And then there were two, the Cavs and Warriors

[jordoo]

I didn't think Barnes was great last night, but he still finished with 14, 8 and 2 blocks.
Cleveland's gameplan is to let Barnes, Iggy and Green get open shots, while trying to bottle up Curry and Thompson. Iggy is producing more than Barnes, and gets a lot of the credit last night, but David Lee was very effective taking Bogut's minutes as he is more athletic and gets up and down the floor while being a great passer. Unless there is foul trouble I think Bogut/Ezeli/ Speights have probably seen their last meaningful minutes in this series as they are half court players.

Agreed and Lee's play in the game 3 loss may have been the turning point in this series. Not only does he fit what Golden state wants to do more than the other bigs but he is also an offensive threat and will look for his own offense if that's the better option. I don't see Bogut/Ezeli/Speights getting anything but spot minutes to rest Lee and Green the rest of the way either.
What you are saying about Cleveland's defense is why I think Golden St has a breakout game on Sunday. Barnes and Green are due shooting wise and Iggy is already hot and confident. Once they start hitting there is nothing you can do except let them keep shooting or allow Thompson and Curry to light you up.

 

[longislandcuse]

Kerr gets credit for going small and especially for sticking to it after that awful start. I also love his response to the media...yea, I lied to you, sorry.

 

[longislandcuse]

It all went downhill when JR rolled into the locker room on a Segway and Lebron showed the D on National TV.

 

[ssbriefcase]

It all went downhill when JR rolled into the locker room on a Segway and Lebron showed the D on National TV.

That's so funny, our local Denver radio guys are all over JR rolling into the arena on the Segway or whatever that was. They all were in agreement bad JR was back as soon as they saw that.

 

[jordoo]

Yeah. The Cavs are probably cooked. But it's impossible to discredit LeBron.

Agreed those first 3 games were epic by Lebron. I don't care if his percentages were a bit low. If you watched the games his performances were unbelievable.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

It all went downhill when JR rolled into the locker room on a Segway and Lebron showed the D on National TV.

Yeah seriously, I think the Cavs D is overrated.

Wait, what?

 

[44cuse]

first game of the series that wasn't fun from the spectator's position

Speak for yourself.

Best game of the series as far as I'm concerned.

44cuse

 

[44cuse]

they were getting great looks the first three games, they just weren't making them.

There's a difference...while I don't agree with you, I can understand why you would say that. Regardless of what you and I think relative to the quality of the look, they were getting DIFFERENT shots than they got all season. Far more contested shots than I saw any team give them all year. That was the difference.

44cuse

 

[SUintheVille]

I give the Cavs credit after winning 2 in a row after Irving went down. Some solid play by Mozgov, Thompson, Smith, and surprisingly Dellavedova (at least game 3). But don't think LeBron and company can keep it up, and the better team Golden State will rise to the top and win in 6 (although Cavs may give a gallant effort at home in game 6). Definitely pulling for GSW.

 

[Knicks411]

JR rolling in on the segway was the greatest thing I've ever seen

 

[NineOneSeven]

JR rolling in on the segway was the greatest thing I've ever seen

Can we please get a gif of this?

 

[RF2044]

There's a difference...while I don't agree with you, I can understand why you would say that. Regardless of what you and I think relative to the quality of the look, they were getting DIFFERENT shots than they got all season. Far more contested shots than I saw any team give them all year. That was the difference.

44cuse

I'll obviously defer to you as the Warriors fan who has seen a lot of their games this year. I made that point in reference to a metric Knicks411 discussed yesterday, which indicated that the Warriors had a higher percentage of open shots in games 1-3 than during the regular season.

But again, you're the diehard who watches the team, so I'll trust your opinion.

 

[moqui]

GS's offensive capabilities are far greater than they showed in the first three games. And Cleveland has expended a lot of energy keeping them in check. It stood to reason that the Warriors would start hitting shots at some point; they were getting great looks the first three games, they just weren't making them.

I expected the Warriors to get on track yesterday, for Cleveland to show the effects of fatigue, and for Cleveland to not continue to play over their heads offensively [as posted numerous times between games 3 and 4]. All of those things happened, and the Warriors got the road win they needed to win the series. With GS heading home for a decisive game 5, I expect them to take command of the series.

Can't wait for game 5!

I just don't accept your proposition that both teams "regressed to their means." I don't think that game was anywhere near Cleveland's mean.

And I think each game is an individual event that is independent of the one that preceded it. After four games,momentum has proven to be nonexistent.

 

[RF2044]

I just don't accept your proposition that both teams "regressed to their means." I don't think that game was anywhere near Cleveland's mean.

And I think each game is an individual event that is independent of the one that preceded it. After four games,momentum has proven to be nonexistent.

Agree to disagree on that one. GS's season of offensive productivity was phenomenal. I certainly do NOT discount Cleveland's part defensively in making things difficult, but GS's execution was also poor those first three games. They were bound to snap out of that slump eventually.

And I firmly believe that Cleveland's supporting cast played above their heads offensively. Especially in regards to hitting threes.

Momentum is squarely on the side of GS now. It was on Cleveland's side the first three games, clearly.

 

[jordoo]

I just don't accept your proposition that both teams "regressed to their means." I don't think that game was anywhere near Cleveland's mean.

And I think each game is an individual event that is independent of the one that preceded it. After four games,momentum has proven to be nonexistent.

I think Cleveland's supporting cast was playing way over their head the first three games while Golden St.'s were under performing.

If each game is an individual event than why not each play and each shot. He shot 0% on that one or he shot 100%. Why bother with stats at all if you aren't going to average them out so you can spot superb and subpar performances.

 

[Knicks411]

Can we please get a gif of this?

I don't know if it would be as funny with no context, but because it's JR smith this freaking slayed me

 

[moqui]

It was on Cleveland's side the first three games, clearly.

if momentum was on their side, and they lost decisively, then what good is momentum?

GS had it, lost it; Cleveland had it, lost it: it has not been a meaningful characteristic in this series.

 

[jordoo]

I don't know if it would be as funny with no context, but because it's JR smith this freaking slayed me

For 1/2 a second at the beginning I could swear I saw JR with a mini fro.

 

[RF2044]

if momentum was on their side, and they lost decisively, then what good is momentum?

GS had it, lost it; Cleveland had it, lost it: it has not been a meaningful characteristic in this series.

Up until last night, GS never had momentum. They were lucky to win game 1, after trailing just about the entire game. Then they came out and played like crap the next two, both losses. Cleveland clearly had momentum, the fanbase was wild with excitement, and they had a chance to deal the Warriors a crushing blow if they could have held serve at home last night and taken a 3-1 lead in the series.

Instead, GS built upon their strong 4th quarter in game 4 and played better offensively, securing a decisive 20 point win. Now, they get to play at home, in front of their fervent fanbase, where they've been practically invincible this season [by NBA terms]--with a chance to take a commanding lead in the series in game 5.

Cleveland had momentum early in the series, GS has it now.

 

[Knicks411]

We can talk about the Cle role players vs the Gstate ones all we want; when Lebron sits for even 90 seconds Cleveland is not competitive.

 

[jordoo]

We can talk about the Cle role players vs the Gstate ones all we want; when Lebron sits for even 90 seconds Cleveland is not competitive.

It gets ugly in an a hurry!

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I don't know if it would be as funny with no context, but because it's JR smith this freaking slayed me

I don't know if it's any more or less balla that it's a remote controlled Segway.

 

[Knicks411]

I don't know if it's any more or less balla that it's a remote controlled Segway.

100 times more

 

[Fireball Jr.]

JR's a trip. He always looks toasted.

 

[44cuse]

I'll obviously defer to you as the Warriors fan who has seen a lot of their games this year. I made that point in reference to a metric Knicks411 discussed yesterday, which indicated that the Warriors had a higher percentage of open shots in games 1-3 than during the regular season.

But again, you're the diehard who watches the team, so I'll trust your opinion.

Well that's different. If there was a metric that says they had a higher % of open shots than in the regular season, obviously you know me and I trust the numbers because...well, they are the numbers and my eyes aren't as good as stats. Wow...that would seem really amazing to me, because it certainly didn't seem that way in watching. Do you have the link to the source for where he saw that? I'd love to check it out.

44cuse