DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Cavs and NBA Playoffs Discussion

True. Outside of having a team riddled with injuries (see us), it's good to be up against a team that doesn't know how to get over the final hump (See Spurs in 07).

Until I see it happen with my own two eyes, I don't believe we'll win a title being the favorites, the healthiest, the fastest, the smartest, the most experienced, the underdog, or the luckiest. Getting past Boston, Chicago and Atlanta was nice, but we've seen advancement deeper into the playoffs before. We've never seen a Cleveland team win their last game.

Ohio State was an underdog in their last 3 games. If you throw in the MSU game, they were underdogs in their 4 biggest games of the year, none of which were at Ohio Stadium.

Sometimes the tougher road can bring out the best in a team.

Solid post. I see a team that's extremely focused and basically has an entire city behind them. We are literally "All In".

GO CAVS

To win a title, the Cavs need (not necessarily in this order):

1. To play fundamentally sound defense
2. Rebound everything
3. Kyrie to get, and stay, relatively healthy
4. Either JR or Shump to shoot reasonably well in any given game
5. LeBron to be LeBron

Nothing on that list is totally out of left field, it's all doable.

I think this is going to be a very close series, back and forth.. I think each team is going to play subpar at times, if a team can do that and still sneak out a win in that game, they will win the series.

I've got turnovers and rebounds deciding this series.

TT has been unreal in the rebounding department... here's hoping he keeps it up

Another thing thats probably overlooked and plays in our favor is with getting the warriors...we are alot bigger and more physical than they are.. And with them having Bogut, we could even rotate Perkins in for stretches without having to worry. Have him go in, be physical and set the tone. But we really lose to them when it comes to their bench.. Thats where I think we will struggle to beat these guys..Funny is they have 2 of our former players in Speights and Livingston. We have to look at the first two games as must wins..we need to win the first game, get that doubt in their head..They don't know what to expect. We have the benefit of having a bunch of guys that do.

I said after Irving got hurt that I didn't expect us to be able to win, and I'm still trying to keep that mindset, at least until the last 10th of a second clicks off the final game but I can't help but agree that we just seem to be a much more physical team. We'll see if that ends up making the difference, but from what I've seen of the Warriors up to this point, I think that we've got, as someone else said, a puncher's chance.

I think Lebron will have a great series. They'll throw Iggy and probably Barnes a little bit at him, but he'll be fine.

The combo of JR and Shump will be fine, shooting wise. Shump is a big factor in this series, because he's going to draw both Thompson and Curry at times. I think defensively, nobody will be asked to do more than Shump. He's a hell of a defender though.

With Thompson you just don't worry about rebounding.

The worry is Kyrie. We don't know what his status really is. I thought Blatt did a nice job of getting him little spurts of time on the floor the other night, but not overdoing it. At times he looked like the old Kyrie, but at other times you can tell he was bothered. I just don't know if a full week of will make that big of a difference. I just can't stress enough how worried I am about him trying to defend on the perimeter. If he's cooking offenisvely, you'll live with him not being able to stay in front of guys, but otherwise, it could bring the whole thing down.

I think defensively, we will be ok, but let's see how the refs let this series play out with how they will call things. Being physical against this type of team can help, but it's more about staying in front of guys and contesting everything. The Cavs showed unbelievable intensity in the Chicago series, but they were really allowed to pull back last series. Hey were so intense the first two games, but after that they really won on a mix of just being better, and Atlanta losing their will.

Something that's caught my attention, Golden State doesn't really have a big that could potentially punish us inside on defense. Bogut and Green really aren't guys that will beat up Moz and TT. We have the luxury of playing small against them.

However it's all irrelevant if Kyrie is banged up. We need him healthy to challenge whoever is guarding him. Klay got destroyed against Harden.

Yeah, sometimes it just looks like everyone else is standing still except him. He's a monster.

That Sir Charles article has me "scurred" last time he said we had the best team in the league we lost to Orlando in the ECF.

Oh well, hopefully this is the year of breaking jinxes.

Bogut is literally one of the best defensive centers in the league. He is just never healthy. He is also very dirty. Whoever he is guarding will most definitely get beat up.

Green was second in the defensive player of the year voting.

Bogut is also very unathletic, Moz will be able to hold his own.

Green can play some nice defense, I will agree there. But who cares about DPOY voting?

I think I worded my statement poorly. I was saying neither of those 2 can punish us with their offense.

I would agree with that. Green can stretch a defense out a little bit.

The Warriors biggest asset, besides Curry being the best shooter ever, is their depth. They have four guys to throw at LeBron (Barnes, Iguodala, Thompson, and Green). That also means they can switch on PNRs (not set by Mozgov). The Warriors defense is very underrated (even though it was the best in the league).

This series should be fun. I really hope that LeBron doesn't revert to iso ball and he at least runs a ton of PNRs. If he does the Cavs may have a chance to keep it close.

Ohio against the world

I hope the Cavs devise a defensive game plan similar to what teams did with Jordan back in the day. Make him the focus and make others beat you. You live with those results. If Grant goes for 30+ and you lose, so be it. But it was more likely even if Grant went for 30+ the Bulls were losing. That means Jordan was contained. I would devise a similar game plan on Curry.

I think the only way the Warriors keep it close is if Kyrie isn't 100%. Even then I expect the Cavs to win in 6, maybe even 5.

This is a golden opportunity to win some money at the sports books folks.

I heard the Warriors were favored by 6 for Game 1 (and heavily favored for the series in general).

I guess betting the other way would bring great fortune, but the Warriors are favored for a reason. I wouldn't have the stones to bet with the Cavs right now. Then again, I thought the Bulls were going to win the 2nd round series up until halftime of game 6.

With my Cleveland luck, I'd bet on the Warriors to win, but the Cavs would lose just enough to cover.

In other major news ... Anderson Varejao could be active for the finals. (but in sort of a "break-only-in-emergency" kinda way)
http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2015/5/29/8686137/anderson-varejao-activated-nba-finals-cavaliers

If the Cavs can win game 1 or game 2, I think the Cavs will win it in 6. The One game in Oakland and all three at home.


If the Warriors win both game 1 and 2 I think the Warriors in 5. Win both in Oakland, one in CLE (because the Cavs will be under pressure and drop one) and finish it off in game 5.

Varejao, I'm just not sure what to make of him. I mean I love watching him play, but he's the Montario Hardesty in a Cavs uniform. Just never ever healthy or dependable in terms of health. Ever.

Then again, this rumor is coming from Windhorst, who will just about say anything to stay relevant these days.

Relative to what?

Andy is going to have to be that 10 or so minute/night guy who is a luxury, and not a necessity. The team really has to look at him that way, because they cannot count on him to stay healthy for any appreciable stretch of time.

He really can't be their 3rd big, but as their 4th big could really bring starter quality play to 2 positions against the other team's backups.

I really can't see us bringing back both Thompson and Love next year .... but imagine if we could have Mozgov and Love as our 1st team unit, and then Thompson and Andy as the 2nd team. Think that would give other teams fits?

I don't see it happening .... but it is a nice dream.

If we have a chance to finish the Warriors in 6, I guarantee Andy will be on the court for the final 20-30 seconds for an ovation. Of course the game would have had to have been decided by then.


Honestly I have the same vibe as I did with Ohio State against Oregon. I think we win this in 6.

I hope you're right.

I will never bet against Lebron James. I don't know if we can manage to pull this off ..... but no way am I going to bet that we won't. (especially the way the team came together after Love and Kyrie both got hurt)

If Kyrie is healthy I don't understand why the Warriors are such heavy favorites, we match up better with them than a lot of other western conference teams. After we made the 2 big trades we've had the best record in the NBA.

Oh dang, it's true: http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2015/sto...iors-concussion

Probably a good chance he'll be back with a week off though.

This is what I get for posting before caffeine.

Anderson Varejao Will Not Be Available To Cavs For The Finals
By DARYL RUITER, 92.3 The Fan
May 29, 2015 3:40 PM

INDEPENDENCE (92.3 The Fan) – Despite rumblings to the contrary, Anderson Varejao will not be available for the Cavs in the NBA Finals.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported that there was a possibility that Varejao, who sustained a torn Achilles on Dec. 23 against the Timberwolves, could be activated for The Finals if needed. Cavs head coach David Blatt was asked about Varejao’s availability Friday afternoon and he had some fun with reporters when asked.
“Andy Varejao? That would be lovely. That would be great,” Blatt said. “I don’t know. Stranger things have happened in this world.”
The last part of Blatt’s reply sent reporters into a tizzy seeking clarification as to if that meant yes or no.
“I said stranger things have happened. I did not say he was playing. No,” Blatt responded when asked to clarify. “I don’t think so. I don’t think so. I really don’t think so.”
Varejao was averaging 10 points and six rebounds in 24 minutes per game before he went down.

http://cleveland.cbslocal.com/2015/05/29...YZtLqMY.twitter

lol, rebuked by an equally-misleading headline.

Please sit down, Andy. An achilles? just... no. do not re-tear that thing.

I hope Klay will be ready to play and it's nothing serious.

It's the homecourt. They have a great home record. If this two teams had the same records, but for whatever reason, the Cavs had home court, they would be favorited in Vegas.

It's alight, I prefer being the underdog. Cleveland teams seem to fall flat on their face when favored.

Good karma post.

If you listen to the guys on TNT we've only made it this far because we beat teams decimated by injuries..

Us being 100% and all..

Yaawwwnnnn.

Just rollin over.

Wake me if and/or when basketball starts up again.

Yeah seriously! Thursday is light-years away too!