Live Thread: Cavs @ Warriors, NBA Finals Game 5
2016-06-13
So much for a quiet NBA Finals. What had been a fairly calm—if not overly exciting—series between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors took a turn towards insanity with the league office issuing a Flagrant-One foul to Warriors forward Draymond Green for his shot to the groin of LeBron James near the end of Game Four. Because Green has earned his fourth flagrant foul point of the playoffs he was automatically suspended Game Five, which takes place tonight at the Oracle Arena. As soon as this happened, the war of word commenced.
Klay Thompson on LeBron & trash talk: "I'm surprised some guys take it so personal. It's a man's league. I guess his feelings got hurt."
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) June 12, 2016
LeBron James says he won't comment on Klay Thompson saying he got his feelings hurt in trash talk. "It's so hard to take the high road," LJ.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) June 12, 2016
High Road. invisible bridge used to step over said person when open floor is available left to right.
— Ayesha Curry (@ayeshacurry) June 12, 2016
More Mo Speights on LeBron: "A guy does something like that, you kind of lose respect for him. I had a lot of… https://t.co/U84nQK6SS1
— Ethan Strauss (@SherwoodStrauss) June 12, 2016
🍼
— Marreese Speights (@Mospeights16) June 12, 2016
Andrew Bogut says he's never heard a team complain so much about fouls and yet #Cavs shot more free throws than them through four games.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 12, 2016
New Story: Warriors essentially accused #Cavs of snitching and the response? "I don't give a f— what they say." https://t.co/0HX2idnYdm
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 13, 2016
That’s a lot of noise, but guess what? None of it matters. It’s all window dressing. What matters is the 48 minutes of basketball that will take place tonight in Oakland. What matters is that the Warriors have been outscored when Green is not on the floor during the playoffs. What matters is that the Warriors will likely give even more minutes to Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston with Green out. What matters is that it just became a bit easier to play Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving in this series. What matters is that the Cavaliers need to start moving the basketball after going iso-happy in the second half of Game Four. Kyrie Irving needs to give a crap on defense for a whole 48 minutes and not just when he wants to.
Views on how tonight’s game will go vary wildly among basketball analysts. Some see Green’s suspension galvanizing the Warriors as they win their second consecutive championship, while others feel the window has been opened for the Cavaliers to get the series back to Cleveland. The only consensus seems to be that, whether or not the Cavaliers win tonight, the championship will belong to the Warriors.
That’s sound logic, but fans don’t have to be logical. Fans find reasons to support their teams no matter what. I have yet to recap a Cavalier loss in this year’s playoffs, and I don’t plan on starting now. Go Cavs.
Cheers CtB. Glad we at least won one in CA. No matter what happens, I’m glad we pushed it to 6. Lets say we push it to 7. Go Cavs.
Honestly…the Cavs were so sensational on defense for three quarters. All those fourth quarter misses were a result of the Warriors being out of rhythm. We hounded them to death…even our fourth quarter lapses were because we were so aggressive trapping…
Draymond will make a bit of difference. But Cleveland had a heartbreaker in game 6 last year. This year we take it to 7
Fingers crossed for a win and yet another Donkey flagrant… Wouldn’t care one bit about all those who say we were lucky. Not one damn bit.
https://twitter.com/ayeshacurry/status/742567393277267969
I can’t even handle this. How is she…what is she seeing?! The Warriors (verajao included) got away with about half of what they normally do. Know what the other half consists of? Draymond.
Was just watching part of this game again….I don’t believe that Klay *doesn’t* travel on any drive he does…he shuffles or slides his feet every time. It’s incredible. Never gets called.
Go ahead talk more. Oh and I encourage Mo Speights, Klay and his father to chime in too. Our team needs that.
Klay’s dad is a jacka$$. I remember his playing days. He was a scrub. He wouldn’t see the court in today’s game. His calling out LBJ was hilarious.
Ayesha Curry complaining about the refs on twitter…yeah, that’s about her speed
Heh. For what. Calling the ball out of bounds when it’s not?
Apparently because they lost.
I am envious of those lucky enough to attend Game 6.
Me too. Trying to Guage interest in a CtB meet up at a bar for Thursday.
Thing is that Irving and James attacked a lot. This wasn’t just jump shots. Green being out was a big part of that.
Agree, he is a huge key to their d. Bogut going out also meant they lost their only other rim protector. Given how that injury looked I wouldn’t be surprised if he was out for game 6.
My wife had a Cols moment. She was like, “You were all worried that LeBron was ignoring his teammates , when all he needed to do was go out there and dominate.”
So is there a story behind your handle, hotpantsbreakdown?
Actually , I wanna hear yours!
I am the “Anti Evil Genius”
I think Bogut going down was the decider. No interior presence after that.
Lebron’s performance from deep was Fool’s Gold. Will need more attacking and dishing in Game 6
He still attacked. He wasn’t settling for jumpers. But if they gave it to him he didn’t force it to the rim
But he atracked plenty.
I’d much rather shots in rhythm and not holding forever. It was shoot, drive, or Move the ball for the most part. Warriors dared him to shoot and he did. I only counted one or two forced shots.
That was a really fun game to watch
For me, that game had the most screams at the tv per minute of any game this season.
Warriors, Tale of Two Halves
1st Half:
Points: 61
Field Goals: 20/43 = 46.5%
3 Point FG: 11/21= 52.4%
2nd Half:
Points: 36
Field Goals: 12/45 = 26.7%
3 Point F: 3/21 = 14,3%
Wow 27 percent is crazy! Cavs contested well at the rim and james really had some huge recovery blocks/contests/steals in transition and halfcourt.
True, but remember they were missing everything they put up for like the last 4 minutes of the game….I’m sure that torpedoed their FG%. A lot of those were very makeable shots.
Yeah no doubt, but I thought we contested well at the rim tonight in the fourth and actually contested really well both on the perimeter and paint in the third.
Yeah, mostly agree, better than last game for sure
Cavs need the same physicality in Game 6. Bait Green the entire game. Get tangled up with him, trip him, whatever. Either he’ll lose it or he’ll play worse by holding back. Bust Steph when he waltzes through the lane. Bump Klay when he drives so he has to keep his head down. Keep roughing them up. The Warriors talked like they wanted this type of series, but really they just wanted to chirp once they thought it was over. Just get it to Game 7.
The first quarter was key. Warriors came out hot and Cavs came out nervous. But they stuck with it.
Amazing game by Klay.
How much money did Barnes cost himself that game.
Probably none. He’s going to get painfully overpaid, probably by the Warriors.
What happened to Bogut?
Some knee injury, looked like a hyperextension to me, but I think they are calling it a sprain. Looked very painful.
MRI tomorrow. He went up for a block on JR, they collided, he landed awkwardly and JR’s momentum carried him into Bogut’s leg.
Thought the hacka-thompson really was huge for Cleveland, allowing them to rest on offense.
I thought the same thing. Really helped Lezbron.
Yeah, odd choice by Kerr. Clearly he didn’t have faith in his defense.
I agree, I wondered if Kerr was doing it to see if he could get Bogut back….started doing it right after his injury…but worked well for Cavs
A lot of Warrior players looked like they had hurt feelings as they walked off the floor…
Once again. Best defensive game from LeBron I’ve ever seen.
He was 2007 LeBron again, and rebounded like a fiend.
He led them in rebounding last playoffs too I think. But his rim protection tonight was amazing.
Yes. He was tremendous protecting rim. And guarded Curry at points.
Kyrie 143 pts 28.6 ppg
Curry 111 pts 22.1 ppg
Nice.
I still worry G1 and G2 will haunt us in this series. We didn’t really realize the physicality we needed until G3. Since then, its been a dog fight.
Yes. Game one especially. That was ripe for stealing.
Completely agree. Had a late 3Q lead and just fell apart + Warriors bench killed us. We need that from our bench in Game 6.
I think the added defensive pressure wore on the Warriors tonight. Without Draymond to contest in the middle all night, there was extra effort required from the other guys, and by the 4th they had lost their edge.
Agreed.
They should interview Bray in his A’s luxury box: “Hey Bray, you cost your team a game purely due to your own idiocy and immaturity….how does that feel?”
Haha.
Insert EG meme..
Yes Gold Star talk from NBATV and Fox Ohio!!!
Lebron’s total game tonight (offense, defense, leadership, etc.) was insane. And Kyrie continues to be a better two way player than Steph in this series. Obviously, he is NOT better than Steph, but the fact that he can take it to that level is something to behold.
G6 will be different with Draymond “Low Blow” Green, though.
Yeah, but at least it is in Cleveland. Gives us a shot even if we don’t get all time performances again.
Agree. Its a great opportunity.
This game goes to show that GS is Green’s team. Curry is great, but without the defensive versatility of Green, Golden State is just a great but soft jumpshooting team. Now, if only he could commit a flagrant before the start of game 6.
Yes. Curry is tremendous, but doesn’t carry the same burden as some other stars because Green and Klay cover his biggest liability (defense/size). Interesting how much worse they are without Green. My buddy who is a Ws fan says the same thing — Green is the most important guy in his eyes.
Green is the heart and brains of that team and they know it. Imo he is the Head of the Snake.
Exactly, Curry is a great shooter but Donkey Green does all the dirty job. Even Klay has to be the guy to defend the top scoring guard on the opposing team.
Curry is a great shooter but he’s not the MVP of that team.
I didnt even notice we had 16 turnovers, I guess when you shoot 53% that helps.. Warriors shot 36%.
They had 8 turnovers in the first quarter, settled down after that.
I would love to know the averages in this series from Kyrie vs Curry
Before tonight Curry was averaging 21, 5, and 4 with shooting splits of 43, 44, and 92%. Steph had a 108 offensive rating and 109 defensive rating. Kyrie was averaging 25, 3.5, and 4 on shooting splits of 42, 30,and 90%. Kyrie had a 112 offensive rating and 114 defensive rating. Obviously the numbers will look pretty different tomorrow.
https://twitter.com/WindhorstESPN/status/742564842091876353
I hope he could have one more road win this finals.
It’s a wonderful night. Anyone else notice JR sitting with the coaches at one point late in the game lol?
Probably doesn’t need to be said but tonight is exhibit “A” on why you don’t trade Kyrie.
It needs to be said.
Around here, it always needs to be said. Lots of silly Kyrie talk in these parts. Kyrie is the truth. 24 years old.
24 years old being the key words. Curry didn’t go bananas til he was 27.
Yeah. Kyrie has mamba blood since day one.
Agreed. He hasn’t reached his full potential and he can give you games like this now.
It’s great that he responded to our criticism.
Haha. Kyrie reading CtB comment section! I love the image of that.
Best defensive game from LeBron I’ve eve seen.
LeBron making a final countdown reference?
Hell yes, what an effort. Kyrie and LBJ put in two all time great finals performances. At least one more game!!!
On Kyrie …… Just remembering how he loves the Bright Lights!!! Oh Yeah!!
Whelp we know they have heart.
True that, every warriors run was answered. They didn’t buckle. This game reminded me of game 5 in detroit in 2007 and Kyrie’s 55 against the spurs.
Even if Cavs lose game 6, glad they didn’t lose this one. Screw those clowns at Oracle.
Awesom Win!!!!!
A 13-point 4th quarter for the Warriors
Go sit on it Klay
listen to SVG on officiating. He is praising them …. He was scorching them over Varejao.. You know, there is no way Cavs would get those calls if Andy was still a Cav.
McRae looking sharp in pinstripes…
Great defense. Good adjustment by Lie to play Mo instead of Delly.
Good decision to play Mo Williams over Delly in garbage time?
He’s trolling.
He should play Mo over Kyrie….Mo is amazing
Mo is amazing??? Did I miss him scoring? Was my eyes closed??
I’m joking…..
Yeah can’t imagine we win without that major move.
How can you NOT praise Kyrie & Lebron instead? Man, I’m sitting back impressed by them not by back up point guards. Just sayin
KLove should eat glass if he can’t score in the post he has to show up some how some way.
Defense and rebounding. He was there.
RJ coaching up JR on the bench…
Cavs need to come out strong and not have it be a close game in Game 6, my heart cant do it and I dont want GSW win on our floor again
Lebron must of thought of the Loud Boos , “Just like ole times when I played with Heat”
He did seem to feed off of that crap
The team’s first M.O next game should be bait Draymond into anothe flagrant. Time to use those acting skills into play.
Cavs have to be better on offense next game. Dray will be back and angry. Big big big props for getting it done tonight.
They shot over 50%. If you mean someone besides LeBron and Kyrie (cough Kevin Love) needs to show up offensively then I agree.
It was ky and bron’s night.
Basketball is so much more enjoyable when Draymond Green isn’t involved.
This
Yes it is
Think Kyrie will make it to All Stars next yr!!
If Bogut suffered a serious injury, that means Kerr has to start his death lineup. More minutes, wear and tear. Does this give the Cavs an advantage?
If anything, one less body at the rim which can only help LBJ/Kyrie. TT as well.
Great defensive effort by LeBron tonight.
Yeah, can’t remember the last time I’ve seen him have a chase down and there were multiple possessions he came over to alter a shot by going straight up
Lebron should tweet an emoji of a Blue Whale to Speights….since that’s what he looks like…
Hehe good one
Alright lets close this out, come on!!!
Well Kerr putting in his subs
The Cavs have opened up a 16-point lead with 3:22 left, and some Warriors fans have started to make their way out of Oracle Arena.
These Fans aint loyal
I really thought we had a good chance to win without Draymond and then Bogut went down… But WOW on Kyrie and Lebron!!!
Are we going to see hackaTT again in the final minute?
Well LeBron now you know what you got to do the rest of the series. I don’t want to see you hesitate next game.