Archive 2015-2016 Cleveland Cavaliers World Champions!

sleeper

Posts: 27,879

Mar 24, 2016 11:29am

Automatik;1788658 wrote:The formula is out there to beat GS, but can teams do it regularly? Do the Cavs have the personnel?

The Cavs lack personnel that directly counters GS, but I do think they have the talent.

If the Cavs can initiate in Game 1 with some shock and awe, I could see them taking the series. It's hard to imagine that the Cavs do worse than last year with the upgraded roster and everyone healthy.

sleeper

Posts: 27,879

Mar 24, 2016 11:30am

Automatik;1788660 wrote:He had a few vicious dunks last night.

But he's "lost a step" right? :laugh:

He's lost a step for sure, but he's still the best player in the game. He does seem a bit slower on his drives than I remember.

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BR1986FB

Posts: 24,104

Mar 24, 2016 11:35am

Automatik;1788660 wrote:He had a few vicious dunks last night.

But he's "lost a step" right? :laugh:

Yeah, he has... which is why it's imperative that they get a ring ASAP.

With age, his game will continue to decline (it won't fall off the map) and he'll have to recreate himself to elongate his career. Most guys with similar skill sets will perfect their outside game so they won't have to deal with all of the banging/wear & tear as they get older. He's already shown his outside shooting skills aren't all that so his window to win another ring is closing.

As sleeper said, he's still one of the best in the game but I'd argue (along with many) that Curry has passed him.

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BR1986FB

Posts: 24,104

Mar 24, 2016 11:36am

sleeper;1788655 wrote:I think the Cavs can beat the Warriors. It will be interesting to see a fully loaded Cavs team in playoff mode against them.

I think it's possible too. I just keep hoping they have some kind of magic formula hidden up their sleeves that they are keeping under wraps until (if) they face them. That's doubtful though.

Automatik

Posts: 14,632

Mar 24, 2016 11:39am

BR1986FB;1788664 wrote:Yeah, he has... which is why it's imperative that they get a ring ASAP.

With age, his game will continue to decline (it won't fall off the map) and he'll have to recreate himself to elongate his career. Most guys with similar skill sets will perfect their outside game so they won't have to deal with all of the banging/wear & tear as they get older. He's already shown his outside shooting skills aren't all that so his window to win another ring is closing.

As sleeper said, he's still one of the best in the game but I'd argue (along with many) that Curry has passed him.

What makes you think he's lost a step? Did you watch last night? Physically speaking.

To me "lost a step" is just LeBron being smart. He knows when he has to go balls out and when to coast.

sleeper

Posts: 27,879

Mar 24, 2016 11:40am

BR1986FB;1788666 wrote:I think it's possible too. I just keep hoping they have some kind of magic formula hidden up their sleeves that they are keeping under wraps until (if) they face them. That's doubtful though.

I doubt Lue is going to have some amazing strategy in his back pocket to beat the Warriors. He's not a savvy coach.

We know the formula though. Make Curry play defense. Whoever he is guarding gets the ball and goes hard to the paint every time. Also, I'd like to see Delly guard him full court for the 3-4 minute spurts he is on the court. Make Curry have to dribble with attention the majority of the game. I know when I play basketball, the worst is having someone ball hawking you the entire game; its freaking exhausting and while Curry is a professional athlete and has far greater stamina than me, I'm sure it would still wear on him.

sleeper

Posts: 27,879

Mar 24, 2016 11:41am

Automatik;1788668 wrote:What makes you think he's lost a step? Did you watch last night? Physically speaking.

To me "lost a step" is just LeBron being smart. He knows when he has to go balls out and when to coast.

Lebron is still a strong and fast player but he's not able to beat someone off the dribble anymore. If you look in his early days he would take one step and go right to the basket with force and now it seems like he has to take the elongated path to the rim.

It's not game breaking but its still noticeable.

sleeper

Posts: 27,879

Mar 24, 2016 11:46am

Also I think Lebron should be the picker in pick and rolls for KI. This puts a ton of pressure on the defense because whoever is guarding KI isn't going to be able to man up on Lebron when the switch occurs. You can't allow GS to set AI on Lebron. AI is Lebron's Achilles's heel.

Lue hasn't really proven he has any offensive game plan other than "Whatever Lebron wants". As high of a basketball IQ that Lebron has, he doesn't seem to utilize any different strategies that a coach would bring to the forefront. Most of the Lebron's IQ is understanding what to do in the moment on the court; but not in any overall strategy capacity.

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BR1986FB

Posts: 24,104

Mar 24, 2016 11:47am

Automatik;1788668 wrote:What makes you think he's lost a step? Did you watch last night? Physically speaking.

To me "lost a step" is just LeBron being smart. He knows when he has to go balls out and when to coast.

"Lost a step" was my bad in the terminology. Perhaps "his game has declined in various areas" would've been a better choice of words? He can still explode to the hoop when he needs to but parts of his game like 3 point shooting are so miserable he might as well not even chuck it up there.

I agree about your "being smart" comment. He's going to have to adapt his game as he gets older.

Automatik

Posts: 14,632

Mar 24, 2016 11:50am

I never thought he was a good 3 point shooter, streaky at best.

In 2-3 seasons I think you'll see a major change....Kobe-like. Driving to the hoop will be minimal, and heavy on the mid-range and post game.

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BR1986FB

Posts: 24,104

Mar 24, 2016 11:52am

Automatik;1788678 wrote:I never thought he was a good 3 point shooter, streaky at best.

In 2-3 seasons I think you'll see a major change....Kobe-like. Driving to the hoop will be minimal, and heavy on the mid-range and post game.

And he will have to do something like that to prolong his career. I do think that he will be different than Kobe & Jordan in that when he notices the decline he'll be like "I'm done." I don't see him as one of these lingerers who does the feel good "retirement tour."

Ironman92

Posts: 49,363

Mar 24, 2016 8:57pm

Lebron 9/9
Love 3/9
Kyrie 3/9
Frye 1/7

like_that

Posts: 26,625

Mar 24, 2016 9:37pm

It's pretty much an automatic loss for the Cavs on a back to back.

Ironman92

Posts: 49,363

Mar 24, 2016 11:05pm

like_that;1788760 wrote:It's pretty much an automatic loss for the Cavs on a back to back.

Love, Smith, Irving, Frye 4 for 27 from the 3

I believe they would make more than that from 27 1/2 court shots

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BR1986FB

Posts: 24,104

Mar 25, 2016 7:58am

Ironman92;1788793 wrote:Love, Smith, Irving, Frye 4 for 27 from the 3

I believe they would make more than that from 27 1/2 court shots

They need to steer away from this. The Cavs love the three more than a fat kid likes cake. If they try to win like that in the playoffs, they aren't going to sniff a championship.

sleeper

Posts: 27,879

Mar 25, 2016 10:56am

BR1986FB;1788822 wrote:They need to steer away from this. The Cavs love the three more than a fat kid likes cake. If they try to win like that in the playoffs, they aren't going to sniff a championship.

That is the team though. The team is built around using Lebron to space the floor for 3 point shooters.

This works great until we start missing 3's. I still think we can win a championship with this formula until we play GS. When we play GS, attack all day every day.

Lovejoy1984

Posts: 5,277

Mar 26, 2016 1:39pm

No Kyrie tonight vs the Knicks.

Predicting a win by 10+, LBJ with a Triple Double and 20-12 for Love.

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sportswizuhrd

Posts: 3,215

Mar 26, 2016 8:50pm

HighRoller74;1789023 wrote:No Kyrie tonight vs the Knicks.

Predicting a win by 10+, LBJ with a Triple Double and 20-12 for Love.

Prediction will be right.

56-32 at the half.

LeBron with 8 points, 6 boards, 8 assists.
Love with 14 and 9.
JR has a trio of 3's.
Mo even has 6 off the bench.

All 10 guys that have played have scored.

Ironman92

Posts: 49,363

Mar 26, 2016 9:43pm

HighRoller74;1789023 wrote:No Kyrie tonight vs the Knicks.

Predicting a win by 10+, LBJ with a Triple Double and 20-12 for Love.

Funny how close you are

Lovejoy1984

Posts: 5,277

Mar 26, 2016 10:01pm

Was a perfect storm....had a day off, no travel so essentially a home game, and without Kyrie, was pretty confident that both would have big games.

Coincidentally, last game Kyrie missed or barely played (OKC) Love had a huge game, and LBJ was 3 boards shy of another Triple Double.

Midstate01

Posts: 14,766

Mar 26, 2016 11:08pm

HighRoller74;1789023 wrote:No Kyrie tonight vs the Knicks.

Predicting a win by 10+, LBJ with a Triple Double and 20-12 for Love.

Damn, you were almost spot on

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Midstate01

Posts: 14,766

Mar 26, 2016 11:13pm

I keep telling my buddies, love is going to there next year, kyrie isn't. He's the one who will get traded.

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Benny The Jet

Posts: 2,987

Mar 27, 2016 8:14am

HighRoller74;1789023 wrote:No Kyrie tonight vs the Knicks.

Predicting a win by 10+, LBJ with a Triple Double and 20-12 for Love.

Whoa, nice job. Even were a little light for Love.

Benny The Jet

Posts: 2,987

Mar 27, 2016 8:16am

Midstate01;1789116 wrote:I keep telling my buddies, love is going to there next year, kyrie isn't. He's the one who will get traded.

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Not saying that I disagree with this, but if you were to make a trade...what player/kind of player do you think they'd try to get to replace Kyrie? A true facilitating PG would be my thought, but I'm not sure who's realistic. I know LeBron would send him out to LA for Paul in a heartbeat. But Paul's about 6 years older.

like_that

Posts: 26,625

Mar 27, 2016 10:19am

Again, love needs to come off the bench.