2016-17 NBA Regular Season Thread

[WiggyRuss]

He isn't NOW but he is now going on his 3rd season playing with Lebron. Before Lebron came back he was still very young. 5/6 years experience isn't young in term of NBA experience but in the real world, of course it is.

last year it they all picked on kyrie's health and lack of playoff experience....

now- picking on how- after playing 3 years at mostly his age 19, 20, and 21 seasons- with the Cavs tanking for at LEAST the first 2 years of his career and his best teammate was Dion Waiters and a less old hurt Varejao- that he didnt lead them to the playoffs.

it cracks me up.

Now, is Kyrie the type of guy that can carry a team to a championship by himself? of course not. There are probably only 3-4 guys in the entire league like that.

What Kyrie IS?- without a doubt a top 20 player- id put him somewhere between 11 and 15. 4 time all star at the age of 24. former Rookie of the year. Starting point guard on a gold medal winning Olympic team. MVP of the world championship tournament where the US team won the world title 2 years before this last Olympics. 3 pt contest winner. all star game mvp. rising stars game mvp. 57 point game AT San Antonio, 55 point game WITHOUT LEBRON draining a game winner against Portland- and of course- one of the, if not the CLUTCHEST shot in the history of the entire NBA.

teams like the Heat, Lakers, Nets, Magic, Kings, Mavs, Nuggets, Pistons, Knicks, Suns, Hornets, Jazz, Blazers etc. etc. etc.- the minute he suited up for them would EASILY be the best player on the team.

a LOT OF grape jelly going around.

 

[WiggyRuss]

Well there is this

There have been 18 Game 7's played in the NBA Finals

The home team has gone 15-3 (83%) in those contests.

Being slightly better means you still lose based on the odds of winning a road game.

the Cavs were totally in the Warriors heads by that point. Curry came up so small in game 7.

 

[Wamu]

overall dont like this writer- but think he did a solid job here... How two uneasy moments made Cavs better equipped for Warriors

In the days leading up to that contest in January, something about the Cavs' demeanor didn't sit right with GM David Griffin. It's still unknown whether he suspected overconfidence or complacency with his group, but management felt that a humbling experience against the Warriors might be necessary for the team's growth moving forward.

And like clockwork, an embarrassing 35-point loss ensued, Cleveland's worst defeat of the season.

LeBron James and Kyrie Irving shot a combined 12-for-37 from the field. They each had six turnovers. James had a plus-minus of minus-32, the lowest in the game. Kevin Love shot 1-for-6 for 3 points.

"I played like s---," James said while walking out of Oracle Arena. "I didn't have it tonight."

Griffin saw the concern on his guys' faces after the game. That's exactly what he wanted to see. Doubt had reappeared. James' comments came a week later.

In New Orleans on Jan. 23, after the Cavaliers' fifth loss in seven games, James told a group of local reporters that he hopes the franchise isn't satisfied with the collecting of one ring. He also had harsh, blunt critiques about the construction of the roster.

"We top-heavy as s---," James said. "It's me, [Irving], [Love]. It's top-heavy."

There was some uneasiness within the locker room following James' candid rant. Players were all of a sudden awkwardly left wondering if they were part of the problem or part of the solution.

Griffin fired back the next day, calling James' remarks "misguided."

Despite the internal conflict, with the liberty of hindsight, the front office now believes James was brilliant in lashing out and considers it one of the turning points in the season.

James had hoped that such a bold controversial assessment might galvanize the team. It appears that may be the case. Cleveland is 11-4 since and appears ready for a third straight push to the Finals.

The Warriors continue to be the ultimate motivator for the Cavaliers. It's been that way the past few years. Former Cavaliers coach David Blatt was fired partly because of the belief that he couldn't get the team past Golden State.

When J.R. Smith and Love return to full health, Cleveland will have the capabilities of going up to 11 deep with subs Korver, Derrick Williams, Deron Williams, Channing Frye, Iman Shumpert and Richard Jefferson. And should a newly bought-out Andrew Bogut choose to join the Cavaliers, that rotation could shoot to 12.

It has the makings of the deepest roster James has possessed during his career. The Cavaliers' best lineup in recent weeks has centered around James, Korver, Jefferson, Derrick Williams and Frye. It's a cerebral roster with flexibility and versatility.

James has the help he called out for, and Griffin now has that sense of urgency back in his locker room.

Griffin on the team's shift, told ESPN "it's joyful to watch." And speaking of watching, the Warriors and Cavaliers monitor each other throughout the season very closely, although they won't admit it. Each transaction is discussed and made with the other in mind.

 

[WiggyRuss]

View attachment 155548

KI or IT wamu?

 

[Wamu]

KI or IT wamu?

I'd rather have jammin' Jimmer Fredette.

 

[Wamu]

KI or IT wamu?

KI if he didn't play @ dook & IT if he was taller than 5-5. Wait, did I answer correctly?

 

[knowyourenemy]

Well there is this

There have been 18 Game 7's played in the NBA Finals

The home team has gone 15-3 (83%) in those contests.

Being slightly better means you still lose based on the odds of winning a road game.

You don't go to game 7 if you're significantly better than your opponent. You don't start the series with 3 losses in 4 games if you're significantly better than your opponent.

The "odds of winning" is irrelevant. We're talking about the results of a specific contest. The Cavaliers won game 7. It doesn't mean they were significantly better, it only means that they won the game. The problem with Cavaliers fans on here seems to be that they always try to exaggerate the accomplishments of their team and its players.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

You don't go to game 7 if you're significantly better than your opponent. You don't start the series with 3 losses in 4 games if you're significantly better than your opponent.

The "odds of winning" is irrelevant. We're talking about the results of a specific contest. The Cavaliers won game 7. It doesn't mean they were significantly better, it only means that they won the game. The problem with Cavaliers fans on here seems to be that they always try to exaggerate the accomplishments of their team and its players.

Well said.

The cavs played well and deserved to win that series and the championship with it. That being said, it was more about the Warriors playing bad than it was the cavs playing great.

 

[WiggyRuss]

You don't go to game 7 if you're significantly better than your opponent. You don't start the series with 3 losses in 4 games if you're significantly better than your opponent.

The "odds of winning" is irrelevant. We're talking about the results of a specific contest. The Cavaliers won game 7. It doesn't mean they were significantly better, it only means that they won the game. The problem with Cavaliers fans on here seems to be that they always try to exaggerate the accomplishments of their team and its players.

exaggerate? the wall street journal had an article saying that Kyrie Irvings shot was the biggest shot in the history of the NBA....

they just beat the greatest regular season team in history- and won 3 straight---- 2 of them on the Warriors home court where they didnt lose 2 in a row for like almost 2 years or somehing crazy like that- all while carrying the burden of Cleveland's championship less drought that had been going on for over 50 years.

There is no doubt that championship was as historic as they get.

 

[knowyourenemy]

exaggerate? the wall street journal had an article saying that Kyrie Irvings shot was the biggest shot in the history of the NBA....

they just beat the greatest regular season team in history- and won 3 straight---- 2 of them on the Warriors home court where they didnt lose 2 in a row for like almost 2 years or somehing crazy like that- all while carrying the burden of Cleveland's championship less drought that had been going on for over 50 years.

There is no doubt that championship was as historic as they get.

It was a great victory for the Cavaliers. No one disputes that. But how does a Cavaliers fan walk away from that win thinking that the Cavaliers were significantly better than the Warriors?

 

[gordontrue]

exaggerate? the wall street journal had an article saying that Kyrie Irvings shot was the biggest shot in the history of the NBA....

they just beat the greatest regular season team in history- and won 3 straight---- 2 of them on the Warriors home court where they didnt lose 2 in a row for like almost 2 years or somehing crazy like that- all while carrying the burden of Cleveland's championship less drought that had been going on for over 50 years.

There is no doubt that championship was as historic as they get.

I was gonna say, I think its hard to exaggerate this particular accomplishment. The drought. The 73 wins. The rematch. Game 7 on the Road. Down 3-1. It all adds up to a pretty remarkable accomplishment.

I have no crazy delusions about the Cavs being far superior to the Warriors (or even superior)... and I've never heard anyone say anything of the sort. It was very obviously a close outcome.

But, in sports all that really matters is the outcome.


Cavs won? YUP!

Warriors won? NOPE!

 

[gordontrue]

It was a great victory for the Cavaliers. No one disputes that. But how does a Cavaliers fan walk away from that win thinking that the Cavaliers were significantly better than the Warriors?

Who said that?

 

[Black Adam]

It was a great victory for the Cavaliers. No one disputes that. But how does a Cavaliers fan walk away from that win thinking that the Cavaliers were significantly better than the Warriors?

"by the skin of their teeth" doesn't begin to cover it...

 

[WiggyRuss]

It was a great victory for the Cavaliers. No one disputes that. But how does a Cavaliers fan walk away from that win thinking that the Cavaliers were significantly better than the Warriors?

i mean- i get what you are saying- however, you saw the stats on Game 7. Road teams almost never win game 7. combine that with GSW having the home record they had, and the fact they hadnt lost 2 in a row at home in years....you can see that it was done because the Cavs had LeBron and the Warriors didnt.

Itll be the same this year- the Warriors have 4 top 20 players. I dont think that has ever happened before. I LOVE kyrie is a player- everyone knows that- but a 24 year old kyrie irving playing pretty much his first extended playoffs after being hurt the previous year was lebrons best sidekick- and he did step up obviously- but he was a 24 year old with barely any playoff experience still not close to his prime. Kevin Love had a concussion and missed a game and was out of sync after that.

LeBron is just that damn good---- when he gets help from his supporting cast like he did from KI and TT and JR- he can do anything.

If LeBron can pull it off again this year- it will only add to the legend.

 

[Black Adam]

Who said that?

you probably don't wanna know, buuuuuuut...

LeGroupie23 ...

 

[WiggyRuss]

I was gonna say, I think its hard to exaggerate this particular accomplishment. The drought. The 73 wins. The rematch. Game 7 on the Road. Down 3-1. It all adds up to a pretty remarkable accomplishment.

I have no crazy delusions about the Cavs being far superior to the Warriors (or even superior)... and I've never heard anyone say anything of the sort. It was very obviously a close outcome.

But, in sports all that really matters is the outcome.


Cavs won? YUP!

Warriors won? NOPE!

imagine if LeBron can pull it off again- the degree of difficulty involved....its why he is LeBron. There is only 1 of them.

LeBron, like MJ, really should just win the MVP every single year- if not for voter fatigue he would. People will look back and wonder wtf people were thinking when they see guys like rose and durant and curry winning mvp over bron.

i mean- all that curry talk about him being better than LeBron sure went extinct after seeing the 2 in the Finals.

No sober person could POSSIBLY watch the NBA Finals and come to the conclusion that Steph Curry is better than LeBron at the game of basketball.

 

[Heatles84]

You don't go to game 7 if you're significantly better than your opponent. You don't start the series with 3 losses in 4 games if you're significantly better than your opponent.

The "odds of winning" is irrelevant. We're talking about the results of a specific contest. The Cavaliers won game 7. It doesn't mean they were significantly better, it only means that they won the game. The problem with Cavaliers fans on here seems to be that they always try to exaggerate the accomplishments of their team and its players.

Ding Ding Ding!

 

[Heatles84]

exaggerate? the wall street journal had an article saying that Kyrie Irvings shot was the biggest shot in the history of the NBA....

they just beat the greatest regular season team in history- and won 3 straight---- 2 of them on the Warriors home court where they didnt lose 2 in a row for like almost 2 years or somehing crazy like that- all while carrying the burden of Cleveland's championship less drought that had been going on for over 50 years.

There is no doubt that championship was as historic as they get.

Eh, I'd say the Ray Allen shot in game 6 was the bigger shot. If he doesn't hit that shot with 5 seconds left, the Heat lose the title to the Spurs. Kyrie's shot was the go-ahead game winner. If he doesn't hit that, the game likely goes into OT. But to each its own.

 

[Heatles84]

Who said that?

@lebron23james and yes, we're fully aware of how much of a cuck he is.

 

[Black Adam]

Ding Ding Ding!