ECF: Cavs 4 - Hawks 0

It isn't even a question to me. If he plays before the finals I think it is a terrible mis-management. He may not be better in 15 days but it gives him and us the best possible chance to be ready and perform well in the finals.

The Hawks injuries and the fact that we were able to take 2 on the road to start the series make it a very very easy decision.

I guess my main concern is flow and continuity. All we get is 7 games. So each W and L is so , so important.

I do have concerns that if Kyrie goes 15 days without being out on the court with his teammates and communicating on both sides of the floor against a live opponent, that that could put us at a disadvantage for at minimum game 1 as we adjust back from the rotations we'll have acclimated to with him sitting out games 2-4(or 5)

Now I acknowledge that concern is not quantifiable. I realize its an opinion based concern. It also does not outweight the injury concern.

So if the doctors believe that he is still too injured to play or should get more rest, than I fully support and understand that. But if the doctors believe he is healthy to the point that further rest does nothing more to heal anything or does nothing more to assure that he won't re-aggravate things, then he should play.

I do completely agree that at this point, we can play without him for the Hawks series and still win in 4 or 5.

Unless Dr. Andrews has an antidote for Kyrie's defense, I really don't care if he says Kyrie is good to play, meaning we absolutely should play him.

He's not going to have lateral quickness to stay in front of Teague and Schroeder.

And two, he's already re-aggravated this injury twice, when he already appeared healthy enough to play. Even if Andrews had some new kinks to help, I still say more advantage to letting him rest than play at this point.

Just re watched the game without distractions. Some truncated iPad thoughts:

The unofficial final score was 93-74. We just coasted from there and I am not mad about it.

We could have played better, and this is a good thing! We missed some open shots, and most of all, in the 1st half, there was a lack of urgency on the defensive side, particularly on some open looks for Teague. TT missed some FTs and 2 alley oops, and Delly missed some open rhythm shots.

As far as shooting, some of the Hawks were On. Like Teague shot well when open, Korver shot well when open, but jeez these guys couldn't get open. I think Korver is seeing Shump in his nightmares. He might need therapy after this series. A high amygdala sprain.

The Hawks played poorly and lost focus. They aren't used to being down double digits, and they played right into our hands in the decisive 3rd quarter. That's on their coach more than anything.

The Hawks got worn out during that early Q3 slugfest. It was up and down, back and forth, we couldn't score, they smelled their opportunity, both teams were playing with intensity and focus, but we came out of that exchange with 2 Delly 3's and 1 Shump 3 (or visa-versa) and that was devastating. After that, whether open or not, the Hawks were mentally and physically worn out.

Besides his shooting, Delly had a really complete game. He was, as always, a pest, but it was more than that. The hockey assists, the steal on a Hawks fast break, a couple of missed shots by teammates that would have been assists, etc. he just really played well.

LeBron is going to be an excellent player for as long as he chooses to play. His game has morphed and will continue to morph. It's awesome to watch.

The biggest thing that we did today was answer the call like champions. It was the stifling of momentum, the exchanges in intensity, the fact that we stayed mentally composed. That's what it will take to beat Golden State. Big shots at critical times, big blocks at critical times, just clutch everything at critical times. It was 10/10 impressive.

Series just got tougher

Korver was out there getting exposed

Now they will play a younger better defensive wing

CHIMOCHIS said:

Series just got tougher

Korver was out there getting exposed

Now they will play a younger better defensive wing

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Their offense was bad before, but now its going to be horrific without him.

Even when Korver isn't making shots, he does make a huge difference. The defense always has to account for him, and he opens up things for others.

Now the Cavs can just sag off guys, pack the paint, and just dare them to shoot.

I am really starting to think if Kyrie's ego will allow it, have him come off the bench.

Play Delly for 36 mins a game, let Kyrie be a shooter off the bench for 20 mins. While rest might not be the best thing because you need to exercise the knee, less use and gradual use would most likely be the key.

I know it might seem odd, but it might be the best thing for both Kyrie and the team at the same time.

They likely start Bazemore instead of Korver now. The frees up Shumpert to take Teague and you could potentially hide Kyrie on Bazemore. Bazemore might give better D than Korver, though hes supposedly a good help/team defender, and the guys he was checking werent exactly breaking him down on ball. He was the key cog in the offense in the regular season, it'll be interesting to see how the defensive game plan adjusts with him now out. Maybe they try to go to Millsap and Horford more, both of whom can score on Moz or TT?

Ill disagree you dont sag off now regardless of whose out there. you play tight on the perimater and let the inside guys do their job.. why cause next series with either houston or golden state thats what ya gotta do.

Its gonna be alot tougher to keep curry from getting open (who at one point was 80% on uncontested 3 pointers) so you keep the defense attack the same way

perimeter defense will be the key in any series goin forward. You can beat the warrior while they are shooting 35% from three but your gonna have a hard time if they in the forties.

Key to curry is keeping him from taking open shots. he gonna score regardless so you make him work those points.

as far as this series. the Hawks need to start antic and pair him up with horford or milsap or switch milsap and horford assignment wise.

Why do i want to see these things because I want to see how the Cavs and mostly Blatt responds

Rest him.

We didn't need Korver to go down to "hide Kyrie". We could have done that last game by putting him on Carroll. We don't need Kyrie to play at all this series anyway.

Dungong said:

They likely start Bazemore instead of Korver now. The frees up Shumpert to take Teague and you could potentially hide Kyrie on Bazemore. Bazemore might give better D than Korver, though hes supposedly a good help/team defender, and the guys he was checking werent exactly breaking him down on ball. He was the key cog in the offense in the regular season, it'll be interesting to see how the defensive game plan adjusts with him now out. Maybe they try to go to Millsap and Horford more, both of whom can score on Moz or TT?

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Few will remember, but I have been a Bazemore supporter for years. He was buried on the depth chart in the Bay, but he got a chance when he was traded. He is a talent in the open court and has great length. He is a poor outside shooter and can make some bone headed mistakes in half court offense, but he is a quality backup small forward. I was a little pissed Atlanta signed him, to be honest.

spydy13 said:

This can't be overstated enough. Our best defender is now free to guard whoever we want him to now. It will help take some load off of LeBron, which will make him all the more energetic on offense.

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Honestly at this point we may want to rest Shumpert. Forget Kyrie, for GS he might be the second most important player behind Lebron [emoji15]

Not to get to far ahead but, if GSW and Cavs both sweep, it will the first time since 1957 that both the East and West finals were sweeps. Boston 3-0 over Syracuse and St. Louis 3-0 over Minneapolis.

Just wanted to let you know before the media looks it up.

Could the Hawks start Schroder at Shooting guard and Teague at the point, then Carrol, Millsap and Horford?