NBA Playoffs: Finals

[Superbone]

Gotta love autocorrect.

It's amazing that it can create a picture like that.

[Sunsfan4life]

I'm rooting for Cleveland, but it would be pretty cool to see Barbosa get a ring.

[Mori Chu]

I feel like a Suns SSOL fan almost has to root for the Warriors here. The Cavs represent 1990s ball: One star who dominates the ball. A gritty defensive team. Not great shooting. A typical center and a bruising PF who can't shoot but gets rebounds and defends. Meanwhile, the Warriors are basically the reincarnation of the SSOL Suns but with the adjustments Mike D was always too stubborn to make (and, arguably, a more talented overall roster). If the Warriors win, everybody will compare it to the Nash Suns and how we showed them the blueprint. If the Cavs win, it's hero ball all over again and we'll have to listen all summer to talk about Lebron's place among the best ever. No thanks.

[Mori Chu]

Warriors get an impressive win in Game 5. It feels like they have figured the Cavs out, and that Lebron and the rest of the Cavs are starting to wear out. he's playing like 45 minutes a game. It's unsustainable, and the sheer talent discrepancy of the Warriors is starting to show through. Cleveland had them on their heels for a few games, but after the Warriors trotted out their smaller lineup in Game 4 and basically shelved Bogut, they have been rolling and unable to be stopped. It doesn't look like Cleveland has another trick up their sleeve to adjust.

[Mori Chu]

https://twitter.com/bengolliver/status/610278107442851840

[Cap]

If the Cavs win, it's hero ball all over again and we'll have to listen all summer to talk about Lebron's place among the best ever. No thanks.

We are going to have to listen to talk about LeBron's place among the best ever, because he has earned it, even if the Cavs lose. If things keep going the way they are, he's going to be the first player in almost a half a century to win the Finals MVP in a losing effort. The other player to do it was Jerry West.

[Furlanfufi]

Leandro played very well on both ends this game. Great to see.

[Flagrant Fowl]

If the Cavs win, it's hero ball all over again and we'll have to listen all summer to talk about Lebron's place among the best ever. No thanks.

We are going to have to listen to talk about LeBron's place among the best ever, because he has earned it, even if the Cavs lose. If things keep going the way they are, he's going to be the first player in almost a half a century to win the Finals MVP in a losing effort. The other player to do it was Jerry West.

I'd give Iggy a solid case to the MVP (GSW wins, presumably) if it weren't for his brain farts at the FT line.

[Superbone]

So, can the Warriors finish the Cavs off in Cleveland?

[Indy]

So, can the Warriors finish the Cavs off in Cleveland?

They can. But they won't.

[Superbone]

So, can the Warriors finish the Cavs off in Cleveland?

They can. But they won't.

Why not? I think they need to. If it comes down to a game 7, anything can happen.

[Indy]

So, can the Warriors finish the Cavs off in Cleveland?

They can. But they won't.

Why not? I think they need to. If it comes down to a game 7, anything can happen.

I think there will be more call for Cleveland and less for the Waariors. If they are able to touch Curry but not Lebron I think the cavs will win that game. And we get a great game 7 and the fans rejoice.

[Gladiator]

If the Cavs win, it's hero ball all over again and we'll have to listen all summer to talk about Lebron's place among the best ever. No thanks.

To be fair to the Cavs, I don't think this is their plan A, B or C but just their best option once Irving and Love went down. But I agree the Warriors are like a deeper, more talented SSOL Suns team and fun to watch.

[Cap]

If the Cavs win, it's hero ball all over again and we'll have to listen all summer to talk about Lebron's place among the best ever. No thanks.

We are going to have to listen to talk about LeBron's place among the best ever, because he has earned it, even if the Cavs lose. If things keep going the way they are, he's going to be the first player in almost a half a century to win the Finals MVP in a losing effort. The other player to do it was Jerry West.

I'd give Iggy a solid case to the MVP (GSW wins, presumably) if it weren't for his brain farts at the FT line.

With all due respect to Iggy (and Steph and Klay), don't be ridiculous. LeBron has been far, far and away the best player in the series, and unless something incredible happens in the remaining game (or two), he is the Finals MVP.

It's gonna be weird if GS wins. When Jerry West won FMVP in a loss, it was just something you read about in the papers the next day. Now that we have the tradition of giving the award to the player on national TV at the conclusion of the series, it's going to be a bizarre, bittersweet ceremony giving it to a player on the losing team.

[Flagrant Fowl]

It's gonna be weird if GS wins. When Jerry West won FMVP in a loss, it was just something you read about in the papers the next day. Now that we have the tradition of giving the award to the player on national TV at the conclusion of the series, it's going to be a bizarre, bittersweet ceremony giving it to a player on the losing team.

You're right, which makes me really want it to happen. I could see them snubbing LeBron for Curry if he has another 35-point game in a blow out, not that I would agree with it. LeBron is currently the best player in the world and is certainly top 10 all-time.

[Mori Chu]

Iguodala for Finals MVP? That's insane. It'll be Curry if anyone on the Warriors. I'd actually really enjoy seeing Lebron get FMVP and the Cavs losing the series. That'd be really interesting from an NBA historical perspective.

[Gladiator]

If you awarded it now, it has to be Lebron. And I think it would take something remarkable in the next game or 2 to change that, even if the Warriors win the next one easily.

[Mori Chu]

I heard The Starters saying today that he probably wouldn't be given Finals MVP if the Cavs didn't even make it a 7-game series. I think that's a good point. For the voters to really consider giving it to a guy on the losing team, I think all of the following would have to happen:

- Cavs push it to a 7th game, but lose in Game 7
- Lebron has a monster game in both Game 6 and Game 7
- Curry doesn't particularly have a monster game (30+) in either game
- Warriors barely win Game 7 by a narrow margin

[Cap]

Curry's going to make the FMVP race interesting if he keeps this up.

[Cap]

After 1q, Curry has 9 pts, 3 ast, 1 reb, 2 stl, and, most importantly, +13.