Cavaliers @ Spurs | NBA Finals - Game 1 | June 7th, 2007

[chiefwahoo]

The Spurs have one of the worst PA guys as well as player introductions/pre-game show (whatever you want to call it)... The Q blows it out of the water...

I've never seen anything so uninspired. And the crowd just seemed dead the entire game. I have a hard time believing that after three titles, we'd act the same way as those fans. They were sitting on their hands pretty much the entire game. Pathetic.

 

[johnny]

Unless Z is hitting his midrange shots it's hard to see him being effective in this series. The Spurs interior D with Duncan in there isn't going to let him go off from the inside. He's too slow to be guarding those pick n rolls.

Hughes can't guard Parker on one leg. I still want him out there on the floor in limited minutes but he needs to be defending someone else. LeBron and Boobie should be the only 2 defending him. Gibson needs more plays run for him and more minutes. He is on right now.

I'm really not liking Donyell right now. Even when he's hitting shots it just seems like he's constantly making bad plays on both ends of the court.

Lebron had a bad game and the Spurs D deserves a lot of credit for that. Duncan is showing why he deserved the DPOY award this season.

As painful as this loss is, I'm still pretty confident in the Cavs. Lebron will make the proper adjustments and he will come up big after a disappointing performance. We can take the facts that Gooden, Boobie, and Sasha were able to get theirs offensively and we did some good things defensively and try to make it much more interesting next game. Lebron just needs to step up and we need to hit more open shots.

 

[jjc58]

You can't start Gibson and you can't totally bench Hughes. I'd be a slap in the face.

That said, matchups are the key to this series. Parker on ANYONE other than LeBron is a bad mismatch. Gibson's a possibility, but I like him on Bowen or Ginobli more.

If we matchup right on Parker we don't need to double as much, can keep our positioning for longer stretches, and rebound the ball.

These guys are going to make big shots. They're good players. But we CAN'T give them free baskets by matching up wrong.

 

[jjc58]

If you can win Game 1 on the road, fantastic. Road Game 1s aren't really about winning, though. They're about learning.

Game 2 better be a tight game.

 

[Lamaiel]

1. I wonder how that PA guy got hired. That was the first thing I noticed about the entire series and its production: a guy with a nasel problem screaming Tim Duncan's name the same way a nerdy 4th grader would during a panic attack.

2. ABC's announcing crew reminds me of FOX's during the BCS championship game...like they didnt belong. I mean you have Mike Tirico, Hubie Brown, and a host of much better announcers watching the game at home so we can listen to Mike Breen, Mark Jackson, and freshly fired Van Gundy. Thats the best we get for the NBA finals? Add to that Jon Barry acting as if it was a travesty that we were in the finals...I mean give us a break and just give us our time in the sun with some positive reporting.

3. ABC needs to stop shoving that "court level" cam down our throats. Its sucks, it makes me dizzy, and depth perception is non existant for the fans. Just let us watch the damn game please?

 

[PIP]

Gotta admit.. Unlike the Pistons, the Spurs are all class with their interviews...

 

[cdt]

Gibson was the best player in Blue tonight, too bad he can't start because Brown goes by who has the larger contract.

 

[Lamaiel]

I feel like we are at the point in the season where Hughes' feelings should be the last priority in making line-up decisions.

 

[Karma]

Thanks Gooden. At least you showed up tonight....

:huh:

Someone missed the first half.

 

[TyGuy]

:huh:

Someone missed the first half.

Or the other side of the court for that matter.

 

[PIP]

Pretty awesome picture here of SUPER DAVE and Jeff Van Gundy.. "RISE UP" !!!!!!

 

[highplainsdrifter]

You can't start Gibson and you can't totally bench Hughes. I'd be a slap in the face.

So be it. Egos must be set aside, this is the Finals. Anyone with eyes can see that Gibson is playing better than Hughes. I agree you cant totally bench Hughes, give him a chance to see what he's got. But we know he's hurt and he knows he's hurt, and if he's out there hurting the team with his play, bench him.

PS Im still not sure MB has a clue yet. Our offense HAS to be better. Lets see more Bron in the post!!! Rather than Bron at the top of the key with the ball and 4 defenders eyeing him.

PPS Why wasnt Hubie calling this game? Come on ABC!

 

[ChicagoCavFan]

I suppose ABC had those young guys calling the game because of the 9pm EST start....Hubie et al were all snuggled up in bed already.

 

[crazedcav333]

That game blowed.

 

[jjc58]

Tough one, I admit, but I'm not down on the Cavs yet. Gibson can kill Tony Parker, so much so that Jacque Vaughn jumps up and is inserted right when he comes into the game. We need to let LeBron play diversion a bit and let Gibson create. Get him 10 FTs and this is a different game.

James just needs time. The Spurs befuddled him last night and its not like he gets too much insight from our coaching staff on how to attack it. The Spurs were obviously well prepared, they watched plenty of film and devised a defensive strategy.

Game 2 will be a better test. The third quarter is once again key. Gibson needs to get up the second Ginobli enters the game.