Live Thread: Cavs vs Thunder
2017-06-07
Whelp, they say this team plays their best when their backs are against the wall. Well, there isn’t much space between the team’s trapezius and the and the chair rail. The Cavs face an interesting choice, keep running and playing the Warriors’ game (which has been pretty similar to the Cavs’ game so far this year), or slowing it down and attacking Steph Curry in the half court. Hopefully, you had a chance to read Ben Werth’s point forward, which contained tactical options for the Cavs.
Ben Werth: attack Curry, bench Shump, start Korver & stop listening to tribal groupthink regurgitated from last year https://t.co/piLhVVxhpP
— HoopsDogg (@oldseaminer) June 7, 2017
In truth, everyone not named LeBron James and Kevin Love just needs to play better. J.R. Smith has scored zero points in 95 game minutes since his early basket in Game 1. Tristan Thompson has notched eight points and eight rebounds in two games. Kyle Korver was scoreless in game one. Channing Frye shot 1-5 last game. Kyrie Irving is an chringeworthy 18-45 with nine assists and seven turnovers in the finals, and Deron Williams is a mind numbing 0-9 this series.
I’ve heard all the excuses. “But they have Kevin Durant!” “They’re unbeatable!” “Ty Lue sucks!” “Kyrie is hurt!” Blah blah blah. The truth is this Cavs’ team is better than last year’s and, they’re getting beat by less than last year’s team. All the have got to throw away the excuses and play basketball. Let’s hope they’re up to the task, and that their coach isn’t afraid to make changes if what he starts with isn’t working. Beyond that, it’s all just blather. Go Cavs.
LeBron says you have to play “A++” to beat the Warriors.
Danny Green.
Delly.
Mason Plumlee.
I don’t know how realistic is that but those players abilities are what comes to mind that we need.
Sorry for bringing this up. I just want postive thoughts atm
Derrick Williams? Shump has been so bad, why not try Williams?
Lue was willing to play Mo Williams in Game 7 of the Finals last year. Seems far less risky to give Derrick a few minutes and see how he does.
Yes Couldn’t agree more.
Context is everything, but matters not to most NBA fans, even diehards. If I didn’t see every single game of that guy, well I can’t evaluate him…the Jordan era and likely unfortunately the LBJ era. If you rewatch a ton of games from the 90s and look and those teams, meh. The 90s were diluted talent compared to the 80s. Jordan’s team was favored by vegas every single year in the finals. Lbj’s team was favored 2 times. That won’t be remembered by anyone but cavs fans. The top 1 or 2 player may go down as a top five… Read more »
This era isn’t dilluted, with half the teams tanking and the other half of the league injured, old or crappy?
Not at the top. It is the opposite. Diluted means talent is concentrated. It means All the talent is congregated at the top, which it is. Injury is a weak argument and you know it. You honestly think the 90s had stronger top teams than the 60s, 80s or 2008- now. I call BS.
It’s clear now why Kyrie and Klove couldn’t even lead their teams to a playoff spot as the main man. Lebron goes out with less than two minutes left in the first quarter and the Cavs nursing a 2-point lead which quickly turned into an 8-point deficit. Kyrie has a lot of maturation to go if the Cavs hope win another.
Well, korver dunked.
Gonna be crazy in game 4. Sucks we have only one day off, but there won’t be any quit in this cavs team. Bakers everywhere are tentatively designing 3-0 tombstone cakes…
I’m going to bed. Heads high gentlemen. And slap warriors fan around if he dare shows up?
Lbj dominated. No one close. I would take him over Jordan and Kareem any day. Magic and Russell only two who compare.
Cavs were +7 in Lebron’s 46 min on-court
They were -12 in the 2 min with Lebron off-court
Cavs need more 2-way players around Lebron
That is simply pathetic. Shump was responsible for half of that ny himself.
Unfortunately the CAVS win and lose as a team. And boy is Lebron gonna get it in the media tomorrow, the rest of the summer and until October 31st, and probably longer.
Is it really that hard to find a player in the NBA for this CAVS team that can average 10 to 15 points per game and be a beast on defense guarding the point, shooting guard or the three???????
The burden of being Lebron….makes you wonder if he would have been better off losing in the ECF than lose in the finals and be 3-5.
If i know I’ll lose, I’d rather be it in the ECF. I hate losing in the finals.
See my most above. The media is either moronic or facile, as are most casual NBA fans.
Post
I hope Durant’s little sticks snap tomorrow. Actually I hope they sign curry and Durant to super max and the both breakdown immediately
I know you’re upset but please never wish anyone something like that
I appreciate LeBron. 2nd GOAT. I hope he still have 4 years at this level.
Agreed. Dude is awesome.
This Warriors team is who I thought they’d be when they got Durant. You just can’t beat this team with Durant.
It’s really hard. It can be done. We saw it tonight. But it takes a monumental effort and skill.
The curse of the Kardashians strikes again. Thompson has become unplayable.
So if you are Dan Gilbert, what do you do? Paul George, Butler, Haywood, Melo?
None.
So you want to be here, in this exact same position, next year?
Yeah. I’ll take the Finals again. I doubt the warriors will be this great next year. All it takes is a tiny amount of slippage from them and we win.
I’m sorry man, I like your enthusiasm but to expect them to not be better next year is lunacy.
They are all in the prime, with another year under their belt. LeBron will also be another year older and I’m sure ring chasing vets will rather go to GS now as opposed to Cleveland. So like Durant, they go to the favorite team. Cavs needs another top20-30 player to play next to LeBron and Ky.
Kevin Love.
Idk, their cap situation is going to explode starting next year. Maybe they lose Iggy this off-season, then a star the next one. This might be the greatest ever.
That’s not what I mean. I wouldlove to add players but..
1. The players listed above are unrealistic.
2. It’s more of having an elite well rounded team than to have a top heavy one.
I’d run it back. This team is really good.
We desperately need a reliable 3 and D shooting guard to replace JR and Shump
Like korver? Delly was available
Korver playing his season average and we could.be up 2-1
Danny Green.
How? This is the team. No room for anything else. One time cap explosion plus curry ankle problems plus Durant decision converged perfectly for warriors.
What do you mean how? Open up the checkbook and pay. Make some kind of trade happen and maybe, just maybe, LeBron is willing to accept smaller deal.
If you don’t get a PG13 of Butler here LeBron is mostly done winning rings…
They are extremely limited on what they can do. Doesn’t have a lot to do with what Gilbert is willing to spend.
NBA goes like this. Warriors>Cavs>>>>Everyone else.
I hate being 2nd in this context
Me too. But I don’t know what else to say.
Really cant’t have a game with so many mistakes againstthis team. We were right there. The first half costed us the game.
The last two minutes of the 1st and the last two minutes of the 4th you mean.
Well if we tighten up the defense earlier than the 3rd, their mini run in the 4th won’t matter. But yeah sure.. Man I’m sad.
That’s the thing though. There is no margin for error. Like the Cavs have to play absolutely perfectly to win. That’s what makes it so darn hard.
That being said. Two more Korver threes and we win.
I actually agree with the gentleman from Colorado
Been saying that all the time Cols. They have so much firepower to cover their holes we expose.
I hear ya man. The NBA is the only sport I care for and I’m not a fan of this situation.
Green had five fouls and they didn’t go at him once. Couldn’t hit an open three all night. Didn’t score in the last three minutes. Went for three instead of two when up two with under a minute. So many mental errors for a veteran team. Shump is unplayable. Durant has ruined the NBA for the next four years.
Completely agree!
I loved the Cavs effort and thought they defended better tonight that at any time since last years finals. They really laid an egg at the end of the 1st and end of the game. This isn’t good for the league though to have one team basically go undefeated in one conference and clearly be inferior to the team In the other conference that will probably go 16-0 in the postseason,
Yep. The sad thing is this is probably the best Cavs team of our lives.
Not probably. Thank god they won one
Yep. Could’ve been three barrring injury in 2015 and Durant not blowing a 3-1 lead last year.
People will forget that eventually, but it’s so true.
No. It’s not. Last year’s team was much hungrier, better, and smarter.
Cavs missed so many wide open threes tonight. They played really well. Great game plan. They played good defense and forced tons of turnovers and had good offense.
I’m proud of them tonight. They did not lay down.
Missing so many open threes. Ky was 0 for 6. Two go down and it’s a win
Yep. And they shot49% from three.
Playing good defense isn’t gonna cut it tho.
But the effort isn’t something to be ashamed of
Did we try anything differently this game?
We played great defense. Forced turnovers and did a bunch of baseline action to get our shooters going.
Nothing comes to mind. JR and Korver hit some shots. LeBron and Kyrie went beast mode on offense but gassed out. Rest of it all was the usual stuff.
Lue sucks.
no one can argue this was horrific coaching this series….cavs never seemed prepared which was weird, everyone knew they would face the Warriors in Finals….it took to Game 3 for Cavs to figure it out and then they still screw up but not being focused and gassed….Lue really didn’t show up this series….yes he got us a ring last year, but this year he didn’t have it
Seriously how bad do the raptors and Celtics feel right now?
What do you mean?
The CAVS are afraid of Green, he talks loud, and he is very aggressive, most people would be. He is not that skilled of a basketball player, he is a smart player and gets under people’s skin. I don’t care how much the players make, could care less, but I could not watch game two or tonight’s game. The CAVS team played soft and they played scared.
I don’t think you watched the same game everyone else did.
Ahhh what game were you watching???
To call Dray “not that skilled” is rather dumb. Sorry but the dude is a defensive beast and just a good a passer as LeBron.
Nope. Green is NEVER as good as a passer as Lebron. NEVER.
I hate him, but he is pretty skilled…
He was a non-factor for the majority of the game
What is Green known for, aggressive defense, aggressive defense, good positioning and help side defense, sometimes known for kicking people. Lack of skill meaning he is not a three point shooter or a shooter period, but he will make open shots here and there. He is not a ball handler, just because he brings the ball up the court sometimes. Again he is not that skilled of a basketball player, he is a smart player who is bery aggressive and that works for him and his team. He will end his career probably not breaking any NBA records but he… Read more »
Coming back from 3-0 is going to be so epic.
Hey Nate. You don’t think a team singing a top 3 7 footer like Durant makes the difference? LOL.
Adam Silver for MVP
Could not be more in Stern’s shoes. Best comment of the night. Again 2002 wcf.
It seems every Kyrie miss turns into a quick 3 points by the Warriors. Make no mistake, Kyrie was hot but his defense remains atrocious. I also wish he would rebound more. I hate Curry but he at least hustles me rebounds when his shots are missing.
KD has never won on an underdog, and never will.
Seriously. Let’s not do this trade Irving fire Lue stuff. They played great. Warriors were unreal from three. Korver hits his wide open corner shot with 40 seconds to go we win. Be proud. That was a great effort.
Agreed
Yes…korver had a decent look that he didnt hit…but that isnt the shot you want there. LeBron HAS to take that to the rim there. Green in front of him with five fouls…he HAS to take it at him. He would have gotten the call at least. Same for Kyrie on the step-back. Why? Drive to the basket and get the contact.
Hate to say it but Cavs gave that away with lack of mental toughness in crunch time.
Remarkable composure. When you have such a talent advantage, it means nothing.
Exactly, that’s my point. Thanks!
The Cavs seriously need to consider trading Kyrie for a PG with a higher basketball IQ. That last possession of his, where he dribbled out the entire shot clock, only to shoot a fadeaway 27 footer with Klay Thompson in his face, was the dumbest possible thing he could have done other than turning the ball over. Golden state came down and splashed wide open threes at least 3 or 4 times after he dribbled, and dribbled, and dribbled, only to throw up a brick. As long as Kyrie is the starting point guard, the Cavs will not win another… Read more »
Irving and James were amazing. If you want to complain complain that we couldn’t hit a corner three.
Kyrie gave up at least 10 free points going back the other way. It never should have had to come down to Korver, who, by the way, played excellent defense tonight. Kyrie was more Steve Francis than Isaiah Thomas tonight, and the Cavs probably lost because of it..
I’ve always wondered what Irving’s trade value is. Could you get like Jimmy Butler for him?
Kerr almost screwed them that game by playing his scrubs too much.
Million dollar question will be why Lue never played Dahntay or most especially Derrick Williams at all in this series….Kerr played a guy name Zaza (actually started him) and a 2nd round rookie McCaw, yet Lue just sticks to a rotation that was failing….just horrific coaching job by him this series….Cavs had this game wrapped and just blew it with horrific defense and questionable substitutions and super short rotation….just sucks it comes to this….yes Warriors are good if not great, but Cavs fans deserved better.
It is mind blowing that Derrik hasn’t made it off bench. Big difference between Kerr and Ty Lue is Kerr plays his bench and trust them. Lue had all year and still doesn’t trust them . Kinda like Doc Rivers habit. Cavs playing 7 and to Kerr’s delight .
Cavs rolled nine guys out there…but shumpert basically helped shoot us out of what should of been a halftime lead.
I also agree derek williams should have been given a run.
Yeah. No circular firing squad. Cavs team is really really good. Just warriors signed Durant.
Seriously, shut up with that tired meme.
Tough loss. Hang in there CtB.
Well the Browns received an A plus in the NFL draft. The Indians were up 3-1 and lost. Overpriced tickets and beer, all the team owners still get their money lose, lose or draw. We won’t see a championship in Cleveland again. Let’s just see what Lebron decides to do this or next summer!
Eph in Durant.
I’m proud of them that game. Warriors shot the lights out from three and Cavs missed a bunch of open corner theees.
Don’t​ kill this team. Only a fool would. This was set in stone last summer. Whether you want to be an optimist or not. Ain’t no thing. If they didn’t win this game, pathetic. They won so, meh. Really, look at context overreactors, meh. Wait for warriors fan “imposter” Nate and Tom and defend. Seriously, that is some guillible bs.
Yep. Let’s not do the fire everyone routine. Cavs played well. Missed some wide open threes. They just have no margin for error against this warriors squad.
I cannot believe you actually agree with me considering how you are the antithesis of my normal b-ball analysis on this site. Wtf. I will say I don’t buy warriors fan like some do. He was around far before last year’s finals. Hard to see anything but trolling.
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Durant is the difference.
Durant + no 3s + bad decision making + bad transition D+ constant holding and shoving from Warriors versus touch falls on Cavs
The Warriors played every player in the game, the CAVS played 9 again.
That’s why it was close. If the warriors had played their stars more they might have won easier.
Or maybe the key Warriors were fresher at the end because LeBron had played 46 minutes and Kyrie 44 minutes.
Nah. Cavs got great looks down the stretch.
Great game by Cavs. They had the wide open Korver corner three. He missed. Durant comes down and hits contested three.
Just nothing you can do about it.
I’m not going to criticize the Cavs tonight, but Durant’s three wasn’t contested.
You are right but when you look at the bigger picture yes the Cavs played well and Lebron and Kyrie played their butts off and still wasn’t enough, why? They have just too much firepower. Kyrie and Lebron just didn’t have enough at the end to close it.
The picture at the top was prescient. TT, JR, and Korver killed us
How do you finish this game like that? Unbelievable. Nobody stepped up at the end of the game. That one really hurt. Game, series, season over.
1964 Browns championship. 2016 NBA championship. Be proud Cleveland be very proud of those two. Can’t get hall of famers to play in Cleveland like the Bulls and the Warriors did and do.
Man that’s just horrible. That’s literally horrible for the world of sports. Man, what a shame
Yes Mr.Silver this is your competitive league.
Exactly!
The refs basically allowed the warriors to hack arms, shove players to the floor and hold jerseys for that 11-0 run…
We had plenty of wide opened 3’s and shot horribly. Won’t win against this team that way.
Yes. Plenty of fouling going uncalled both sides, gotta make plays.
Durant was the difference in the 4th again…how surprising…
Cavs played so dumb at the end. Rested dubs won down the stretch.
Nah. Cavs had a bunch of open threes. They missed them. Theee point variance killed us this game.
Agree . Playing 7 bit them in the end. They were playing Not to lose and wound up doing that. Milking the clock and ISO didn’t work
Literally snatching defeat from the jaws of victory….
F that. LBJ shot what 7-8 free throws?
What does that have to do with getting outscored 11-0 in the last two minutes, missing open shots, taking bad shots and not defending the three?
think its time to consider Lue’s job security….piss poor performance by him in this Finals….that was winnable game easily and his rotations were questionable at best….and good god is that defense horrific….such a shame….at least we won a title….but this sweep will be embarrassing.
That’s it folks. Terrible last 2 sequences. They weren’t going to win this series, but gave up last 30 sec.
Cavs probably expnded themselves in this one…not finishing it is likely very fatal…
Came off the effing beach in Hawaii for this bullshit
Cavs beat themselves these last two minutes…
No shot & no Korver on the floor. Good effort. Not good enough.
Wow…that is insane. Iggy clearly fouled him
I mean it couldn’t have been more obvious
It seems surreal to have the greatest athlete of this time to be 3-5 in the NBA finals.
Ugh, oh man
Horrid…
That was anticlimactic.
Let’s go Cavs. Gutsy game. Need a miracle.
Welp.
That was not a miracle.
Well, we blew that. Tired guys vs rested guys.
How do you give up a 9-0 run like that?
Wasn’t great basketball from Kyrie there, either…brutal…
Just had to have that Korver three… and LBJ needed to step up on that KD shot…
Cmon cavs!
Terrible all around. Kyrie. No TO. No two for one.