The Cavs are where they need to be, remember they take the regular season to modify their team, and tend to turn it on full throttle during the playoffs... They could have easily have beaten both the Warriors and the Spurs at home, but they lost both games due to execution, they missed wide open shots that they should have hit, and vs the Spurs they got killed from the free throws, 22-11 and this is by one of the least shooting free throw teams in the league... Its safe to say that if the Spurs were to shoot 22 ft to 11 every night, they would never lose..
But lets see what they do in the Cavs house and in the playoffs....
Didn't get a chance to comment on the Cavs after the Warriors game, but I will issue the following...
First, I understand how the season is a marathon not a track meet and how its impossible to bring playoff like itensity towards every game, however that last effort, or lack of it was the worst I've even seen a LeBron James team play.. Oh here were blowouts, thats part of the game, but never have I seen them fall into beta dog mode... Actually they did it vs the Spurs the first time around, but that was after a grueling playoffs vs the Celtics and the Pistons, plus they were young and out gunned...
Next I wonder what was their strategy, all week I been pointing out how you can get to the Warriors by attacking the paint in your half court set, the Cavs tried it and missed their shots i the paint and then practically gave up, after that, there was no cutting, no ball movement other that swinging it around the perimeter and to see them try to swing the ball from the strong to the weak side on a team that is playing small and quick plus the passing lane, makes no sense at all..
This makes me wonder if they have anybody to attack the rim... LeBron seems to have lost a step when it comes to driving in the lane, not counting but off the head, his dunks seem to be way down, this year... Now teams are playing mini zones where they collaps on him in the paint hard, but Irving is not consistent attacking, at least not yet, but what wierd was JR Smith seemed to be the only one getting it..
Now lets get on their defense, the last thing you should allow, when you cannot drive to the basket, especially when the opposition is hitting lights out for outside, is to allow them to dribble penetrate inside the paint... While the Cavs ball handlers were dribbling east and west the Warriors dribbling was north strait to the hoop..
I've noticed the this year how the Cavs been doing this all season, only to seemingly correct it later on... Vs Portland they had a similar type effort and also their other home loss to the Wizards we saw the same lead foot Cavs.. To me players who are to lazy to defend their position, makes the game unteachable, to me losing due to talent or lack of it is one thing, but to lose a games due to lack of effort is inexcusable..
These things are not excuses for them losing, well maybe you could use it for an excuse if they did it once in a while, but to be honest the Cavs have been showing these patterns even in the games they won... And everyone here knows I'm big on detecting patterns, and what we seen vs G.S. can now officially be listed as a problem..
As far as match up goes, I still stick by what you must do, in order to beat the Warriors, note when the Warriors hit the way they were hitting on Monday, no one is going to beat them and if they get up on you big, sticking to the half set mat by the worst thing to do.. But until the Cavs show me more, this year, I don't think its safe to assume that the Cavs have all the parts to match up well vs the Warriors... And even if they did, you still have to question their ability to constantly execute....
Just cut on the Nets Cavs game the CAvs are up big, but I still see the flaws that plagued them vs the Warriors....