It's showtime -- let the (NBA) games begin!

[Fireball Jr.]

Phew. For a second there I thought Tesh was gonna break into his funkified version of "Basketball Jones."

I kinda like this little diddy hot off the presses.

 

[cuseattle]

I'm amped up for The Finals. Hope Cleveland can hang.

 

[Briancuse]

I'm going with the Warriors in 6.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I'm going with the Warriors in 6.

Warriors in 4. I think they're pissed, and Durant's going to do what he went there to do.

 

[Alsacs]

I don't know you defend Cleveland.

Golden State is easier to defend as the Cavs can slow the tempo down and muck up the game.

Golden State also has rotation problems because Mike Brown sits Durant and Steph at the same time.

Warriors bench vs. Cavs bench favors Cleveland.

I think Love is playing the best I have ever seen him play.

Warriors are the better team but I can't pick against the Cavs.

However whoever Stephen A. Smith picks give me the other team.

 

[Briancuse]

Warriors in 4. I think they're pissed, and Durant's going to do what he went there to do.

I think they are too, but you have to figure Lebron wins a game or two.

 

[Fireball Jr.]

I think they are too, but you have to figure Lebron wins a game or two.

Or three or fo.

 

[jordoo]

I'm more excited for this match-up than I was last year. I think both teams are playing at a very high level and present issues for each other. I think Golden State gets this one because the addition of Durrant makes Steph and Clay that much harder to guard. Still Cleveland is on serious roll and Lebron looks very motivated.

 

[Fireball Jr.]

I'm more excited for this match-up than I was last year. I think both teams are playing at a very high level and present issues for each other. I think Golden State gets this one because the addition of Durrant makes Steph and Clay that much harder to guard. Still Cleveland is on serious roll and Lebron looks very motivated.

Kevin Love also playing best ball of his career. And that Irving kid ain't bad, either.

I've always felt pretty confident when LeBron and Durant's teams have played. FWIW, LBJ's record vs Durant is pretty strong -- 18-5 -- but Durant's never had a cast like this around him.

 

[MikeSU02]

Kevin Love also playing best ball of his career. And that Irving kid ain't bad, either.

I've always felt pretty confident when LeBron and Durant's teams have played. FWIW, LBJ's record vs Durant is pretty strong -- 18-5 -- but Durant's never had a cast like this around him.

Lebron is at the point where he can be playing with four guys from the crowd and I'd give them a puncher's chance.

 

[kirbivore]

Golden St. in 6. I hate them a little less than Lebron

 

[jordoo]

Golden St. in 6. I hate them a little less than Lebron

I don't understand hating either. Lebron is one if the greatest ever and Golden State plays a highly entertaining brand of basketball.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I don't understand hating either. Lebron is one if the greatest ever and Golden State plays a highly entertaining brand of basketball.

I mean, for me it's fun. It increases my enjoyment of the NBA to have a guy and a team to root against. Plus, I mean he does enough to make it kind of easy.

Yeah yeah, amazing player, incredible he doesn't get in trouble with all that money and fame, whatever. #hatehard

 

[kirbivore]

Lavar Ball's youngest son in a not flattering game tape

http://deadspin.com/they-cant-all-be-92-point-games-1795651818

 

[MikeSU02]

Lavar Ball's youngest son in a not flattering game tape

http://deadspin.com/they-cant-all-be-92-point-games-1795651818

The team they were playing (Compton Magic) is really good. Him struggling isn't the most surprising thing. But that volume of shots when it's not working is more a commentary on his coach(es), imo.

 

[Fireball Jr.]

Hate on this guy for whatever lame hot take reason you choose, but this 32-year-old fatherless inner-city kid from the hellhole of Dacron who has spent half his life as an international celebrity is far from perfect, but he's pretty damn impressive, on and off the court. This right here is a mensch.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/31/sports/lebron-racist-graffiti-home.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur

 

[Melancer46]

These rankings are pretty...interesting. Puts in perspective how many of the all-time greats were pre-merger guys.

The Top 40 players since the ABA/NBA merger

 

[Alsacs]

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Ugh, series hasn't even started and we're already at "when in doubt, ugh it up?"

Edit: pleasantly surprised that when I got back to reading the article it wasn't about ughing up the game at all, it was about long outlet passes.

 

[KaiserUEO]

if LeBron wins, I hope he goes and plays baseball for 2 years, then comes back...that way we can truly compare him and Michael.

 

[Fireball Jr.]

if LeBron wins, I hope he goes and plays baseball for 2 years, then comes back...that way we can truly compare him and Michael.

He may go play qb for the Brownies. Then run for president.

 

[Tom K.]

Very excited for things to get underway tonight. Would like to see LeBron get another ring. Mostly I love Kyrie.
I don't have a problem with Durant packing up and heading to the Warriors but I also don't want him to receive year one validation haha. It was very satisfying when LeBron lost year 1 in Miami.

Tough to say how far this series will go. Even though the Cavs won last year, I can't forget that it could have been a sweep or 5 game series with the Warriors up 3-1. Then they just go and add KD.

Warriors in 6. LeBron and Kyrie can get you 2 games on their own.
Home team wins first 5 games then Warriors take game 6 and win it in Cleveland.

 

[Fireball Jr.]

Very excited for things to get underway tonight. Would like to see LeBron get another ring. Mostly I love Kyrie.
I don't have a problem with Durant packing up and heading to the Warriors but I also don't want him to receive year one validation haha. It was very satisfying when LeBron lost year 1 in Miami.

Tough to say how far this series will go. Even though the Cavs won last year, I can't forget that it could have been a sweep or 5 game series with the Warriors up 3-1. Then they just go and add KD.

Warriors in 6. LeBron and Kyrie can get you 2 games on their own.
Home team wins first 5 games then Warriors take game 6 and win it in Cleveland.

Uncle Drew's a joy to watch.

I like your sentiment on the series, and I'd hardly be shocked if the heavy betting favorite Golden State wins, but I like the Cavs' chances.

Ty Lue said late in the season he had a "secret weapon" if the Cavs and GS hooked up again. I figured he could've been talking special defenses or maybe he was just talking smack, but I also thought maybe he was referring to a player who saw a lotta time -- and seemed to fit in well -- when he arrived late in the season before moving down the bench: Derrick Williams.

Now, I see this...very innaresting, Arte Johnson.

Cavaliers could dust off Derrick Williams to play against Warriors

Two overall No. 1 picks -- Kyrie and LBJ -- and two overall No. 2 picks -- Durant and Derrick Williams -- in this series.

Giddy-up.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Pierce and Chauncey can't stand Lebron lol. They still sound bitter about previous playoff defeats.

 

[Fireball Jr.]

Pierce and Chauncey can't stand Lebron lol. They still sound bitter about previous playoff defeats.

Love Jalen! Just listened to his radio show on ESPN with David Jacoby. So glad that tired, burned-out, stale TNT studio crew isn't working this series.