SamTheMan67

Why couldn't we have gone down nice and easy and not put up a fight at the end and zs choke job... I wanna cry after bron barely missed that shot

Benedict_Boozer

At first I was pissed that he didn't take it to the rim down 2, but in hindsight I guess it's okay he had the mentality to go for the win on the road and take responsibility for the loss if the shot didn't fall.


Still, tough one to swallow with all Z's bricks from the line.

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Futuristxen:

"This season has been one giant pile of suck. It's been just good enough to keep paying attention. But horrible enough that you were better off if you didn't."

The OUTLAW

I believe that at home you go for the tie on the road you go for the win. I still don't think you make that push in the back call with 1 second left on the clock. That rebound would have been the tying basket.

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One thing a non-conformist can't stand is another non-conformist who doesn't conform to the prevailing standards of non-conformity.

Pioneer10

This was a terrible loss. It's even more agonizing becuase this should have been an easy win. Gooden, Z, and Anderson should have dominated the boards instead the exact opposite happened. I know we have seen a zone before the Lakers through won at as. How about a zone busting lineup of Harris and McInnis or Sasha.

Instead the Cavs are the only team I think I have ever seen who when a player gets hot (Gooden in the third) he get's taken out the rest of the game. He was going right at Odom and could have worn him down on the defensiv end so he wouldn't have been as effective on the offensive end

Very Very frustrating

Benedict_Boozer

Really though Jmac's inability to stop penetration meant he had to be moved off the point for Snow. Silas was not going to bench Jmac for Sasha/Harris, and I knew once that happened we were doomed because Newble/Snow are not going to make deep jumpers consistently and that's who the zone is going to leave open.

Gooden had to be pulled for the same reason, he was getting abused by Odom and it was killing the defense.

What we should have done is used James on Odom. He has the quickness to stay with him off the dribble and we could have brought help when he got in the paint.

Use a lineup of

Snow
Jmac
Harris/Sasha
James
Z

Yes Butler would have an advantage but i'd rather him beat us than Odom time and time again and that zone would have been ineffective with good ball movement.

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Futuristxen:

"This season has been one giant pile of suck. It's been just good enough to keep paying attention. But horrible enough that you were better off if you didn't."

Pioneer10

I disagree we got killed on the glass when either Gooden and Anderson were not in the lineup. While Odom did abuse Gooden initially, in the third it was swithced with Gooden abusing Odom. Also remember it was gooden in the Charlotte who was huge in the fourth and OT. We played right into the Lakers hand instead of using our strenghts against them

Benedict_Boozer

I understand the point your making. I suppose it doesn't matter whether it's leave Gooden in or adjust the backcourt since Silas is always so slow to make adjustments in the first place.

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Futuristxen:

"This season has been one giant pile of suck. It's been just good enough to keep paying attention. But horrible enough that you were better off if you didn't."

Pioneer10

Silas is terrific in terms of motivation etc but when you get outcoached by Rudy T you know you're in trouble. The talent of this team and their easy schedule has masked a lot of this but he needs to settle down on his rotations, etc., etc.

futuristxen

The bottom line is that there was no effort after Kobe went out. The team fell to pieces. The fact that they didn't get blown out is more a testament to the lack of talent on the Lakers team moreso than any statement of relative competitiveness. Everytime it looked like the Cavs might wake up, they went back to sleep.

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Pioneer10

True but we actually came out strong in the third quarter (for a change) with Gooden leading the way. I recall Harris? also playing well in the third. We built up on 8 point lead and then I don't see Gooden again the rest of the night. It doesn't help when you're coach puts guys on the bench who wake up. Gooden has been IMO likely the second best player on the Cavs and he was coming off a big game against Charlotte.

Earlier I had no problem with Silas when he benched Gooden for bonehead move and I admit Gooden and the rest of the Cavs didn't look good in the first half. But then when he plays well without taking dumb shots you take him out? The Lakers deserve big time credit for stepping it up but Silas totally compounded our problems. If energy was the issue play Anderson more instead of the slow moving jump shooting Tractor

The OUTLAW

We came out good on offense in the 3rd but the defense was still a step slow. The Cavs outshot the Lakers but they had way too many fouls and turnovers. Thats where the margin actually came from. Heck the Cavs even hit more 3's than the Lakers eventhought they took way fewer. The problem was the ball security as well as fouls. The Cavs took significantly fewer free throws than the Lakers.

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One thing a non-conformist can't stand is another non-conformist who doesn't conform to the prevailing standards of non-conformity.

Pioneer10

This is when McInnis isn't on with his shot he becomes a huge liablitliy. Lebron's simply gambles too much but mcInnis's effort on D is atrocious. Guys like Atkins and Knight get into the lane at will against him. When guard can get in the lane and they either make the shot, assist, or get fouls on our big guys