Cavs vs. Boston -- 2017 Eastern Conference Finals

[czvo]

LeBron bumped by Olynyk on his fastbreak layup attempt. I guess you could call it a foul, but I wouldn't in the playoffs. He then loses Olynyk on the backdoor. That guy was slipping and backdooring a ton in this game.

Great hands by Kevin as they finally start to play Olynyk to pass. LeBron knocks down the top of key jumper. I really don't think his shot has looked bad this game. He's always kind of had a flat shot, and he missed some pretty good looks in the first half.

Reggie says Jerebko needs to play more in this series, but once he comes in, the Cavs go at him without mercy. Love turns him inside out on a free throw rebound right after LeBron puts him in the spin cycle so bad he has to foul. The Cavs can take advantage of that guy. Then Love beats him off the dribble (Kevin Love!) for a layup. Jerebko is trash.

Horford really throws his shoulder into you on his post ups. Cavs should try pulling the chair next time he has it.

So halfway through the 3rd, and the Cavs do appear quicker and sharper defensively. However, the dropoff in man movement from the Celtics is noticeable. Now, some of this can be contributed to the Cavs getting up in them off the ball, but Boston has also decided to run more Smart PnRs... for some reason. If you're Brad Stevens, why are you going away from what worked so well in the first half?

LeBron is a basketball genius, example 2,532,124: Kyrie is dribbling the air out of the ball trying to get around Marcus Smart on the baseline. He has JR behind him on the wing wide open. LeBron, in the opposite corner, points to JR on the other side of the court. Kyrie gets the ball to LeBron and he FIRES a perfect cross court pass to JR for the open three. In the moment, I thought this was a bad sign because LeBron was passing up an open look, but I was wrong.

LeBron and Kyrie have a breakdown on the next play as they both leave Smart to chase Bradley. It's fine though because Smart is open, but can't have that moving forward.

If the league were still handing out penalties for flopping, Marcus Smart would have had to write quite the paycheck after this one. Flops on his missed three, then flops on defense two plays later.

Tristan once again jumping too far out as Olynyk slips right to the rim. The Cavs really need to start playing that guy to slip every screen. He makes up for it on the next defensive possession by staying back against the slip.

I know Brad Stevens doesn't have a ton of big options, but a very head scratching decision to bring in Zeller right after the Cavs have taken the lead. He comes in, gets roasted in the PnR, fails to get a rebound, gets ripped by LeBron, then is slow to come over and block the Kyrie lob. Slow on the Kyrie drive again. He's just... not good.

The Lake Erie Monsters play at the Q don't they? Is their ice under the floor at all times? Guys are slipping all over the place.

 

[czvo]

Cavs start the fourth with a nice screen to get LeBron a layup, and he probably gets fouled to boot. On the next defensive play, Jaylen Brown just throws himself into LeBron, no call.

Cavs freak out when Kyrie gets posted by Smart, leads to a Crowder three. Next defensive possession, miscommunication leads to Rozier drive, but Korver does a great job of flying to the corner and forcing the pass to Brown on the wing. Leads to Horford driving and kicking to Crowder, but Korver is already there. Crowder kicks his leg out and should be called for an offensive foul. Korver with good post D on Brown. Follows it up with good one on one D against Smart, but a horrendous foul call gives Smart free throws.

Great D by Love on Smart to fake at him and trick him into a terrible floater.

Not a whole lot doing in the first half of the fourth. Celtics offense has come to an almost screeching halt. LeBron directing traffic on offense. Finds Love with a great cross court pass. Then sets up an easy TT dunk. Bangs a three in Jerebko's face. Goes right at Jerebko for a runner off the glass. Jerebko trash alert.

Cavs really picked it up on Bradley running off screens. Kyrie does a GREAT job trailing Bradley and pestering him on his three attempt after the Cavs went up 11.

Cavs did a great job of contesting Smart threes.


Sorry for blowing up the thread guys, figured I'd break it down by quarter.

 

[bob2the2nd]

Sorry for blowing up the thread guys, figured I'd break it down by quarter.

i read the first post and thought you were responding to someone I had on ignore.. then of course realized that wasnt it and got really confused.

then i read the second one and started looking up thread for some indication... finally i got to your final line of the post.

oh okay. it makes sense now. carry on with the good work

 

[czvo]

i read the first post and thought you were responding to someone I had on ignore.. then of course realized that wasnt it and got really confused.

then i read the second one and started looking up thread for some indication... finally i got to your final line of the post.

oh okay. it makes sense now. carry on with the good work

Yeah, my apologies. Kind of went stream of consciousness trying to sum up what I saw.

 

[wuck]

Yeah, my apologies. Kind of went stream of consciousness trying to sum up what I saw.

They were more balanced than your posts after Game 3.

 

[czvo]

They were more balanced than your posts after Game 3.

Game 3 was pure rage, ha. But that's because I saw it coming. Pretty sure I mentioned in the game thread around halftime that they were ducking around on offense.

 

[Green Lantern]

Game 3 was pure rage, ha. But that's because I saw it coming. Pretty sure I mentioned in the game thread around halftime that they were ducking around on offense.

They better not be ducking tonight..they better come out and hammer the Celts .

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

Lebron is better on the road. He just loves to stick it to the opposing team and fans on their turf.

It's just amazing that we expect consistency from him every night.. but human beings are not consistent and the standards that he has to match are just insane. The scrutiny that he has to face by the media is just unfair, even more than the fans.

When LEbron came into the league he came with almost impossible expectations, he was deprecated by his own teammates before he even played his first game.

So yeah, I fully expect Lebron to dominate tonight.

 

[iamacavalier]

They better not be ducking tonight..they better come out and hammer the Celts .

No ducking around

 

[LeeBuckeye]

I'm loving the minutes Korver has gotten this series for defensive purposes. He struggled a bit in the first two series but he has been amazing so far against the Cetlics. He rarely get baited into stupid fouls and doesn't get lost off-ball. His length and rebounding has also been a pleasant surprise this year.

We need to orchestrate cleaner looks for him, because watching in person during our game 3 collapse he had no space but was still recklessly launching shots.

Hopefully Kyrie is saving his energy for the finals on the defensive end because him dying on screens is forcing everybody to over-rotate thus creating wide open shots for the opposition.

I'm hoping Shump gets minute over Deron tonight who has had an up and down playoff series thus far.

I'm hoping we try extended minutes with Love at the center spot. That should create wide open lanes for Bron and Kyrie.

 

[shoes22]

LeBron is still sick though, according to Vardon.

 

[Simon]

LeBron is still sick though, according to Vardon.

LeBron's flu game coming tonight.

 

[The Wizard of Moz]

Shout out to all of the people who doubted the Cavs winning this series during game 4. The Cavs have made most of you look consistently foolish for doubting them for the last 3 years but you are a persistent bunch finding fear where there is nothing to worry about

Looking forward to if we drop one to the Warriors the inevitable same people coming out and saying we never had a shot and the warriors are on another level

Cavs over Warriors in 6. LeBron seals himself as the GOAT.

 

[Ohio]

View: https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/867938854396755969/video/1

 

[Simon]

Guys. What is this. I honestly don't believe they'll fire him.