NBA Finals Game 5: Cavaliers @ Warriors June 14th, 8:00 EST

[flop]

Ive got Curry on mute

 

[Flight479]

Agreed. Iggy had been the game changer on both ends. He's scoring consistently and guarding LeBron. While Curry had been scoring he's hiding on offensively challenged Shumpert. Iggy would have my vote

 

[2 For The Brew]

This isn't little league but if that is your mindset to professional sports more power to you. 51 years of grace, what's another year. I get that in the grand scheme of things sports are utterly meaningless, but it'd be nice to spend my time rooting for a winner not consistently a loser.

If you think this team is a "loser" then you clearly don't understand the word.

 

[Posterchild]

I wouldn't even feel right beating a crippled team.

However if We beat GSW without Thompson and Green it would definitely be an asterick by the win and the media would not be fawning over every play of the Cavs.

 

[bigfoot5415]

I hope Lebron gets finals mvp just so curry can whine a whole fucking year. We all know who the best player on the planet is.

 

[Ace Kicker]

Losing game 5 hurts because the warriors didn't beat us... the refs did.

 

[Flight479]

View: https://twitter.com/ESPNNBA/status/610282070556979200

Sorry to be negative, but wasn't game 7 @ MIA?

 

[MRMsix6]

You GTFO! You don't completely go away from a guy who got you 28 points last game just because the first 5 minutes of the 1ST didn't go well. That kinda stuff causes guys to stop fighting for you. So again you GTFO!

They started doubling Mozgov in the post and it was obvious he couldn't handle it. He's not a good passer or decision maker out of the post.

They immediately put Mozgov in the PnR on the other end and he couldn't handle it. He cannot cover any perimeter players, and that's almost exclusively what GS played outside of brief Lee stints.

And they weren't playing him at all like they were in the previous game. The coaches recognized that quickly, why couldn't you?

On top of all this, the officials completely changed how they are officiating his contests at the rim, ALWAYS giving the GS player calls.

So again, if he shows he's liability on both ends because of the lineups on the floor he shouldn't see a ton of minutes. Mozgov has been benched PLENTY of times throughout the season and kept playing hard, why would he stop now, in the finals?

 

[Gus Zing]

Here is what Blatt needs to do defensively.

Tell everyone to stick close to your man. STOP HELPING. STOP SWITCHING. STOP FALLING ASLEEP.

If Curry is going to score 50 or 60. So be it. Stay tight to your player. Let Steph try and beat us one on one. Stop letting these other guys get so many open fcking looks. Stop letting the Iggy, Barnes, Green's get confidence. LOCK IN.

We have to tighten up defensively if we want a shot.

Where is the defense of the 1st 3 Qrts that played hellacious? We need that. We cant run with these guys. Stop taking the bait!

 

[Stark]

No matter what happens guys, it's been an awesome ride with you all since I joined this board in the midst of the dark times. I'm honored to post a finals game thread on this forum.

I'm on my way to Indianapolis though so when I get to my hotel and settled some content will be up.

I blame this.

 

[I'mWithDan]

Sorry to be negative, but wasn't game 7 @ MIA?

Yes but I think in this instance, it's easier for us because the pressure in game 7 is so immense that it honestly doesn't matter where it is played.

As the team without home court, all you can really do is force a game 7 and live with the results.

If it's not enough, it's not enough.

 

[D10S]

The bottom line is that all Golden State really has to defend is LBJ. Sure - if he exerts an inordinate amount of effort we can find a fairly good shot. But, that's to their favor as well. The game plan is to run LBJ into the ground. It's a good game plan. Yes - the refs sucked fucking cock. No doubt about it. Just in general, no rhyme or reason. But, look at the quarters. Tied the first, lost the second by one, lost the third by five, lost the fourth by seven.

I don't see any way to succeed other than run a motion offense, take the onus off LBJ and continue to play balls to the wall defense. It's the only option left. Blatt has done what he can. What's frustrating is that the defensive approach has been team oriented. Why can't we buy into something similar on the offensive end? The only thing I can think of is that we are too tired to exert the effort required to run motion. If you think about it, many of the players, as many as four really, get to rest on offense while LBJ does his thing. Maybe this is strategic as well? IDK.

 

[flop]

If LeBron puts up another game like tonight and this goes 7, it is a travesty if he doesn't win MVP in a losing effort.

Through 5 games:

37 points, 12 rebounds, 9 assists......2 triple doubles.

If he doesn't get MVP, they might as well throw the trophy away.

It won't happen but I'd love for James to win MVP just to see the shit stain on Curry's face.

 

[2 For The Brew]

Of all the Cleveland sports heartbreaks of the last 25 years this one hurts the most because we would have won the title if not for 2 fluke injuries.

It hurt pretty badly in 1976 when we were the hottest team in the NBA and Chones broke his foot.

 

[D10S]

Iggy can guard James 1 on 1. Mozgovs day in the sun was over as soon as Kerr showed he was gonna double him.

This is true in isolation. LBJ is not as explosive as he once was. (This was evident on the early foul on Green as well.) LBJ picking up the ball while in motion is still un-guardable. This should be what the Cavs strive to do.