NBA Finals Game 1

[UPSCat4080]

Tie ball game with 8 seconds left and even though LeBron has killed Golden State all night driving the ball to the rim he attempts a step back 20 footer to seal the game.....come on!

Why does it seem this is how players think the game should be won? You've lived by attacking the rim so go to the freaking hole and try for the easy basket or a foul call!

 

[Wildcat134]

I think his angle got cut off on the drive and he wanted to make sure he got a clean shot off

 

[UKMurph]

To be fair, he hit the three just prior to that and had 40+ points. Down seven with 2:00 left though it looks like Warriors are going to hold home court.

 

[GonzoCat90]

Unreal that a performance like that, on the road, is going to be wasted.

 

[SosaUK]

Awesome game. Gonna be a great series.

 

[wentzel25]

Unreal that a performance like that, on the road, is going to be wasted.

Horrendous 2nd half from smith and missed fts sealed the deal.

 

[mj2k10]

I'd be curious to track final shot possessions, college and pro, and compare them to normal possessions. I've often wondered if teams would be far better off just running a regular offense, as opposed to the stand-around hero ball stuff that you almost always see in end-game situations. I'm especially curious because of the disastrous outcome when UK tried to do it against Wisconsin with 4 minutes left in the game. If that means shooting earlier in the clock, is that such a terrible thing if it's a vastly better shot? I just don't see why anyone thinks it's hard to defend 1-4 sets where the 4 are just standing around waiting. Even if it's LeBron as the guy with the ball.

 

[lacocat]

In hindsight, LeBron would surely keep Wiggins over Love, Wiggins locked in rookie contract anyway.

 

[dckala2]

Yea, teravainen's goal was clutch and the play from Crawford in net was beyond solid.

 

[king of cali]

Have to agree with the OP. LeBron played a great game until the final possession. He really could have attacked, but settled for that off balance fadeaway. He was a boss in the post and mid range, so why he settled is definitely a question that needs to be asked.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

Lebron can't play any better, scored 44, and they still lost. GS did not really play that well, and Irving is hurt again (he played well tonight too). I said GS in 5 originally, but rebounding is a concern for me and too many missed layups by GS tonight. That said, Bron bron and company will be fine for years to come in the cupcake east so he will rack up finals appearances.

 

[SosaUK]

Irving played to many minutes, imo.

 

[wildcatsboston1984]

Tristan Thompson played 47 minutes and contributed a massive 2 points. That can't continue if they expect to win the series, especially now with Kyrie getting hurt again.

 

[dave5164]

The problem with Cleveland right now is that they were hit with Injury bug at the end of the season and in the Playoffs. Kevin Love out for rest of season really hurts the Cavs even though with Shumpert,Thompson, and JR Smith has done an outstanding job stepping up during this run. Kevin Love though is a huge 3-point threat and he very seldom doesn't get his Double-Double each night. Then we have Kyrie Irving with his bad Knee and wasn't a factor in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals Sweep vs Hawks. I really didn't think without Kyrie Irving during the Atlanta Series and with Love out I believed that Atlanta Hawks would have pulled out that series out vs. Cavs. I believe that the Cavs have done outstanding job during the playoffs but I would have loved to seen a full healthy Cleveland Cavs team with Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving especially how well they were playing before the 2 were injured. I still believe this will be close series and if the Cavs can get a Win Monday to tie it up 1-1 and take home court advantage they could pull this out. Thompson only 2 points in 46 mins, Shumpert only had 6 points in 34 mins, and JR Smith had 9 points in 34 minutes. Those 3 players are going to have to step it up like they did in the last 2 series vs. Bulls and Hawks if the Cavs are going to have a chance to win the Finals vs. Golden State. Hopefully, Kyrie Irving limping off in OT and not returning doesn't mean he won't play in the rest of the NBA Finals. Kyrie Irving had a decent night with the injured knee scoring 23 points and playing 44 minutes.

 

[Fancatstik]

With Irving hobbled Cleveland is in deep kaka.

 

[king of cali]

Tristan Thompson played 47 minutes and contributed a massive 2 points. That can't continue if they expect to win the series, especially now with Kyrie getting hurt again.

Cleveland isnt looking to Thompson to score anyway. He did exactly what he is paid to do. He grabbed 15 rebounds and played solid defense. And taking away everyone else seems to be Golden States strategy. Play LeBron one on one and let him put up 38 shots a night. What needs to happen for Cleveland is that either Smith or Shumpert need to get hot from outside, but that only happens with the attention that LeBron draws.

 

[gossie21]

Yea, teravainen's goal was clutch and the play from Crawford in net was beyond solid.

Hockey sucks

 

[MWes11]

With Irving hobbled Cleveland is in deep kaka.

This. Really terrible that Kyrie won't be able to go. If Cleveland were to win this somehow, would easily be LeBrons greatest achievement to date and it's not even close. Just can't see it happening without Kyrie, though.

 

[beamer_at_uk]

Golden State can certainly play better, but they were the benefactors of some pretty wild and unpredictable 50/50 balls late in the 4th that led to points (Klay hit a huge 3 on one of them). Sometimes it's just luck.

 

[jameslee32]

Great game but no way Mosgov travels late. Especially in that situation when everyone else gets 4 steps at a time. Certainly not the best shot by James but they made hay the entire game by getting offensive boards. They got another one but it just wouldn't fall.

 

[Bigblueforever]

Cleveland isn't winning with Irving out. The Warriors aren't the Hawks.

That was a great basketball game last night. As a fan of the game, how could you not enjoy it? Lebron dumps 40+ but his supporting cast gives him nothing aside from Irving, who left the game with a messed up leg late. Mosgov gave solid D but he's not gonna score much. Thompson will grab rebounds but he's not gonna score much. Smith isn't scoring outside hitting 3s and he missed em all in the 2nd half. Cleveland is just very offensively limited and they rely on Lebron's isolation a little too muh. Can't argue against it much. They're in the Finals. But I don't see em winning the Finals playing that way.

That is just one game don't count them just yet.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

That is just one game don't count them just yet.

Yeah, one game when GS did not play well, and Lebron scored 44...and his team still lost. If you think that is going to be the norm for this series...good luck with that.

 

[Big_Blue79]

I'd be curious to track final shot possessions, college and pro, and compare them to normal possessions. I've often wondered if teams would be far better off just running a regular offense, as opposed to the stand-around hero ball stuff that you almost always see in end-game situations. I'm especially curious because of the disastrous outcome when UK tried to do it against Wisconsin with 4 minutes left in the game. If that means shooting earlier in the clock, is that such a terrible thing if it's a vastly better shot? I just don't see why anyone thinks it's hard to defend 1-4 sets where the 4 are just standing around waiting. Even if it's LeBron as the guy with the ball.

Agreed. The iso/hero ball is terrible. Lebron has actually been very "clutch" in his playoff career. Basically, he's hit as many game winners as Jordan in less attempts. That was a bad shot, but credit the Golden State D. They did a terrific job on the possession.

Great game but no way Mosgov travels late. Especially in that situation when everyone else gets 4 steps at a time. Certainly not the best shot by James but they made hay the entire game by getting offensive boards. They got another one but it just wouldn't fall.

That was not a travel by Mosgov. That was a nice post move.

Feel bad for Cleveland. That was a game they need to win the series.

 

[KA4Prez]

Thompson only scored 2, but he played well. Mosgov scored 16, many of those on the same types Thompson usually scores on.

J.R. Smith is the x-factor for Cleveland who really choked. Guy made 2 early and then brick after brick after brick in the 2nd half.

 

[Blueworld_3.0]

I'm more convinced now than ever that JR Smith is just awful and no where near good enough to be on this Cavs team. Sure, he can get hot and hit a few shots but, he laid out an incredible deuce in the 2nd half of that game last night.
That was a game the Cavs may look back and say "we gave one away" and it might have been the most important game in the Finals.

 

[UK90]

I've often wondered if teams would be far better off just running a regular offense, as opposed to the stand-around hero ball stuff that you almost always see in end-game situations.

Agreed. Honestly, I wonder if a reason coaches won't run the regular offense is because they're afraid of the criticism they'd receive if the ball isn't in the superstar's hands at the end. Regular offense requires passing which can mean you lose control over who gets the shot.

If Lebron misses the final shot then Lebron gets the blame, but if someone else misses it then the coach is the one who gets bashed for "taking the ball out of his superstar's hands." So the coach can be better off having superstar forking up the low percentage fadeaway than trying to find a teammate who might be wide open.

 

[dckala2]

Hockey sucks

Yea, I agree we could've used more production out of the first line but the third line came through in the end.

 

[Kycatspaws]

Pretty good game. Certainly the injury to Irving is a tough blow for the Cav's. It will be interesting to see if they can regroup and make a series out of it. I guess we will know more when the MRI results come out.

 

[KA4Prez]

It was a travel, but it took slow-mo to catch it and if you did that, there are 50 other uncalled travels in every game. Mark Jackson made the right point. Call them all if you're going to call that one.

 

[WildMoon]

Damn, i missed the game.

But we can't make conclusion after one game. Irving's loss is always a mystery. If i'm not mistaken their numbers are better when Irving isn't playing (Remember talking about it against Hawk's series).

We'll see what happens...should be a fun series.

 

[shaudyshaud1]

I said he should have drove but when you decide to make your move that late with the clock going down it is easier to defend.

 

[UPSCat4080]

Irving season done...fractured knee cap. LeBron will have to pull a rabbit out of his rear end to make this happen. Need his role players to step up...most importantly Smith and Delladovawhatever lol.