This thread has gone dead waiting for the final. 
NBA 2016-17
- Thread starter ArmchairCritic
- Start date
As weird as it is to say this....but, LeBron isn't the X factor in this series.
He could average 35/8/8 and the Cavs could still lose. Kyrie is going to have to win his battle against Steph (he won that last year) and Kevin Love is going to have to show up.
If those two perform like they have been so far in this postseason...Cavs have a really good chance. But, any sort of drop off from them and not even another MVP caliber series from LeBron will save them.
I do agree. LeBron's ability and mentality cannot be questioned. He will perform in the finals and he will be the best player on the court, that's pretty much a given. So, in that sense, it's not really going to be a difference-maker. That would be the rest of the Cavs team and how much they're going to contribute on top of that. James, as great as he is, cannot win on his own against that opponent.
Interesting discussion I picked up earlier - if the Warriors had to lose one player for the finals, who will they prefer, Draymond or Durant?
I don't know if you see me mad or not but I think KD. I think the Warriors' offense are already strong and when he got absent due to his injury in regular season they struggled to some extent till they returned to play with their original style from last season and returned to be as strong again so I think they can live without him. That doesn't mean KD is not important or not superstar, but if Warriors played with the same play style as last season, will still remain very strong.
Draymond is terrible offensively but he's very important in defense.
First bold, I agree with you 100%, especially if we are talking about for the finals starting tomorrow. The Dubs have played without KD for years and know how to do so. Without Draymond it would be uncharted territory and not a place to go the day before a big game.
Second bold, Draymond is a very good offensive player, he just chooses not to be because he believes he has better options and he really, really loves his defense. As an example, he scored 32 points, had 15 rebounds and 9 assists in last years' game 7 in an effort to redeem himself after his "brush" with LeBron. IMLTHO, he is the most unselfish player in all of basketball (@ZDwyr - are you listening Russ
). Bam.First bold, I agree with you 100%, especially if we are talking about for the finals starting tomorrow. The Dubs have played without KD for years and know how to do so. Without Draymond it would be uncharted territory and not a place to go the day before a big game.
Second bold, Draymond is a very good offensive player, he just chooses not to be because he believes he has better options and he really, really loves his defense. He scored 32 points, had 15 rebounds and 9 assists in last years' game 7 in an effort to redeem himself after his "brush" with LeBron. IMLTHO, he is the most unselfish player in all of basketball (@ZDwyr - are you listening Russ
Maybe I was unlucky then in the games that I saw for him
But away from his offensive contribution to the game, his defense is really important for his team especially in games like finals, so from a " team " point of view, I'll take him above KD.
Dubs would rather lose Durant - and in a heartbeat.
Draymond is not just the defensive lynch-pin but so much of their offense flows through him...they'd be a disaster without him. Durant brings a defensive presence and his scoring prowess is known to all...but, Draymond is irreplacable for the Dubs.
And that's before we get to the intangibles.
Draymond is not just the defensive lynch-pin but so much of their offense flows through him...they'd be a disaster without him. Durant brings a defensive presence and his scoring prowess is known to all...but, Draymond is irreplacable for the Dubs.
And that's before we get to the intangibles.
Green is their most important player.
I'm still on the fence on who will win the series, but I'll say this...if the Cavs steal Game 1 - I'll back them to win the series. And that's despite the very good record the Dubs have on the road.
Paul Pierce needs to STFU. Doc Rivers was running his mouth too...Doc needs to worry about his shitty team and not what KD is doing.
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...-golden-state-warriors-vs-cleveland-cavaliers
Necessary reading before the NBA Finals.
Necessary reading before the NBA Finals.
I'm not happy about all this damn rest. It's ridiculous that both teams have had to wait another week after the end of the Conference Finals before playing. Rest becomes rust pretty easily and both teams may have some. Golden State were awful in the first half of game 1 vs San Antonio and at least part of it was because they hadn't played in a week. At least this time both teams are in the same boat. Roll on tomorrow.
Warrior in six is my prediction.
And like last year, JR has to restrict Klay's influence and hit timely shots.
Doc and Pierce criticizing KD for forming a superteam is just so fecking hilarious.
Its like they have forgotten they were the first so called superteam.
That's not what he is saying there, it's about leaving another all star player and joining a team that overturned your 3-1 lead in the conference finals.
Tristan vs Draymond part three.
I disagree, though vaguely get the hypocrite thing a bit. But KG at 31 was on the slide(as were Allen and Pierce neither of whom were top 10 anyway at the time/possibly at any point), LeBron and KD were at their peaks, joining another player at their MVP credential peaks and in KD's case, joining the team who despite being runners up were already the favourites to win the next title. Being over 30 and moving to chase an elusive or additional ring has been vaguely common for decades. Barkley did it, MVP Moses joined Dr J who was to be fair marginally on the slide, Rodman was quite dominant when he joined the Bulls, Gary Payton did it TWICE....
Prediction time:
The Dubs are a fairly heavy favorite to win game 1 with the bookies but after such a long lay off for both teams I really believe this is a trap game for Golden State and as such is much closer to a "pick 'em" than it should be. If the Dubs win game 1, I see them taking the series in 5 games. If the Cavs win it, I still see the Dubs winning it all but in 6. If somehow the Cavs get it to a game 7, I would never bet against LeBron in a one off game for all the marbles so at that point I would take the Cavs in 7. (Talk about hedging one's bets).
As to finals MVP, I see LeBron being the best player on the court (hardly a surprise) but it is very, very rare as we all know for a player from the losing team to get it so if the Dubs win I'm going for KD. The way I see it is that there is no way the Cavs are going to let Steph Curry beat them and so they will double team him, send him through numerous screens, block him, essentially beat him up, to make somebody else step up. If Curry leads the team in scoring the Dubs are almost unbeatable this season, when it is somebody else, even though they still win the majority of the games, they are a little more vulnerable. I see KD having to step up and doing so.
The Dubs are a fairly heavy favorite to win game 1 with the bookies but after such a long lay off for both teams I really believe this is a trap game for Golden State and as such is much closer to a "pick 'em" than it should be. If the Dubs win game 1, I see them taking the series in 5 games. If the Cavs win it, I still see the Dubs winning it all but in 6. If somehow the Cavs get it to a game 7, I would never bet against LeBron in a one off game for all the marbles so at that point I would take the Cavs in 7. (Talk about hedging one's bets
).As to finals MVP, I see LeBron being the best player on the court (hardly a surprise) but it is very, very rare as we all know for a player from the losing team to get it so if the Dubs win I'm going for KD. The way I see it is that there is no way the Cavs are going to let Steph Curry beat them and so they will double team him, send him through numerous screens, block him, essentially beat him up, to make somebody else step up. If Curry leads the team in scoring the Dubs are almost unbeatable this season, when it is somebody else, even though they still win the majority of the games, they are a little more vulnerable. I see KD having to step up and doing so.
I really think this series is going to make up for all the blowouts we have had so far. I expect atleast a game to go to overtime.
Anyways, i think KD is going to be the leader for GSW. I doubt GSW will start making shots from the start, will probably be a slow start. But i still see them taking Game 1, mainly because of Durant.
Anyways, i think KD is going to be the leader for GSW. I doubt GSW will start making shots from the start, will probably be a slow start. But i still see them taking Game 1, mainly because of Durant.
Prediction time:
The Dubs are a fairly heavy favorite to win game 1 with the bookies but after such a long lay off for both teams I really believe this is a trap game for Golden State and as such is much closer to a "pick 'em" than it should be. If the Dubs win game 1, I see them taking the series in 5 games. If the Cavs win it, I still see the Dubs winning it all but in 6. If somehow the Cavs get it to a game 7, I would never bet against LeBron in a one off game for all the marbles so at that point I would take the Cavs in 7. (Talk about hedging one's bets
As to finals MVP, I see LeBron being the best player on the court (hardly a surprise) but it is very, very rare as we all know for a player from the losing team to get it so if the Dubs win I'm going for KD. The way I see it is that there is no way the Cavs are going to let Steph Curry beat them and so they will double team him, send him through numerous screens, block him, essentially beat him up, to make somebody else step up. If Curry leads the team in scoring the Dubs are almost unbeatable this season, when it is somebody else, even though they still win the majority of the games, they are a little more vulnerable. I see KD having to step up and doing so.
You seem extremely confident about a heavy win. If Cavs win tonight, Warriors would have to win twice in Cleveland to get it done in 6, while also winning all at home. That's a task.
Pierce is a moron. Just like McGrady, retired for a few minutes and already talking 'back in my days' shit as a TV pundit as if he's some tough throwback 80's generation player. Had to laugh when he got completely fooled by Green earlier this year despite proclaiming himself as some sort of trash talk expert. Garnett with his Area 51 is equally bad. Maybe they should stick to celebrating embarassing reunion parties...
Warriors are fecked if it gets to a Game 7 imo. I want a Game 7 but am rooting for the Warriors soooo...
Dubs in 6, with each team stealing a win away from home in the first four games.
Dubs in 6, with each team stealing a win away from home in the first four games.
Not at all. I think most of the games will be close and even though I am picking the Dubs to win I'm not counting out the Cavs at all. The longer the series goes the more chance I believe they have, culminating in me actually picking them in a game 7.
LeBron's was completely different situation anyway. Can't be compared at all to KD's.
As for KD, I understand the criticism he is getting. I myself was disappointed when he did that because they would have had a legit chance of beating the Warriors this year had he stayed with OKC. They should have defeated the Warriors last season as well if KD and Russ didn't play like idiots.
But, my point was Pierce being all alpha is just hilarious however. Yes, KG and Allen weren't at their peak but they were still amongst the Top-3 at their positions. Then there's Doc. I mean he didn't want to oversee the rebuilding process at Boston. So, where did he go to? Yeah, a team with two super-stars.
I don't see Cleveland being good enough defensively to win the series. They also will need some of their lesser players (like Korver, Jr, Shump etc) to play at a higher level than normal IMO. Don't think the stars will align for them this time as it did last year.
Warriors in 5.
Warriors in 5.
Come on Cavs! Would be fantastic for the series with a win tonight.
Geez, I forgot that the finals must have these type of things.
Don't know who I hate more, the Warriors or Lebron. Not sure who to root for.
I wasn't expecting Durant and James to guard each other. They are doing an incredibly shit job at it though (or saying better, they are playing brilliantly in attack).
GSW killing the Cavs with all the offensive rebs. That's quite surprising.
God and Durant are going to reach triple doubles within the first three quarters.
Durant on fire.
15 point lead
The number of threes in the past couple of minutes 
Klay can't shoot. No idea how the second best shooter in the league can be this awful at shooting during the playoffs.