Cavs chances against Chicago?

[[e]]

Will make Mozgov's defense on Pau absolutely huge though. Foul trouble on Moz or TT and Cleveland is in serious trouble with the thin big lineup.

This is the problem. Moz is already foul prone and there is a good chance Perkins also gets a 1 game suspension.

Cavs will have to small ball it up, alot of Lebron at PF.

Yup, and if Cleveland has to sit Mozgov with foul trouble, Pau should have his way inside.

Bron at the 4 causes issues on the defensive side for Chicago. But it also creates defensive issues for Cleveland. They could easily put Bron on Noah and not have to worry at all. But putting Bron on Taj means physical play inside, putting Bron on Pau (doubt they'd do that), means Pau shoots over him.

Also who guards Butler if Bron is at 4? Shump can have his moments, but Jimmy will get the better of him over a few games. If Rose can pretty much keep pace with Kyrie, I really like the Bulls chances. Going into the series with both squads healthy, Rose, JB, and Pau pretty much needed to keep pace with Kyrie, Bron, and Love. Now, Kyrie and Bron will have to keep pace with Rose, JB, and Pau. Definitely possible, but Cavs will need other guys to step up in a big way.

[Euphorics]

Mike Miller, James Jones need to step it up big time.

I'd change up the starting line-up too:

Irving
Shumpert
James Jones
LeBron James
Timofey Mozgov

With a bench rotation of Delly, Mike Miller, TT.

Yeah that lineup seems the best imo assuming klove and jr are done. However we need production from JJ and Mike Miller needs to stop fkin around and play like he did with the heat and memphis last year.

[Gus McCrae]

As long as Lebron and kyrie play I'd favor the cavs

[infinite11285]

IMO, 30%.

[[e]]

Milwaukee starts ZaZa and Iraslova and Chicago isn't exactly taking advantage.

Bucks are also a top 5 defensive team in the league. They are doubling every time Pau gets the ball on the post.

Cleveland doesn't have the defense Milwaukee does. Obviously Cavs are a top tier offensive team, but losing Love hurts that quite a bit.

Yeah gasol hasn't played well this playoffs. If Cavs get regular season pau then Bulls in 6.

He hasn't played poorly either. He's being doubled every time so his chances have been way down.

13.5 points, 13.3 rebounds, 4 assists, 2.8 blocks is what he's done over the 4 games. Double doubles in each game. He can do more on the offensive end if he isn't getting doubled every time. The rebounding has been there, and he's done well on the defensive end too.

[MS13]

welp, just like that comment at the bottom i definitely won't be watching game 1 on may 2

as far as the topic goes, i think it's going to be a very tough and more closely competitive series

Potential Game 7 of LAC vs Spurs, Mayweather/Pacman, Game 1 of EC Semi's. Poor NBA scheduling.

Though I hope, I hope, the fight doesn't end early with some stupid chicanery like PacMan low blowing or Mayweather bites Pac's ear off or someone gets knocked out in 1-2 rds. I want a freaking brawl for 10 rds with punches flailing like back in the day Pacman and some of his bouts.

You're not getting a brawl in a Mayweather fight. You'll get a lot of jabs though.

[pb-ceo]

the cavs will be favored even if jr and love miss the entire series. check the vegas odds this week for confirmation.

[oldschooled]

Blatt should stick w/ Lebron playing at the 3. Lebron hates playing the 4 on how taxing it is for him. Especially w/ that rotation of Taj, Mirotic, Pau, Noah. I still see the Cavs winning the series even w/o Love and JR. I hope i'm wrong though.

[Little Digger]

Cavs D with be much MUCH stronger without Love out there to **** it all up..But depth will be a big issue..

[jbk1234]

Blatt should stick w/ Lebron playing at the 3. Lebron hates playing the 4 on how taxing it is for him. Especially w/ that rotation of Taj, Mirotic, Pau, Noah. I still see the Cavs winning the series even w/o Love and JR. I hope i'm wrong though.

Unless the Bulls have Mirotic playing the 4, I agree. But if he plays the four, LBJ needs to play the 4.

[JazzUte88]

Is Marion worth giving major minutes to??

[blumeany]

My problem with predicting any Bulls win is their inconsistency. It's been there all year and in the Bucks series. One minute they can look absolutely dominant. The next? Unforced turnovers and complete confusion on offense. It *should* be easier for the Bulls to win without Love and JR, but the Bulls have yet to show me they can step on someone's throat this season.

[Pure_Basketball]

Despite the injuries Cavs are a clear favourite for mine. Shut down Butler, and or Pau, and you've shut down Chicago. Rose is a shell of his former self, and you want him to shoot plenty of 3's. So pack the paint, lock down on Butler and make Rose become a shooter.

[JDizzel3000]

this team's already middle of the road in regards to rebounding ... and now you take that away as well as two floor spacers and scorers on a offense heavy team?

im sorry they are definitely in trouble if these two are out for any prolonged period of time ... now granted .. lebron is still lebron .. but these two guys play a very large role in the context of how teams approach defending the cavs ....

[KobeBryant24]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/sportscenter/status/592521911931904000[/tweet]

[JDizzel3000]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/sportscenter/status/592521911931904000[/tweet]

oh man

[yoyoboy]

So he'll probably miss the entire series… F#$%!

[DoWhatItTakes]

I initially felt the Cavs would win this series in 6 games. But after these recent developments, I can't see Cleveland lasting past 6 games. You can't underestimate how much space Love created for his teammates. Even if they elect to go with a smaller line up, I can't see a favorable outcome in their favor. I'm going to bet Chicago pretty heavy in this match up.

[smokeylarue]

Love, like Bosh was in Miami, is the X-factor. Cavs will almost certainly lose this series. Bulls in 6.

[Benedict_Boozer]

It could come down to JR suspension - if he gets whacked with multiple games CLE is done. If he gets like 1 game there is a chance CLE could just play heavy small ball with TT/Mozgov as the primary bigs and still compete.

But would need that wing depth and floor spacing from JR to make it work.