pretty damn close to their A game.

Durant had his A game going, but I disagree on the rest. Thompson shot below his season average on 3s. Green only scored 5, and his 9 rebounds and 9 assists are pretty much around his season averages. Curry was 1-5 on threes and didn't do much all night until the game was out of hand at the end. This was pretty far from an A game for them, this was par.

On the other side, Harden had his A game and it didn't make a lick of difference. I really don't know what the Rockets can do differently save abandon the ISO ball that got them where they are. This is how they're built, and the matchup isn't favorable. A lot like Toronto vs Lebron.

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

I think they should put Capela on Durant and PJ Tucker on Green.

 

[mhi]

HOU needs to get more physical and I mean Zaza Pachulia, Kelly Olynk physical. Especially towards KD - you can't let him be comfortable out there, don't care if they are all friends.

Also they win all of these games and now Capela and Gordon are talking about how they need more movement in the offense. Ta fuck?? It's late bruhs - ride with what you have till the end.

 

[Cavatt]

They keep getying bet

I think they should put Capela on Durant and PJ Tucker on Green.

Totally agree. I think Capela can affect Durant the most and i think he can actually stay with him. Defending Green with a SF has been successful in the past. Big guys dont bother him, guys with good lateral quickness do. Easier to box him out

Houston has to get more ball/body movement and get into their actions faster. They have a really hard time scoring against the set d. One pass doesnt do it. Cavs have the same problem expecting to score on Boston with a single pass.

I dont think Houston is tough enough mostly

 

[Rich]

Durant had his A game going, but I disagree on the rest. Thompson shot below his season average on 3s. Green only scored 5, and his 9 rebounds and 9 assists are pretty much around his season averages. Curry was 1-5 on threes and didn't do much all night until the game was out of hand at the end. This was pretty far from an A game for them, this was par.

On the other side, Harden had his A game and it didn't make a lick of difference. I really don't know what the Rockets can do differently save abandon the ISO ball that got them where they are. This is how they're built, and the matchup isn't favorable. A lot like Toronto vs Lebron.

Oh dude if your box scoring Draymond Green then you're missing it. Green was an animal defensively. Just incredible all night.

 

[Jscc]

Watching the Rockets was like looking in a mirror.

A fun house mirror. We'll see what happens the rest of the series, but Harden and CP3 as a combo aren't as good in the iso game as LeBron and Kyrie were. I don't envision CP3 scoring 40+ points in the same game Harden does.

 

[Lets_Nance]

Oh dude if your box scoring Draymond Green then you're missing it. Green was an animal defensively. Just incredible all night.

Oh, I get that. What I'm saying is that this is par for Green and the Warriors, not an outlier. This wasn't them bringing their A game as much as what to expect from them when at full strength and health.