It's showtime -- let the (NBA) games begin! | Page 94 | Syracusefan.com

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

Tristan Thompson does all the dirty work for the Cavs. His work dominates all these East teams. However he kills the Cavs against the Warriors.
Thompson can't shoot if the Cavs could flip him for an Al Horford type big it would help against the Warriors.
 
They're in the classic veteran playoff team trap. Rookies don't really help them, draft picks don't really help them. Because generally speaking, they want guys who can plug and play and defend, and who aren't going to wilt under the pressure of the playoffs. Right, wrong, or indifferent -- rookies can't be counted upon for any of those things [I'm not suggesting that there aren't rookies out there who aren't capable of doing so]. They're also not drafting at a spot at the end of the first round where they are likely to get surefire contributors.

So, you hope to catch lightning in a bottle with older, proven vets -- some of whom are willing to play for less money. They absolutely caught lightning in a bottle LAST year with Richard Jefferson. Ditto that scrub from Rutgers / Duke, who had the one big game in the finals. Deron Williams wouldn't play on 90% of the teams in the league, but the Cavs were hoping that he'd have a bit of gas left in the tank.

Problem is, those guys are getting exposed because there isn't the same type of dropoff when the Warriors go to their second unit.

I think that the main move you can criticize is trading Wiggins -- that might have been shortsighted, but I absolutely get why the Cavs did it. And they might contend that winning it all last year made it worth it, even if Wiggins goes on to be a star in the league.

I get the veteran thing, and there's absolutely something to that. Vets, in general, are probably better suited to be role players; they're better able to go from not playing for weeks at a time to getting a key role depending on a matchup or something like that. It's just, that bench is super old, you know?

I agree with Wiggins; his development curve didn't match up with Lebron, and when you have one of the best players in the history of the league, you maximize that window, at whatever the cost.
 
The 2014 Spurs team was absolutely dominant in those finals. They were clicking on all cylinders, it was incredible to watch. They won the last 3 games by 20 points each, give or take. Miami didn't belong on the same court as them. Zach Lowe has mentioned being in the Miami locker room after the series ended, and normally the losing team is in mourning, you know, but there was almost a sense of relief for Miami, like they knew they were totally outclassed.

I'm not going to read the last few pages, but if people think this series is in any way a knock on Lebron, man, I dunno what to tell you. He played 45:37 last night, the Cavs were a +7 in those minutes. So they were -12 in the 2:23 he sat. That's hard to fathom

Could not agree more.
 
Baffles me that anyone could ever call the Spurs and what they do on the court "boring".

When you try to compare any of the LBJ Cavs teams to any of the San Antonio or MJ & the Bulls teams, there's still too much "me" on the Cleveland teams. Irving is a monument to the "one on five" style of play that makes me rather watch baseball. James doesn't seem to be able to pull the rest up like MJ did, or together like Duncan. When a reporter asked LBJ before game 3 if he was tired, he gave them his best smug "Why-do-I-have-to-put-up-with-this-crap?" patronizing smile and said, "I'm averaging a triple-double in the playoffs. I think I'm doing fine." Well, Mr. I'm-Doing-Fine, when your team needed a stop, you instead posed like a highway construction worker holding a "Slow" sign, and your man Durant drilled the three right in your face that buried your team. Despite your big numbers. :noidea:
 
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I honestly think Steph might be a better finisher. They're both pretty incredible. Isaiah is up there too, especially considering he's like 5 feet tall.

For their careers:
Steph: 64.4% at the rim
Kyrie: 59.5% at the rim
Isaiah: 61.3% at the rim

Remember the people who tried to say Kyrie is better than Steph? Such a stupid take. A healthy Steph is way better than Kyrie. Steph is averaging nearly 30 a game and almost a triple double in this series, yet somehow that's barely being talked about because of KD and Lebron. Even the talking heads were all over Kyrie last night. Kyrie does nothing but score and he's inconsistent at that.
 
Remember the people who tried to say Kyrie is better than Steph? Such a stupid take. A healthy Steph is way better than Kyrie. Steph is averaging nearly 30 a game and almost a triple double in this series, yet somehow that's barely being talked about because of KD and Lebron. Even the talking heads were all over Kyrie last night. Kyrie does nothing but score and he's inconsistent at that.

I saw a couple of tweets to this effect yesterday. It's really not even close.
What Kyrie has going for him is that he's great at making tremendously difficult shots, so when he's hot like he was last night, he looks like pretty much the greatest player alive.
 
I saw a couple of tweets to this effect yesterday. It's really not even close.
What Kyrie has going for him is that he's great at making tremendously difficult shots, so when he's hot like he was last night, he looks like pretty much the greatest player alive.
I've never seen a more unstoppable scorer when he's on than Kyrie. The shots he makes...

It's remarkable.
 
I saw a couple of tweets to this effect yesterday. It's really not even close.
What Kyrie has going for him is that he's great at making tremendously difficult shots, so when he's hot like he was last night, he looks like pretty much the greatest player alive.

It drives me crazy. The Mike Greenberg's of the world on ESPN actually believed this was true due to the last 3 games of last year's series when there is overwhelming evidence to say otherwise. Curry is the third or 4th best player in the world. I'm not sure Kyrie is in the top 20.
 
Remember the people who tried to say Kyrie is better than Steph? Such a stupid take. A healthy Steph is way better than Kyrie. Steph is averaging nearly 30 a game and almost a triple double in this series, yet somehow that's barely being talked about because of KD and Lebron. Even the talking heads were all over Kyrie last night. Kyrie does nothing but score and he's inconsistent at that.
Some people also think he's only averaging all these rebounds and assists because the team around him.

It's like people think if you took Steph and put him on the nets he would suddenly average like 8 and 2.
 
The 1960s Cleveland Browns had the GOAT also. I'm taking the Patriots today over them.

And the Pats have the greatest qb of all time, so its a moot point. This Warrior team is really good, but people forget how good those Bulls teams were.
 
And the Pats have the greatest qb of all time, so its a moot point. This Warrior team is really good, but people forget how good those Bulls teams were.

Is anyone forgetting how good Michael Jordan was??

Some people also think he's only averaging all these rebounds and assists because the team around him.

It's like people think if you took Steph and put him on the nets he would suddenly average like 8 and 2.

Steph had like 13 rebounds last night. Maybe he's not as good as Durant, but he's incredible.
 
Is anyone forgetting how good Michael Jordan was??



Steph had like 13 rebounds last night. Maybe he's not as good as Durant, but he's incredible.

I don't think so, I think they are forgetting how good his supporting cast was, Tony Kucoch sp, was a really good player.
 
Is anyone forgetting how good Michael Jordan was??



Steph had like 13 rebounds last night. Maybe he's not as good as Durant, but he's incredible.

Looks like a guy that finally gets the regular season doesn't mean as much for him.

I think he finally learned how to cruise in the regular season to leave reserves in the tank for a playoff run.
 
Looks like a guy that finally gets the regular season doesn't mean as much for him.

I think he finally learned how to cruise in the regular season to leave reserves in the tank for a playoff run.

Also, he's just a lot healthier. Maybe that's related to cruising in the season a little, not sure. But the dude was real banged up last year
 
So what do/can the Cavs do?

Cleveland Cavaliers Team Payroll | Basketball-Reference.com

And for your convenience:

cavs payroll.JPG


They have $50M next year earmarked for Thompson, J.R., Shumpert, and Frye. That's amazing. The NBA truly is where amazing happens.

They have no draft picks in 2017. They do have their picks for 2018, but as I understand it they can't trade their 1st rounder that year because their 2017 pick is dealt to Portland and their 2019 pick is likely to go to Atlanta, unless it falls in the top 10.
 
So what do/can the Cavs do?

Cleveland Cavaliers Team Payroll | Basketball-Reference.com

And for your convenience:

View attachment 99995

They have $50M next year earmarked for Thompson, J.R., Shumpert, and Frye. That's amazing. The NBA truly is where amazing happens.

They have no draft picks in 2017. They do have their picks for 2018, but as I understand it they can't trade their 1st rounder that year because their 2017 pick is dealt to Portland and their 2019 pick is likely to go to Atlanta, unless it falls in the top 10.

I didn't realize that JR contract was that large. Yikes.
 
So what do/can the Cavs do?

Cleveland Cavaliers Team Payroll | Basketball-Reference.com

And for your convenience:

View attachment 99995

They have $50M next year earmarked for Thompson, J.R., Shumpert, and Frye. That's amazing. The NBA truly is where amazing happens.

They have no draft picks in 2017. They do have their picks for 2018, but as I understand it they can't trade their 1st rounder that year because their 2017 pick is dealt to Portland and their 2019 pick is likely to go to Atlanta, unless it falls in the top 10.

OMG on those Thompson, Smith and Shumpert contracts. 38 million this year for those three and it only goes up the next two year. Yikes. :confused:
 
OMG on those Thompson, Smith and Shumpert contracts. 38 million this year for those three and it only goes up the next two year. Yikes. :confused:
Well, see, they're LeBron's friends though. He's got to have 'em.
 
So what do/can the Cavs do?

Cleveland Cavaliers Team Payroll | Basketball-Reference.com

And for your convenience:

View attachment 99995

They have $50M next year earmarked for Thompson, J.R., Shumpert, and Frye. That's amazing. The NBA truly is where amazing happens.

They have no draft picks in 2017. They do have their picks for 2018, but as I understand it they can't trade their 1st rounder that year because their 2017 pick is dealt to Portland and their 2019 pick is likely to go to Atlanta, unless it falls in the top 10.

Honestly, the Shump/Smith/Thompson contracts aren't that ridiculous. It's where we are in the NBA now. (Ok, maybe JR is a tad excessive)

As for the Cavs, either move Love or Thompson, or see what shakes loose with the vet exceptions.
 
So what do/can the Cavs do?

Cleveland Cavaliers Team Payroll | Basketball-Reference.com

And for your convenience:

View attachment 99995

They have $50M next year earmarked for Thompson, J.R., Shumpert, and Frye. That's amazing. The NBA truly is where amazing happens.

They have no draft picks in 2017. They do have their picks for 2018, but as I understand it they can't trade their 1st rounder that year because their 2017 pick is dealt to Portland and their 2019 pick is likely to go to Atlanta, unless it falls in the top 10.

I suspect either Love or Thompson's career as Cavs are over with. Cleveland has shifted towards only playing one of them at a time and it's simply far too much money being paid to two guys that you won't play simultaneously.
 
Honestly, the Shump/Smith/Thompson contracts aren't that ridiculous. It's where we are in the NBA now. (Ok, maybe JR is a tad excessive)

As for the Cavs, either move Love or Thompson, or see what shakes loose with the vet exceptions.
If I am the Clippers I trade for Melo, resign Paul and try to acquire D-Wade. So after next year I can appeal to LeBron coming to LA and playing with his friends.
 
What could Cavs get for Tristan Thompson in a trade?

I don't think his value is much. Thompson got his nice payday because he uses LeBron's agent and LeBron made it known to the Cleveland FO he wanted Thompson back.
 
If I am the Clippers I trade for Melo, resign Paul and try to acquire D-Wade. So after next year I can appeal to LeBron coming to LA and playing with his friends.

By the time LeBron gets there, that team would probably be a low playoff seed if I have to guess.
 

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