Series Thread: Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Finals Thread

[trojanfan12]

Of course the east is weaker than the west.

But that argument is invoked far too often. It's the default answer to every cavs accomplishment this season.

And, assuming they don't pull off a miracle, it's going to continue to be. When one conference is significantly weaker than the other, that is going to be the narrative. It doesn't mean the best team in the league can't come from that conference, but it does mean that the path was easier.

For at least most of the Showtime era, the West was considered weaker than the East. The Lakers were able to overcome that stigma by winning more championships during that era than anyone else. But the first couple of times that they lost in the finals, the narrative was that the easy path they had didn't prepare them for facing the Eastern Conference champ.

In fact, considering that they have made it out of the East with the injuries they did and assuming this is a short series, it will make the East look even worse.

 

[Flauge]

I love the East. We are weaker right now. Hey, I was thrilled Miami was in the East the last 4 years. Once we conquered the aging Boston dragon, then the Pacers stepped up. But it was pretty much we only had one tough series, the ECF and then we would be in the finals. Meanwhile in the West teams were knocking the crap out of each other. Honestly, GSW run through the West was incredibly impressive. They were lucky enough to avoid LAC and SA. They really only had to deal with Houston and an injured Memphis.. and let's be honest, a team with DHoward and Josh Smith as key contributors is destined to fail. Just start hacking if they get up at all, and you will lengthen the game and be able to get back in it.

 

[Heatles84]

Wow, this is just plain idiotic. Coming into the series, 2 of our best players were already out. Now, 3 of them are out. Meanwhile, Golden State isn't dealing with a single bit of that. Yet, you're gonna say the Cavs are still "losers". What a jackass.

The Cavs are dealing with some injuries, pretty damn big injuries. But at the same time, if you lose to the Warriors, does the Cavs get a participation trophy? At the end of the season, there's only one winner.

 

[Heatles84]

I personally hope nor think that he would even consider coming back here.
I do think next summer will be very interesting if the Cavs are still ringless and the players he's banking on don't stay healthy.

That puts Lebron in quite a conundrum. I've never agreed with Chris Broussard, but he said that Lebron's legacy would be defined so long as he stayed with either Miami or Cleveland. If he's still ringless in Cleveland after next season, and Kyrie and Love (should he choose to stay there) are injury prone/unreliable, you have to wonder what he wants to do. By all accounts, the bridge to Miami is likely burned (although we thought the same with Cleveland). In Miami, Wade would be 34, going on 35 at the start of the 2017 season (and we're not sure if he stays in Miami. Bosh will be 33. I'm not sure Lebron wants to hitch his ride to Wade or Bosh at this juncture, and wants to stay with youth.

 

[Nooone]

Well they have played better D with no love or Irving. And scored almost the same amount of points with Irving off the floor. I'm not counting out the cavs just yet

they can still be effective, but it is too LeBron dependent. They can get by with that vs Atlanta and Chicago, but the warriors will just wear him down and at any sign of weakness pounce.

 

[Heatles84]

With Love being out, the Cavs are a pretty damn good defensive team, I'm willing to admit. This was the argument that we had with Wiggy in the beginning of the season between Bosh and Love. With Bosh on the floor, Miami's defense was never exposed; with Love, it was the exact opposite. That argument has now been put to rest. Thing is, you need Love in this series. He provides and offensive threat that can get players out of the paint to allow Lebron to thrive.

 

[purguy12]

They will play well but I don't think they win. I expect better games from JR, Shump, and Tristan.

Still sticking by my Warriors in 5 prediction

Yup I said 5 also.

 

[Across The Field]

The Cavs are dealing with some injuries, pretty damn big injuries. But at the same time, if you lose to the Warriors, does the Cavs get a participation trophy? At the end of the season, there's only one winner.

I was never saying the Cavs should get a consolation price or anything, not sure why that is coming up. I'm saying it's ignorant to call them losers if they don't end up with the title. I can't remember a team playing in the Finals dealing with what they are dealing with. I think it's unprecedented to see that much contribution sitting on the bench while the team is still playing for it all.

If they lose, they lose. All GS can do it play their game and try and take home the trophy. However, you have to admit it's pretty lopsided with GS playing with a full deck while Cleveland has 3 of it's best players in street clothes for the rest of the series. Saying they're "losers" is just ignorant.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

"Heat fan/player mentality was ALWAYS championship or bust.
No excuses.

If yours is different, fine with me."

Nope, not confusing you with anyone. Une


I haven't said a thing about being underdogs or about next year, but you're being incredibly ignorant by not acknowledging how much more challenging things have been for them than for basically everyone else for losing the talent they have. Not talking about moral victories, regardless of the outcome it was still an absolutely outstanding season they should be proud of. Still, losing 3 of your best players isn't an excuse; it's a fact. You never dealt with that as a Heat fan so your input is pretty irrelevant.

I dealt with every fan base outside of my own wanting James to lose for WHATEVER reason.
Those people always saying championship or bust.
I accepted and understood it.
Clearly you don't.
Nobody didn't say you had a good season.
But if you have James and all of his King sized baggage, anything but 16 playoffs wins just isn't good enough.

 

[Across The Field]

I dealt with every fan base outside of my own wanting James to lose for WHATEVER reason.
Those people always saying championship or bust.
I accepted and understood it.
Clearly you don't.
Nobody didn't say you had a good season.
But if you have James and all of his King sized baggage, anything but 16 playoffs wins just isn't good enough.

Dude you can gussy it up and say your "win it all or bust" stuff, and it's not that a title isn't the goal, but plain and simple, you're ignorant if you act like they're losers for not winning the title when 3 of their best players are out.

 

[gordontrue]

I dealt with every fan base outside of my own wanting James to lose for WHATEVER reason.
Those people always saying championship or bust.
I accepted and understood it.
Clearly you don't.
Nobody didn't say you had a good season.
But if you have James and all of his King sized baggage, anything but 16 playoffs wins just isn't good enough.

What is with this weird obsession with the title or bust thing? Its been a season-long meaningless debate on this forum.

I've never let anyone else tell me my expectations for the teams I'm a fan of and I never will. I can guarantee the players are even more so that way.

 

[cwalke3408]

With Love being out, the Cavs are a pretty damn good defensive team, I'm willing to admit. This was the argument that we had with Wiggy in the beginning of the season between Bosh and Love. With Bosh on the floor, Miami's defense was never exposed; with Love, it was the exact opposite. That argument has now been put to rest. Thing is, you need Love in this series. He provides and offensive threat that can get players out of the paint to allow Lebron to thrive.

And you can get away with putting Bosh at the 5 spot, giving Lebron four 3 point shooters to pass to. Not including injuries, I always thought the Heat big 3 is better than Kyrie, Love, and Lebron but the Cavs do have JR and Shump who is better than any Heat player outside the big 3. As of now, I believe the Heat was a better team then this year's Cavs.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

What is with this weird obsession with the title or bust thing? Its been a season-long meaningless debate on this forum.

I've never let anyone else tell me my expectations for the teams I'm a fan of and I never will. I can guarantee the players are even more so that way.

In general I agree.
I've had tons of fun in seasons when the Heat weren't very good, but not when James was here.
The bar was just set to high.
And, I totally agree and understand how hard it is to go from a 30 something win team to a champion.
Regardless, no matter what you think, next year isn't guaranteed.

When you're James and your the Cavs and your campaign is/was to bring a ring to the city and you make it this far and fail...to me it's a bust.

It's MY opinion.
I'll listen to yours or anyone else's but I won't agree.

 

[gordontrue]

In general I agree.
I've had tons of fun in seasons when the Heat weren't very good, but not when James was here.
The bar was just set to high.
And, I totally agree and understand how hard it is to go from a 30 something win team to a champion.
Regardless, no matter what you think, next year isn't guaranteed.

When you're James and your the Cavs and your campaign is/was to bring a ring to the city and you make it this far and fail...to me it's a bust.

It's MY opinion.
I'll listen to yours or anyone else's but I won't agree.

Ok, yeah that all makes sense to me

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

Dude you can gussy it up and say your "win it all or bust" stuff, and it's not that a title isn't the goal, but plain and simple, you're ignorant if you act like they're losers for not winning the title when 3 of their best players are out.

Ok, so after you lose I'll call you a winner to make you feel better, even though you lost.

 

[Across The Field]

Ok, so after you lose I'll call you a winner to make you feel better, even though you lost.

Thank you

 

[cwalke3408]

Ok, so after you lose I'll call you a winner to make you feel better, even though you lost.

Then they could be like Dwight Howard.

 

[Flauge]

any team James is on is title or bust. It is a testament to just how good he is as a player. I love the title or bust seasons. It means your team matters. It's cool you have the built in excuse of injuries. No one expects LeBron to pull this off on his own. The thing that would bother me as a Cleveland fan is the waste of a LeBron prime year. He may have 3-4 left. He gave his best 4 years to Miami. Miami stayed healthy... and they succeeded. Cleveland on the other hand has Kyrie. Kyrie is injury prone. That would concern me. I would also be concerned about David Blatt. But that's another discussion.

 

[bksballer89]

Lebron did not come to Cleveland to win division titles and make ECF.

He came here to win championships. You're an freaking idiot if you don't realize that every year of LBJ prime is title or bust. Kobe went through the same thing.

Deal with it and stop crying.

 

[DJ Fieri]

At Clancys in downtown Long Beach getting ready for the game. Good bar food, alcohol and good people.