The ILF-ILNBA Basketball Thread

[hbombgraphics]

The Roster didn't trust him, but the Roster isn't stacked enough to deal with The Warriors or Spurs either
Coaching matters but you can't win playing ISO ball like that all year especially with an aging inefficient bronbron

[rustywire]

The Roster didn't trust him, but the Roster isn't stacked enough to deal with The Warriors or Spurs either
Coaching matters but you can't win playing ISO ball like that all year especially with an aging inefficient bronbron

Cavs would be lucky to win 1 game against a finals matchup of either Spurs or Warriors.
I heard a stat recently...the Warriors haven't won a game in San Antonio...since 1997.

SAS is legit the best franchise & culture in pro sports, and it comes from top-down.
This Warriors team has been so successful in part due to Kerr's relationship with the Spurs organization.
He brought a lot of that culture to the team, who bought-in and won a chip. You NEVER see the Warriors or Spurs jack up bad shots like the Suns, Wizards, Nets and so on. They always look for that last pass, always try to find the open guy. And if they don't, they sit. And they win with class.

I remember Mark Jackson had the Warriors borderline flagrantly-fouling the Rockets his last year there...because the Rockets were ON FIRE and pushing to break the all-time single game 3point record. He said "I'm an old school coach and you aren't going to do that against me". Lost the game, won the dubious honor of not being on the losing end of such a record, lost the gig. Think Pop & Kerr play that kind of petty shit? BRB rings.

[rustywire]

Also Cleveland will remain title-dry this year, next year & long after Lebron retires.
Sorry Ohio

Kyrie is superstar, legit no.1 pick material.
But he's an AI-type pg. You won't win with the ball in his hands.
If he were an Isiah Thomas pg, maybe...but not since '89-90 has such a player lead the team to a finals victory...and that was the old NBA.
This is a completely new era, I think that ship has sailed.

[D.o.S.]

Yeah that's probably incorrect but ok. It does feed into the storyline hype quite nicely.

[rustywire]

Yeah that's probably incorrect but ok. It does feed into the storyline hype quite nicely.

http://thebiglead.com/2013/05/08/the-la ... years-old/

But I heard it from Bill Simmons, he's usually on point with this stuff.

[D.o.S.]

But I heard it from Bill Simmons, he's usually on point with this stuff.

Triggered.






I wasn't talked about the dubs in SA, though. Don't want to talk about it on the weekend but I'll come back on Monday and explain my position.

[rustywire]

K you talk about "that" when you're ready to discuss "it"

K bro, K

[pelliott]

oh my god that's so many hot takes

First of all Simmons is a joke compared to his former self and no one should read him at this stage

So Kyrie's still only 23 years old. He's still got room for growth. He's also one of the few players in the league with the potential to go point for point with Curry at the same efficiency.

The Cavs have bad habits like the ball sticking in tight games against good teams, and much of the time that doesn't work but you have two of the best ISO players on earth. They do need to consistently move the ball but do a good job of it in general.

There's a good chance the Cavs don't win the title this year or the next or the next but there's no way of knowing what happens this postseason or the next. ANYTHING IS POSSIBLEEEEEE

[odontophobia]

Surprised to see Blatt go just because of the record they have and the potential to return to the finals but the locker room chemistry is real and needs to be fixed.
How long before it turns into Lebron player coaching?

[rustywire]

I don't think Simmons has written a column in like 6 months.
And his leaving being canned from ESPN for criticizing their master Roger was a blessing in disguise.
He's so much more entertaining now he doesn't stick to the clean version script. Boston sports guys are hilar to me and I grew up NY market.

2 of the best ISO players on earth do not beat team basketball executed at the level of the Spurs, Warriors. (I'd take KD+RW over Lebron+Kyrie now, too).
Only 1 guy can have the ball in his hands at a time and ball movement is faster. No Cavs lineup can compete with the Spurs or Warriors going small ball as currently constructed. The Cavs are quietly one of the longest teams in the league with too many bigs. They're built for pre-2012 NBA success.
They got rid of Waiters (good move) Bennett (good move) Wiggins (Harden-trade-level-BAD).
Speaking of which Kyrie's current game mindset is too much Harden and his body is too much Bradley Beal. His ball handling is second to none as is his ability to finish at the rim...but he forces the issue and jacks up bad shots or seeks a bailout pass to one of his watching teammates like the majority of the elite Kentucky/AAU farmed 1-and-done talent after being 'the guy' since they were kids. The Cavs can have 2 of the best ISO players and still lose 3 out of 4 games against well-coached teams. So while the East is top-to-bottom better as a conference for the first time in a decade+ and the Cavs make short work of [them] ...the west is top-loaded with the Spurs/Warriors/Thunder.
The East still cant compete with that, in this present state. I'm just hoping we get a Spurs/Warriors series this year...and also a Spurs/Thunder or Warriors/Thunder series

[pelliott]

All I'm saying is to have two of the best bucket-getters in potentially close games is very valuable. Efficient ball movement is clearly preferable but Hero Ball does have its place. Not over-reliance on it, obviously. And to say they have zero chance against the elite West teams (they'd probably beat the Thunder) is reductive. Their odds aren't great but they could definitely beat the Spurs and Warriors in a seven game series.

[pelliott]

Although coaching change midseason may well change those odds. WE GON SEE

[rustywire]

Midseason coaching change plus the coming trade. Speculation I know, but it's been inevitable IMO since about 20 games in.
Also at no point did I suggest [the Cavs] have NO chance. I said they'll lose 3 out of 4.
Fluke injury, horrific officiating and plenty of other variables can quickly change the landscape.
But a full strength Cavs team wont beat a full strength Spurs/Warriors team if they meet in finals...even with home court advantage.
Thunder...maybe. They're def potent yet most vulnerable of the 3. I think Thunder are going to trade Waiters and get another ball handler to come off the bench. At least I hope so. If they could somehow dump him for Ricky Rubio, Jose Calderon, Caron Butler or even Steve Blake it would be a huge net positive. Even Jordan Farmar is a major upgrade from Waiters and his chucking. Get him back in the league. Rudy Fernandez too. I'll even say they should have kept Ish Smith or brought him back when he was available

[pelliott]

Is Steve Blake still alive?

I'd be shocked if the Thunder got a significant role player for Waiters. And Rubio's definitely not the quality they'd get for him.

[odontophobia]

Is Steve Blake still alive?

I'd be shocked if the Thunder got a significant role player for Waiters. And Rubio's definitely not the quality they'd get for him.

Steve Blake is alive and currently riding pine ever since Swag Jennings came back.