Open Discussion (Cavs + related issues)

[Andrew]

Mo Williams is on NBAtv tonight and he said he expects this team to be the champs again. I was looking at his face and could only see the betrayal he committed against us all.

 

[mhi]

The Cavs’ Toughest Playoff Foe Is Their Own Defense

Headline of the year right here. Thanks for sharing!

 

[gaitano]

Headline of the year right here. Thanks for sharing!

 

[buzzdog]

One positive thing I've noticed about the Cavs defense is that when they bear down on a possession they're pretty good at getting the other team to run out of shot clock.

 

[Ohio]

 

[JMoneyYourHoney]

Ecstatic about the Cinderella win but I'm legitimately worried about Kyrie. If he's hurt our chances are toast.

 

[LeShaq]

PG01 -----> W ---2dr--> 123.0 ORTG ------> 121.8 DRTG -------> Shoot-out; Shumpert benched...................LJ 43 min; KI 6 ast
PG02 -----> W ---1dr--> 122.5 ORTG ------> 116.2 DRTG -------> JR gets hurt. Great defense 3Q...................LJ 42 min; KI 2 ast
PG03 -----> W ---2dr--> 124.8 ORTG ------> 119.6 DRTG -------> Big comeback. Great defense 2nd half.........LJ 45 min; KI 4 ast


Good news ---> Our offense looks amazing, even better than last year's playoff model. And we were one of the best in history last year.
Bad news -----> Defense is spotty at best. But we do seem to be able to get big defensive quarters/halves when we need them.


At no point in the playoffs last year did we have 3 consecutive games with a 120+ ORTG, as we have opened the playoffs with this season. The Pacers are a middle-of-the-pack defensive team based on regular season Defensive Rating metrics (#16).

There is still a lot to learn, but the second half of Game 3 in Indiana was a good sign. Having the extra day of rest likely helped out quite a bit, especially for LeBron.

"1dr" and "2dr" means how much rest we got before the game ("1 day rest", etc). The assists number for Kyrie is because we were something like 19-4 this last regular season when Kyrie had 6+ assists in a game.

 

[czvo]

Before the playoffs started, I told myself, "These opportunities aren't going to come around every year. They've already won a title. Just enjoy it." Watching that first half, I felt nothing. The team looked like they didn't care, so I refused to get worked up. I kept it on for the second half simply because I didn't have NBA TV. Then they started to cut the lead. They had a chance in the fourth. Then they won.

I can't worry about their defense or their ball movement or Kyrie or whatever anymore.... just sit back and enjoy what you're watching. Seriously, think about how spoiled we've been the last three years. This team is rolling into the playoffs. Loses Love, basically loses Kyrie. Remakes the team on the fly in the playoffs into a defensive juggernaut. Rolls through the east in 14 games, takes 2 from Golden State despite no Love or Kyrie for real this time.

Then last year, the countless big plays against Detroit. 25 threes, Channing going off, Love going off against Atlanta. The Toronto blowouts, the 3-1 comeback. Now this? Shit... so much good shit after only 4 years of really bad basketball. A lot of teams aren't so lucky. Whatever happens, happens. Enjoy the ride.

 

[czvo]

PG01 -----> W ---2dr--> 123.0 ORTG ------> 121.8 DRTG -------> Shoot-out; Shumpert benched..............LJ 43 min; KI 6 ast
PG02 -----> W ---1dr--> 122.5 ORTG ------> 116.2 DRTG -------> JR gets hurt. Great defense 3Q..............LJ 42 min; KI 2 ast
PG03 -----> W ---2dr--> 121.4 ORTG ------> 116.3 DRTG -------> Big comeback.......................................LJ 45 min; KI 4 ast (ratings approximate)


Good news ---> Our offense looks amazing, even better than last year's playoff model. And we were one of the best in history last year.
Bad news -----> Defense is spotty at best. But we do seem to be able to get big defensive quarters/halves when we need them.


At no point in the playoffs last year did we have 3 consecutive games with a 120+ ORTG, as we have opened the playoffs with this season. The Pacers are a middle-of-the-pack defensive team based on regular season Defensive Rating metrics (#16).

There is still a lot to learn, but the second half of Game 3 in Indiana was a good sign. Having the extra day of rest likely helped out quite a bit, especially for LeBron.

"1dr" and "2dr" means how much rest we got before the game ("1 day rest", etc). The assists number for Kyrie is because we were something like 19-4 this last regular season when Kyrie had 6+ assists in a game.

0 quarters of D in game 1. 1 quarter of D in game 2. 2 quarters of D in game 3. Will we get 3 quarters of D in game 4???

 

[BigJ]

0 quarters of D in game 1. 1 quarter of D in game 2. 2 quarters of D in game 3. Will we get 3 quarters of D in game 4???

Ha.. Well maybe? And then by the start of the 2nd Round we get a full game of D.

I really liked our comeback. Shows this Team has the fight,resilience and will to win a title this year. There is still alot of fine tuning nessesary.. especially on Defense.. But to see them rally like this makes me alot more confident.

When locked in they are still the best Team in the NBA. Once(not If.. they will get there) they play complete games(great offense and at least decent defense) we have a great shot against anybody.

 

[buzzdog]

Before the playoffs started, I told myself, "These opportunities aren't going to come around every year. They've already won a title. Just enjoy it." Watching that first half, I felt nothing. The team looked like they didn't care, so I refused to get worked up. I kept it on for the second half simply because I didn't have NBA TV. Then they started to cut the lead. They had a chance in the fourth. Then they won.

I can't worry about their defense or their ball movement or Kyrie or whatever anymore.... just sit back and enjoy what you're watching. Seriously, think about how spoiled we've been the last three years. This team is rolling into the playoffs. Loses Love, basically loses Kyrie. Remakes the team on the fly in the playoffs into a defensive juggernaut. Rolls through the east in 14 games, takes 2 from Golden State despite no Love or Kyrie for real this time.

Then last year, the countless big plays against Detroit. 25 threes, Channing going off, Love going off against Atlanta. The Toronto blowouts, the 3-1 comeback. Now this? Shit... so much good shit after only 4 years of really bad basketball. A lot of teams aren't so lucky. Whatever happens, happens. Enjoy the ride.

^^^Good take.

When I'm watching the games in real time to some degree I might at times vent my aggravation at the Cavs shortcomings as they happen, in particular those that are in my view just poor choices and errors from lack of focus. I might tell Lebron or Kyrie to get fucked on a certain possession if one of them dribbles down the clock and jacks up a horrible 3 point attempt without running any offense. I cussed Lebron when he let PG13 get the easy dunk on the inbounds play then acting like it was someone else's fault. JR's occasional bonehead screw-ups, KLove pounding the ball into the paint then losing it when the double team comes, and on and on. When we're playing like we did in the first half there's lots to go around for everyone except for the few who aren't screwing up.

But then that moment is over. More often than not Lebron or Kyrie or KLove at some point do something amazing, Shump gets a steal, DWill1 drains a 3.

As painful as it was to watch the first half it was equally gratifying to watch them play their asses off and come back in the second half.

A championship is NEVER guaranteed, and there is no one proven path to win a ring. Last year's Warriors prove that as well as anything. The Cavs could be a RS juggernaut and still fall short in a 7 game finals series. Or they could look like shit and win in the finals. It is not pre-ordained one way or the other.

What we do know is we have prime Lebron and some extremely talented players around him, and some seasoned veterans who still have some juice left. This group of players is totally capable of winning another 13 games between now and the end of the playoffs, and that is really all that matters.

The details of each game, both good and bad, will come and go. From now until the end of the finals, as long as the scoreboard is in our favor and we don't suffer any significant injuries, IDGAF how it looks as long as we win. Every series and every game is different and as long as they get it done 13 more times the shortcomings simply don't matter as long as the good outweighs the bad at the end of the playoff run.

 

[Jake]

Clearly the free throws still need to improve. Even in the nice comeback win over the Pacers we were missing our share. Near the end of the game there were a few instances where LeBron was fouled and missed one or both. The one time Deron inbounded it to LeBron who was quickly fouled but I might of had LeBron inbound it to Deron instead as he may of made the free throws. Another time on the floor the ball could of went to Frye but went to LeBron again who got fouled. I liked our free throw chances better with Frye but it didn't happen. idk.

 

[iMoeJoe]

I think the Cavs are playing to their level of competition, at least I hope they are because a win is a win but if they match up Golden State again in the finals (assuming we both make it there) a defensive quarter or half won't cut it. We're not coming back from 26 down on a team like golden state. I hope these guys truly are just pacing theirselves for the bigger picture.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[priceFTW]

The Bucks would be easier to deal with. Yes, they will annoying as hell with their length, but Toronto has:

--A much better offense that was at 114+ ORTG for much of the year before Lowry's injury. We will play shoot outs with them in just about every game and we will have to be hot from the outside to win games. I feel we can be off on offense and still have chances to win games against the Bucks as long as we compete decently on defense.

The Bucks just aren't as good on offense and as good as Giannis is, he's not a shooter like Paul is, so that #1 option opponent isn't as scary a proposition to defend although I'm sure he'll feast on our shitty transition defense.

--A better offensive rebounding team that will get a million second chance points against us

--The Raps actually defend the three just as well as the Bucks do so no advantage to the Bucks there.

--More experience

 

[LeShaq]

PG01 -----> W ---2dr--> 123.0 ORTG ------> 121.8 DRTG -------> Shoot-out; Shumpert benched..................LJ 43 min; KI 6 ast
PG02 -----> W ---1dr--> 122.5 ORTG ------> 116.2 DRTG -------> JR gets hurt. Great defense 3Q..................LJ 42 min; KI 2 ast
PG03 -----> W ---2dr--> 124.8 ORTG ------> 119.6 DRTG -------> Big comeback; great defense 2nd half........LJ 45 min; KI 4 ast
PG04 -----> W ---2dr--> 109.2 ORTG ------> 105.1 DRTG -------> Played good defense all game....................LJ 45 min; KI 0 ast