OT: Can the Cavs Win This Series?

[ScarletRunner]

I'll add my thoughts...

Great, great series. I know the games haven't been close, but two very, very good teams just imposing their will. Mental toughness from GS to win on the road in Game 4, then from the Cavs to regroup and pull even.

Lebron isn't Jordan, but that is a pretty high standard of comparison. We may not see another Jordan in the next 100 years, or ever. But Lebron is likely one of the Top 5 players of all time, and assuredly Top 10. For those who disagree, list your Top 10 and #s 8, 9 and 10 are going to look pretty silly with Lebron still out there.

Now on to Game 7...
I agree tha the Cavs have benefitted from the officiating and Golden State missing a lot of open shots. I have to believe there is going to be a course correction with one or both. On the flip side, if Iguadala is out or hobbled, that is huge as Lebron only has to worry about Green since he is just abusing everyone else GS throws at him.

I think we finally get a close game, but Curry, Thompson and company make too many shots and it's a ~5 point GS win. Lebron's 2-5 finals record is an albatross on his legacy and - barring a run of two or three championships over the next few years - he is viewed more as Jerry West than Michael Jordan.

 

[shields]

Irving is banged up too, I believe was limping the other day.

 

[LotusAggressor]

I'll add my thoughts...

Great, great series. I know the games haven't been close, but two very, very good teams just imposing their will. Mental toughness from GS to win on the road in Game 4, then from the Cavs to regroup and pull even.

Lebron isn't Jordan, but that is a pretty high standard of comparison. We may not see another Jordan in the next 100 years, or ever. But Lebron is likely one of the Top 5 players of all time, and assuredly Top 10. For those who disagree, list your Top 10 and #s 8, 9 and 10 are going to look pretty silly with Lebron still out there.

Now on to Game 7...
I agree tha the Cavs have benefitted from the officiating and Golden State missing a lot of open shots. I have to believe there is going to be a course correction with one or both. On the flip side, if Iguadala is out or hobbled, that is huge as Lebron only has to worry about Green since he is just abusing everyone else GS throws at him.

I think we finally get a close game, but Curry, Thompson and company make too many shots and it's a ~5 point GS win. Lebron's 2-5 finals record is an albatross on his legacy and - barring a run of two or three championships over the next few years - he is viewed more as Jerry West than Michael Jordan.

Jerry West is arguably one of the greatest players in NBA history. He's the league logo. West, like James, had the misfortune of being on teams that usually weren't as good as the teams they lost to in the Finals. You could make a solid argument that James has been on the better team only twice in the 7 finals he's played in. None of the Cleveland teams James has been on were as good as their Finals opponents. The Heat were better than the Thunder and the Mavericks and not as good as the Spurs. Despite this, he's got 2 championships. Granted, he won't be viewed in the same light as Jordan, but those Bulls teams were much better than everybody in the NBA.

 

[mikebal9]

Yes. Yes they can.

 

[RU848789]

Yes. Yes they can.

Yep, was just about to say that. Epic game. People still think LeBron isn't one of the best ever?

 

[RUhasarrived]

Cleveland is spoiled.The championship and Donald Trump in the same summer?

 

[Rokodesh]

 

[Riceonthebanks]

That was the culmination of one of the better stories in sports. Son comes home to win a championship. Injuries leave his wounded team short last year. They get the rematch against the record setting juggernaut. Come back from 3-1to end the drought a beleaguered city. Feel great for Ohio. Really enjoyed the Cavaliers.

 

[Rokodesh]

Lebron's amazing block tied at 89

 

[PiscatawayMike]

Time to break out this Ian Hunter classic!

 

[RU848789]

Lebron's amazing block tied at 89

View embedded media

That block was sick. Curry may be the best shooter in the NBA, but LeBron is still the best overall player and that defensive play is emblematic of how good he is.

 

[ntlrock1]

No

 

[jay_hq]

 

[BigEastPhil]

You can tell a lot of bad feelings still exist between Dan Gilbert (owner of Cavs) and Lebron. No hugs between the 2 of them; Gilbert was very cool towards Lebron and vice versa at the celebration - and all the Gilbert kids wore Kyrie Irving jerseys.

BTW on Irving, he's a heckuva player and seems like a heckuva nice; intelligent person as well. All Class.

 

[RUinOhio]

Lebron showed he is the best player in the league. MVP. Was never a fan, but he's in the conversation as best ever. Down 3-1, win 3 in a row. 2 on the road where the Warriors only lost 1 game. Unbelieveable.

His block with the game tied may have been the best play in the history of the finals.

 

[Knight Shift]

Lebron showed he is the best player in the league. MVP. Was never a fan, but he's in the conversation as best ever. Down 3-1, win 3 in a row. 2 on the road where the Warriors only lost 1 game. Unbelieveable.

His block with the game tied may have been the best play in the history of the finals.

no.

 

[shields]

Congrats to Cavs. The Warriors played dumb and that behind the back pass by Curry was just stupid.

 

[R1950]

Despite this, he's got 2 championships. Granted, he won't be viewed in the same light as Jordan, but those Bulls teams were much better than everybody in the NBA.

This. Taking nothing away from Jordan at all, but those Chicago teams had much, much more than just him, Incredible feat this year by James and his Cleveland teammates.

 

[RUinOhio]

game 7, score tied with 2 minutes left. that block totally changed the game. Those Jordan plays are great, the Lebron play is in the conversation. And I did say MAY, not was.

no.

 

[Nosoj]

A guy I work with drove up to Cleveland (around 2 hours from here) last night to watch the game in a bar there, partied till 2am then drove back to come to work today. The videos he has of the bar and the streets afterward are crazy.

Last night was probably the most nervous I've been for a non-Buckeye game, ever. Can't wait to see the 30 for 30 on this season/series.

 

[Knight Shift]

game 7, score tied with 2 minutes left. that block totally changed the game. Those Jordan plays are great, the Lebron play is in the conversation. And I did say MAY, not was.

Having a difficult time getting over my Mebron dislike. It was a spectacular play, but it is difficult to compare to plays that occurred 20-25 (or more) years ago. I used to watch a lot of NBA basketball, particularly in early 1990's. I am a huge fan of Michael Jordan (if you can't tell). Agree with others who have said it is difficult to compare players from different teams and different eras. It's easier to say that Lebron is one of the greatest NBA players in the history of the game. Where he ranks? That depends on the biases the person making the rankings brings to the table.

 

[fischy5000]

Lebron's amazing block tied at 89

View embedded media

If Iguadala had gone up strong from the start none of that would have happened. He tried to get cute and out maneuver JR Smith and that slowed his shot up enough to let Lebron come in and block it. If he would have just gone straight up, at the very least he would be on the foul line (not that he is a great FT shooter though). He probably could have gone up and under the rim for a reverse layup too and use the rim as a blocker for the defenders.

 

[fischy5000]

I dont know if it's come up much in the media analysis, but I think a key point in the game was in the 3rd qtr (i think?) when GS was starting to take a bit of a lead and seemed like they could easily start opening it up and JR Smith hit a couple 3s to keep the Cavs close. If he doesnt hit those, I think the game would have taken a different path.

 

[RU848789]

game 7, score tied with 2 minutes left. that block totally changed the game. Those Jordan plays are great, the Lebron play is in the conversation. And I did say MAY, not was.

Agreed - that play is of the same quality as Jordan's, but the timing/impact in game 7 elevate that play to a smidgen above any individual Jordan play in my opinion. Still think Jordan is the best ever player, but LeBron is in the top 5.

 

[Akron Buck]

Lebron is the GOAT. No one has led their team back from 3-1 and no one has ever lead the finals series in all statistical catagories.

 

[RUChoppin]

no.

If you're going by the spectacle of a given play, I think Kyrie Irving had some jaw-droppers in this series.

If you're going by "spectacular play in key moment", I think Jordan had a few final shots that would need to enter the equation, too.

 

[RUinOhio]

hey I'm with you. I was NEVER a Lebron fan, or a Cavs fan. Grew up a Larry Bird fan....I'm a transplant here. But last year Lebron took that team shorthanded to the finals. This year his play in the finals has convinced me he's one of the greatest ever. The last 3 games his performance was spectacular.

Having a difficult time getting over my Mebron dislike. It was a spectacular play, but it is difficult to compare to plays that occurred 20-25 (or more) years ago. I used to watch a lot of NBA basketball, particularly in early 1990's. I am a huge fan of Michael Jordan (if you can't tell). Agree with others who have said it is difficult to compare players from different teams and different eras. It's easier to say that Lebron is one of the greatest NBA players in the history of the game. Where he ranks? That depends on the biases the person making the rankings brings to the table.

 

[Nosoj]

I dont know if it's come up much in the media analysis, but I think a key point in the game was in the 3rd qtr (i think?) when GS was starting to take a bit of a lead and seemed like they could easily start opening it up and JR Smith hit a couple 3s to keep the Cavs close. If he doesnt hit those, I think the game would have taken a different path.

They did talk about it on local radio here in Columbus. It was early in the 3rd...GS had pushed the lead to 8 and he hit 3s on back-to-back possessions, then Kyrie or Lebron had a layup to tie things up. And I completely agree, if Golden State hits a few shots and JR misses and all the sudden you're down 12 or 14 things could have gotten ugly. Huge makes by JR there.

 

[Crazed_RU]

If you're going by the spectacle of a given play, I think Kyrie Irving had some jaw-droppers in this series.

If you're going by "spectacular play in key moment", I think Jordan had a few final shots that would need to enter the equation, too.

I don't know the circumstances of all the great Jordan plays, but that Lebron block occurred in a Finals Game 7, tie score with less than 2 minutes remaining, after an Irving forced air ball on the offensive end. It was a testament to how he is able to impact a game at crunch time without it being a scoring play. I'm not positive but my guess is that most of Jordan's remarkable plays involve him scoring.

 

[Knight Shift]

I don't know the circumstances of all the great Jordan plays, but that Lebron block occurred in a Finals Game 7, tie score with less than 2 minutes remaining, after an Irving forced air ball on the offensive end. It was a testament to how he is able to impact a game at crunch time without it being a scoring play. I'm not positive but my guess is that most of Jordan's remarkable plays involve him scoring.

 

[RUChoppin]

I don't know the circumstances of all the great Jordan plays, but that Lebron block occurred in a Finals Game 7, tie score with less than 2 minutes remaining, after an Irving forced air ball on the offensive end. It was a testament to how he is able to impact a game at crunch time without it being a scoring play. I'm not positive but my guess is that most of Jordan's remarkable plays involve him scoring.

Don't forget that Jordan was also an elite defender. He was NBA 1st team defense from 87-93, and again from 95-98 when he came back. He was defensive POY in 1987-88.

 

[Crazed_RU]

Don't forget that Jordan was also an elite defender. He was NBA 1st team defense from 87-93, and again from 95-98 when he came back. He was defensive POY in 1987-88.

True. I wasn't really getting into the "who's better" debate. I just thought the timing of that block from Lebron and the fact that it was a game altering play at crunch time that didn't involve scoring was something really unique. 90% of the time in that situation the play that people remember to win a game or take control of a series is some sort of scoring play and the fact this was a blocked shot I thought was so cool. I'm an 80s kid though so I totally get Jordan and his dominance.

 

[Plum Street]

Why in God's name isn't this game being played on Saturday night?

Sunday at 8pm? I mean seriously. Get people excited. Allow people to get together at their homes, the bars would be rocking, etc...

Obviously they ran the numbers and they believe they will make more money. And that is all that matters. What a shame.

Highest rated NBA game ever . I would say they know what they're doing.

 

[miketd1]

^^^ I watched it and I haven't seriously followed basketball since Linsanity (and that was only for Linsanity...)

 

[MozRU]

Highest rated NBA game ever . I would say they know what they're doing.

True. but not many of us in this office watched it.

 

[jmc11201]

Great job by LeBron and the Cavs. The thing that stands out to me is that this series wasn't easy for them. As others have said, the Cavs weren't the most talented team and while Kyrie had a very strong series, that is a mediocre team, at best without LeBron. To come back the way they did was very impressive.

As for LeBron vs Michael, it is impossible to know. I think LeBron is physically more gifted (size, strength, athleticism) but that Jordan probably had the greatest will to win of any player I've ever seen. Michael was obviously physically gifted, but not 'freak of nature' like LeBron. At the same time, LeBron showed tremendous will to win the last few games, but I think Jordan gets the edge as he would probably want to beat a 3 year old in tiddley-winks.

The tough thing about the comparison is we watch LeBron all the time, so his great games get viewed while his mediocre games remain fresh in our memories. Jordan's mediocre games have long since been forgotten, so he only grows in stature in our memories.

 

[miketd1]

If Bron Bron somehow brings the Knicks a championship, IMO that would cement him on the Mount Rushmore at least (Top-4)

 

[R1950]

Agreed - that play is of the same quality as Jordan's, but the timing/impact in game 7 elevate that play to a smidgen above any individual Jordan play in my opinion. Still think Jordan is the best ever player, but LeBron is in the top 5.

Very hard to compare players of different eras, but if Jordan is the greatest of all-time, I would have to rate Lebron at 1B and Kareem at 1C just a tad behind Jordan. I will say this, the way Lebron played in this series down 3 games to 1 against the team with the best record ever equals or maybe even surpasses anything Michael ever did and I was a HUGE Jordan fan.