If they win the next one, it's almost certainly going to game 7 where anything can happen. As you say though, I don't think it's going to happen. Last year they did not have Durant, fully expecting a convincing 10+ points win for Golden State in the next game.
NBA 2016-17
- Thread starter ArmchairCritic
- Start date
If they win the next one, it's almost certainly going to game 7 where anything can happen. As you say though, I don't think it's going to happen. Last year they did not have Durant, fully expecting a convincing 10+ points win for Golden State in the next game.
He wasn't the biggest factor. It was Kyrie IMO. Once again, I love Lebron but he lacks that ice cold killer instinct sometimes. Something which Dwade or Kobe naturally seem to possess. The series should have been 2-2 imo. If not for Lebron slacking off in those final mins in game 3.
Well, to be fair, the result was exactly the same at this point last year and they did win.
If they can somehow steal the next game and take them back to Cleveland for game 6, I can definitely see a game 7.
But I can't see them winning at Oracle Arena next game.
And the odds before yesterday had to be 50+, surely.
Err what?!
What's Kobe's killer instinct by the way? Jack it up until it goes in, regardless of outcome?
Nice of the Cavs to win so the Warriors can finish it off in Oakland.
Cavs needed a shite ref crew and 24 threes to beat GS....good luck getting a repeat with those two performances.
They were just waiting to toss Green as soon as they could....that tech call in the second half was bullshit. I find him to be a liability when he doesn't play well. There was no need for that foul after the jump ball. LeBron kicked Green in the basket in the last game yet no call.
As hot as the Cavs were from behind the line, they still only beat GS by 20....that is a scary thought.
Cavs are one of the best 3 point shooting teams in the league. If anything, the first 2 games were an anomaly. GS remain favorites to close game 5 out, but anything less than perfection from Curry and Durant will see this go to a game 6.
1 James LeBron, 2. Kevin Durant, 3. Kyrie Irving, 4. Steph Curry. 5. Klay Thompson, 6. Kevin Love, 7. Draymond Green, 8. Kyle Korver I'd say based on this series. I think it's much closer than it looks/is being said, but I know jack shit of b-ball so yeah.
I was referring to Lebron during the final mins of game 3. I'd take Kobe or Dwade over Lebron when it comes to killing off games in the final mins. Lebron is a better team player than them though.
They were pretty average in game 3 as well.
They were, but not as bad as in games 1 and 2.
Overall, that was a great performance from Cavs. It looked as if any shot they will try will enter no matter what. Full focus and fighting from start to finish. GSW players seemed unfocused and indifferent from the start. They probably predicted Cavs to be collapsed mentally and the game would be easy, but Cavs played the game as if the series is starting not the opposite.
Shame, shame that such performance came really too late, if they played like this from the start, or at least won game 3 the series might have taken a different route but now it's really difficult. Can't see a miracle as last season happening again.
At least, I hope they keep with such a form in the game 5 and GSW will sure raise their game again as it was in the first 2 games after that slap and game 5 can be the best in the series, even if it was its end.
Shame, shame that such performance came really too late, if they played like this from the start, or at least won game 3 the series might have taken a different route but now it's really difficult. Can't see a miracle as last season happening again.
At least, I hope they keep with such a form in the game 5 and GSW will sure raise their game again as it was in the first 2 games after that slap and game 5 can be the best in the series, even if it was its end.
Cavs per 48 min in Finals: -LeBron on: +1.7 -LeBron off: -57.2
Pretty useless stat tbh.
KD was easily better than James during the first two matches, would say around equal in the third match (KD was very hot when it mattered most).
Curry was better than Irving in the first two matches, but Irving outplayed him since then.
Lebron is averaging 32/12/11 on 54% shooting against the greatest team of all time.
Durant is averaging 34/9/6 on on 52% shooting against the 21st best defensive team this year.
Durant is averaging 34/9/6 on on 52% shooting against the 21st best defensive team this year.
And with two goat shooters drawing attention.
The fact the Warriors have a negative net rating when LeBron is on the court is crazy considering how stacked they are.
Literally insane. He's essentially the Finals MVP again.....but if they weren't gonna give it to a lost for his 2015 insanity. He's not gonna get it with the Durantala having a very stellar series too.
While this is true, it is a hugely disingenuous. Just like virtually every other member of the Cavs he has a massively total negative (+/-) in their three losses and a hugely total positive (+/-) in their one win.(3 losses total -26, 1 win +32).
How is it useless? It clearly shows LeBron's importance and dominance. Of course it doesn't change the fact that the Warriors are up 3-1, but with that logic you could say that any stat that is not the final score is useless.
I think he is saying statistics can be manipulated. As an example in the Dubs game 4 loss Andre Iguodala is +21 per 48 minutes when he is on the court and -53 when he is off the court. Iggy's good, but not that good.
Of course it can. But it's pretty clear to anyone watching the games that there is an enormous difference between the Cavs with and without LeBron on the court. A stat isn't even needed to see that. The stat simply underlines his importance.
Durant shot better in three games against champions (true shooting accuracy).
LeBron shot better in one game against runners up.
See what I did there.
Stats aside, I think that KD has been better in the first three matches (by quite a margin in the first two). He has been shooting better, he has been shooting better when it mattered most, he has been defending better and he hasn't made too many turnovers (12 turnovers less than James). James is definitely better in rebounding and especially assists. James was quite better in the fourth match, which biases stats a bit, but KD was really great in the first three matches and essentially won the first three matches for them.
I think that is also part of the reason why @entropy said what he said, although I wouldn't want to put words in anyone's mouth.
Again I think KD being the better player on paper and "in the clutch" has been covered by the post that followed those stats, Cavs have to deal with others which opens up KD far more than LeBron is allowed to be opened up....though obviously LeBron is defending KD I assume, I haven't watched all the games.
You swap the two players and or just close KD in LeBron's place.....this is done, and even easier. But KD probably still gets them to where they are, because well he is after all, still number 2.
You swap the two players and or just close KD in LeBron's place.....this is done, and even easier. But KD probably still gets them to where they are, because well he is after all, still number 2.
Warriors also have to defend against others. In the only game Cavs won, Irving was their main attacking player, in the game that they came close to winning, Irving scores as much as James.
James and Durant are on each other (in defense) most of the time, and they are totally unable to defend each other.
Anyone seen this? LeBron's basketball IQ.
A small insight into playing sports with your head. I wish sports commentators focused more on things like this.
A small insight into playing sports with your head. I wish sports commentators focused more on things like this.
Dubs looking under pressure.
Cavs not playing at a high intensity like last games, yet an early lead for them. Lbj red hot.
Warriors take the lead now. Warriors started off badly, cavs needed to take advantage of it, which they did not. Warriors seem to be hitting their shots now, while Cavs keep missing. Doesnt help Kyries a bit shaken up.
I find it funny how American sports fans constantly high five each other. How American. 
*edit*
This is over.
*edit*
This is over.
Handbags.
Hope the Warriors put this away soon.
Hope the Warriors put this away soon.
Igguadola's defense on Irving has been awesome.
GO WARRIORSSSSSS
Cleveland's like that cockroach that just won't go away. That last 3 could be huge.
Irving is feeling the weight of the offense on his back...literally.
Curry is frustrating.
GS are the best in making their lives complicated.
GS are the best in making their lives complicated.