I've already updated my avatar with the logo of the Warriors. Technically I've not lost the bet yet and even if the Cavs pull something out of a hat, the Warriors are one heck of a team. This avatar will remain in place for one week starting today.
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Cle--
Just courious, is this how you felt last season, when cavs were down, before their historical win of the series?
ClevelandDad posted:I've already updated my avatar with the logo of the Warriors. Technically I've not lost the bet yet and even if the Cavs pull something out of a hat, the Warriors are one heck of a team. This avatar will remain in place for one week starting today.
Fair enough. Thanks.
I was texting with another Cavs fan after the game, trying to talk him down from the ledge. I said, hey, last year started out 2-0 also; it's not over. He said, that was completely different. We were in those games. And you didn't have Durant.
Hard to argue with that.
RoadRunner posted:Cle--
Just courious, is this how you felt last season, when cavs were down, before their historical win of the series?
Yes indeed, I felt the same way last year. I was happy the Cavs won last year but no way did I think they'd win being down 3-1. Now, I can't even watch the games past the first quarter. The only defense I see being played is by the Warriors. I am a hardened fair-weather fan due to decades of losing. It's one thing to lose and another to play like you have no chance.
I thought the Cavs played well last night. They were in it until near the end of third when KD blocked Love, then made an impossible shot over him, and soon after Curry nailed a few 3's.
The Dubs were up 2-0 last year and 3-1 looking to close out the series before the D. Green suspension.....lets wait and see what happens in Cleveland before we start declaring the series over.....
I can't recall seeing as much separation between the top 2 teams and every one behind them in a pro sport in a long time (I'm sure someone will remind me of a pair, but I can't see it easily). I feel like the best 4 players in the NBA...and probably 7 of the top 15 are all on these two teams.
justbaseball posted:I can't recall seeing as much separation between the top 2 teams and every one behind them in a pro sport in a long time (I'm sure someone will remind me of a pair, but I can't see it easily). I feel like the best 4 players in the NBA...and probably 7 of the top 15 are all on these two teams.
Absolutely this, and it's making the game unwatchable. The NBA has a real problem on it's hands with parity (or lack thereof) with these players colluding to create super teams.
Nuke83 posted:justbaseball posted:I can't recall seeing as much separation between the top 2 teams and every one behind them in a pro sport in a long time (I'm sure someone will remind me of a pair, but I can't see it easily). I feel like the best 4 players in the NBA...and probably 7 of the top 15 are all on these two teams.
Absolutely this, and it's making the game unwatchable. The NBA has a real problem on it's hands with parity (or lack thereof) with these players colluding to create super teams.
Nuke, you are 100% right. Absolutely unwatchable. I am an Atlanta Hawks fan, and they are a decent team, but I won't watch it, because I am wasting my allegiance. They have no chance to win.
This will be the first major sport championship that I will not watch a single play of before it mercifully ends. And I love basketball (although I far prefer college basketball to the NBA). I agree, I cannot recall any sport where the fall-off was so dramatic after the top two teams in the league. It's like the whole season and earlier rounds of the playoffs were just exhibition games. Why would a fan of any of the other teams spend time and money on their teams? If David Stern could block the Chris Paul trade to the Lakers fearing competitive imbalance, then Durant should have never been allowed to sign with the Warriors.
I haven't watched a game either. There's no point.
I really enjoy watching Lebron play basketball. I enjoy watching, the very best players in the world play. I don't like seeing the best players in college playing one year and leaving.
This Warrior team might be the best basketball team ever assembled. Especially if you consider the way the game is played these days. They won a record 73 games last year and lost in 7 games in the final. Then they added Kevin Durant to the team. They can afford to have one or two of their best players have a bad game and still win easily. The Cavs can't do that.
So far JR Smith looks out of place in this series on both ends of the court.
Perceptions can differ from reality.
In the last 10 years 7 teams have won the NBA championship
Check out the history of the league. There's as much or more parity now than in any other era of the NBA.
JCG posted:Perceptions can differ from reality.
In the last 10 years 7 teams have won the NBA championship
Check out the history of the league. There's as much or more parity now than in any other era of the NBA.
I dunno, JCG. Since 1999, it has been the Spurs, Lakers or now Warriors in the West, 16 out of 19 years. In the East, it has been the Heat and Cavs 7 straight and 9 of the last 12. Agree that is not more of a problem now than in the past... it has ALWAYS been a problem!
For a 40 year stretch in the East, it was Celtics, Knicks, Bulls with a short Piston run. In the West, the Lakers dominated the 50's, 60's and 80's, with some relief in the '70's.
It has been that way, but I think it has changed more recently.
First time in history that the same two teams played in three consecutive finals. And I would bet it will be four next year. I almost expect Cleveland to figure out a way to get a fourth all star if they don't win it this year. Or maybe a big trade that will make them better.
Interesting comments. I'm watching, mainly because these two teams are so good its worth it to me. But I understand the other point of view.
There have been a few times where as a fan of other teams I thought it was hopeless and lost interest. The Yankees run in the late 1990s/early 2000's would be an example. But more often I have lost interest when my favorite team had no chance - the current Reds.
I lived in the Bay Area for over 30 years. The Warriors were absolutely horrible for most of that time - at one time ESPN magazine ranked them as one of the 3 or 4 worst pro franchises. So I never paid much attention to them for the same reason as above. But Steph Curry brought me back and I do enjoy watching KD play, and even Draymond - and LeBron and Kyrie too in these games.
I liked watching Jeter play in that same vein. Didn't like the Yankees much, but Jeter was worth turning the game on to me. Tom Brady - same.
So I watch. And enjoy.
PGStaff posted:I really enjoy watching Lebron play basketball. I enjoy watching, the very best players in the world play. I don't like seeing the best players in college playing one year and leaving.
This Warrior team might be the best basketball team ever assembled. Especially if you consider the way the game is played these days. They won a record 73 games last year and lost in 7 games in the final. Then they added Kevin Durant to the team. They can afford to have one or two of their best players have a bad game and still win easily. The Cavs can't do that.
So far JR Smith looks out of place in this series on both ends of the court.
"I really enjoy watching Lebron play basketball. I enjoy watching, the very best players in the world play".
Sorry PG, watching Lebron is no longer fun. He whines on every play. Constantly complains to the ref's after they allow him to take as many steps as he chooses when charging the basket.
He is a great player, but acts like is the victim all game long. Hard to watch.
cabbagedad posted:JCG posted:Perceptions can differ from reality.
In the last 10 years 7 teams have won the NBA championship
Check out the history of the league. There's as much or more parity now than in any other era of the NBA.
I dunno, JCG. Since 1999, it has been the Spurs, Lakers or now Warriors in the West, 16 out of 19 years. In the East, it has been the Heat and Cavs 7 straight and 9 of the last 12. Agree that is not more of a problem now than in the past... it has ALWAYS been a problem!
For a 40 year stretch in the East, it was Celtics, Knicks, Bulls with a short Piston run. In the West, the Lakers dominated the 50's, 60's and 80's, with some relief in the '70's.
That's kinda my point. Some people act like Durant going to GSW or Lebron assembling teams Miami and Cleveland is something new and insidious and that the NBA needs to limit free agency in some way to stop them. There have always been dominant players and dominant teams. I spun the numbers a bit, but arguably the current era has more churn among the teams than almost any other time period. At least small market cities like San Antonio and Cleveland are getting their share of championships. In other sports they often hare a hard time competing.
Last night, Kyrie Irving played the best I've ever seen him play. LeBron was LeBron, IOW, he played great. Like everyone in the building and the entire state of Ohio I really thought that the Cavs had game 3 in the bag. But I was totally okay with that, because the Warriors kept competing, and the Cavs had spent so much just getting that one win that I figured they would be gassed on Friday.
Boy was I wrong. KD provided the textbook definition of "stealing a game."
That one is going to leave a mark.
cabbagedad posted:JCG posted:Perceptions can differ from reality.
In the last 10 years 7 teams have won the NBA championship
Check out the history of the league. There's as much or more parity now than in any other era of the NBA.
I dunno, JCG. Since 1999, it has been the Spurs, Lakers or now Warriors in the West, 16 out of 19 years. In the East, it has been the Heat and Cavs 7 straight and 9 of the last 12. Agree that is not more of a problem now than in the past... it has ALWAYS been a problem!
For a 40 year stretch in the East, it was Celtics, Knicks, Bulls with a short Piston run. In the West, the Lakers dominated the 50's, 60's and 80's, with some relief in the '70's.
Also, don't forget in addition to the 50's, 60's and 80's, the Lakers also dominated the period from 2000 - 2010, winning 5 championships and playing in 7 NBA finals during that 11 year span. The constant during that span on the court was Kobe.
The Lakers won 5 championships, and played in 9 championship series in the 12 year "Magic era" from 1980-1991.
From 1999 - 2010, the Lakers(5) and Spurs(4) combined to win 9/12 championships.
So certainly, both GS and CLE have faced each other three in a row, but lets give it another 5 to 7 years, with more championships won be either team to start crowning them as dynasties.
Bumping the logo up.
Dear Kevin Durant's mom, can Kevin play with his friends now?
Wow, she is not gonna let go of being in front of that TV camera with her son.
cabbagedad posted:Dear Kevin Durant's mom, can Kevin play with his friends now?
Wow, she is not gonna let go of being in front of that TV camera with her son.
Yeah - I notice that too. Kind of annoying during the ceremony in particular. But she's a mom - I give moms lots of space. She has put a lot in to her son, thats clear and thats hard not to applaud.
That was a good game last night. LeBron is an amazing player that I have gained a lot more appreciation for over the last 3 years.
justbaseball posted:cabbagedad posted:Dear Kevin Durant's mom, can Kevin play with his friends now?
Wow, she is not gonna let go of being in front of that TV camera with her son.
Yeah - I notice that too. Kind of annoying during the ceremony in particular. But she's a mom - I give moms lots of space. She has put a lot in to her son, thats clear and thats hard not to applaud.
That was a good game last night. LeBron is an amazing player that I have gained a lot more appreciation for over the last 3 years.
Yeah, I've learned to live with excessive mom love, JBB 
But, there was clearly a second motive to grab camera time. And, don't know if you caught it, but at one point KD was trying to take it all in with everyone and she grabbed his face and sorta reprimanded... "look at me!" It was kinda creepy. I haven't seen any of today's talk shows but was wondering if that would be a thing.
