If Cleveland comes back and wins the series, what will the narrative be?

[Boris Badenov]

I wonder whether we will start hearing less about how "the Warriors have revolutionized basketball" and more "teams with no size who rely on the 3 can be contained."

[KGs Knee]

Narrative for me is simple.

Golden State just gave us the biggest choke job ever, with an assist from the league office.

LeBron deserves all the credit he'll receive for his individual play, but this title feels tainted to me. The Green suspension will go down in league infamy as a blemish on the league.

[PhoSita]

I wonder whether we will start hearing less about how "the Warriors have revolutionized basketball" and more "teams with no size who rely on the 3 can be contained."

This,  and also a resurgence of the notion that building a contender ultimately comes down to getting lucky in the lottery and selecting a generational talent. No more, no less.

The Warriors were "light years ahead of the league" but just got beaten by an opponent featuring two number 1 picks and a pretty great number four pick.

[KGs Knee]

I wonder whether we will start hearing less about how "the Warriors have revolutionized basketball" and more "teams with no size who rely on the 3 can be contained."

The new, 'hot' team always revolutionizes the game, until they get beat.

There never has been one surefire, or best, way to assemble a roster, other than to get the best talent. How you come upon that talent, and what positions they play is less important.

Styles of play tend to be cyclical, and really every great style has a weakness that can be exploited by the right team. Then that new team becomes the model for success, until they get beat by someone else who found their weaknesses and exploited them.

Only teams this never really happened to were the old Celtics team from the 60's (they just got old) and the 90's Bulls. No one really ever figured out how to beat either of those teams.

[dannyboy35]

To me, even before this series I felt Lebron is the best player on the nba as well as most valuable to his tam and should have been MVP. I think this was telling. I thoroughly enjoyed his blocks on curry and the jawing between the two. THIS is what is missing from the nba more than anything. You have to let guys at least trash talk. Let fans see the players passion instead of the league sucking the emotion out of the game.

[Moranis]

I wonder whether we will start hearing less about how "the Warriors have revolutionized basketball" and more "teams with no size who rely on the 3 can be contained."

This,  and also a resurgence of the notion that building a contender ultimately comes down to getting lucky in the lottery and selecting a generational talent. No more, no less.

The Warriors were "light years ahead of the league" but just got beaten by an opponent featuring two number 1 picks and a pretty great number four pick.

Below is everyone that played in the finals for the Cavs and their draft position.  A pretty good mix of lottery, mid-1st round, 2nd round, and even some undrafted guys.  Though obviously the 4 best players were all top 5 picks, including the two 1st picks at the top.  The thing is, none of this should be a surprise to anyone.  Talent wins championship and talent is by and large found at the top of the draft, but you can't fill a team with only guys from the top of the draft.  You have to find the right mix and that is what the Cavs have done (some drafted, some traded, and some free agents).

1st - Irving, James
4th - Thompson
5th - Love
8th - Frye
13th - Jefferson
17th - Shumpert
18th - Smith
20th - Jones
2nd Round - Williams, Jones, McRae
Undrafted - Dellavedova, Mozgov

[chambers]

I wonder whether we will start hearing less about how "the Warriors have revolutionized basketball" and more "teams with no size who rely on the 3 can be contained."

This,  and also a resurgence of the notion that building a contender ultimately comes down to getting lucky in the lottery and selecting a generational talent. No more, no less.

The Warriors were "light years ahead of the league" but just got beaten by an opponent featuring two number 1 picks and a pretty great number four pick.

I think he means they revolutionized the league with 3 point shooting and superior scouting drafting with the picks they were given. Like their analytics/scouting/health/basketball learning program is light years ahead.

They certainly revolutionized the 3 point shot and showed that any team can be beaten if you are elite defensive unit and you can shoot well enough.

[chambers]

Well, the narrative for the Lakers title wasn't 'Perkins missing game 7'. It was back to back for the Lakers.

The narrative for this will be:

Lebron James fulfils promise and brings a title to Cleveland with historical come back from 3-1 down.

If you think it's about Draymond Green you're a Lebron hater or too invested in the Warriors regular season. Same with those crapping on about the refs.

Put down the haterade and appreciate that you just watched true NBA history and were treated to an epic finals series. This will be a legendary rivalry for a few more years  at least.

[PhoSita]

I wonder whether we will start hearing less about how "the Warriors have revolutionized basketball" and more "teams with no size who rely on the 3 can be contained."

This,  and also a resurgence of the notion that building a contender ultimately comes down to getting lucky in the lottery and selecting a generational talent. No more, no less.

The Warriors were "light years ahead of the league" but just got beaten by an opponent featuring two number 1 picks and a pretty great number four pick.

Below is everyone that played in the finals for the Cavs and their draft position.  A pretty good mix of lottery, mid-1st round, 2nd round, and even some undrafted guys.  Though obviously the 4 best players were all top 5 picks, including the two 1st picks at the top.  The thing is, none of this should be a surprise to anyone.  Talent wins championship and talent is by and large found at the top of the draft, but you can't fill a team with only guys from the top of the draft.  You have to find the right mix and that is what the Cavs have done (some drafted, some traded, and some free agents).

1st - Irving, James
4th - Thompson
5th - Love
8th - Frye
13th - Jefferson
17th - Shumpert
18th - Smith
20th - Jones
2nd Round - Williams, Jones, McRae
Undrafted - Dellavedova, Mozgov

Eh, I don't think the Cavs have done a particularly great job building a supporting cast.

This series was about the brilliance of James and Irving, with Thompson as the major tertiary contributor.

The next group of contributors featured a guy they got via a number one pick in Kevin Love, a veteran ring chaser signing in Richard Jefferson, and two trade acquisitions in Shumpert and J. R. Smith.  Credit to the Cavs for the Knicks trade, which worked out for them much better than the Love trade.

[MBunge]

The Warriors were "light years ahead of the league" but just got beaten by an opponent featuring two number 1 picks and a pretty great number four pick.

But the main two reasons Golden State lost had nothing to do with talent.

1.  They just flat gave away at least one and probably two games in the Finals.

2.  While not playing perfect defense, Cleveland committed to defending the three and Golden State never adjusted.  Look at that play at the end of Game 7 where Love is defending Curry.  People are rightly giving Love credit for his effort but Curry could have blown by him anytime he wanted and either stopped for a mid-range jumper and likely a foul, put up a floater or drawn in the defense and kicked it out.  Curry did none of that.  He just juked back and forth until he could chuck up a contested three.

Mike

[Moranis]

The Warriors were "light years ahead of the league" but just got beaten by an opponent featuring two number 1 picks and a pretty great number four pick.

But the main two reasons Golden State lost had nothing to do with talent.

1.  They just flat gave away at least one and probably two games in the Finals.

2.  While not playing perfect defense, Cleveland committed to defending the three and Golden State never adjusted.  Look at that play at the end of Game 7 where Love is defending Curry.  People are rightly giving Love credit for his effort but Curry could have blown by him anytime he wanted and either stopped for a mid-range jumper and likely a foul, put up a floater or drawn in the defense and kicked it out.  Curry did none of that.  He just juked back and forth until he could chuck up a contested three.

Mike

because that is all Curry is.  He is not a great ball handler, driver, etc.  He is probably the greatest shooter in league history, but he is not a complete offensive player. 

[PhoSita]

That's true Moranis... when he's playing through a knee injury.

Curry has a fantastic handle and has been one of the best finishers in the league the last two years. He was never the same guy after his knee injury in these playoffs, and that made the Warriors much easier to defend.


Curry shot 68-70% within three feet the last two years, and around 45% between three feet and the three point line. Those are elite numbers.

In the playoffs this year, Steph shot 54% within three feet, and around 40% in the in-between area.  Last year his numbers inside the arc were in line with his regular season numbers.

If you don't believe me, go watch some tape of Curry from the regular season. It's absurd to suggest he's not a complete offensive player.

[chambers]

The Warriors were "light years ahead of the league" but just got beaten by an opponent featuring two number 1 picks and a pretty great number four pick.

But the main two reasons Golden State lost had nothing to do with talent.

1.  They just flat gave away at least one and probably two games in the Finals.

2.  While not playing perfect defense, Cleveland committed to defending the three and Golden State never adjusted.  Look at that play at the end of Game 7 where Love is defending Curry.  People are rightly giving Love credit for his effort but Curry could have blown by him anytime he wanted and either stopped for a mid-range jumper and likely a foul, put up a floater or drawn in the defense and kicked it out.  Curry did none of that.  He just juked back and forth until he could chuck up a contested three.

Mike

because that is all Curry is.  He is not a great ball handler, driver, etc.  He is probably the greatest shooter in league history, but he is not a complete offensive player.

This really couldn't be further from the truth. I can immediately confirm you didn't watch him much at all during the regular season or before his injury this year.
The dude has an absolutely complete offensive game and has arguably the best handle in the league lol.
Triboy tried to suggest that Lilliard was a better player than Curry because Lilliard could drive and Curry couldn't...?
That kind of statement proves you don't watch enough of Curry to make that assessment.

[Moranis]

That's true Moranis... when he's playing through a knee injury.

Curry has a fantastic handle and has been one of the best finishers in the league the last two years. He was never the same guy after his knee injury in these playoffs, and that made the Warriors much easier to defend.

If you don't believe me, go watch some tape of Curry from the regular season. It's absurd to suggest he's not a complete offensive player.

Great is a relative term of course, but I don't put him in the Westbrook/Irving category of ball handler, driver, etc.  He is good ball handler, but part of the reason he is even as good as he is at driving is people get on him to stop the shooting.  Imagine if he had Iverson's ball handling and ability to get to the hole, with his shooting ability.   

Curry is a good passer, but he is always taking risks like that nonsensical behind the back pass at the end of the game last night. 

He is an unbelievable shooter, but he isn't backing guys down, he isn't passing over double teams, he isn't driving it to the hole with conviction and waiting for that hit, etc.  Aside from shooting, what he excels at is using the threat of shooting to create space, but that is all based on his shooting.

I maintain my statement that Curry isn't a complete offensive player.  Greatest shooter in NBA history, but doesn't have the complete offensive game to go with it, and frankly with his small frame, I don't think he will ever develop it.  He is just too small to be the guy that can score among the trees.

[Fafnir]

The narrative will be a mix of "73 wins meant nothing" and "Lebron silenced the critics of his legacy".

Yup.

LeBron played his best at the end. Steph did not, looked worn down from the season/injury/series. Draymond missing game 5 looks so brutal given how well he played in game 7. Amazing game from Green nearly matching what LBJ did, just didn't get enough from Curry or Barnes/Iggy to make it more than a 1 possession game. And Cleveland and Irving hit the biggest shot of the game after a bunch of bad possessions on both sides, that was the game.