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Post by DERRENMATTS on May 10, 2018 12:00:26 GMT -5
What things about us are different this year vs the team that faced (and got smashed by) Lebron and the Cavs last year?
What gives us hope that there’ll be a better outcome?
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Post by eddietours on May 10, 2018 13:40:46 GMT -5
Hm Stevens , Tatum . Brown steady Al , let's make a steady Diet switch love will end up with Tatum and Brown with Kolver all night , roziesr may have a good series C's in 7
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Post by jmost on May 10, 2018 14:24:11 GMT -5
What comes to mind immediately is that last year we were a one-man team on offense, all Isaiah, all the time. This year we are much more diversified, the ball moves much better, and we have better shooters on the wing. Several guys could be the team's leading scorer in a game. Plus Baynes makes us much tougher inside. And Morris adds another player who can help guard James.
We also go into the series having just played a couple of big mobile guys who are hard to guard: Giannis and Simmons. LeBron is better than both those guys, especially Simmons, who is no threat from the outside, but the experience can only help.
James is another year older, and while the level of his play is as good as ever, for the first time I think I see him showing signs of fatigue. And he doesn't have Kyrie to carry the load for stretches of the game.
I think we make LeBron score 40+ every night to beat us. Don't let his teammates beat us from outside on wide open shots. I have to think that the C's will be more relaxed than vs Philly. They've now clearly exceeded everyone's expectations and have nothing to lose.
I'm not going to say that I think we'll win, but if Jaylen is healthy and everyone plays loose, yet with discipline, we have a fighting chance.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on May 10, 2018 16:41:43 GMT -5
Last year's big men:
Al Horford
Amir Johnson
Kelly Olynyk
Tyler Zeller
Wow, what a pitiful crop of big men (aside from Horford). Baynes, by himself, out produces them.
Last year's wings:
Avery Bradley
Jae Crowder
Jaylen Brown
Gerald Green
Jonas Jerebko
I don't know about you, but getting consistent 20+ points from this year's wing duo of Jaylen and Tatum trumps whatever combo we put out last year. Major upgrade this year.
PG:
IT
Rozier
Smart
Rozier is a complete package that IT was not. Adding in Rozier's defense, and considering IT's hip injury and ball hogging mentality, I think we're better at PG this ECF than last year's ECF.
I think we have a better shot at beating the Cavs this year, than we did last year. We only won 1 game last year -- I think we may be able squeeze 2 games out of this series (crossing fingers for more).
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Post by Roadrunner on May 10, 2018 18:09:57 GMT -5
No weak link in the defensive chain to break.
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Post by eddietours on May 11, 2018 9:40:59 GMT -5
Rozier ECF MVP, i really like our chances
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Post by DERRENMATTS on May 11, 2018 13:01:07 GMT -5
Rozier ECF MVP, i really like our chances Many don’t. But thats ok, thats how we like it. Being underdogs is not anything new. Yeah, they h e the best player on the planet, and until proven otherwise, they are the team to beat. But we’ve been beating odds this whole year, and still no one gives us a shot. It’s a long shot for sure, and if we lose, it won’t be breaking news. But we may surprise many folks. |
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Post by jmost on May 11, 2018 16:11:10 GMT -5
I think the first game is very important, maybe even more than it usually is in a playoff series. The confidence of our guys has to be sky high right now. Winning Game 1, after seeing the Raptors swept, would give them even more confidence.
If you follow sports long enough there always comes a time when the young upstart team upsets the old champs. It often happens when it's least expected. Young guys playing with a "nothing to lose" attitude sometimes play more relaxed than vets who know they don't have many chances left. Getting off to a fast start is our best chance to pull this off.
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Post by Roadrunner on May 11, 2018 18:29:08 GMT -5
I think the first game is very important, maybe even more than it usually is in a playoff series. The confidence of our guys has to be sky high right now. Winning Game 1, after seeing the Raptors swept, would give them even more confidence. If you follow sports long enough there always comes a time when the young upstart team upsets the old champs. It often happens when it's least expected. Young guys playing with a "nothing to lose" attitude sometimes play more relaxed than vets who know they don't have many chances left. Getting off to a fast start is our best chance to pull this off. I guarantee that L James leaves CLE if BOS wins the ECF. |
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Post by DERRENMATTS on May 11, 2018 18:50:42 GMT -5
Plus, we're in a not-so-normal situation. We're the underdogs, but we have homecourt advantage, in the comfort of our home.
Hopefully Brad has figured out a gameplan that'll be effective against the Cavs.
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Post by jmost on May 12, 2018 6:50:36 GMT -5
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Post by eja117 on May 12, 2018 8:08:19 GMT -5
What things about us are different this year vs the team that faced (and got smashed by) Lebron and the Cavs last year? What gives us hope that there’ll be a better outcome? They don't have Kyrie Smart is his best self Jaylen took a huge step forward We have Baynes, Monroe, and Marcus Morris now We have Tatum now Al Horford has taken a step forward Bron and Love aren't getting younger I think Brad is a little better or has the team understanding more |
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Post by eja117 on May 12, 2018 8:10:00 GMT -5
This is just me but I think it would be very very helpful if someone unexpected...Nader, Semi, Yabu.....stepped up and gave some quality minutes. If one of those guys has several games where we say "Wow. Where the heck did THAT come from? I haven't seen that from that guy before" then I think we could win this thing
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Post by jmost on May 12, 2018 8:27:13 GMT -5
Among those three, it would have to be Semi, and it would be D on James and maybe a 3 or two. Beyond that, I don't see it.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on May 12, 2018 11:31:34 GMT -5
What things about us are different this year vs the team that faced (and got smashed by) Lebron and the Cavs last year? What gives us hope that there’ll be a better outcome? They don't have Kyrie Smart is his best self Jaylen took a huge step forward We have Baynes, Monroe, and Marcus Morris now We have Tatum now Al Horford has taken a step forward Bron and Love aren't getting younger I think Brad is a little better or has the team understanding more All valid points. We're leaps and bounds better than last year's ECF roster, even without Kyrie and Gordon, and that's utterly amazing!! |
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