The 2017 NBA Playoffs: This Is A Recording

[HedleyLamarr]

I also wasn't talking with you.  DG was under the impression that some posts about the fawning over LeBron didn't exist.

 

But, since you want in, let's see if these stats are more the product of the teams simply performing better at home or if there's actual strategy taking place.  I'm leaning towards the former.

[Lights Out]

1 hour ago, HedleyLamarr said:

I also wasn't talking with you.  DG was under the impression that some posts about the fawning over LeBron didn't exist.

 

But, since you want in, let's see if these stats are more the product of the teams simply performing better at home or if there's actual strategy taking place.  I'm leaning towards the former.

You quoted my post, so what other impression was I supposed to get?

 

Playing at home definitely has an effect, but the trends I cited apply to all four games of the series so far. I would also argue that there is actual strategy taking place. 

 

The fact that the Cavs have kept increasing their number of passes per possession and secondary assists each game shows that they've been adjusting their approach on offense. Instead of relying on isoball, which isn't going to work against this Warriors defense, they're moving the ball more.

 

If you've been paying attention, you might have noticed that the Cavs have started using more unconventional lineups. Most notably, since Game 2, they've been giving LeBron some minutes at the 5. They tested this out with great success against the Celtics in the ECF, and it doesn't seem like Kerr has an answer for it yet. Last game, he kept Zaza out there to try to guard LeBron in that lineup with predictable results.

 

The Cavs have also made some adjustments on defense. Most notably, they're trapping Curry harder and playing him a lot more physically, which he tends to struggle against. They've done a good job of getting Kyrie off Curry and forcing the ball out of Curry's hands - either by getting turnovers or by making him pass it and then switching and clogging up the passing lanes to ensure he doesn't get the ball back. Even with Durant on their team now, the Warriors' offense isn't quite as hard to defend as it normally is when Curry isn't in his proper rhythm. Durant is getting all the hype and the accolades, but Curry is still the engine that makes the Warriors' offense go.

 

If the Cavs keep playing the way they've been playing, I don't see why Game 5 shouldn't at least be competitive. And if the Cavs win, it's officially a series again.

[DG_ThenNowForever]

2 hours ago, HedleyLamarr said:

I also wasn't talking with you.  DG was under the impression that some posts about the fawning over LeBron didn't exist.

 

But, since you want in, let's see if these stats are more the product of the teams simply performing better at home or if there's actual strategy taking place.  I'm leaning towards the former.

 

Look. When you use words like "fawning" and "groin-riding," you're dismissing otherwise reasonable posts and making it much easier for people to dismiss you. It's unnecessarily combative language. Again, it's easier to debate the cartoon version of what you think people say, but it's annoying.

[FiddySicks]

7 hours ago, crashcarson15 said:

Of course, I’d contest the Cavs shooting below 30 percent from 3-point range in the first three games of the series was more of an anomaly than the shooting performance Friday. Between the playoffs and regular season, the Cavs shot better than .533 from deep seven times; they shot .276 and .273 back-to-back in 2 and 3, despite doing that or worse just 11 times before.

 

It’s an 11th percentile performance immediately followed by a 10th percentile one; to me, that’s more unsustainable than a single 93rd percentile one.

 

I dunno about that one. The Cavs shot at around 38% from three as a team this year. That's a great number. In fact, that's pretty fantastic. In this game they were hitting threes at nearly a 54% clip. Like you said, it's not unheard of, but that's not really a normal game at all.

[dont care]

4 hours ago, Bucfan56 said:

 

I dunno about that one. The Cavs shot at around 38% from three as a team this year. That's a great number. In fact, that's pretty fantastic. In this game they were hitting threes at nearly a 54% clip. Like you said, it's not unheard of, but that's not really a normal game at all.

For most of the year I won't say they weren't trying but they weren't putting their best effort, come playoff time their shooting drastically improved and that is a more true gauge of what the Cavs can do when they are trying.

[DG_ThenNowForever]

For the record, I don't think the Cavs will win tomorrow night. But they have shot the lights out during the playoffs until games 1 and 2 in the Finals and I don't think we should be surprised if they regain their shooting touch. Especially now that it looks like TT found a way to get his head out of his ass and there's an opportunity for second chance shots again.

[CLEstones]

11 hours ago, DG_Now said:

For the record, I don't think the Cavs will win tomorrow night. But they have shot the lights out during the playoffs until games 1 and 2 in the Finals and I don't think we should be surprised if they regain their shooting touch. Especially now that it looks like TT found a way to get his head out of his ass and there's an opportunity for second chance shots again.

 

Somewhere in the first quarter, LeBron hit 2 consecutive free throws and TT had a rebound and a put back (he actually made the box score).  I told the Golden State fans that it might just be our night.

[EvilChameleon]

So that was a fun first quarter.

[FinsUp1214]

8 minutes ago, Kaz said:

Mark Jackson is the Phil Simms of the NBA; I wish they'd replace him with someone who is slightly less of a jackass, like maybe Charles Barkley or Skip Bayless

 

No no no. He'd pick the Cowboys to win and things would get awkward.

[Rockstar Matt]

Even among Cowboys fans, Skip Bayless is hated.

[EvilChameleon]

Cavaliers punched the Warriors in the gut in the 1st quarter. Warriors laughed it off like Mike Tyson.

[dfwabel]

Uh oh.

[FiddySicks]

Dubs just went Super Saiyan. Erased an 8 point deficit and took a 12 point lead in the time it took me sneeze. 

[dont care]

well you tried to make this a fun series cavs, see you next year

[BlackBolt3]

28 minutes ago, Kaz said:

Mark Jackson is the Phil Simms of the NBA; I wish they'd replace him with someone who is slightly less of a jackass, like maybe Charles Barkley or Skip Bayless

I actually like Mark Jackson, but I think they should permit him for calling Warriors games. No one should be forced to watch the employer that fired you succeed.

[OnWis97]

11 minutes ago, dont care said:

well you tried to make this a fun series cavs, see you next year

We are probably five years from there being a next year.

[crashcarson15]

remember when kevin durant committed what was a flagrant foul friday night for what should have been his third foul? that was neat

[EvilChameleon]

Not an ideal halftime score.

[FiddySicks]

1 minute ago, EvilChameleon said:

Not an ideal halftime score.

 

Could've been worse. Those two final threes were BIG. 

[MJWalker45]

24 minutes ago, crashcarson15 said:

remember when kevin durant committed what was a flagrant foul friday night for what should have been his third foul? that was neat

Peppridge Farms remembers . . . 

 

As far as 5 years of this. . . Curry, Green and Thompson will want to get paid as well as Durant and LeBron, that means someone will be moving. You could say Green doesn't do enough to warrant a big check but when Timofoy Movgov is getting $20 million a year, Green will expect to get paid better than him. 3 superstars is a maintainable thing, 4 superstars for more than 2-3 years is not, even with the Bird exemptions owners still have to decide what's too much to pay in luxury taxes.