EMERGENCY game 4 thread. Cavs (1-2) vs Celts (2-1) May 21st 8:30pm

[PIP]

Game 6 is unlocked

 

[bob2the2nd]

So we screwed lol

Cause that’s our #2

we knew the cavs were screwed going into the season. We knew this after the trade deadline, we knew this heading into the playoffs.

the cavs even if they get to the finals are most likely facing a team completely built of all stars. The only way the cavs have a prayer this year is if the warriors suffer multiple injuries.

 

[CHIMOCHIS]

If iggys injury is serious like they’re saying, that right there is it. Lebron will cook kd one on one, and get that fool in Foul trouble.

If you think their title revolves around iggy then oh my

We need two of them to go down

Iggy and David West and then the title is ours

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

So we screwed lol

Cause that’s our #2

If Houston wins, I think we have an outside chance. Like less than 10%, but I do think there's a scenario where we beat a healthy Rockets team. Also, if they suffer a big injury our chances get really good though.

But they're not gonna win. It's gonna be Golden State.

And we're totally screwed against Golden State. Unless they have big time injuries.

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

If iggys injury is serious like they’re saying, that right there is it. Lebron will cook kd one on one, and get that fool in Foul trouble.

That's not enough.

They need to lose at minimum: Steph or KD, or if not, Draymond AND Klay would both have to go down...and Iggy.

Even if they lose Steph or KD it's still gonna be a tough series. If they lose ONE of those guys AND Iguodala, I'd start to believe we had a real good shot.

But nah, Iguodala alone isn't enough. Maybe if we still had Kyrie...but I really fear we're gonna have a hard time scoring against them..

 

[benchplayer]

If Houston wins, I think we have an outside chance. Like less than 10%, but I do think there's a scenario where we beat a healthy Rockets team. Also, if they suffer a big injury our chances get really good though.

But they're not gonna win. It's gonna be Golden State.

And we're totally screwed against Golden State. Unless they have big time injuries.

I think if we face Houston, it will come down to who gets up to play defense. We can't stop harden, but he doesn't play defense. That right there can be a weakness.

 

[2 For The Brew]

we knew the cavs were screwed going into the season. We knew this after the trade deadline, we knew this heading into the playoffs.

the cavs even if they get to the finals are most likely facing a team completely built of all stars. The only way the cavs have a prayer this year is if the warriors suffer multiple injuries.

Be a shame if that happened ...

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

I think if we face Houston, it will come down to who gets up to play defense. We can't stop harden, but he doesn't play defense. That right there can be a weakness.

Yeah I agree. I actually think the biggest thing in that series would be George Hill vs CP3...if CP3 outplays him and dominates him, we'd be in trouble. If Hill steps up and can even play 75% as well as Paul(and I could see Hill stepping up and having a big Finals trying to finally win it all...Paul not exactly known for his clutch gene..)...and LeBron is being great...we have a nice front-court rotation and Nance is a good change of pace to match Capel's athleticism at times...Plus they are actually pretty simple to defend even if it's not easy..the concept is at least simple enough since they're so iso-heavy....

I think Houston is at least beatable...even if it's kind of a long shot...I can visualize realistic scenarios where we can beat Houston 4/7.

I don't feel the same way about GS unless they dont have KD or Curry and even then they're tough.

 

[PIP]

If Houston wins, I think we have an outside chance. Like less than 10%, but I do think there's a scenario where we beat a healthy Rockets team. Also, if they suffer a big injury our chances get really good though.

But they're not gonna win. It's gonna be Golden State.

And we're totally screwed against Golden State. Unless they have big time injuries.

So what if their plane crashes after game 2 and everyone survives but Durant/Curry/Green/Iggy all break multiple toes ?? Klay Thompson lost an eye and ear so he’s DEFINITELY out...

Cook, Looney, Livingston (actually his other kneecap pops out) McGee, Swaggy P and Bell ? All available..

ZaZa was eaten by a shark (we send our prayers out to his family)

Cavs win it all... I’ll take it

 

[bigfoot5415]

If iggys injury is serious like they’re saying, that right there is it. Lebron will cook kd one on one, and get that fool in Foul trouble.

Unfortuanetly they will never put KD in foul trouble. Game 3 he nailed LeBron in the head for what should have been his 4th. LeBron came out for 2 minutes and they rattled off 12 pts (something like that).

 

[gourimoko]

Love is what he is..

He's a pretty high quality #3/3rd option/3rd best player.

If he's your 2nd best player, you're definitely lacking some things. That's just slightly above his paygrade. He can be that guy some nights....but he cannot be your #2, every night, guaranteed 25 points, etc...that's just not who he is.

But he's still way more than just a "role player". He's just not an elite 2nd option. That's it.

You're giving him way more credit than he deserves.

On the Warriors he'd be their 5th best player? He'd be the 4th best player on the Rockets? What about the Raptors? The 4th best, maybe 3rd?

Would he be the 3rd option on the Bucks? No. Third best player? Nope..
On the Sixers? Nope...
On the Celtics (when healthy)? Nope. Kyrie, Hayward, Horford, Tatum all better than Love. Brown will be soon..

He could be the third option on the Blazers. He'd be a decent third option on the Thunder, but I still think Steve Adams is marginally more useful. On the Wizards? He'd be the fourth best player on the team, behind Otto Porter; but he'd likely be the go-to third option on offense .. maybe.

So yeah, Kevin Love is a role player. He's not in the same league as really talented All-Star, All-NBA guys like Butler, Draymond, Klay Thompson, Dame, or even guys like Beal, Porter, McCollum, Jrue Holliday, DeRozan, Lowry...

He's in the same tier of player as Jonas Valanciunas, Eric Gordon, Darren Collison, Enes Kanter, and DeAndre Jordan. Good, solid, above-average role players. Guys who could make an All-Star team on any given year, but definitely aren't going to be top-tier players on a serious contender. That's Kevin Love....

At least, that's the version of him we've seen in these past 4 years in the playoffs.

Kevin Love Career Playoff Stats (56 games played):

15.3 PPG (40.6 / 41.7 / 84.7) @ 12.2 FGA/g
9.7 RPG
1.9 APG
0.7 STL
0.6 BPG
1.6 TOV
.501 eFG / .557 TS%
22.7 USG%
0.2 OBPM / 0.9 DBPM = 1.2 BPM
1.4 VORP
17.8 PER

These are respectable stats, but those of a role player. In fact, his aggregate metrics are right above one standard deviation of what would be considered an average role player at his position.

BTW, Kevin is shooting .398 on two pointers and .458 within 0-3 ft of the rim. For comparison:

2P% / 0-3ft% (playoff career)
JV: .560 / .654
Horford: .523 / .756
Aldridge: .459 / .659

Horford and Aldridge aren't known for their toughness...

Anyway, here's Kevin's stats for these playoffs with no Kyrie to get in his way:

15.3 PPG (39.8 / 36.4 / 91.3) @ 13.3 FGA/g (no Kyrie, btw)
10.6 RPG
1.6 APG
0.6 STL
0.4 BPG
2.0 TOV
.462 eFG / .515 TS%
23.8 USG%
-3.0 OBPM / 0.4 DBPM = -2.5 BPM
-0.1 VORP
14.8 PER

Now, these stats are actually below replacement level. His shooting and scoring efficiencies are well below average. He's not out here blocking shots, generate steals, and he's not defending to make up for his exceptionally poor contributions on offense. In these playoffs, over 14 games, he's playing at or below replacement level.

So yes; he is a role player. 56 games over a 4 consecutive years is enough to determine that Blatt was right, Kevin Love isn't a superstar talent. He's a high-level role player who shrinks in the playoffs.

Maybe he can shine in the regular season a bit more, but calling him a "3rd option" as though he's like a Kemba Walker or Brad Beal is just not a reasonable comparison. He's nowhere near as good as those guys, especially when it counts the most.

 

[gourimoko]

@gourimoko Why is it funny? He has some vendetta against Cedi. He only uses him to teach his pets Clarkson and Hood a lesson and inserts him with 12 secs to go just hoping that he would get cramps.

This fucking coach is getting on my nerves. I bet he gets killed if he goes to Turkey for vacation...right in the airport. Wouldn't even be able to buy skittles this fat ass.

Your rabid defense of Cedi cracks me up...

But hey, I'm right there with you.. I think Cedi could be useful going into the Finals; but I understand why he's hoping Hood and Clarkson, guys with a bit more experience in the NBA, wake up, and start playing well.

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

Your rabid defense of Cedi cracks me up...

But hey, I'm right there with you.. I think Cedi could be useful going into the Finals; but I understand why he's hoping Hood and Clarkson, guys with a bit more experience in the NBA, wake up, and start playing well.

I just seriously don't understand why he subbed him in on a defensive possession with 12 secs to go. I have never seen this in my life. I was looking at Cedi and he seriously had no idea why Lue asked him to go in...he was perplexed. I would very frustrated if I were in his place. That's all...there is no valid explanation for this.

 

[gourimoko]

I just seriously don't understand why he subbed him in on a defensive possession with 12 secs to go. I have never seen this in my life. I was looking at Cedi and he seriously had no idea why Lue asked him to go in...he was perplexed. I would very frustrated if I were in his place. That's all...there is no valid explanation for this.

Cedi is getting rookie treatment; that's all.. He's treating him like a guy who got drafted late in the first round or maybe even the second round, and he has him seeing a few moments of garbage time.

But I agree, there's little reason Cedi gets so little playing time, even when there's quite a few possessions in this series where the Cavs are up 10-15 points. Those are the times where you find a few minutes in the rotation to get Cedi some burn... Not just when the game is decided.

 

[Dr. Claw]

The most unnoticeable 40+ point game of LeBron's career, tonight.
Playoff T?
Kyle Korver is a fucking professional.
Overall, an effective defensive strategy against this team.

Real bad officiating across the board. Those JR "fouls" were atrocious.