NBA Playoffs

[gldendog]

They'll dominate the boards? Heard of Andrew Bogut?

I'm not saying Clev has no shot. Any team with Lebron does. But we saw last yr how big the gap between East and West was in the finals...and that Heat team with Lebron, Wade, Bosh > this Cavs team with Lebron, 1/3 of Iriving and no Love.

 

[gldendog]

I'm mad we were robbed of a Spurs-Warriors conference finals. The other teams all exhaled when the Spurs went out. I believe they would've won it all again had they slipped by the Clippers. They owned Golden St this yr just like every other year. 3-1 this yr and 23-3 last 26 meetings. Warriors got lucky.

 

[NovaHoops2002]

I'm mad we were robbed of a Spurs-Warriors conference finals. The other teams all exhaled when the Spurs went out. I believe they would've won it all again had they slipped by the Clippers. They owned Golden St this yr just like every other year. 3-1 this yr and 23-3 last 26 meetings. Warriors got lucky.

They should have beaten the Pelicans in the last game of the year. Then they are the 2 seed and get the Mavs in the 1st round. Plus, we would all have been able to see Russell Westbrook in the playoffs.

 

[gldendog]

They should have beaten the Pelicans in the last game of the year. Then they are the 2 seed and get the Mavs in the 1st round. Plus, we would all have been able to see Russell Westbrook in the playoffs.

That was the only game the Spurs lost in the last 3-4 weeks. Cant win them all.

 

[TheDean]

I love the recent play of Draymond Green - if he keeps it up I like GS in 7. Maybe JR Smith can do something for the Cavs but I don't have much confidence in their other guys like Shumpert and T. Thompson.

 

[NovaTras22]

Thompson will be the best rebounder on the floor. Green is a close second, while Bogut and Mozgov wash each other out. Add in LeBron going for 10+ every game and even JR Smith buying in on the glass, that's your domination. Believe or not, Smith is averaging 8 boards over the last 5 playoff games.

 

[gldendog]

The bottom line is Golden St has homecourt AND an arsenal of offensive options. Cleveland in their current state just doesnt. Relying on role players works against the East. I need to be convinced it can work against the best team in the NBA. Can you imagine how many games Golden St wouldve won in the East this year? If Atl won the amount they won....

 

[NovaTras22]

Golden St won't have home court after game 1.

 

[NorCalVU10]

NovaTras, are you from Cleveland?

 

[wcburrs87]

Last year Lebron scored 28.2 ppg, shot 57% from the field, and 52% from the arc in the finals. Oh yea, his team also was boat-raced in historic proportions.

The Warriors did stuff this year in terms of wins and their play at home and their offensive/defensive efficiency numbers that only handful of teams have ever produced. All of them went on to win titles. If you believe in that kind of stuff then GS is clearly the favorite.

 

[gldendog]

NovaTras, are you from Cleveland?

Gotta be.

 

[NorCalVU10]

Lebron is shooting 17.6% from 3 and something like 27% from outside the paint in the playoffs. If he doesn't find his shot this game is over in 4.

 

[gldendog]

Atlanta was leaking oil majorly down the stretch. The only thing that even got them to the East finals was the John Wall injury costing Washington 2 games. Atl was life and death with the NETS for Christ sake. Hard to take anything from that series win for Clev.

 

[wcburrs87]

I think the long layoff favors CLV. It gives the road team a better chance to come in and steal game one.

 

[wcburrs87]

Lebron is shooting 17.6% from 3 and something like 27% from outside the paint in the playoffs. If he doesn't find his shot this game is over in 4.

And Bogut protects the rim much better than anyone on ATL.

 

[gldendog]

And Bogut protects the rim much better than anyone on ATL.

That would make sense considering Atlanta's center is a 6'9 PF.

 

[wcburrs87]

the hawks as a 1 seed was a complete joke. what a terrible team. When Kyle Korver is your second best player your team has issues. just shows how meaningless the regular season in the east was.

Korver wasn't their second best player. He was their 4th or 5th. ATL was a very good RS team. They shared the ball, used their bench, and we're efficient as anyone in the league. Their state was ideal for RS success. However, the playoffs are a different animal. Teams amp it up more and the attention to detail is greater. Add in that they were banged up. Don't have a "true" star player and were ridiculously small. I'm convinced WAS beats them if Wall is healthy. CHI was better, too.

 

[NovaTras22]

yes i'm from CLE. i'm biased for certain but more cautiously optimistic than anything. just been amazed at how tough this team is and with James, love their chances against GSW.

 

[gldendog]

yes i'm from CLE. i'm biased for certain but more cautiously optimistic than anything. just been amazed at how tough this team is and with James, love their chances against GSW.

Just dont bet on it. No need for a double dose of bad news.

 

[novabball2]

Burrs - exactly , the regular season is meaningless in the east. everyone knows whatever team Lebron is on is gonna make the finals out of the east.

 

[NovaTras22]

never bet on my own team. never works out.

in all likelihood, we'll probably be up 3 - 1 and lose at the buzzer in game seven. would not surprise me in the least.

 

[novabball2]

has Lebron been forgiven for leaving in 2010? or does he need to win it all to heel the wounds he left?

 

[wcburrs87]

Burrs - exactly , the regular season is meaningless in the east. everyone knows whatever team Lebron is on is gonna make the finals out of the east.

has Lebron been forgiven for leaving in 2010? or does he need to win it all to heel the wounds he left?

By CLV fans? He's forgiven. Dudes who burned his jersey already have three more.

 

[novabball2]

its amazing how much hate they showed him when he bailed. now he is loved again. i guess fans just want to have their teams win, no matter what. id be more upset if im miami fans. Lebron used Miami for championships and then went back home.

 

[NovaTras22]

when the rumors began swirling he was coming back, majority of people either didn't believe it or didn't want it to be true. there's still some hardliners that hate him, but they're few and far between.

personally, i thought i'd hate him forever, but felt he handled the return so well that i couldn't help but forgive him. not that he owed the city anything, but he really addressed everything in a classy manner and it was too good of a story to hold a grudge.

 

[novabball2]

this is his 6th final. Jordan was 6 for 6, Lebron right now is 2 for 5. im not sure Lebron can pass Jordan in peoples minds until he wins 6 championships.

 

[TheDean]

Jordan has 5 MVPs

LeBron 4...

 

[gldendog]

this is his 6th final. Jordan was 6 for 6, Lebron right now is 2 for 5. im not sure Lebron can pass Jordan in peoples minds until he wins 6 championships.

This. And let's keep it real with MJ. He wins 8 chips if he doesnt decide to try to hit a baseball.

And I love this new special on the 90's Rockets called "Clutch City". Clutch City, my ass. Jordan gift wrapped them those 2 titles.

 

[TheDean]

This. And let's keep it real with MJ. He wins 8 chips if he doesnt decide to try to hit a baseball.

And I love this new special on the 90's Rockets called "Clutch City". Clutch City, my ass. Jordan gift wrapped them those 2 titles.

#1 - No championships are guaranteed.
#2 - Baseball was Jordan's alternative to getting banned behind the scenes by Stern for gambling.

 

[adp98]

#1 - No championships are guaranteed.
#2 - Baseball was Jordan's alternative to getting banned behind the scenes by Stern for gambling.

I cannot wait for the full version of the Jordan ban to be told. Hopefully one day we get that story.

 

[novabball2]

it wasnt a full two year ban because he came back at the end of 1995 and played 30 games or so and lost to the magic in the east semis. was it one year and then he liked baseball and tried sticking with it? would love to know the truth.

 

[NorCalVU10]

I cannot wait for the full version of the Jordan ban to be told. Hopefully one day we get that story.

+1. I want this to become Bill Simmons life goal.

 

[novabball2]

so was Jordan betting on basketball? why would Stern care if he was playing blackjack in AC? it wasnt affecting his performance on the court.

bad image for the league can be the only reason other than he was betting on basketball games.

 

[TheDean]

so was Jordan betting on basketball? why would Stern care if he was playing blackjack in AC? it wasnt affecting his performance on the court.

bad image for the league can be the only reason other than he was betting on basketball games.

MJ was claimed to be heard on the phone saying "...so the line is 7 points?"

 

[Ninetynine5.0]

The guy freely admitted he was a betting addict - do we really believe he wasnt betting on the one thing he could actually control???

 

[adp98]

His father had the best line, "my son is not addicted to gambling, he's addicted to competition". I'm sure he was laying the Bulls every night. And I have absolutely no problem with it.

 

[novabball2]

you cant bet on your own games or your own sport. if MJ wanted to bet hockey, football , the horses etc thats fine but not the NBA. and why would anyone take his action? he must have had someone else betting for him. maybe his dad and he never paid up?

 

[TTMMJJ]

You really think the story wouldn't be out on Jordan? You guys are better than that. Can't believe there are so many 9-11 style triggers on this board.

 

[wcburrs87]

Wait. So some of you guys think that Jordan was on the brink of being suspended by Stern, so he stepped away? Ok. Have any of you located Big Foot yet?

 

[Ninetynine5.0]

Wait. So some of you guys think that Jordan was on the brink of being suspended by Stern, so he stepped away? Ok. Have any of you located Big Foot yet?

Doubt he was on the brink. He was well past it. What happened was in the best interest of everyone involved.