10+ players who could lead this current Cavs team to the finals in the East

[Kidbasketball20]

Despite an injured K Love

Keep in mind it's the east
Assuming Kyrie's on the team so no ball dominant PGs

--
Kevin Durant
Anthony Davis
Steph Curry
James Harden
Blake Griffin
Demarcus Cousins
Blake Griffin
Marc Gasol
Lamarcus Aldridge
Jimmy Butler

Maybe Carmelo (nahhhh)

[SpaceJammeR]

sorry no. just no. losing love and jr smith has a lot to do with the cavs losing. 1 starter is out 2 games and another for the rest of the playoffs. it would be the same for all these players. only person that can do it is lebron james and he might do it.

[NumberSix]

No excuses.

[Hit_Em]

Despite an injured K Love

Keep in mind it's the east
Assuming Kyrie's on the team so no ball dominant PGs

--
Kevin Durant
Anthony Davis
Steph Curry
James Harden
Blake Griffin
Demarcus Cousins
Blake Griffin (x2)
Marc Gasol
Lamarcus Aldridge
Jimmy Butler

Maybe Carmelo (nahhhh)
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0z9dqIDoIG8/UGTxjFW1PyI/AAAAAAAAAwo/uDO1hndJxQs/s1600/larry-david-reaction+Indecisive.gif

[salwan]

No Jeremy Lin? I'm disappointed OP

[ralph_i_el]

John Wall

[Dr Hawk]

Despite an injured K Love

Keep in mind it's the east
Assuming Kyrie's on the team so no ball dominant PGs

--
Kevin Durant MAYBE
Anthony Davis MAYYYYYYBE
Steph Curry NO
James Harden MAYYYYYYBE
Blake Griffin NO
Demarcus Cousins NO
Blake Griffin NOx2
Marc Gasol NO
Lamarcus Aldridge NO
Jimmy Butler NO

Maybe Carmelo (nahhhh)

My guess

[aj1987]

Kevin Durant - Probably
Anthony Davis - Probably.
Steph Curry - Nope.
James Harden - :oldlol:
Blake Griffin - Nope.
Demarcus Cousins - :oldlol:
Marc Gasol - He brings the defense, but what about offense? Cleveland NEEDS offense.
Lamarcus Aldridge - Nope.
Jimmy Butler - :facepalm

[Bigsmoke]

LA was basically in LBJ situation and he got eliminated in five games

[Hittin_Shots]

Well you didn't state LeBron was off the team so adding them I would say yes.

[Genaro]

Came in waiting for Jeremy Lin.

[pauk]

Without Lebron, this very current Cavs team is equivalent at the very very best right now to how they were just before Lebron/Love joined: http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CLE/2014.html

Minus Luol Deng, Waiters, Varejao (injured), Jarett, Hawes.... but instead Mozgov, Shumpert and Smith (who will miss some games)... so they are maybe even worse...

With other words... good luck....

[Prometheus]

OP is legit retarded

[Clyde]

Despite an injured K Love

Keep in mind it's the east
Assuming Kyrie's on the team so no ball dominant PGs

--
Kevin Durant
Anthony Davis
Steph Curry
James Harden
Blake Griffin
Demarcus Cousins
Blake Griffin
Marc Gasol
Lamarcus Aldridge
Jimmy Butler

Maybe Carmelo (nahhhh)

stop it.

[G0ATbe]

Kobe.

[Velocirap31]

There are so many stupid NBA fans.

[Im Still Ballin]

Mike Jordan could,

He played in a far tougher, physical era of defense. There are no more giants protecting the rim and players today are not allowed to hand-check or physically impede an offensive player... The rule changes have made the league more perimeter player friendly, opening up the lanes, creating a spaced out court which is easier for dribble penetration. Don't believe me? Take these words from the NBA's own Stu Jackson;

NBA.com: Since the hand-checking rule was interpreted differently beginning in the 2004-05 season, the game has opened up. Players are penetrating and the floor is spread. As a result, scoring has risen every season. Was this anticipated back in 2004?

Stu Jackson: No. The scoring increase was not our goal. Our objective was to allow for more offensive freedom by not allowing defenders to hand-, forearm- or body-check ball handlers. By doing so, we encouraged more dribble penetration. As players penetrated more, it produced higher quality shots for the ball handler as well as shots for teammates on passes back out to perimeter. When NBA players get higher quality shots -- having more time to shoot -- they tend to make more of them.

NBA.com: Shooting percentages have risen since 2004-05 regardless of location -- at-the-rim shots, short- and deep-mid range and 3-pointers. Does this surprise you, especially the higher percentages from 3-point range?

Stu Jackson: It doesn't. With the rule and interpretation changes, it has become more difficult for defenders to defend penetration, cover the entire floor on defensive rotations and recover to shooters. This has provided more time for shooters to ready themselves for quality shots. With more dribble penetration, ball handlers are getting more opportunities at the rim. Additionally, teams now realize the 3-point shot is a great competitive equalizer, so they are taking more; they have improved their skill level on threes and are making them at a higher rate.

[Hittin_Shots]

Good ol Mike and Stu

[Lexington Steel]

Kevin Durant and that's it.

Nobody else has the same impact as he does. Especially on the offensive end. Dude is also a top 3-5 defender at his position.

They'd probably even win the title without Love.

[Prometheus]

Mike Jordan could,

He played in a far tougher, physical era of defense. There are no more giants protecting the rim and players today are not allowed to hand-check or physically impede an offensive player... The rule changes have made the league more perimeter player friendly, opening up the lanes, creating a spaced out court which is easier for dribble penetration. Don't believe me? Take these words from the NBA's own Stu Jackson;

NBA.com: Since the hand-checking rule was interpreted differently beginning in the 2004-05 season, the game has opened up. Players are penetrating and the floor is spread. As a result, scoring has risen every season. Was this anticipated back in 2004?

Stu Jackson: No. The scoring increase was not our goal. Our objective was to allow for more offensive freedom by not allowing defenders to hand-, forearm- or body-check ball handlers. By doing so, we encouraged more dribble penetration. As players penetrated more, it produced higher quality shots for the ball handler as well as shots for teammates on passes back out to perimeter. When NBA players get higher quality shots -- having more time to shoot -- they tend to make more of them.

NBA.com: Shooting percentages have risen since 2004-05 regardless of location -- at-the-rim shots, short- and deep-mid range and 3-pointers. Does this surprise you, especially the higher percentages from 3-point range?

Stu Jackson: It doesn't. With the rule and interpretation changes, it has become more difficult for defenders to defend penetration, cover the entire floor on defensive rotations and recover to shooters. This has provided more time for shooters to ready themselves for quality shots. With more dribble penetration, ball handlers are getting more opportunities at the rim. Additionally, teams now realize the 3-point shot is a great competitive equalizer, so they are taking more; they have improved their skill level on threes and are making them at a higher rate.

:applause:

repped

[ILLsmak]

Without Lebron, this very current Cavs team is equivalent at the very very best right now to how they were just before Lebron/Love joined: http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CLE/2014.html

Minus Luol Deng, Waiters, Varejao (injured), Jarett, Hawes.... but instead Mozgov, Shumpert and Smith (who will miss some games)... so they are maybe even worse...

With other words... good luck....

stop

What you're forgetting is it's without LeBron PLUS someone else. So, it's like adding a superstar to that team... as well as adding some other good role players.

Plus Kyrie is playing monstrously. He's making shots that I've not seen someone make for a long time. Sure, you see Curry hitting crazy shots but Kyrie's finishes are ridic.

That said, I do think they are hurting from their losses. It sucks. I wanted to see the Cavs lose at full strength this year.


-Smak

[StephHamann]

Mike Jordan could,

He played in a far tougher, physical era of defense. There are no more giants protecting the rim and players today are not allowed to hand-check or physically impede an offensive player... The rule changes have made the league more perimeter player friendly, opening up the lanes, creating a spaced out court which is easier for dribble penetration. Don't believe me? Take these words from the NBA's own Stu Jackson;

NBA.com: Since the hand-checking rule was interpreted differently beginning in the 2004-05 season, the game has opened up. Players are penetrating and the floor is spread. As a result, scoring has risen every season. Was this anticipated back in 2004?

Stu Jackson: No. The scoring increase was not our goal. Our objective was to allow for more offensive freedom by not allowing defenders to hand-, forearm- or body-check ball handlers. By doing so, we encouraged more dribble penetration. As players penetrated more, it produced higher quality shots for the ball handler as well as shots for teammates on passes back out to perimeter. When NBA players get higher quality shots -- having more time to shoot -- they tend to make more of them.

NBA.com: Shooting percentages have risen since 2004-05 regardless of location -- at-the-rim shots, short- and deep-mid range and 3-pointers. Does this surprise you, especially the higher percentages from 3-point range?

Stu Jackson: It doesn't. With the rule and interpretation changes, it has become more difficult for defenders to defend penetration, cover the entire floor on defensive rotations and recover to shooters. This has provided more time for shooters to ready themselves for quality shots. With more dribble penetration, ball handlers are getting more opportunities at the rim. Additionally, teams now realize the 3-point shot is a great competitive equalizer, so they are taking more; they have improved their skill level on threes and are making them at a higher rate.

You should write like theoo about Jordan and predict some shit.

theoo 3ball konex mashup = GOAT poster :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown:

[Lensanity]

Jimmy Butler? Seriously?

**** your mother

[Kobe_6/8]

Shaq
Michael Jordan
Kevin Garnett
Kobe Bryant
Allen Iverson
Wilt Chamberlain
Larry Bird
Tim Duncan
Anthony Davis
Yao Ming

[guy]

Its ridiculous how people think JR Smith being out is this incredible loss. First off, he's a role player. Second, he's gone for only TWO games. Third, those two games are AT HOME. Its really a lot to expect someone the caliber of Lebron to not consider that as such a huge obstacle?

Its convenient how Lebron sets his teams up like this. He stacks the deck with so much talent. Yet, these incredibly talented teams don't have these beginning to end historical seasons, because Lebron ball just doesn't lead to that type of success regardless of the talent. So then the narrative becomes his teams weren't that talented in the first place. And then when someone like Bosh, Wade, or in this KLove goes out with an injury, his team isn't good enough to win a title.

But seriously, just look at his team and forget the fact that Kevin Love was ever on it in the first place. He's got another top 10 player in Kyrie as a teammate, and a pretty good mix of role players i.e. talented players that are fine with their role in Tristan, Mozghov, Shumpert, JR and even if they don't play that much, veteran leadership/experience in guys like Marion, Perkins, Miller, Jones. What more should the best and most talented player expect? The only legit argument is the inexperience of the coach. But you can say that's on Lebron, who's never held any importance or a huge respect for any coach anyway.

[ILLsmak]

Its ridiculous how people think JR Smith being out is this incredible loss. First off, he's a role player. Second, he's gone for only TWO games. Third, those two games are AT HOME. Its really a lot to expect someone the caliber of Lebron to not consider that as such a huge obstacle?

Its convenient how Lebron sets his teams up like this. He stacks the deck with so much talent. Yet, these incredibly talented teams don't have these beginning to end historical seasons, because Lebron ball just doesn't lead to that type of success regardless of the talent. So then the narrative becomes his teams weren't that talented in the first place. And then when someone like Bosh, Wade, or in this KLove goes out with an injury, his team isn't good enough to win a title.

But seriously, just look at his team and forget the fact that Kevin Love was ever on it in the first place. He's got another top 10 player in Kyrie as a teammate, and a pretty good mix of role players i.e. talented players that are fine with their role in Tristan, Mozghov, Shumpert, JR and even if they don't play that much, veteran leadership/experience in guys like Marion, Perkins, Miller, Jones. What more should the best and most talented player expect? The only legit argument is the inexperience of the coach. But you can say that's on Lebron, who's never held any importance or a huge respect for any coach.

They are undoubtably good enough to win a title, but so were the Spurs.

They likely won't. With JR and Love they are even more stacked. I don't think anyone can or should say they aren't good now, but they went from being the most stacked team in the East to a team that could lose. At least, that's how I look at it.

They are no longer a lock for the Finals or even this series. Still, I wouldn't bet against them making the Finals cuz LeBron.

-Smak

[kennethgriffin]

Despite an injured K Love

Keep in mind it's the east
Assuming Kyrie's on the team so no ball dominant PGs

--
Kevin Durant - yes
Anthony Davis - yes
Steph Curry - yes
James Harden - yes
Blake Griffin - yes
Demarcus Cousins - no
Blake Griffin - yes
Marc Gasol - no
Lamarcus Aldridge - no
Jimmy Butler - no

Maybe Carmelo (nahhhh) - yes





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