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Chris Parker/Cleveland Scene answers your questions part 2

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New Column up....
Cavs Stumble Over Lucky Clover, Fall to Celtics
http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and...avs-stumble-over-lucky-clover-fall-to-celtics

Well wasn’t that a fine bit of Vorhersagbar-Scheibewurst! German linguists have been working through the night with members of the Cavaliers PR department to coin a term for when the wildly unexpected happens in a perfectly predictable way. Last night the Cavaliers spanked the Celtics for two quarters like Pee Wee Herman at a Free the Nipple rally.

For fans it felt like deja vu. The only way you even knew the Cavaliers had played the Celtics in Boston after Game Two was trace bits of DNA on the floor. The Cavaliers were nearly as efficient as an autoclave in eliminating the Celtics 130-86 on Friday, a game which their star Isaiah Thomas left in the second quarter with a hip injury. Sleeping Beauty didn’t lay down that quickly.

Thomas was subsequently ruled out for the series, torpedoing the boat with the Celtic’s Slim Chance on it. Given the circumstances, the 17-points oddsmakers were offering to lure bettors to the Celtics side didn’t seem overly generous, even if it was the largest spread in NBA playoff history. Who could blame them!? The Cavs had taken the Celtics apart in the first two games like they were perforated. And in Boston, no less, echoing their impressive April win on the back-end of a back-to-back, with home-court advantage (seemingly) riding on the game.

But history is prologue, they say, and if the first 120 minutes of the series felt like an aggressive cavity search for the Celtics, the last two quarters called to mind Cleveland’s Warriors-like collapse to Atlanta a week after that April win in Boston. That’s when the Cavaliers became only the third team to blow a 26-point fourth quarter lead, losing in overtime to put a hollow-point bullet in their pursuit of homecourt advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Then it happened again last night at the Q, a slow motion wreck unfolding from a mile away to appreciate in stunned and befuddled silence until finally it tumbles to a stop at your feet. Not since M Night Shamalyn’s Sharknado Voorhees: Freaky Friday the 13th, have so many facepalmed so violent and earnestly. The killer instinct they’d shown in pushing the lead to fifty on the Celtics 48 hours earlier was chilling at the Leaking Lizard expending its micro-effort on a microbrew.
 
Chris Parker said:
New Column up....
Cavs Stumble Over Lucky Clover, Fall to Celtics
http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and...avs-stumble-over-lucky-clover-fall-to-celtics

But history is prologue, they say, and if the first 120 minutes of the series felt like an aggressive cavity search for the Celtics, the last two quarters called to mind Cleveland’s Warriors-like collapse to Atlanta a week after that April win in Boston. That’s when the Cavaliers became only the third team to blow a 26-point fourth quarter lead, losing in overtime to put a hollow-point bullet in their pursuit of homecourt advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Click to expand...


:chuckle:
 
"...as security lead him away to the carbonite freezing chamber."
:chuckle::chuckle::chuckle:
 
New Article is up...

Role Reversal: Kyrie Crushes Celtic Spirit While LeBron Closes It Out
http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and...shes-celtic-spirit-while-lebron-closes-it-out

From the second half Sunday through the first half Tuesday, Cavaliers fans were treated to a horrific spectacle akin to watching Superman slowed and eventually felled by an extraordinary bad case of hayfever. Whilst he sneezed and wheezed a street gang of undersized Irishmen stinking of Jameson and sporting green boots (according to Ozzy) kicked the Man of Steel about the head, kidney and groin until he succumbed beneath a whirlwind of foul-tempered faerie feet and flying mucous.

Fortunately for Clevelanders this whirlwind was not set to “Final Reaping” but “Hollywood Reaping” in which the same genetic traits that create evil geniuses also lead them reveal their plans without actually killing their main adversary, or create an unnecessarily complicated firing sequence where a big red button will do.

So it was the Cavaliers found their leader poisoned (by actual illness, as we’ll discuss in a moment) and their defense in the questionably trustworthy hands of “S’all Good, man.” The possibility of an even series was rising like Bill O’Reilly’s pants-tent. The Cavs looked Dazed and Confused by their Frailty and complete Failure to Launch. When it was A Time to Kill, they were killing time, only to turn it around quicker than any dancing half- (or wholly) naked man playing bongos and driving a septagenarian’s Town Car has a right to.

That this was even possible speaks to the difference a year or two can make. Kyrie Irving may not yet be The Man – and maybe never can so long as the King reigns – but he sure as hell passed out of boyhood last June and last night demonstrated the ability earn for his family in pretty dire circumstances. LeBron James picked up his fourth foul on his second charge of the half, with just five gone in the second quarter. He sat with the Cavs down 43-33, but with James off the floor, Cleveland held the line, and still trailed ten at halftime.


James managed ten points in just 15 first half minutes with no free throws and three turnovers. If he didn’t look as lethargic and disinterested as a DMV worker (like Sunday), Cleveland still wasn’t pushing the ball and the offense had all the speed, clarity and urgency of road construction. Weak-side Cavaliers stayed planted patiently waiting for the corpulent fellow to spin his sign around while Celtics defenders seemed the only ones that failed to Yield....
 
The Cavs came out like they had a hangover from game 3 and it lasted until Lebron went out with 4 fouls.
I keep wondering whats up with him....looks like he's spent a ton of energy up and has little in the tank..he came on stronger in the second half but he still doesn't look right.On the slam he missed, even though he cranked it ..he wasn't up as high as he normally gets up.
 
Another Column up...

It’s On: Cavs Vaporize Celtics, Eye Warriors Three-match

http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and...avs-vaporize-celtics-eye-warriors-three-match

It promises to rival Ali/Frazier's famous third rubber match, The Thrilla in Manila, yet Cavaliers-Warriors III is the culmination of arguably the most anti-climatic playoffs in NBA history. It could've been a romantic comedy, really any romantic comedy, puffed up like cotton candy on faux drama and ratcheted tension, leading after an interminable build-up to the main event: “Will he or won’t he?”

What the hell do you think? David did Maddie long before he Died Hard, and Diane was into Lloyd without Peter Gabriel sealing the deal. Whether it’s Samantha and Jake, Sam and Diane, Ross and Rachel, or even the cagey Mulder and Scully, the only real question is how long they can milk the tension. Since the NBA’s sort of on the clock, they could only stretch it out for eleven, somewhat mind-numbing months.

Now it’s finally official: No happiness in BelieveLand until Steph, Dray, Klay and KD wear the tears of Jordan.
 
Chris Parker said:
....while it’s the Warriors defense that’s cranking with a playoff best 99.1 pCp. The Cavaliers EFG% is better but the Warriors defensive EFG is better.
Click to expand...

On reading this, it struck me that their defense is so good in large part because of their ability to switch -- it makes it extremely difficult for teams to get good, clean looks against them because they're all individually "good enough" to guard the guy onto whom they are switching.

The only ways to break that down are with an even more sophisticated offensive scheme that can generate open looks -- the Spurs' approach -- or by having a phenomenal ISO player who cannot be guarded effectively by the switch. We have two of those guys.

The bonus about taking advantage of ISO mismatches is that we can force guys like Steph into expending a ton of energy on the defensive end while getting banged around.

I'm a lot more hopeful at the beginning of this series than I was last year at this time.
 
The Human Q-Tip said:
On reading this, it struck me that their defense is so good in large part because of their ability to switch -- it makes it extremely difficult for teams to get good, clean looks against them because they're all individually "good enough" to guard the guy onto whom they are switching.

The only ways to break that down are with an even more sophisticated offensive scheme that can generate open looks -- the Spurs' approach -- or by having a phenomenal ISO player who cannot be guarded effectively by the switch. We have two of those guys.

The bonus about taking advantage of ISO mismatches is that we can force guys like Steph into expending a ton of energy on the defensive end while getting banged around.

I'm a lot more hopeful at the beginning of this series than I was last year at this time.
Click to expand...

Actually ... me too

I think you cant overlook the loss of Bogut,Barnes,Ezili on defense and Speights,Barbosa on offense.. Especially Bogut on defense and Barbosa of the Bench.. both have helped GSW win Games 1 and 2 last year while their Starters played horrible.
You cant expect guys like Clark,West or Mcgee do generate Offense themselves when things get tough.. guys like Barbosa and Speights could.. They wont score 20 on us just by themselves.

KD is KD of course but as long as we have Lebron i am confident Lebron will handle KD.. I mean 18-5 is pretty lopsided..Lebron simply knows how to win against KD's Teams.

We also saw how little GSW could do when Kahwi and Manu where relentlessly attacking the Basket.. Green,KD,Zaza,Mcgee where all in foul trouble before Kahwi went out..
Now switch Kahwi with Lebron and Manu with Kyrie..

They added a another choker to a Team of chokers.. They are and this is no joke.. the least clutch Team in the NBA.. well sure most of the time it does not matter because the Game is not close... but if it is.. they almost lose all the Time..
We on the other hand are the leagues best Clutch Team..

Kd and Steph likely wont average 30 each against us because as you said.. they will have to work their asses of on defense.. and neither of them really had to so far this Playoffs.. they are not used to it..

Their Replacement Bigs Zaza,Javale,West dont scare anybody.. especially not Lebron,Kyrie and Kev... Zaza and West are horrible Rim Protectors and Javale fouls out in 5 Minutes against our Big 3...

Klay is totally useless since KD has returned at i actually dont think he will snap out of it.. Green likley wont keep shooting .474 % from three... and Oh Iggy has been more useless every Game..

Add to that, that we simply are better than last year... by quite a bit. Deeper, healthier and even hotter than last year.

The Media especially acts like KD is the cure for everything for GSW... yet in fact he has not improved any of their weaknesses.. The Main thing... he too can be bullied and intimitated..Kd always was skill... never brute force. He basically resembles them as a whole.. extremly talented and nearly unguardable.. but they dont fight back once you hit them.. They keep trying to outskill you.. wich then does not work because you are shaken up from beeing hit over and over again..
 
BigJ said:
Actually ... me too

I think you cant overlook the loss of Bogut,Barnes,Ezili on defense and Speights,Barbosa on offense.. Especially Bogut on defense and Barbosa of the Bench.. both have helped GSW win Games 1 and 2 last year while their Starters played horrible.
You cant expect guys like Clark,West or Mcgee do generate Offense themselves when things get tough.. guys like Barbosa and Speights could.. They wont score 20 on us just by themselves.

KD is KD of course but as long as we have Lebron i am confident Lebron will handle KD.. I mean 18-5 is pretty lopsided..Lebron simply knows how to win against KD's Teams.

We also saw how little GSW could do when Kahwi and Manu where relentlessly attacking the Basket.. Green,KD,Zaza,Mcgee where all in foul trouble before Kahwi went out..
Now switch Kahwi with Lebron and Manu with Kyrie..

They added a another choker to a Team of chokers.. They are and this is no joke.. the least clutch Team in the NBA.. well sure most of the time it does not matter because the Game is not close... but if it is.. they almost lose all the Time..
We on the other hand are the leagues best Clutch Team..

Kd and Steph likely wont average 30 each against us because as you said.. they will have to work their asses of on defense.. and neither of them really had to so far this Playoffs.. they are not used to it..

Their Replacement Bigs Zaza,Javale,West dont scare anybody.. especially not Lebron,Kyrie and Kev... Zaza and West are horrible Rim Protectors and Javale fouls out in 5 Minutes against our Big 3...

Klay is totally useless since KD has returned at i actually dont think he will snap out of it.. Green likley wont keep shooting .474 % from three... and Oh Iggy has been more useless every Game..

Add to that, that we simply are better than last year... by quite a bit. Deeper, healthier and even hotter than last year.

The Media especially acts like KD is the cure for everything for GSW... yet in fact he has not improved any of their weaknesses.. The Main thing... he too can be bullied and intimitated..Kd always was skill... never brute force. He basically resembles them as a whole.. extremly talented and nearly unguardable.. but they dont fight back once you hit them.. They keep trying to outskill you.. wich then does not work because you are shaken up from beeing hit over and over again..
Click to expand...

Basically the media thinks GSW are unbeatable because of their "depth" and that they have 4 all-stars
 
BooyaCS said:
Basically the media thinks GSW are unbeatable because of their "depth" and that they have 4 all-stars
Click to expand...

Shows how little they know.. Guys like Clark,West,McGee and McCaw are nice but cant create their own offense.. Iggy and Livingston are old and beaten up and nearly unplayable.

A healthy, motivated Deron will be so incredibly huge for us.. Last year they had Barbosa who could turn a Game from the Bench.. this year we have Deron.

Yeah.. and when have 4 All Stars actually worked out? Go ahead and ask the 05 or 06 Pistons.. or the 13 Lakers.. or the Hawks a few years back..
Part of all Title Teams is that you have a clear pecking order and everybody fills their roles. That gets really complicated with 4 All Stars..
I always thought 3 are the maximum a Team can manage. Will Klay be fine averaging 13-14 in the Finals? will Draymond be fine averaging 10-12? And who is actually the guy? is it KD or Steph? .. The Media says "They are so unselfish they dont care who gets the shot" .. yeah and in the Regular Season or in early Rounds thats great.. but when it really gets rough you have to be absolutely clear who takes over.
 
New Column is up..

Cavs Experience Painful Déjà Vu In Lackluster Game One

https://www.clevescene.com/scene-an...rience-painful-deja-vu-in-lackluster-game-one

Like a careless and unwanted houseguest, Bad Habits returned from a long vacation and settled in, dooming the Cavaliers in the first game of the NBA Finals. Perhaps it was the week-long break or the visiting arena. Some of it might have been first-timers finding the moment bigger and faster than them. Some of it, to be sure, was some very poor officiating.

Some of it, let's be honest, was one of the best NBA teams ever assembled doing their thing. But not so much as you’re going to hear this morning, or maybe have been hearing for much of the last week. Calling it a perfect storm doesn’t do enough justice to the challenge the Warriors pose; however, attributing it all to the Golden State’s talent is uncritical, and we’ll show why in a moment.

Let’s first note that LeBron James’ teams have lost the first game of the NBA Finals the last six years, and James has snared the crown three of those times. Let’s also note how hard it is for role players to show up on the road. Then imagine trying to show up strong on the road after sitting for the last seven games. If rust is an enemy of even the best players, what is it for the reserves?

...
 
They come out like they're watching the game instead of playing it even though they know their opponent.
I am beating the horse on the Cavs transition and interior D ..now getting back and then abandoning the ball handler is inexcusable.
And I saw many of them guilty ,including Lebron.
KD would not have had that monster game if they would have controlled him better in the transition and half court D.

Where was TT????
 
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