Would Cleveland be favored if both teams were healthy?

[Prometheus]

I don't know about Vegas, but if everyone was full strength right now, I would have Cleveland winning the Finals. They were just as good as Golden State after the All-Star Break, and they have the difference-maker on their team.

[ArbitraryWater]

I think they were pretty much co favorites at the end of the regular season, with both teams healthy, and having seen what they're capable of... I would have taken the Cavs with Bron/Kyrie/Love no doubt... the fact they had the chance/shot to win game 1 WITHOUT Love makes it easier.

edit: and damn, 80 something % Kyrie outplayed Curry pretty nicely in regulation... 2 mean blocks on him, too.

The 'Cavs are better without Love' is bullshit... when he was healthy he was another star (I'm not just saying this as a narrative, he is, and you need him to be against any Western team), 'LeBron needs a big 3 doe' then he's injured and he's suddenly not worth it anymore... sorry tactics.

[Prometheus]

I think they were pretty much co favorites at the end of the regular season, with both teams healthy, and having seen what they're capable of... I would have taken the Cavs with Bron/Kyrie/Love no doubt... the fact they had the chance/shot to win game 1 WITHOUT Love makes it easier.

This is basically how I see it as well, although I'd like to point out that haters have been saying the Cavs are actually BETTER without Love (since TT gets more minutes).

[MP.Trey]

Definitely.

[NZStreetBaller]

Of course they would be. Its almost an even plaing field right now.

[keep-itreal]

Cavaliers is ridiculously stacked and add to the fact that they play in the East makes this season a joke

[sd3035]

Curry is the best player but 2-6 would go to the Cavs: Lebron, Kyrie, Love, TT, Mosgov

If the Cavs keep this team, they should go at least 70-12 in the pathetic East next year

[KG215]

I'd favor them mostly because they'd have the best, two of the three best, and three of the five best players in the series. I'd take Love on his own team over Klay but, based on this season I think he and Klay have similar impact so I'm not sure who'd be the fourth best and who'd be the fifth best.

Their depth, when fully healthy, is pretty good, too, because they've still got two other players in J.R. and Shumpert capable of getting hot from three and scoring 20 points on any given night. I do think think the impact we've seen from Tristan without Love would be somewhat negated if Love was healthy simply because he'd get less minutes.

Although Golden State would still be the deeper and better defensive team of the two, I think Cleveland's star power would eventually win out because LeBron is that good.

[VengefulAngel]

Yes... of course they would.

[ArbitraryWater]

Of course they would be. Its almost an even plaing field right now.


http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20131003214459/fantendo/images/b/b7/MEMES-dog-with-osama-beard-wat.jpg


I'd favor them mostly because they'd have the best, two of the three best, and three of the five best players in the series. I'd take Love on his own team over Klay but, based on this season I think he and Klay have similar impact so I'm not sure who'd be the fourth best and who'd be the fifth best.

Their depth, when fully healthy, is pretty good, too, because they've still got two other players in J.R. and Shumpert capable of getting hot from three and scoring 20 points on any given night. I do think think the impact we've seen from Tristan without Love would be somewhat negated if Love was healthy simply because he'd get less minutes.

Although Golden State would still be the deeper and better defensive team of the two, I think Cleveland's star power would eventually win out because LeBron is that good.

:applause:

[NZStreetBaller]

Last year kd and lebron were miles ahead of anybody. This year lebron stands on the mountain alone.

Think about it.... if gsw are so heavily favoured then why dod the game go into overtime???

As soon as the king becomes absent from the game that is when golden state win.

Lebron is still the best in the game while durant is out. Its how they wiped the floor with the hawks. And beat a full powered bulls

Lebron has the ability and enough talent around him to win this one. I give the guy alot of credit.

Therefore there are no excuses..... the only way golden state win is if lebron doesnt bring it. (See game 1 overtime for proof of this logic)

[JerrySeinfeld]

maybe if they played better defense yeah

[sd3035]

maybe if they played better defense yeah

It must be hard to get inspired when your beta leader doesn't guard anyone. He only guards his spot under the rim to statpad rebounds

[JerrySeinfeld]

It must be hard to get inspired when your beta leader doesn't guard anyone. He only guards his spot under the rim to statpad rebounds

lol I was shocked watching him get switched onto Curry and then just drop back and leave Curry open late in the game for an easy ass jumper.

Didn't someone make a thread before the series saying that the Cavs needed to put LeBron on Curry all game? :roll:

[sd3035]

lol I was shocked watching him get switched onto Curry and then just drop back and leave Curry open late in the game for an easy ass jumper.

Didn't someone make a thread before the series saying that the Cavs needed to put LeBron on Curry all game? :roll:

Lebald probably thought it was a good idea to guard people the way he's being guarded since he's only shooting 43%

[edrick]

Lebron, trying to guard Curry? How ****ing dumb are you people? Why would that ever happen? :roll:

[DMAVS41]

Yea, they'd be favored, but I think the Warriors would win.

[tpols]

Does everybody forget how bad cavs defense was with healthy varejo and love ?? It was a layup drill for the other team.

Those injuries were blessings in disguise.. they gave the cavs room to replace with great defenders. Could Kevin Love hold paul millsap to 20% shooting and 8 ppg at home like thompson did? Fk no.. could he defend any of the bulls frontcourt.. of course not. Cleveland probably would've gotten knocked out second round with love and varejo level rim protection

[DMAVS41]

Does everybody forget how bad cavs defense was with healthy varejo and love ?? It was a layup drill for the other team.

Those injuries were blessings in disguise.. they gave the cavs room to replace with great defenders. Could Kevin Love hold paul millsap to 20% shooting and 8 ppg at home like thompson did? Fk no.. could he defend any of the bulls frontcourt.. of course not. Cleveland probably would've gotten knocked out second round with love and varejo level rim protection

This Cavs team would not have lost to the ****ing Bulls if they were fully healthy. Come on...

They went 46-11 in their last 57 games until game 1 of the NBA finals. They were an elite team if right for sure.

I agree that the Warriors would still win, but the notion that they would have lost to a shitty Bulls team or slumping Hawks team is absurd.

[sbw19]

Depleted Cavs would've been favorite had they won Gm1, Cavs with 2-allstars plus depth players like Varejao and Marion healthy? Asterisk threads flood as we speak.

[tpols]

This Cavs team would not have lost to the ****ing Bulls if they were fully healthy. Come on...

They went 46-11 in their last 57 games until game 1 of the NBA finals. They were an elite team if right for sure.

I agree that the Warriors would still win, but the notion that they would have lost to a shitty Bulls team or slumping Hawks team is absurd.

That was with mozgov.. who is a very nice rim protector. Anderson varejo getting hurt opened the door for his being on the team.. and love/varejo is an all time bad defensive combo at this point.. undersized, no length, and especially in loves case no defensive skill.

They would've gotten eaten alive by bulls frontcourt. Thompson/mozgov on the other hand completely shut down and physically bullies hawk and bulls frontcourt.. defense and toughness go a long way in the playoffs.. more important than pretty jump shooting for big men especially.

[DMAVS41]

That was with mozgov.. who is a very nice rim protector. Anderson varejo getting hurt opened the door for his being on the team.. and love/varejo is an all time bad defensive combo at this point.. undersized, no length, and especially in loves case no defensive skill.

They would've gotten eaten alive by bulls frontcourt. Thompson/mozgov on the other hand completely shut down and physically bullies hawk and bulls frontcourt.. defense and toughness go a long way in the playoffs.. more important than pretty jump shooting for big men especially.

They would have made those trades regardless though. Mozgov is on this team and has been for some time.

Talking about this Cavs team with Waiters and Andy...and no Mozgov, Shumpert, and JR...really?

That isn't what people mean when they say...if healthy.

They are talking about their real team. Which includes everyone out there right now...plus Love and Kyrie.

And if they had a healthy Love and Kyrie all playoffs...they probably lose 1 game max to date.

Still would favor the Warriors, but it'd be pretty much even.

[tpols]

They would have made those trades regardless though. Mozgov is on this team and has been for some time.

Talking about this Cavs team with Waiters and Andy...and no Mozgov, Shumpert, and JR...really?

That isn't what people mean when they say...if healthy.

They are talking about their real team. Which includes everyone out there right now...plus Love and Kyrie.

And if they had a healthy Love and Kyrie all playoffs...they probably lose 1 game max to date.

Still would favor the Warriors, but it'd be pretty much even.

Mozgov off the bench isn't setting any defensive tone.. if the game is opening and being played with varejo/love how are they playing anywhere close to the same level defense? The Cavs through the ECF had the best playoff defense.. you really think that happens with their original frontcourt?

Also do the bulls get to have a healthy pau for the while series who was roasting them even with their bolstered defensive frontcourt before getting hurt? Can you imagine what healtho pau would do to love or varejo lmao..

The Bulls have had just as much injury if not more.. if you clear it up for the cavs it's only fair to do the same for the Bulls no?

[ISHGoat]

No, even with love in at the beginning gsw was still the large vegas favorites to win the ship.

[BigTicket]

It would be pretty even. The Warriors would still have home court advantage and the better record, but the Cavs would have an advantage in terms of experience.

[funnystuff]

Does everybody forget how bad cavs defense was with healthy varejo and love ?? It was a layup drill for the other team.

Those injuries were blessings in disguise.. they gave the cavs room to replace with great defenders. Could Kevin Love hold paul millsap to 20% shooting and 8 ppg at home like thompson did? Fk no.. could he defend any of the bulls frontcourt.. of course not. Cleveland probably would've gotten knocked out second round with love and varejo level rim protection
Hahaha, this ghetto retard. Go finish school

[ArbitraryWater]

Does everybody forget how bad cavs defense was with healthy varejo and love ?? It was a layup drill for the other team.

Those injuries were blessings in disguise.. they gave the cavs room to replace with great defenders. Could Kevin Love hold paul millsap to 20% shooting and 8 ppg at home like thompson did? Fk no.. could he defend any of the bulls frontcourt.. of course not. Cleveland probably would've gotten knocked out second round with love and varejo level rim protection

:facepalm

[DMAVS41]

Mozgov off the bench isn't setting any defensive tone.. if the game is opening and being played with varejo/love how are they playing anywhere close to the same level defense? The Cavs through the ECF had the best playoff defense.. you really think that happens with their original frontcourt?

Also do the bulls get to have a healthy pau for the while series who was roasting them even with their bolstered defensive frontcourt before getting hurt? Can you imagine what healtho pau would do to love or varejo lmao..

The Bulls have had just as much injury if not more.. if you clear it up for the cavs it's only fair to do the same for the Bulls no?


This is one of the biggest reaches ever.

Sure they can get a healthy Pau...the Bulls would have been swept regardless if both teams were fully healthy.

The Bulls weren't good. In fact, they kind of sucked. They would have been totally irrelevant if they played in a real conference.

But yea...keep thinking that a healthy Kyrie, Love, and Andy somehow makes the Cavs...who were elite since they got their real team together...are going to lose to a shitty Bulls team that crumbled before our eyes.

The levels you clowns have to go to make some of your points are ****ing absurd.

Might as well talk about the 08 Lakers without Pau. They never would have made that trade if Bynum doesn't get hurt. Therefore we can't talk about that team...

:facepalm :facepalm :facepalm :facepalm

[tpols]

But yea...keep thinking that a healthy Kyrie, Love, and Andy somehow makes the Cavs...who were elite since they got their real team together...are going to lose to a shitty Bulls team that crumbled before our eyes.


The Bulls with a healthy Pau were not a shitty team.. they were 1 or 2 shots away from being up 3-1 lol.. They werent great, but of course not as bad as you make them out to be. This is probably a rose thing for you tho.

When pau was good the bulls were up 2-1.. when he went down, they sunk. Matchups matter dude. Love and Andy are better players than thompson and mozgov.. but not as a defensive unit. Offense would go up, but defense would fall. The Bulls would all of a sudden have a big mismatch advantage over those two that they did not have vs thompson and mozgov, who are big physical and tough defenders. Not to mention the Bulls guards being slashers and having their way at the rim as well.


You would think a Dirk fan would understand the concept of rim protection seeing how night and day a relative nobody at the time like tyson chandler changed your 11 title teams defense.. but I guess not. :(

[DMAVS41]

The Bulls with a healthy Pau were not a shitty team.. they were 1 or 2 shots away from being up 3-1 lol.. They werent great, but of course not as bad as you make them out to be. This is probably a rose thing for you tho.

When pau was good the bulls were up 2-1.. when he went down, they sunk. Matchups matter dude. Love and Andy are better players than thompson and mozgov.. but not as a defensive unit. Offense would go up, but defense would fall. The Bulls would all of a sudden have a big mismatch advantage over those two that they did not have vs thompson and mozgov, who are big physical and tough defenders. Not to mention the Bulls guards being slashers and having their way at the rim as well.


You would think a Dirk fan would understand the concept of rim protection seeing how night and day a relative nobody at the time like tyson chandler changed your 11 title teams defense.. but I guess not. :(


Why wouldn't they have Mozgov? That isn't what people mean why they say "if healthy"....

If your argument is that without making any of the trades...would they have made the finals and would they beat the Warriors.

My answer would be that they still would have made the finals, but it would have been two grueling series against the Bulls/Hawks...and then they'd get smoked by the Warriors.

But they made the trades...and if they were fully healthy with Moz, Shump, JR, Love, and Kyrie...they would have ****ing murked the Bulls in 4 and would be 50/50 to beat the Warriors

This isn't hard.

Stop reaching. Stop talking about shit nobody else is.