2015-16 NBA Eastern Conference OFFICIAL THREAD

[bksballer89]

The perception that the Cav's would have it easy in the Eastern playoffs last year was never the perception until AFTER the Cavs made the Finals.

When the Hawks raced out to a league-best record and the Rose/Butler got off to great starts, while the Cavs had a losing record after 40 games... that perception didn't exist. When Love went out in the playoffs and the Bulls took an early lead in their series with the Cavs... that perception didn't exist.

It wasn't until the Cavs steamrolled the Hawks that suddenly "the Cavs had a super easy path". I don't think the Cavs were even the consensus pick on this forum to get to the Finals last year.

You may be right, though, maybe this year will be the opposite. The Cavs ARE the consensus Finals pick and maybe their trip through the EC playoffs will be more of a grind.

Honestly, though... no matter what happens... if the Cavs get out of the East is will be seen as an "easy path". Which is somewhat fair in comparison to the West... but generally overstated, imo.

This is so false. Everyone knew the Hawks were a fraud. They struggled in the last month or two of the season. They struggled with a shitty Brooklyn team. They would have been eliminated in round 2 if Wall never got hurt. I guarantee if you go back to the predictions, almost everyone predicted Cleveland in 5.....at most 6

The only series that people predicted would be difficult for Cleveland was the Bulls series

 

[gordontrue]

This is so false. Everyone knew the Hawks were a fraud. They struggled in the last month or two of the season. They struggled with a shitty Brooklyn team. They would have been eliminated in round 2 if Wall never got hurt. I guarantee if you go back to the predictions, almost everyone predicted Cleveland in 5.....at most 6

The only series that people predicted would be difficult for Cleveland was the Bulls series

I agree that by the time the playoffs rolled around people believed in CHI moreso than ATL. I was just talking about how the whole season went down. Early on with the Cavs struggling and the Hawks balling... there seemed to be a lot of believers. Later on... especially on this forum... there was a lot of belief that the Bulls could take down the Cavs.

I might be overstating things... I'll go check the predictions. My whole point though... is that there seems to be much more of a general consensus of the Cavs having an easy path to the Finals this season... than there was last season. By a LOT.

 

[bksballer89]

@TurnUpTheHeat you would love this stat. Heard on ESPN today that Love is avg 3 points on 37% shooting in the 4th quarter this season. They were also talking about he is so afraid of the moment. Perfect example of this was how he passed up a wide open look late in the 4th last night

 

[gordontrue]

This is so false. Everyone knew the Hawks were a fraud. They struggled in the last month or two of the season. They struggled with a shitty Brooklyn team. They would have been eliminated in round 2 if Wall never got hurt. I guarantee if you go back to the predictions, almost everyone predicted Cleveland in 5.....at most 6

The only series that people predicted would be difficult for Cleveland was the Bulls series

I checked a couple of the predictions threads... it looks like by the time the playoffs came around people were more on board with the Cavs than what I remembered. I think it still shows that the path wasn't viewed the same before and after - especially when you think about Love's injury.

At the all star break we tried predicting the Finals, the votes went like this...
Bulls - 6
Haws - 3
Cavs - 7

Right before the playoffs we tried predicting the whole playoffs, the votes went like this...
Bulls - 4
Hawks - 2
Cavs - 9

 

[MiamiVice]

@TurnUpTheHeat you would love this stat. Heard on ESPN today that Love is avg 3 points on 37% shooting in the 4th quarter this season. They were also talking about he is so afraid of the moment. Perfect example of this was how he passed up a wide open look late in the 4th last night

The entire Cavs team is one playoff series loss away from implosion. You want to see good tv.. watch what happens in Cleveland after they are upset by someone in the east before even making it to the finals. Lebron will be throwing everyone under the bus.. Its going to be hilarious to watch. I honestly think the Raptors, Pacers, Heat, Pistons, and Bulls could all beat the Cavs in a 7 game series as of right now... so unless things change.. get ready for a fun off season in Cleveland!

Nothing would be better than to see them lose in the first or second round.. that would REALLY get Lebron crowing!!!

 

[MiamiVice]

I checked a couple of the predictions threads... it looks like by the time the playoffs came around people were more on board with the Cavs than what I remembered. I think it still shows that the path wasn't viewed the same before and after - especially when you think about Love's injury.

At the all star break we tried predicting the Finals, the votes went like this...
Bulls - 6
Haws - 3
Cavs - 7

Right before the playoffs we tried predicting the whole playoffs, the votes went like this...
Bulls - 4
Hawks - 2
Cavs - 9

You want to do a vote now? Mine is on the Heat.

How much would that burn Lebron's ass if the Heat made it to the finals this year and he didn't? LOL

 

[trojanfan12]

you people are idiots that run your mouth and celebrate how good you are before you win anything...

This describes some Cavs fans (one in particular), but gordon isn't one of them.

 

[MiamiVice]

This describes some Cavs fans, but gordon isn't one of them.

It appears he is not living in Ohio.. if he was.. I am sure surrounded by the rest of the clowns on a daily basis he would be.

 

[bksballer89]

I checked a couple of the predictions threads... it looks like by the time the playoffs came around people were more on board with the Cavs than what I remembered. I think it still shows that the path wasn't viewed the same before and after - especially when you think about Love's injury.

At the all star break we tried predicting the Finals, the votes went like this...
Bulls - 6
Haws - 3
Cavs - 7

Right before the playoffs we tried predicting the whole playoffs, the votes went like this...
Bulls - 4
Hawks - 2
Cavs - 9

I will give you this. After Love and Kyrie went down, almost everyone thought the Bulls would win that series but once they got past the Bulls, very few people thought the Hawks would beat Cleveland especially considering that the Hawks level of play dropped big time

 

[gordontrue]

You want to do a vote now? Mine is on the Heat.

How much would that burn Lebron's ass if the Heat made it to the finals this year and he didn't? LOL

If we did a vote on who people want to come out of the East... the Cavs would have very few votes.
If we did a vote on who people think will come out of the East... the Cavs would have almost all of them.


I'm only saying that based on what people have said over the last couple months on this forum when the topic comes up. I think some posters think its very possible the Cavs could lose... but if they had to pick someone now they'd take the Cavs.

 

[trojanfan12]

It appears he is not living in Ohio.. if he was.. I am sure surrounded by the rest of the clowns on a daily basis he would be.

Maybe. There is something to be said for being influenced on a daily basis. But until then, gordon is actually a sane, rational Cavs fan. Which, is such a rare commodity that we could probably get a pretty hefty government grant to study him.

 

[gordontrue]

I will give you this. After Love and Kyrie went down, almost everyone thought the Bulls would win that series but once they got past the Bulls, very few people thought the Hawks would beat Cleveland especially considering that the Hawks level of play dropped big time

Yeah, I think that's accurate... and to be fair... it wasn't a bad prediction at all. The Bulls played CLE very well and got themselves in a great position. Who knows what happens that series if Gasol stays healthy.

 

[gordontrue]

Maybe. There is something to be said for being influenced on a daily basis. But until then, gordon is actually a sane, rational Cavs fan. Which, is such a rare commodity that we could probably get a pretty hefty government grant to study him.

As long as some of the grant money goes to compensating me

 

[trojanfan12]

As long as some of the grant money goes to compensating me

Pretty sure we can get a nice stipend included for you.

 

[MiamiVice]

I will give you this. After Love and Kyrie went down, almost everyone thought the Bulls would win that series but once they got past the Bulls, very few people thought the Hawks would beat Cleveland especially considering that the Hawks level of play dropped big time

Kyrie went down in the Finals...

 

[Heatles84]

Kyrie went down in the Finals...

Kyrie barely played in that series as the Cavs sat him for a majority of the series if memory serves correct.

 

[MiamiVice]

I'm not even going to lie.. An injury to Lebron would really make me happy.

 

[bksballer89]

That's pretty low

 

[Shanemansj13]

This is so false. Everyone knew the Hawks were a fraud. They struggled in the last month or two of the season. They struggled with a shitty Brooklyn team. They would have been eliminated in round 2 if Wall never got hurt. I guarantee if you go back to the predictions, almost everyone predicted Cleveland in 5.....at most 6

The only series that people predicted would be difficult for Cleveland was the Bulls series

This is funny. A team that won 60 games. 35-6 at home. They went to the ECF and bc Lebron went Lebron they were a fraud. Compared to the West, yes, they weren't up to par. The Hawks were still a very good team, remember they had some injuries also going into that Cavs series, the difference is it is harder for an Atlanta team to overcome injuries then a Cleveland team that still has Lebron. Everyone forgets the injuries, before those Atlanta was legit team no doubt.

 

[bksballer89]

This is funny. A team that won 60 games. 35-6 at home. They went to the ECF and bc Lebron went Lebron they were a fraud. Compared to the West, yes, they weren't up to par. The Hawks were still a very good team, remember they had some injuries also going into that Cavs series, the difference is it is harder for an Atlanta team to overcome injuries then a Cleveland team that still has Lebron. Everyone forgets the injuries, before those Atlanta was legit team no doubt.

Yes every knew they were a fraud because after February they played mediocre basketball for the next 2+ months. It was obvious they lost their swagger and it was not coming back.