Cleveland Cavaliers @ Atlanta Hawks - Rd 2, Game 3

[resistanze]

Yes, a Yao-less T-Mac-less team is much more challenging.

[DAF86]

I'm sure the Lakers would find a way to lose a game against the Hawks.

[Laker-fan-in-SanAnto]

This cavs team reminds me of the Lakers of last year. Lakers Pretty much had it easy the first three rounds. They weren't tested at all. Then the finals came and they faced a Celtics team that throughout the first three series they were tested and in the Finals they wanted it more than the Lakers. This soft team that the Cavs is facing aint helping in their way to the finals. Don't be surprised if the Cavs don't win it this year, that's all I'm saying.

[KSeal]

47 pts 12 rbds and 8 assts.

Against a team that could barely win 40 games in the East. Lets see him do that on Artest and Battier, wouldn't happen. Just go look up the box score the last time the Rockets and Cavs played.

[resistanze]

This cavs team reminds me of the Lakers of last year. Lakers Pretty much had it easy the first three rounds. They weren't tested at all. Then the finals came and they faced a Celtics team that throughout the first three series they were tested and in the Finals they wanted it more than the Lakers. This soft team that the Cavs is facing aint helping in their way to the finals. Don't be surprised if the Cavs don't win it this year, that's all I'm saying.

Yep, we all know what steamrolling your compe ion before the finals did to the Lakers back in 2001.

[DAF86]

Against a team that could barely win 40 games in the East. Lets see him do that on Artest and Battier, wouldn't happen. Just go look up the box score the last time the Rockets and Cavs played.

Luckily for him he won't have to face the Rockets in the playoffs.

[Laker-fan-in-SanAnto]

Yep, we all know what steamrolling your compe ion before the finals did to the Lakers back in 2001.

This is for all the Kobe haters. They steamrolled in 01' cause of Shaq, 08' no Shaq no steamrolling in the finals.

[TampaDude]

This is for all the Kobe haters. They steamrolled in 01' cause of Shaq, 08' no Shaq no steamrolling in the finals.

Kobe will never win an NBA Championship without Shaq.

[Thunder Dan]

This cavs team reminds me of the Lakers of last year. Lakers Pretty much had it easy the first three rounds. They weren't tested at all. Then the finals came and they faced a Celtics team that throughout the first three series they were tested and in the Finals they wanted it more than the Lakers. This soft team that the Cavs is facing aint helping in their way to the finals. Don't be surprised if the Cavs don't win it this year, that's all I'm saying.

Except the cavs arent soft and they play defense

[KSeal]

Kobe will never win an NBA Championship without Shaq.

Link?

[Lebron4MVP]

The Cavs have been dominant so far in the playoffs. The law of averages will come into play eventually and they will be tested. Adversity is inevitable for the Cavs. They are guaranteed to really experience it if they do indeed win it all. The question is will it be in the ECF or possibly the NBA Finals?

[Jacob1983]

I think the Magic probably pose the biggest threat to the Cavs. Lebron and the Cavs can handle Kobe and the Lakers but they might struggle against the Magic. It would suck to sweep your way to the Finals and lose in the Finals.

[j.dizzle]

I always give Cle props cuz they try really hard every game but I do gotta admit that both Detroit & Atl played like D-League teams..Its not the Cavs fault they got to play these teams but atleast try..I thought Atl would atleast keep 1 game close haha. I understand a few of Atl's main players are injured but both Det & Atl looked like they didnt even care. Props to Cle though for taking care of business..Orlando/Cle will be a sick ass series though if that goes down. Orl causes a grip of matchup problems so atleast it'll be 6 or 7

[Lebron4MVP]

I think the Magic probably pose the biggest threat to the Cavs. Lebron and the Cavs can handle Kobe and the Lakers but they might struggle against the Magic. It would suck to sweep your way to the Finals and lose in the Finals.

As much as I love to point out LA's flaws, they will be a much bigger problem for the Cavs than Orlando. Lakers have better talent, a better coach and a better team.

[Jacob1983]

The Lakers don't play defense. Defense wins championships.

[ducks]

but they will be facing denver not lakers
and nuggets will be physically with the cavs

[TampaDude]

Link?

Can't have a link for something that has never happened, and is never gonna happen.

[Lebron4MVP]

The Lakers don't play defense. Defense wins championships.

This isnt football. Yes you need D but you also have to have a solid O. You can have the best D in the world but if you arent able to produce points especially late in games especially against a team like the lakers, then it is a moot point.

[KSeal]

Can't have a link for something that has never happened, and is never gonna happen.

Wow It went right over your head now didn't it.

[E20]

Lebron's a mother ing beast.

It seems this year that opposing teams cannot stop him. Compared to last year and teh year before teams could have made him struggle by collapsing the whole defense on him, but this year he's just unstoppable. I guess since the D needs to keep somewhat of an eye on Mo Williams, Lebron can just flat out go nutz.

[KSeal]

This isnt football. Yes you need D but you also have to have a solid O. You can have the best D in the world but if you arent able to produce points especially late in games especially against a team like the lakers, then it is a moot point.

Houston Rockets are a perfect example. Even with Yao and their defense they were having trouble stopping and scoring against LA. Not to say the same will happen with the Cavs, but some of this softness, defense stuff is a little over blown when comparing the two.

[j.dizzle]

A lot of ppl keep saying the lakers dont play D haha..They dont have the best road record in the league for nothing..When they need to play hard on D they do. Lebron is a beast though but the teams they played so far have no real big men clogging the middle..I would love to see how he would do in a series agaist battier & artest..He hasnt been tested so far but he will be next round & if Cle reaches the finals

[Lebron4MVP]

Houston Rockets are a perfect example. Even with Yao and their defense they were having trouble stopping and scoring against LA. Not to say the same will happen with the Cavs, but some of this softness, defense stuff is a little over blown when comparing the two.

The rockets have 2 damn good perimeter defenders. Outside of Lebron, Cavs dont have any other great lockdown guys. Not to mention if Kobe is playing this well against Battier/Artest, he is going to have his way with an undersized sg in West. Lakers will expose that weakness rather quickly forcing coach Brown to insert Wally or Pavolic into the starting lineup. That takes away a slasher/distributor and in ways makes the O a little worse. Cavs wont get away with using a Williams/West backcourt against LA.

[KSeal]

Lebron's a mother ing beast.

It seems this year that opposing teams cannot stop him. Compared to last year and teh year before teams could have made him struggle by collapsing the whole defense on him, but this year he's just unstoppable. I guess since the D needs to keep somewhat of an eye on Mo Williams, Lebron can just flat out go nutz.

I'm sorry to kill your LBJ lovefest high you've got going but pretty much every elite team this year has shut LBJ down. Against the Lakers 14 for 45 shooting in two double digit loses, enough said.

[Jacob1983]

If the Lakers do make it to the Finals this year, they will be one of the worst defensive teams to make it to the Finals. The Lakers a great offensive team but they're ty when it comes to defense.