Cleveland Rock City

Yes, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is located in Cleveland but that’s not what I mean when I say rock city. Plagued by a championship drought, Cleveland has been a barren ground for success. Just recently, they were tormented with the Johnny Manziel saga (which has abruptly came to an end). Cleveland persevered, down 3 games to 1, to take home the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

We can all sit here and complain that the NBA is rigged and if Draymond Green wasn’t suspended then Golden State would be hoisting the trophy. Could be true. There’s no denying that LeBron James is the NBA’s golden child, but as my mother used to say “life’s not fair”.

Cleveland will finally get their “rock”, a collection of them in a large ring. A first for this organization and a long awaited celebration for this city.

Questions and comments after Cleveland clinched the NBA Championship

Is Golden State’s Legacy Tarnished?

The Carolina Panthers went on to win 15 games in 2015. They were a tough team to beat. Led by Cam Newton and Luke Kuechly, Carolina was a favorite to win the Super Bowl. That didn’t happen. Denver rained on their parade by defeating them 24-10. What about the perfect New England Patriots who were upset by the Giants in 2008 by the “Helmet Catch”.

Two teams, which achieved so much yet fell short of the ultimate goal. The losses don’t downplay how good these teams were but it does show that they weren’t able to take the next step to greatness (in the Patriots’ defense they have displayed that they are in fact a legendary team).

The difference here is that the 73-9, Golden State Warriors couldn’t upend the Cleveland Cavaliers in 7 games. They had an intimidating 3 to 1 series lead but was unable to pull past the Cavs to become back-to-back champs. The Cavs were the more determined team. They weren’t the best team on the floor, but they possessed the best player and the mindset to get past Golden State.

The real question is that after such a spectacular and record setting season, does the absence of a trophy make it any less amazing? Sure, a trophy would of been the cherry on top to end their remarkable season but obviously the ~~NBA~~ basketball gods didn’t like that idea. So does not winning the championship (and losing three straight games) make the Warriors’ achievements less important?

Who’s here to stay?

After a losing three straight and the NBA Championship, I’d expect to see some changes to the Golden State Warriors. Many times, winning teams aren’t so quick to add a player and alter the team chemistry but when teams lose they are more likely to try to correct those particular holes that they may have. The NBA Draft is two days away and there has been rumors circulating that the Warriors are interested in Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Durant. It would be interesting to see what changes they make considering they are coming off the best season (record wise) in NBA history. Dirk would stretch the floor but he is an aging player well into his 30’s. Even so he still demands attention on the offensive end. Kevin Durant is a past MVP winner. He’s one of the top players in the NBA. Having a player of his skill set would definitely improve the team but at what cost. Who would they have to let go in order to do so.

Cleveland on the other hand has to answer their Kevin Love dilemma (I’ll dive into this a bit more) and their intentions on retaining talent. Their key players are set to return next year. LeBron James, Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving, Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith are signed until at least next season (James and Smith have player options which they could opt out of in order to see a bigger payday). What will LeBron do? Is he still searching to be apart of a superteam or will he stay put in Cleveland? J.R. Smith is expected to make $5 million next year, but has his worth gone up following the playoffs? The only players guaranteed to come back from the bench are Sasha Kaun, Jordan McRae, Channing Frye and Shumpert. This means that they will have to retain or look elsewhere for extra help from the bench. With already (roughly) 100 million already being guaranteed to current players it will be interesting to see what Cleveland does. Luckily for them the cap has risen this year but unfortunately they are already over that cap mark. Their decisions this offseason will be very pivotal in their run to defend their “NBA Champions” status .

Chef Curry Diet

LeBron wasn’t having Chef Curry’s cooking. LeBron made sure to let him know that he wasn’t either. It wasn’t just the blocks and defensive pressure dished out to the Warriors it was LeBron’s dominance that trumped over all. Curry showed that he was human. Shots that normally would drop, weren’t. The Cavs were simply not having any of his usual Curry antics. The following statement fits so perfectly here: “Live by the three…die by the three,” and after Curry’s last attempt from downtown, I’d say the Warriors chances to repeat died right there.

Does Cleveland Still LOVE Kevin? 😍

It’s funny how things play out. If the Cavs lost this series, this would have been the one of the biggest stories resulting to their loss. Kevin Love is one of the better power forwards in the league, even though he did not display his past all-star form in the finals, he still commands much attention on the court.

He’s not playing like the Minnesota Timberwolves, Kevin Love because he has much more of a supporting cast. A cast which is far better than he had in Minnesota. He’s not required to play on the block as much. He plays like a big guard now instead of the mean rebounding machine who was a double-double guru.

With his role being an uncertainty in Cleveland will he seek an out or will Cleveland plan to let him go? He still is under contract and is technically a Cavalier until 2020 (each year he is getting over $20 million). So the question is, “is there any love for Kevin in Cleveland?”

“The Suspension”

Game 4, the Warriors came out victorious. However, they would also lose one of their most valuable players in Draymond Green. A squabble between Green and James led to the NBA reviewing the play (AFTER THE GAME) and assessing Green a flagrant (which led to a 1-game suspension) and LeBron a technical foul. Hmmm…🤔 It’s quite odd that the NBA would go back to a play in which no call was made on the floor and assess a penalty on either player. For the NBA to go back and give a flagrant foul (which would lead to Green’s suspension in the finals and in a closeout game). Mind you, LeBron and Kyrie went off for 41 a piece in that game 5 win. Highly controversial if you ask me. I’d say that there were many other instances in previous games (especially the Oklahoma City series) that the NBA could have went back and given Green a flagrant. It just seems odd that they would’ve done so at such a crucial time. The NBA’s decision to suspend Green could be argued as a game changer and shifted the momentum to the Cavs. I would hate to think that the league is rigged. Sometimes it’s just how the cookie crumbles.

Beginners Luck

First it was Golden State head coach, Steve Kerr, who triumphed in his first season as head coach. Now Tyronn Lue has that honor. Lue, coached 41 regular season games eventually leading them to the NBA Championship. I would say that this sounds like a case of some beginners luck. Then again, it was David Blatt’s first year as head coach last year when his team fell to the Warriors. I guess it was just Lue’s time to shine.

LeBron’s Legacy

Six years. Three championships. LeBron James led all players in points, rebounds, steals, assist, blocks and heart. Supplanting himself as one of the best players in the league and one of the best players to play the game. Maybe disliked by many, he has showed that he is an elite player over and over and over and over again. Of course, he’ll be compared to the likes of Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird all of whom had success in the post season.

Where do we go from here?

Cleveland will have to figure out what the deal is with Kevin Love then address their bench.
GSW will have to figure out if a big man is the way to go. Their inability to defend the rim and collect rebounds ultimately hurt them.

It’ll be interesting to see what happens next and which players will be on these teams next season. Thursday night will be another big night to see which directions these teams (and the 28 others) decide to go.

Game Six: Draymond’s Return and Cleveland’s Stand

Hopefully the furor has died down over the LeBron James and Draymond Green squabble. The squabble and alleged “nut check” led to Green’s one game suspension. During this one game suspension, LeBron who was initially matched up with Green went off for 41 points. Both he and Kyrie Irving went off for 41 points.

People have speculated the truth behind the suspension. The incident happened Friday during game 4. Following the game, Green was assessed a flagrant foul which put him over the limit prompting his suspension. LeBron given a technical foul for his taunting trash talk to Green.

Some will say the NBA was fearful of a short series. Viewership was down and another game would mean millions more for the NBA and these franchises. This series could have ended in five. A five game series is far less lucrative than a six or even SEVEN game series.

Draymond had been guilty of similar swipes at players’ nether region but it never prompted a suspension or flagrant foul call after the fact. We’ll never know the true reason why it was called day(s) later. Was it spearheaded by LeBron James’ postgame comments or maybe the fact that it was James would was intwined in the altercation spurned the league to make a decision? Was Draymond’s actions the straw that broke the donkey’s back or was the league searching for the perfect reason to prolong this series? Who knows?

It will be interesting to see how Golden State bounces back. They surely aren’t familiar with losing back-to-back game. Last series, against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Warriors lost back-to-back and faced elimination. They surged past the Thunder in seven games, winning three in a row after their two consecutive loses. In this series, I can’t see Golden State losing three straight especially with Green coming back into the lineup just like I can’t see James and Irving dropping 82 points again the way they did in game 5.

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NBA Finals: Game 4 Preview

Game 4 is tonight! I’m happy that I don’t have to wait 2+ days to watch another game. As Cleveland prepares themselves to even up the series and Golden State looks to go home with a 3 games to 1 advantage. Before we get ahead of ourselves here, there are many questions to be answered.

Will the Cavs come out like they did in game 3?

They were tough on defense. On offense they appeared to be the on their A-game. This trend started early on in game 3. If the Cavs can come out the gate with the same intensity, Golden State watch out! Cleveland will need to get some more help out of their bench. Then again when you’re playing as good as Cleveland did and do such a great job at shutting down the other team’s key players, who needs a bench?

Will Kevin Love play?

It is said that we will know if Kevin Love will be able to play by the time he arrives at the “Q”. His status is TBD.

Is Cleveland Better Without Love?

They did go 4-0 in the games he didn’t play this season. They also thumped the defending champs in game 3 without him. If Kevin Love plays and Cleveland loses we’ll find out the truth to that question.

Which Stephen Curry will show up?

Maybe he was disappointed about his “Chef Curry Suburban Dad kicks”. Maybe this is Curry’s way of saying that he’s supporting Donald Trump. I’m sure these’ll be a hit at the next rally! (LOL) All jokes aside, Stephen Curry needs to shake off that voodoo and start cooking like Ayesha…but on the court…and not in those “Chef Curry 2s“. In Curry’s defense he did go 24-0 in white shoes this season.

Klay? Where art thou?

Dubs fans are really hoping Klay’s thigh is fine. He disappeared in game 3. Once he left the game and headed to the locker room, it was as if he stayed in there. Hopefully, the trainers were able to get him fixed in time for game 4. The Warriors can’t afford a “Klay Thompson Disappearance Act.”

Will Steve Kerr tweak his game plan?

With Love out the lineup you cannot attack the Cavs the same way. It’s not rocket science and I think the Dubs coaching staff is well aware of it. Tonight we’ll see if Kerr decides to switch things up a bit in time for tip-off.

Will Kyrie deliver?

Kyrie, like Klay Thompson for the Dubs, has to show up like he did in game 3. Kyrie shot a slightly about 30% in games 1 and 2. Game 3, he came out and shot almost 50%. There’s a big difference in 20%. If Kyrie can continue shooting in the mid-to-upper 40s, Cleveland will be in better shape. He just adds another arsenal to their firepower.

What will Jeff Van Gundy say this game?

Van Gundy is like the Bernie Sanders of the analyst squad. Some of the things he says and suggest are head scratchers whereas, some things are quite thought provoking. I find his “Van Gundyisms” pretty amusing. Like, “If Kyle Korver blocks your shot there should be a penalty box you go to,” or saying that Dorris Burke was “on fleek” then went on to attempt to quote DJ Khaled by saying “Like I told the streets, blessed up.” If it isn’t a funny quote it’s his rule suggestions. He hates the Hack-A-“insert terrible free throw shooter here” rule and would like to reform the fouling out rule. One day in my lifetime, I may be lucky enough to see a Van Gundy rule enacted.

Questions…questions…questions. All will be answered at 9 pm!

Cleveland’s Resurgence

Following two double digit loses in Oakland, Cleveland had some answering to do when they arrived back in Ohio. And they answered! LeBron James became “LeBron James” and took a more dominant approach to game three. With Kevin Love out of the lineup, the Cavaliers were without one of their key players. That didn’t stop Cleveland from jumping out to a commanding first quarter lead which they never let up from.

LeBron James shot the ball more than he did in game one or game two. Kyrie Irving played a key part in the win. He demanded the ball and made his shots count. J.R. Smith was back at it, hitting contested jumpers. Cleveland played like a team whose backs were against the walls. Game three for Cleveland was just as important as a game seven. It was a must win for them.

The Cavs were able to contain Stephen Curry. He ended the game with an un-Stephen like box score. Despite his 19 points, he had 6 turnovers, 3 assist and 1 rebound in 31 minutes. The glaring stat here…six turnovers!

At times it looked as if Curry had “checked out”. Most people who have played basketball can attest to times when they’ve “checked out”. For Curry, it’s the equivalent to having a bad day at work. You’ll have your days when you’re in the “zone” but there’s always the exact opposite to that.

We can lament on the fact that Curry had a bad game or praise the Cavs for their play in game three. They attacked on offense and their defense was the stingiest it has been in these three games. The Warriors couldn’t find the bucket early on while the Cavs were full on the home cooking. In this game the Cavs were just more prepared.

Draymond Green wasn’t the same person who went off for 28 in game two. He was unable to make the same moves, make the same passes and have the game tilted in his favor. For those who thought the series would be done in four games, you were very wrong.

It should be a rule: “If LeBron is healthy, you cannot write his team off.” Simple as that! Everyone saw what LeBron and his minions did last year in the finals without Irving or Love.

Cleveland essentially has been the black hole for sports. The Browns have struggled year after year. They are just getting from underneath the whole Johnny Manziel saga. The Indians have not been legitimate contenders for a while (correct me if I’m wrong). Cleveland’s last triumph in the sports world may have been when Shawn Porter beat Adrien Broner in an unanimous decision. With one game in the win column for the Cavs their fans have reason to be excited, but should not forget that it is a seven game series.

Expect to see Golden State come out much differently. Like I said previously, this series is about matchups. It seemed as if Richard Jefferson tapped into his New Jersey Nets days. He looked like the better fit in the starting lineup compared to Kevin Love. It would be interesting to see how head coach, Tyronn Lue, has his lineup for game four. Kevin Love will either be back or very close to returning. Do you stick him in the starting lineup or do you keep him out? That is the question.

Come, Friday June 10th at 9 pm each team will be faced with many questions which they’ll be responsible for answering to. The big questions being, Can Cleveland continue playing like they did in game three or will Golden State wake-up and shake off the jet lag?

*pictures taken from http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2016/06/lebron_james_cavs_warriors_gam_1.html. I do not own these pictures, Thank you!

Can Cleveland Rebound?

Down two games to none, the Cleveland Cavaliers are facing an uphill battle. In the two games played at the Oracle Center, Golden State had Lebron James and the Cavaliers’ number. I foresaw the Cavaliers losing in the Bay Area but not in the type of fashion that they did. The Cavs lost back-to-back games by a total of 48 points. With the possible loss of Kevin Love for game 3, the Cavaliers are in a bit of “pickle”.

Before the series, I kept saying that matchups would be key. A mismatch can provide for some big advantages. Last year, Cleveland was without Kevin Love and lost All-Star point guard, Kyrie Irving in game one. LeBron put on his superman cape but despite his valiant efforts his team fell two games shy of hoisting the O’Brien trophy.

This year, Lebron didn’t have to wear that cape (or so he thought). Love and Irving were healthy and ready to go. They added deep shooter, Channing Frye to potentially tap into his inner Robert Horry. Their head coach, David Blatt, was let go in favor for Tyronn Lue. Everyone saw as Cleveland dismantled the Detroit Pistons, whacked the Atlanta Hawks and gave Drake and the Toronto fans something to cheer about as they gave up two games in the six game series. At the end of the day, Cleveland made sure to take down their foes from across the border.

Golden State was supposed to be here. They won 73-games, best regular season record in NBA history. Oklahoma City Thunder had Golden State on the edge. Reminiscent of Oklahoma City they choked. Giving up three straight games to bow out of the Western Conference Finals.

With the added man power Cleveland has this year, they should be able to put up a fight. Like, Muhammed Ali and Joe Frazier in ’71 – “The Fight of the Century”. Instead, the Golden State Warriors are looking like Ali in the Sonny Liston rematch.

Before we get ahead of ourselves, we must remember that this is the NBA. This is the Cleveland Cavaliers with the best all-around player in the world in LeBron James, uber-talented guard Kyrie Irving and the man they traded their #1 draft pick (Andrew Wiggins) for in Kevin Love. They are going back home to the “216”. There’s no place like home! It could be a whole other story by game 4.

I’m no Charles Barkley, Kenny Anderson, Mark Jackson or Jeff Van Gundy. It doesn’t take an expert to see that Cleveland is in matchup hell. While James is being hounded by Andre Igoudala or Harrison Barnes, Klay Thompson is handling Kyrie Irving. Kevin Love continues to channel in his inner shooting guard and linger around the perimeter making it easy for Andrew Bogut to man the paint against Tristian Thompson. Stephen Curry handles the other guard and Draymond can concentrate on taking advantage of his matchup against Kevin Love.

Then comes the bench. The Warriors bench has been able to manipulate Cleveland. Shaun Livingston’s length is wreaking havoc while Iman Shumpert’s hair struggles to resemble a hair-do. The Warriors are so hot right now that it’s making everyone thirsty.

So what does Cleveland have to do to beat Golden State?

LeBron…be LeBron!

When you’re the best player on the court you have to act like it. Game 1 of the 2015 NBA Finals, LeBron shot 38 times. Game 2, he put the ball up 35 times.

What about this year? Game 1, he shot the ball 21 times and game 2 only 17 times. Simply put, LeBron shot more times in game 1 of the 2015 NBA Finals than he has in the two games in this year’s finals.

What’s the difference? Last year, Cleveland was without Love and Irving. Timofey Mosgov had a bigger impact but ultimately, Cleveland was tied 1-1 in the series last year and the games were much closer. Either LeBron takes over or his team will falter…yet again.

Limit Turnovers

The more turnovers you have the less likely you are to win. That wasn’t the case in game 2. Despite, Golden State’s 20 turnovers they were able to do more than squeak out a win. If the Cavs want a legitimate chance at rebounding from being 2 games behind they can’t turn the ball over as much. Twenty is a lot of turnovers but so is 17. The Cavs had 17 turnovers in game 2 and LeBron had 7 of those! You simply can’t do that especially when going up against the reigning NBA champs and arguably one of the best teams in NBA history.

Where’s the bench?

Richard Jefferson is the grandfather of the time. At 35-years-old he’s an old man in the NBA world. That didn’t stop him from being the best player off the Cavs bench. Surprisingly (so far), he’s the leading scorer off the bench. Where’s Shumpert, Frye, Dellavedova? Maybe put Shumpert into the starting lineup to try to have some fire power off the bench in J.R. Smith. He was the Sixth Man of the Year in 2013. Obviously he thrives coming off the bench as he did last year with the Cavs. They simply don’t have the production off the bench to compete.

No love for Kevin

Kevin Love has been beaten, battered and bruised during his short stint in the NBA Playoffs. The playoffs were a mirage in the distance for him while he was in Minnesota. In his two years with Cleveland – he’s made it past April but staying on the court has been his biggest hurdle. Last year, he was injured in the Boston series. This year, the “power guard” has been able to keep on the court but still hasn’t played like his former Minnesota Timberwolves-self. A blow to the back of the head by a Harrison Barnes elbow might leave Love out of the lineup for game 3. A very IMPORTANT game 3. Kevin is going to have to find some love in the playoffs if Cleveland is to challenge Golden State.

It’s all about the GREEN!

Draymond is the X-factor. Cleveland shut down the “Splash Brothers” in game 1. They still suffered a loss. Golden State’s bench was far more superior. Game 2, Draymond went Draymond. He’s not the same Draymond he was last year. He might be even more effective this year. He has the staunch defensive poise and put his offensive skill on display in game 2. His energy is contagious and he’s a workhorse on the court. Taking a page out of Dellavedova’s 2015 Finals Handbook when he was the pest on the court. If the Cavs can’t contain him then they’ll be looking forward to June 23^rd earlier than thought.

With the Cavaliers heading back to Cleveland they’ll be working out the kinks. Tyronn Lue is a new coach, so was Steve Kerr last year. Cleveland got the players they needed and now that everyone’s (mostly) healthy there can’t be no more excuses. I’d hate to see a sweep after such a great series in the last round. I’m not looking for the lack of sports on TV until football rolls around if this series becomes a short one. Luckily, I’ll have the Olympics to watch after the Warriors give Tyronn Lue and the Cleveland Cavs the Allen Iverson Treatment.