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Cavs vs. Warriors -- 2017 NBA Finals

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Who wins?

  • Cavs in 4

    Votes: 23 8.4%
  • Cavs in 5

    Votes: 20 7.3%
  • Cavs in 6

    Votes: 146 53.1%
  • Cavs in 7

    Votes: 55 20.0%
  • Warriors in 7

    Votes: 2 0.7%
  • Warriors in 6

    Votes: 10 3.6%
  • Warriors in 5

    Votes: 7 2.5%
  • Warriors in 4

    Votes: 12 4.4%

  • Total voters
    275
  • Poll closed .

TitleTown

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2017 NBA Finals: Schedule, dates, times, TV channels

Thursday, June 1, 9 p.m. : Cavaliers at Warriors | ABC

Sunday, June 4, 8 p.m.: Cavaliers at Warriors | ABC

Wednesday, June 7, 9 p.m.: Warriors at Cavaliers | ABC

Friday, June 9, 9 p.m.: Warriors at Cavaliers | ABC

*Monday, June 12, 9 p.m.: Cavaliers at Warriors | ABC

*Thursday, June 15, 9 p.m.: Warriors at Cavaliers | ABC

*Sunday, June 18, 8 p.m.: Cavaliers at Warriors | ABC

Last year, every damn thread in Cavs Talk became a Warriors thread. Now that Durant has gone to GSW, I suspect it will be just as bad this summer and next year.

So, I thought I'd start this thread as an all things Cavs vs. Warriors thread to help with that problem.

To get the conversation started, I would just like to say a few words to Mr. Durant:

Dear KD,

When LeBron left the Cavs to go to the Heat, the Cavs had zero supporting cast compared to what you leave behind in OKC, and the Heat were barely better than a .500 team. Durant, you just went to the team that was 1 game away from a championship, and you did so during your prime. Thank you KD for making LeBron's move (aside from the ridiculous decision charade), look far less ring-chasey than yours. This will no doubt help LeBron's Cleveland legacy.

While I was looking at all the comments on various articles throughout the internets, I saw multiple people say: "I never thought I'd say this, but I'm rooting for LeBron and the Cavs next year!" So, thank you again Kevin Durant. You have done the impossible. You have made the best player of all time look like an underdog while he's still in his prime.

Finally, thank you for giving LeBron, Kyrie, and Kevin Love new motivation. They said multiple times after winning "we needed a challenge" and "we are at our best when our backs are against the wall." Durant, by going to GSW, you just gave the Cavs an even bigger challenge: beating your new super team. LeBron just completed the best finals comeback ever. Now, he is presented with the challenge of beating one of the most talented teams of all time. I like our odds.

Thank you Kevin Durant.
 
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Also, I'm wondering what people think about Cavs vs. Warriors matchup.

What the hell will the Warriors rotations look like? Is it just me, or will we match up better against the new Warriors than we did against the previous team? They've lost Bogut and Barnes which hurts their defense big time. And can Iggy's back survive another 90+ game season? Who guards LBJ? TT will FEAST on this new team.

They'll be a NIGHTMARE to deal with offensively (or will they? they were already a nightmare...), but their defense??? Much worse. Right?
 
The Warriors are more than likely losing the following players:

Harrison Barnes, Andrew Bogut, Leandro Barbosa, Mo Speights, Anderson Varejao, Ian Clark, Brandon Rush, Festus Ezeli

I don't care who you are or what you have. Replacing 2/3rds of your rotation and keeping that same cohesion you had the previous season is next to impossible. All of those guys save for Clark and Rush, who are still good players in their own right, saw significant postseason minutes last year.

I'm going on record right now to say that barring something really unforeseen going down, the 15-16 Warriors will be better than the 16-17 Warriors.
 
This is my question, too.

There is only one basketball offensively. They had enough lethal scorers.

If anything, Durant kills their ball movement which was unstoppable when clicking. They had a "find the open shooter" mantra that is now destroyed.

Now, they lost size flexibility and are weaker defensively.

Full commitment to small ball. Might be counterintuitive.
 
I get that people are excited or stunned by this move by Durant, but some are taking it way too far: - What should the Cavs do to counter Durant joining GSW? The Cavs have no chance!

This is exactly the same reaction that people had with the 2010 Heat and we all know how that turned out. Will Durant win a championship in Oakland if he stays 5 years. Most likely.
Will he win next year? I would doubt that.

First the Warriors need to fix a number of things like supporting cast and interior defense.

Secondly, this signing makes them more dangerous offensively, but they already had a juggernaut with Klay and Steph shooting lights out all year. This means they will take less shots as well because each game has only that amount of shots to distribute. The REAL question is will this trade increase their efficiency offensively AND will they keep the same amount of shots/possessions since their interior depth is gone.

Defense is the main question though. Who will battle the Tristan Thompson's of the world now Bogut is gone? Jermaine O'neal certainly will not do it.
Secondly, defense was their biggest issue this finals. They couldn't stop and outscore the Cavs in the 2016 Finals.

Then chemistry wise they will need time to figure it out. They will win a lot of games by raw talent alone, but time will tell how they act as a unit in the playoffs.

Also, how will Durant take the massive criticism he will get with this decision?

So in all... the Warriors have a number of problems to solve before the Cavaliers should be worried.
 
I gotta see how they play. Impossible to tell right now
 
This is my question, too.

There is only one basketball offensively. They had enough lethal scorers.

If anything, Durant kills their ball movement which was unstoppable when clicking. They had a "find the open shooter" mantra that is now destroyed.

Now, they lost size flexibility and are weaker defensively.

Full commitment to small ball. Might be counterintuitive.

Exactly. For as much as the Warriors went small, they also had the ability to go big--they were balanced. Now, they have lost that balance in favor of more talent.

In the NBA, talent usually trumps all. This new Warriors team will test that mantra.
 
Pretty even teams on paper. Laughable that Vegas has the Warriors as such a heavy favorite.

Lebron, Irving, Love vs Durant, Curry, Green is a wash.

TT, Smith, Shump vs thompson, iguodala, livingston seems close as well. Already have frye & mo as capable role players.

At worst it looks even and hard not to give the edge to Lebron in that case.
 
Exactly. For as much as the Warriors went small, they also had the ability to go big--they were balanced. Now, they have lost that balance in favor of more talent.

In the NBA, talent usually trumps all. This new Warriors team will test that mantra.
And that's exactly where my mind is, too. It's not just me trying to make myself feel better, it's legit. They destroyed flexibility.

How much do you gain taking shots from a 47%/40% shooter and giving them to a 47%/40% shooter? Especially when all those shots were already good looks.

Clearly they can exploit many match ups. But they already did this. The more I think, I don't know that they are better. You took guys with roles that they did well and now you are going to have a free-for-all. I'm not convinced that there won't be obstacles.
 
The Cavaliers have no choice but to trade Kevin Love this season if we hope to compete in the Finals.

They'll run Curry/Klay/Iggy/Durant/Green. Kevin has no matchup there.. It's not his fault, it's just reality.
 
And that's exactly where my mind is, too. It's not just me trying to make myself feel better, it's legit. They destroyed flexibility.

How much do you gain taking shots from a 47%/40% shooter and giving them to a 47%/40% shooter? Especially when all those shots were already good looks.

Durant won't be their first option on offense..

He replaces Barnes and he'll take from Iggy and Green. I think he'll score a LOT less next season.

When the Warriors found themselves leaning on Klay, they'll know find themselves with 3 scoring options all very high efficiency.

Other than the post, the Warriors can score in a variety of ways, now including isolation.
 
The Cavaliers have no choice but to trade Kevin Love this season if we hope to compete in the Finals.

They'll run Curry/Klay/Iggy/Durant/Green. Kevin has no matchup there.. It's not his fault, it's just reality.

No all you do is bench love
IRVING
JR
WE NEED A SF LOL
LBJ
TT
 
The Cavaliers have no choice but to trade Kevin Love this season if we hope to compete in the Finals.

They'll run Curry/Klay/Iggy/Durant/Green. Kevin has no matchup there.. It's not his fault, it's just reality.
I'm on record of agreeing with this. It's not Kevin's fault and I appreciate what he did. But he has to go.
 
Durant won't be their first option on offense..

He replaces Barnes and he'll take from Iggy and Green. I think he'll score a LOT less next season.

When the Warriors found themselves leaning on Klay, they'll know find themselves with 3 scoring options all very high efficiency.

Other than the post, the Warriors can score in a variety of ways, now including isolation.
I agree that they are better offensively. My argument is that it's marginal.

Defensively, they are worse.
 

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