Defending and Offending
Posted May 14th, 2007 by Brian Windhorst
East Rutherford, NJ — In theory, the Cavs-Nets affair became a series when the Nets beat the Cavs in Game 3. In reality, this became a playoff series tonight in the third quarter when Mikki Moore dropped Sasha Pavlovic on a drive to the basket. It was a seminal moment, when the Cavs got angry and matched the Nets’ intensity. It made the difference in their Game 4 victory.
–Just after the skirmish, the Cavs made five straight jumpers. This was fate to a degree, they were bound to make some. It was more impressive with how the emotion from Sasha and LeBron James carried over to the defensive end. Over the last quarter and a half the Cavs had some great defensive possessions. They even flustered Jason Kidd at times, which is saying something because they guy seems unstoppable at times.
–After Moore’s forearm to Sasha’s gut, LeBron didn’t skip a beat in squaring up with Moore. Perhaps it was because it wasn’t against a fellow star, but that was the first time I can remember James getting right up in another guy’s face like that. He was so engaged with Moore that when Sasha got up and came over, Moore didn’t even look at him. Sasha had to go around his back to get in his ear. Although when he said "I’m going to (blank) you up," he got a tech. LeBron gets cracked, from here especially, when it appears he’s too passive. Not in this case and there’s no denying how strongly his teammates responded.
–Speaking of LeBron, late in the game he wasn’t able to make a big hoop to finish the Nets. But overall, his effort was remarkable. He scored 24 points on just 11 recorded shots in the first three quarters. Think about that. He also two or three times got into the deep post for easy baskets, which is vital as hard as the Nets are making on him on the outside. He promised he would come back with a good game and he did.
–The Nets seem as if they’ve had enough of Pavlovic and Anderson Varejao. They started Game 3 running high pick-and-rolls and both Richard Jefferson and Jason Collins were slamming into Pavlovic, I mean loading up and slamming him. It was a message, one Moore carried over in Game 4. By the end of the game Monday, a frustrated Vince Carter was screaming in Sasha’s ear and Sasha was going right back at him. Varejao, who drew three offensive fouls Monday, has been under Moore’s skin for days now. All of it is contributing to the edge this series is getting.
–It may have gone unnoticed, but Drew Gooden had a big fourth quarter, getting four clutch defensive rebounds in traffic. Zydrunas Ilgauskas also had another double-double. The Nets are able to chase down loose balls with energy, but at the end of the game height usually shows up. It didn’t in Game 3, it did in Game 4.
–It was just logical that Jason Kidd would have to cool off from the outside so him going 2-of-13 wasn’t shocking. It was unexpected that Richard Jefferson would have such a bad night, even missing dunks. But the Cavs deserve some credit for the way they are handling Carter, the double teams and contested jumpers have supremely frustrated him. Pavlovic’s length bothers him, Snow’s strength makes it tough for him to drive, and the scheme makes it hard for him to find any space to operate. The series isn’t over and Carter can get very hot, but so far their game plan against him has been impressive. As for Moore, he will be permitted to get open looks. Again, Mike Brown is playing percentages and he’s looking pretty good so far in doing so.
–This year’s playoffs have been about the lessons learned from last year. The last time there was a closeout game at home in the conference semifinals, the Cavs let it slip through their fingers. They may be up a couple of break points now, but expect that Game 6 loss last year to be rehashed.
May 14th, 2007 at 11:42 pm
Nice article on ESPN Brian. I noticed Gooden’s beastly rebounds in the 4th. It was nice to see the D step up. LeBron really played well defensively in the 4th I thought on Jefferson, but he seemed tenative to go the hole even though the Cavs were in the bonus. The only time he tried he got called for a travel. Ugly offensive game, but a well executed defensive 4th quarter stand.
May 14th, 2007 at 11:51 pm
We’ll definitely see if the Cavs have grown up from last year. If they keep the NJ transition game in check again and just play tough, they’ll wrap this thing up. The shorter rest between games this week is also in the Cavs’ favor.
Today, Sasha got in early foul trouble for the first time in the series, but they survived with 21 mins from Snow. Hope that the refs hush their whistles and Sasha contributes some outside shooting on Weds.
May 15th, 2007 at 5:37 am
Pretty painful game to watch. The national ratings on this series have to be hockey-esque. Im not sure why the Cavs aren’t able to run this nets team off the court. Especially last night. The big three basically all had horrid shooting nights and it went down to the wire anyway. And this is with Lebron shooting 11-16. The Nets are not a good team. The Mikki Moore phenomenon is not as scintillating as it seems. He’s a journeyman, Z and neck muff. Maybe you guys ought to be able to dominate him? And what exactly is nachbar’s first name? I heard reggie miller call him bodie, boogie, bocky, and boga all within like ten minutes. And why is erin andrews being wasted on baseball games during the NBA playoffs?
Bottom line; lebron was just good enough last night. 1-5 from the line and 3 points total in the fourth aren’t going to rev up any wade or jordan comparisons but I guess that’s not his game.
May 15th, 2007 at 5:53 am
Watching the game, I wondered why the Cavs don’t try a smaller lineup against the Nets from time to time. LeBron is big enough to guard Moore, and probably wouldn’t give him those wide open 12 foot shots.
Z has played better in the playoffs this year, but at times he’s a liability against the Nets because he can’t keep up with the journeyman stringbean. Gooden and LeBron could still control the boards against that team, and take their big guys on the post offensively.
May 15th, 2007 at 6:21 am
Kudos to Snow on a great stop. Kudos to
Pavlovic for being tough. Again though
the real fun starts in the ECF. How will
this team perform against a well coached
and disciplined team. I mean how many slams
did the Nets miss last night because they
were showboating? And Vince cannot get off
the ground any more. Reduced to fadeaways
and errant threes. Give this team a point
guard and an enforcer and watch out. Bench
sucks the wazoo. Donyell looks lost. Damona
amd Wesley suck. Why not bring in Chickenhawk to punch somebody.
May 15th, 2007 at 6:56 am
No need to rehash what has been said above, but I do have one question…
It appears the LeBron is struggling a bit from the line again. Like earlier in teh season he seems to be off-balance, and rushing the shot, not taking the time to see the target.
What happened to the knee-bend? That seemed to help with his timing and force him to look at the rim. I don’t know if it was nerves, or what, but in the 4th he missed 4/6 attempts, and he failed to bend the knees on any of them….
FTS
http://www.fearthesword.com
May 15th, 2007 at 7:27 am
Although I’m happy that overall LeBron had a much better game last night (fourth quarter aside), I don’t understand why he wouldn’t try to bait Moore into fouling out. I saw two instances where Moore was playing with 5 fouls, and LeBron had the ball at the top of the key. Both times, Moore was scrambling to get out of the way, and if LeBron had simply driven inside, Moore would likely have fouled out. Yet LeBron bailed him out in both instances by just stopping and taking a long outside jumper.
The other thing that was painfully obvious was Z’s inability to defend the pick and roll. He’s clearly a liability in this regard, though at least he helped with the rebounds last night.
May 15th, 2007 at 8:22 am
doc, just to bring some clarity, wisdom and education to this particular discussion, the name of the player on that powerhouse Nets team is Bodie Boga Bocky-Boogie. It’s sort of like the former head of the United Nations, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, only with different letters.
May 15th, 2007 at 9:24 am
“Zydrunas Ilgauskas also had another double-double.”
Is there a more worthless, overrated, media-created, generated and hyped stat than the “double-double?” I’m sure there is, but that’s gotta be on the long laundry list of dopey meaningless media numbers. Thank God for meaningless numbers, or the Beacon Journal wouldn’t have a sports section. Jeez, Clarence Weatherspoon had lots of double-doubles for the Cavs, too, but his bust isn’t alongside Michael Reghi in the Cleveland Hall of Fame. Or maybe it is, what do I know.
But since the stat was raised in these circles as some sort of amazing benchmark, perhaps the writer can tell me how the Cavs’ current double-double machine is allowing Mikey from Life Cereal, or whatever his name is, to get 25 points??? That’s approximately 25 points more than his previous career high!
May 15th, 2007 at 10:23 am
Tucker is right that double-double is meaningless (although you can bet that some network during the playoffs will flash a stat about the number of people who have averaged just short of the triple double mark so that they can talk about LBJ’s greatness). The problem is not the scoring but the rebounding. Some rebounds, such as those Drew Gooden nabbed in the fourth quarter in traffic, seem difficult and meaningful. Others, such as those a big man gets on a missed free throw or field goal try because he is the closest and everyone else has run down the court already, are meaningless. Moreover, Kidd’s 17 rebounds are partly a function of his and his teamates’ awful shooting percentage in game 4. Long rebuonds may be in part about hustle and positioning, but you also have to get lucky that shots are so far off that they bounce outside of the paint.
As for Mikki Moore’s scoring in Game 4, some of it was because we picked our poison and focused on shutting down the three amigos. Some of it, though, was because we were too slow to rotate after the pick and roll and Moore was wide open. We have to shut that down. Moore had a few outside jumpers that we have to give him, but too many of his shots were just gift baskets.
May 15th, 2007 at 10:47 am
- Sure, complain about double-doubles. The only difference between Z in this series and in the Washington series is the number of touches that he is getting in the offense. The same is true for Sasha. Those two combined for only 15 shots last night, while Larry Hughes clunked his way to 7-19 shooting and 1 assist. I’m telling you, the Cavs’ offense would look a lot better if Sasha and Z were getting more opportunities.
- As for the defense, everyone knows that Z is a defensive liability when he steps out 25 feet from the hoop. Name me another 7-footer who isn’t. It’s the defensive scheme, trying to get the ball out of the hands of Carter and Kidd. And when Z stepped back on the pick, Moore managed to knock down four shots over 18 feet. That’s the chance you take, and if you can hold Carter, Kidd and Jefferson to 24% from the field (24%!!!), you take it.
- Staying with the defense, how much fun is it to watch Vince Carter try to get around Sasha, only to be turned back time and again? Sure, he might slip through once in a while, but his shot is always contested, and his teammates are completely uninvolved as he pounds the ball into the floor. The guy is just plain soft. He has no heart, and I promise you that he’ll mail in Game 5. Write down another 6-20 for him and call it a day. It just reminds me how lucky we are to have LeBron James, a legitimate superstar, rather than all of these ball-hogging showboats posing as superstars. And yes, I’m looking at you Paul Pierce, Tracy McGrady, and Gilbert Arenas. Enjoy your Spring vacations.
- As for LeBron, only the Global Icon could have a night of 30, 9, and 7, and draw criticism. That being said, he was clearly out of rhythm at the line, and all but abandoned his routine down the stretch. I’m not sure what caused this, but it will need to change. I’m just glad he hit the second one to give the Cavs a two-point lead with 10 seconds left. I was afraid that he was getting a full-on case of the yips, and that’s a scary thought.
- You have to wonder about the moments of idiocy from Varejao and Snow down the stretch, after the Nets were in the bonus. The only way New Jersey was going to make the game close at the end was by getting to the line and scoring with the clock stopped. It’s stuff they won’t be able to get away with against Detroit. Then again, there are a lot of things that the Cavs won’t get away with against Detroit.
- Wherefore art thou Boobie? Despite an earlier suggestion, the Cavs have no interest in putting a smaller team on the floor. The size of the Cavaliers has been a benefit in this series, with the Cavs generally keeping the Nets out of the lane and gobbling up a good number of offensive rebounds. A smaller lineup would presumably include a lot of minutes for Daniel Gibson, who has done nothing to show that he has the maturity and the wherewithall to contribute in the playoffs. I’m disappointed, because I thought that Gibson could really help the team, but it is hard to expect more from him during his rookie year. For now I think the team will be fine playing with the bigger lineup, just as long as the backcourt players do a better job of getting back on defense and watching for Jefferson and Carter when they try to cherry pick.
Go Cavs. Rise Up.
Mike C
May 15th, 2007 at 11:26 am
“As for the defense, everyone knows that Z is a defensive liability when he steps out 25 feet from the hoop. Name me another 7-footer who isn’t. It’s the defensive scheme, trying to get the ball out of the hands of Carter and Kidd. And when Z stepped back on the pick, Moore managed to knock down four shots over 18 feet. That’s the chance you take, and if you can hold Carter, Kidd and Jefferson to 24% from the field (24%!!!), you take it.”
Mike, do you write Saturday faith columns, too?
May 15th, 2007 at 12:09 pm
The small/big lineup question is a little bit of a dilemma because the Cavs should be able to pound the ball inside with the bigs against the Nets. They are 3-1 with the big lineup, too, so it has pretty much worked so far.
But the Cavs big players aren’t scoring down low much, and the Nets have erased the big rebounding advantage the Cavs had in the first two games.
In a small lineup, I think LeBron and Gooden could still outrebound the Nets bigs, who are laughably poor rebounders. They’ve been boxing out, letting Kidd get the ball, but more quickness on the floor for the Cavs would make that strategy more difficult. Moore and Nachbar wouldn’t be able to defend LeBron either.
As for Gibson, he really hasn’t had the minutes to show whether he has the moxie to contribute. But he’s always seemed pretty fearless, driving and shooting, and if he could hit one or two threes the Nets would be in trouble.
May 15th, 2007 at 12:33 pm
Speaking of moxie, can somebody in the TV truck kindly tell Michele Tafoya to, at long last, stop acting so in-your-face intense and exuberant when she conducts player interviews? I can’t stand watching her, no matter what sport she’s doing. She comes off as a really unattractive Smurf on a five-day crystal meth binge.
May 15th, 2007 at 1:57 pm
I do not know about most of you, but I would rather have Moore make 11 of 14 shots and have the “Big 3″ shoot 24% for the game.
Moore is a journeyman who, while he might have lead the league in FG %, has not been in these pressure situations. Take your chances with him. Plus, he has show the capability to get into foul trouble which puts in on the bench
I am not happy with the offense of the Cavs in this series, but their defense shows how good they are and how far they have come in two years under Mike Brown.
Will it work against Detroit, only time will tell.
May 15th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
I hope all the fans are excited about whats going on with the team this year. It looks as if we will be advancing to the eastern conference finals. Quite as it was kept that was our goal this year to take it one series futher, even our boss dan gilbert said that is all he expected. So please do not be dishearted when the Pistons kick our ass. At least we got this far, now maybe next year will be our year to get to the finals, that is depending on what Dan Ferry is going to do with the team in the off season. Shhhhhhh!!, I hope he do not keep these stiffs along side of me, I need a true pt guard so I could put on my high flying act. I need a real shooting guard, not just one that shoot the ball, but one that could actually put the ball in the basket. So please come down to the gund and cheer us on, we may win one, hell we might win two, but come on down and be apart of the fun, who knows, Usher may bust out and do a concert at halftime. Okay I got to go, see you Wed. night, we are going to kick the Nets ass, come down and enjoy, yours truly, Lebron James, “THE GLOBAL ICON”
May 15th, 2007 at 2:19 pm
Why Mikik Moore was not ejected after he floored my boy Sasha is beyond me. Be honest, did I look like I wanted to “work” with Miki, or did it look like I was hanging on for dear life hoping he was not going to step back and bust me in the jaw. Man I was scared, I grew up in the ghetto and all but I was protected, I never had any beef with anybody. Where in the hell was my back when I needed it. I thought they added tomahawk head on the team to beef up our toughness. Coach should of put him in the game and let him hard foul one of the Nets, but hey what can you expect from a lemon head like coach Brown.
May 15th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
Lebron, I am sorry to see that you feel this way….but I kind of agree with you. Anyways, not only do I dress better than you, but I also have a better 3 pt shot. Too bad I haven’t taken one in about a month now that I am handing out towels to you guys when you come off the floor.
So, I cannot wait until your new place is finished…I’m hoping to hang out in your barber shop, do some bowling, play some poker in your casino, and kick back and relax in your movie theatre. Aint it great to be an NBA playa yo? Shiat man, dis is the life dog. Peace out ya’ll.
May 15th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
LeBron, thought you should know. You play at Quicken Loans Arena now, not the Gund.
May 15th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
What? You mean that wasn’t really LeBron or Damon? Silly Billy, you almost had us all fooled.
May 15th, 2007 at 6:36 pm
Tucker, I wasn’t sure who Michele Tafoya was so I looked her up on Youtube. The only video of her is a piece she did in Gans, Oklahoma in 95 covering Big Country Bryant Reeves… Priceless.
May 15th, 2007 at 8:09 pm
the worst was when they went from melissa starks to tafoya on monday night football..talk about going from boom to bust.
May 16th, 2007 at 12:41 am
surprise, surprise, surprise, the bulls beat the pistons in the motor city. There is hope for you cavs fan.
May 16th, 2007 at 12:52 am
the nba was right in suspending the players from the suns, they broke the rules you pay the price. hopefully the spurs take advantage of the situation.
May 16th, 2007 at 6:30 am
Spurs Fan…
You are technically right, but ina League known for their “Make-Up Calls”, I would be really, REALLY careful when it comes to the rest of the playoffs. The next time a Spur hiccups at the wrong time they are gone….
FTS
http://www.fearthesword.com
May 16th, 2007 at 7:50 am
A couple things…
- Melissa Starks is HOT!
- The Bulls will take the Pistons to 7 games and wear them down. Once the well-rested Cavs get to them, it will be all LBJ for a series win and trip to play Utah in the Finals.
- Now that they NBA has suspended Stod, they need to also suspend Duncan who left the bench earlier in the game when there was a near scuffle.
- Its no longer called Quicken Loans Arena, its called Castle De Lebron.
- Alan Tucker is the greatest!!!!!!
May 16th, 2007 at 10:00 am
Regarding Detroit vs Chicago… Is there some rule I’m unaware of? I think someone told them both that if the opposing team is trying, then they have to stop.
May 16th, 2007 at 10:25 am
I’m the greatest? Not even close. No, Sean Salisbury is the greatest. Any guy that takes camera-phone photos of his wang, and then flashes his photogenic meat to ESPN’s chick employees, is most definitely the greatest.
This series is a laugh. The Wizards series was a laugh. The NBA has become a laugh. I’m watching the West teams beat each other to a pulp, and then I have to read Beacon Journal nonsense about amazingly “brutal” Eastern Conference moments, such as that shocking time when some greasy 97-pound “power” forward gave a mediocre European a love tap to his cute little Serb belly button.
I thought the playoffs is supposed to be about serious competition. Watching a not-very-good team like the Cavs take on the East is like watching the Akron Aeros take on the Toledo Mud Hens. doc is absolutely right, the only possible way ABC will persuade anybody that’s sober to watch any of this crap is by dragging Erin Andrews to the televised festivities. Possibly they’ll hold a gun to her head and get her to play with Salisbury’s wiener during a 20-second timeout.
May 16th, 2007 at 12:39 pm
“The Cavs’ coaching staff showed the team some of the clips during a film session on Sunday, including Moore getting into it with Anderson Varejao, and it carried over into Game 4, when the Cavs seemed to become more physical.”
Why does the Cavs coaching staff have to show the team clips of rough play to fire the players up? You’d think most coaching staffs would be trying to calm their warriors down.
Another question: Why is everyone surprised when the wheels fall off the Pistons’ wagon? When another team gets them out of their groove, they really struggle to adjust.
And an observation: The league’s suspension of Suns players is a joke.
May 16th, 2007 at 1:09 pm
Larry, I agree it’s a joke, but the league office was between a rock and a hard place. They can’t set a precedent. Either they enforce the rules, or they don’t. If you really want to blame somebody, then blame the Suns’ assistant coaches. Every team, with the exception of Utah, has 10,000 unnecessary assistant coaches per squad (gosh, how did Red Auerbach ever survive without one?), you’d think that one of those 10,000 pieces of deadwood would occasionally pass their guys a reminder memo and simply refresh their memories to stay the f*ck on their chair if a skirmish breaks out.
May 16th, 2007 at 3:08 pm
Mr. Tucker, it’s apparent to me that you have a large chip on your shoulder. Why are you so negative, is your life that out of control that you have to take your fustration out on a sports blog, blasting the very sport and team that you watch every night on tv. Why won’t you do what other people do when there life is out of control. BUY SOME CRACK AND SMOKE IT. Get a life you dope!!!!!!!
May 16th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
Boy!!! It would really suck if my boy Boozer make it to the finals and I don’t. On second thought who cares, Im still making big bucks, and beside I will be out of here in a couple of years, then maybe I could win me a title. But I got to really admit I would hate to see Benedict Boozer make it to the finals before me. See yall at the Q tonight, we are going to kick some Nets butts. bring the noise everybody, and watch me fly.
May 16th, 2007 at 3:26 pm
I cannot believe this but I am actually agreeing with Tucker on this one. Do I agree this is a bogus rule? Absolutely! However, the onus falls on the players and the players association for continuing to have this bogus rule in the CBA. It is not like it is a new rule, it has been around for 10 years.
Besides, if they did not suspend the players because it is the playoffs and it happens between the Hawks and Bobcats next season then what happens? Follow the rule, and if the players don’t like it, get it changed in the CBA (which is easier said then done I know).
May 16th, 2007 at 3:39 pm
Why don’t I buy some crack and smoke it? Who are you, Roy Tarpley? Some things deserve tough love, and this decade’s version of what purports to be professional basketball is the equivalent of analyzing Barry Bonds’ hat size.
May 16th, 2007 at 5:07 pm
He Alan Tucker, if a scurmish were to break out on this blog, I would be the first off the bench to whoop yo a$$.
May 16th, 2007 at 5:12 pm
SOMEBODY START A PETITION TO GET THE GREAT ALAN TUCKER IN AS COACH OF THE CAVS FOR NEXT SEASON. NOT ONLY IS HE DUH $HIT WHEN IT COMES TO BLOG COMMENTARY, BUT HE’D MAKE A MIGHTY FINE COACH TOO@!@
ALAN TUCKER RULES!!
May 16th, 2007 at 5:45 pm
I really think that with Lebron James, what you see is what you get. I think he shot his wad and he is not going to be any better then what he is already. As far as players throughout history I would compare him to a James Worthy, not really a superstar, but a very good player. I know the stats are better and the type of game is more exciting, but he is the only one I could think of right now. Let me know how you feel, Im during underwear commercial with Kevin Beacon, so catch me if you can.
May 16th, 2007 at 5:52 pm
Who did the cavs lose to in the 1992 eastern confernce finals? I think the Boston Celtics, what do you think?
May 16th, 2007 at 6:00 pm
I snuck back here during the timeout to post something. Larry H is 1-11 from the field right now. Why on gods green earth won’t coach put ME in?!?!??! What did I do to deserve this permanent spot on the bench?
Gotta run, need to hand towels out during the next timeout…. see ya.
Hi ALAN!!! You are my favorite!
May 16th, 2007 at 6:20 pm
Hey Damon you are funny as hell. I do not understand why Larry continues to shoot the ball even thou his shot is not falling, I think as the team leader I will pull him over to the side and tell him to “PASS ME THE DAMN BALL”, in the mean time do not fret it is not over yet, we will come back and win, we just want to give yall an ulcer in the process, see you in Detriot.
May 16th, 2007 at 6:35 pm
Yo Lebron, you have more personal fouls than field goals right now. You are the star, act like one and score us some freakin points already. Otherwise I refuse to work as your barber next year when you open that new shack of yours.
May 16th, 2007 at 6:39 pm
Somebody rip that headband off larry hughes head and use it to tie his hands behind his back so he can’t shoot anymore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 16th, 2007 at 6:43 pm
I cannot say that i am surprise, but yet I am still not happy, they are down 20pts and the coach puts in eric snow, dumb, dumb, you need pts not defense, what the hell is wrong with Larry Hughes, why does he contiue to shoot jumper after jumper and it is all of the back of the rim, I hate to say it but maybe they need to put damon jones in the game. this city sports team have a hard time winning the big games, what the hell is wrong. If they lose this one, well when they lose this game and go back to nj, they better be ready to close this baby out, why in the hell Lebron is not being more aggressive, and where is marshall, him and damon are suppose to be the automatic pts off the bench. well here we go cavs here we go. boom, boom
May 16th, 2007 at 6:50 pm
wow……
some interesting observations so far:
1. 1-11????????? Keep shooting larry. I dont ever think Ive heard booing like this at an NBA playoff game for a guy on the HOME team.
2. How many uncontested dunks until someone slams josh boone/mikkkimoore/bookienachbar’s head into the court?
3. Do we have the worst fans in the league? It was like a mausoleum in the first half.
4. Reggie Miller with a lisp? I think Cheryl has more testosterone churning through her system than reggie at this point.
May 16th, 2007 at 6:55 pm
why in the hell do the coach put in eric snow when they need pt. gibson, marshall,jones should of been of the bench immediatley, they could not have done any worse on the defense then the first team. at least those guys know where the basket is.
May 16th, 2007 at 7:16 pm
WE could beat either one of these teams!!!! Both teams are a combined 0-17 in the 4th quarter. This is some of the worst playoff basketball I’ve even seen. Detroit has to be licking their chops.
See ya next year suckers, and we’ll have ODEN!!!
May 16th, 2007 at 7:35 pm
MIKE BROWN IS A PREGNANT FEMALE DOG AND HE NEED TO GO.
May 16th, 2007 at 7:39 pm
That was some UGLY basketball. Cavs need to get their act together in NJ or we could actually lose this series. I sorta think the Cavs have regressed since last year. I remember them stepping up big against Detroit last year, and this year they can barely get by an average team like NJ.
May 16th, 2007 at 7:42 pm
you got to realize we are an avearge team as well, we just have a superstar on our team, we suck and need to do major overhaul this summer. larry is garbage, he do more shooting then making plays, let gibson play the pt, put larry back at the 2 or on the bench. and forgod sake if we are getting blown out and need pts, do not put eric snow in the game, the defense aspect of the game is a moot pts the object is to put the ball in the basket.
May 16th, 2007 at 7:46 pm
Ya know whats strange about this years playoffs? Last year, both the Washington and Detroit series were very exciting…lots of close games and tons of drama. Superb basketball.
This year, the Cavs have been BOOOOOOOORRRRRRIIIIINNGGGGGGGGGGG in the Playoffs!! The games are real yawners.
What the hell is going on with this team?
May 16th, 2007 at 7:56 pm
something is wrong when your pt guard takes more shots then the shooting guard and your marquee player, what the hell is wrong with that picture. Hurry up 3 years i am ready to get the heck out of here.
May 16th, 2007 at 11:35 pm
3-17… 3 - 17, yet still given 40 minutes of playing time… 3-17, 1 unsuccesful appearance at the line… 3-17 in a closeout game, you’ve got to be shitting me