Im Still Ballin
05-25-2016, 01:15 AM
They play an organic (Inside-Out) style of basketball, that can generate good open looks through the sheer talent of LeBron and Kyrie. It's a slow paced, half court style that isn't so much dependent on any one specific route of scoring like the 3 pointer or transition. The key is LeBron, and his ability to control the tempo of the game, and facilitate his team.
As far as matchup wise, they don't really have someone for LeBron. I think Cleveland's bigs are also going to be able to match OKC's. Thompson and Love are more than adequate rebounding matches to Kanter and Adams. Their size might be an issue, but so is Love and Frye's offensive range/skillset. The use of Ibaka will be interesting... Love played him well last matchup.
OKC wants to get out and run, but I think Cleveland's controlling of the tempo will irritate them into stagnant offense.
Here are the 2 boxscores from their matches this season
http://www.espn.com.au/nba/recap?gameId=400828711
http://www.espn.com.au/nba/recap?gameId=400828271
You'll notice Cleveland won the rebounding both times...
- Tristan Thompson was an animal on the boards against OKC
- Love had 2 solid matches
- LeBron dominated scoring and facilitating (They have no one to guard him)
- Cavs were able to implement their gameplan better, getting more assists
- Both times the Cavs were able to limit to poor 3pt shooting AND shoot lights out... OKC have been able to stifle Golden state, but they play a different brand of basketball that generates their looks... Quote on quote, LeBron ball works in the half court, getting open looks without crazy risk of turnovers from lots of ball movement which is what is happening to Golden State... They play outside-in off of Curry whereas Cleveland plays through LeBron who draws attention inside.. Cavs will be able to light it up from three, without pushing the pace and relying on transition 3's
- IMPORTANT: You'll notice Durant gets KILLED on the boards against LeBron... This is how LeBron did it in 2012. His intense physical play, he got Durant into foul trouble back then... Probably won't again, but it still was evident and made an impact in the games this season
- Kanter was terrible against the Cavs this season
- Mozgov could be of use against OKC's bigs
- The free throw count is pretty even
- Moderate to low turnover game... Slower
- Cavaliers have won 20 straight games when LeBron James has 10+ assists. (he had 11 today at Thunder)... Thunder defense not accustomed to being able to stop LeBron and his facilitating
- OKC takes ALOT of long two's against Cleveland, whereas Cleveland doesn't
- In the 1st matchup: LeBron James scored or assisted on a season-high 63 points Thursday, including 39 of the Cavaliers 58 second-half points.
//
So in summary;
Cleveland will win because:
1. They can match and even beat (as they did twice this season) OKC on the boards (Thompson is a OKC match up nightmare)
2. Superior 3pt shooting (OKC didn't shoot well from 3 in both games + they take a lot of long inefficient 2s)
3. OKC has no one to stop LeBron from dominating both scoring wise, AND most importantly facilitating... Both games he had 10+ assists along with 25 and 33 points
4. LeBron will bully KD
5. They can slow the game down and suffocate OKC into irrationality (For which they are known)... Cleveland has no problem playing LeBron ball = good looks for shooters in the half court
6. Love plays well against OKC
7. Kyrie can play off of LeBron's gravity inside
The three main things are rebounding, shooting and match ups
As far as matchup wise, they don't really have someone for LeBron. I think Cleveland's bigs are also going to be able to match OKC's. Thompson and Love are more than adequate rebounding matches to Kanter and Adams. Their size might be an issue, but so is Love and Frye's offensive range/skillset. The use of Ibaka will be interesting... Love played him well last matchup.
OKC wants to get out and run, but I think Cleveland's controlling of the tempo will irritate them into stagnant offense.
Here are the 2 boxscores from their matches this season
http://www.espn.com.au/nba/recap?gameId=400828711
http://www.espn.com.au/nba/recap?gameId=400828271
You'll notice Cleveland won the rebounding both times...
- Tristan Thompson was an animal on the boards against OKC
- Love had 2 solid matches
- LeBron dominated scoring and facilitating (They have no one to guard him)
- Cavs were able to implement their gameplan better, getting more assists
- Both times the Cavs were able to limit to poor 3pt shooting AND shoot lights out... OKC have been able to stifle Golden state, but they play a different brand of basketball that generates their looks... Quote on quote, LeBron ball works in the half court, getting open looks without crazy risk of turnovers from lots of ball movement which is what is happening to Golden State... They play outside-in off of Curry whereas Cleveland plays through LeBron who draws attention inside.. Cavs will be able to light it up from three, without pushing the pace and relying on transition 3's
- IMPORTANT: You'll notice Durant gets KILLED on the boards against LeBron... This is how LeBron did it in 2012. His intense physical play, he got Durant into foul trouble back then... Probably won't again, but it still was evident and made an impact in the games this season
- Kanter was terrible against the Cavs this season
- Mozgov could be of use against OKC's bigs
- The free throw count is pretty even
- Moderate to low turnover game... Slower
- Cavaliers have won 20 straight games when LeBron James has 10+ assists. (he had 11 today at Thunder)... Thunder defense not accustomed to being able to stop LeBron and his facilitating
- OKC takes ALOT of long two's against Cleveland, whereas Cleveland doesn't
- In the 1st matchup: LeBron James scored or assisted on a season-high 63 points Thursday, including 39 of the Cavaliers 58 second-half points.
//
So in summary;
Cleveland will win because:
1. They can match and even beat (as they did twice this season) OKC on the boards (Thompson is a OKC match up nightmare)
2. Superior 3pt shooting (OKC didn't shoot well from 3 in both games + they take a lot of long inefficient 2s)
3. OKC has no one to stop LeBron from dominating both scoring wise, AND most importantly facilitating... Both games he had 10+ assists along with 25 and 33 points
4. LeBron will bully KD
5. They can slow the game down and suffocate OKC into irrationality (For which they are known)... Cleveland has no problem playing LeBron ball = good looks for shooters in the half court
6. Love plays well against OKC
7. Kyrie can play off of LeBron's gravity inside
The three main things are rebounding, shooting and match ups