NBA Finals Discussion Thread

[imi26dude]

Hello everyone. Just restarting this discussion thread due to comments that were made and seen as personal attacks. This is a reminder that trolling and personal attacks will not be tolerated and will face consequences moving forward.

Please keep the discussion clean, fun and light-hearted. The focus here should be discussing the series between the Warriors and Cavaliers and nothing more. If you would like to discuss anything else related to the hierarchy specific players in the context of all-time history of the game or whatnot, please utilize other threads or start another discussion thread.

Enjoy!

[WilyWestbrook0]

Game one was obviously the stuff of legend and tragedy; so much has been written and said already that I don't need to rehash it.

So far at halftime in game two, especially after a poor second quarter, the Cavs are looking like they just can't keep up anymore. James hasn't been his usual dominant self, and Love has been atrocious. Love started out 2 of 5 and looked okay, but then he missed five straight shots and got blocked on two of them. He is looking like he's in slow motion now while the Warriors are running him out of the building. Very similar to last year. Just don't think the guy can compete in the modern game's pace. He needed a system like he had in Minnesota and an era where his weaknesses were minimized. Nowadays, he can't even handle being a second option against fast elite teams like Golden State. He can look good in a couple or so games a series, but most of the time, he's out of his league. It's sad as a fan, but I have to admit it.

[WilyWestbrook0]

LOL. I write that, and Love goes crazy in the third, hitting all his shots, and already has a 20/10 game before the fourth quarter. LeBron also a great third, looking like the dominant LeBron again -- just needs two more rebounds for a triple-double. For once, the Cavs do well in that quarter. Still, Golden State hit a lot of their shots, too, and they remain up ten. I'm simply happy the Cavs are giving so much of an effort. Golden State is clearly the more talented team, but the Cavs refuse to be embarrassed. A lot of fight in the team.

[pwaldo]

I didn't watch the game by why didn't Lue call a time out after Smith got the rebound?

[WilyWestbrook0]

Well, that was a competitive game...for awhile. Curry's being Curry now, hitting the most unbelievable and difficult threes.

[Jameis1of1]

I didn't watch the game by why didn't Lue call a time out after Smith got the rebound?

Because he's Ty Lue ...

[Jameis1of1]

LeBron played like his normal Jordan/Magic/Bird/Malone self AND Love played great AND George Hill played very well ... and the Cavs still got smoked.

The Warriors are just on a whole other level ... no matter what happens in this series, I've got to believe LeBron is gone unless the Cavs can trade for Kawhi will retaining Love ... the Cavs roster is garbage.

As for the Warriors ... I don't see anyone in the West beating them for the next few years at least, providing they stick together and stay healthy.

As for this game ... JaVale McGee and Shaun Livingston were remarkable ... 11-11 from the field for 22 points ... crazy. McGee always had all-star potential and Livingston can score whenever he wants but is so unselfish ... he's basically a perfect role player and I enjoy watching him play and root for him as he had Penny Hardaway potential before his gruesome injury.

[WilyWestbrook0]

Hood will play more in game three:

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/2...s-golden-state

I've been critical of Lue a lot, but I can see his reasoning behind this decision. Clarkson, Smith, and even Korver have been awful, so why not? Hood can shoot and score, and he has the height, athleticism, and wingspan to help out at times on defense against Durant. If he plays well, perhaps the Cavs can take at least one at home. I don't think they will necessarily get swept like so many are thinking. They came so close in game one, and I don't see Curry -- as amazing as he is -- having another record-breaking nine three-point game like he did in game two. Cavs can still save themselves from embarrassment in this series.

[Jameis1of1]

Much of the media was killing LeBron and saying he acted like a diva before the Game 1 OT and that he wasn't being a leader ... that's now been revealed to be completely false and yet another example of the media running with a false narrative ... per the norm.

LeBron said the reason he grabbed his head and was shown to be so upset on the sideline is because he asked T-Lue if the Cavs had still had a timeout left when he called one during regulation (which the refs ignored) after J.R. Smith insanely started running out to the 3-point line after grabbing George Hill's missed F.T., and Lue told him that yes, they still had a timeout. LeBron was then beside himself and even more disgusted with the refs stealing that game from the Cavs.

This can all easily be confirmed by simply watching the viral video of the entire incident, yet the media, after watching the video, just ran with a narrative that will generate click-bait and made it sound like LeBron was acting like a diva and mad at his teammates ... the media is sooooooo lazy, nonsensical and just downright dishonest whenever they feel like it, it really irks me.

It's not just Trump that has to deal with "fake news" being used against him all the time, it's athletes as well ... maybe LeBron should sympathize with Trump and the two should have a sit-down, rather than constantly degrade Trump in the media ...

[KCook24]

Game 3 is obviously crucial for the Cavs to win. Even though this is the fourth round of this, it's still pretty incredible to watch. I'm not a fan of LeBron's but what he is doing is nothing short of remarkable, and I really appreciate his talent. For Cleveland to win tonight, they're going to need more than 6 points from J.R. and Kyle Korver. I'm just cheering for a close game. Should be fun!