I agree D90- their effort, aggressiveness and overal defensive energy was much better last night. They defended and out manned them. That's not on Love. Kyrie was spectacular last night and hopefully plays like that the rest of the series. He put on a great show.
The Official NBA Finals Threads
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There isn't any question that they had more edge and swagger last night, but I still think Lue has plenty to think about in the next 24 hours. Love gets a little bit of a bad rap defensively, but I don't think there is much question that a lineup of James, Thompson, Jefferson, and Frye in some combination at the 3-4-5 has more defensive versatility than a group that contains Love. The Cavs have done as good a job through three games against the Splash Brothers as anyone has done in any 3 game stretch all year. But that defensive versatility allows them to also do a better job against the "other guys" and avoid getting killed by guys like Livingston, Barbosa, and Green as they did in the first two games.
All of it could be moot if they continue the shot making they had last night and through most of the playoffs, and that was completely absent games 1 and 2.
All of it could be moot if they continue the shot making they had last night and through most of the playoffs, and that was completely absent games 1 and 2.
Last night was a great example of why in can't care much about the nba. I always hear the notion that the everything bellow the pro game should follow suit of the pro game. One of supposedly reasons for " freedom of movement" in cbb. Yet all series there having a thousand moving screens and grabbed jerseys and fouls. This has been an ugly finals, and it's suppose to be the best basketball in the world?
Kyrie doesn't know how to pass and lebron doesn't know how to stop. Cavs be done.
Kyrie doesn't know how to pass and lebron doesn't know how to stop. Cavs be done.
I think the best thing that happens to the Cavs is Lebron leaves and they build around Kyrie
Why did Lebron get in Curry's face at the end? He fouled and grabbed Curry when the game was already over, Curry complains to ref, the Lebron says something to Curry? Bad sportsmanship. Also, bad hair plugs.
They had their chance when they had Andrew..
If he can't win it with lebron he may never.
With Kyrie's style of play, he may never win one until he's an old role player on a good team. He's too selfish. Last game he had 8 assists on top of scoring. Yesterday, 30 and 4 asts going 3/10 in the 4th isn't gonna cut it for a star player. They are best when they move the ball and without Kevin Love, who in my opinion, had his career killed by going to Cleveland. Ugly series and ugly play from the Cavs.
Should the NBA just go to an NCAA tournament style playoffs where they keep the series play, but the top 16 teams get in regardless of conference and you play whoever you are seeded against? Where round 1 you could see the Rockets vs. the Raptors and so on. I feel like the conferences really don't matter anymore and the West is clearly just more dominant. OKC vs. GSW was the true title matchup in my opinion.
There's still the Olympics! At least no Tar Heels will have a chance to win a medal.
Steph being Seth's brother makes me pull for him hard. I just don't feel much for Kyrie. No dislike.
I use to ( use to) be a huge Kevin love guy but yeah, his career is shot. Finally, in glad the cavs are getting smacked, because it was horse crap for them to fire a coach who took them to the finals
I use to ( use to) be a huge Kevin love guy but yeah, his career is shot. Finally, in glad the cavs are getting smacked, because it was horse crap for them to fire a coach who took them to the finals
I hope there aren't many more who opt out, after the recent Curry and Westbrook announcements. I know there is still plenty of talent on hand, but I want to see as many of the greats as possible.
As an off guard, Kyrie would be a top 10 player in the league, but leading a team is not his forte and IMO, it wasn't his strength here at Duke for 11 games either. Again, my opinion, but it was part of the reason Nolan struggled with him. Off guards struggle with Kyrie leading a team. They have his entire career. Ask Dion Waiters for instance.
For now Aldridge, Westbrook (who has gone on record in disliking international basketball and the Colangelo lead group), and Curry are the main guys who have backed out. I really hope Harden doesn't play (not a fan of his game). I think we're looking at a team with Durant, Kyrie, LeBron, Draymond, Klay, Cousins, Lillard, Anthony Davis, Jimmy Butler, Chris Paul, Kawhi and one of Melo/Drummond/Wall/Griffin. I don't see how Kevin Love makes the squad. Derrick Rose and Paul George will be back in contention. There's a chance Paul doesn't play either. That opens the door for John Wall. Barnes is on the outside looking in. He needs a few defections from Green/James/Butler to make it. If the squad I listed holds up, they could go down as the second best USA squad ever. That would be an incredible grouping of talent.
If I remember correctly harrison barnes not long after he committed to unc said something about at one time he felt like Coach K would still love to have him on the U.S.A. team because of the close relationship they developed during his recruitment. Maybe I'm imagining things. I don't know. OFC.
Harden has already announced he won't participate. Chris Paul, Anthony Davis, and Wall have all also said they are out due to injury. I would like to see George on the team after what happened to him at the World Championships.
Even with all the aforementioned guys who have opted out, I would be really surprised if Barnes was on the team. He is just not a top tier NBA player. He is a nice player on a great team, but he is not the kind of player that should be in the conversation for the Olympics, with the best players in the game.
Irving, Thompson and Lillard together would be an insane back court. There's a few other guys not on the main roster who may get called up for camp including Mason Plumlee and JJ among others, but for now there are still about 25 or 26 guys left from the original 31, so that may not happen.
Kyrie having the game of his NBA career. What a time to do it. The games not over for sure but he and James have just been so big in this game. OFC
Kyrie was absolutely flat out spectacular, one of the best finals performances you'll see.
That slip to the floor at the foul line, maintain the dribble, spin, fall away jumper over a taller defender was just sick! Glad to see Kyrie have such a great game. He was unstoppable last night.
Gary will have a rationalization about how Barnes unselfishly missed those shots, and this game is another chapter in his first-ballot Hall of Fame resume.
What about relishing the opportunity to go up against Kyrie head to head? The genesis of this btw is when Barnes had him in the post in game 1 or 2 and scored a couple baskets (i think 2) over a guy he had 6 inches and probaly 60 lbs on. Yeah i'd relish that opportunity too!
In all seriousness, Kyrie was absolutely incredible last night. That was a filthy performance he put on. Any way you slice it.
Yes, very good. Just think if he hadn't scored those five points. The margin of loss were have been greater. OFC
Bonus basketball. I love it!
As for Kyrie....insane performance Monday night. Insane.
As for Kyrie....insane performance Monday night. Insane.