Well, it appears my preview was making the site go crazy. Here’s a post-game open thread in which to deposit your thoughts. Recap up soon.
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Anyone else feel like this was more of the Bulls regressing to their mean than it was the Cavs actually dominating the game? I mean don’t get me wrong, they played their best half yet defensively, but to act like this was a complete performance is to take Lebron’s word for face value when he says “I need to go to the hole more” after the elbow injury… we all know how many times he did that in the second half. It’s hard to say that we can learn much about this team from a series against a team with this many weaknesses. Other than Shaq and maybe Hickson getting some run… Can’t wait for Boston.
I actually felt dirty after watching that performance. It was so demoralizing.
Did anyone else think after Lebron’s 40 foot buzzer beater that Game 3 would’ve ended with that J if the rebound bounced his way?
I’m sure the Bulls’ lack of just about everything could be attributable to them “regressing to the mean,” but I still don’t think that accounts for the good decisions by the Cavs or their ability to make lots of shots.
That said, I can’t wait until the series with the Celtics, though I’m really hoping I don’t have to watch it here with these incessant lunatic fans.
Lebron is reaching Jordanesque heights. All he needs to seal it is a championship.
That was great….. Lebron averaging 35.5pts so far, domination complete- CAVS GOING ALL THE WAY
I’d have to agree with you for the most part Dr. Z, but it was the bulls averaging out plus the Cavs improving significantly from game 3. Feels good. enough said
I have really mixed feelings about the rumors of Shaq staying in Cleveland..
If shaq signs for a cheapo contract, I have no mixed feelings at all. Need a 7 footer with strength as long as Dwight Howard is alive..and you can’t just go out and find one of those anywhere on the street, especially with no draft picks.
@ Kevin in Boston: No doubt — Boston fans are tiresome. Would be nice to demolish the Celtics to shut them up. Then we just need the Knicks to whiff on LeBron, and it will be nice and quiet here in Connecticut.
@Tish: Shaq’s feet are right on offense, but his shot is flat. On defense, feet not so good. Give him one more series to get his timing back and he’ll be ready for DaWight on both ends.
Re. Game 4,
The bad news first: LeBron had to come back in with 9:00 min left bc the bench couldn’t get into their sets.
The good news: Adjustments. Exhibit A: Delonte taking it to Hinrich in the 2nd quarter.
why does varejao’s productivity decline every post-season? my guess is that in the postseason, everyone hustles (not just him) and everyone gets more physical (not good for a finesse player).
nice to see us getting some easy baskets off cuts to the lane.
We all knew that Chicago would come down to earth offensively. The laws of basketball physics state that jump shooting basketball teams can’t keep up a torrid pace over the course of a few games. With that being said, all of that “we just have to focus” talk LeBron gave us leading up to this game… it translated well. The Cavs closed out on mid-range jumpers A LOT better than they did in the previous three games. The challenged everything in the paint, much like they did in LA on Christmas. We missed a few assignments on box outs, but I didn’t feel like the Bulls ever outworked us today.
There was a stretch in the 2nd half where it seemed like the ball deflected to Chicago every possession after we would do something good defensively. Parker dropped a steal that would have led to two points. Jamison dropped a blocked shot that would have ended another Bulls possession that ended up leading to a score for them. Of course, we were up 20 at the time, but it felt like we were executing on a different level. After game three, most people were getting the feeling that series could last a while. Could they have delivered a better answer?
Half-court shots are usually thought of as bonus points. The 3/4 quart heave from Mo Williams against Orlando last year was a definite bonus. But LeBron’s today was a jumpshot. He elevated, released at the top, and there was no aid from the backboard. It was a very very deep three. It sometimes looks silly to celebrate being lucky… but his upper body strength, vertical jumping ability, and shooting form were bigger factors than luck.
LeBron looked to dish early. Unlike in years past, this is a team that plays better over a series of possessions with him looking to dish. In a close and late situation, where the Cavs get into a “we have to score in this possession” mentality, its hard to not want LeBron to shoot it. But, over the course of three quarters, when he looks to dish and teammates are cutting and making open shots, they become a much different monster, a championship monster.
I like how Adande is saying if Thunder win it will be the biggest upset ever.
@ Nathan… Agreed. Utter idiocy. The Thunder and Lakers were seperated by 7 games in the regular season. Or, about the same amount of games that seperated Cleveland from Orlando for most of the season until the final week and a half.
@Dr. Z I guess I’m in the minority, but I disagree with you. If the Cavs kept giving up open jumpers like they did in game 3 then the Bulls would have stayed “above the mean”… that’s why there is a mean, you play better against poor defenses, but worse against better ones. The Cavs stepping up their D in the second and third periods is what caused the Bulls to wilt. When the Cavs play (offense and defense) like they did in those two periods, I can’t see anyone beating them. Not L.A. not Orlando.
I said yesterday that I needed the Cavs to blow the Bulls out to feel comfortable with their odds of winning it all, and to me what the 2nd and 3rd quarters show is that the Cavs CAN turn it on and off almost at will. They will need to turn it on for entire games when Orlando rolls around, but now I think they are capable of it.
@Nathan and Jarrod… I agree with you two, but ESPN being what it is is hyping the Thunder as tremendous underdogs in order to make a better story. In reality, the Lakers are vulnerable right now and the Thunder are figuring their game out at a blistering pace.
Gotta say, I hope the Lakers win the series though. Better the devil you know…
The Thunder are just an incredible story right now, there’s just no logical reason that they should be so good so soon. I’m glad that ESPN is hyping them up because Durant is the real deal and is going to be in the league for a loooong time. It’s about time that people realize that.
I would also want the Lakers in the Finals. Imagine burying the Celtics once and for all, revenging the Magic and then smacking up Kobe, Gasol and Artest in the Finals. I can only hope!
As of today, you cannot pick a western conference winner and feel good about it. TBH, if someone put a gun to my head I’d say Utah has as good a shot as anyone, so long as the Lakers lose before they play them (Boozer and Milsap aren’t gonna get it done against Gasol and Bynum).
@d, The logical reason they are good so soon is Durant.
Yes, but it’s illogical how good he is right now. Dude is 21 years old, but he plays like a veteran. Not only does he know how to score all over the place, he’s wily and he can take big shots. And he’s 21. He averages 30 points a game.
Beyond Durant, the team has gelled quicker than expected and none of them had playoff experience before these games. So even winning two against the defending champs is pretty crazy. Yeah the Lakers are declining, but they still have Kobe and a lot of size over the Thunder in the front court. This really shouldn’t be happening in the first round.
Kobe is part of the problem.
@D and @Isaac:
Durant is exceptional, although at his height he plays mostly the 2 and 3 on offense so who can guard him? I don’t see anyone stopping him on a regular basis, but I must point out that Artest absolutely stuffed him in games 1 and 2, and he still isn’t what he was during the season against Artest in this series. He still hasn’t had a breakout game on the offensive end. Good, physical defenders will bother Durant throughout his career because he probably won’t bulk up much. Defenders will take a lesson from RonRon from now on.
Also, I don’t think the thunder will handle other teams the way they can on defense. The Lakers guards are flat out AWFUL on defense. Derek Fisher cannot stay with anyone. If they somehow get by LA, wait until the Thunder have to defend any one of the better point guards on the other teams in the playoffs, not to mention big men who aren’t playing severely soft like the lakers big guys. Think boozer and Milsap won’t have an absolute ball inside? And D-Will won’t rip their vaunted defense to shreds?