Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

[cima]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

Anyone expecting Kyrie to "get it going" is likely going to be disappointed. The dude is clearly hurt and with no rest time in sight, he's not going to get any better.

[King_B_Mack]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

Why Kawhi can get credit for playing good defense on LeBron, but he's "off" against Jimmy Butler? Jimmy is making that dude earn every basket he's gotten in this series. There's a little more to why LeBron is playing like he's playing than "LeBron is off this series."

Anyway, got to watch the game this morning and officiating is not the reason the Bulls lost. Their piss poor offense on a few occasions is the culprit here. Having said that, there is no excuse for the referees all looking right in Blatt's direction and "missing" this guy walking right into the field of play flailing for a timeout. I'm sorry, I cannot buy that they didn't see this.

[King_B_Mack]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

I'm just saying that come playoff time I expected this group to come together and be better. They just haven't, not in either series. I had this team going to the finals before Love even went out, I expected them to be better than this.

And yes I do expect up and downs from those guys. But that's the beauty of having depth and a top level defense. Their defense hasn't stepped up the way I expected it too when these games actually mean something. When I expected 110% against a LeBron team, like the Bulls usually show.

I think they have had the best opportunity you could ask for and haven't capitalized as well as they should. Hell it took a banker 35 footer just to not be down 3-1 right now. I think they are underachieving..

And of course context matters.. But you don't let Delly, Jones, Shump outplay these guys who have been here before in critical moments of playoff games. That's my point, they leave these guys open they are letting THOSE guys beat them. Just like they let average guys on Milwaukee beat them at times. (No offense Bucks fans).

At some point they need to step up and play like the better team. You can't be losing a games when LeBron is "off" and expect for it not to catch up with you when he eventually gets it going. Not when you are supposed to be a contender. Not with Love gone and Kyrie hobbling.


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You know that game was tied right before Rose hit the buzzer beater right? You know that statement could easily be reversed right now if that's how it is? It took a jumper falling out of bounds from the wing just for Cleveland to not be down 3-1 right now.

[cima]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

I haven't seen LeBron defended this well since Bowen and the Spurs in the 07 Finals. Of course my memory doesn't serve me too well on how much that was Bowen 1 on 1 vs. Spurs team defense.

Jimmy Butler is at least top 3 of all-time in defending LeBron 1-on-1. I'm extremely impressed with his defensive ability.

[23]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

Then Pippen would've eaten LeBron alive let alone Rodman.

[The 24th Letter]

Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

If the refs really wanted to screw the Bulls they could've held their whistle on that charge call honestly, Cavs could've ran the clock out easy ....

As far as Jimmy, he's doing as good on LeBron as anyone I've seen....making him work for every thing.....I think people out too much emphasis on Bron's percentages though....he's doing what he needs to do to contribute...whether that be rebounding or assisting...that's what great players are supposed to do....but Jimmy is all over the place....even when he loses Bron he's swooping in from behind to contest...

[redsrule]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

Then Pippen would've eaten LeBron alive let alone Rodman.

What does that have to do with anything?

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[lilteapot]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

Why Kawhi can get credit for playing good defense on LeBron, but he's "off" against Jimmy Butler? Jimmy is making that dude earn every basket he's gotten in this series. There's a little more to why LeBron is playing like he's playing than "LeBron is off this series."

Anyway, got to watch the game this morning and officiating is not the reason the Bulls lost. Their piss poor offense on a few occasions is the culprit here. Having said that, there is no excuse for the referees all looking right in Blatt's direction and "missing" this guy walking right into the field of play flailing for a timeout. I'm sorry, I cannot buy that they didn't see this.

It's because Lebron's missed some good, wide open jump shots. He's shot terribly from three all playoffs long so while Jimmy is doing a great job on him, Lebron is clearly off.

[ojandpizza]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

Why Kawhi can get credit for playing good defense on LeBron, but he's "off" against Jimmy Butler? Jimmy is making that dude earn every basket he's gotten in this series. There's a little more to why LeBron is playing like he's playing than "LeBron is off this series."



Anyway, got to watch the game this morning and officiating is not the reason the Bulls lost. Their piss poor offense on a few occasions is the culprit here. Having said that, there is no excuse for the referees all looking right in Blatt's direction and "missing" this guy walking right into the field of play flailing for a timeout. I'm sorry, I cannot buy that they didn't see this.

Jimmy has been great on LeBron but the help D has been atrocious. He's missed a lot of good looks, nothing to which is putting Jimmy at fault. But he is definitely off, he didn't shoot even close to this poorly despite Kawhi's finals MVP defense on him. You are getting too bent out of shape about this stuff man, it's nothing personal like we are attacking Jimmy.


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[ojandpizza]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

Then Pippen would've eaten LeBron alive let alone Rodman.

Pippen spent half his career struggling with bigger guys, LeBron would do him the same way he does Paul George, just abuse him in the post..

Frankly guys like Jordan, Kobe, LeBron, etc cannot be guarded 1 on 1 anyways. Zone defense being allowed is a HUGE benefit to teams defending LeBron.. You have 3 guys camping behind your first line of defense.. Previous eras he would have waltzed his way straight to the rim like Jordan, Nique, Gervin, etc.

Rodman I think would do a fantastic job.. But let's be realistic, nobody would "eat him alive".


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[ojandpizza]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

You know that game was tied right before Rose hit the buzzer beater right? You know that statement could easily be reversed right now if that's how it is? It took a jumper falling out of bounds from the wing just for Cleveland to not be down 3-1 right now.

Obviously......

My point is, with how poorly Cleveland was playing those games shouldn't have been tied in the first place.


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[JODYE]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

Pippen spent half his career struggling with bigger guys, LeBron would do him the same way he does Paul George, just abuse him in the post..

No...just all the way no.

This is also implying that LeBron has a great post game, and even more so...just no. Just compared Paul George to Scottie Pippen.

But jesus, let's not derail another thread with Jordan/Pippen talk.

[ojandpizza]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

No...just all the way no.



This is also implying that LeBron has a great post game, and even more so...just no. Just compared Paul George to Scottie Pippen.



But jesus, let's not derail another thread with Jordan/Pippen talk.

LeBron was leading the league in scoring percentage on post ups.

I never compared Pippen to Paul George


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[JODYE]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

LeBron was leading the league in scoring percentage on post ups.

I never compared Pippen to Paul George


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You just said he would do him the same way he does Paul George? Is that not an implied comparison?

Only 8% of LeBron's possessions were him posting up. I'd hardly call that a ringing endorsement especially when he was turning the ball over 1 out of every 6 times he would touch it there. His scoring percentage wasn't anywhere near the top of the league either. Not sure where you are getting that from.

[ojandpizza]

Re: Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

I wasn't talking about this season in particular. But more with Miami when he was posting.. He would be struggling this year with any great defender on him. He doesn't have a guard on his team capable of even getting him the ball inside, he's basically playing point guard and taking lots of bad long jumpers.

And yeah I think he would have. Them and any other small forward he had a massive strength advantage over. Pippen was never great against guys who could move him around with their bodies, especially earlier on in his career.


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