Kyrie Irving

[gourimoko]

I know the regular season is a whole different animal, but I think the Cavs defended the Warriors excellently in their last meeting. Completely removed Steph from the game (or at least as much as anyone can).

The Cavs defense hasn't been otherworldly this year, but when the really big games came through, they stepped up.

A lot of teams worry me, but I can't say the Warriors scare me anymore than the Spurs, and only marginally more than even the Clips or Grizz. All of those teams are top tier and will take a herculean effort to beat. We'll go in as a coin flip, at least against the W's or Spurs, IMO.

I dunno man..

The only team in the West that I think could possibly be a 50-50 to beat us is Golden State. I'm very much in line with Vegas on this I guess; but I do not fear the Clips or Grizzlies in anyway at all.

Certainly the Spurs are dangerous, but I don't think they have an answer for either Kyrie or Love and that gives us a remarkable advantage.

I think Golden State can actually defend us fairly well, and can outscore us on any given night.

That's a frightening thought.

 

[godfather]

I dunno man..

The only team in the West that I think could possibly be a 50-50 to beat us is Golden State. I'm very much in line with Vegas on this I guess; but I do not fear the Clips or Grizzlies in anyway at all.

Certainly the Spurs are dangerous, but I don't think they have an answer for either Kyrie or Love and that gives us a remarkable advantage.

I think Golden State can actually defend us fairly well, and can outscore us on any given night.

That's a frightening thought.

Agree, gour. It's 50-50 I think, if these teams meet. And honestly, I think it's more like 60-40, given they will have home court. I know you can't be scared playing on the road, but this is like playing in hell almost. The crowd erupts, and their shooters just feed off it. A close game, quickly becomes a 10 point game in a matter of minutes.

That's going to be a very, very tough series if these two teams meet. By far the Cavs biggest challenge to a title.

I was thinking Spurs, and I do think the Spurs are tough. I just give GS the edge just because of home court. By far the toughest place to play on the road right now.

 

[Ohio]

Nobody on GS has been there before. LeBron has been there before. That matters a great deal. That is why the only team I fear is the Spurs. Truly believe we'd beat anyone else.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Wade's defense was also largely because he was athletic and could bully smaller point guards. Give Kyrie those natural gifts and he'd be just as good defensively.

Yeah, and if my aunt had balls she'd be my uncle.

 

[Pioneer10]

Lebron seems to own Igoudala and Barnes. I think AI normally is one of the best defenders in the league but Lebron seems to have his way against these guys when I've watched in the past.

It's the opposite of what I've seen with a guy like Leonard who really seems to make Lebron work out there

 

[godfather]

Nobody on GS has been there before. LeBron has been there before. That matters a great deal. That is why the only team I fear is the Spurs. Truly believe we'd beat anyone else.

True, but every team has to start somewhere, they're playoff battle tested, been through the ups and downs of playoff basketball. I think we're capable of beating anyone in a series. A championship is a very real possibility for us this year.

The only teams I see, where the series could go either way is GS and SA. It would not be catastrophic failure if meet one of those two, and happen to lose.

I just don't see anyone else in the West and no team in the East beating us in a series. Not suggesting we won't be challenged at all by anyone else, I think we will, but I'd be pretty surprised if anyone else ends up beating us. Not GS and SA though.

Oh well, it's never easy. If we are going to win it all we can't hide from anyone. That's what makes it fun.

 

[gourimoko]

Oh well, it's never easy. If we are going to win it all we can't hide from anyone. That's what makes it fun.

It's one of the reasons I'm not too upset about the East being so weak and us facing off against the Hawks. There is a good deal of upside in facing off against Atlanta for perhaps 6 or 7 games and figuring out Teague/Korver let alone their front-court.

I think the Hawks series will prove invaluable to the Cavs prior to the Finals.

 

[Chris]

Let's beat the Bulls first.

 

[gourimoko]

Let's beat the Bulls first.

That's definitely not a team I'm concerned about..

 

[godfather]

As long as there's a Kiss from a Rose, I welcome the Bulls. What a train wreck he is on the floor.

Since this is a Kyrie thread. Kyrie > Rose. He will easily have a better series, I am very confident in that.

 

[gourimoko]

As long as there's a Kiss from a Rose, I welcome the Bulls. What a train wreck he is on the floor.

Since this is a Kyrie thread. Kyrie > Rose. He will easily have a better series, I am very confident in that.

+1. No doubt in my mind about this..

Bulls have no answer for Kyrie Irving, let alone LeBron James...

Cavs in 5, maybe 6.

So fucking tired of people, year after year, over-hyping the Bulls. They're going nowhere so long as LeBron is healthy and in the Eastern Conference.

 

[Ohio]

The Bulls are a media hyped beast and nothing more. The team just isn't very good.

 

[TitleTown]

+1. No doubt in my mind about this..

Bulls have no answer for Kyrie Irving, let alone LeBron James...

Cavs in 5, maybe 6.

So fucking tired of people, year after year, over-hyping the Bulls. They're going nowhere so long as LeBron is healthy and in the Eastern Conference.

They are losing their coach after the season. Rose's knees are not making it through another season. The Bulls will be rebuilding by the trade deadline next year. Book it.

 

[blommen]

Eaaasy there. There aren't 10 players in the history of the NBA that I would take over Wade in his prime.

If he can become equal to Wade at some point, that's a huge accomplishment.

Jordan, LeBron, Shaq, Hakeem, Russell, Chamberlain, Kareem, Duncan, Big O, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, David Robinson, Karl Malone, Dr. J

Edit: and then tere's Kobe as well.

 

[Chris]

The fact that you had to list almost every all time great there should lend validity to the main point behind his post.