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Series Thread: ECF: Boston Celtics vs Cleveland Cavs

Black Adam

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Divac is still in the lesgue, right? There will be teams wlling to take them but they not only have to give up those contracts but maybe Love has to go and draft picks. Not saying they will get a whole lot but some desperate team could take them

even Vlade ain't THAT dumb...
 

cerealboi

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Love and Korver could stay, they will still be an awful team

You could just try respecting how truly good the Celtics are

Unless Lebon lands in Philly, the Celtics will be playing GS in the finals for the next decade


You know I love it when you talk dirty.
 

Heatles84

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After watching the Celtics play this post season, I would easily, EASILY rather play the Cavs in the Finals. Lebron's gonna Lebron, but the difference this year is they are absolutely horrific on defense. Warriors or Rockets would get anything they want at any given time against them. Celtics aren't an elite offensive team in the traditional sense, but they're getting tons of buckets against them. Celtics also have been playing really well on the defensive end too.

I listen to the Cowherd show and I tend to agree with 90% of the stuff that he says. But the 10% is so far off its ridiculous. His argument is do you really want Boston against the Warriors in the Finals? Everyone wants to see the best player (Lebron) in the Finals. I argue against this because Boston vs. Golden St. would be the best possible basketball matchup. Boston would give Golden St. some fits, but ultimately fall in 5 maybe 6 games.
 

CitySushi

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I listen to the Cowherd show and I tend to agree with 90% of the stuff that he says. But the 10% is so far off its ridiculous. His argument is do you really want Boston against the Warriors in the Finals? Everyone wants to see the best player (Lebron) in the Finals. I argue against this because Boston vs. Golden St. would be the best possible basketball matchup. Boston would give Golden St. some fits, but ultimately fall in 5 maybe 6 games.

Boston is constructed as a team that traditionally gives the Warriors fits. Athletic wings, bigs who can shoot and defend. Right now they're playing peak basketball. Horford has been amazing. Baynes some how became a 3 point shooter. Jaylen and Jason are playing lights out. Rozier and Smart are defending well. Would be a tough matchup for the Warriors.
 
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Heatles84

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Boston is constructed as a team that traditionally gives the Warriors fits. Athletic wings, bigs who can shoot and defend. Right now they're playing peak basketball. Horford has been amazing. Baynes some how became a 3 point shooter. Jaylen and Jason are playing lights out. Rozier and Smart are defending well. Would be a tough matchup for the Warriors.

And that's why I think its ludicrous to bring up the idea that Lebron going to the Finals instead of these Celtics is better for ratings. Why do I want to watch Lebron get washed in 4/5 games then a tough 5/6 game series with balanced basketball?
 

trojanfan12

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I listen to the Cowherd show and I tend to agree with 90% of the stuff that he says. But the 10% is so far off its ridiculous. His argument is do you really want Boston against the Warriors in the Finals? Everyone wants to see the best player (Lebron) in the Finals. I argue against this because Boston vs. Golden St. would be the best possible basketball matchup. Boston would give Golden St. some fits, but ultimately fall in 5 maybe 6 games.

I think Cowherd was probably talking about casual fans. Basketball junkies like those of us who post here, want to see the best basketball matchup, which is GSW/Celtics.

However, the casual fan wants to see Lebron vs. KD and Steph.
 

Black Adam

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Watching these playoffs as a Laker fan is something else though. I wanna see something new in the Finals, so the Celtics would be that...but it's the freaking Celtics. The Rockets would be something new as well, but I NEED GS to make the Finals just to feel comfortable if the Celtics get there. This sucks...

like in the case of Thomas Jefferson "i choose the lesser of TWO evils"...

I may not exactly like the Celtics, but you still gotta give 'em their respect...
 

LAD

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Brad Botkin CBS Sports

"It felt like an official transition of power.

Which brings us back to those lottery results, and that No. 8 pick the Cavs had to swallow. Remember, that pick was the one hope Cleveland had left of salvaging anything of real value from the trade that sent Kyrie Irving to Boston last summer. It belonged to the Nets, and the hope was that the Nets would be worse than they wound up being, and perhaps that pick would end up in the top three, where they could land either a foundational talent to build around in the event that LeBron leaves this summer, or a high-leverage asset to trade for a second star in an effort to keep LeBron.

The No. 8 pick accomplishes neither.

Now, to be clear, here's the original package the Cavs got in return for Irving: Isiah Thomas (no longer with the team), Jae Crowder (no longer with the team), Ante Zizic (you've probably never heard of him) and now the No. 8 pick. For Kyrie Irving. A borderline MVP-caliber player who hit the biggest shot in franchise history. I realize Irving pretty much forced his way out and the Cavs had to take what they could get, but still, this is hard to stomach.

Because now the Cavs really, seriously, have to start thinking about life with LeBron. Who knows, maybe they come back and win this series. I seriously doubt it, but maybe. Either way, if you watched this team play Tuesday night, there just aren't very many true basketball reasons, if any at all, for James to come back. He's running out of time. This team is nowhere close to where the Celtics are going to be next year when Gordon Hayward and Irving return, let alone the top teams in the West. If he wants to stay at home for personal reasons, that's one thing. But purely through the prism off basketball, there's just nothing left there for him.

We're talking no cap space to add a free agent, almost no trade value for anyone on their team, and four guys in Rodney Hood, Larry Nance, Jordan Clarkson and George Hill -- all of whom they traded for at the deadline -- who are making basically zero impact in this series. Again, had the Cavs beat the lottery odds and come out with even a top-five pick, there would be something to celebrate. But No. 8? And a 2-0 deficit to Boston to boot?

Yeah, the Cavs took an old-fashioned shot to the jaw on Tuesday, and unlike the Celtics, you have to questions their collective ability to rise from the mat and come right back swinging. For starters, they're just not as good as the Celtics. They're outmatched at four of the five positions, pretty significantly at three of them, and they have almost no depth. LeBron is their only chance, and again, we saw that wasn't enough in Game 2. He wound up with 42 points, 12 assists and 10 boards, and yet the Cavs were still outscored by nine points in the minutes he was on the floor.

Beyond the basketball, there was a play toward the end of the game that says a lot about where these two teams are at. Al Horford had a free lane to the rim and J.R. Smith shoved him in the back in midair. It was a cheap shot, absolutely uncalled for by Smith, and it took Marcus Smart, who is pretty much a junkyard dog in a tank top, about a half-second to jump right in Smith's face in defense of his teammate.

How many Cavs came to the defense of Smith?

Zero.

What we have here is one team in the Celtics that is entirely connected, 1-12 on the floor but really from the front office down, and one team in Cleveland that is doesn't even really know what it's fighting for anymore. Is it to actually win this series? Or is it to just do enough to keep LeBron? Or, possibly, have they secretly given up on both? "




@WiggyRuss
Interesting irony the Cavs find themselves in a place with no cap space, almost no trade value for anyone on their team, and a bunch of bad contract no impact players.
Ironically, worse situation than GS.
 

Heatles84

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I think Cowherd was probably talking about casual fans. Basketball junkies like those of us who post here, want to see the best basketball matchup, which is GSW/Celtics.

However, the casual fan wants to see Lebron vs. KD and Steph.

That's fair.
 

LogicMan

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Boston is fun to watch for anyone right now, under dogs and no ego. But sadly (See IT) their egos cant help themselves. I am hoping to god that jaylen and Jayson stay humble, but odds are not there
 

CitySushi

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Saw this question posed the other day:

1) Who's better Al Horford or Draymond Green.
2) If you swapped Horford for Green, are the Warriors and Celtics better or worse?

I think Al has played phenomenal so far in the post season. I think if you asked me in the pre-season, I'd have a really clear answer on this. Now I'm stilling thinking what my answer is.
 

Heatles84

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Saw this question posed the other day:

1) Who's better Al Horford or Draymond Green.
2) If you swapped Horford for Green, are the Warriors and Celtics better or worse?

I think Al has played phenomenal so far in the post season. I think if you asked me in the pre-season, I'd have a really clear answer on this. Now I'm stilling thinking what my answer is.

I think Draymond is the better all-around defender, particularly on the perimeter. But in the paint, and his respective role - Horford's playing better offensively. But that's also taking into consideration that Green's playing with 3 guys that are bonafide all-stars, 2 of which are top 5 NBA players.
 

LAD

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I think Draymond is the better all-around defender, particularly on the perimeter. But in the paint, and his respective role - Horford's playing better offensively. But that's also taking into consideration that Green's playing with 3 guys that are bonafide all-stars, 2 of which are top 5 NBA players.
Agreed. In the post season is where you need Draymond's grit.
 

msgkings322

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Saw this question posed the other day:

1) Who's better Al Horford or Draymond Green.
2) If you swapped Horford for Green, are the Warriors and Celtics better or worse?

I think Al has played phenomenal so far in the post season. I think if you asked me in the pre-season, I'd have a really clear answer on this. Now I'm stilling thinking what my answer is.
Not even a question, Draymond is much better on the Ws. He's the defensive QB, the coach on the floor, the guy who is the vocal leader. And you don't need any more offense when you have the other 3.

The Ws are a finely tuned machine, the parts all complement each other so we'll that if you swap any of the 4 I think you make the team worse unless it's for someone ridiculous like AD or LeBron.
 

Gman

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Saw this question posed the other day:

1) Who's better Al Horford or Draymond Green.
2) If you swapped Horford for Green, are the Warriors and Celtics better or worse?

I think Al has played phenomenal so far in the post season. I think if you asked me in the pre-season, I'd have a really clear answer on this. Now I'm stilling thinking what my answer is.
I could see a good argument being made that both are the better player for exactly where they are at.

For instance: take basketball ability/talent out of the question. A young team like the C's is probably much better off with a steady, level headed vet like Horford. Draymond and his over-the-top attitude wouldn't be near as good a fit.

OTOH, Draymond provides fire and moxie for the even keeled vet's around him in GS.
 

Shanemansj13

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They still could potentially reach a finals without Irving. (In fact, they already did once) can do it twice. And obviously they may be poor next year. When LeBron goes, Love will probably leave too and Korver etc.

Dude; they won 30 fucking games and made the playoffs LMAO. 30 games
 

True Lakers Fan

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I think Cowherd was probably talking about casual fans. Basketball junkies like those of us who post here, want to see the best basketball matchup, which is GSW/Celtics.

However, the casual fan wants to see Lebron vs. KD and Steph.
Well I am selfish - I don't want Boston getting to the finals under any circumstances - until the Lakers have more championships then they do:lol:
 
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