Greatest Competition in Cavs way to Championship

kickerboy10 · Post #1 » by **kickerboy10** » Mon May 4, 2009 11:44 pm

Just curious to see what the cavs thought would be the greatest challenge on the road to a championship this year. Knowing in the reg season that the cavs had a losing record to the elite teams and the cavs are one twisted ankle away from the lottery. What do you guys think?

laduane1 · Post #2 » by **laduane1** » Mon May 4, 2009 11:47 pm

LAKERS

Gordon Bombay · Post #3 » by **Gordon Bombay** » Tue May 5, 2009 12:10 am

are people having competitions that we dont know about to see who can come here and create the dumbest threads on our board?

Roger Murdock · Post #4 » by **Roger Murdock** » Tue May 5, 2009 1:21 am

Whoever makes it out of the west

Benedict_Boozer · Post #5 » by **Benedict_Boozer** » Tue May 5, 2009 2:59 am

Lakers.

Other than them no one really concerns me. We have some personnel issues against ORL, but with HCA we should be able to take them out in 6 or 7 IMO.

RevMan26 · Post #6 » by **RevMan26** » Tue May 5, 2009 4:17 am

I would say the Lakers or Rockets. The Lakers front court is so much more athletic than ours. And also even though Z is 7' 3'', I think Yao and Bynum could dominate when Z is on the floor.

Gordon Bombay · Post #7 » by **Gordon Bombay** » Tue May 5, 2009 4:22 am

Gordon Bombay wrote:are people having competitions that we dont know about to see who can come here and create the dumbest threads on our board?

ok lol that may have come across as a little harsh...i just got the feeling that the op wanted to tell us our greatest competition would be orlando without really telling us that - if that makes any sense lol

L&H_05 · Post #8 » by **L&H_05** » Tue May 5, 2009 5:31 am

JDeuce23 · Post #9 » by **JDeuce23** » Tue May 5, 2009 6:02 am

Wow. LBJ wins the MVP, and the Celtics and Lakers BOTH lose on the same day? Is there any way to rewind today on the tivo of life and watch it happen over and over again?

Tonight was exactly why I was telling Lakers fans out here that their 2-0 record against Cleveland this regular season means nothing now that the playoffs are underway. The Lakers were 4-0 against Houston in the regular season this year and just lost Game 1. Hell, the Cavs were 6-0 against Chicago in the regular season in the year of The Shot, and the Bulls won that first round series 3-2.

Playoffs are a completely different ball of wax. Coaches use shorter rotations and different schemes. Your weaknesses tend to get exposed as you get deeper into the playoffs since opposing coaches will study hours of film to try and exploit them.

But I can't stop smiling. Either Boston or LA will now have to win on the road against very good respective home teams if they want to advance. And the Cavs should come out completely jazzed up after LBJ is presented with the MVP trophy tomorrow. And oh yeah, I'm off to Vegas this weekend.

Life freaking rocks at the moment.

DubaLakers · Post #10 » by **DubaLakers** » Tue May 5, 2009 6:29 am

JDeuce23 wrote:Wow. LBJ wins the MVP, and the Celtics and Lakers BOTH lose on the same day? Is there any way to rewind today on the tivo of life and watch it happen over and over again?

Tonight was exactly why I was telling Lakers fans out here that their 2-0 record against Cleveland this regular season means nothing now that the playoffs are underway. The Lakers were 4-0 against Houston in the regular season this year and just lost Game 1. Hell, the Cavs were 6-0 against Chicago in the regular season in the year of The Shot, and the Bulls won that first round series 3-2.

Playoffs are a completely different ball of wax. Coaches use shorter rotations and different schemes. Your weaknesses tend to get exposed as you get deeper into the playoffs since opposing coaches will study hours of film to try and exploit them.

But I can't stop smiling. Either Boston or LA will now have to win on the road against very good respective home teams if they want to advance. And the Cavs should come out completely jazzed up after LBJ is presented with the MVP trophy tomorrow. And oh yeah, I'm off to Vegas this weekend.

Life freaking rocks at the moment.

Eight posts...Boston losing at home after a tough 7 game series with the beast D12 in the middle and the C's no answer for him and that's a surprise win to you? However, the Lakers losing at home to HOU did surprise me I must say. That's the best game I've EVER seen Artest play as far as his shot he was on fire, don't expect that to happen again this series. Brooks tore up Fisher what else is new quick skilled PG's kill the LAL, it's their weakness, besides the long ball. HOU made big shots and played very good D forcing the LAL into tough shots.

The two LAL wins this year vs. CLE were must see TV, not sure why you think those wouldn't translate as far as success. Bost teams were giving it their all. You think the LAL get up for HOU? They won all four of those. Those didn't mean as much. Would you really be surprised if the LAL reeled off 4 wins in a row?

I'm telling you right now a long layoff is nearly as bad as winning an award as far as a letdown game, that may be the only game the Cavs lose. If they were to lose a game in that series that would be the game.

DubaLakers · Post #11 » by **DubaLakers** » Tue May 5, 2009 6:32 am

L&H_05 wrote:Cavs

The Cavs have two players on their team. The stat sheet stuffer and an excellent non driving shooting pg who's really a sg. They have no other impact players. They aren't deep at all, but the guys that do get time do well. Their biggest competition will be the Lakers, now that Boston is counting the days. CLE has a far easier road to the Finals they will be well rested. The LAL will be a little beat up.

L&H_05 · Post #12 » by **L&H_05** » Tue May 5, 2009 6:35 am

The Lakers losing tonight has zero barring on us right now..

Furthermore, each game is different when the ball is tipped.. IMO, the most overrated win of the season was the Lakers win at the Q... They deserved to win, and they did.. However, at no point in this season have I ever been of the opinion that because the Lakers won at the Q does it mean they will beat us in the finals, or they'll even repeat the feat once more...

I'm pretty confident that if the finals were today, the Cavs would have a fantastic chance to have a 2-0 lead going to LA...

DubaLakers wrote:
L&H_05 wrote:Cavs

The Cavs have two players on their team. The stat sheet stuffer and an excellent non driving shooting pg who's really a sg. They have no other impact players. They aren't deep at all, but the guys that do get time do well. Their biggest competition will be the Lakers, now that Boston is counting the days. CLE has a far easier road to the Finals they will be well rested. The LAL will be a little beat up.

I disagree...Out west the Rockets would be the toughest of the 4 remaining due to having two perimeter defenders to throw at LeBron... Especially a playoff attacking LeBron..Plus, they have the quick PG and dominant scoring low post player...

The Lakers have size, but their defense is suspect IMO, and that front line is soft... They tall and long, but they're soft..

JDeuce23 · Post #13 » by **JDeuce23** » Tue May 5, 2009 2:41 pm

Eight posts...Boston losing at home after a tough 7 game series with the beast D12 in the middle and the C's no answer for him and that's a surprise win to you?

What does eight posts have to do with anything? And no, Boston losing wasn't a shock...just some very enjoyable viewing, much like the Lakers loss to Houston.

However, the Lakers losing at home to HOU did surprise me I must say.

Naturally. I think most Lakers fans would probably suffer genuine shock if their bench didn't beat an All-Star team.

That's the best game I've EVER seen Artest play as far as his shot he was on fire, don't expect that to happen again this series. Brooks tore up Fisher what else is new quick skilled PG's kill the LAL, it's their weakness, besides the long ball. HOU made big shots and played very good D forcing the LAL into tough shots.

That's not the best Artest has ever played...or maybe you've only seen him play a few times. Artest's jump shot may come and go, but as far as Brooks, his quickness isn't going anywhere, and it's going to be a huge problem for the Lakers all series long. At times, it almost looked like he was playing at fast forward speed while everyone else on the floor was at play speed.

The two LAL wins this year vs. CLE were must see TV, not sure why you think those wouldn't translate as far as success. Bost teams were giving it their all. You think the LAL get up for HOU? They won all four of those. Those didn't mean as much. Would you really be surprised if the LAL reeled off 4 wins in a row?

Probably for the same reason your four wins over Houston didn't help you out a great deal last night. What...the Rockets just weren't up for playing the "mighty" Lakers at any time in the regular season? As far as the Cavs, congrats on beating them when they were maybe 70% healthy. I'd be surprised if we had our full lineup in tact for more than 10 games this season. But (knock on wood) we seem to be there at the right time of the year.

All you have to do is rattle off four wins in a row, huh? Just like that...with two of the games coming in Houston? Sure. No problem. I've heard the same kind of talk at the race track: "All I have to do to get even today is pick five straight winners..."

If the Rockets beat LA in Game 2, the Lakers would be in serious trouble. In fact, that might even be a death blow. I don't know if any team has ever come back from 0-2 having lost the first two at home.

I'm telling you right now a long layoff is nearly as bad as winning an award as far as a letdown game, that may be the only game the Cavs lose. If they were to lose a game in that series that would be the game.

Unlikely. The crowd is going to be in a frenzy after LBJ gets his award from Stern, and the Hawks are a terrible road team. It's a perfect storm for a Cavs blowout.

DubaLakers · Post #14 » by **DubaLakers** » Wed May 6, 2009 4:04 am

What...the Rockets just weren't up for playing the "mighty" Lakers at any time in the regular season? No I said do you think the LAL would be up for playing HOU 4 times this season, I wouldn't think so, and they beat them in all four.

Usually trophy presentations are a letdown i've seen it time and time again, but ATL is an undiciplined team, and LBJ played his butt off, congrats.

The Cavs have yet to have a challenge. They have undiciplined ATL, then beat up undermanned BOS, or D12 and a bunch of shooters, ORL will make them work a little, but HOU Is gonna beat up on the LAL then we have to play juggernaut DENVER who has as deep if not deeper team than the LAL and can score with us, and their D is improved, that is gonna be a heck of a series. They aren't nearly as disciplined as the LAL but they have better stars than the HAwks. CLE worries me because they are going to be well rested and unchallenged.

Houston is a tougher matchup for CLE than the LAL?, wow, amazing what LAL hate does to non LAL fans with a 1st game win. I've watched maybe 10 HOU games this year, and that's the only one of the 10 I saw them win, Artest was making everything, they played excellent D, and Brooks was on fire, I will pay Artest to take those same shots the rest of the series. No player in the league has his green light and lives with his consequences of shooting them in games or out of games.

Notorious23 · Post #15 » by **Notorious23** » Wed May 6, 2009 4:25 am

I think Orlando. The Lakers are way overhyped in my opinion. What was their record vs. the east and west? I think they got worked in the east this year. We'll see how overboard that opinion is if they make it to the finals.

Del Sol · Post #16 » by **Del Sol** » Wed May 6, 2009 4:08 pm

Lakers.

That said, they're not as big a threat as fanboys and the national media would have you believe. It's funny how the Lakers 2-0 (nice sample size there) REGULAR SEASON record over the Cavs gets thrown in the Cavs' faces....but back in 07, everyone laughed at Cavs fan who pointed out that we were 2-0 over the Spurs. And rightfully so. That 2-0 didn't mean anything, and this 2-0 doesn't mean much more.

They ARE the toughest matchup yet, but it's overstated. People said the same damn thing about how LA would roll over Boston last year. :lol:

How'd that work out? Lakers clearly have the better frontcourt, and smoother offense. Cavs have superior team defense, the better star player, and (subjectively) are hungrier. If both teams make the finals, which I expect, I then expect a very tough and competitive series that the Cavs have a legit shot to win.

Sorry, but the Rockets and Magic don't concern me, at least with HCA. Rockets had one game where they could throw two of the best perimeter defenders in a decade at Lebron....I'm confident he would adjust.

Alex_De_Large · Post #17 » by **Alex_De_Large** » Thu May 7, 2009 1:06 am

1-Lakers
2-Rockets
3-Celtics, if KG is back, if not, then the Magic.

RevMan26 · Post #18 » by **RevMan26** » Thu May 7, 2009 1:08 am

^Yea I will find it difficult for us to find a way to contain/handle Howard.

Del Sol · Post #19 » by **Del Sol** » Thu May 7, 2009 3:04 am

^ To a point. But remember Dwight has been known to absolutely disappear offensively, like he did in the last Cle-Orl game in Cleveland. He's still a "fairly" limited player offensively, as impressive as he is on the defensive end.

I think Dwight will contain Dwight to an extent.

kiwibrindle · Post #20 » by **kiwibrindle** » Thu May 7, 2009 12:24 pm

Boston is tougher than Orlando. What happen last night? How does Eddie House go off for 31 in a playoff game? Howard is tough to stop and tough on defense in the middle, but they're perimeter defense blows. Boston is more balanced all around. Orlando still may win but Boston is a tougher team around