Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://www.twitter.com/NBA_NewYork/status/2056208107349405708

Chandler wrote:

NardDogNation wrote:Finals....here we come. Donovan Mitchell is streaky; James Harden is a bum and Mobley/Allen are soft. Knicks in 5!

IMO the key will be neutralizing Mobley/allen. We could dominate there but don’t need to; just don’t let them have field days. And after that don’t let Merrill, wade or strus have all star performances.

Media wants to talk about Mitchell but as you said he’s streaky. I’ll add that’s on offense. On defense he’s pretty reliably underwhelming.

Merrill was instrumental w his shooting and wade and strus had solid defensive assignments on Cade. I don’t think that formula translates to us but we’ll see

Strus does concern me (the rest doesn't). He'll have two good games every series, which is enough to swing one but I think his performance is context-dependent and that the Cavs - as a team- are lacking in that respect. They are soft, are inconsistent with their efforts, 3-point reliant and very vulnerable defensively at the point of attack. Lesser teams have a difficulty in exploiting those advantages but we are much better than anything they've faced.

Jarrett Allen had a quote a couple seasons ago about "not being ready for the bright lights" and I think the same can be said about the Cavs today as a whole. They have so much looming drama off the court that I think it will eventually fracture them from within, when under real pressure: (1)They are already in the second apron and know they can't keep this team together; (2) Harden is an impending free agent and well-established cancer if he doesn't get his way; (3) Mitchell is due for a big dollar extension they can't afford because of the apron...and has also been very non-commital, even if the Cavs can afford it; (4) Jarrett Allen forever being in trade rumors and the likeliest player to get dumped for cap flexibility. Teams with these many questions always end up imploding at some point.

DLeethal wrote:I am a little uneasy with Cleveland tbh. I think in general Knicks fans are feeling too good about this one. They played their best game of the playoffs last night and have a lot of weapons to contain. They are also able to exploit Brunson/KAT on defense much better than Detroit could. I was rooting for Cleveland because I wanted home court, but I think we should be prepared for a real battle and not the easy road many are predicting.

Weapons that are fairly one-dimensional. I think Kenny Atkinson is an elite coach, whose schemes hide some of that but cannot eliminate them. The cornerstone of playoff basketball is to take away what your opponent can do well. The fact they have two sieve defensively in Mitchell and Harden means they are not stopping or even slowing anything down, which is especially bad when you consider that they have to play both big minutes across all their lineups. They are fatally flawed in my opinion and doomed before this series even begins. If we're healthy, I'm not concerned.

martin wrote:NY keeping it classy

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://www.twitter.com/NBA_NewYork/status/2056208107349405708

Quoting 2010 LeBron!?!

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://www.twitter.com/ByTimReynolds/status/2056212812762890614

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://www.twitter.com/statmuse/status/2056202527473799609

Also both teams aren’t at our level of conditioning… both played way to much iso with our double team magic we will force the ball out of there stars hands . … for the Cavs, keep the ball out of Mitchell’s hands and they are toast. James harden is a shell of himself. The Cavs play extremely slow. We have the bigs that will dominate Allen . Cavs don’t Stand a chance !

Knicks in 4 !!

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://www.twitter.com/SixSpurs/status/2056132858675417523

NardDogNation wrote:

Chandler wrote:

NardDogNation wrote:Finals....here we come. Donovan Mitchell is streaky; James Harden is a bum and Mobley/Allen are soft. Knicks in 5!

IMO the key will be neutralizing Mobley/allen. We could dominate there but don’t need to; just don’t let them have field days. And after that don’t let Merrill, wade or strus have all star performances.

Media wants to talk about Mitchell but as you said he’s streaky. I’ll add that’s on offense. On defense he’s pretty reliably underwhelming.

Merrill was instrumental w his shooting and wade and strus had solid defensive assignments on Cade. I don’t think that formula translates to us but we’ll see

Strus does concern me (the rest doesn't). He'll have two good games every series, which is enough to swing one but I think his performance is context-dependent and that the Cavs - as a team- are lacking in that respect. They are soft, are inconsistent with their efforts, 3-point reliant and very vulnerable defensively at the point of attack. Lesser teams have a difficulty in exploiting those advantages but we are much better than anything they've faced.

Jarrett Allen had a quote a couple seasons ago about "not being ready for the bright lights" and I think the same can be said about the Cavs today as a whole. They have so much looming drama off the court that I think it will eventually fracture them from within, when under real pressure: (1)They are already in the second apron and know they can't keep this team together; (2) Harden is an impending free agent and well-established cancer if he doesn't get his way; (3) Mitchell is due for a big dollar extension they can't afford because of the apron...and has also been very non-commital, even if the Cavs can afford it; (4) Jarrett Allen forever being in trade rumors and the likeliest player to get dumped for cap flexibility. Teams with these many questions always end up imploding at some point.

They survived two game 7's in a row. Thats not imploading. They look "Disinterested", but one can say they look cool?
The issues of free agency, extensions, trade rumors.....all are not relevant now. They are dialed in as best they can.
Knicks are favored and I agree. I expected knicks and Cleveland to have been best in the east all season long and here we are in the ECF's fulfilling the logic. Detroit and Boston defied it and to their credit had great seasons. Pistons and their fans Im sure are a bit dissapointed but that team goes further each of the last two years!

This very well could be our run. OG needs to be his best self and have to hope that hammy holds up. He needs to manhandle Mobley and were him out. I expect this. On defense he is quick enough and long to give Kat some problems. Mobley and Allen are a bit wiser than two years ago. Kat was not here. With Mitch was have size advantage.