2016 - 2017 NBA Discussion Thread

Cavs struggling is a non story. It becomes a story if they string together multiple meh performances in a row in the post season.

Originally posted by Bluesbro:
Cavs are pathetic. They seriously have one of the worst defenses in the league. I read this someplace but am too lazy to go do the work to check it out. But this person said the Nets have a better record in March than the Cavs. Is that true?

Quick edit ... just saw this..

FiveThirtyEight's up-to-date title odds algorithm is saying the following:

Warriors 50% (88% odds of clinching #1 seed)
Spurs 19%
Celtics 7% (69% odds of clinching #1 seed)
Rockets 5%
Wizards 4%
Raptors 4%
Cavaliers 2%

Lol, f***k their algorithm. They had GS at 99.9% when they were up 3-1 in the finals, before they got humiliated in the history books. These guys also had Hilary winning at like 90%.

Originally posted by Joecool:
I wouldn't put too much into what CLE does during the regular season. They sort of remind me of the Lakers. They don't start playing good team ball until Game 1 of the Finals which is when the Eastern Conference Playoffs actually begin.

People think the Celts can beat them in a 7 game playoff series. Come on...

Originally posted by ads_2006:
Shout out to my boi DAVID LEE

DOING WORK

Originally posted by sacniner:

Originally posted by Joecool:

I wouldn't put too much into what CLE does during the regular season. They sort of remind me of the Lakers. They don't start playing good team ball until Game 1 of the Finals which is when the Eastern Conference Playoffs actually begin.

People think the Celts can beat them in a 7 game playoff series. Come on...

I think a fully healthy Toronto team can win against a Cavs team that is not playing at its peak. Boston series will be physical.

Pretty good article on the Cavaliers defensive struggles. Basically, they have slowly gotten worse since Blatt was fired.

https://medium.com/basketball-is-cool/the-cavs-defensive-woes-are-real-and-easily-traced-344f38da14e9

LOL at this defense.

Originally posted by Bluesbro:
Pretty good article on the Cavaliers defensive struggles. Basically, they have slowly gotten worse since Blatt was fired.

https://medium.com/basketball-is-cool/the-cavs-defensive-woes-are-real-and-easily-traced-344f38da14e9

LOL at this defense.

in defense of that gif, that is JR Smith leaving his assignment. nothing new there. but yes, their defense has been awful. one big reason imo is because of LeBron. he's slowed down on D and isn't the elite defender he once was anymore.

Originally posted by Bluesbro:
Pretty good article on the Cavaliers defensive struggles. Basically, they have slowly gotten worse since Blatt was fired.

https://medium.com/basketball-is-cool/the-cavs-defensive-woes-are-real-and-easily-traced-344f38da14e9

LOL at this defense.

It seems like the guy who wrote the article knows very little about Blatt, Lue, and the Cavs.
Lue was the defensive coordinator under Blatt. Blatt is an offensive coach...who let Lue run the defense.

Lue admitted last March that he added new things to the defense and that hasn't worked (mostly playing more small-ball to make the game faster) but once playoffs started - he went back to basics HE implemented under Blatt.

For me...it's more to do with too many moving parts and injuries. We'll see whether they're able to fix it or not...but I believe they'll play significantly better defense. The question is - will that be enough.

Originally posted by 4ML:

Originally posted by sacniner:

Originally posted by Joecool:
I wouldn't put too much into what CLE does during the regular season. They sort of remind me of the Lakers. They don't start playing good team ball until Game 1 of the Finals which is when the Eastern Conference Playoffs actually begin.

People think the Celts can beat them in a 7 game playoff series. Come on...

I think a fully healthy Toronto team can win against a Cavs team that is not playing at its peak. Boston series will be physical.

Lowry ain't coming back, is he?

Originally posted by TheHYDE49er:
in defense of that gif, that is JR Smith leaving his assignment. nothing new there. but yes, their defense has been awful. one big reason imo is because of LeBron. he's slowed down on D and isn't the elite defender he once was anymore.

Everyone was saying that last year too....and he definitely dialed it up int he playoffs.

Originally posted by SteveWallacesHelmet:

Originally posted by TheHYDE49er:
in defense of that gif, that is JR Smith leaving his assignment. nothing new there. but yes, their defense has been awful. one big reason imo is because of LeBron. he's slowed down on D and isn't the elite defender he once was anymore.

Everyone was saying that last year too....and he definitely dialed it up int he playoffs.

yup, he really did. if he can replicate another performance like that on defense in the playoffs, they will be fine. remember, LeBron was the guy that could guard 1-4 on any given night, and do it well. in his 12th season, i don't blame him for taking it easier on defense now, especially during the regular season. but he needs to understand that it's up to him if they do well on defense or not.

Originally posted by sacniner:

Originally posted by 4ML:

Originally posted by sacniner:

Originally posted by Joecool:
I wouldn't put too much into what CLE does during the regular season. They sort of remind me of the Lakers. They don't start playing good team ball until Game 1 of the Finals which is when the Eastern Conference Playoffs actually begin.

People think the Celts can beat them in a 7 game playoff series. Come on...

I think a fully healthy Toronto team can win against a Cavs team that is not playing at its peak. Boston series will be physical.

Lowry ain't coming back, is he?

He's expected to be back for playoffs.

Rockets v. Warriors should be fun.

Sometimes it's just fun watching other teams play...can watch without stress and relax. Grab a beer or two and enjoy the show.

Cavs commentators are annoying but warriors commentators are horrible. They whine about refs more than the fans. It's almost unwatchable.

Warriors can win the title without Durant this season lol