1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

****The Official 2015-16 NBA Thread****

Discussion in 'Other Sports Forum' started by TiP54, Jul 1, 2015.

  1. Serpico Jones

    Serpico Jones Well-Known Member

    4,697
    1,667
    113
    Feb 1, 2012
    Cavs getting blown out at halftime.
     
  2. Galant

    Galant Love - Unity - Sacrifice - Eternity

    19,127
    11,058
    113
    Apr 22, 2014
    This from ESPN:

    "Q: Can the league upgrade the foul without suspending Green?

    Yes. Among the potential outcomes of the league's investigation is upgrading Sunday's kick to a Flagrant Foul Penalty 2, even though the officials on the floor stopped short of that.

    Yet even if the foul is upgraded to a Flagrant 2, VanDeWeghe can still decide that Green is eligible for Game 4. An automatic ejection for a Flagrant 2 happens during the game, but not necessarily after.

    There is recent precedent for such a ruling. Earlier in the season, Atlanta Hawks point guard Jeff Teague avoided suspension after a hit on Minnesota Timberwolves rookie Nemanja Bjelica was upgraded from a Flagrant 1 to a Flagrant 2."
     
    sports24/7 likes this.
  3. Fin-O

    Fin-O Initiated Club Member

    11,375
    11,392
    113
    Sep 28, 2015
    OKC over TOR in 6?
     
  4. Galant

    Galant Love - Unity - Sacrifice - Eternity

    19,127
    11,058
    113
    Apr 22, 2014
    Bottom line - NBA wanted to be seen recognising the foul, 'punishing it', but not interfering with a playoff matchup - let the teams/players decide.

    I can understand the mentality, but the fallout might be what star players will think they can get away with.
     
  5. Vertical Limit

    Vertical Limit Senior Member

    12,162
    5,057
    113
    Nov 25, 2007
    Its a little comforting as a Heat fan to see the Cavs struggle against Toronto. But the Cavs are fully healthy, we were without Bosh and Whiteside and still took it to 7 games. I expect Cleveland to make a comeback now but if they come short theyll win the next two games.
     
    sports24/7 likes this.
  6. Dolphins1Beatles

    Dolphins1Beatles Ziggy Stardust

    4,749
    1,940
    113
    Oct 9, 2009
    New York
    Note the Raptors are without their best player in Valanciunas.

    They still may probably lose the total series but I have no idea why they were given zero respect, a la experts predicting an easy going for Cleveland and that whole CBS semifinalist poll that asked "Who will win the NBA Finals? Cavaliers, Thunder, Warriors, Other." They did have a 2-1 record against the Cavs during the season.
     
  7. finfansince72

    finfansince72 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    13,843
    10,283
    113
    Dec 18, 2007
    Columbia, South Carolina
    Well Cleveland has put itself in a position where they could very well lose this series to Toronto. I don't think the league wants an OKC/Toronto series ....
     
  8. MikeHoncho

    MikeHoncho -=| Censored |=-

    52,652
    25,565
    113
    Nov 13, 2009
    Because **** them that's why!

    Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
     
  9. ckparrothead

    ckparrothead Draft Forum Moderator Luxury Box

    79,599
    159,162
    113
    Dec 1, 2007
    So I guess if the Cavs win it all then LeBron is LeGone from LeLand once more?

    I'm a little torn here.
     
  10. sports24/7

    sports24/7 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    32,925
    41,464
    113
    Nov 25, 2007
    Their best player? I think you meant 3rd best player. JV is good, but there are 2 other all-stars on that team.
     
    GARDENHEAD likes this.
  11. sports24/7

    sports24/7 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    32,925
    41,464
    113
    Nov 25, 2007
    I just don't buy this as a real probability. For a guy looking to collect as many rings as possible why start over again with a new team when you just proved you can win with this one?
     
    MikeHoncho likes this.
  12. Serpico Jones

    Serpico Jones Well-Known Member

    4,697
    1,667
    113
    Feb 1, 2012
    I still think there's a better chance he leaves if he loses, imo. It would be an embarrassment of major proportions to lose this series.
     
  13. Vertical Limit

    Vertical Limit Senior Member

    12,162
    5,057
    113
    Nov 25, 2007
    I think theres a better chance of Lebron leaving if they lose against Toronto. But getting to the Finals will be enough for him to stay.

    Though lets face it, his brand is unbreakable, he can leave and join the Warriors and his brand wont take a hit. Not saying that will ever happen, around the league you always get the feeling Curry does not like Lebron
     
  14. MikeHoncho

    MikeHoncho -=| Censored |=-

    52,652
    25,565
    113
    Nov 13, 2009
    There's no way in hell they lose to this Raptors team. Raps get about 10 free throws more than the other team when playing at home. Consistently. Two of the remaining games, however, are in Cleveland.
     
  15. Section126

    Section126 We are better than you. Luxury Box

    47,525
    72,483
    113
    Dec 20, 2007
    Miami, Florida
    [​IMG]
     
  16. ckparrothead

    ckparrothead Draft Forum Moderator Luxury Box

    79,599
    159,162
    113
    Dec 1, 2007
    I dunno i think i buy SAS's take on it more. He promised Cleveland a trophy. He isnt going to leave in defeat. His pride won't allow it. But if he gets Cleveland that trophy he could say you're welcome and then head back somewhere he likes playing more. And then he will act surprised when everyone is all butt hurt that he left, despite him having gotten them a trophy.

    As for starting over again, that doesn't seem to phase him, nor should it. He brought Cleveland to a Finals, left and immediately brought Miami to a Finals (and then three more), left and then immediately brought Cleveland to a Finals again (and then possibly one more if he can regroup against Toronto). Starting over ain't no thang.

    If you are LeBron James you have to think, I have been go five straight NBA Finals with two different teams. Working on a sixth. That is incredible. Your normal human rationalizations do not apply.
     
  17. sports24/7

    sports24/7 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    32,925
    41,464
    113
    Nov 25, 2007
    I don't know. He is obviously good enough that it might not matter, but it took 2 years to win in Miami, and will take at least 2 years in Cleveland. Staying with one team, maybe you cut that time down. He only has so many years left in his prime, and is trying to win as many as he can to be considered amongst the best. I don't know that adding any variables to the equation helps him reach that goal. I hope I'm wrong, and you are right, though.
     
  18. finfansince72

    finfansince72 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    13,843
    10,283
    113
    Dec 18, 2007
    Columbia, South Carolina
    Well he'd have to find a team that would let him pick the coach, players, give his agent buddy 1st right of refusal and give his entourage full access to the organization like Cleveland does. I'm sure a few teams would do that but most of them suck.
     
  19. Muck

    Muck Throwback Uniform Crusader Retired Administrator

    14,523
    22,246
    113
    Nov 25, 2007
    Sunny Florida
  20. Fin-O

    Fin-O Initiated Club Member

    11,375
    11,392
    113
    Sep 28, 2015
    So you think it is crazy for me to think that with their two best players Cleveland was going to win the championship, but speak with certainty that Miami with their two best players would've beaten Toronto?

    Do you see the problem here?
     
  21. Limbo

    Limbo Mad Stillz

    2,476
    1,128
    113
    Mar 21, 2013
    I wouldn't put anything past LeBron with this kind of thing. Like, I have a hard time imagining him staying in Cleveland if it seems after a few years that he can't win there (and therefore being seen as a failure who didn't actually bring that ring he promised). He's just a weird cat when it comes to this stuff.
     
  22. rafael

    rafael Well-Known Member

    27,364
    31,261
    113
    Apr 6, 2008
    I still expect the Cavs to win this series and I don't expect Lebron to leave Cleveland either way. IMO he made a poor basketball decision when he left Miami and he would be making a poor basketball decision again if he left Cleveland. Now I don't think this Cavs team is well put together. IMO it is a lesser team than he had with the big 3 and a lesser team than what he would have had currently had he stayed in Miami, but it takes time to put a team together. He has to have figured that out by now. If he left he'd have to start that process again and with all the minutes he's played in his career, the clock is ticking. While I don't believe the Cavs would beat a healthy Warriors or OKC, injuries happen. Cleveland doesn't tend to be lucky, but maybe they'd be lucky on the injury front this time and finally get that title.
     
  23. Stringer Bell

    Stringer Bell Post Hard, Post Often Club Member

    44,356
    22,480
    113
    Mar 22, 2008
    At this point in his career, I think ensuring a manageable workload has to be top priority for LeBron. IMO one of the big reasons why LeBron left Miami was because he wants to be the guy on a maintenance plan. You can't have a team where two of your superstars are doing that.

    That said, LeBron has consistently surprised everyone with his decisions, and they have generally proven to be successful in hindsight. The narrative before he came to Miami was that he couldn't win a title. He went to Miami and won a title. Then the narrative shifted to he couldn't win a title without joining a team that was already there. So he went to one of the worst teams in the league, and is two games away from his second consecutive Finals.
     
  24. Stringer Bell

    Stringer Bell Post Hard, Post Often Club Member

    44,356
    22,480
    113
    Mar 22, 2008
    Cleveland isn't as good as the Big 3 team, but I think that this Cavs team is well assembled. They have a lot of guys that can shoot well from the outside, which gives LeBron a lot of space in the paint to attack. Channing Frye really was a huge pickup for them, because now they have two big men that can shoot well. That is why Chris Bosh was more valuable to LeBron than Wade - he could play the 5 and the opposing 5 out of the paint.

    IMO this is clearly the best non-Miami team Lebron has had.
     
    dolfan32323 and Stitches like this.
  25. rafael

    rafael Well-Known Member

    27,364
    31,261
    113
    Apr 6, 2008
    I think it lacks versatility. It lives and dies to much by the three point shot and there are other teams that shoot the three more consistently. Cleveland's three point game is very streaky. I see this Cleveland team as vulnerable to better shooting team or a team with a stronger inside presence. And I don't think they play defense well enough on a consistent basis and/or have the coaching/leadership to overcome those vulnerabilities. With Lebron they have a shot against anybody, but they should be an underdog against whichever team comes out of the West. And while I expect them to prevail against Toronto, that's not a given. A bad ref draw could easily keep them out of the finals.
     
  26. sports24/7

    sports24/7 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    32,925
    41,464
    113
    Nov 25, 2007
    I think you're ignoring the competition. The Heat went to 7 games (3 of those went to OT) against a very mediocre Raptors game without 2 of their best players (arguably their best player was out). Cleveland wasn't nearly that close last year against a legitimately great championship team. Big difference IMO.
     
  27. finfansince72

    finfansince72 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    13,843
    10,283
    113
    Dec 18, 2007
    Columbia, South Carolina
    While he and we certainly couldn't have known that Bosh would be facing a career ending injury type situation and 2 missed seasons, I think that this Cavs team is better than the Heat would be minus Bosh even if they had Lebron. Some of Miami's depth is very suspect.
     
  28. rafael

    rafael Well-Known Member

    27,364
    31,261
    113
    Apr 6, 2008
    I like the odds of Lebron, Wade, Whiteside, Dragic, the Johnsons and our rookies (I don't know if we would have pursued Deng) not to mention our coaching better than the current Cavs team with Lebron. And the odds of the team improving in the future are far higher in Miami than in Cleveland.
     
  29. Section126

    Section126 We are better than you. Luxury Box

    47,525
    72,483
    113
    Dec 20, 2007
    Miami, Florida
    You fail to see the difference between a series that featured three consecutive blowouts to close it out after a 1-2 start and a series that went 7 games with 3 OT games, and 2 other games decided in the last minute.
     
  30. Section126

    Section126 We are better than you. Luxury Box

    47,525
    72,483
    113
    Dec 20, 2007
    Miami, Florida
    what you are missing is that LeBron would be better here. His numbers here are no lie. They are telling of something....
     
  31. Section126

    Section126 We are better than you. Luxury Box

    47,525
    72,483
    113
    Dec 20, 2007
    Miami, Florida

    The Major differences between the Heat Big 3 teams and this one were these: Wade was better than Kyrie, Bosh was better than Love, and Miami Bron was better than Cavs Bron. Then you have SPO's coaching being a major factor, and Riley's "supervision".

    This Cavs team is deeper, and has a larger collection of talent. The major IN GAME difference is that Miami played lock down defense, due to how the team was constructed. This Cavs team is more offense oriented.
     
    Firesole and finfansince72 like this.
  32. finfansince72

    finfansince72 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    13,843
    10,283
    113
    Dec 18, 2007
    Columbia, South Carolina
    Would the Heat have Dragic and Whiteside if Lebron stayed here?
     
    MikeHoncho likes this.
  33. finfansince72

    finfansince72 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    13,843
    10,283
    113
    Dec 18, 2007
    Columbia, South Carolina
    I think if Bosh is healthy its a no brainer that the Heat would be better but with Bosh basically looking at a possible end to his career the Cavs have a better roster. Some of the Heat bench players are pretty bad...
     
  34. Section126

    Section126 We are better than you. Luxury Box

    47,525
    72,483
    113
    Dec 20, 2007
    Miami, Florida
    Who? the ones that matter are pretty damn good. (TJ, J-Rich, Winslow)
     
  35. rafael

    rafael Well-Known Member

    27,364
    31,261
    113
    Apr 6, 2008
    Absolutely. Dragic was the plan since before Lebron left and Whiteside would have been here on the same low contract.
     
  36. Fin-O

    Fin-O Initiated Club Member

    11,375
    11,392
    113
    Sep 28, 2015

    That was not a GREAT team last year imo....it went 6 games and Cleveland gave one away. All this with Lebron James and 4 guys you wouldn't know if you walked by them.

    It is by no means unrealistic to believe Cleveland would be the defending champs if healthy last season...just like it is not unrealistic to assume Miami would've beaten Toronto if healthy.
     
  37. Fin-O

    Fin-O Initiated Club Member

    11,375
    11,392
    113
    Sep 28, 2015

    You fail to look at it logically due to your distain for Cleveland and Lebron.

    JR Smith was as bad as he has ever been to to the extra emphasis on him HAVING to score, he wouldve been better had he just been allowed to do what he had done all season. Add in a VERY VERY good young PG and a Kevin Love (who all be it was quite avg last year) and it is quite easy to deduce a Cleveland title.

    Unless of course, you just do not like the way that sounds...then it is "this and that"
     
  38. sports24/7

    sports24/7 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    32,925
    41,464
    113
    Nov 25, 2007
    I thought LeBron went to Cleveland because the supporting cast was better and deeper. Now he's playing with a bunch of nobodies? Either way, that series wasn't all that close against a very good (if you don't want to call them great) team, whereas the Miami/Toronto series couldn't have been any closer.

    I'm not saying it is impossible that Cleveland could have won last year with those guys, but I don't think it would have been likely. In a series like this year's ECF that was a hair's difference, a HOF PF and very good center playing would have probably meant a win for that side.
     
  39. Section126

    Section126 We are better than you. Luxury Box

    47,525
    72,483
    113
    Dec 20, 2007
    Miami, Florida
    when you start a post like that....I print it out and keep it for emergency toilet paper. Ignored the rest.
     
  40. Section126

    Section126 We are better than you. Luxury Box

    47,525
    72,483
    113
    Dec 20, 2007
    Miami, Florida
    BTW..that team that was "not a GREAT team" was #1 on Offense, and #1 on Defense. Their Efficiency profile had them as the third best team in NBA History...but yeah...they were trash that got lucky because Kyrie ****ing Irving and Kevin ****ign Love were not there.

    I mean..come on.
     

Share This Page