Series Thread: 2nd Round: 1) Cavs vs 4) Pacers

[WiggyRuss]

Did not use LeBron’s name... You did, but let's go ahead and divert the attention away from these current teams, shall we?

The 2016 Cavs were star heavy and middle of the pack defensively... While I'm glad they won, they caught a huge break when Doucheman shot his team in the foot and got himself suspended.

Even if they may lose to OKC in the finals, this Cavs team is just better than the 2016 one in every rating possible.

not sure about the defense thing....I remember defense being the calling card....

I looked it up and regular season had the 4th ranked defense in the NBA- practically tied for 3rd. TT and LeBron were monsters defensively at that time.

Plus- its a little different ball game in the post season to say the least. In the playoffs- having the cant-miss best player in the league in his prime- one of the all time greats- is a huge advantage.

Mitchell is great and all- but there is a big difference in the playoffs having the best playeri n the series- especially when that player is the consensus- easy best player in the league and an all time great at th height of his prime.

 

[WiggyRuss]

This is really the series that will determine if the Cavs had a "successful" season or not.

To a certain extent- the progress Garland and Mobley have shown, the 1 seed, 64 wins, finding a head coach that unlocked the offense and should be here long term, finding a balance between offense and defense that Bickerstaff never found, developing bench players into reliable players, has been awesome. Last year they had to go to 7 to win in the first round when this year they just beat the shit outta their 1st round opponent in a historically lopsided smashfest.

However, I think they need to get further than last year. They have played great- have a great young team- but they should be able to beat a very tough and gritty Pacers team.

Next round against Boston- they will be the underdogs- and it will be a bummer if they make it and lose- but as long as its a decent series no one is going to set off any alarms about the team construction etc.....Boston's days are numbered with the tax hell they are moving into. The Cavs time is on the horizon and should be open for prob. about 3 more seasons after this one at the least- maybe more depending on how Mobley and Garland go and how Mitchell ages.

But this is the series they gotta win to cement this season as a can't miss big step forward. The Garland injury worries me a little bit- but they have shown resilience and a deep bench. Just gotta go out and do it.

 

[WiggyRuss]

Convenient you mention Draymond but leave out a Kyrie and Love fluke injury the year before. That Cavs team could have won at least 2 titles, maybe more…if so maybe Kyrie doesn’t force his way out. Who knows. See I can use “what if’s” too. That team was pretty dominant. I’m sure you know superstars win championships and they had two of them.

The current team has won nothing so no…they aren’t better lol. More dependent on more than two players? Sure but that is glaring obvious

that was a total bummer the year before- losing Kyrie and Love.....if the shoe was on the other foot and the Cavs were healthy and the Warriors lost 2 of their best players it would have been a slaughter- at least they made a good showing out of it.

 

[WiggyRuss]

if you had the choice between having Mitchell AND Mobley- or having 2015/16 Prime LeBron AND dude/man/guy- you take Prime LeBron and dude man guy. HAving the best player in a playoff series is a gigantic advantage---- and like I said- 2015/16 LeBron was still prime LeBron- maybe the best combo of experience and still athletic. Having one of the top 3 players of all time at the height of his powers is a crazy advantage to have in the NBA.

No one in the NBA right now is fucking close to 2015/16 LeBron.

 

[tlance]

This is really the series that will determine if the Cavs had a "successful" season or not.

To a certain extent- the progress Garland and Mobley have shown, the 1 seed, 64 wins, finding a head coach that unlocked the offense and should be here long term, finding a balance between offense and defense that Bickerstaff never found, developing bench players into reliable players, has been awesome. Last year they had to go to 7 to win in the first round when this year they just beat the shit outta their 1st round opponent in a historically lopsided smashfest.

However, I think they need to get further than last year. They have played great- have a great young team- but they should be able to beat a very tough and gritty Pacers team.

Next round against Boston- they will be the underdogs- and it will be a bummer if they make it and lose- but as long as its a decent series no one is going to set off any alarms about the team construction etc.....Boston's days are numbered with the tax hell they are moving into. The Cavs time is on the horizon and should be open for prob. about 3 more seasons after this one at the least- maybe more depending on how Mobley and Garland go and how Mitchell ages.

But this is the series they gotta win to cement this season as a can't miss big step forward. The Garland injury worries me a little bit- but they have shown resilience and a deep bench. Just gotta go out and do it.

I will be surprised if this series goes longer than 5 games. Cleveland is just better.

Definitely a step up from playing the Heat, but the Cavs won’t really be tested until they face Boston.

Just a huge gap between the top 2 in the East and the rest of the conference.

 

[DJ Fieri]

Just cannot refrain from taking veiled shots at LeBron.

Of course this is not the greatest Cleveland team ever.

They had a team that came back from 3-1 to beat the 72 win Warriors.

What a dumb comment.

This.

 

[DJ Fieri]

The Cavs in 5, but will not be surprised though if the Pacers manage to push it to 6. Halliburton would have to play out of his mind and get enough help from his supporting cast.

Also, Atkinson is a good HC but Carlisle is a pretty damn good coach and prolly a little better IMO. May help push it to 6 if he is able to make good game to game adjustments.

Looking forward to game 1 while most are assuming it will be a cakewalk for the Cavs.

 

[DJ Fieri]

I guess most are automatically assuming Boston advances to the EC. That could be a mistake after the Knicks showed what they are made of beating a really scrappy Pistons squad that had some vets helping out those youngsters.

Boston prolly beats NY but I will not be shocked if Playoff Brunson and the Knicks somehow beat the Celtics.

 

[trojanfan12]

Pacers in 4...

I hear the Pacers are gonna have Papa Halliburton waiting outside the Cavs locker room and he's coming after Mitchell and Mobley before every game..