The Spurs are 2007 champs!(much more inside)

[Craig]

If the cavs could tie this thing up 2-2 maybe we can have a new ball game.

Anything can make this series more exciting is greatly welcome.

Can anyone tell me why the matchup pattern is 2-3-2 in the Finals?
Did the NBA announce the reason why they make it different in Conference finals and Finals?
It seems like the league want the whole series goes to Game 6 or 7?

[Elbeen]

because the two teams are from the east and the west thus makes travel harder if it goes in the other format

[shadowgrin]

It also makes the Finals' chances equal for both teams. The team with the better record has homecourt advantage while the team without the homecourt advantage negates that disadvantage if 3 of its games are played at home consecutively.


Gibson has been more clutch than LeBron in the Finals.
I just had to post that.

[dan_suth]

They need a second scorer. I know Boobie is doing great right now, but I'm pretty sure he is not good enough to be the #2 option. I wish Redd signed with Cleveland. LBJ really needs a shooter/scorer.

Just look at how good this team is playing when they have shooters on the court with him. Just imagine how this team will be like with Michael Redd or Ray Allen as #2. Shhh!

Wouldn't basically every team in the league be amazing if they had Redd or Allen as their #2 scorer? Obviously, they would both be an upgrade over Larry Hughes for the Cavs, but I don't really think Cleveland can afford to have a second player jacking up 20 shots a night.

[axare]

i sense a sweep...

[nylia]

They need a second scorer. I know Boobie is doing great right now, but I'm pretty sure he is not good enough to be the #2 option. I wish Redd signed with Cleveland. LBJ really needs a shooter/scorer.

Just look at how good this team is playing when they have shooters on the court with him. Just imagine how this team will be like with Michael Redd or Ray Allen as #2. Shhh!

Wouldn't basically every team in the league be amazing if they had Redd or Allen as their #2 scorer? Obviously, they would both be an upgrade over Larry Hughes for the Cavs, but I don't really think Cleveland can afford to have a second player jacking up 20 shots a night.

I wasn't saying that they trade for those players right now. I was stating the fact that those two were their first and second options.

Both re-signed with their respective teams, so Cleveland signed La rry instead (just for the heck of signing someone i suppose).

[nylia]

Just a thought remember when olajuwon led a 94' rockets team with a cast of role players to its 1st championship? Maybe lebron can do the same with his cavs but of course it's a long shot. Anyway just giving hope that all is not lost. If the cavs could tie this thing up 2-2 maybe we can have a new ball game.

Hakeem was unstoppable... LBJ?? very stoppable at the moment.


LBJ doesn't have a go to move yet. He needs to have one unstoppable scoring move. e.g. Hakeem's dream shake fade away, Jordan's fade away... he's unstoppable anyways, Bird's shot, Kareem's sky hook etc etc etc.

LBJ just does everything well... to a fault. I think sometimes he confuses himself. He can do everything so well he doesn't know what to do sometimes.

Just look at how he plays... when he drives the basket, he doesn't really drive, sometimes he wants to pop the jumper, sometimes go all the way. but most of the time he wants to pass...

He's confusing.. haha

[Indy]

I don't know who is more delusional, Cavs fans or Laker fans.

The Cavs just constantly talk about getting Redd or JJ as if the Bucks and Hawks are trying to get rid of those guys.

The Laker board on realgm had a thread that talked about the possibility of JO opting out and signing with LA for the MLE, and nobody really saw anything wrong with that idea....

[Jackal]

MLE? Are you nuts? JO?

C'mon, he'll just sign out of good will. The Championship will be his payment.

[Sauru]

It also makes the Finals' chances equal for both teams. The team with the better record has homecourt advantage while the team without the homecourt advantage negates that disadvantage if 3 of its games are played at home consecutively.


Gibson has been more clutch than LeBron in the Finals.
I just had to post that.

i actually feel that if the 2 finals teams are evenly matched its worse to have home court advantage, but i guess thats just an opinion

[maes]

Can anyone tell me why the matchup pattern is 2-3-2 in the Finals?
Did the NBA announce the reason why they make it different in Conference finals and Finals?
It seems like the league want the whole series goes to Game 6 or 7?

To reduce the fatigue of travel in the last 3 games, arguably the most important ones. They felt the LA to Boston travel time of the 1-1-1 (and you want these games to not be scheduled not very far apart) was causing the players to play not at their best level in the last 3 games of the Finals.

The Laker board on realgm had a thread that talked about the possibility of JO opting out and signing with LA for the MLE, and nobody really saw anything wrong with that idea....

People also have Rashard Lewis signing for MLE for Houston despite that he makes $10M now. Because it's worth $30M for the opportunity to walk upcourt and throw the ball into Yao and exit in the 1st round.

[[Q]]

anybody else hate that retarded David Blaine commercial aobut how people have magnets and shit? so far I've been Gordon, Ginobili, Baron magnet commercials and a Lebron "catapult" one where his jumping ability is explained by Larry Hughes jumping on the wood.

[ixcuincle]

Yes , the explanations they give are stupid. The ABC "harmony" isn't good either , a bunch of random strangers making sounds with their mouth. Play some instrumental music or something...

Good news from Cleveland. Hughes is finally sitting out!

Cavaliers point guard Larry Hughes indicated this morning that he would not start in tonight's Game 3 because the pain in his injured left heel has increased, a move that presumably opens the door for rookie Daniel Gibson to slide into the starting rotation.

[Drex]

This is it for the Cavs. Probably their only chance to win one.

[BIG GREEN]

Anyone got proper sopcast link to this game? Viper 1 has shitty baseball

[nylia]

wow... sometimes I wonder why I even watch...

it is so frustrating watching the Cleveland Cavaliers play...
1-13 3PT FG.

($)!@*$!) STOP SHOOTING ALREADY. DUMB ASS PLAYERS I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS

another dumb ass performance by Gooden. 4 fouls.. ALL IN THE 3rd quarter... the last 2 fouls were exactly the same play where he just jumps on someone to tip the ball. . .

LBJ, wtf just DRIVE AND TRY TO TAKE OVER.

[dan_suth]

Yeah, but most (or all) of their looks from 3pt range have been wide open. They are screwed -- Lebron gets double teamed each time he gets the ball, and if he somehow gets near the hoop they send the entire team to collapse on him. He's not gonna make many easy shots this series, and if his team is going to shoot this poorly, they are done for.

[nylia]

Yeah, but most (or all) of their looks from 3pt range have been wide open. They are screwed -- Lebron gets double teamed each time he gets the ball, and if he somehow gets near the hoop they send the entire team to collapse on him. He's not gonna make many easy shots this series, and if his team is going to shoot this poorly, they are done for.

i know. this is sad. i don't think they'll win the series, but at least compete ffs!

[nylia]

wow. what a great move by verajao.

another 'i want to be the hero' moment.

i seriously think the media is getting to his head. he's not that good. cmon

[maes]

Terrible officiating, LeBron was absolutely fouled, should have shot 3 free throws.

Gooden & Varejao have taken low basketball IQ to new lows this game.

Possibly the worst Finals game i have ever seen in my life.

[dan_suth]

I dunno if that's a shooting foul, though. He was definitely fouled by Bowen, but IMO it was not in the act of shooting.

Even if Lebron did get awarded 3 free throws there at the end... what are the odds that he would make all 3?

[magius]

to be fair, how do you expect the refs to call that? lebron had no intent of shooting the ball that quickly prior to the foul, and then went up to take the shot afterwards. if they had called that a 3 pt foul, i think it would've been a bad call as well. it anything it should've been a 2 pt reg foul, oh well.

the big 3 are held all below 20, and manu to 3, and the cavs still can't win at home?! down 3-0, things are not looking good.

[---]

Terrible officiating, LeBron was absolutely fouled, should have shot 3 free throws.

Gooden & Varejao have taken low basketball IQ to new lows this game.

Possibly the worst Finals game i have ever seen in my life.

Completely agree.

Bruce wanted to foul, did so, no call, LeBron was shooting.

Varejao tried to be the hero with his non existant post game trying to score on one of the best post defenders in the game in Tim Duncan. Gooden commited stupid fouls all game long.

Worst finals game in my memory.

The only thing I have found very interesting is that Allan Houston is sitting there analysing, while the New York Knicks have shelled out $20,718,750 this season for him.

[skip2mahbaby]

Spurs win by three..

The last play was clearly a FOUL, could be in the act of shooting to tie the game...nevertheless, the Cavs shouldn't be in that situation. Too many missed threes, except for Sasha's late three makes. This was a must win game for the Cavs, Ginobili did not score via FG, Duncan had an off night...And I almost feel on my knees when Floppy Varejao, started moving...I was just like "WTF?! Give the ball back.. " then it was too late...

But it was still fun to watch compared to the past two games. And if you'll going to look, Bron cannot drive at will, he's always surrounded. Nice passes from Snow to Bron negates this however...

Factors that killed the Cavs:
1. Missed three's
2. Varejao (word!)

Positives:
Well, they're defense was great. Limiting the big three, but the important thing is to get the W. Now, things will be even more impossible. Must win all games, which is not going to happen.

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[skip2mahbaby]

Gooden & Varejao have taken low basketball IQ to new lows this game.

Yeah, Gooden with those "over the back" fouls and Varejao's "heroics"...


I think the Spurs are getting bored also...


EDIT:

Ooops! Sorry for the double post..


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