Cavaliers-Bulls...My Prediction...and Yours
by AncientMariner on Apr 16, 2010 4:28 PM CDT
in Cleveland Cavaliers in the News
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PrintOn the eve of the first game of the series with the Bulls, I offer my prediction, for what it is worth, and invite yours as well. It will be interesting to see the various opinions.
I am inclined to give the Bulls more than a small chance to steal at least one game. While it is true that they extended the Celtics to seven games last year, in a thrilling first round series, with Ben Gordon and John Salmons, both of whom have departed, Gordon for Detroit and Salmons for Milwaukee, the "experts" seem to see the Cavs winning easily...even though Chicago finished with an identical 41-41 record to the one they had last year, and even though they battled injuries this year, and survived a ten-game losing streak to rise from the "dead" and to make the post-season. Two of the three Yahoo experts I saw predict a sweep for Cleveland, while one sees the Cavaliers winning in five. And the pick that I saw on NBA.com was also for Cleveland running the table in the first round.
I see Chicago in the position of the ultimate underdog, of whom nothing is expected and, therefore, without the pressure of a favorite. The fact that they have played several "playoff games" down the stretch to make the playoffs gives them the advantage of being battle-tested, and combined with the adrenaline of sneaking in and being denigrated by most media, should have them snarling in defiance, just as Joakim Noah threw down a gauntlet as his team left the court Wednesday in Charlotte, although, truth be told, he was not predicting anything, but challenging his team to "shock the world".
With the Cavaliers trying to work Shaq back in on the fly, and with the rest of the team trying to adjust to LeBron leading the way again after an 11 day absence, I predict...
The Bulls will win one of the two games in Cleveland, and then the teams will split games three and four in Chicago. Then the Cavs will put the hammer down in games five and six and move on to the second round. If I am way off with this prediction, feel free to call me dumber than a box of rocks when the first round is over. I will be prepared to take the heat (and perhaps to play the Heat, as well).
So...Cleveland in six is my guesstimate...and yours is...?
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Depends on what Cavs team shows up. I think it’s a great series for Shaq to get his game legs back without having too muvh pressure, or any at all. The real issue to me is if the role players can step up like they have been when LBJ is out, or will it revert to the stand around and watch Lebron show? If the bench plays with motivation and as well as they have and we know they can, I absolutely think they could sweep the Bulls. As it stands, I think the Bulls will win one game-quite possibly the first game.
If the Cavs play up their ability ...
they will sweep them. I predict LeBron gets the rest of the team focused and playing at a high level. Cavs prove to the rest of the NBA that resistance is futile as they win four straight.
Also, LeBron does a rain dance on Noah’s head and/or Noah breaks his arm trying to block a LBJ monster jam. Oh yeah, Vinny gets fired after an epic fist fight with John Paxson.
I'm Polish...what's your excuse?
I’d put the over-under at 0.5 wins. I think it will either be 4-0 or 4-1. I don’t see the Bulls doing any better than that, Lebron coming back into the team will be seamless. His natural style is to be a distributor early, and in this situation that will be ideal. I don’t see them beating us at the Q, they may take a game when we go to Chicago.
Mike Brown, Hello??!!
This postseason for the Cavs depends upon the moves Mike Brown both makes and doesn’t make. He has the most talent in the league, and now must respond appropriately to the various situations that will arise during the playoff run. If he allows other teams to continually make 3’s, the Cavs will eventually lose…he has enough talent to pick up full court, and to pressure like hell for 48 minutes, but of course, he will not utilize this strategy, although if he did, the Cavs would win by double digits in every game they play…
Mike Brown's defense?
Are you suggesting that the team that has shown the best defensive effort and results this season should change? A coach who has gone to the NBA Finals, NBA East Finals, had the best W/L record the last two years, should change?
I know the Cavs haven’t won the Championship, yet, but I don’t see MB being the problem. So far the problem has been San Antonio in their prime, Boston, in their prime, and Orlando, in the midst of a three point streak. We have changed the make-up f the team each year so we could match-up with anybody. We are now in our Prime. We are the team to beat.
You are correct that we now have the most talent. Lets see if the talent wants a championship.
"Is it normal to wake up in the morning in a sweat because you can't wait to beat another human's guts out?"
Joe Kapp
by lifelongvike on Apr 17, 2010 6:29 AM CDT up reply actions
Need I remind you of last year’s playoff series with the Magic, win they continually exploited matchup problems? And who is responsible for making the necessary changes? The coach!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
it's an ongoing agruement
but we did not have the personel to match-up with Orlando and that was not Brown’s fault. I think he used every combination available to him. Orlando had one too many long athletic shooters that knocked them down when they needed to. We did not match up well with Howard, Lewis and Turkeyglue. We also had problems with Pertus and Lee. Orlando had better overall talent. The least of our problems was Brown IMO.
I'm Polish...what's your excuse?
Case in point…here’s a quote in today’s article about Mike Brown’s philosophy on Derrick Rose…"He’s going to get to the rim," Cavs coach Mike Brown said. "He’s talented, explosive, physically tough and mentally tough. We have to make him kick the ball outside and make their other guys beat us. They are capable because they have a lot good players and they can make you pay."
This is a perfect example of how the Cavs will lose this series if the Bulls continually hit 3’s. Somebody needs to remind LeBrown that one man cannot beat five, so let Rose score 30 points, and clamp down on the others, and I will guarantee you the Cavs will win…but it seems that LeBrown wants to shut down one man, and let the other four dominate…
Wow, you are really wrong on this one
Queston:
Need I remind you of last year’s playoff series with the Magic, win they continually exploited matchup problems? And who is responsible for making the necessary changes?
Answer: Danny Ferry. GM for the Cavs.
He answered the match-up problem with Free Agents Anthony Parker, a 6’6" shooting guard, Jamario Moon, a 6’8" SG/SF defensive specialist, Antoine Jamison, 6"11" power forward that stretches the opposing defense with a 3 point touch, and Shaq, a 7"2" 320LB big man that fills the paint.
Every team in the league has problems with offensive teams that shoot the 3 ball well. The Cavs are one of those teams that shoot the 3-ball and have trouble defending it. If there was a simple defense to stopping the inside and outside game in the NBA every single team would employ it immediately. Our guards are not the quickest. Our Bigs are not the best. Our SF position is the absolute strength of the team. Both offensively and defensively. This is what MB has had to build around. And he only had one season to do it.
Personally I like what he has done.
"Is it normal to wake up in the morning in a sweat because you can't wait to beat another human's guts out?"
Joe Kapp
by lifelongvike on Apr 17, 2010 8:43 AM CDT up reply actions
Not a big MB fan, but when you put it that way...
Kudos to Mr. Ferry
by navycavsfan on Apr 17, 2010 10:03 AM CDT up reply actions
What I want to see:
A series sweep, LeBron scoring 30+ per game, and just for the she-male Joke Noah, LeBron and company dancing before, during, and after every game!
Go Cavs!
(F**K joakim noah)
HD
Founder
BlockONation
Without MJ...
Watch for the Bulls to have that intangible factor…This team build on adversity and has the ability to excel despite the odds….but to win in the playoffs you need a presence in front of the middle of the basket…. should be an interesting series… I predict Cavaliers in six
by labyrinth_522000 on Apr 17, 2010 1:32 PM CDT reply actions
Took me a while
But I say to you sir/madam, a hearty LOL.
O Hai Thar!
Addicted to 4chan/chan4chan. Seeking halp.
chan4chan + Cavaliers basketball > Girls + Smex
I am so slow witted. He had ne going for a short while.
Very well done.
"Is it normal to wake up in the morning in a sweat because you can't wait to beat another human's guts out?"
Joe Kapp
by lifelongvike on Apr 18, 2010 12:14 PM CDT up reply actions
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