NBA 2017-2018 Season

[CA Dreamin]

Throughout the season, I figured this was not going to be a Warriors-Cavs NBA Finals. Even when KD, Klay, and Curry were all healthy early in the season, Golden State wasn't as dominant as last year. When all three were injured in March, I couldn't assume all three would be 100% in the playoffs. It felt like it was gonna be the Rockets this year. On the flip side, Cleveland lost a huge contributor in the offseason. As a result, they dropped to the fourth best record in the East. I couldn't foresee Cleveland getting past Toronto and/or Philly. If Boston was 100% healthy, I wouldn't think Cleveland could get past them either. Heck, they barely got through Indiana in the first round. But here they are in the Finals again.

Here are both Golden State and Cleveland in the Finals again, this time overcoming the odds and significant challenges...for one having to win Game 7s on the road. I know some fans are bored by Warriors-Cavs for the 4th straight year, but I think it's really cool. They're forcing other teams to elevate their game, and be more active in acquiring the right players necessary to beat them. And that's exactly what Houston, Boston, Toronto, and Philadelphia, among other teams have done. And to me it seemed like one them was going to end the streak. And yet, who was it that showed up and played their best basketball when it mattered the most? Golden State and Cleveland. To all you fans bored by it, look on the bright side. You're witnessing something really special, something that has never happened in NBA history. I don't think it's ever happened in any sport. The same championship matchup four years in a row. Wow.

Anyway..

[Mercury]

Cavs over Warriors in 6!
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-Ryan

ONLY 4% of people can understand this chart! Come try!

My Fave Metal - you won't believe #5!!!

[AfterHours]

I should obviously stick with the Warriors. All logic points to a 4 or 5 game series victory over the Cavs.

But screw it. In the interest of keeping this interesting...

Cavs over Warriors in 7.

Now, do I really think this will happen? Nope, I think the Warriors have about a 95% chance of winning the series.

But I can hope...

IF all of the following happens, the Cavs have a decent shot:

(a) Lebron has a monster series, on the order of 2016 (when he was as impressive offensively as 2017 but with much better defense).
(b) Cavs need to play out of their minds on defense, particularly their starters. They need to match the Warriors starters with an athletic starting 5. They need to stay highly focused, communicate and switch rapidly. They probably should not start Love (or he should play center and be their only big man). They should probably start Lebron, Hill, Korver (to keep up with 3 pt shooting), Nance, Green. Then their bench should be inside (down low) and 3pt heavy with Love, Tristan Thompson, Hood, Clarkson/JR Smith (who can also replace Korver if his defense/lack of athleticism becomes too much of a liability) and Hill or Lebron running it at all times, with Calderon perhaps on occasion. Theoretically, the Cavs actually have the better bench and deeper team though they havent often played like it.
(c) They need to slow the pace down, particuarly the starters, to limit Warriors number of possessions and especially every time the Warriors start getting lots of momentum/sudden surges & barrages of 3s.
(d) They need to muck it up, play physical, get in the Warriors heads a bit.
(e) They need to go inside enough to draw fouls, getting Green, Durant and Igoudala into enough fouls to make them hesitant/backed off on defense. Best if they plant such hesitancy by halftime or during 3rd quarter.
(f) They need to shoot 3s at a good percentage (35% or higher) and probably need to make at least 10 per game. This includes making the extra pass to find open shooters.
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[mdbaxter]

It's too bad that we couldn't get a different match up this year but the conference finals were enjoyable. Crazy to think that if the Celtics and Rockets shoot merely horrible instead of astonishingly bad from behind the arc, both teams in the Finals are probably different. I have high hopes for the Celtics moving forward, though.

Also, don't think the Cavs have any chance. Keeping my original prediction.

[Repo]

[mickilennial]

Hayward-Era Celtics will be gr8

[YoungPunk]

They should ban 3 pointers, make the game more interesting...

[CA Dreamin]

Pretty anticlimactic as expected.

[Romanelli]

[Romanelli]