2016 Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

[BleacherBum2310]

Re: 2016 Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

Atlanta is a really good team and they finally shot well in a series and the other team just was on a historic run. Also CLE just had too many counters for ATL. This series doesn't say anything about ATL.

also the east wasn't bad they just don't have any title contenders 2-8 depth was actually pretty good this year.

[lilteapot]

Re: 2016 Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

Cleveland shouldn't have too hard of a time with Miami or Toronto. I think they'll beat either team in 6.

I also think they can beat the Spurs in 7, but if it comes down to GS, yeah I wouldn't give them a chance. Don't know if the 3pt shooting is sustainable, and they need to improve their paint defense...also, atlanta got a lot of open looks from the perimeter. Def have a lot of stuff to clean up.

[The 24th Letter]

Re: 2016 Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

Sure they were outmatched but the effort wasn't top quality either.

I don't see how anyone could look at that and deny that many open 3s don't happen by chance.

I didn't say stop but they were just blatantly wide open with no one even running towards the ball far too much.

You know if the Spurs did that Pop would bench the entire starting 5

I'll have to rewatch but it didn't seem like a lack of effort...I think it was half game plan and half the Cavs hitting a historical # of 3's

[lilteapot]

Re: 2016 Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

Lol Kyrie

https://www.instagram.com/p/BFKcauOoC0Y/?taken-by=houseofhighlights&hl=en

[King_B_Mack]

Re: 2016 Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

Congrats to LeBron and the Cavs. They shot the lights out this series. Much as the East has sucked during this stretch, making the conference finals year after year like this is nothing to sneeze at.


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[wco81]

Re: 2016 Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

Lebron and Kyrie talked about going downhill, penetrating and kicking out for wide open 3s.

Hawks apologists said it was Cavs shooting crazy, like all those contested shots by JR Smith in game 2. They note that the Hawks were second in defensive efficiency during the season.

But in game 3, part of the problem was Thompson getting 9 offensive rebounds and the Hawks being too aware of that. When the ball goes up, the Hawks were coming in to try to help clear the glass. In one play, there were 4 Hawks in the paint against just Thompson and he got the rebound and kicked it out for a wide open corner 3.

In many cases, they didn't even try to close out, though they were too far away too.

So Hawks couldn't keep Lebron or Kyrie out of the paint one on one nor could they keep Thompson off the offensive glass.

The Cavs shooters just set up in their favorite spots, didn't even try to move around or pick for each other. Just waited for the ball to be kicked out and rotated to whichever of them were the most open. In most plays there were at least 3 of them, spaced evenly apart so that they could rotate the ball with the defender chasing.

On offense, Teague was invisible and the others just didn't shoot well enough.

[areobee401]

Re: 2016 Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

Congrats to LeBron and the Cavs. They shot the lights out this series. Much as the East has sucked during this stretch, making the conference finals year after year like this is nothing to sneeze at.


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Yep. A trip to the NBA Finals this year would mark six straight for a team featuring LeBron James. Impressive no matter the level of difficulty.

[ojandpizza]

Re: 2016 Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

who also excel at passing the ball

How much Kyrie do you actually watch lol

[cima]

Re: 2016 Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

How much Kyrie do you actually watch lol

Just because he hasn't a lot doesn't mean he's not capable. He's more than capable but he's really good one on one so...

[ojandpizza]

Re: 2016 Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

You didn't say he was capable though, you said he excelled at passing the ball..

No big deal either way, I was being more of a rhetorical troll than actually expecting an answer lol.


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[tonybologna]

Re: 2016 Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

The Cavs are tearing it up right now. I don't think either Toronto or Miami has a chance against them in the Eastern Finals. I would say neither team would take them past 5-6 games. It's going to be the Cavs from the East but with Curry injured the West is going to be interesting to see how it plays out.

If Curry can't get back 80%-100% healthy then I say the winner of the Spurs-Thunder series has a shot at knocking them out of the West. They should still be able to beat Portland even if Curry doesn't play another game in that series.

[Vni]

Re: 2016 Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

No superstars, no championships. Teamball has it's limits.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: 2016 Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

Per Mike Mazzeo on the Twitter

The #Raptors have been outscored by 7.4 points per 100 possessions in the 205 minutes Jonas Valanciunas has sat in the playoffs.

Yikes

[wco81]

Re: 2016 Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

Kevin Love had 20 uncontested 3s in the Hawks series.

[SPTO]

Re: 2016 Eastern Conference Playoffs - 2nd Round Discussion Thread

Per Mike Mazzeo on the Twitter


Yikes

This is exactly why Lowry and DeRozan have to step up and Bismack Biyombo has to rediscover the defensive form he showed for most of this season or else the Raptors are staring elimination in the face. At least with Whiteside out for Game 4 they should be able to penetrate to the basket with some success.