NBA Playoffs?

[WMR]

Originally Posted by HumnHilghtFreel

If he developed even a semi-consistent post-up game, it would be a wrap for the rest of the league. That and work on that FT %

He can post up... he just clearly dislikes doing so.

[Razor Shines]

It was hilarious when Hamilton tried to get in Lebron's head at the end of the game before he shot those free throws. I loved how Lebron just shoved him out of the way, he almost looked like he was begging for the ref to give him the ball. Seeing the facial expressions of the two coming away from that encounter it looked like Rip was more intimidated than Lebron was.

[WMR]

He's going to have to make A BUNCH of free throws before every team gives up that 'act.'

[Unassisted]

Spurs truly looked like the team to beat in the Finals tonight. Tonight's crowd was much more into the game than the Game 2 crowd.

I watched the first 3 quarters from my seat at the AT&T Center and then retreated to the empty luxury suite. From the suite, I watched the 4th quarter and the trophy ceremony by flipping around on the big plasma TV with its 7 in-house channels of video feed. There was a separate channel for each of the scoreboard cameras covering the game, plus a channel of statistics, a channel with video and ads from the scoreboard, a channel that looked like it would be used as a game film with a wide shot with continuous clocks and scores at the bottom. Plus there was endless food and (soft) drinks. If I could watch every sporting event with a setup like that, I'd watch a lot more sports on TV.

Spurs fans on local talk radio are about evenly split on whether they'd prefer to face Cleveland or Detroit in the Finals. I haven't looked it up, but someone said Cleveland won both regular season games vs. the Spurs.

[WMR]

I specifically remember them winning one of them, the one AT San Antonio, I believe.

[Edskin]

Yeah, the Cavs swept SA this year. The first game was very early in the season down in Texas. Cavs won, and Lebron had that semi-famous dunk over Tim Duncan.

Cavs have actually matched-up quite well w/ the Spurs since Lebron arrived. I think Cleveland is quietly a very tough team for SA. Bowen is a defensive ace, but for whatever reason, Lebron torches him. There are other defenders in the league that seem to give Lebron more problems than Bowen-- I think the size difference may have something to do with it.

Also, Duncan is a star, but he's actually the kind of player that Z can defend. Z is slow and gets beat by quicker big men. Duncan will score on anyone down low, but Z's size can help keep TD from scoring at will like we've seen him do over the last two rounds of the playoffs. Varejao is also a very annoying defender for any big man. Throw in Gooden and the Cavs can bang with the best of them.

Cleveland got smoked this year by teams like Dallas and Phoenix. Smaller teams that run and hit you from all angles. But Cleveland matches up well with bigger, slower teams.

In the end, no matter what, you've gotta go with the Spurs. They are simply too solid all over the floor-- a true dynasty. And as a Cavs fan, I'm not sure who on our team can check Tony Parker-- THAT is a bad match-up for us. But I do think Cleveland will pester SA and would give them a more compelling, interesting series than Detroit would.

BTW.......here's that Lebron dunk over TD:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0GiPPR_pG8

[WMR]

Bowen a defensive ace?

Pretty kind words for the dirtiest player in the NBA.

The way he plants his feet underneath player when they take a jump shot is criminal. I'm truly amazed he hasn't yet ended someone's career with his crap.

[WMR]

Larry Hughes can abuse Tony Parker in the post all day long. It's going to require some serious help D, however.

[Edskin]

Hughes will most likely be hobbled the rest of the post-season, and unfortunately, I'm not sure he is capable of "abusing" my grandma even when he's healthy. I do think he'd probably be our best match-up to GUARD Parker, but Hughes can't get it together offensively.

It's funny, the Cavs went 3-0 last year against the Pistons when Hughes did not play. They went 0-4 with him on the floor.

This year they went 0-2 with him logging big minutes and 2-0 with him sitting on the bench for the most part.

[WMR]

What do you honestly think about Bowen, though?

[Edskin]

Bowen is great. I do think he's a bit on the "dirty" side, but I do not believe he intentionally attempts to injure people. He is the kind of player that every great team needs- he has been a steady constant for the Spurs.

[Roy Tucker]

Bowen is an excellent defender and plays great fundamental defense.

But, I think he intentionally does all of those chippy things to get inside the opponents head. It happens too often for it to be accidental. Little grabs and elbows are one thing, but to do things that can cause injuries (low-bridging jump shooters, kicking in the back of the leg, etc.) are another. That's where Bowen goes too far IMHO.

[Reds Fanatic]

Great game tonight. Lebron just carried the Cavaliers to a win with an amazing performance. 48 points, he scored the last 25 points in a row and 29 of the last 30 points. Cleveland now takes a 3 games to 2 lead back home for Saturday night's game.

[reds44]

LeBron just have the best preformance I have EVER seen. That was absurd. It was almost fake.

[guttle11]

I really can't believe what I just saw Lebron do. INCREDIBLE!

This series is exactly the same as last year so far. Time to go all Sub-Zero and FINISH THEM!