tOfficial Eastern Conference Playoffs Thread

[WiggyRuss]

To be clear, I'm not saying they are better without them.
I'm saying for that series it worked out fine because the D improved.

As far as the Heat, we need a good Bosh, a good Wade and a good Whiteside and everyone else to be a good team.

Not sure why this is so hard for you.

likely will never happen again. better get used to it. Its time to embrace a new reality and let that fantasy go.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

likely will never happen again. better get used to it. Its time to embrace a new reality and let that fantasy go.

I don't disagree.
I hope Bosh retires.
I can stand another year of whatever happens in between and having a ton of cap space heading into sumner of '17.

 

[WiggyRuss]

"It's changed how I prepare my body throughout a long season," James said. "It's not like I go into the season saying, 'OK, I'm going to play into June.' I don't have that sense of entitlement, but I do prepare myself for the long haul. And saying, if I am fortunate enough to be a part of it, then it's more of a marathon and not a sprint for me. I've played a lot of basketball over the last few years and I've been fortunate to play at the highest level for a long time now. I have to listen to my body, and my body has done well for me."

While James has been able to remain a dominant player for well over a decade, he foresees advancements in medical technology and nutrition programs allowing players to extend their careers longer than ever before.

"I think with the science and the research and the ability to have multiple trainers and things of that nature and also guys taking the individual account of their own bodies, guys are able to play into their late 30s and some into their 40s, as you're seeing today," James said. "You got Andre Miller, you got Timmy D [Tim Duncan] who are playing into their 40s. And I played with Ray Allen late in his 30s ...

"[Guys are] playing into their late 30s because of the technology and also guys are taking care of their body and understanding, 'Yeah, we can play beyond what the expectancy is of our sport.' So, I think it's a pretty cool thing. We got guys that are 36 on our team, and you look at RJ [Richard Jefferson], he is in better shape than anyone on our team. And you got James Jones as well. So, I think it's been great to be around guys like that."

Of course, it's also been good for James to be around Kyrie Irving (24) and Kevin Love (27), guys who he can lean on and who help save his body from the stress of carrying the Cavs in the postseason -- as he did last year when teammates went down because of injuries.

"In these playoffs, you can kind of see he's not looking to do a lot," said Cavs coach Tyronn Lue. "In the fourth quarter, if he has to take over a game he will, but he's playing a lot through Kyrie, a lot through Kevin, a lot through other guys making their shots. He's just making the right play. It's not a lot of pressure, not a lot of strain on his body to have to make every single play like he has in his career.

"With that being said, he can play more minutes. He can focus on more on defense and not take minutes off the defensive end. It's been great for him. You could tell. He's just really feeling the game out. If there's a part in the game when he has to take over, he'll take over."

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

likely will never happen again. better get used to it. Its time to embrace a new reality and let that fantasy go.

Never miss a opportunity....lol

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

Never miss a opportunity....lol

You mean to either post 100000 words of nothing , or avoid saying the Cavs will win, let alone bet on it?

#hope
#chickenshit

 

[trojanfan12]

you are so diplomatic Gordon, lol...

"I can see that"....

"Is it just coincidence timing with the emergence of Whiteside and JJ etc..."

lol....


Wiggy translation/version...

" yah --- RIIIIIIIIIGHT-----...might be time to get off the Bosh is the best thing...hasnt played a full season in 3 years, Wade has just DOMINATED- and the Heat seemed to play better once Bosh went down.

Actually, you're just showing yet again, why no one here takes you seriously.

I'd say there's little question that Miami didn't have the drop off that many expected when Bosh went down because of the emergence of Whiteside, Richardson and Johnson. There's also little question that they would likely be a much better team with a healthy Bosh than without him. The fact that it took the emergence of 3 players for the Heat to avoid that expected drop off should have been your first clue.

The Clips lost Blake Griffin for a large part of the season and actually had a better record without him. Yet, I don't think anyone thought that meant they didn't need him for the playoffs.

 

[trojanfan12]

Never miss a opportunity to make a complete fool of yourself....lol

 

[WiggyRuss]

Actually, you're just showing yet again, why no one here takes you seriously.

I'd say there's little question that Miami didn't have the drop off that many expected when Bosh went down because of the emergence of Whiteside, Richardson and Johnson. There's also little question that they would likely be a much better team with a healthy Bosh than without him. The fact that it took the emergence of 3 players for the Heat to avoid that expected drop off should have been your first clue.

The Clips lost Blake Griffin for a large part of the season and actually had a better record without him. Yet, I don't think anyone thought that meant they didn't need him for the playoffs.

Oh i dont doubt that at all......totally agree.......if it came across that i didnt think Bosh- when healthy- is their best player- than thats not what I meant at all....I said on here early in the season multiple times that I think bosh was the best player on the Heat....or at this point had been--- last time he played a full season LeBron was still in Miami...

Ill tell ya...Grady Sizemore- one of my favorite all time athletes...on his way to a hall of fame career- no doubt about it in my opinion...when you talk about a 5 tool player- Grady Sizemore is pretty much the prototype...he started getting hurt...was still EXTREMELY young, always thinking he was going to eventually come back...always saying- well- if we had Sizemore wed be in great shape.....at some point though...2-3 years down the line...you just have to accept its just not the same anymore. I realize- there is a substantial difference between physical injury and a risk to one's physical well being because of illness- but it would seem the results are teh same.

If the Heat had a totally healthy Deng and Whiteside--- and if Bosh was totally healthy...id be quite a bit more tentative than i am for the upcoming cake walk the Cavs are waiting for- no doubt about it--- but as i said all year long- i think it would still only go 5 if i was being logical and not giving into my Cleveland paranoia.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

Oh i dont doubt that at all......totally agree.......if it came across that i didnt think Bosh- when healthy- is their best player- than thats not what I meant at all....I said on here early in the season multiple times that I think bosh was the best player on the Heat....or at this point had been--- last time he played a full season LeBron was still in Miami...

Ill tell ya...Grady Sizemore- one of my favorite all time athletes...on his way to a hall of fame career- no doubt about it in my opinion...when you talk about a 5 tool player- Grady Sizemore is pretty much the prototype...he started getting hurt...was still EXTREMELY young, always thinking he was going to eventually come back...always saying- well- if we had Sizemore wed be in great shape.....at some point though...2-3 years down the line...you just have to accept its just not the same anymore. I realize- there is a substantial difference between physical injury and a risk to one's physical well being because of illness- but it would seem the results are teh same.

If the Heat had a totally healthy Deng and Whiteside--- and if Bosh was totally healthy...id be quite a bit more tentative than i am for the upcoming cake walk the Cavs are waiting for- no doubt about it--- but as i said all year long- i think it would still only go 5 if i was being logical and not giving into my Cleveland paranoia.

Problem for you is that after your 3rd cakewalk, your going to have to enter reality.

 

[trojanfan12]

Oh i dont doubt that at all......totally agree.......if it came across that i didnt think Bosh- when healthy- is their best player- than thats not what I meant at all....

Yeah, that's how it came across, which of course made it look like another cheap shot at the Heat. Glad to see you haven't gone completely off the deep end.

 

[trojanfan12]

Problem for you is that after your 3rd cakewalk, your going to have to enter reality.

Yeah, unfortunately for the Cavs, that could very well happen. Not that the Cavs are dumb enough to think that the finals are going to be the cakewalk that the Eastern Conference was. They aren't.

But when you see a certain level of play for 3 straight series and then the level jumps dramatically in the next one, it can take a game or 2 to adjust.

 

[bksballer89]

Yeah, unfortunately for the Cavs, that could very well happen. Not that the Cavs are dumb enough to think that the finals are going to be the cakewalk that the Eastern Conference was. They aren't.

But when you see a certain level of play for 3 straight series and then the level jumps dramatically in the next one, it can take a game or 2 to adjust.

As much as I hate the Cavs, I think they would win the title if they face OKC

 

[trojanfan12]

As much as I hate the Cavs, I think they would win the title if they face OKC

I agree. But I don't see that matchup happening.

 

[bksballer89]

I agree. But I don't see that matchup happening.

Neither do I....Thankfully

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

Yeah, unfortunately for the Cavs, that could very well happen. Not that the Cavs are dumb enough to think that the finals are going to be the cakewalk that the Eastern Conference was. They aren't.

But when you see a certain level of play for 3 straight series and then the level jumps dramatically in the next one, it can take a game or 2 to adjust.

As much as I hate the Cavs, I think they would win the title if they face OKC

I agree the Cavs have a much better chance vs OKC.
I'm banking on the Warriors to make it.

As far as the game or 2 to adjust, you don't have that luxury when you don't have HCA.
IF the Cavs start 0-2 they're done IMO.

 

[bksballer89]

I agree the Cavs have a much better chance vs OKC.
I'm banking on the Warriors to make it.

As far as the game or 2 to adjust, you don't have that luxury when you don't have HCA.
IF the Cavs start 0-2 they're done IMO.

I think the Warriors beat them in 5. I heard that the Warriors really want to face them because they felt disrespected by Cleveland in the offseason

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

I think the Warriors beat them in 5. I heard that the Warriors really want to face them because they felt disrespected by Cleveland in the offseason

We saw that when the visited Cleveland.
Hopefully it wasn't something that they should have saved.
I think James might try to make it into him vs Curry.
Hopefully that's the case because then I know Cavs will lose.

If they do beat them in 5, which I could see, then I don't want to hear shit about Lue being a better coach plus I'll be waiting to hear the spin of how a healthy Cavs roster could win less games.

 

[Heatles84]

As much as I hate the Cavs, I think they would win the title if they face OKC

I think they certainly would. I think the Spurs just got old. All the credit in the world to OKC. But I'm not putting them above Golden St. yet.

 

[gordontrue]

No doubt there will be a huge step up in competition from ECF to finals

FTR....Last year the Cavs handled that step up well and didn't need a game or two to adjust from sweeping the injured hawks to playing the best team in the league.

The first 3 games were their best and they were up 2-1, even with starting on the road.

At this point, if the Cavs make the finals I'll be very happy with whoever they get to play.

If it's GSW... win or lose Cavs will destroy the stupid theory that they benefited from losing two of their best players.

If it's OKC, they get home court advantage!

And either way, they get a decent shot at Cleveland's first nba title.

 

[bksballer89]

No doubt there will be a huge step up in competition from ECF to finals

FTR....Last year the Cavs handled that step up well and didn't need a game or two to adjust from sweeping the injured hawks to playing the best team in the league.

The first 3 games were their best and they were up 2-1, even with starting on the road.

At this point, if the Cavs make the finals I'll be very happy with whoever they get to play.

If it's GSW... win or lose Cavs will destroy the stupid theory that they benefited from losing two of their best players.

If it's OKC, they get home court advantage!

And either way, they get a decent shot at Cleveland's first nba title.

The test they received from the Bulls prepared them for the finals. This year everything been easy for them. Have yet to face a pressure situation in a series where they needed to win