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Just watched the game again, took some notes.

- While Hill did allow some buckets, he had no trouble staying in front of Kyrie. Seems to make a conscious effort to push ball handlers to their bad hand.
- there seemed to be a couple instances in the late 2nd quarter into the 3rd quarter where everyone just stopped moving and watched LeBron do his iso thing. Disconcerting. Upon further examination, LeBron had a couple really good matchups and it was the right move! Including Monroe on the perimeter.
- Didn’t keep track of the results, but Osman was right there with Kyrie on defense. The Celtics began spamming some screens (most of which were moving) to create space for Kyrie.
- speaking of Osman, cut to 10:25 in the 3rd quarter. Osman is being guarded by the highly touted Brown. Osman is off ball. LeBron penetrates and Brown, starts to drift towards the action leaving Osman unoccupied, Osman runs to the elbow anticipating LeBron seeing him, catches the pass and puts up an uncontested 3. Misses it, but another Cav rebounds it and finishes. LeBron is truly incredible but Osman made that play possible. Brown looked pretty bad the more I watched him on defense. Osman’s IQ is subtle but powerful.
- LeBron got caught a couple times playing too aggressive which led to some buckets. But he’s actually trying. Really setting the tone.
- there were 1-2 plays that Osman was deliberately made the primary ball handler despite lbj and Hill being on the floor. How’s that for building confidence in the kid?
- LBJ isn’t 2008 LBJ in terms of foot speed or explosiveness, but he’s still elite. He was there step for step with Tatum. His understanding of angles is gonna allow him to play the perimeter as long as he wants to I think.
- LNJ gave LeBron some help that he didn’t need (in a situation where 90% of players WOULD need the help) which led to an uncontested basket. Little things like that which add up to a point here or there will be ironed by the the finals. We’ll need all of those we can get. Also, LNJ isn’t a rim protector. Did anyone say he was? Idk. But I don’t think he is regardless.
- Hood has surprisingly (to me) good recovery ability on D.
- Korver sort of feels like a novelty with these young guys who can move their feet on defense as well as shoot. He’s still the best shooter, but his minutes should decrease accordingly. Idk if he’s playable in high leverage playoff situations honestly.
- LNJ has huge hands and knows how to use them.
 
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Pleasantly surprised with the win. Was expecting a loss since new teammates with no practice, but an engaged LBJ makes everyone better. Great to see young energetic athletes with LBJ, you can see he enjoys playing with them much like having Hickson/Varejao before. LBJ made Hickson a decent player.

Still very cautious moving forward. This team while athletic and young still largely depends on LBJ. The team still needs another all-star and a defensive bigman to challenge GSW. This version of the cavs also are very inexperienced in the playoffs. Hoping for the best though. Lesgo cavs!
 
One thing that have been said is that the Lakers and jazz both have beat gs the past couple of years. They aren't afraid.

They can play. Great poise today
 
I STILL can't believe the Pierce jersey retirement was scheduled for AFTER the game, so all those fans had to stay to watch the whole beating.

I mean, my God, that is fucking amazing. Warms my soul.

Last night I didn't need porn to fap.

That was enough material for me.
 
And of course Lebron is taking a long foot on the line 2 in the thumbnail.

He is taking them in the video too. I mean, I watch other team's practices, I watched the Celtics practice... this pratice is as amateurish as it gets and at absolute lowest intensity. It's like when you shoot before you start your 3 on 3 blacktop game. Where the heck is Lue and why isn't he running drills that have actual purpose.

No wonder IT couldn't get into game shape and was by far at his best when he just came back. So very unprofessional.
 
- Korver sort of feels like a novelty with these young guys who can move their feet on defense as well as shoot. He’s still the best shooter, but his minutes should decrease accordingly. Idk if he’s playable in high leverage playoff situations honestly.

With TT and especially JR showing improved play, Korver feels to me like our most expendable player post-trade. If we stay deep in the luxury tax his contract will cost Gilbert $30 million+ over the next two years, and he's not getting any more athletic. A player we should probably try to ditch over the summer, although I'll miss his unofficial role as shooting coach.
 
But who doesn't like each other? LeBron seems close to JR, Korver (due to the time they have spent working on LeBron's shot,) obviously Wade is like LeBron's brother. Everyone seems to love Frye. LeBron and Green seem to get along just fine. It also seems like he likes Cedi. Tristan used to be one of his guys, don't know about now post Kardashian. Calderon seems well liked. In fact the team seemed close all around during the win streak. I think LeBron is closer to Love then people think. So is it the two Boston guys and Rose?

I think the two Boston guys for sure. It seems like they were both pissed off that Boston traded them to basically the Celtics #1 rival. IT was obviously pissed and was more vocal about it. Crowder might have been not as vocal but never seemed like he fit in. Rose was just a head case. Rose was the shit a few years ago, IT thought of himself as a superstar on Love and LBJ's level. he never was though
 
Hill vs curry
Jr vs klay
Lebron vs Durant
Love vs draymond
TT vs zaza

Clarkson vs Livingston
Hood vs swaggy p
Cedi vs Iggy
Jeff green vs David west
Nance Jr vs McGee

That's how I see the playoff matchups vs the warriors.
 
Lebron vs Durant
LeBron can't pretend to guard Durant like he did last year; we need to figure out some kind of solution.

We're better off post-trades but beforehand I took comfort in moving LeBron to the 4 and sticking Crowder on him, taking turns with Green.

I'm not really sure what the game plan would be now. LeBron could commit to several minutes of trying to shut his water off, we would just have to get cagey with the rotations so he doesn't expend too much energy there and can go back to quarterbacking the offense.

I guess that leaves us with Green as the primary guy off the bench guarding him. I'd be intrigued to see how Hill would do on him, but his focus would be on Curry. Can Nance guard the perimeter at all?

If LeBron is going to be on Durant at all he has to actually guard him this time around. Last year he had to conserve all of his energy on offense and he just let him score at will...can't happen this year.
 
LeBron can't pretend to guard Durant like he did last year; we need to figure out some kind of solution.

We're better off post-trades but beforehand I took comfort in moving LeBron to the 4 and sticking Crowder on him, taking turns with Green.

I'm not really sure what the game plan would be now. LeBron could commit to several minutes of trying to shut his water off, we would just have to get cagey with the rotations so he doesn't expend too much energy there and can go back to quarterbacking the offense.

I guess that leaves us with Green as the primary guy off the bench guarding him. I'd be intrigued to see how Hill would do on him, but his focus would be on Curry. Can Nance guard the perimeter at all?

If LeBron is going to be on Durant at all he has to actually guard him this time around. Last year he had to conserve all of his energy on offense and he just let him score at will...can't happen this year.

Honesty I think if everyone is locked into trying to the matchups I listed I think we would have a decent shot of winning do to our bench.

If hill can make curry play defense and be physical with him he has a good shot to slow him down a bit.
Make klay exhaust himself trying to guard Jr
Lebron and kd cancel each other out with the edge going to lebron

Love vs green is tricky for us but I think love can hold his own

TT vs zaza I see TT having the edge here

Then comes the bench
I will give Livingston a bit of an edge over clarkson due to experience but I at least think Jordan will give him a tough time and may very well out play him

I take hood over swaggy p just because

Cedi vs Iggy is a odd matchup to me but I think cedi might just overwhelm Iggy with his energy

Green vs west I think will be a huge matchup if green can outplay west that would be a major advantage to us.

Nance vs MCgee is another big matchup for us
One thing that is something to look out for in this matchup would be basketball IQ its been said over and over that nances bbiq is on a different level and we all know about MCgees boneheaded moves over the years, now can Nance keep McGee off the boards defend McGee and score on McGee?
 
LeBron can't pretend to guard Durant like he did last year; we need to figure out some kind of solution.

We're better off post-trades but beforehand I took comfort in moving LeBron to the 4 and sticking Crowder on him, taking turns with Green.

I'm not really sure what the game plan would be now. LeBron could commit to several minutes of trying to shut his water off, we would just have to get cagey with the rotations so he doesn't expend too much energy there and can go back to quarterbacking the offense.

I guess that leaves us with Green as the primary guy off the bench guarding him. I'd be intrigued to see how Hill would do on him, but his focus would be on Curry. Can Nance guard the perimeter at all?

If LeBron is going to be on Durant at all he has to actually guard him this time around. Last year he had to conserve all of his energy on offense and he just let him score at will...can't happen this year.
I don't think LeBron should guard Durant at all. If this was 5 years ago then sure, but he isn't at that level defensively anymore. Durant's going to get his points no matter who is guarding him. There's no point having LeBron expend energy on him.
 

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