You must not forget that if Cleveland does win the East that they are the best chance against S.A. since they were the only team to sweep them from the East.
Regular season has no bearing during the play-offs. The Cavs beat the Spurs both times b4 the All-Star break, as someone mentioned already the Spurs have the best record after it. Plus, the Pistons beat the Cavs 3 out of 4 during the regular season and they are on the ropes now. Yes, I'm sure the league would love to see the "chosen one" make it to the Finals and beat the Spurs, but I dont see that happening...speaking of the "chosen one", did anyone notice how when he complained about not getting fouls the refs actually listened and started calling more, but when Prince, Hamilton, Billups, Sheed,(of course) complained nothing happened. I dont want to get into the how bad the reffing was, the first four games the refs were "homers" as is expected, but they flipped the script Game 5 and it seemed like Detroit was the away team. I wont put all the onus on the refs, Lebron was on fire and was unstoppable even when he wasnt drawing phantom and touch fouls. I put almost all the fault squarely on Flip Saunders shoulders. As a Piston fan I call for his head if we lose this series. The inabilty to guard Lebron on 2 str8 possessions (uncontested dunks no less)at the end of regaulation are complete break downs that would not have happened under Larry Brown or probably under Mike Brown for that matter. I could say it was a result of no McDyess at the end of the game, but two str8 possessions?!?! Thats not even counting the final basket of the game, another Lebron uncontested dunk. Flip is not good at making adjustments during games and obviously during series. If the Cavs win congrats to them, they have played good team basketball, especially defensively, and Lebron has brushed off the unfair media hyped criticism from their first two losses and has rallied the team behind him. Now is the time for Piston "backs against the wall ball", Game 6 should be another good one.
Lebron's game is beef bold, to be sure. But c'mon Detroit, at some point in the first OT, you had to have realized that no one else was going to score, and make some kind of defensive adjustment. Double team him, triple team, heck, put four guys on him and then just have one guy standing by to pick up rebounds in case any of the other Cavs try to shoot. Do something, don't just sit their and watch this happen.
Lebron is great I will give him that but the officials do not call him on shit. I don't know how many fouls or travels I have seen him commit and no whistle. Mean while if the Pistons breathe on him it's a foul. It's pretty tough to beat the Cav's and the officials. I will give it to the Cav's they are a much better team than last year but the refs are helping them. Also this post season the Pistons have been playing crappy basketball. It's hard to watch them because I know how good the can be. I beleive they think they can just turn it on when they want and it just doesn't work like that. Flip Saunders is an aweful Playoff Coach. I miss Brown.
Why is it that it is always the losing team's fans who think that the refs were "homers?" just kiddin dezz
Double team him, triple team, heck, put four guys on him and then just have one guy standing by to pick up rebounds in case any of the other Cavs try to shoot. That's exactly what I was thinking. His teammates were scared to death to shoot the ball, especially on the perimeter. Every time he passed the ball, it was a look of, "Oh shit, come back and get the ball!" Most of his jump shots were fairly contested, but it was something else to see him drive to the hole with 3 Pistons standing there as they don't even make a move to defend. That wasn't Flip's fault- that was a player saying "I'm not getting bloody run over!" It's funny, though. Three cavs fouled out while none of the Pistons did (except that weak ejection).
Danny Ainge made a career out of flopping. So that explains his performance as Celtic GM... Ouch!!
The Spurs are a completely different team in the playoffs. I don't care that Cleveland beat the Spurs both times they played b4 the All-Star break. Whoever thinks the Cavs have a chance against the Spurs should have stayed up past their bedtime and watched the Spurs in the Playoffs. Their team defense is by far the best in the league. And like i said Lebron can score 50 a game in the finals and still get swept. I know Lebron is one of the best players in the league, but he can't do it alone.
BULL. The league is allowing Lebron to waltz into the lane and opposing players are stepping out of his way , not because of fear of LeBrons spectacular dunks , but out of fear that the refs will call a foul for looking at King Lebron too long or breathing on him. It's absurd the way the " Lebron Rules " have changed the dynamics of the game and it actually has taken players out of their game. There are 400 players in the league and it is disrespectful for the league to make one player so special. He's NOT a better player than Kobe , but of course he's not as controversial , so the league is willing to sacrifice their credibility and the credibility of the game in order to crown Le Bron as the next " KING ". Cavs vs Spurs , a SWEEP , King James wont have a chance.
The inabilty to guard Lebron on 2 str8 possessions (uncontested dunks no less)at the end of regaulation are complete break downs that would not have happened under Larry Brown or probably under Mike Brown for that matter There was NO breakdown. Each time Lebron walked into the lane , the Pistons players turned the other way. I have it on disk. The league has the other teams scared of King James .
but out of fear that the refs will call a foul for looking at King Lebron too long or breathing on him. They called the foul regardless due to the breathing. Remember when VC used to be the Next Big Thing with his driving skillz? Guess what, he was able to get a few calls until players starting giving him a good foul. Nothing flagrant, but enough to even prevent a decent shot and forcing him to shoot free throws. Granted the injuries have slowed him a shade, but he doesn't drive to the whole nearly as much and I think it'd because he's intimidated now. Same thing with LJ. The D needs to recognize that as long as they allow him to get those 2+1's with crappy touch fouls, he'll continue to take advantage. He'd be dumb not to. Rather, the D needs to not allow him to get a shot off and earn all his points.
posted by CAGON Ancient Chinese secret, huh? That was "Calgon". Just saying...
Lebron can't do it alone, so Gibson steps up. Good teams show up when it counts; don't blame the refs or say the Pistons are just playing bad ball, give credit (Recognize) the Cavs have arrived. If the Spurs are a completely different team in the playoff; they better be brand new come the finals. Here come those Cavaliers; young, bright eyed, talented, hungry, ready!
Michael Jordan, Magic, Bird, etc..... they all had a way with the ref; it's all part of the game. Stop making excuses for the Pistons getting spanked four games straight.
Cavs 4- Spurs 2, Lebron M.V.P, the dynasty begins.
Cavs 4- Spurs 2, Lebron M.V.P, the dynasty begins. Shouldn't a team actually have to win at least one championship before their fans start declaring a dynasty has begun?
You are watching it happen in real-time my friend.
The dynasty starts with a championship series over San Ant. The game analysis were saying the same thing.
4340, Slow down my friend. Even if the Cavs beat the Spurs, they will need a couple more after that to be considered a dynasty. Remember, analysts aren't always right, and using terms like "dynasty" is usually used to highten a sense of drama more than anything. Obviously Lebron could get in a car wreck tomorrow and the "dynasty" that we are so sure of won't happen. I do buy into the LJ hype, but i would suggest that we hang tight and wait before we buy into the "Cleveland dynasty" hype.
This championship series is going to be very, very interesting. Cleveland has definitely modeled itself after S.A. given that both Ferry as the G.M. and Brown as the coach were both brought up in the Spurs system that stresses team defense as the primary goal. I didn't think that the Cavaliers could make it to the Finals this quickly because it usually takes such a long time to teach good defense (with weak-side help, quick double teams, and clogging the passing lanes). And, as much as "chemistry" is a term that lazy sportswriters overuse, there is something to be said about having defenders trust one another enough to not try for ill-conceived blocks or steals and instead just play smart, hard-nosed defense with the moving of the feet and the getting into position and the hey-hey glavin. And, it helps for a team to have unselfish leadership on the court that can play team ball. The Spurs have that in Duncan, and the Cavs do in LeBron. As much as I want my adopted city to get it's first championship since another LBJ was in the White House, I know my first sports love too well to think that the Cavs are really ready for what the Spurs will bring to them. IF Ilgauskas can dominate in the paint and IF Hughes is healthy enough to play tough D and IF Marshall can drop threes at opportune times and IF "Boobie" Gibson can maintain a hot hand then MAYBE Cleveland can win this series. Regardless, this is going to be an entertaining series. I think we're going to see a lot of great defense leading to transition baskets from Ginobili, Parker, or LeBron. We'll see four crisp passes before wide-open shots, hard fouls in the paint, some very creative flopping, and a Spurs win in six. And, we'll see a Cavs team and the nascent Best Player Ever learn how to play championship basketball so that they can win multiple championships over the next decade. As a San Antonian in Cleveland, I could not be happier.
You are watching it happen in real-time my friend. Actually I'm not, I'm only catching highlights, as I've been watching Ottawa and Anaheim in real time.
Lebron can't do it alone, so Gibson steps up. Gibson was awesome and he should continue to be as long as the defense wants to double up on LJ. Gibson was simply smazing in that series for a rookie. Plus he was 33 of 37 from the free throw line, something Cleveland definately needs. IF Hughes is healthy enough to play tough D....IF "Boobie" Gibson can maintain a hot hand Gibson got more playing time these last several games due to hughes' hurt foot. Hell, if I got a say in it, leave the kid in there, Hughes didn't do much tonight anyway, or since the first game of that series for that matter. Gibson has out played him, all Hughes did tonight is stand outside the arch and throw up despiration 3's. Almost like he had no intention of even trying to drive in at all, not even two or three steps. By the way guys come on with the "dynasty" stuff, don't jinx us. We are a Cleveland sports team we do not need help in that area.
While I am at it, below is one of the dumbest excuses I've heard yet. The ref's barely ever call traveling on anyone. You must pick the reason detroit lost, either they played crappy, or it was the officials. However don't forget that in game 5 the Cavs won in 2 ot with 3 players fouled out. So it sounds like the ref's were calling them both ways to me. Lebron is great I will give him that but the officials do not call him on shit. I don't know how many fouls or travels I have seen him commit and no whistle. Mean while if the Pistons breathe on him it's a foul. It's pretty tough to beat the Cav's and the officials. I will give it to the Cav's they are a much better team than last year but the refs are helping them. Also this post season the Pistons have been playing crappy basketball.
Whether he's a faux Jordan or whether he's the next coming of Dr. J , it doesn't matter. Spurs in 4.
