Series Thread: 2nd Round: Chicago Bulls vs Cleveland Cavaliers

[TurnUpTheHeat]

I think the winner of this series wins the Eastern Conference. No disrespect you ATL but these are the two best teams in the East.

First two games we will be without JR Smith, if we can go 1-1 then I am ok with that.

If we head into game 5 (at home) with the series tied 2-2 I think we win it. Either way, I see this series going 6-7 games. Should be a great series to watch and I can't wait to see how Bron comes out and plays.

I am also a fan of how grindy Noah plays and think he'll have a good series as well.

You're post might be disrespectful to the Wizards, not the Hawks.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

Sounds like you read "How to Make Absolute Declarations About The Future" by Dan Gilbert.

I'm pretty absolute that no player has ever played their best ball after they just reached 4 straight Finals, after winning 2 titles and 2 league MVP's and then going on the plus side of 30 and logging a million minutes.

 

[SJ76]

All I know is Butler better get ready for a very physical, attacking Lebron. I think he will drive and post up at will, at least that is what he wants to do from his previous comments.

If he did that consistently, he'd be awesome. But the guy settles for a lot of jumpers too. He's going to have to put them on his back no doubt.

Then again, you can't take a beating and keep going to the hole.

 

[SJ76]

Heat has nothing to do with this series, but Heat has everything to do as far as where James played his best basketball.
My response was to Wiggy's prediction that James best ball was ahead of him....so I'll ask once again, name any player whose best ball was after the age of 30 and logging 40,000+ minutes....

Lebron hasn't even played deep in the playoffs yet this year and he's already old and over-the-hill? Lebron hasn't lost much of anything on the court, if anything he's smarter and more experienced. At 30?

Sounds like someone is pissed their not in the playoffs anymore.

 

[SJ76]

I'm pretty absolute that no player has ever played their best ball after they just reached 4 straight Finals, after winning 2 titles and 2 league MVP's and then going on the plus side of 30 and logging a million minutes.

So Jordan winning 3 and then playing baseball for 2 years, then winning 3 more... He was too old because he didn't win 4 in a row?


Lebron has been to 4 straight NBA Finals my man. The only reason the Heat didn't win it the 1st year of the big 3 is because of team chemistry. It's tough to walk in to a new team and beat ALL the other teams in the NBA in year 1. Last year, I don't know why the Heat lost to the Spurs - those guys were and are old.

So at 30 - nah your best ball is not behind you.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

So Jordan winning 3 and then playing baseball for 2 years, then winning 3 more... He was too old because he didn't win 4 in a row?


Lebron has been to 4 straight NBA Finals my man. The only reason the Heat didn't win it the 1st year of the big 3 is because of team chemistry. It's tough to walk in to a new team and beat ALL the other teams in the NBA in year 1. Last year, I don't know why the Heat lost to the Spurs - those guys were and are old.

So at 30 - nah your best ball is not behind you.

2-3 years ago he was easily the best player in the league.
Today he is probably and arguably the best player.
2 years from now, it's doubtful he'll be the best player.

So, as I stated, he won't be a better player as his career progresses.
That is far different then you accusing me of saying he can't win or is over the hill.
I've never even implied that in any post.

 

[purguy12]

I give LBJ tons of credit for making it to the Finals 4 years in a row but lets be Honest the East has been really weak the last 4-5 years. Miami was far better then any East team . The only team that had a shot was the Bulls and then everything went down hill after all those Rose injuries. Indiana was good but not great. LBJ has been able to walk into the Finals every year. This year might finally be a challenge for him. a lot of things going on, LBJ being 30, No Love, No team, rookie head coach. If they make it this year I will give mad respect. I still give him credit for the other 4 but Im not impressed especially that he last 2 Finals with the year and 3 over all.

 

[SJ76]

I give LBJ tons of credit for making it to the Finals 4 years in a row but lets be Honest the East has been really weak the last 4-5 years. Miami was far better then any East team . The only team that had a shot was the Bulls and then everything went down hill after all those Rose injuries. Indiana was good but not great. LBJ has been able to walk into the Finals every year. This year might finally be a challenge for him. a lot of things going on, LBJ being 30, No Love, No team, rookie head coach. If they make it this year I will give mad respect. I still give him credit for the other 4 but Im not impressed especially that he last 2 Finals with the year and 3 over all.

I don't think you can take anything away from Lebron. Sure I think he cries at times, but he didn't just walk into the East Finals. Pacers were pretty strong until this year so I don't think the East was weak.. but it wasn't great either.

 

[SJ76]

2-3 years ago he was easily the best player in the league.
Today he is probably and arguably the best player.
2 years from now, it's doubtful he'll be the best player.

So, as I stated, he won't be a better player as his career progresses.
That is far different then you accusing me of saying he can't win or is over the hill.
I've never even implied that in any post.

Not accusing. You said at 30 years old his best ball is behind him and I think guys like Kobe and Jordan would disagree. More polished player is what Lebron is. Wiser too

 

[WiggyRuss]

Not accusing. You said at 30 years old his best ball is behind him and I think guys like Kobe and Jordan would disagree. More polished player is what Lebron is. Wiser too

LeBron is not the same high flying athlete he was at age 23 that is for sure- however he is infinitely better equipped to win in the playoffs. His 3 point shot was non existent back then- now its a weapon. He used to have no post game- now its a huge weapon. He used to not have the confidence that came with winning- now he does.

Players like LeBron and Kobe keep adding to their games as they get older- and while LeBron does not have those dramatic chase-down blocks as often as he used to- he can still do those- he still had a NASTY tomahawk dunk in a breakway during that boston serise that looked as good as I have seen....

He is such a better and complete player and "Queen of the Chess-board" as Simmons says. He is in control out there in a way that he never was when he was 25 years old.

LeBron's best moment is yet to come. I think he has a Jordan/Russell moment in him- a moment that 20 years from now is the first one that is played on his highlight reel. We shall see.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

Not accusing. You said at 30 years old his best ball is behind him and I think guys like Kobe and Jordan would disagree. More polished player is what Lebron is. Wiser too

Actually I said a combination of age + miles.
Yes, Jordan was still pretty much Jordan when he came back, but he was fresh, and didn't have near the career wear and tear.

James becoming headier doesn't make him better then he was at the peak of his athletic ability.

 

[trojanfan12]

Lebron isn't as good athletically as he was 3-5 years ago. Neither were Kobe or MJ when they were 30. However, they were smarter basketball players at 30 so there wasn't much, if any, decline in their overall production. At 30, Kobe and MJ were still able to turn on the jets and drive to the hoop, but they did it with less frequency and inserted more mid-range jumpers and post moves into their games.

It's the same for Lebron, he is smarter than he was a few years ago (except for how he handles free agency ), but he's not forcing the action and driving to the hoop as much as he used to. Just like Kobe and MJ, Lebron is still putting up the numbers we're used to seeing, but he's doing so in a little different way. That's also why he's still the best in the game. He's making the necessary adjustments to continue being a great player.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

Despite no Love, despite the 2 game suspension, Cavs 2.4-1 favorite to win the series.

 

[FantasyBelowZero]

Despite no Love, despite the 2 game suspension, Cavs 2.4-1 favorite to win the series.

Well, they do have Lebron, so...

 

[FantasyBelowZero]

Who thinks D-Rose will return to his old form in this series and just go off in at least one game?

 

[cwalke3408]

Who thinks D-Rose will return to his old form in this series and just go off in at least one game?

He might get 30 in one of the games but the Bulls don't need him to go off like they did in 2011. We just need him to be efficient and focus on not turnovering the ball.

 

[Sgt Brutus]

You're post might be disrespectful to the Wizards, not the Hawks.

The truth hurts but the wizards certainly have played good ball

 

[Sgt Brutus]

2-3 years ago he was easily the best player in the league.
Today he is probably and arguably the best player.
2 years from now, it's doubtful he'll be the best player.

So, as I stated, he won't be a better player as his career progresses.
That is far different then you accusing me of saying he can't win or is over the hill.
I've never even implied that in any post.

So we both agree SJ is a dunce lol

 

[Beengay fudgepackers]

I think people are overrating the cavs right now. This isn't the heat of recent years, so stop bringing that up. Without Kevin Love and JR Smith to a lesser extent the Cavs will lose a lot of spacing. Kyrie also tends to struggle against D Rose. Add onto that fact that he's never been in the playoffs before this year and it makes me think he is going to struggle a few games. The Cavs have Lebron, and even though Butler is a great defender, Lebron will still get his. Will it be enough though? If he plays the four, it will give the Bulls problems. I just don't see enough fire power from the Cavs to make up for Rose, Butler, Gasol, and Mirotic. Lebron and Kyrie will get theirs, but their scoring efficiency will be down. Lebron might be able to take 1 of the Bulls out of the game, but the other three Bulls scorers will still wreak havoc. If Lebron sticks at the four all series, I think the Bulls win in 6. If Blatt shows he's incredibly incompetent and plays Lebron at the three all series, then the Bulls win in 4, maybe 5. The Cavs may have the best 1-2 punch in the NBA, but the Bulls probably have the most talent in their top 8 or 9 players than anyone in the league.

 

[Beengay fudgepackers]

LeBron is not the same high flying athlete he was at age 23 that is for sure- however he is infinitely better equipped to win in the playoffs. His 3 point shot was non existent back then- now its a weapon. He used to have no post game- now its a huge weapon. He used to not have the confidence that came with winning- now he does.

Players like LeBron and Kobe keep adding to their games as they get older- and while LeBron does not have those dramatic chase-down blocks as often as he used to- he can still do those- he still had a NASTY tomahawk dunk in a breakway during that boston serise that looked as good as I have seen....

He is such a better and complete player and "Queen of the Chess-board" as Simmons says. He is in control out there in a way that he never was when he was 25 years old.

LeBron's best moment is yet to come. I think he has a Jordan/Russell moment in him- a moment that 20 years from now is the first one that is played on his highlight reel. We shall see.

I don't see it. I will admit I haven't seen or remembered every single Lebron game, but every time he needs to make a clutch basket to win the game, he bricks it. The closest he ever got to a moment like that was when he almost lost the ball, and passed it to Ray allen for a three in desperation and Ray allen hit it. He will never be the buzzer beater guy in the playoffs, but he is and will be a guy that can get his team titles. I've seen him miss free throws in the clutch, I've seen him miss lay ups in the clutch, and I've seen him kiss I'll advised three pointers in the clutch. I'm not saying he doesn't make big shots in the final few minutes, but he rarely makes shots that will end the game at the buzzer. Hitting huge shots like that is a skill that ordinary players like robert horry and Steve Kerr have had, but superstars like Lebron do not possess.