Playoff Live Thread: Game 4, Cavs @ Heat (or, Get out your Brooms)
2025-04-28Cleveland looks for a sweep tonight in Miami. I’m surethe Heat have a fishing charter booked for Tuesday. Cleveland will be without Garland. Kyle Anderson is questionable with an illness while Kevin Love (death of his father) and Rozier also remain out. Given injuries and the grind of the other series. Let’s put the Heat out of their misery. Go Cavs.
tipping my cap to westbrook.. he has steadily improved his skills and maintained his relevance and marketability (always a physical marvel with laser determination to get to the hole).. coming back to bite his former team.. float like a butterfly russ, and sting like a bee ..
Only looking at box score. 7 man rotation for Nuggets. Potentially all get to double figures.
waiting for the balmer tears.. nice job denver
christian braun (3rd yr denver with 14 pts tonight at 73-50) showing outstanding growth as a pro) – 1st round 21st pick in ’22.. 4.7.. 7.3.. 15.4 ppg.. not an “icy” pick.. cavs drafted agbaji (also from kansas) in front of him..
TBF, that may have been for Utah.
Yep. He was a piece of the Mitchell deal, too. So, one would assume that even if we picked Braun, he’d be in Utah now with Big Finnish & Young Bull.
i just love exponential growth in ppg from a rook.. last time cavs had one ? have they ever had one ?
Garland, Mobley, Irving, LeBron?
Denver up 23 at home. This might be over.
That is what they thought vs Minny last year
Regular-season offensive rebounding since Feb. 10, 2025 (Hunter’s first game with Cleveland):
Regular-season defensive rebounding since Feb. 10, 2025:
During the regular season, Milwaukee was the worst offensive-rebounding team in the league, so no surprise Indiana’s defensive rebounding numbers were higher (74.4%) in Round 1.
But the Rockets are most certainly not cooked.
Two G7s in Round 1.
I said it before, but LBJ, Curry, Durant, Giannis, + Kawhi could all be out after Rd1. And if Kawhi isn’t, Joker is.
Those first 5 have won 10 of the last 11 Finals MVPs before Jokic & Brown the last two years. And while I think Giannis & Joker are still elite good, it is close to time to close the book on the others as title threats. If Kawhi can stay healthy, maybe he has a shot..
Man Houston is really terrifying.
Love to see GS go down.
Adams has been fantastic. FVV has been en fuego for 3 games. Sengun has been good. If Green figures it out on O, lookout.
GSW need FVV to cool Steph’s thumb to get better, and a tight whistle..
There’s a lot of moving parts, but I don’t see FVV cooling after games 1-3 being average, 3-6 going nova. GSW need to do something spesh.
tonight I would like to have seen Detroit and Denver win.
but it is probably better for the Cavs as is. the Cavs just had a long rest, and now they get the first round 2 game, so they are likely to finish round 2 first and thus get another rest break before the ECF. because NY won tonight, the ECF series has a good chance of starting a few days before the WCF series, leading to another break before the finals.
my guess is the finals will be Cavs vs. OKC
We needed the Bucks to not choke G5 away (twice), so DG couod reat his toe more.
NY will only get one, max, vs Boston.
The West will be behind. Even if GAW close out the Rockets tonight.
> NY will only get one, max, vs Boston.
I want to believe. I do. And yet…
sure. seven games Boston/NY (and also out west) would be great, although I think Jason is right, it will wind up 4 – 1 for Boston.
go Rockets tonight
Russell Westbrook misses a layup. Ugh.
That was their last chance.5 point swing.
Russell is the all time wild card the history of team sports
Sounds like Garland may be out for game 1
Ah well, good fun for Detroit fans. Knicks are bad and Boston will wipe them out.
GO CAVS!
Knicks will be lucky if they steal a game.
Beasley can shimmy his way to Cancun.
Yeesh, Pistons.
What a shot by Brunson. Also broke Thompson’s ankles.
Knicks shit the bed in the 4th
Not right at the end.
JB, what are you doing with this challenge? Just a blocking foul. Knicks get to rest.
JB’s teams and his teams’ inability to rebound in the playoffs.
Shroeder is a dirty flopper!
JASON GREAT STUFF /STATS AS USUAL👍🙏👍🙏—-MAKE SOME VERY VALID POINTS ON GOAT —- THE GREAT JIMMY BROWN IS A GOOD EXAMPLE—- ONLY PLAYED ON 1 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM—- SO YEAH LEBRON MIGHT BE AT THE STAGE IN HIS CAREER TO JUST PUT UP STATS ——DEEP DOWN I BELIEVE HE SEES / REALIZES HOW MUCH TALENT ON THIS CAVS TEAM AND HE REALLY WANT 1 MORE CHAMPIONSHIP ——WOULD BE SO COOL TO GET IT “ IN THE LAND “——- WE CAN DREAM CANT WE 👍💩
the only thing LeBron could do for the Cavs is score big in mop up time
WHICH PACER PLAER (s) CONCERN YOU THE MOST—- FOR ME IT IS TURNER McCONNELL —— SEEMS LIKE THEY ALWAYS PLAY THEIR BEST AGAINST THE CAVS ——- JASON ( you are great at this ) THE HISTORICAL STATS OF THOSE PLAYERS AGAINST THE CAVS —- THANKS 🙏 MY MAN👍
You give me too much credit.
But it seems like McConnell kills us with his defense & ball pressure.
The last two games, with all the reserves playing, I don’t think you can take a ton from.
Indy snapped a 12 game Cavs win streak in January, in Cleveland. We won at Indy the very next game.
Both games were pre-Hunter deal. Jerome also DNP in either game. Strus was still coming off the bench (3 pts in L, 13/4/4 in W). Wade started both games. And Nesmith DNP in both games for Indy.
In the Pacers win, no one scored 20 for them, but had 6 guys in double figures. Mathurin, McConnell, and Walker (8/12/2) were their best +/- guys. They won the TO battle by 3, and the boards by 6. We were 11-41 from deep, sub 40% on FG. Their D won it for them.
I think the Pacers are kinda like us. It is not team that is necessarily 1-2 guys that drive anything. But 6-7 guys who can get you 15-20 on any given night.
Haliburton is the conductor. Turner lets them play 5 out. He and Siakam give them a long & athletic froncourt (+Toppin). Nesmith & Nembhard are smaller wings, but tough guys. Walker the bigger F/wing option off the bench at 6’7″. McConnell a high quality backup PG.
Pacers are a top 5 offense. Regular season 3PT%:
Haliburton 38.8, Nembhard 29.1, Nesmith 43.1, Siakam 38.9, Turner 39.6. McConnell 30.6, Mathurin 34.0, Walker 40.7, Toppin 36.5.
They play 9.5. Sheppard is the 10th man as another wing. 34.2 3PT%.
GOAT IS ALWAYS DETERMINED BY THE NUMBER OF CHAMPIONSHIP YOU WERE PART OF ——- IN MY OPINION
Is Russell your GOAT? Kareem 2nd? If one counts titles, and I do as well, then Mikan has to be up there. Obviously some guys have had more shots at OLY or WC. Some had none. But here would be my guys I think one could make a reasonable GOAT case for, with apologies to Magic, Bird, Duncan, Shaq, Kobe, & Curry. And maybe Oscar. Russell: 11 NBA, 12 Finals, 2 college, 1 OLY. Kareem: 6 NBA, 10 Finals, 3 college MJ: 6 NBA, 6 Finals, 1 college, 1 OLY LBJ: 4 NBA, 10 Finals, 3 OLY Wilt: 2 NBA,… Read more »
The number of guys who have been the lead sled dog on multiple title teams is pretty short. Those 12 above, who I regard as my pantheon guys, all qualify: MJ, Kareem, Russell, LBJ, Wilt, Mikan, Magic, Bird,
There are only a couple of other guys who have done it, IMHO. But I have them as Tier2 guys: Dream, Zeke, Havlicek, Dr. J and pick a Pacer from that ABA dynasty.
Now, some guys who won less and/or were Robins on multiple are close, too. Oscar, West, Baylor, Pettit, Moses, Durant, Jokic, Giannis, Cousy, Wade, etc.
“ DITTO “ ON BUCKAROO / JASON POST —- BE PART OF 1 MORE CHAMPIONSHIP “ IN THE LAND “ —- PARADE WILL EVEN BE BIGGER—— WILL PROMPT ME TO …………. “ DRINK 🍺 MORE BEER 🍺 PLEASE “ 👍🏀🍺
bron coming back to cavs next year for last run for a chip (on a league minimum deal) ?
I have had the same thought.
But I think he checked out on chasing chips a couple years back. He is stat padding to try and make a case for GOAT that way and staying in LA. He likes it out there. No way he leaves $50 mil on the table.
I’d love to be wrong, however. And it is possible until it isn’t.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m thankful for all he did for Cleveland. But he decided a long time ago that he was bigger than the game itself. I doubt he returns to finish in Cleveland, even to join a squad that could get a chip, because he would not be central to the narrative.
Detroit went 1-3 vs both us and Boston. But lost the first 3 and won the last one.
Celtics: 118-124, 120-130, 99-123, 117-97.
Cavs: 101-113, 91-110, 115-118, 133-122.
Cavs/Pacers is the only series lined up for the next round.
from @marlaef.bsky.social
😂😂😂
Minnesota letting The Lakers stick around is beyond dumb
That start to the third was abominable.
Minny is long, athletic, play great D, and are streaky from 3. But they do some awful dumb stuff sometimes.
At their best, they give even OKC/Boston fits. At their worst, they could lose to anyone.
Houston is closer to a mirror with no Ant. The Dubs with Jimmy will be much savvier. Though Steph & Dray do do dumb stuff too.
“Inside the NBA” sort of jumped the shark, with fans still sending in gifs/memes of as color analysis.
I like Barkley, but it’s time to end the run.
I like Barkley too.
LEBRON / LAKERS MIGHT BE GETTING THEIR GOlF CLUBS READY
Rockets very much alive. Dubs better win G6 at home.
Halliburton’s Dad reminds me of an obnoxious AAU/Little League parent! I saw something like that after one of my son’s HS football games – a middle aged guy talking sh$t loudly to the opposing team after my son’s team won a heated local rivalry game, and nearly triggering a brawl. If you’re not wearing a jersey or a coach’s suit, stay off the court!
Giannis response to that incident was class act. I anticipate Ty getting into it with Haliburton and his dad.
His dad is a punk. Giannis is so classy. Thos generation’s Duncan..
Quite a bit of high quality action (plus some fun road routs for the good guys) in the first round. Had hoped for a Saturday start but appears to be Sunday. Go Cavs
GO DETROIT! JB, all is forgiven!!
Good foul for Detroit.
Absolutely
Knicks down 1. 5.7 left..
Knicks ALMOST got a TO there.
Detroit almost pulled a Buck!
Knicks/Pistons national broadcast blacked out here in Boston, but TNT/OT feed is working on the NBA app, which is something — one camera, no commentators. Camera often lingers on the nearby Knicks bench while play is ongoing on the court.
Pistons hanging tough, though.
Pacers were 3-1 against us this year.
Two of those games were against our zoo crew!
It was 1-1 in games where Cleveland was actually trying to win. The other two games, Cleveland rested its entire starting 5 except for a couple minutes of Jarrett Allen extending his games played streak, as winning 66 rather than 64 games meant nothing. And the Pacers’ starters barely squeaked by the Cavs bench.
Knicks gonna lose this one.
That’s what I thought about the Pacers. Twice.
Too bad the Bucks choked the 4th and OT.
That would have been a nice rest advantage. Oh well.
Did JB just get a technical for losing a challenge? 😂
Knicks-Pistons is pretty good!
I can’t believe the. Bucks extended their GM. The Haslem impact!
Boston down 4 after 1
BRING ON THE PACERS 👍🏀💪
Not too worried about the Pacers. The jump in talent level (other than Giannis of course, and especially with Dame unhealthy to begin with and then gone) and execution from the Bucks to the Cavs is pretty massive. Pacers barely beat the Cavs bench when Indiana was still playing to secure home court for the first round.
same
I’m ready to hate this Pacers team!
Choke job!
On the other hand, zero love for Gary Trent so . . .
Milwaukee up 6 with 40 seconds left and lost. Shit.
Well, we can take these guys for sure, but man that was painful to watch.
Wow Bucks screw it up again. How don’t you know how to inbound the ball? Fire everyone.
How do you end your season on a Shaqtin a Fool play? Wow!
Good lord,
Bucks are dumb. Can’t inbound it.
Bucks up 6 with 47 seconds to go. No lead is safe with this Bucks defense.
Plus their ability to turn it over!
KPJ turns it over. Gets bailed out by Trent
Just give it to that Trent guy!
Trent doing a Ty Jerome impersonation
Damn Gary Trent Jr. is cooking
At least they have Trent.
Bucks throwing this away. Their team is dumb.
Overtime. Not good for the Bucks.
Leave it to KPJ to make himself the main character on the potential winning possession instead of feeding the former MVP when he’s having an MVP level game.
If you’re having KPJ in your closing lineup you’re in trouble.
That is true!
The Bucks are just letting Halliburton drive to the rim.
Halliburton gets an Emmy for that flop.
Bucks up 4 with 1:29 to go!
Big shot green.
nice.. bucks showing a lot of moxie.. glad i didn’t place a bet
Tie game with 3 to go