[2007 NBA Finals] Cleveland Cavaliers vs San Antonio Spurs

You guys underestimate the Cavs. This is not the same Cleveland team as even a year ago. These Cavs know how to learn and adapt. People said that Detroit would win in six, judging by last year's standards. But guess who just packed their bags for the year? Yes, the Pistons are a good team, but Cleveland has figured them out and has surpassed them.

The Spurs as well deserve their due, and the Cavs will be tested like never before in a seven game series. But I wouldn't be so quick to write them off. Win or lose, they will learn a lot and come back an even stronger team next year. But I honestly don't think it will even take more than a game or two for them to crack San Antonio.

The Cavs are a strong defensive team, and strong defense very often wins championships. The Spurs on the other hand are the better offensive team, and offense is the hallmark of the Western Conference. But they are going to find out fairly quickly that Cleveland is quite different than Phoenix or Utah. On that front alone, the Cavs are going to give the Spurs some trouble.

As for those who say that Bowen can stop LeBron, check your facts. LeBron is hardly a pushover in the physical department. Just ask the Pistons.

 

Okay, so there will be a Bron Bron slobfest. Too bad it will be all for naught though. Maybe folks will recognize Duncan as the best player of his generation (i.e. post MJ/Dream era) after he gets his 4th ring. As good as Bron is, he isn't going to be the best player on the court this series and the Cavs have NO ONE that can match up with Timmy.

 

People saying this will be an easy Spurs sweep need to give Cleveland a little more respect. If this was Detroit in the Finals, would you still say the same thing? Well the Cavs just proved they're better than Detroit, so what does that say about them?

That said, I still say the Spurs in six, but it wont be as easy as people say.

 

Well at least with LeBron there I would have a reason to catch a game or two. Much rather see the Spurs not win this series but I don't expect that to happen.

 

exactly what i want. cavs are one of the worst finals team in the history of the nba. unbelievably easy road to the conference finals then faced an imploding detroit team. all the while lebron gets slobbed off like cleveland has done something amazing. the best thing that's happened to that franchise isn't king james or daniel gibson, it's the eastern conference. yeah i'm a bitter rockets fan, but so what.

the only team out west that wouldn't have knocked these cavs out in the first round would be the lakers.

i like nothing about the sp*rs getting ring number 4 but i hope they slap cleveland around. i'm gonna give lebron a game so spurs in 5.

 

Great point of view, I totally agree w/ you.

 

Honestly, i think the cavs are going to win. Why? Because,almost everyone thought detroit would have their way with them.
And what happened? Cavs shook everyone. And well also because the cavs are my second team,following the rockets.

Cavaliers can do this. Just watch.
Expect Gibson to have a tough time, but he will do well. I feel it.

KING JAMES, ITS HIS TIME TO SHINE

 

this is regular season thinking. the playoffs are different. yeah, the mavs were a super-swell team in the regular season. they get to the playoffs and fall apart. yeah, the suns roll off big win totals playing up tempo. they get to the playoffs and can't make it work.

 

what's with the hate for Lebron??? is it only because of the media's attention on him???

i find him far more likeable than MJ. he seems to "get it" much earlier in his career than MJ did...that he has to involve his team to win. he doesn't come off like an arrogant ass to me at all. he's very easy to root for.

 

Go Cavs! I will be rooting as hard as possible for Cleveland! I hate those dirty, crybaby, flopping Spurs with all my heart. Those b**tards! I hate them so much. Go Cavs!!!




Prediction: Spurs in 5

 

TEXAS vs. OHIO
-- Again!

 

Probably Spurs in 6.

FYI, if people want to use the Rockets 24-6 record against the East as evidence they would dominate (which they would be 1st or 2nd I'm sure), then consider: the Cavs are 19-11 against the WEST this season (best by an East team). They are also 2-0 against the Spurs. I expect a close game 1, probably a more dominant Spurs win in the 2nd game. Two close wins by the Cavs and one close win by the Spurs in Cleveland. Then SA takes the title back home. I hope I'm wrong. The main problem w/ the Cleveland role players is they basically only play well at home.

For those who've watched Cleveland all season, you know the entire roster half-assed it (ok, maybe not Varejao, that guy is the Energizer bunny) getting to the ECF, Lebron included. That's why it made it so hard for even ME to watch them, knowing they were just waiting to waltz into the playoffs. So maybe that's another reason they're better than all of you expected.

 

Ditto on the Spurs in 6. It's the Cav's record againt the West and their record in the regular season against the Spurs that make me believe it will be a closely fought series. This is probably the worst matchup out of the East that the Spurs could possibly have drawn.

 

Spurs in 6. All the flopping aside, Spurs are simply a better team overall, offensively and defensively.

Top 3 reasons Cleveland will take two -
3. Mike Brown knows the Popovic system, well enough to win 2 in regular season.
However, Popovic will adjust. I would expect him to throw bigger defenders at LeBron late in the games, even Duncan.

2. LeBron James will get the royal treatment that Wade received last year.
Yes, the NBA being in the entertainment business, it's all part of the coronation plan David Stern has laid out.

1. The Spurs(Duncan in particular) will miss critical free throws.
This is the only glaring weakness that the Spurs have. Expect hack-a-Tim late in close games.

 

To think if Yao Ming had been his normal self it could be us and the cavs, just like I predicted!!

 

When I first started reading your #3, I was about to respond in protest of anything giving any semblance of respect to Mike Brown as a reason for winning. That was before I read the second half about Duncan on Lebron. Now I can't decide which statement is more ridiculous.

 

spurs in 4 you can bet your bank accounts on it

 

I like the way you think! The point is people would rather just discredit Detroit rather than give Cleveland any credit. Before the playoffs everyone listed Detroit as a potential candidate (the only one from the East) as a championship contender. Suddenly Detroit loses and now it's overrated. Anyone think they just underestimated Cleveland a little bit? Hell, before this series started everyone thought the Bulls should've been the second seed, and the fact that the Pistons made it beat them soundly (when they shifted gears) they had already disposed of their toughest East rival. People expected Cleveland to get an even worse beating. Wrong.

That said, seeing Cleveland win would be the most shocking sports event for me to witness, because I literally thought I'd never see a Cleveland team win a championship in my lifetime. But I've never doubted the Spurs the whole season and they have that championship mentality to stay the course for 48. The Cavs are still learning, and they got a lesson last year and they've improved on it. But they still need another lesson (and another legit star) to win the big one. I sincerely hope your right and I'm wrong, I would be one of the happiest people on the face of the Earth the moment the buzzer rings if it would come true.

 

or maybe mj just had to go through some much tougher competition. I agree that lebron is likeable, but I don't know if he "gets it" more than mj did.