OKC vs Cavs finals

[juju151111]

On Paper, they seem to be the favorite. They are stacked and I think the Spurs run will be done after two seasons going deep in the playoffs. Remember Ibaka missed two games. If they got knocked out before the finals KD/LJ need heavy criticism.

[Beastmode88]

Ive said this before... Holy shit I'll feel bad for the media covering the finals. Cleveland and OKC? Mind as well just flip a coin for the finals.

[navy]

You only "need" heavy criticism if you underperform yourself. If you drop 30/10/5 (made up) on high efficiency then you probably did your job and lost to a better team. It's stupid how people blame stars just because they dont win. Shit happens.

That said these teams need to win at least one title if they stay healthy.

[russwest0]

Bulls/OKC would be the best matchup IMO (The Bulls actually play defense), but I don't think the NBA is going to allow any matchup other than the Cavs vs OKC.

[juju151111]

Bulls/OKC would be the best matchup IMO (The Bulls actually play defense), but I don't think the NBA is going to allow any matchup other than the Cavs vs OKC.

How do you know the Cavs won't play defense?

[Purch]

What people don't seem to understand about the spurs... Is that as their core continues to get older.. Their young players continue to make improvements as they gain more experience.

Like last year.. Anything they lost by having Manu, Parker and Duncan a year older, they gained with an improved Kawhi, Green, Patty and Splitter.

So it's not like every year they get older, suddenly they're getting worse

[russwest0]

How do you know the Cavs won't play defense?

Look at their roster.

[DukeDelonte13]

Look at their roster.

Lebron, Marion, Andy, and TT are all good defenders.

But help defense systems really minimize individual players' defensive weaknesses.

Waiters is a good defender when he's dialed in and wants to play D.

[russwest0]

Lebron, Marion, Andy, and TT are all good defenders.

But help defense systems really minimize individual players' defensive weaknesses.

Waiters is a good defender when he's dialed in and wants to play D.

You've named like 4 guys who are "good" defenders. If I was to name every "good" defender on OKC, It'd be

Westbrook
Roberson
Durant
Ibaka
Perkins
Jackson
PJ3
Adams

All of those guys have some sort of elite athleticism and/or elite length that they are working with and also have stats showing that they are "good" individual defenders.

Marion is old as hell, he's not going to be reliable on that end.
LeBron last year played some of the laziest criticism free defense that I've ever seen.
And Varejao is always an injury risk.

Cleveland won't be a great defensive team no matter how much Cavs fans try to act like it isn't a problem. You guys will do fine in the East vs shit offenses every night, but the other contenders (Bulls, Spurs, OKC), are all miles better defensively than your team is.

[Meticode]

Ive said this before... Holy shit I'll feel bad for the media covering the finals.

No you don't.

[DukeDelonte13]

You've named like 4 guys who are "good" defenders. If I was to name every "good" defender on OKC, It'd be

Westbrook
Roberson
Durant
Ibaka
Perkins
Jackson
PJ3
Adams

All of those guys have some sort of elite athleticism and/or elite length that they are working with and also have stats showing that they are "good" individual defenders.

Marion is old as hell, he's not going to be reliable on that end.
LeBron last year played some of the laziest criticism free defense that I've ever seen.
And Varejao is always an injury risk.

Cleveland won't be a great defensive team no matter how much Cavs fans try to act like it isn't a problem. You guys will do fine in the East vs shit offenses every night, but the other contenders (Bulls, Spurs, OKC), are all miles better defensively than your team is.

i agree in the sense that those teams all play in well established defensive systems that have been around for a while.

Blatt is a wildcard. Americans hear he's an offensive guy. Europeans say he's really a defensive coach. Regardless, i agree with you that it's going to take TIME for the cavs to really gel and start playing good team ball.

[russwest0]

i agree in the sense that those teams all play in well established defensive systems that have been around for a while.

Blatt is a wildcard. Americans hear he's an offensive guy. Europeans say he's really a defensive coach. Regardless, i agree with you that it's going to take TIME for the cavs to really gel and start playing good team ball.

Yeah, I'm not trying to shit on the Cavaliers either, I just feel like that side of the ball can't be ignored.

You guys should have a leg up on every other contender offensively, I'm just saying in a H2H matchup, that won't matter if you CAN'T defend them and they CAN defend you

[ballinhun8]

Cleveland and Oklahoma.




LMFAO at that city matchup. No offense to residents. Really no disrespect. But wow.



Now, Chicago and let's say.......Houston? Ratings galore and media hype out the ying yang.

[Mr. Incredible]

Cavs in 5.

[dubeta]

Considering Bran owns KD soul as long as Cavs can get to play OKC instead of the Spurs, its an automatic championship