Kyrie, Kevin Love, and LeBron

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

If Kevin Love shows up this finals that's a game changer, people seem to forget he put up awful numbers in the finals last year.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Yeah, LeBron had 11 scrubs. Love was out and his replacement was crap. Kryie was out (after game 1 I think).

His 11 scrubs were better that year than they are this year. In 2014-15, CLE had three players, other than LeBron, Kyrie amd Love that averaged in double figures during the regular season. This year, Korver, at 10.7 ppg is the only CLE player outside of the Big 3 that averaged in double figures during the regular season.

CLE had much more depth up front that year, too. Mosgov played amazingly well against GSW in that series, including 3 double-doubles where he scored at least 17 points. This year, if Tristan Thompson goes down, or more likely, gets in foul trouble, CLE doesn't have another big body they can throw out there and defend the paint and rebound.

And, GSW added Kevin Durant...

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

If Kevin Love shows up this finals that's a game changer, people seem to forget he put up awful numbers in the finals last year.

Not as much of a game changer as adding Kevin Durant.

BNM

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Not as much of a game changer as adding Kevin Durant.

BNM

We shall see, at the end of the day the Warriors & Durant when pushed up against a wall have shown to falter in the past. I hope it happens again.

 

[julius]

His 11 scrubs were better that year than they are this year. In 2014-15, CLE had three players, other than LeBron, Kyrie amd Love that averaged in double figures during the regular season. This year, Korver, at 10.7 ppg is the only CLE player outside of the Big 3 that averaged in double figures during the regular season.

CLE had much more depth up front that year, too. Mosgov played amazingly well against GSW in that series, including 3 double-doubles where he scored at least 17 points. This year, if Tristan Thompson goes down, or more likely, gets in foul trouble, CLE doesn't have another big body they can throw out there and defend the paint and rebound.

And, GSW added Kevin Durant...

BNM

I'd say that the team as it is now, is better than LeBron James and the Jamesettes.

Also, who on the Warriors is a beast in the middle?

 

[Boob-No-More]

I'd say that the team as it is now, is better than LeBron James and the Jamesettes.

Also, who on the Warriors is a beast in the middle?

Zaza and McGee are both solid and they play Draymond at the 5 when they go small. They don't need a lot of scoring at the 5, just defense and rebounding. Zaza doesn't block a lot of shots, be he's a smart vet that plays good position defense. McGee was a great pick up for them. In both the regular season and the playoffs, he has given them very efficient scoring, solid rebounding and great shot blocking. David West was anther solid pickup that has given them good minutes in the post season.

GSW does rim protection by committee (Draymond, Durant, McGee and West). They lead the league in blocked shots during the regular season, and it wasn't close. They averaged 6.8 BLK/G in the regular season and are averaging 7.9 BLK/G in the playoffs. CLE averaged 4.0 BLK/G in the regular season and is averaging 5.1 BLK/G in the playoffs.

When it comes to defense and rebounding, GSW is much deeper up front than CLE.

BNM

 

[BBert]

The real question is, which Cleveland player are the Warriors going to injure: Love or Irvine?

 

[Boob-No-More]

Wrong. It's about one man. And that man is LeBron.

The why is the title of YOUR thread:

Kyrie, Kevin Love, and LeBron

BNM

 

[Minstrel]

If Kevin Love shows up this finals that's a game changer, people seem to forget he put up awful numbers in the finals last year.

Steph Curry was playing nowhere near his normal level, as he was still recovering from an MCL sprain. Curry being at full effectiveness is a bigger deal than Love playing better.

And that's before adding Durant to the mix instead of Harrison Barnes.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Steph Curry was playing nowhere near his normal level, as he was still recovering from an MCL sprain. Curry being at full effectiveness is a bigger deal than Love playing better.

And that's before adding Durant to the mix instead of Harrison Barnes.

Lots of factors going into this finals, let's also not forgot the Cavs have gotten even better shooters now too. It's just really interesting.

 

[Minstrel]

Lots of factors going into this finals, let's also not forgot the Cavs have gotten even better shooters now too. It's just really interesting.

I agree. I think it should be a competitive series. To me, the main separating factor is defense--even if you give Cleveland credit for playing better defense now than during the regular season (and I do, they seem to be playing with more effort now), the Warriors' defense was essentially tied with the Spurs for #1 (a fraction of a point behind). And they had the #1 offense.

But I don't think you can write off LeBron James or the chance of injuries shaking the series up. Plus, if Mike Brown is still coaching the Warriors in the Finals, I don't know how that might impact their chances. But, right now, it looks like the Warriors' series to lose.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

I agree. I think it should be a competitive series. To me, the main separating factor is defense--even if you give Cleveland credit for playing better defense now than during the regular season (and I do, they seem to be playing with more effort now), the Warriors' defense was essentially tied with the Spurs for #1 (a fraction of a point behind). And they had the #1 offense.

But I don't think you can write off LeBron James or the chance of injuries shaking the series up. Plus, if Mike Brown is still coaching the Warriors in the Finals, I don't know how that might impact their chances. But, right now, it looks like the Warriors' series to lose.

The thing about the Cavs defense is they create absolute chaos, very aggressive. In the playoffs it really benefits them, regular season not so much.

 

[Orion Bailey]

It all comes down to LBJ and his head. When it gets really tough will he give up? find a way to star making excuses?
Or will he man up and take it to the hoop and take the game over?

He is a physical freak and if he has the will and perseverance, he will plow(not literally, it will be tough) through them and just take the game over.

He has the ability to defend almost anyone and it start there. Cleveland is now playing incredible defense overall and all the guys have bought in and are flying around. But its all LBJ.

HE can win the series whether GSW is a better team or not. Cause he is the best player on the planet and has the ability to just take over.

 

[Boob-No-More]

It all comes down to LBJ and his head.

If I was the Warriors, I'd buy Delonte West tickets right behind the Cavs bench for every game. If there is one proven LeBron stopper, it's Delonte West.

BNM

 

[Voodoo]

If I was the Warriors, I'd buy Delonte West tickets right behind the Cavs bench for every game. If there is one proven LeBron stopper, it's Delonte West.

BNM

I heard he was stuffing a LeBron, not stopping a LeBron.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Bump.

BNM

 

[tlongII]

They lost a game. So what? They're still going to beat the Warriors.

 

[Boob-No-More]

They lost a game. So what? They're still going to beat the Warriors.

Bump...

BNM

 

[Strenuus]

They lost a game. So what? They're still going to beat the Warriors.

I mean....

 

[ripcityboy]

Somebody.... send in the Clowns! Send in.....the....clowns.

 

[BigGameDamian]

 

[Boob-No-More]

I mean....

I think he meant to say...

They lost a game. So what? They're still going to beat the Warriors one time in this series.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

Somebody.... send in the Clowns! Send in.....the....clowns.

You misspelled Cavs not once, but twice.

BNM

 

[BonesJones]

Smh

 

[Mediocre Man]

Bump...

BNM

Like Dame saying Blazers in 6. AmIright?

 

[tlongII]

Well I knew I would catch some shit for that one.

 

[tlongII]

If Cleveland had just won game 3 it might have been a different story.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Would of liked to see how the Cavs would of done with Wiggins + the extra $$ they could use on other players instead of Love.

 

[Minstrel]

If Cleveland had just won game 3 it might have been a different story.

If the Cavs had just won three more games, it would have been different.

The only game they won was one in which they fired up 45 threes and nailed 54% of them. That's not a sustainable strategy, but it is about the only way the far less talented team can steal one.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Would of liked to see how the Cavs would of done with Wiggins + the extra $$ they could use on other players instead of Love.

Minus LeBron, because he only agreed to return to CLE if they traded Wiggins and scraps for Love. He wasn't interested in being part of a rebuilding project dependent on a teenage rookie. He would only return if they were 100% in win now mode.

BNM