Series Thread: Eastern Conference Finals: 1) Cleveland Cavaliers (57-25) vs. 2) Toronto Raptors (56-26)

[SoCalWizFan]

The Lakers have done it twice. '88-'89 and '00-'01.

Forgot about that 88-89 team - painful memories for Lakers fans since they were well on their way to a three peat when Magic & Scott incurred injuries leading to a Pistons sweep in the Finals. The Cavs better hope for better luck (after watching that 30 for 30 special on CLE their city deserves it).

 

[WiggyRuss]

Lets just hope everyone stays healthy.

You need luck to win a title no matter who you are. Thus far things have broke the Cavs way, but that doesn't mean it couldn't change all at once.

This Cavs team- combined with its health, internal player improvements, and its offseason acquistions, is so much deeper than last years team.

Delly and Tristan have improved. A lot over last year. Some ways that show in the box score- some that do not. Last year neither of these guys had played in a playoff game. Now they are guys who have showed they can handle the pressure and actually PLAY BETTER when the lights are on.

Mo Williams, Channing Frye, and Richard Jefferson---- David Griffin couldnt turn over the whole roster in one offseason. He completed the task his 2nd year. Adding vets that still had something to contribute is a big help this year.

and of course health. Not only Irving and Love- which are the most obvious. Shumpert could barely shoot by the end of last years finals but the Cavs had no option but to play him. Delly was on his last legs. LeBron was run into the ground. Those injuries and the lack of end-of-bench-depth, really put a substantial toll on the guys who were left. Now- instead, they have multiple days off to rest and get healthy again before the next series.

Lets hope they finish it off and we are attending a parade down Euclid next month.

 

[Heatles84]

Lets just hope everyone stays healthy.

You need luck to win a title no matter who you are. Thus far things have broke the Cavs way, but that doesn't mean it couldn't change all at once.

This Cavs team- combined with its health, internal player improvements, and its offseason acquistions, is so much deeper than last years team.

Delly and Tristan have improved. A lot over last year. Some ways that show in the box score- some that do not. Last year neither of these guys had played in a playoff game. Now they are guys who have showed they can handle the pressure and actually PLAY BETTER when the lights are on.

Mo Williams, Channing Frye, and Richard Jefferson---- David Griffin couldnt turn over the whole roster in one offseason. He completed the task his 2nd year. Adding vets that still had something to contribute is a big help this year.

and of course health. Not only Irving and Love- which are the most obvious. Shumpert could barely shoot by the end of last years finals but the Cavs had no option but to play him. Delly was on his last legs. LeBron was run into the ground. Those injuries and the lack of end-of-bench-depth, really put a substantial toll on the guys who were left. Now- instead, they have multiple days off to rest and get healthy again before the next series.

Lets hope they finish it off and we are attending a parade down Euclid next month.

Cavs are in a prime position right now to win it all. Kyrie's hit another gear once the playoffs have hit, and Cleveland's been obliterating their competition allowing them to get the rest that they need. Obviously the competition takes a significant leap heading into the Finals. OKC looks like a different team this year, but I stand by my prediction that the Cavs would beat the Thunder in a Finals series.

We'll see how the Dubs look later on in the WCF series as that continues to go on. But as Turnup mentioned earlier, this is about as good of a position as you're going to get if you're Cleveland. You better win now.

 

[WiggyRuss]

Cavs are in a prime position right now to win it all. Kyrie's hit another gear once the playoffs have hit, and Cleveland's been obliterating their competition allowing them to get the rest that they need. Obviously the competition takes a significant leap heading into the Finals. OKC looks like a different team this year, but I stand by my prediction that the Cavs would beat the Thunder in a Finals series.

We'll see how the Dubs look later on in the WCF series as that continues to go on. But as Turnup mentioned earlier, this is about as good of a position as you're going to get if you're Cleveland. You better win now.

At this point it would be a major disappointment not to win it. LeBron really needs to win it for so many reasons. If he loses his reign as best in the league is without a doubt over. After how lbj played in last years Finals I just cant give the title to Curry yet- but if Curry and the Warriors beat a full Cavs squad- there is no doubt their has been a passing of the torch.

 

[gordontrue]

Much tougher competition for the '01 Lakers (San Antonio, Sacramento, and Portland). The Finals were a cakewalk even though they lost game 1.

Damn. They swept 3 50-win teams. That's crazy. Shaq was so dominant.

 

[WiggyRuss]

I was actually glad to see Mo Williams and Mozgov get some run. Its good for them to shake the dust off. Mo looked like he might be able to help at some point.

LeBron waits like 10 days to play and then gets pulled with time remaining in the 3rd qtr. Pretty impressive night all around. Lets keep the guys fresh, healthy, rested and focused.

 

[gordontrue]

Looking at the leader board of minutes played in these playoffs...

You have to go through 6 Raptors players (Lowry, DeRozan, Carroll, Patterson, Joseph, Biyombo), 4 Thunder players (Durant, Westbrook, Adams, Ibaka) and 3 Warriors players (Green, Thompson, Barnes) before you get to the 1st Cavs player (LeBron).

 

[WiggyRuss]

Pretty observant from JR....

Like one of his 3-pointers, Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith has fallen for Cleveland.

Smith, whose outside shooting and tenacious defense have helped the Cavs sweep their first two series in this year's playoffs, admires the way Cleveland fans stick with their teams — win or lose. The city has waited since 1964 for the Browns, Indians or Cavaliers to win a championship, but Smith said his interactions around town have been all positive.

While the Cavs were waiting more than a week for an opponent in the Eastern Conference finals, Smith attended a comedy show where Clevelanders told him they have his back.

"Everybody came up to me like, 'Hey, man, don't worry about it. Just stay locked in. Everything will come full circle. It's been 'X' amount of years, don't worry about it. Just play,'" Smith said Tuesday following shootaround as the Cavs prepared to host the Toronto Raptors in Game 1.

"You would think it's so much pressure on us for being a team who hasn't won in 'X' amount of years, but everybody, they're happy with what's going on. Of course, they want a championship, but it's never like, 'You guys have to get it done.' It's always, 'We'll root for you guys. Keep going. Keep pushing.' I admire that."

Smith said the attitude of Cleveland's fans is very different from what he experienced while playing for the Knicks.

"When I was in New York," he said. "There was a lot of desperation. 'You guys got to do it. You got to do it. You got to do it.' For a city who hasn't won in so long and hasn't had successful teams, everybody's very optimistic and everybody's cool, down to earth."

Smith has become a favorite for Cleveland fans, who have embraced his care-free attitude and defensive drive. He appreciates them as well.

"More than anything, they love their team," Smith said. "They understand that everything is a process. You got to respect that, people who understand and respect what your process is, what your goals are. They understand that it's not going to be done overnight, but they understand that there's a plan in place to be able to get it done."

 

[gordontrue]

What an understatement...

 

[bksballer89]

Looking at the leader board of minutes played in these playoffs...

You have to go through 6 Raptors players (Lowry, DeRozan, Carroll, Patterson, Joseph, Biyombo), 4 Thunder players (Durant, Westbrook, Adams, Ibaka) and 3 Warriors players (Green, Thompson, Barnes) before you get to the 1st Cavs player (LeBron).

Is this surprising?

 

[Shanemansj13]

At this point it would be a major disappointment not to win it. LeBron really needs to win it for so many reasons. If he loses his reign as best in the league is without a doubt over. After how lbj played in last years Finals I just cant give the title to Curry yet- but if Curry and the Warriors beat a full Cavs squad- there is no doubt their has been a passing of the torch.

I think it is a must-win. For many reasons: For the city of Cleveland, this will be their best shot, Lebron to stay at top, Lebron to regain his dominance as the best OVERALL player, add another title but most importantly win a title for Cleveland and the fans. It will feel like 10 championships. Then the pressure will be off of the Cavs, still need Indians and Browns, then it is good things to come. But it starts with a championship right now and no less. The fans just want one, nothing else, hopefully everything falls into place and they can get one for the city.

 

[Montalban]

Not even a contest.

 

[WiggyRuss]

OHH NO-- i thought leBron controlloed every wittle thing and Lue was just a peasant there for moral support

The narrative with LeBron James is that he's his own coach and won't listen to the person hired to be the team coach. That narrative was only strengthened this season when David Blatt was fired midseason and replaced by Tyronn Lue. It was strengthened even more when James appeared to be doing the coaching during a game in which he wasn't active.

It appears this was partly accurate when Blatt was in control. In a new report by CBS Sports' Ken Berger, part of the Cavs' initial problems this season was Blatt losing control of his players. One team source told Burger the Cavs were a "fractured team" and they just didn't function properly.

Per the report:

By letting James overwhelm him in the huddle during timeouts, Blatt unwittingly ceded control — and demoralized the rest of the team. By not being comfortable enough to rein in James, the dynamic of the team became one of LeBron and then everybody else.

"They felt they were doing this for LeBron," the person familiar with the internal workings of the team said, "instead of with LeBron."

Lue changed that the moment he first told James in a huddle, "Shut the [expletive up]. I got this," according to a person who heard the exchange -- and a few others like it. If Lue was going to get the stars and the role players to buy into the strategic changes he was determined to implement — play faster, space the floor, move the ball, take full advantage of Love's versatility — he was going to have to restore order first.

Lue's ability to control James appears to have made quite the difference. The Cavs swept their first two opponents in the postseason and had a dominating win over the Raptors in Game 1 Tuesday night.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

OHH NO-- i thought leBron controlloed every wittle thing and Lue was just a peasant there for moral support

The narrative with LeBron James is that he's his own coach and won't listen to the person hired to be the team coach. That narrative was only strengthened this season when David Blatt was fired midseason and replaced by Tyronn Lue. It was strengthened even more when James appeared to be doing the coaching during a game in which he wasn't active.

It appears this was partly accurate when Blatt was in control. In a new report by CBS Sports' Ken Berger, part of the Cavs' initial problems this season was Blatt losing control of his players. One team source told Burger the Cavs were a "fractured team" and they just didn't function properly.

Per the report:

By letting James overwhelm him in the huddle during timeouts, Blatt unwittingly ceded control — and demoralized the rest of the team. By not being comfortable enough to rein in James, the dynamic of the team became one of LeBron and then everybody else.

"They felt they were doing this for LeBron," the person familiar with the internal workings of the team said, "instead of with LeBron."

Lue changed that the moment he first told James in a huddle, "Shut the [expletive up]. I got this," according to a person who heard the exchange -- and a few others like it. If Lue was going to get the stars and the role players to buy into the strategic changes he was determined to implement — play faster, space the floor, move the ball, take full advantage of Love's versatility — he was going to have to restore order first.

Lue's ability to control James appears to have made quite the difference. The Cavs swept their first two opponents in the postseason and had a dominating win over the Raptors in Game 1 Tuesday night.

If you ACTUALLY BELIEVE that Lue told James to STFU without James instructing him to do so, then once again you are in Peter Pan land.
Remember, James is all Hollywood now.
He just didn't like the perception (truth) what was being said about him after the Blatt firing, so if this actually happened, it was totally staged.
In general, coaches wouldn't talk to players like that, let alone a man who James just got promoted to him.
Let me know when he tells any other player to STFU...

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

Looking at the leader board of minutes played in these playoffs...

You have to go through 6 Raptors players (Lowry, DeRozan, Carroll, Patterson, Joseph, Biyombo), 4 Thunder players (Durant, Westbrook, Adams, Ibaka) and 3 Warriors players (Green, Thompson, Barnes) before you get to the 1st Cavs player (LeBron).

Perhaps because they've (Cavs)only played 8 games?
Not sure what the point of your post is?

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

Pretty observant from JR....

Like one of his 3-pointers, Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith has fallen for Cleveland.

Smith, whose outside shooting and tenacious defense have helped the Cavs sweep their first two series in this year's playoffs, admires the way Cleveland fans stick with their teams — win or lose. The city has waited since 1964 for the Browns, Indians or Cavaliers to win a championship, but Smith said his interactions around town have been all positive.

While the Cavs were waiting more than a week for an opponent in the Eastern Conference finals, Smith attended a comedy show where Clevelanders told him they have his back.

"Everybody came up to me like, 'Hey, man, don't worry about it. Just stay locked in. Everything will come full circle. It's been 'X' amount of years, don't worry about it. Just play,'" Smith said Tuesday following shootaround as the Cavs prepared to host the Toronto Raptors in Game 1.

"You would think it's so much pressure on us for being a team who hasn't won in 'X' amount of years, but everybody, they're happy with what's going on. Of course, they want a championship, but it's never like, 'You guys have to get it done.' It's always, 'We'll root for you guys. Keep going. Keep pushing.' I admire that."

Smith said the attitude of Cleveland's fans is very different from what he experienced while playing for the Knicks.

"When I was in New York," he said. "There was a lot of desperation. 'You guys got to do it. You got to do it. You got to do it.' For a city who hasn't won in so long and hasn't had successful teams, everybody's very optimistic and everybody's cool, down to earth."

Smith has become a favorite for Cleveland fans, who have embraced his care-free attitude and defensive drive. He appreciates them as well.

"More than anything, they love their team," Smith said. "They understand that everything is a process. You got to respect that, people who understand and respect what your process is, what your goals are. They understand that it's not going to be done overnight, but they understand that there's a plan in place to be able to get it done."

They didn't love it so much the seasons James wasn't there.
Attendance stats don't lie.

 

[WiggyRuss]

about a little less than 2.1 million people live in the extended Cleveland Metropolitan area. In the Miami metropolitan area there are a little bit over 5.0 million people.

based on the sports towns as a whole....Cleveland'rs back their team on a rate that is significantly over DOUBLE the rate which Miamians (?- Plural for Miamian??)....all though historically Miami's reputation of a sports town is fickle at best and at worst apathetic...Cleveland is famous for the loyalty and/or stubborn ignorance of its fans.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

OHH NO-- i thought leBron controlloed every wittle thing and Lue was just a peasant there for moral support

The narrative with LeBron James is that he's his own coach and won't listen to the person hired to be the team coach. That narrative was only strengthened this season when David Blatt was fired midseason and replaced by Tyronn Lue. It was strengthened even more when James appeared to be doing the coaching during a game in which he wasn't active.

It appears this was partly accurate when Blatt was in control. In a new report by CBS Sports' Ken Berger, part of the Cavs' initial problems this season was Blatt losing control of his players. One team source told Burger the Cavs were a "fractured team" and they just didn't function properly.

Per the report:

By letting James overwhelm him in the huddle during timeouts, Blatt unwittingly ceded control — and demoralized the rest of the team. By not being comfortable enough to rein in James, the dynamic of the team became one of LeBron and then everybody else.

"They felt they were doing this for LeBron," the person familiar with the internal workings of the team said, "instead of with LeBron."

Lue changed that the moment he first told James in a huddle, "Shut the [expletive up]. I got this," according to a person who heard the exchange -- and a few others like it. If Lue was going to get the stars and the role players to buy into the strategic changes he was determined to implement — play faster, space the floor, move the ball, take full advantage of Love's versatility — he was going to have to restore order first.

Lue's ability to control James appears to have made quite the difference. The Cavs swept their first two opponents in the postseason and had a dominating win over the Raptors in Game 1 Tuesday night.

If Lue really said.....



To Lebron's face, in front of the other players, He should be given the key to the City for having the largest sack.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

about a little less than 2.1 million people live in the extended Cleveland Metropolitan area. In the Miami metropolitan area there are a little bit over 5.0 million people.

based on the sports towns as a whole....Cleveland'rs back their team on a rate that is significantly over DOUBLE the rate which Miamians (?- Plural for Miamian??)....all though historically Miami's reputation of a sports town is fickle at best and at worst apathetic...Cleveland is famous for the loyalty and/or stubborn ignorance of its fans.

Did I stumble into a pro/anti Miami vs Cleveland debate....because this seems kinda random?

 

[Heatles84]

about a little less than 2.1 million people live in the extended Cleveland Metropolitan area. In the Miami metropolitan area there are a little bit over 5.0 million people.

based on the sports towns as a whole....Cleveland'rs back their team on a rate that is significantly over DOUBLE the rate which Miamians (?- Plural for Miamian??)....all though historically Miami's reputation of a sports town is fickle at best and at worst apathetic...Cleveland is famous for the loyalty and/or stubborn ignorance of its fans.

If you know anything about Miami, you'll know there's a high amount of people that migrate their from other parts of the country - especially New Yorkers, which is why there's such a high concentration of Knicks fans in South Florida. Still though.....there's over 2 million people in Cleveland. It's that hard to fill an arena that sits just under 21,000?