The Lebron Thread (2014-15 Pt. 2)

pelican piranha · Post #1821 » by **pelican piranha** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 1:31 pm

Yeah this team is really scary. Score so effortlessly and the defense is coming along nicely. LBJ is back in top form and everyone now understands their role. I think the Cavs definitely make it to the Finals and have a very good chance of winning it all.

Colbinii · Post #1822 » by **Colbinii** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 3:54 pm

Brenice wrote:There really isn't any reason Cleveland should not to win the championship, aside from potential injuries. Excuses, yes. They have everything compared to any team in the NBA.

The only reason people are saying NEXT year instead THIS year is what happened LeBron's first year in Miami. But Pierce, KG, Allen won their first year in Boston. Kyrie and Love not having playoff experience is an excuse. Magic did what as a rookie?

Keep putting unrealistic expectations on LeBron just so he can fail in your eyes. Us actual basketball fans will enjoy the greatness that is LeBron James and his career without having "expectations" for him to fulfill. Enjoy watching one of the greatest players play in his prime instead of bashing him every chance you have, it will make you a happier person

This team is the most fun team I have seen in recent years. I can't wait for the post-season with 3 of the best offensive players in the league on the same team.

Run DLC · Post #1823 » by **Run DLC** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 6:43 pm

With 26 games left to play and if he plays in all of them, he'd need to score 24+ points per game to reach 25k points.

Brenice · Post #1824 » by **Brenice** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 7:04 pm

Colbinii wrote:
Brenice wrote:There really isn't any reason Cleveland should not to win the championship, aside from potential injuries. Excuses, yes. They have everything compared to any team in the NBA.

The only reason people are saying NEXT year instead THIS year is what happened LeBron's first year in Miami. But Pierce, KG, Allen won their first year in Boston. Kyrie and Love not having playoff experience is an excuse. Magic did what as a rookie?

Keep putting unrealistic expectations on LeBron just so he can fail in your eyes. Us actual basketball fans will enjoy the greatness that is LeBron James and his career without having "expectations" for him to fulfill. Enjoy watching one of the greatest players play in his prime instead of bashing him every chance you have, it will make you a happier person

This team is the most fun team I have seen in recent years. I can't wait for the post-season with 3 of the best offensive players in the league on the same team.

Why is it unrealistic? Who is it realistic for? They have size(Mosgov and Love), shooters (Love, Kyrie, and J.R.), a 3&D guy on the bench(Shumpert), a rebounder on the bench (Thompson), scorers (LeBron and Kyrie), 2 of the best game closers (LeBron and Kyrie), and the best player AND best all-round player in the NBA(LeBron).

What else do you want? This team is stacked MORE THAN MIAMI WAS. The Spurs are too old. Atlanta is not the best team in the East. Toronto isn't. Cleveland is. This LeBron led team should not lose to the Warriors. OKC is the only threat to Cleveland but they aren't stacked like Cleveland.

Stop looking for excuses. If not Cleveland, who?

SweetTouch · Post #1825 » by **SweetTouch** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 7:15 pm

Good win but I don't take much from beating that joke of a team in the Washington wizards

So much potential but yet have no heart, soul, dedication like a team like the cavaliers. They are not a good look for that city

So I expected a win against them. It was like a college basketball team. Game was over as soon as the game began.

Oh well on to the next game, they play real teams now

Post #1826 » by **tsherkin** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 7:24 pm

Cleveland needs to tighten up their defense if they intend to compete for a title, but they are also 26-15 after starting 8-7. That's a touch underwhelming for a contender, of course (52-win pace in that stretch). I would expect the Warriors to walk over the Cavs in 5 or 6 games at the moment. Lebron has been stumbling in February after murdering it in January. If he plays strong ball through the remainder of the season, we'll see what happens.

colts18 · Post #1827 » by **colts18** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 7:49 pm

tsherkin wrote:Cleveland needs to tighten up their defense if they intend to compete for a title, but they are also 26-15 after starting 8-7. That's a touch underwhelming for a contender, of course (52-win pace in that stretch). I would expect the Warriors to walk over the Cavs in 5 or 6 games at the moment. Lebron has been stumbling in February after murdering it in January. If he plays strong ball through the remainder of the season, we'll see what happens.

They are 27-7 (65 win pace), +8.9 MOV in games that LeBron has played since their 5-7 start.

Post #1828 » by **tsherkin** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 8:30 pm

colts18 wrote:They are 27-7 (65 win pace), +8.9 MOV in games that LeBron has played since their 5-7 start.

Yup. RS record is often predictive, but especially vulnerable to injury-related noise.

He's played 17 of 18 games since returning from his lengthy lay off, during which the Cavs have gone 14-3. They also won the game he missed, part of a 12-game winning streak. They have looked the part lately, but they have had reasonably soft competition. Beat some good teams as well, but still worth a mention.

My concern over defense remains, however.

Brenice · Post #1829 » by **Brenice** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 8:55 pm

They have to be defended too. Early season stats and their record is irrelevant due to the mid-season acquisitions. Once the playoffs start, everybody is 0-0.

therealbig3 · Post #1830 » by **therealbig3** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 9:01 pm

Brenice wrote:
Colbinii wrote:
Brenice wrote:There really isn't any reason Cleveland should not to win the championship, aside from potential injuries. Excuses, yes. They have everything compared to any team in the NBA.

The only reason people are saying NEXT year instead THIS year is what happened LeBron's first year in Miami. But Pierce, KG, Allen won their first year in Boston. Kyrie and Love not having playoff experience is an excuse. Magic did what as a rookie?

Keep putting unrealistic expectations on LeBron just so he can fail in your eyes. Us actual basketball fans will enjoy the greatness that is LeBron James and his career without having "expectations" for him to fulfill. Enjoy watching one of the greatest players play in his prime instead of bashing him every chance you have, it will make you a happier person

This team is the most fun team I have seen in recent years. I can't wait for the post-season with 3 of the best offensive players in the league on the same team.

Why is it unrealistic? Who is it realistic for? They have size(Mosgov and Love), shooters (Love, Kyrie, and J.R.), a 3&D guy on the bench(Shumpert), a rebounder on the bench (Thompson), scorers (LeBron and Kyrie), 2 of the best game closers (LeBron and Kyrie), and the best player AND best all-round player in the NBA(LeBron).

What else do you want? This team is stacked MORE THAN MIAMI WAS. The Spurs are too old. Atlanta is not the best team in the East. Toronto isn't. Cleveland is. This LeBron led team should not lose to the Warriors. OKC is the only threat to Cleveland but they aren't stacked like Cleveland.

Stop looking for excuses. If not Cleveland, who?

Meh, the Warriors are stacked as hell. I wouldn't say losing to them would be a failure or a disappointment at all. The Warriors are putting together one of the greatest regular seasons of all time, and I definitely see them maintaining their level of play in the playoffs. The only thing that stopped them before was injuries, and now injuries don't even seem to bother them, because they're so deep. And they've got, imo, the league's MVP (Curry).

Jaivl · Post #1831 » by **Jaivl** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 9:08 pm

Brenice wrote:They have to be defended too. Early season stats and their record is irrelevant due to the mid-season acquisitions. Once the playoffs start, everybody is 0-0.

So are you saying every team has a 1/16 chance to win the ring? How could you talk about "excuses" if Cleveland doesn't win the ship when they only have a 6.25% chance? :-?

Dupp · Post #1832 » by **Dupp** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 9:16 pm

Not much has changed for me since the start of the season. I thought we'd lose in the finals then and I do now. The west is just so nasty.
In saying that if we actually get to the finals I'm sure I'll change my expectations if for nothing more than hope.
Brenice is kinda right on this one though. We do just about have everything we need to be a championship caliber team besides maybe depth and enough growth together as a team.
I really hope love doesn't leave because this exact team in a seasons time will be that much better with the experience of a season and probable finals loss.

Brenice · Post #1833 » by **Brenice** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 9:17 pm

therealbig3 wrote:
Meh, the Warriors are stacked as hell. I wouldn't say losing to them would be a failure or a disappointment at all. The Warriors are putting together one of the greatest regular seasons of all time, and I definitely see them maintaining their level of play in the playoffs. The only thing that stopped them before was injuries, and now injuries don't even seem to bother them, because they're so deep. And they've got, imo, the league's MVP (Curry).

The Warriors have the MVP but don't have the best player in the world. I wouldn't say losing to the Warriors is failure. I just don't expect it to happen. I expect Cleveland to win it.

Last year in the Finals, after a certain point, LeBron knew he didn't have enough firepower to beat San Antonio. He got his stats and dominated a quarter of each game, but didn't play to win because of that lack of firepower.

This year, LeBron has sufficient firepower around him to keep him engaged and competing for more than 1 quarter each game. That's the big difference before and after the trades Cleveland made. LeBron didn't think he had sufficient support before the trades. Now he does. LeBron's improved level of play has nothing to do with injuries or vacations to "rest" in Miami.

The best player with sufficient support should win. LeBron has sufficient support. Period.

Brenice · Post #1834 » by **Brenice** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 9:26 pm

Greatness · Post #1835 » by **Greatness** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 9:31 pm

I think Warriors-Cavs would be a hell of a series. 6-7 games regardless of who wins (it's a toss-up IMO). I don't think the Warriors make the finals though. My pick is the Grizzlies.

JordansBulls · Post #1836 » by **JordansBulls** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 9:51 pm

Brenice wrote:They have to be defended too. Early season stats and their record is irrelevant due to the mid-season acquisitions. Once the playoffs start, everybody is 0-0.

This. The moves they made is what turned there season around. No Mozgov and JR changes everything for the Cavs.

Ursusamericanus · Post #1837 » by **Ursusamericanus** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 11:02 pm

People rag on Perkins a lot but I think he's exactly what they needed. He's got deep playoff experience and he fills that enforcer type role.

And regarding the Cavs' championship chances, last summer, I said they'd go all the way if they made the right moves. They've done that. I say they win it all this year. Everything seems to be clicking at the moment and they look terrifying. Now 15-3 since "the return of the king".

Brenice · Post #1838 » by **Brenice** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 11:13 pm

Jaivl wrote:
Brenice wrote:They have to be defended too. Early season stats and their record is irrelevant due to the mid-season acquisitions. Once the playoffs start, everybody is 0-0.

So are you saying every team has a 1/16 chance to win the ring? How could you talk about "excuses" if Cleveland doesn't win the ship when they only have a 6.25% chance?

All the analytics you needs are as follows:

Best player + sufficient support + health = championship

RSCD3_ · Post #1839 » by **RSCD3_** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 11:16 pm

PrincessDupp wrote:Not much has changed for me since the start of the season. I thought we'd lose in the finals then and I do now. The west is just so nasty.
In saying that if we actually get to the finals I'm sure I'll change my expectations if for nothing more than hope.
Brenice is kinda right on this one though. We do just about have everything we need to be a championship caliber team besides maybe depth and enough growth together as a team.
I really hope love doesn't leave because this exact team in a seasons time will be that much better with the experience of a season and probable finals loss.

WIthout the new additions Cleveland would have been curb stomped by Atlanta in the ECF, now I think they'll win at least two games in the finals

Dupp · Post #1840 » by **Dupp** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 11:22 pm

RSCD3_ wrote:
PrincessDupp wrote:Not much has changed for me since the start of the season. I thought we'd lose in the finals then and I do now. The west is just so nasty.
In saying that if we actually get to the finals I'm sure I'll change my expectations if for nothing more than hope.
Brenice is kinda right on this one though. We do just about have everything we need to be a championship caliber team besides maybe depth and enough growth together as a team.
I really hope love doesn't leave because this exact team in a seasons time will be that much better with the experience of a season and probable finals loss.

WIthout the new additions Cleveland would have been curb stomped by Atlanta in the ECF, now I think they'll win at least two games in the finals

Yeah that's true. Our defense and rebounding was a lot worse than i expected coming into the season. Those additions did get the team back on track to my original predictions though.

Not gonna lie though i did lose faith mid season before the trades.