The 2015 NBA Finals Game Thread AKA Battle Of The Australian Institute Of Sport

jon abbey

jon abbey

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I formatted that badly, sorry. They actually faced (Hollinger year-end power rankings in parentheses):
 
Boston  (13) 
Chicago  (9) 
Atlanta  (5)
 
In a 1-16 system, they would have faced:

Dallas or Chicago (11 or 9)
Atlanta   (5)
Houston or San Antonio or Memphis  (2 or 6 or 8)
 
Also, getting out of the West as Golden State did is even tougher than this, even if they had a not so tough opponent in New Orleans in the first round by virtue of their #1 seed. GS has faced a first-team All-NBA player in each round (Davis, Marc Gasol, Harden and now LBJ). 
 
Edit: To be clear, this is a historic argument if anything. I'm a major LeBron fan, but it bugs me a bit that he can largely coast through the regular season and a good chunk of the Eastern playoffs each year, and this year was the most extreme example yet. 12 of the 15 All-NBA players this year were in the West, the only non-Cavs player to make one of the teams was Pau Gasol. 
 
SemperFidelisSox

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Sam Ray Not said:
Tonight's winner is probably your 2015 NBA champion.
Click to expand...
I disagree. Golden State evening up the series 2-2 would not be a crushing blow for the Cavs. They could still pull this out even with a loss tonight. This is a must win for the Warriors though. Lebron is not blowing a 3-1 series lead.
 
Kliq

Kliq

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I don't think Iguodala has gotten enough credit for this series. He has forced LeBron into shooting a low (for him) percentage and even the shots he does make are usually pretty tough. LeBron is such a dominant player for his team that he is going to put up a monster stat line regardless of who is guarding him, but I think Iggy's defense on James has been just as good as Leonard's was last year. If GS even shoots their average % from downtown Iggy is being hailed as a hero.
 
This is not to take anything away from Cleveland and LeBron, who has been a complete beast so far, but stopping the Cavs and LeBron is not GS's problem right now. They are only giving up 97 ppg (they averaged 99 oppg during the regular season) and that is with two OT games. If I told you GS would hold Cleveland to 97 ppg during this series, wouldn't you bet that GS had the series lead? Cleveland is disrupting GS on offense and LeBron has been terrific, but right now I would say that GS is losing this series more than Cleveland is winning it.
 
johnmd20

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jon abbey said:
 
Edit: To be clear, this is a historic argument if anything. I'm a major LeBron fan, but it bugs me a bit that he can largely coast through the regular season and a good chunk of the Eastern playoffs each year, and this year was the most extreme example yet. 12 of the 15 All-NBA players this year were in the West, the only non-Cavs player to make one of the teams was Pau Gasol. 
Click to expand...
 
Why does that bug you, tho? He's planning to put himself in the best position to achieve in the playoffs. That's absolutely, positively the smartest thing he can do. That's been the Spurs strategy for over a decade and many call it brilliant and they have run a near dynasty over the last 15 years. But when Lebron does it, people are bugged. I don't understand.
 
HomeRunBaker

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johnmd20 said:
 
Why does that bug you, tho? He's planning to put himself in the best position to achieve in the playoffs. That's absolutely, positively the smartest thing he can do. That's been the Spurs strategy for over a decade and many call it brilliant and they have run a near dynasty over the last 15 years. But when Lebron does it, people are bugged. I don't understand.
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In addition to the Spurs Doc did this by playin KG just 30 mpg during the regular season his first year in Boston. All smart coaches/players prepare for the playoffs by saving something in the regular season. Otherwise you have as much job security as Thibs.
 
jon abbey

jon abbey

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Right, all I'm saying is that it's far far easier to do it in the East than the West (the Spurs are the exception as their system seems so locked in now that almost anyone is able to succeed in it). CLE tanked the first half and still ended up with the #2 seed, OKC tanked the first half and couldn't get back into the playoffs (not a perfect comparison because Durant got hurt again, but not too far off). The lopsidedness of the conferences is what really bugs me, not how anyone reacts to it. 
 
Anyway, sorry for the diversion. Game 4!!!
 
Drocca

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I am so damn excited for this game. What adjustments are Golden State going to make? Can Dellavedova pull more rabbits out of his ass? And then, the opportunity to watch one of the greatest of all time in a defining game? Good Christ, I hate that these games start at 9.
 
Rooting for the Dubs tonight.
 
JCizzle

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This is so fucking JR I don't even know what to say

@twithersAP: JR Smith just rode into the arena on a no-handed Segway. Nearly wiped out on carpet. #NBAFINALS pic.twitter.com/ln60CYet10
 
johnmd20

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Drocca said:
I am so damn excited for this game. What adjustments are Golden State going to make? Can Dellavedova pull more rabbits out of his ass? And then, the opportunity to watch one of the greatest of all time in a defining game? Good Christ, I hate that these games start at 9.
 
Rooting for the Dubs tonight.
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These 9pm starts are proof the terrorists have won. They are insanely late.
 
Ed Hillel

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Golden State is just choking this series. Not to take away from Cleveland's D, but how many open shots can a great shooting team miss?
 
snowmanny

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So on the one hand this has been great basketball. On the other hand Time Warner is for some reason delivering it to me in Spsnish.
 
johnmd20

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snowmanny said:
So on the one hand this has been great basketball. On the other hand Time Warner is for some reason delivering it to me in Spsnish.
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Did you accidentally click the SAP button on your TV remote?
 
Tangled Up In Red

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Does the verticality (on a block charge) rule really apply if you've turned your body? I wouldn't think so, it wouldn't if you're on the ground...
Collins claimed it to be the case.
 
snowmanny

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johnmd20 said:
 
Did you accidentally click the SAP button on your TV remote?
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I'm offended that you think that I'm more likely than Time Warner to push the wrong button.
 
Ed Hillel

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The LBJ flopping and whining is a bit much tonight. You can't just sit out of bounds and stop playing.
 
Drocca

Drocca

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I don't believe in "this quarter changed the whole series," stuff. But, well...if it ever was true it would be about this first quarter.
 
GBrushTWood

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If I were a Cavs fan, my sphincter would be tightening (not that they aren't already). Looks like the Warriors woke up. They're starting to get out in the open court, use their speed advantage, and cause havoc. If they keep this tempo up, the Cavs are going to be completely red lined by the 4th quarter.
 
If I'm Kerr, I don't let Bogut see the court again unless it's a blowout. He has done a really good job adjusting from the results in Game 2/3. Pretty impressive coaching job.
 
Seems like LeBron is not superhuman so far tonight. Will be interesting if he starts heating up or if he's also spent..
 
Tangled Up In Red

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Dubs got some favorable whistles, finally. But played GSW hoops for the first time in forever. David Lee brings alot to this unique matchup.
 
johnmd20

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So Delly apparently was a big coffee drinker before games. He skipped his coffee this game, in hopes of avoiding dehydration. He's playing like a guy who needs a cup of coffee to wake up.
 
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