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Cleveland Cavs (2016 NBA Champions)

I'll go ahead and say it...

I think Sunday ends up worse.
Worse than a 20 point margin? I don't. Even though LBJ played 41 minutes, it was much less than the two OT games (obviously) and 5 less minutes than last game. Add in the fact that he obviously wasn't playing as hard/putting in as much effort due to being exhausted, which means he burned less energy. Plus there's 2 nights rest, not 1. Obviously he won't be fully rested, but he will be fresher than this game. That, and you can't expect to shoot that poorly again. 33% from the field. Now I'm not saying they win, but I think it's single digits late. maybe a 10 point loss. But even then I wouldn't be shocked with a Cavs win. I'll say maybe even as high as 40% chance. At least 20%. One of the commentators made a good point, and Blatt may be forced to watch LeBron's minutes early in the game. He may need to go into the 4th only having played 30 minutes. Otherwise if he goes in with 34 let's say GS will crush the 4th like they have the past few games when LeBron is spent.
 
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I'm not ready to count them out, fully. They're an extremely resilient bunch. Two days off is HUGE. It's obvious that they were exhausted last night...but they deserve credit for making it a game during the 3rd Q. That gives me hope. Game 5 is a MUST WIN, in my IMO. I still give them a puncher's chance, but I don't feel very confident...
 
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My bad, Cleveland. I said something positive and it all went to shit. Kudos to whoever predicted a Warriors blowout in game four. The extra day of rest can only help the Cavs going into game five, but I suspect depth & talent are going to prevail in the end.
 
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I'll go ahead and say it...

I think Sunday ends up worse.

I'm not ready to count them out, fully. They're an extremely resilient bunch. Two days off is HUGE. It's obvious that they were exhausted last night...but they deserve credit for making it a game during the 3rd Q. That gives me hope. Game 5 is a MUST WIN, in my IMO. I still give them a puncher's chance, but I don't feel very confident...
The Cavs' best chance to win the series may be to tank Game 5 and rest the starters as much as possible - a strategic retreat. By Game 6, Lebron, Delly, Shump, and Thompson will be working on five days' rest and should be close to 100%. Win Game 6 in Cleveland and take your chances in Game 7. It sounds crazy, but it might be the only hope that the Cavs have right now, given their physical condition.
 
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The Cavs' best chance to win the series may be to tank Game 5 and rest the starters as much as possible - a strategic retreat. By Game 6, Lebron, Delly, Shump, and Thompson will be working on five days' rest and should be close to 100%. Win Game 6 in Cleveland and take your chances in Game 7. It sounds crazy, but it might be the only hope that the Cavs have right now, given their physical condition.

I thought the same thing - except I thought they should have done it last night, and load up for Game 5. It's tough when you have no gas in the tank.

Our local HS uses depth as a weapon. They play 10-12 kids against other teams' 6-7 and they just kill people at the end of the game. It's hard to play well on either end when your legs are gone, and it is discouraging when the other guys are fresh. You don't see it in the NBA much because of how talented the rosters are, but it works the same way in a finals where injuries have caused one team to be limited to 7 guys. The effect is accentuated in a 7 game series. It's just unfortunate that the Cavs are in this situation.

If LeBron wins 2 more and pulls them across the finish line, it will have to go down as one of the greatest feats in pro sports.
 
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I want to see more post-ups in the next game. Green can't guard Moz, and Kerr doesn't want to keep bringing Bogut back into the game.

Agree with this. I thought Blatt made a mistake at the beginning of the 4th. Understand resting LeBron there but Mozgov should have been in the game and the offense running thru him. With a 6'6-6'7 guy guarding him, either they double and he passes to the open man or he tries to exploit the mismatch.

The thing I don't get about the Bogut situation is why Kerr is getting so much credit. Bogut has been terrible for pretty much the whole series, seems like it should have been an easy decision.
 
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How about giving Perk a few minutes here and there and give Curry some good picks to run through? I think they need to use a little more of the bench even if you are just giving guys like Miller and Marion a few minutes of balls-to-the-wall run a few times a game. It isn't like anyone on the roster has shot well enough that they have to be in the game. I find it hard to believe that some of these former champions can't give you a few good minutes of havoc at a time. Maybe one of them is hot and can hit a few 3's.

Anyone remember when we looked a JR as a nice to have when he was hot, but weren't really worried about when he turned back into a frog because we had plenty of other scorers? Too bad we've had so many injuries that we need him to be our second scorer and he's reverted to the PoS that NY gave us Shump and a draft pick to take.

Hopefully the 2 days off gets enough rest for everyone to be fresh, but Blatt needs to find a rotation to slow down the small game, but keep our bigs on the floor since that is our strength. I don't want Mozzy posting up since he is at his best when the ball is above his waist. Have to find a way to get him the ball high on his way to the hoop. Sunday will be a must win for the Cavs. I always thought they would have to win 2 in Oakland to win the Finals. At least they get 2 days now, and before game 7 if it happens so rest should be less of an issue.
 
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How about giving Perk a few minutes here and there and give Curry some good picks to run through? I think they need to use a little more of the bench even if you are just giving guys like Miller and Marion a few minutes of balls-to-the-wall run a few times a game. It isn't like anyone on the roster has shot well enough that they have to be in the game. I find it hard to believe that some of these former champions can't give you a few good minutes of havoc at a time. Maybe one of them is hot and can hit a few 3's.

Anyone remember when we looked a JR as a nice to have when he was hot, but weren't really worried about when he turned back into a frog because we had plenty of other scorers? Too bad we've had so many injuries that we need him to be our second scorer and he's reverted to the PoS that NY gave us Shump and a draft pick to take.

Hopefully the 2 days off gets enough rest for everyone to be fresh, but Blatt needs to find a rotation to slow down the small game, but keep our bigs on the floor since that is our strength. I don't want Mozzy posting up since he is at his best when the ball is above his waist. Have to find a way to get him the ball high on his way to the hoop. Sunday will be a must win for the Cavs. I always thought they would have to win 2 in Oakland to win the Finals. At least they get 2 days now, and before game 7 if it happens so rest should be less of an issue.
The team is thinking the same way from what I've read today. If they can put Bogut in to beat on guys in the lane, why can't Perkins
 
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The team is thinking the same way from what I've read today. If they can put Bogut in to beat on guys in the lane, why can't Perkins

Because when Perkins does it it's a flagrant two and he's gone. In all honesty though, being dirty has everything to do with being inconspicuous.

I agree with what you all are saying, and evidently members of the team spoke to the media about it and think Blatt should extend the bench as well, but I'm not sure what's left for him to use. He's been playing Miller for a few minutes a game (although I don't think he did in game four before garbage time), and aside from Marion, that's really all there is. Marion is also dealing with some kind of calf injury, and he's an absolute zero on the offensive end.

I think the solution for the Cavs is JR Smith shooting more than 17% from the floor and 0% from three. I think you can play a few minutes of Miller at SF while LeBron sits, and run the offense through Mozgov in that stretch. Golden State made 24/45 uncontested shots while the Cavs made just 6/29. If non-shooters like Iguodala don't cool off in the next few games, the Cavs are done anyway. Their defensive game plan requires GS's role players to miss shots, and our role players to make them. I think LeBron can lead them to one more win on his own, but I fully expect Golden State to win this series in six.
 
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