Finals Live Thread Game 4: Cavs vs Warriors (Evolve or Die)
2018-06-08
The Cavs already rendered the Raptors extinct, and if they don’t evolve, this incarnation of the Cavs will go the way of the dinosaurs as well. It’s true. No team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit, in the NBA playoffs, let alone the finals, but that’s no reason not to try. We all thought this series was going seven games anyway. Why even play the game if it’s a foregone conclusion? And we also all know that LeBron James like to “conserve energy” in lost causes rather than waste it in hard fought defeats, but if he’s saving energy for the offseason, then I’ll be disappointed.
What do the Cavs have to do to evolve? The Cavs didn’t lose game three because Kevin Durant scored 43 points, they lost game three because Andre Igoudala, Shaun Livingston, Jordan Bell, and JaVale McGee went for 36 on 21 shots. The Cavs have to communicate better on the pick and roll defense, and have to start chucking the roller. If they don’t this one will be over quickly. Additionally, they have to rest James, get Kyle Korver shots, and keep working the ball to Kevin Love. I’ve given up on Playing Cedi, but I’m at least hoping that if they play Rodney Hood, he defends better.
This game’s a little worrisome because Golden State hasn’t had a game where all three of their role players are “on” for a night, and expect Steph Curry to come out gunning after being very disappointed in the Game 3 performance that may have cost him a finals MVP. Meanwhile, Kevin Durant came out today and said that he doesn’t think LeBron James would accept a Finals MVP trophy in a losing cause.
I’m sure LeBron wouldn’t accept that. I mean, he’s a winner. He’s a winner. I don’t look at him as a guy that would be OK with that.
It sure sounds to me like he wants that trophy for himself. A good trash talker could exploit that rift and internal rivalry between KD and Steph. A good man to do it? The Cavs’ own Kendrick Perkins who flipped Durant the Bird after game 3. Kendrick knows Durant well from their OKC years and he knew Durant was rolling Wednesday.
When he hit his first four shots, and none of them hit the rim and they were all from different areas, I was like, ‘Man, we can’t continue to let him play like this.’ He kept them in the game, big shot after big shot.
There is a petition on Change.org to let Perk play in game 4 sponsored by Fresh Brewed Tees, and if there’s anyone who’d touch up a hot shooter, it’s Kendrick. I’d say it’s worth a shot. The Cavs have to start roughing guys up if they want to win. Well, game time is here. We’ll see if LeBron’s really the King or if he’s going to roll over. Here’s hoping his reign continues for at least one more game. If the Cavs win tonight, they’re down 3-1. And we all know what can happen then…
Go Cavs!
night guys; cavs in 9!
Night. Thanks for everything this season.
Turned it back on to watch Cedi.
I’ve gradually been checking out of the Cavs once Dan let Griff walk and he traded Kyrie. I’m not surprised by the outcome of this finals. That being said the Cavs should be commended for actually getting to the finals again. They may never do it again in our lifetime.
Cavs 37 seasons without LeBron: Won a few playoff series (four, I think), got to the Eastern Conference finals twice.
11 seasons with LeBron: Won 20-odd playoff series, played in five Finals, and one championship.
That’s incredible!
Emotional right now. Really emotional. I cried when he left. I cried when he returned. I cried in 2016. Crying now.
Cedi off the bench first possession stymies Curry on the perimeter and buries him at the hoop.
Poetic justice that Cedi’s first possession, he’s on an island against Curry and blocks him
Cedi with some great defense on Curry
It was definitely a joy to watch Lebron play in a Cavs uniform. Lots of great memories. That off the backboard dunk on Wednesday only the most recent.
Thank you Lebron. For everything.
jackson is an idiot. down 30 and lbj is a half step late and that just ‘cant happen’? what an idiot
we all, and LBJ himself, are a victim of his greatness.. for most franchises, 4 straight runs to the finals, against one of the all-time great teams in the history of the sport would qualify as an unambiguous magnificent victory.. not so with us.. we need to reflect a bit
Man, guys. I’m so sad.
I gotta turn this off. Sorry I’m so angry tonight guys. Didn’t mean to take it out on any of you. Appreciate you all.
Nate, you were, and you did. You are better than this. I hope Al Cohol was talking. We are all angry, but however positive you are, you knew this could be a possibility. When I reflect on LeBron’s tenure in Cleveland, I have so many good memories. They may not lead to championships, but the point of being a fan is hoping for something good to cheer for… how many good things has LeBron given us? Too many to count! Let it hurt tonight, but be sure to apologize again tomorrow…way too much shade and anger for a blogger on… Read more »
We’re not that respectable, but it was all in the heat of the moment. Though LeBron did quit. Sad to see, but that’s who he is. He is not Don Quixiote, like me. He packs up and leaves Dunkirk. Probably smart.
I’d take him out around 3:00 mark.
I’m glad Bron brought a championship in 2016. Let’s see if Comic Sans Dan can keep this team out of basketball purgatory for the next decade. My hope is that he sells the team.
Lebron and the Cavs going put to the Warriors like this feels like the white haired girl in the first Matrix movie when she realized the dude was gonna punk her and pull her plug. “Not like this…”
This is kinda perfect for me. Either LeBron stays and proves there is something more other than ‘whats best for the player’, and i keep watching – or he leaves the cavs and i no longer watch pro ball. win-win
Actually, I think LeBronless Cavs would be a blast to watch next year, especially without Lue. Either way, I’m in.
Worst case scenario – Cavs double down on Lue and LeBron leaves.
HEh. It’s just basketball.
Not just basketball.
Basketball is about the spirit of a people. Think of how much stock the ancient greeks put into their olympic champions who brought great kleos (glory) to their city states.
It is our shared identity at stake. And when they win, we all win.
You wanna write for CtB? That was elan, man.
Sure, I’d love to.
Drop me an email.
Sports get a bad rap for how invested people get in them, and it’s something I find really odd because the way people get invested in sports is the same way people get invested in music. And it’s all rooted in a natural response in your brain that gives you a certain feeling, which in the case of sports is that you feel like you are the one playing. But if you were, say, super passionate about classical music the way some people are about sports, you’d be considered classy, sophisticated and cultured. I’m not saying some people go overboard,… Read more »
And we resign Hood.
I’m struggling for words.
so.. what parts of this mess are the cavs stuck with next year?
Lue is going to take LeBron our during a timeout and screw up the moment. I just know it
That would be amazingly on the nose
Our only hope is that Trae Young turns into Steph Curry 2.0 fast.
Lots of good teams find talent in the late first and second rounds.
We just need to be one of those teams.
And a well coached team. That helps.
Cavs lose the series 3-1 it seems.
Good point!
Shut up, Van Gundy. This isn’t a lottery team with a good coach.
Someone work with Nance on free throws.
Larry “Little Hands” Nance – lost it 3 time on that possession…
“Trump Hands.”
just checked in.. looks like they have given up.. as the borg said, “resistance is futile”
Kind of awkward to put LeBron back in a 25-point game.
that’s Lue for you
Gotta get him a standing O
Lue just needs to pick the right time to take him out.
The first time Bron left, I hated him.
If he leaves, I am nothing but grateful for what he did for Cleveland.
100% agree.. i support his move… of course somewhere in my heart, i wish he could stay but not w/ this team.. not with this front office.. not with Gilbert the idiot..not w/ Lue… just 2 many weak links here.. and we have little assets to play w/…
go get 2-3 more rings Bron… but stay in the East…. I like him in Philly … I suppose Houston if he goes there, they would have legit shot at GS…
Nate – did u not listen to Bron’s post game after game 3 – ?
he conceded then. why do you expect a diff outcome tonight? being too wishful is harmful for health
Cavs lacks too many pieces to compete in a 7 game series.
I think Bron did all he could.. sure he could have done more tonight.. but we still lose anyway… get the season done with so rest of Cleveland can move on
I don’t jinx the game before it happens. I look at it all when it is over. But yes. Talking about what is going on before the game starts is a quitter’s move.
He and Love.
Someone needs to clothesline curry.
Nance playing some nice D on Curry
Why are we allowing green to shoot that?
SORRY NATE —HAVE TO DISAGREE WITH YOU —–THIS IS FOR THE PAST 4 YRS —NOT JUST TONIGHT —-ALWAYS HAVE AND ALWAYS WILL RESPECT YOUR OPINION THOUGH
I’m probably not worth listening to tonight. Sorry I’m so salty.
end of the most joyless basketball season i’ve ever had as a Cavs fan… given the changes, departures, expectations, etc… glad it’s over… i can once again focus on OSU Football in 90 days…
Wish Bron the best – no matter where he goes… we won 1.. and that’s something
Look, these guys know. Anyone with a brain knows. They cannot win. They are outgunned. Outcoached. And then there are the refs.
They fought. They battled. They played hard in games 1 & 3. Just do not have enough to beat this team.
PETE AGREE WITH YOUR POST—-THE FANS HAVE TO REALIZE THIS MIGHT BE THE LAST TIME TO CHEER FOR LEBRON IN CAVS UNIFORM—-DON’T WASTE THE MOMENT / OPPORTUNITY—–GIVE LEBRON THE THANKS / APPRECIATION THAT HE DESERVES !!!
Doesn’t deserve it. I know a quitter when I see one.
Yes he does. Don’t be salty.
You try putting up 50 points while your coach with his mind numbing rotations and the refs are against you.
You are whiny tonight.
Ironic statement.
are you kidding me?! after all lebron did this post-season!? honestly piss off – you’re completely ungrateful
Amen. The whole team. After the year they had, getting to the Finals is a win. 1 game worse than last year.
Curry had an 11 point game this series and he’s gonna get MVP. LeBron with 20 and it’s a massive disappointment
Seriously Screw LeBron. Quit in overtime of game one. Quitting now.
you need to get off of Bron’s back… what more do you want from 1 man… 1 human…. look around the team.. plenty of blame to go around… Bron is least of the problem
More.
Because getting to 8 straight Finals is what quitters do. Truth bomb, Cavs are garbage, should have lost to the Pacers, should have lost to the C’s, Lebron willed them here and now he’s a quitter? GTFO
I love the dude. But he quits when he thinks he can’t win. *shrug* It’s in his nature. Dunkirk is in his nature. Probably smarter than me.
You know and I know and everyone knows the Warriors weren’t going to let him beat them after game 1. We only count assists that go in, how many open shots did he hit teammates with because his basketball IQ said he had to facilitate and how many bricks off of those brilliant passes? How many times did he drive and get held, or hacked with no call? He is lazy on defense, no question, because he has to be everything for this team offensively. I’m disgusted and dissapointed at the refs for taking away his dignity and at the… Read more »
you’re disgusting tonight man, never try to be on lebron’s side again, because you abandoned him – he DRAGGED this trash team to the finals, and almost took a game off a near-invincible team with a 51 point finals effort – you don’t deserve to support him, go burn his jersey
Defense. LEadership.
totally embarrassing.
If only we had IT and DRose to create…
/sarcasm
LeBron is defeated. As great as he is, he becomes poison to orginization. More of this defeat is on him than he wants to admit
Go post on a GSW thread. LeBron gave us a Championship. You have no idea what you are talking about.
Sure he is infallible now. I root for the front if the jersey not the back, go sniff some jock straps
Or the poison of this dysfunctional organization has finally seeped in.
Jesus. What the hell.
Jeff Green didn’t go after that ball at all
Wow. so deflating
Embarassing effort.
Please go away Hood…
The fact that Hood played over Cedi…And everything else Lue did…
THe crowd should be chanting MVP every time Bron is on the line!!!!!
Wow golden state actually have 6 players that have been all stars.
Interesting take from Lloyd:
Save it.
LeBron is staying.
C’mon fans. Cheer for LeBron
Why. He’s quitting.
Crew next year to retain:
LBJ
Love
GHill
Korver
Cedi
Nance
Everyone else, especially Lue, can go.
Not so sure about hill but probably no choice.
Ya. No choice
But in a good system (if someone like Pop was the coach), Hill could be given some good guidance and coaching to be a solid player.
Maybe Pop saw his ceiling. He’s got a bright future in San Antonio once upon a time. All of a sudden you trade him in an unknown quality in Kawhii
Kawhi was No. 1 to anyone with a brain.
Kyrie?!
OK, No. 4.
It’s so good I’m not in the NBA. I would probably go to jail for my retribution on Curry.
cavs players know the deficit is too big to come back on the warriors —–FREE CEDI / ANTE / PERK
What a defeated body language
Jesus. Every cav just stared at that loose ball.
Waht the fack!!!
big shot, hood.
I don’t know what a foul is anymore
Efff you effing eff bag refs
Horseshit. You have to give him room for the gather.
Hill is anus.
He makes me miss Shump
Stupid, JR.
I don’t know how the Cavs don’t keep from knocking one of these guys’ blocks off.
Tell me Lebron is lasee sharp tonight.
*laser
No. Lazee sharp about sums it up.
When you play good D and Durant gets the bounce anyway…
Marcus Smart the exception, he’ll flop the hell out of that
You can’t play anymore better defense than that
You could call the travel. Durant moved the pivot about 3 times.
Agree.
Durant got away with a travel.
Silver lining…I will ever have to watch Lue coach again.
Missed the first four minutes driving back from the bar. LeBron look any less like he’s quit?
Clarifying: I wasn’t driving.
Thank goodness
A little actually. He actually cared enough to RIP into the team about communication during a timeout