Heh, I read that Bill Simmons article too. And as he points out, the Suns ran the Cavs off the floor in such a humiliating and dominating fashion, it will be impossible to take the Cavs seriously as a contender for the rest of the year. They simply don't have the pieces in place to contend with a team that has any depth.
Yes, I'm biased (because I'm a Nets fan), but I'd even take a team like NJ over the Cavs in a 7-game series.
LT - Obviously I'd disagree, but seriously - while the Cavs have trouble with the Nets on occasion, do you really think the Nets could defeat them in a series?!
The Cavs had a terrible, terrible game against the Suns... and again last night against (shudder) Portland. Teams have bad nights in the dregs of the regular season, especially in the middle of a 7-game West Coast trip. How can Simmons say that based on one game? Anyone who saw either Spurs game or the first game against Washington (which had a playoff-like atmosphere) would say that not only are they a contender, but a top one. The Suns are sick lately, but sooner or later teams will come up with some techniques to slow them down.
The Cavs looked good against Washington because they are similar teams:
1 great player surrounded by a bunch of inconsistent guys who can't be counted on to show up any night, especially when people are playing playoff level D against them.
That isn't (and never has been) a recipe for a contender. Aside from LeBron, I don't trust a single other player on the Cavs to come through in the clutch or play playoff level D (well... maybe Snow can play playoff level D).
So yeah, I would expect the Nets to beat the Cavs in a 7-game series. For the record, I also think the Pistons and Bulls would present insurmountable problems for Cleveland.
That's simply not true, LT. The Cavs are one of the best teams defensively - they are 2nd in the league in rebounds (as of the last time I checked) and one of the best in Opp. FG% and PPG. If you watched last year's playoffs, they play *great* D in the playoffs, both against Washington and Detroit. Their problems against Detroit came down to the inability to score. That's why they have trouble with the Suns - the Suns' D is good enough to stop the Cavs, and their O is too good for the Cavs to shut down. They also shoot at such a great rate, it's harder for the Cavs to get those extra possessions thanks to rebounding.
The Cavs generally rock the Bulls, even though they had a tough loss in Chicago this year. The Bulls simply can't shoot well enough consistently to win a second-round series, if they can get through the first.
Well, we'll see. I still say the Cavs are an extremely thin team, not to be taken seriously. And believe me, I wish I didn't feel this way - I'd love to see LeBron become a force in the playoffs, but I just don't think it's going to happen.
As they say on TNT, "Let the truth be told". One of us will be saying "I told you so" in May. That's the great thing about sports. ;-)
One of us will be saying "I told you so" in May. That's the great thing about sports. ;-)
LOL. True!
They were a force last year in the playoffs, taking the favorite Pistons to 7 (and they should have won it in 6 - ugh). They probably also tired out the Pistons enough to let the Heat crush them. The Pistons looked exhausted for Games 1 and 2 against the Heat, and never really caught up.
Just FYI, here's a great basketball blog: BMac's Blog.
ReplyDeleteHeh, I read that Bill Simmons article too. And as he points out, the Suns ran the Cavs off the floor in such a humiliating and dominating fashion, it will be impossible to take the Cavs seriously as a contender for the rest of the year. They simply don't have the pieces in place to contend with a team that has any depth.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm biased (because I'm a Nets fan), but I'd even take a team like NJ over the Cavs in a 7-game series.
LT - Obviously I'd disagree, but seriously - while the Cavs have trouble with the Nets on occasion, do you really think the Nets could defeat them in a series?!
ReplyDeleteThe Cavs had a terrible, terrible game against the Suns... and again last night against (shudder) Portland. Teams have bad nights in the dregs of the regular season, especially in the middle of a 7-game West Coast trip. How can Simmons say that based on one game? Anyone who saw either Spurs game or the first game against Washington (which had a playoff-like atmosphere) would say that not only are they a contender, but a top one. The Suns are sick lately, but sooner or later teams will come up with some techniques to slow them down.
The Cavs looked good against Washington because they are similar teams:
ReplyDelete1 great player surrounded by a bunch of inconsistent guys who can't be counted on to show up any night, especially when people are playing playoff level D against them.
That isn't (and never has been) a recipe for a contender. Aside from LeBron, I don't trust a single other player on the Cavs to come through in the clutch or play playoff level D (well... maybe Snow can play playoff level D).
So yeah, I would expect the Nets to beat the Cavs in a 7-game series. For the record, I also think the Pistons and Bulls would present insurmountable problems for Cleveland.
That's simply not true, LT. The Cavs are one of the best teams defensively - they are 2nd in the league in rebounds (as of the last time I checked) and one of the best in Opp. FG% and PPG. If you watched last year's playoffs, they play *great* D in the playoffs, both against Washington and Detroit. Their problems against Detroit came down to the inability to score. That's why they have trouble with the Suns - the Suns' D is good enough to stop the Cavs, and their O is too good for the Cavs to shut down. They also shoot at such a great rate, it's harder for the Cavs to get those extra possessions thanks to rebounding.
ReplyDeleteThe Cavs generally rock the Bulls, even though they had a tough loss in Chicago this year. The Bulls simply can't shoot well enough consistently to win a second-round series, if they can get through the first.
Well, we'll see. I still say the Cavs are an extremely thin team, not to be taken seriously. And believe me, I wish I didn't feel this way - I'd love to see LeBron become a force in the playoffs, but I just don't think it's going to happen.
ReplyDeleteAs they say on TNT, "Let the truth be told". One of us will be saying "I told you so" in May. That's the great thing about sports. ;-)
One of us will be saying "I told you so" in May. That's the great thing about sports. ;-)
ReplyDeleteLOL. True!
They were a force last year in the playoffs, taking the favorite Pistons to 7 (and they should have won it in 6 - ugh). They probably also tired out the Pistons enough to let the Heat crush them. The Pistons looked exhausted for Games 1 and 2 against the Heat, and never really caught up.