The way they win a game or two is that BOS starts settling for jumpers, they miss shots, and the Cavs get out in transition. But you're basically right - the Cs have more, better players at this point and if that doesn't change, the Cs should be able to win the series.Whats the magic adjustment that turns the Cavs younger and more athletic, and more able to defend a more talented, younger and athletic team, that seems far more dedicated to the task of playing post-season basketball?
And do it for 4 of the next 5 games?
I'm not seeing it, other than a massive NBA bag-job.
Posted this somewhere else but Windhorst has a piece that says what you are saying and (at least it seems to me) starts preparing OH for the eventual move.I think an underrated part of this series is the dynamic between LeBron the GM and LeBron the player. Cleveland decimated its chances at future contention and rebuild (post-James) by letting him dictate his supporting cast, and look where it got them. I'm not saying this series is over, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see this still go 7 games, but the irony of his super-saiyan-like performance in a game where they lose handily isn't lost on me when considering that this is almost entirely his doing. He can pout all he wants, but this is the cast he chose, and it's pretty obvious he chose poorly.
This is why I would be surprised if he stayed in CLE after this season. They're in cap hell, with next to zero valuable assets, and project to be luxury tax repeaters again next season. If this cast isn't getting it done now, there is no one walking through that door to make sure they improve going forward.
I agree that they should be encouraged but I don't know how far that goes. The MIL series changed when Henson went down and Maker started hitting some shots from outside as that gave MIL spacing and an ability to switch defensively. MIL theoretically has the size and kind of the switchability that works in the NBA right now with Antetokounmpo, Bledsoe, Brogdan, Middleton, Maker, and Parker (if someone can get him to start to play defense).I think Milwaukee has to be kind of encouraged right now.
Oh come on. Lebron had the much smaller Rozier on him during the play. Of course he was going to go inside on him and him doing so has nothing to do with playing hero ballOne thing that’s worth noting about Lebron getting Tatum’s shoulder in the jaw is that these are the kinds of injuries that happen when you resort to hero ball and take the ball inside because your teammates are letting you down.
That's really not what Windhorst is saying at all and the whole "LeBron the GM!!!" thing is lazy and stupid. Even where Windhorst talks about the GM, it's about Griffin's inability to work with Gilbert, and it's not like Gilbert and LeBron are buddy buddy.Posted this somewhere else but Windhorst has a piece that says what you are saying and (at least it seems to me) starts preparing OH for the eventual move.
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23517495/lebron-james-cleveland-cavaliers-facing-boston-celtics-organizational-fatigue-nba
It's really amazing. They got the #1 pick the year LeBron came out, had a great run with him, then he goes on a 4 year vacation to South Beach, they get the #1 pick again twice, then LeBron comes back and basically what they have to show for it is LeBron (which obviously has been a slamming success), only 1 championship, Kevin Love and the #8 pick in the 2018 draft.As unsatisfying as it may be, people may just need to accept the fact that the Cavs are, and have been, with and without LeBron, one of the worst run franchises in the NBA. Even when they get competent management, Gilbert manages to drive them off.
They got the # 1 pick three times in James absence, right? Kyrie, Bennett, WigginsIt's really amazing. They got the #1 pick the year LeBron came out, had a great run with him, then he goes on a 4 year vacation to South Beach, they get the #1 pick again twice, then LeBron comes back and basically what they have to show for it is LeBron (which obviously has been a slamming success), only 1 championship, Kevin Love and the #8 pick in the 2018 draft.
Yes. The Cavs mentally checked out during the 4th quarter when the game wasn't out of reach yet. At one point, they were literally just standing around and watching the Celtics play like the Globetrotters vs. the Washington Generals. I haven't seen a team that had so obviously given up like that in a while. It won't take much to break them again.You have to think if the Celtics hit them with a big run in the first half Saturday, the Cavs will mentally check out the rest of that game and not even bother to show up Monday.
I mean they had a really good young player on the roster when James arrived, and they declined to pick up Boozer's option and let him go to free agency when they didn't have the cap space to sign him to anything but an MLE deal. Paxson (rightfully) got fired for that (amongst other egregious miscues) and they replaced him with the utterly overrated Danny Ferry.It's really amazing. They got the #1 pick the year LeBron came out, had a great run with him, then he goes on a 4 year vacation to South Beach, they get the #1 pick again twice, then LeBron comes back and basically what they have to show for it is LeBron (which obviously has been a slamming success), only 1 championship, Kevin Love and the #8 pick in the 2018 draft.
Yep, I want nothing to do with a game 7. Stomp on their souls in game 3 and/or 4 and end this before it even gets to game 6. You get the sense that Cleveland thinks they are outgunned right now and injecting them with confidence by dropping a couple turds in Cleveland is the last thing we need.As much as I like the confidence, I'll come at this another way.
The Celtics need to take 1 in Cleveland. Does anyone really want to see Lebron and all that comes with him - superhuman powers, referees - in game 7?
I love this team, and they've come up big seemingly every time they face adversity, but that's not a pressure i want to see our young team facing.
3. Spot on. The media will ignore LBJ defensive lapse and hype the 42pts. triple-double. Lebron didn't rotate several times in the 2nd half, especially that one where Rozier had several seconds to line up the 3pointer late in the 3rd quarter Celts up 4pts. Van Gundy came really close to calling out the King but knew better than risk his job behind the mic.3. I bet LeBron thinks that one chasedown block will buy him another few days of talking heads saying he's a good defender. And he may be right.
5. Abdel Nader is an anagram for "Band Leader."
This is a very well-written and thoughtful piece comparing the Celtics and Cavs organizations - with some GS Warriors thrown in - and I'd encourage everyone to read it.Posted this somewhere else but Windhorst has a piece that says what you are saying and (at least it seems to me) starts preparing OH for the eventual move.
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23517495/lebron-james-cleveland-cavaliers-facing-boston-celtics-organizational-fatigue-nba
Yes, I obviously agree with this conservative viewpoint, and I also think it's compatible with what I was saying, which is only that IF - and it's a fairly big "if" - we come out and have a superb first half in Game 3, the series might end swiftly.As much as I like the confidence, I'll come at this another way.
The Celtics need to take 1 in Cleveland. Does anyone really want to see Lebron and all that comes with him - superhuman powers, referees - in game 7?
I love this team, and they've come up big seemingly every time they face adversity, but that's not a pressure i want to see our young team facing.
In a way I don't think people appreciate just how far ahead of the curve Ainge/Stevens were. Boston basically constructed the exact roster you need to flourish in the pace & space era, while having the sort of quality young depth you need to survive the constant stream of 100 game seasons. They're basically the best management team in the NBA and all they have to show for it, accolade wise, is Ainge's Executive of the Year award a decade ago.This is a very well-written and thoughtful piece comparing the Celtics and Cavs organizations - with some GS Warriors thrown in - and I'd encourage everyone to read it.
I think the underlying points are basically the same between Windhorst's article and the post to which I was referring. I personally don't try to analyze to what extent LBJ is or is not the GM so I skipped over that part of the post. I'm not even sure why it's important.That's really not what Windhorst is saying at all and the whole "LeBron the GM!!!" thing is lazy and stupid. Even where Windhorst talks about the GM, it's about Griffin's inability to work with Gilbert, and it's not like Gilbert and LeBron are buddy buddy.
The real issue is that if you have a top five all time player you have to think about winning now, not rebuilding. I mean the whole "draft and develop young talent!!!" thing sounds great, but when you're drafting in the 20s every year you pretty much almost never get guys that aren't roleplayers of varying quality. Even the Spurs had to trade into the top half of the draft to grab their latest franchise player. With the low firsts they've basically produced bench depth. For every Jimmy Butler there are about 20 JR Giddens.
And then there's the reality that all time greats take you on deep playoff runs every year, so you need to plan on a series of 100 game seasons. Those wear on a team. Especially a veteran one. So there's always finding the right balance between young roleplayers to absorb the beating and vet stars.
As unsatisfying as it may be, people may just need to accept the fact that the Cavs are, and have been, with and without LeBron, one of the worst run franchises in the NBA. Even when they get competent management, Gilbert manages to drive them off.
This summer James will leave, and Koby Altman eventually will, too (despite his struggles here I think he has a bright future in the NBA, provided he escapes Cleveland). And in ten years time some of us will be pointing out that they're still the Kings East, even though James will be long retired and that crutch for their ineptitude will be gone.
It's 2-0 with two very convincing Celtics wins. Let's calm down with the, this is going 7 games panic attack. Same as the Philly series where Game 5 was apparently "must win" for the Celtics, despite controlling the series.As much as I like the confidence, I'll come at this another way.
The Celtics need to take 1 in Cleveland. Does anyone really want to see Lebron and all that comes with him - superhuman powers, referees - in game 7?
I love this team, and they've come up big seemingly every time they face adversity, but that's not a pressure i want to see our young team facing.
The more interesting scenario is one where Grant doesn't draft a bunch of terrible players. Bennett still can't get an NBA gig because he just isn't that good.CLE managed to land LBJ and then a bunch of decisions - and spent a boatload of money - trying to win a championship. So in one sense, they were successful. However, I said it at the time of the Love trade, the alternative universe where CLE keeps Wiggins and Bennett and sees what they can do - and more importantly, doesn't cap itself out virtually from Day 1 - is a way more interesting universe and I wonder if they would have won additional championship(s) as well.
Panic attack? Thats one way to interpret what I wrote. If we come back to Boston 2-2 in the series, I assume you'll be of the same mindset?It's 2-0 with two very convincing Celtics wins. Let's calm down with the, this is going 7 games panic attack. Same as the Philly series where Game 5 was apparently "must win" for the Celtics, despite controlling the series.
Hard disagree.Hate to say it, but the hit he took was the result of reckless conduct by Tatum. He had no real shot at stealing the ball, but a collision was certain. If the shoe had been on the other foot, we'd be screaming for a technical at least, maybe a suspension.
It speaks to how great of a player LeBron James is (and how weak the East is) that his team, which has enormous, obvious flaws and was not a very good regular season team in a weak conference filled with tankers, was still picked as a favorite to advance to the finals simply because of his presence on a team. He's an amazing player, but he isn't a miracle worker.For a while now I've been wondering if the league in general and the Celtics in particular should be afraid of playoff-LeBron. I think the answer is "yes", but with the qualification that they shouldn't be afraid of the playoff-Cavs. Obviously Cleveland isn't out of this series yet and it'll suck if they beat the Celtics in 6 or 7, but I believe they are not good enough to to win the series if the Celtics continue to play well.
While I agree with your take, Mike Breen and Brian Windhorst would like a word with you for blaspheming.It speaks to how great of a player LeBron James is (and how weak the East is) that his team, which has enormous, obvious flaws and was not a very good regular season team in a weak conference filled with tankers, was still picked as a favorite to advance to the finals simply because of his presence on a team. He's an amazing player, but he isn't a miracle worker.
Basically for Cleveland it was two and a half guys.
Yep. Tatum got the quick hook in the second half.I'd expect Tatum to come off the bench if the Cavs start the same group as game 2. It was pretty clear that our lineup of Rozier, Brown, Morris, Al, Baynes was the must effective vs them. In the first quarter the Celtics had to make a few changes on matchups to try to figure out a way to slow down the Cavs. In the 2nd half Brad tried to use those changes, but it wasn't working so after 2 minutes he quickly pivoted and sat Tatum for Baynes. I also like Tatum coming off the bench vs the Cavs as he can dominate their bench.
I expect JR to cheap shot someone else before all is said and done, since he got away with this one.No further discipline for JR Smith in regards to the Horford dirty play.
I'm with Red, no hand-wringing here. Celtics in 5.It's 2-0 with two very convincing Celtics wins. Let's calm down with the, this is going 7 games panic attack. Same as the Philly series where Game 5 was apparently "must win" for the Celtics, despite controlling the series.
Thanks for posting this, I almost forgot about that game given how many crazy comebacks this team has had. I was at the Houston game. This team can hang with any team and they’ve grown a lot throughout the year, particularly the last few weeks. Should be fascinating to see it play out.Sit back and enjoy this vid. Go to the 1:36 mark (Kyrie sits) and see who is on the court for the Celtics when they make their charge down 16pts.
4D-chess, maaaaaaaaan!I'm with Red, no hand-wringing here. Celtics in 5.
My mind is drifting to Rockets vs Warriors tonight.
Sit back and enjoy this vid. Go to the 1:36 mark (Kyrie sits) and see who is on the court for the Celtics when they make their charge down 16pts.
And the little children shall lead them.Brown is shooting 54.5 percent in the clutch this postseason, right behind Terry Rozier and Jayson Tatum for the best mark on the team.
At least in Game 2 (at home), they seemed mentally strong enough to internalize the fact that each of Lebron's baskets only counted for 2 or 3 points, no matter how many, or how spectacular, and the Celtics just continued to go about their business on offense and defense. That will be especially important if, say, JRSmith hits a 3 early and the fans take their pants off. The best answer is to go down and abuse Korver in the paint.The biggest key in game 3 for the Celtics is to keep attacking the paint against the punchless Cavs' defense. At least early on. You figure the big emotional Cleveland "defending the castle" run is probably going to happen pretty early in game 3. The Cavs role players can rain 3 pointers and score on a bunch of LeBron drives....but if the C's keep attacking the porous defense on the other end, they can stay right within striking distance.
You can totally see a scenario not too dissimilar from game 2 where the Cavs have this great offensive first half with the crowd behind them, but somehow they look up and they are only up 6-8 points. In game 2, you could feel the Cavs were in trouble when they were only up 7 at the half and LeBron was already looking a bit gassed....even before the Tatum collision.
I think it goes back to what some of us mentioned prior to game 1 and also got fooled by:One of the reasons I was for the KI trade because the things he did to the Cs in Game 4 of last year's finals can't be done by many people on the planet (i.e., score when the entire defense is geared towards stopping him) and is really important in the playoffs.
This article breaks down why the Cavs miss KI so much. For example:
When Irving and James shared the court during the 2017 NBA playoffs, the Cavaliers scored 124.9 points per 100 possessions. This year, that offensive rating has dropped to 109.8 with James on the court and declines to 94.4 during the 99 minutes James has been on the bench. Sure, it’s a small sample size, but that offensive efficiency without James is worse than what we saw from the Phoenix Suns.All these "pundits" who picked the Cavs in 5 - I don't know what game they are looking at. It's so clear that the Cs are a lot better than last year and the Cavs are a lot worse. I don't know how that translates into a CLE romp.
It's definitely recency bias. It's the only explanation as to why so many (myself included) picked Cleveland to win the series. James is obviously a part of it. But to compare where the teams are at the start of this series to where they were last year, it should have been more noticeable.I think it goes back to what some of us mentioned prior to game 1 and also got fooled by:
Toronto shit their pants in historic fashion.
If the Pacers series had been round 2 instead, I think many would have been picking the C's.
I think it was apparent in the second half of Game 1 of the season. Weak defense and insufficient help for Lebron.I think it goes back to what some of us mentioned prior to game 1 and also got fooled by:
Toronto shit their pants in historic fashion.
If the Pacers series had been round 2 instead, I think many would have been picking the C's.
Boozer totally f'ed them on that. They had a gentleman's agreement and he backed out of it.I mean they had a really good young player on the roster when James arrived, and they declined to pick up Boozer's option and let him go to free agency when they didn't have the cap space to sign him to anything but an MLE deal. Paxson (rightfully) got fired for that (amongst other egregious miscues) and they replaced him with the utterly overrated Danny Ferry.
.