From the Cavs Perspective

[BWJACKETS]

Really, what do you want from a spurboard?

Unconditional surrender?

A blow job for Lebron?

Your team is good. Congratulations on winning the east.

Hey, thanks. I really didn't care about either, just wanted to see how many of you Spurs fans are in dream land and actually believe that the Rockets, Nuggets or Warriors could win the East over CLE or DET.

[BWJACKETS]

are you saying Lebron is better than Nash+Amare combination?? you're delusional

I'll take the best player in the world and dominant team leader over two guys who play excellent offense and offer zero defense any day of the week.

[ChumpDumper]

Hey, thanks. I really didn't care about either, just wanted to see how many of you Spurs fans are in dream land and actually believe that the Rockets, Nuggets or Warriors could win the East over CLE or DET.

Well, Denver was 2-0 against Cleveland this season, so they are obviously the superior team.

[Martin R]

LMFAO...you must be joking. How about CLE>LA, HOU, DEN, GS, UTAH? If you were to say that I would agree. The only three I would say Cleveland doesn't beat hands down are Dallas, SA, and Phoenix...and Dallas was put out by an eight-seed that went 42-40! So much for your theory of Western Conference Dominance...maybe in the ranks of middle of the road teams but not at the top of the conference, in fact I believe Cleveland had a better record against the top teams in the West than anybody!

GSW > Cleveland

[101A]

Hey, thanks. I really didn't care about either, just wanted to see how many of you Spurs fans are in dream land and actually believe that the Rockets, Nuggets or Warriors could win the East over CLE or DET.

I do; in fact VERY confident the Rockets and Nuggets would.

[101A]

Well, Denver was 2-0 against Cleveland this season, so they are obviously the superior team.

pwnt X 2

[Martin R]

seriously, I am more afraid of the Referee than the Cavaliers.

http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/index.html

I'm afraid of the REAL meaning for the word "ALL" in that page.....cofcofsternscofcofbusinesscofcof.

[mardigan]

Hey, thanks. I really didn't care about either, just wanted to see how many of you Spurs fans are in dream land and actually believe that the Rockets, Nuggets or Warriors could win the East over CLE or DET.

Warriors and Denver were hugely affected by trades, and Carmello was out 15 games, those things impacted records, both teams could have won 50 games plus with their rosters the whole year. Houston and Utah both won more games in the West than Clevland did in the East, so yes, Utah and Houston are better than Clevland according to your regular season logic.

[nkdlunch]

I'll take the best player in the world and dominant team leader over two guys who play excellent offense and offer zero defense any day of the week.

cause Lebron's defense is so great

[BeerIsGood!]

I like the Cavs fan spirit. They have spunk.


That said, there is absolutely no reasonable reason why the Spurs should need more than 5 games to win. The matchups outside of James favor the Spurs, and there is no way Lebron is going to put up 60 a game at 50% shooting, which is what would be needed for the Cavs to overcome the Spurs. If the Spurs can hold down the 6th man of the year to nothing against a team that is far superior on offense to the Cavs - Boobie's dead in the water. I hope you liked the wide open shots Boobie, because they're gone now. Who else is gonna step up? Hughes on a bad wheel? Big underachieving Z? Gooden? Sideshow Bob?

Bottom line - if the Spurs avoid a letdown and come out to play the way they have all post season, the series is over in no more than 5. It all boils down to what SA does since they hold the matchup advantage and all of the chips but one.

[BWJACKETS]

I do; in fact VERY confident the Rockets and Nuggets would.

Guess you aren't very smart then, huh?

Houston and Denver are two teams that were made for going out in the first round, every single year. In actuality, Dallas may be the same way, albeit with much more talent.

I am not questioning that there are a number of teams in the West with an equal level of talent to the Cavs or Pistons, just saying that the Cavs have done more with their talent than any of the others in the West save for the Spurs. In the end, it comes down to who plays the best basketball, and there are two teams left and everybody else is watching from at home.

[BeerIsGood!]

Warriors and Denver were hugely affected by trades, and Carmello was out 15 games, those things impacted records, both teams could have won 50 games plus with their rosters the whole year. Houston and Utah both won more games in the West than Clevland did in the East, so yes, Utah and Houston are better than Clevland according to your regular season logic.

If any one of Denver, Utah, or Phoenix were playing in the Eastern conference we would be playing that team in the Finals right now.

[BWJACKETS]

Warriors and Denver were hugely affected by trades, and Carmello was out 15 games, those things impacted records, both teams could have won 50 games plus with their rosters the whole year. Houston and Utah both won more games in the West than Clevland did in the East, so yes, Utah and Houston are better than Clevland according to your regular season logic.

I know, I know...I really just threw that one out there to poke fun at Spurs fans and also just for the sake of making the argument. Just a little bit of Devil's Advocate. But, at the same time, I am one who doesn't like to compare common opponents, just compare how teams fair one on one. In this respect, Cleveland has won the last three vs. San Antonio. Does it mean anything? Probably not, however it is worth noting.

[mardigan]

I know, I know...I really just threw that one out there to poke fun at Spurs fans and also just for the sake of making the argument. Just a little bit of Devil's Advocate. But, at the same time, I am one who doesn't like to compare common opponents, just compare how teams fair one on one. In this respect, Cleveland has won the last three vs. San Antonio. Does it mean anything? Probably not, however it is worth noting.

Its also worth noting that Detroit was 3 and 1 against your team this year, and we see how that turned out

[BWJACKETS]

If any one of Denver, Utah, or Phoenix were playing in the Eastern conference we would be playing that team in the Finals right now.

You are wrong, but ok I hear you. If Phoenix was in the East, then there is a good chance they would be the ones playing, however you are heaping Denver and Utah in there without much reason. Phoenix would probably make it through, however Denver or Utah? No chance.

But in all seriousness, why does everybody think that a Cavs fan should care at all about some teams from the West that have already been eliminated? Any talk between fans of one of the better teams in the East with a fan of a team from the West breaks down into this stupid discussion about how deep the West is. Based on the NBA draft this season, everybody got a first-hand look at how that was allowed to happen.

[Mitch Cumsteen]

I am one who doesn't like to compare common opponents, just compare how teams fair one on one. In this respect, Cleveland has won the last three vs. San Antonio. Does it mean anything? Probably not, however it is worth noting.

It is also worth noting that you've one exactly one time in San Antonio since Ronald Reagan was the President.

[NoMoneyDown]

just compare how teams fair one on one. In this respect, Cleveland has won the last three vs. San Antonio. Does it mean anything? Probably not, however it is worth noting.

I don't think that's even a legitimate comparison as the two RS this year were way before the all-star break when SA was playing medicore BB.

[ChumpDumper]

however you are heaping Denver and Utah in there without much reason.

Denver: 2-0 baby!

[BeerIsGood!]

You are wrong, but ok I hear you. If Phoenix was in the East, then there is a good chance they would be the ones playing, however you are heaping Denver and Utah in there without much reason. Phoenix would probably make it through, however Denver or Utah? No chance.

But in all seriousness, why does everybody think that a Cavs fan should care at all about some teams from the West that have already been eliminated? Any talk between fans of one of the better teams in the East with a fan of a team from the West breaks down into this stupid discussion about how deep the West is. Based on the NBA draft this season, everybody got a first-hand look at how that was allowed to happen.

This is why you should care...

The Spurs have dispatched with predjudice 3 teams that are better teams than the Cavs. Not saying that the Cavs have zero chance, but that it would take both the best performance in a playoff series of all time by Lebron and a complete letdown by the Spurs for the Cavs to have a chance. None of the western conference teams had the luxury of dispatching the Celtics, Knicks, Hawks, Magic, etc. for most of the year. Also, most of the western conference teams did not get the luxury of playing the Spurs only twice before March when the Spurs are coasting and getting the lineups minutes for a playoff push. It's not a lock, because there is no such thing as a lock, but it would take the "perfect storm" of both luck and skill for a team the caliber of the Cavs to beat a team the caliber of the Spurs.

[BWJACKETS]

Its also worth noting that Detroit was 3 and 1 against your team this year, and we see how that turned out

Exactly my point. We will see what happens on thursday. However, for those of you who think SA will win via blowout, you may as well not watch because you inevitably will go crazy just like the Pistons fans, frustrated and saying "Why is our team playing so horrible?" That is a little something I like to call championship defense. Cavs don't give up easy baskets. Continuing their success scoring points will be key, I expect most games in this series to be mid-80's or so, defense controlling the pace for both teams, and whichever star (Duncan or Lebron) has the bigger series will propel his team to victory. Duncan has a better supporting cast but Lebron has a greater ability to take over ballgames. On paper, edge to SA, however I want to see if the Spurs can match the intensity of the Cavs because after going down 2-0 and winning the next four in a row, it is pretty clear that the Cavs do not quit and they are a young, hungry team. Anybody who has been in organized sports knows that intensity can sometimes make up for quite a bit in the way of talent differential.

[Man In Black]

I'll take the best player in the world and dominant team leader over two guys who play excellent offense and offer zero defense any day of the week.

You keep lying to yourself and to the people on this board when you phrase that LeBron James is the best player in the world.
Stealing this quote from an earlier post:

Once again, you want to throw out all these dumb comparisons of Lebron to Michael, but that is all you. However, to say that after one game he is garnering these comparisons is crazy, Lebron has been in the league for four years now and he has been an MVP-type player for two of those seasons. However, Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki, the last two MVP's this league has had could only dream of carrying their team the way that Lebron does on an everyday basis.

You want carry a team?
Let me break this to you in SIMPLE TERMS.
http://www.nba.com/history/awards_allnba.html
LeBron James
All-NBA Team
05-06 1st team
06-07 2nd, 04-05 2nd
Rookie Year 03-04 Not a sniff.

All-NBA D Team
ZERO

Tim Duncan
All-NBA 1st team EVERY YEAR EXCEPT FOR 05-06 Due to plantar fascitis but he did get 2nd team ALL-NBA


http://www.nba.com/history/awards_defensiveteams.html
ALL-NBA D Team All 10 years 8 of those times 1st team including current season.

SO AGAIN...2 sides of the court. Tim Duncan has been simply dominating and the best player in basketball. Not consistently spectacular but spectactularly consistent. The numbers and the results do not lie. Don't believe me?
Then what about LeBron?

``If they don't know what Tim Duncan is about, they cannot be true fans, they are fantasy fans. I can dunk, but I ain't no Tim Duncan. I wish I was.'' Lebron James

[bigfish22]

I've been watching LeBron's defense almost as much as his offense since he came into the L and I think its a bit suspect. Especially his off ball defense. He has the tendency to follow the ball and not his man, and often gets lost in the movements. Other than the fact that he has tremendous strength and great size/reach his defense is quite lacking.

[BWJACKETS]

It is also worth noting that you've one exactly one time in San Antonio since Ronald Reagan was the President.

That one time happened this season too. So, you may as well have said they've won in SA once this year in one game in SA this year. But hey, however you want to look at it.

[BWJACKETS]

This is why you should care...

The Spurs have dispatched with predjudice 3 teams that are better teams than the Cavs. Not saying that the Cavs have zero chance, but that it would take both the best performance in a playoff series of all time by Lebron and a complete letdown by the Spurs for the Cavs to have a chance. None of the western conference teams had the luxury of dispatching the Celtics, Knicks, Hawks, Magic, etc. for most of the year. Also, most of the western conference teams did not get the luxury of playing the Spurs only twice before March when the Spurs are coasting and getting the lineups minutes for a playoff push. It's not a lock, because there is no such thing as a lock, but it would take the "perfect storm" of both luck and skill for a team the caliber of the Cavs to beat a team the caliber of the Spurs.

However, do you not see in your own words that you are setting yourself up for a huge letdown? Two of the last three years the finals have been all about this exact same story. 2004 Pistons beat the superior Lakers. 2006 Heat beat the superior Mavs. In 2005 the Spurs beat the Pistons, however even in that series it went seven games and nobody can ever deny that it simply came down to which team got the lucky bounce down the stretch.

I agree that the Spurs should win. However, should is much different from will. Nobody is giving the Cavs a chance, and that's exactly why they will exceed all expectations and put a hurt on the Spurs. Whatever that means, maybe they'll win, maybe they won't. I think you would have to be crazy at this point to say that with all the momentum Cleveland has coming in that SA will be able to stop them dead in their tracks and win it in four- I see this series going six or seven games pretty much any way you break it down. Now, I'm sure SA will say all the right things about respecting the Cavs in their press conference later on this week, however in the end it comes down to what happens on the court and if SA brings their best stuff, and that is something that not even the most educated fan can predict. I like the Cavs because Lebron has the ability to dominate games to a greater degree than any other player in the league, and they have the big men and defensive players across the board to smother the Spurs and make them do things that they don't want to do when they have the basketball offensively.

[BeerIsGood!]

However, do you not see in your own words that you are setting yourself up for a huge letdown? Two of the last three years the finals have been all about this exact same story. 2004 Pistons beat the superior Lakers. 2006 Heat beat the superior Mavs. In 2005 the Spurs beat the Pistons, however even in that series it went seven games and nobody can ever deny that it simply came down to which team got the lucky bounce down the stretch.

I agree that the Spurs should win. However, should is much different from will. Nobody is giving the Cavs a chance, and that's exactly why they will exceed all expectations and put a hurt on the Spurs. Whatever that means, maybe they'll win, maybe they won't. I think you would have to be crazy at this point to say that with all the momentum Cleveland has coming in that SA will be able to stop them dead in their tracks and win it in four- I see this series going six or seven games pretty much any way you break it down. Now, I'm sure SA will say all the right things about respecting the Cavs in their press conference later on this week, however in the end it comes down to what happens on the court and if SA brings their best stuff, and that is something that not even the most educated fan can predict. I like the Cavs because Lebron has the ability to dominate games to a greater degree than any other player in the league, and they have the big men and defensive players across the board to smother the Spurs and make them do things that they don't want to do when they have the basketball offensively.

I know you like your underdog story, but the truth of the matter is that upsets of this magnitude don't happen all that often. That's why I said there is a chance, and that chance is the Spurs having a letdown and Lebron getting help from Jesus. He's never faced a Spurs playoff defense, especially a Spurs playoff defense in the finals. I can say whatever I want since I have no responsiblity to get the team ready to play, and I say that the Spurs definitely respect the Cavs and know that they have to play their usual great Spurs ball to take this series.