OT: NBA Playoffs Conference Finals Discussion

Submitted by MichiganFan1984 on
Anyone else watching the Celtics vs Cavs Game 1? Rooting hard for the Celtics because I have always been a fan of them. I’m rooting for Houston over GS, which starts tomorrow. Unfortunately I think the Cavs and GS find a way. Boston has to play complete games to have a chance. Houston has to hope GS just can’t hit shots, that’s their only chance. I’m sick of GS winning. I was curious of everyone’s rooting interests, predictions and keys to each series. I hope this is a good general Conference Finals discussion thread. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

yoyo

May 13th, 2018 at 4:05 PM ^

I'm rooting for the rockets for a change of pace. Harden is an incredible player and wouldn't mind seeing him win one, even if he doesn't play defense. It's hard for me to choose between the other three teams.

Amutnal

May 13th, 2018 at 4:47 PM ^

Are we still talking about how LeBron has surpassed Jordan? Lol. Games like this where he displays no emotion or on court leadership are examples of the intangibles Jordan possessed that rarely if ever allowed a 25 point 1st half deficit in Game 1 of a conference finals.

MGoTeacher 2.0

May 13th, 2018 at 6:07 PM ^

Cavs and Rockets. I love watching Lebron play in big games, and I’m tired of GS.

BleedThatBlue

May 14th, 2018 at 7:10 AM ^

Not a Cavs fan, I just love watching the best play and that's LJ. In fact, I'd like to see Cavs lose because I can't stand their fans and they don't deserve LJ.



Its simple: MJ or LJ for GOAT. Including those other players is nonsense. They don't stand a chance against the two. I am willing to throw money that if any of them played in today's league, they would look elite but not the best of the NBA currently. League is so much more competitive and the players are athletic freaks.

gobluerebirth

May 13th, 2018 at 6:19 PM ^

CEltics are a complete team. cavaliers are one player. best player usually wins the series. however...he's getting NO help. I wouldn't show much emotion either.
I do think LeBron could've been more aggressive to prevent being down big.

Human Torpedo

May 13th, 2018 at 7:09 PM ^

Next was Clemson-Bama. I'd love to see a very similar budding rivalry of two juggernaut dynasties sharing and deciding national titles among themselves start between us and Nova in CBB

ghost

May 13th, 2018 at 7:23 PM ^

People who say Boston will be so much better with Hayward and Irving forget the fact that they weren't any better when Irving was playing and adding Hayward will take minutes away from Tatum/Brown.  Also Utah let Hayward go and got better.  And Marcus Smart also will have priced himself out of Boston at the end of the year.

IndyBlue90

May 13th, 2018 at 7:38 PM ^

As Golden State has shown it’s ok to have multiple good players at the same position. Brown and Hayward can both defend and rebound, Tatum will only get better, and most importantly you have the best coach in the league at finding a role for everyone. I think the Celtics keep ascending next year.

NowTameInThe603

May 13th, 2018 at 9:58 PM ^

Hahahaha hey everyone Utah let Hayward go. And hey everyone the Celtics will be WORSE next year when they lose no one and get their 2 best players back. No way the best coach in the league will know how to use a deep roster.

You a philly fan or a Cleveland fan? The east is Boston’s for years to come. Suck it.

The Krusty Kra…

May 13th, 2018 at 7:51 PM ^

Hoo boy what a blowout. Al Horford was dialed in during that first quarter (How great has he been all postseason?) and Marcus Morris (I miss him as a Piston) did what he said he would, locked down LBJ, and chipped in 21 and 11 himself. I want the Celtics to win this series, they are a good embodiment of what a team should be. I like and respect LeBron but him being in the Finals every year (especially if he were to make it this year, where that team would get swept FAST) is getting tiresome. I would rather see Boston try its best (but likely fail) against the (assumed) Warriors. 

The Denarding

May 13th, 2018 at 7:51 PM ^

Celtics +245 was good money from an analytics perspective - better than the+190 against Philadelphia. This is purely from an analytics perspective looking at variance across all aggregated metrics. From a basketball perspective, I have no idea what the Cavs are going to do to counter the Celtics being able to switch on wings constantly. Stevens is brilliant because he is amazing at avoiding down screens on his defenders making it really hard to do any sideline action at all. And he gets his shooters clean looks by forcing big centers to cover tons of ground and using Horford whenever other teams to go to small ball. Cavs only chance would be too put Thompson and love out there together - let Thompson get screen action going to the rim and love going away to force Boston to make choice. It also gets you a guy in Thompson who can play switches effectively.

Frankly, Celtics should win this series and it shouldn’t be close by the numbers. Lebron will make it close but the Celtics having the ability to neutralize with Horford makes this a celts series win. Unfortunately the numbers say as long as draymond green plays (yes draymond green) they aren’t beating the warriors. Draymond green is THE statistical nightmare of the NBA driving all the variance in every regression model. Him vs Capela is the match up of the entire NBA playoffs and the Rockets are the only team with a chance against the warriors. It will require chris Paul to be 4-5 points more efficient than Steph curry which ultimately means who will manage the switch better - Capella or Green.

Wilton Speight

May 14th, 2018 at 1:41 AM ^

I think most people want to see the celtics in this one. Enough LeBron superteams in the finals, it needs to end. Clearly the celtics can do it, based on game 1. But they need to come out swinging in game 2. Cavs are known to get on a roll. 

maize-blue

May 14th, 2018 at 10:09 AM ^

Cavs were probably feeling a little too good about themselves after taking out #1 Toronto 4-0. They got blitzed. Boston was more ready and motivated in this game. The rest of the games will probably be tighter. I still think Boston will likely win the series.

Also, it seemed that whoever Lebron was guarding, they weren't afraid to take it to the rim. Sure, you're going to get the ball swat into the fifth row sometimes, but you have to make him work. You don't see many teams attack Lebron. It's like Boston has a coach that knows something.

Hemlock Philosopher

May 14th, 2018 at 10:25 AM ^

LBJ's defense isn't what it once was. He's in the bottom third DRPM for his position. It could be team dynamics as well, but I've seen opposing teams attack him more than in the past and the Cavs trying to "hide" him on a lesser offensive player. With BOS, that's tough to find - you have Brown, Tatum, Morris and Horford who are all capable offensive players. TOR had a half-dead cat at SF.