NBA Finals 2015: Cavs vs Warriors

[Walter White]

The Warriors really haven't dealt with an ounce of adversity. All we have had is adversity from day one in these playoffs. If we hit them with a little adversity and make them feel some pressure, they might fold up. If we steal one of the first 2 games on the road, who knows what could happen.

 

[MalTalm]

Well, I wouldn't count on the splash brothers being cold like Korver has been most of the playoffs. And I think we'll have to switch a lot in that match-up.

To coaching: different players, different defensive adjustments.

Korver isn't particularly fast, and he shoots much better in catch-and-shoots than off the dribble. Why aren't we switching? Likely because Shump is faster and has the length to bother Korver the best. While you're absolutely right he had to fight through as many as 3 screens to get to the ball at times, I'd invite you to go back and watch his shots. Shump was, at worst, still on his hip by the time the ball was delivered, and Korver was hurried into getting the shot up fast.

My guess is the Cavs see a rushed open shot from Korver as a victory, and Korver absolutely missed a couple despite having a good look because he was off-balance from sprinting to his spot and had no time to set his feet.

That won't work with Klay or Curry, who can both put the ball on the floor and reposition their shot. My guess is, we'll apply a completely different scheme. We'll probably see more sets with both JR and Shump on the floor as they can switch off effectively with LBJ at PF, Thompson at center and either Kyrie or Delly at point.

Hell, maybe they'll even float LeBron out to the wing to play point and clog the paint with Thompson and Moz. They have options, I'll love to see how we attack that GS offense.

 

[spydy13]

The Warriors really haven't dealt with an ounce of adversity. All we have had is adversity from day one in these playoffs. If we hit them with a little adversity and make them feel some pressure, they might fold up. If we steal one of the first 2 games on the road, who knows what could happen.

Not only have they not faced adversity, no one on their team has been to the Finals. We have LeBron, plus guys on the bench like Miller, Jones, Marion, Haywood, Perk, Andy that can tell our other guys to keep faith when things go sideways.

 

[Heavyweight]

Overrated? This was a top ten offense all year and one of the deadliest three point shooting teams in the league. The Cavs have now held a 100+ ppg offense under 90 twice in a row, on the road. When are we finally going to start giving credit to the players and even more to the coaches for their defensive schemes?

That's all good and nice but that's the regular season Marcus, they struggled vs Brooklyn/Wizards too my man, plus just look at their squad don't tell me about their offensive firepower. I'm not trying to discredit anybody they have done a terrific job but the fact remains that Bulls/Hawks are no where near the level of the Warriors. That's all man. I wanna discuss cause I care not trying to bash anyone.

 

[KI4MVP]

Not only have they not faced adversity, no one on their team has been to the Finals. We have LeBron, plus guys on the bench like Miller, Jones, Marion, Haywood, Perk, Andy that can tell our other guys to keep faith when things go sideways.

Their coach has been to a few.

 

[Otsego Mar]

Their coach has been to a few.

Their ROOKIE head coach

 

[Soar]

The Warriors really haven't dealt with an ounce of adversity. All we have had is adversity from day one in these playoffs. If we hit them with a little adversity and make them feel some pressure, they might fold up. If we steal one of the first 2 games on the road, who knows what could happen.

They were down 2-1 to Memphis.

But I think it is hard to tell how good the Warriors actually are. Throw out the regular season.

They haven't had any injury issues.

They swept the Pelicans, who don't have much other than Davis and some of those games were close.

The Grizzlies were actually up in the series but had injuries to Conley and Tony Allen. The Grizzlies also really lack a dynamic wing player.

The Rockets have probably the worst defensive backcourt in the league which is a terrible in a matchup against the Warriors.

I just kind of question how good the Warriors are given that they didn't have to face a healthy Thunder team, the Spurs, or even the Clippers who beat the Spurs. The Clippers also beat the Warriors in last years playoffs.

 

[Jscc]

I'm curious how GS would go about defending both LeBron and TT.

If Draymond is on LeBron then TT is going to eat Barnes alive on the boards or if Draymond is on TT and Barnes is on LeBron then LeBron on the block all day just like he did against Carroll in game 1.

 

[MaccabiCavs]

Don't understand people being "certain" of us beating GSW. I think we CAN beat them, but they CAN beat us as well. I think it's the most balanced series the NBA has to offer that no one could perdict the outcome. It could really go both ways.

GSW can and has the talent to beat us, and the Cavs can and has to talent(especially if Kyrie is healthy) to beat GSW.

I cannot wait for this series.

My prediction: 4-3 to the cavs. I would like it to be 4-2 because I want the Cavs to celebrate their championship in their home court but I see it go to 7.

Game 1 - Cavs
Game 2 - GSW
Game 3 - GSW
Game 4 - Cavs
Game 5 - GSW
Game 6 - Cavs
Game 7 - Cavs

 

[KI4MVP]

It should be a good finals (assuming we both close our our series), especially if Kyrie can be reasonably healthy by then. If you go by the computer rankings, their path to the finals has been pretty close. Even though the west overall is tougher, the teams GS has faces is roughly equivalent to what the Cavs have faced. Here are the final computer rankings of their opponents

Pelicans 12/Celtics 13
Bulls 9/Grizzlies 8
Rockets 6/Hawks 5

http://espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/powerrankings

The other high ranked teams in the west (spurs at 2, clippers at 3, blazers at 7) were all eliminated by other teams, so GS never faced them. And the 60 win Hawks are the highest rated team either team has faced in the playoffs. Also, only golden state (42-10) had a better winning percentage against the west than the Hawks (22-8).

Thus far both teams have swept round 1, gone down 2-1 in round to only to rebound and win 4-2, and both are up 2-0 in the conference finals. We've had to fight through more adversity (Love injury, JR suspension, Kyrie injury vs their only losing Speights).

Playoff rankings the two teams are 1 and 2 in offensive efficiency (107.5 vs 107.4). I was pretty shocked to see this given the perception we're now a defensive team instead of an offensive team like we were before our injuries, I only pulled up the page to see how or defenses ranked and we've been quite a bit better (98.1 for us, 100.0 for them).

 

[CavsFanJapan]

The Warriors really haven't dealt with an ounce of adversity. All we have had is adversity from day one in these playoffs. If we hit them with a little adversity and make them feel some pressure, they might fold up. If we steal one of the first 2 games on the road, who knows what could happen.

Totally agree with this and another poster that stated that none of the players have been to the finals. GSW is a team that you can emotionally get at. Go right at Klay Thompson and get some early fouls and he pouts. He gets out of his game. Tell Mozzy to irritate that fucker Bogut and wait for the flagrant. Get him out of his game. Livingston is the only one that knows true adversity and he is not going to factor into the outcome of the series. I see Houston as a bigger threat than GSW however, I feel we can take them in 7.

 

[World B ThAreee]

I've watched a crapload of Warriors games this year. This team is no joke. The Cavs will absolutely be the underdog, and for good reason. That said, this talk of them being "all-time" good is WAY premature (ESPiN sensationalizing shit? No WAY!). They are definitely not invincible. Their main advantages would be home court and health. The latter is a biggie. Imagine if Bogut (Andy), Thompson (Irving), and Green (Love) weren't healthy. They wouldn't have made it out of the first round. I know those comparisons aren't perfect at all, but as far as importance to their teams I think it's pretty accurate.

No excuses, though. This would be LeBron's biggest achievement and undoubtedly his favorite championship, and it's pretty tough to doubt that guy when he sets his sights.

 

[Frank Reynolds]

Yes! ^ World B for the win.

Do you feel the Cavaliers will fare better (psychologically) as the underdog? Does Bron want that role? He said he'll never be the underdog, but how's the media going to portray this series going into it? LeBron at a disadvantage, banged up squad versus a supposed MVP and supposed GOAT team. I think that gets a response out of Kyrie and LeBron. One thing I have learned about the Cavs; we haven't been that big of a statement team, we're much better when responding. If we were at full strength, perhaps we'd be making statements and blowing teams out of the water. I think our toughness and resiliency is the biggest statement we've made thus far.

I really believe a combination of Shump, Delly and Bron on Curry in key moments might be the recipe. If Bogut gets into foul trouble, I'd force our size on GS and post Bron 15-20 times per game.

I think Draymond can bother James a little bit, Bron probably commits a few turnovers, but let's get real here; although Draymond is a high quality ball player, LeBron is an all-time great and Draymond is just coming up. I get what fuels Draymond, but at the same time he's limited physically. He's tough, gritty and aggressive like Dellavadova, but he' still physically limited. LeBron is anything but physically limited, and his passing and court vision game would be the best in the series by either team and we've got shooters too.

 

[secund2nun]

Lebron would shut curry down just like rose but I'd imagine they would try delly and shump on curry first and see how they do.

 

[Pioneer10]

I'm curious how GS would go about defending both LeBron and TT.

If Draymond is on LeBron then TT is going to eat Barnes alive on the boards or if Draymond is on TT and Barnes is on LeBron then LeBron on the block all day just like he did against Carroll in game 1.

Thompson will be interesting, he's not done well in the past with stretch 4's and it looks like GS will go with Barnes and Green a lot of PF. TT naturally tendency is to keep rebounding position and protect the rim which has left him vulnerable to 4's with range (see Olynk this year and guys like Ilyasova, etc in past seasons). The Bulls between coaching and injury never got Mirotic going except game 3 but otherwise TT has faced guys like Milsap, Gasol, and Noah none of whom I'd called 3 point gunners.

May end up being the key matchup of the series. Otherwise I could see the Cavs simply going to Lebron at PF. Considering that leaves us with 3 other guys in Smith, Delly, and Shumpert who can drill open 3's while playing solid or better defense, we're a team that can go mano a mano with the Warriors. Kill the pace and force them to try to stop Lebron in the half court and make them work for every shot.