Round 2 Game 1 | Cavs vs. Bulls | May 4, 2015 | 7:00 PM ET

[Jordan]

I think both of the two extremes are wrong tonight. This is not the end of the Cavs season. I mean, I highly doubt Cavs get swept, followed by LBJ leaving this summer, Love dying from an infection, Blatt getting fired, and Cavs bringing in Scott Skiles to coach the team.

With that said, people who have blind optimism are equally foolish. The Bulls exposed the Cavs tonight. We didn't lead the entire game. Lebron took silly jump shots the entire game because we were not spreading the floor effectively. Kyrie disappeared in the fourth. Etc.

Right now Blatt and the coaching staff need to figure out a way to come out and win the next game. If we don't the people declaring the end of our season our probably correct, but who knows, that's why they play the games. I never would've thought we would've played this poorly tonight. So really, who the hell knows.

 

[Rich]

People realize that if LeBron isn't shooting jumpers hardly anyone is? Someone has to try and space the floor, people.

 

[TitleTown]

Doesn't matter if they are over-confident, if we are down to 2-3 players who aren't total a$$. We've got Kyrie, we've got Shump (who tries), we've got head-up-his-a$$ LeBron, we've got TT and Mozzy, who had limited impact, and we have LeBron's decrepit entourage, and then we have the end of the bench, which Blatt is afraid to use. That roster can't beat the Bulls. Maybe Superhero LeBron pokes his head in the door. Maybe TT or Mozzy takes his game up a notch. Maybe Blatt has the good sense to use Marion and Captain America over JJ and MM. If none of those things happen, we are SOOL.

I'm not giving up and crying after one game. We were close in this game--very close. You're far too doom and gloom.

Moz has a lot more to contribute, and LBJ isn't going to make the same dumb plays down the stretch next game.

And then, we get JR back in game 3.

Go ahead and give up if you want to, but I still feel great about our chances.

 

[KilgoreTrout]

OK, I've moved on from this game. Please give us a haiku that trashes that POS Olynyk.

Yes! Someone has his thinking-cap on! The greatest art is born of suffering! Art HEALS! Thank you!

(clears throat)

Dorky sissy-boy
No game, only dirty tricks
Deserves castration

A$$hole girly-man
Breaks the hearts of Cleveland fans
Prepare for your hell

Satanic Canuck
I have gift for your scrotum
It is this bear-trap

 

[TitleTown]

People realize that if LeBron isn't shooting jumpers hardly anyone is? Someone has to try and space the floor, people.

Wrong. We have Kyrie, Shump, and Miller to space the floor, and all three of them were hitting shots tonight.

LeBron needs to get his ass in the post, and play inside-out.

 

[Helium filament]

Barely scrape by? They led by double digits for quite a while and we never led. If we don't shore up our shoddy pick-and-roll defense it'll be Chicago who wins the next 3.

Kind of crazy how history repeats itself. Our pick and roll defense was the main thing I (and many others) were so concerned about after the Spurs game, but were told we shouldn't complain after a win. Unfortunately, this has been a reoccurring issue this season, and it's really hurting us now when we can't just easily outscore them. Hopefully they make adjustments before next game.

 

[KilgoreTrout]

I'm not giving up and crying after one game. We were close in this game--very close. You're far too doom and gloom.

Moz has a lot more to contribute, and LBJ isn't going to make the same dumb plays down the stretch next game.

And then, we get JR back in game 3.

Go ahead and give up if you want to, but I still feel great about our chances.

Dude- If I didn't grow up in NE Ohio, I might say: teams have ups and downs. Sometimes the ball bounces our way, sometimes it bounces the other guys' way. But in NE Ohio, THE BALL ALWAYS BOUNCES THE OTHER GUYS' WAY.

 

[Jordan]

Yes! Someone has his thinking-cap on! The greatest art is born of suffering! Art HEALS! Thank you!

(clears throat)

Dorky sissy-boy
No game, only dirty tricks
Deserves castration

A$$hole girly-man
Breaks the hearts of Cleveland fans
Prepare for your hell

Satanic Canuck
I have gift for your scrotum
It is this bear-trap

Idk if you are into death metal, but if so, you have a future as the lead singer of Cannibal Corpse.

 

[KilgoreTrout]

Idk if you are into death metal, but if so, you have a future as the lead singer of Cannibal Corpse.

I have taken your advice and am now in my garage, putting together a demo-tape. Something productive must come of this tragedy.

 

[Redzone]

Let's be real. We are missing three starters, including Andy. The league screwed us by suspending JR 2 and a half playoff games, while giving jackass only a one game suspension next year. He was not even thrown out of the last game. That is why we lost tonight.

I thought the Cavs played hard, but were gassed. The Bulls kept on making shots, and we almost won. The refs for some reason look away when LeBron is getting hacked, including on that three near the end. Went to the game, sat four rows from the Court, had some good looks at the plays and it just drove me nuts when the Cavs are getting hacked and no call, and then we touch bodies with the Bulls on the other end and the ref blows the whistle.

So the NBA does not want us in, for whatever reason. There is simply no other way to justify the unequal calls at home.

The bottom line: our bench is terrible, one of the worst of all playoff teams. Next year we lose lots of dead won in return for players who can actually play.

Tristan showed tonight why he is no Kevin Love and not worth close to what he is seeking. Valuable, yes, but there are plenty of other guys who I'd pay over Tristan.

The Cavs can't let LeBron play GM next year just so he can be surrounded by his friends.

If we win Wednesday, we have a chance. If not, it's see ya next year.

The saving grace is no way does Kevin leave now. He and the Cavs now know his value.

 

[Andrew]

This needs to be a wake up call, this needs to light a fire in their intensity and fuel them for game 2.

WTF happened to the defense? I know we are short 2 guys, but I can't count the amount of stupid defensive moves on just my hands. It's understandable if one switch results on TT on Rose, but multiple? Not even getting back on Gasol from 16 ft inwards?

This felt like a feel-it-out type game, it's just a shame they had to have one in the postseason (I hate you Boston).

Too many wrongs than rights this game. It was counter productive to start Miller. I get it, he spreads the floor in theory but when you quickly subbed him out and then went right back to him in the 3rd, any sort of defensive lapse Chicago is going to take advantage of. Blatt, you are a good head coach, just work on the in game adjustments.

I think the Cavs can win this game if they made an adjustment on Gasol. But I can't think of anyone besides a James that could neutralize him but then James is huffing and puffing on one end so his offense would take the hit.

A lot of adjustments need to be made, I expect a different starting unit and a different sub pattern in game 2.

This isn't the end of the world, you have to win on the road to win anything in the playoffs, if Chicago wants to play their starters into the ground, by all means, do it. Chicago is too bi-polar to keep this offensive rhythm up, they will hit cold spurts. It's just in those cold spurts, Cleveland scores on their end.

I am worried, but I am not distraught over this loss. It happens, the grit and test of a champion is measured by how you react, let's see how Cleveland reacts.

 

[TitleTown]

Dude- If I didn't grow up in NE Ohio, I might say: teams have ups and downs. Sometimes the ball bounces our way, sometimes it bounces the other guys' way. But in NE Ohio, THE BALL ALWAYS BOUNCES THE OTHER GUYS' WAY.

Dude, I grew up in NE Ohio too, so don't give me that crap.

 

[Benedict_Boozer]

I'd be more concerned if Rose wasn't throwing up so much garbage and hitting it. That's just not sustainable IMO, I give him those looks all series and if he keeps hitting them tip your cap and move on.

 

[Frank Reynolds]

I'd be more concerned if Rose wasn't throwing up so much garbage and hitting it. That's just not sustainable IMO, I give him those looks all series and if he keeps hitting them tip your cap and move on.

I mean remember, he's been waiting to even play for a long ass time. He's going to have a swagger. I think those are going to drop and you are going to be sadly mistaken.

 

[Cavatt]

I'd be more concerned if Rose wasn't throwing up so much garbage and hitting it. That's just not sustainable IMO, I give him those looks all series and if he keeps hitting them tip your cap and move on.

The defense has to get better too. There were moments of playoff defense from the Cavs, but they were really out of sorts.