Relive the Cavs’ 2016 championship run with Believeland 2.0!

Image from ESPN.

It’s undeniable that the Cleveland Cavaliers’ rise to the 2016 NBA championship was awe-inspiring and historic. The Cavs entered the 2015-2016 season with a lot of questions and mounting pressure. They let go of David Blatt midway through their campaign, endured Kevin Love trade rumors, and, of course, had to live through the kind of media scrutiny that can only come with having LeBron James on the squad.

Still, they finished the regular season as the top Eastern Conference team, sweeping the Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks in the first two rounds of the 2016 NBA Playoffs before disposing of a game Toronto Raptors team in six ECF contests.

The 2016 #NBAFinals just got very interesting!

It's a series. Make no mistake about that.
(Image from CBS Sports)

Game 4 may just be the series.

After notching an emphatic win in Game 3, the Cleveland Cavaliers look like they’re right back in the thick of the fight against defending champion Golden State. The Warriors looked mighty fine and invulnerable after big home wins in Games 1-2, but they fell flat on their faces in Game 3. Suddenly, the Dubs are in danger of losing their luster and their control of this series, which is why Game 4 is going to be huge. I have a feeling whoever wins Game 4 wins the whole thing. If the Cavs win, their confidence will shoot up like rockets, and I wouldn’t put it past them to upset GSW at Oracle Arena in Game 5. On the other hand, if the Warriors prevail, I think they’ll finish it at home.

#NBAFinals2016: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors

Will their rematch produce the same result?
(Image from: cleveland.com)

Season Series:  Warriors 2-0

How the CAVS got here: The Cavs had an easier path to the Finals. They won their first 10 playoff games before losing 2 straight versus the tough and resilient Toronto Raptors. They were barely tested during the first two rounds as they swept Detroit and Atlanta while cruising to a 12-2 mark with 9 of their wins coming in double digits. 

How the CAVS will win: The Cavs are actually a decent three-point shooting team. They were 2nd during the regular season in threes made while being top 5 in shooting percentage. During the playoffs, the Cavs have overtaken the Warriors in the three-point shooting department because guys like JR Smith and Channing Frye have been deadly from long distance. Actually, even LBJ is shooting better during the playoffs. Aside from threes, the Cavs also thrive running in transition and they utilize Kevin Love's ability to throw a wonderful outlet pass to the wing players. On defense, the Cavs are one of the best teams in the NBA. They finished the regular season 4th best in points allowed while 9th in shooting percentage. 

X-Factor for CAVS: Channing Frye was acquired by Cleveland so that they can play more small ball and adding a tall shooter who can stretch the floor is always a good idea, regardless of how much a defensive liability he is. Anyway, Frye has repaid the Cavs in the playoffs with his red hot shooting from downtown by making 57.8% of his attempts and making 2 threes per game while only logging 15.7 minutes. His presence allows the Cavs to rest or bench Love while not sacrificing too much offensively.   

***

How the DUBS got here: The Warriors endured a tougher route to reach the finals again but that's due to a stronger and more competitive Western conference. They almost lost to OKC after being down 1-3 but they fought back and won in 7 games. During the first 2 rounds, Steph Curry did not play in 6 games while nursing various lower body injuries. Still, the Warriors were pretty good during that span since they went 4-2 without Curry.

How the DUBS will win: It ain't a secret that the Dubs rely on the three-ball because they have the best shooting backcourt in the NBA (and maybe in league history). Aside from the Splash Brothers, they also have others who are capable of hitting long jumpers. Only Bogut and Ezeli are considered non-shooters on this team. Now, the Warriors make a lot of threes because they get a bunch of open looks due to their ball movement and set plays. They are very unselfish and their team assists reflect that. For both regular season and the playoffs, the Warriors led the league in assists. They get good shots often and their spacing allows them to have lanes available for drives to the paint. Moreover, the Dubs continue to lead the NBA in scoring due to their fast-pace and their love for the three.  

X-Factor for DUBS: Harrison Barnes continues to start most of the games ahead of Andre Iguodala. That has allowed Coach Steve Kerr to to play last year’s Finals MVP, Andre Iguodala off the bench. Additionally, Barnes also provides another body with 6 fouls who can try to defend LeBron James. Moreover, Barnes is their 4th best scorer during the playoffs and he is a better shooter than Iggy, so his defender needs to respect his jumper more compared to Iguodala.

***

Key Match-up: Kevin Love vs. Draymond Green. A couple of years ago, Love was considered one of the top PFs. Heck, LBJ asked Cleveland to trade Andrew Wiggins so that he can play with Love. Meanwhile, Draymond Green was just another player. Now, the same cannot be said because Green is definitely a much better player than Love. Green is an excellent playmaker and better defender than Love. Green was an All-Star this season while Love sometimes becomes an afterthought. Cleveland needs K-Love to exert maximum effort, especially on the defensive end and on rebounding. If Green dominates Love on both ends of the floor, then the Cavs have no chance in this series.

What will PROBABLY happen: There will be a lot of threes attempted and a lot of running in transition. The tempo and pace will be fast which favors the Warriors because they have a deeper bench and they have guys who can hit jumpers with their eyes closed. The Dubs will run a lot of pick and rolls/pops that involve Curry to free him up or set up other shooters. As for the Cavs, expect LBJ or Kyrie Irving to pursue isolation plays every now and then. This strategy might work for Kyrie if he is able to get Curry to defend or foul him. The Cavs can also play more small ball now, so that is ideal for LBJ because if the Dubs have no rim protector, LBJ will have no problems attacking the paint where he is virtually unstoppable.

Prediction: The Cavs are healthier and have a stronger bench this season. LBJ is leading the way, as usual, with 24.6 points on 54.6% shooting, to go along with 8.6 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 2.2 steals. James was able to win 2 games on his own last year and he should have enough help to double their win total from last season. Hence, I think the Cavs will win in 6 games to avenge their loss last year and bring the city of Cleveland their first NBA title. Enjoy the Finals! Cavs in 6.

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The 2016 NBA Finals Preview: Varejao wins!

(Image from Fear The Sword)

Only one thing is certain in the 2016 NBA Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors. Anderson Varejao will finally get a championship ring. 

Yes, even if his current team, GSW, loses to his former team, Cleveland. That’s because in an interesting wrinkle, Varejao is the first player in NBA history to play for both NBA Finalists in the same season. He played in 31 games for Cleveland before getting shipped to Portland in February and then eventually landing in GSW. If the Cavs win it all, I expect they’d give one of the most loved big men in franchise history a ring, even if he did finish the season on the other end of the coast.

But now onto more serious stuff. What will the NBA Finals be like and who will win?

#NBA Ten Questions for the 2015-16 Season

The NBA regular season is just one day away from officially beginning. There's a lot of excitement and anticipation for all 30 teams. Here are some burning questions which can be answered during the course of the season. Let the games begin!

Image taken from: Bleacher Report

1. Can the Dubs Repeat?
Winning back-to-back rings is no easy feat in the NBA. Even the mighty San Antonio Spurs have not won consecutive titles. I'm not saying that the Dubs cannot win a second straight ring but it's very difficult especially when opposing teams bring their "A" games against them every night. It also hurts them that Coach Steve Kerr is ailing and his return from a back injury has no timetable. The Warriors could lose a few extra games during Kerr's absence and that could be the difference in deciding home-court advantage in the stacked Western Conference. The Dubs used home-court advantage to its fullest last season as they finished with a 39-2 record at the Oracle Arena during the regular season. GSW can repeat as champs but I'm not banking on that happening.

Hoop Nut VLog Episode 14: The One Where We Sing We Are The Champions

This is our Video Log/Podcast after the Golden Stat Warriors won the 2015 #NBAFinals! 

In Episode 14 of the Hoop Nut Video Log, we talk about the Warriors’ amazing run in the 2015 NBA Finals, the Finals MVP, the future of the Dubs and the Cavs, and all the hate on LeBron James.

#NBAFinals: Help Wanted

No man is an island.
(Image by: Associated Press)

If you're reading this post, chances are, you watched most (if not all) of the 2015 NBA Finals. If that's the case, then you saw with your own two eyes the best player in the NBA. NO, he wasn't on the Golden State Warriors, and NO, he definitely was not the Finals MVP. He played for the losing team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. In most cases, he played alone.

This series went 6 games instead of a sweep for the Warriors. That was a small miracle. The Cavs were up 2-1 early and threatened to take control of the series because of LeBron James. If you are a Warriors' fan or supporter, you were probably worried that the Dubs might actually lose the finals. The series was close because of LBJ!

#NBAFinals: Warriors are Champions again after 40 years!!!

It’s done. Small ball is king of the big man’s game. The Golden State Warriors succeeded in dominating the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 6 of the 2015 NBA Finals to pocket their first NB championship after four decades of frustration. Steph Curry played like the MVP again and, well, his teammate Andre Iguodala, who has been crazy good in this series, was named Finals MVP. 

Game Capsules from The Sports Network:

Golden State 105, Cleveland 97
Cleveland, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - A beaming Stephen Curry raised his arms in the air with both index fingers pointed to the sky. Seconds later, the NBA MVP received a congratulatory handshake from LeBron James. After the final buzzer sounded, NBA Finals MVP Andre Iguodala retrieved the game ball, clenched it tightly against his hip and joyfully began to jump up and down. 

#NBAFinals Roundup: June 15, 2015

One gets the sense that after winning Game 4, the Golden State Warriors just burst a dam open. Now that they’ve won Game 5 and are one away from their first NBA title in 40 years, the Dubs are heavily favored to annex the crown in Game 6. It was a splendid game from the MVP, who just proved to be too good for the Cavs’ depleted and gassed roster. 

The Warriors moved to within one win of the 2015 NBA title.
(image by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Game Capsules from The Sports Network:

Golden State 104, Cleveland 91
Oakland, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Stephen Curry matched LeBron James' long 3- pointer with a step-back rainbow from the right wing to put the Golden State Warriors back in front. Curry knocked down another highlight-reel 3 later in the fourth quarter to put the game away. The NBA MVP finally made his big splash in the NBA Finals. 

#NBAFinals Roundup: June 12, 2015

LeBron James is human, which simply means he cannot go on carrying these hobbled, hampered, and hapless Cavaliers forever. In Game 4, that much was crystal clear, as the Cleveland quintet, despite a strong start, fell by the wayside amidst the Golden State Warriors’ rediscovering their vaunted offensive prowess. 

Klay Thompson and the rest of the Dubs silenced the crowd at the Q to square the series and head back home to Oakland with a 2-2 split in the NBA Finals.
(image by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Game Capsules from The Sports Network:

Golden State 103, Cleveland 82
Cleveland, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - Steve Kerr called a timeout just over two minutes in when his change in the starting lineup didn't provide instant success. Shortly thereafter, the Golden State Warriors found the pace they wanted. And with two of the potentially final three games at rocking Oracle Arena, they've regained the upper hand in the NBA Finals, too. 

Hoop Nut VLog Episode 13: The One Where We’re Drunk on Dellsanity

Our Video Log/Podcast after Matthew Dellavedova OUTPLAYED Steph Curry in Game 3 of the #NBAFinals! 

In Episode 13 of the Hoop Nut Video Log, we talk about the Cleveland Cavaliers’ improbable rise to a 2-1 series lead against the Golden State Warriors on the biggest stage of basketball! Can you say Dellsanity?

#NBAFinals Roundup: June 10, 2015

LeBron James is two wins away from bringing a championship back to the city of Cleveland. It’s been a long time, but now, even after all their tribulations, the goal is within reach. This was made possible by a pulsating Game 3 win by the Cavs over the heavily-favored Golden State Warriors.

LeBron James carried the Cavs to another rousing win in the #NBAFinals.
(image by David Kyle/Getty Images)

Game Capsules from The Sports Network:

Cleveland 96, Golden State 91
Cleveland, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - James has the city halfway from its long-awaited celebration. Don't talk about that championship with Cleveland Cavaliers head coach David Blatt, however.

"Long way to go before we start talking about that," he said. "Everything is still very much wide open."

James was two assists shy from another triple-double, recording 40 points and 12 rebounds, and the Cavaliers held off the Golden State Warriors 96-91 in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.

#NBAFinals Roundup: June 8, 2015

The Cavs won’t have Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving for the rest of the Playoffs, but as long as they have LeBron James, they stand a chance of winning in these 2015 NBA Finals. That much they proved in Game 2 as they took advantage of an off game from league MVP Steph Curry to even the series as they go to Cleveland for Games 3 & 4.

LeBron James is ecstatic after he led the Cavs' huge Game 2 win in the Oracle Arena.
(image by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Game Capsules from The Sports Network:

Cleveland 95, Golden State 93 (OT)
Oakland, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - LeBron James recorded his fifth career NBA Finals triple-double, Matthew Dellavedova sunk a pair of go-ahead free throws with 10.1 seconds remaining in overtime and the Kyrie Irving-less Cavaliers gutted out a 95-93 win over the Golden State Warriors in Game 2 on Sunday night. James finished with 39 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists following his NBA Finals career-high 44-point performance in Game 1. After hitting his foul shots the scrappy Dellavedova, filling in for the injured Irving, then played stupendous defense on Stephen Curry at the other end as he had all night, contesting a tough step-back jumper from the left baseline. 

#NBAFinals Roundup: June 5, 2015

LeBron James played one of the best games of his storied career, but even that wasn’t enough as the Cleveland Cavaliers were outlasted by the Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of the 2015 NBA Finals.

Chef Curry cooked up a storm in Game 1.
(image from Getty Images)

Game Capsules from The Sports Network:

Golden State 108, Cleveland 100 (OT)
Oakland, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Steve Kerr said the Golden State Warriors were lucky to get to overtime, let alone win. LeBron James surpassed his NBA Finals career-high point total and Iman Shumpert's double clutch follow-up jumper at the regulation buzzer barely clanked off the front of the rim. Once the Warriors got to the extra session, the first-year head coach boldly brought out his super-small, scrappy lineup. The Cleveland Cavaliers never had an answer. Stephen Curry had 26 points and the Warriors nearly shut out the Cavaliers in overtime en route to a 108-100 win in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. James, who scored 44 points, drove in for a meaningless layup with 8.9 seconds remaining for the Cavs' only points in the final five minutes. James was unable to end the game in regulation when his step-back left wing jumper over the outstretched arms of Andre Iguodala ricocheted off the back of the iron. It was a similar shot to the game- winning 3-pointer James hit to beat the Warriors in February of 2014. Shumpert tracked down the rebound in the right corner just inside the 3-point line and got his jumper off before the horn, but it was off the mark. The Cavs then went 1-of-9 from the field in overtime and missed 12 of their last 13 shots from the floor overall. Cleveland also lost All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving in the extra session with a re-aggravation to his left knee while attempting to cross over Klay Thompson. Irving missed two games of the conference finals due to the injury. Irving will undergo an MRI Wednesday. Thompson, fully recovered from a concussion in Game 5 of the West finals against the Rockets, posted 21 points and six rebounds for the Warriors, who are in their first NBA Finals since 1975. Iguodala's 15-point effort led a Golden State bench that outscored Cleveland's 34-9. Irving finished with 23 points, seven rebounds, six assists and four steals, Timofey Mozgov tallied 16 points and seven boards and James added eight rebounds and six helpers for the Cavaliers, who swept the Atlanta Hawks to reach the Finals.

Hoop Nut VLog Episode 12: The One Where Dellavedova Wins the NBA Title for Cleveland

After weeks of hibernation, Rolly and I are back with our crazy Video Log/Podcast! 

In Episode 12 of the Hoop Nut Video Log, we talk about none other than the 2015 NBA Finals! We discuss why Matthew Dellavedova is such an important piece of the series and why it will go seven games no matter who wins.

#NBAPlayoffs Roundup: May 27, 2015

After the circus of LeBron’s return, the promise of a championship, the slow start, the slew of transactions, injuries left and right, fourteen playoff games, and four fruitless seasons, the Cleveland Cavaliers are back in the NBA Finals. That’s all that really needs to be said.

An unlikely pairing: JR Smith and LeBron James celebrate their sweep of the 2015 East Finals over the ATL Hawks.
(image from FearTheSword.com)

Game Capsules from The Sports Network:

May 27, 2015:
Cleveland 118, Atlanta 88
Cleveland, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - LeBron James clapped his hands, pumped his fist and jumped up and down with joy on the Cavaliers bench for much of the fourth quarter. He's just four wins away from fulfilling his goal of winning a championship for the title-starved city of Cleveland. James had 23 points, nine rebounds and seven assists and the Cavaliers routed the Atlanta Hawks 118-88 to finish off an Eastern Conference finals sweep on Tuesday night. Cleveland advanced to its first NBA Finals since 2007, when it was swept by the San Antonio Spurs. The city hasn't celebrated a title since the Cleveland Browns won the NFL championship in 1964. The Cavaliers franchise has never won an NBA title. The four-time NBA MVP James, coming off his 37- point, 18-rebound and 13-assists triple-double in an epic Game 3 performance, advanced to his fifth straight NBA Finals. Kyrie Irving returned following a two-game absence due to a lingering knee issue and posted 16 points and five assists in 22 minutes. The sweep allows Irving to rest eight days until the Finals begin next Thursday. Irving scored his first points 38 seconds into the game and James soared in the air for an emphatic dunk from just inside the foul line a few minutes later en route to helping the Cavs race out to a 12-4 lead. Cleveland was never threatened from there and built its margin to as many as 31 in the fourth.

#NBAPlayoffs Roundup: May 25, 2015

Game ball — Matthew Dellavedova, for (unintentionally) taking out Al Horford a game after he (unintentionally) took out Kyle Korver. Well, okay, LeBron James did pretty well, too, posting a jaw-dropping 37-18-13 line on the hapless Hawks to erect an historically insurmountable 3-0 series lead.

LeBron James crumples to the floor in exhaustion after helping the Cavs pull out a hardfought victory in Game 3.
(image by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Game Capsules from The Sports Network:

May 25, 2015:
Cleveland 114, Atlanta 111 (OT)
Cleveland, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - A hobbled LeBron James initially asked to check out of the game in overtime before quickly changing his mind and waving off his substitute. He grimaced slightly after knocking down the go-ahead 3- pointer with under a minute left and was on all fours near midcourt after Shelvin Mack's potentially game-tying 3 clanked off the rim at the buzzer. The battered and bruised Cleveland Cavaliers are a win away from the NBA Finals. A victory on Tuesday could give them some needed rest before then. James had his first triple-double this postseason with 37 points, 18 rebounds and 13 assists and the Cavaliers defeated the Atlanta Hawks 114-111 on Sunday night to take a commanding 3-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference finals. James, who missed his first 10 shots from the field, ended 14-of-37 from the field. His shot to give Cleveland a 112-111 advantage with 36.4 seconds left was his only 3 of the game. Jeff Teague, who posted 30 points, seven assists and six rebounds, drove down the lane and had a step on James at the other end, but James altered the shot and Teague's layup was well off the mark. James banked in a runner with 12.8 ticks on the clock and Mack missed a pair of 3s in the final five seconds. The four-time NBA MVP James favored his right leg more much of the extra session and dropped face down on the court in exhaustion when the horn sounded. Blatt said that James began cramping up in overtime, but stayed in the game because he (James) knew Cleveland couldn't win without him. James didn't find the scoring column until the 8:05 mark of the second quarter and recorded his first field goal just over a minute later.

#NBAPlayoffs Roundup: May 23, 2015

When LeBron James is locked in, there’s hardly anybody on the planet who can stop him. The Hawks saw this first-hand in Game 2 as LBJ bucked the absence of sidekick Kyrie Irving to lead the Cavs’ dominance of ATL.

LeBron James was on full attack mode as the Cavs went up 2-0 heading home for Games 3 & 4.
(image by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Game Capsules from The Sports Network:

May 23, 2015:
Cleveland 94, Atlanta 82
Atlanta, GA (SportsNetwork.com) - A scowling LeBron James high-fived his teammates on the bench after being substituted late in the fourth quarter with a Game 2 win well in hand. Forget about the Big Three, all the Cleveland Cavaliers needed Friday night was the Big One. James finished a rebound shy of a triple-double, recording 30 points and 11 assists, as the Kyrie Irving-less Cavaliers routed the Atlanta Hawks 94-82 to open up a commanding 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals. James was 10-of-22 from the field and when he wasn't invading the paint and attacking the basket, he was finding teammates for open 3-pointers. Eight of his 11 assists led to a Cavaliers triple. James scored 11 of his points in a dominating third quarter where Cleveland outscored Atlanta 30-17 and led by as many as 20. Game 3 is Sunday in Cleveland. Irving sat out Game 2 due to a lingering left knee injury. He sat out Friday's morning shootaround in Atlanta to undergo additional evaluation for tendinitis with head team physician Dr. Richard Parker. He aggravated the injury in Cleveland's 97-89 Game 1 win. Kevin Love, of course, was lost for the playoffs after dislocating his shoulder during Game 4 of the Cavs' first-round series against the Boston Celtics. Cleveland started the game by knocking down 12 of its first 20 shots from beyond the arc and held a 47-39 advantage on the glass.

#NBAPlayoffs Roundup: May 20-21, 2015

Warriors got it done, erasing a 16-point deficit in the blink of an eye en route to beating Houston in their West Finals series. Meanwhile, the Cavs got it done, too, with JR Smith turning on swish mode as Cleveland turned back the Hawks on the road for a 1-0 series lead in the East Finals.

Game Capsules from The Sports Network:

May 20-21, 2015:
Golden State 110, Houston 106
Oakland, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - The Golden State Warriors, known more for their offensive prowess, locked in on the defensive end on two separate occasions Tuesday night en route to a Game 1 win in the Western Conference Finals. Stephen Curry scored 34 points with six rebounds and five assists as the Warriors defeated the resilient Houston Rockets, 110-106, to take the early lead in the best-of-seven series. Shaun Livingston deposited 16 of his playoff career-high 18 in the first half and Draymond Green posted 13 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists for Golden State, which is making its first appearance in the conference finals since 1976. Klay Thompson struggled to 15 points on 6-of-18 shooting -- including 1-of-7 from beyond the arc. The build up coming into this game was Curry, the league MVP, going against James Harden, who finished second in the voting. It lived up to the hype as Harden contributed 28 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists to match Curry's strong performance. Trevor Ariza had 20 points and Josh Smith chipped in 17 points and seven boards for the Rockets, who have lost six straight to the Warriors dating back to last season. Dwight Howard, who played in just two of the four regular season games against Golden State, dealt with a knee injury throughout the evening and finished with seven points and 13 rebounds in just over 26 minutes of action. Game 2 is Thursday at Oracle Arena.

#NBAPlayoffs: 2015 Conference Finals Preview

EASTERN CONFERENCE

It will take more than one guy to slow down LeBron James
(Image by: Getty Images)

(1) Atlanta Hawks vs (2) Cleveland Cavaliers 
Different team but almost the same results for LeBron James when it comes to reaching at least the Conference Finals. For the 5th straight year, LBJ will participate in the Eastern Conference Finals. While LBJ looks stronger than ever, his supporting cast isn't quite as invincible as he is. The Cavs' primary concern is their injury list. They cannot afford to add more bodies to that list. Kevin Love has been out since the 1st Round but the Cavs managed to move along without him. However, if Kyrie Irving misses a game or two (or more), then this series could be over in 4 games and the Hawks would be moving on to the Finals. Atlanta had the regular season series edge at 3-1 and they won those games by displaying balanced scoring from their starters and bench. The Hawks have the deeper team, so expect them to shuffle their lineup often to keep the Cavs off-balanced defensively. At the same time, having fresher legs allow them to run in transition more frequently which favors the Hawks because that could free up Kyle Korver to shoot uncontested threes. However, Korver has somewhat struggled in the postseason (39% now from 49% in the regular season). Still, the Cavs cannot wait for him to get hot because that guy is deadly.