CAVS / NETS GAME 6

[bruce8100]

I think the Cavs rebound from the disastrous game 5 and put the Nets away tonight. It seems like all of Cleveland has just turned into Charles Barkley and is ready to stick a fork in the Cavs (literally for Charles). Over a seven game series, it’s nearly impossible to bring you’re ‘A’ game every night. There are going to be games where nothing seems to go right. The great teams know how to shrug these games off and come out and win the next one. I think that’s what we’ll see tonight. Everyone forgets that the same exact thing just happened to Detroit. They laid an egg in game 5, then turned around and finished things off in game 6. It’s not time to panic yet. The Nets still have to beat us two more times in a row to win the series, and I really don’t see that happening.

[KFletch]

I agree with your assessment. Although I am going to be a bit more nervous if they do blow it tonight and we have to take it to Game 7. Plus, I really hate Kidd. He annoys me.

I really hope the CAVS win tonight b/c we have tickets for Game 1 in Detroit for Monday. (or Wed depending on the outcome of today).

[consigliere]

I'll be cheering them on tonight....but I don't expect a win. I will be very surprised if they come away with a win tonight to avoid a Game 7. For some reason, I see TCE starting to creep in here...well not all the way in as I see this going to Game 7, the town ledging all day Saturday and up until gametime on Sunday, and then we pull one out.

[leadpipe]

If the Cavs play horribly tonight, they have a chance. This series has been pretty consistent in the fact that the team that plays horribly is beating the team that's just downright atrocious.

[consigliere]

The key to the Nets, amazingly so, is Mikki "Coolio" Moore.

[Dozen]

The key to the Nets, amazingly so, is Mikki "Coolio" Moore.

I refer to him as the Predator on crack

[pup]

. If LeBron James is the future of the NBA, sign me up for a different professional basketball league, please. Did you see him lick that giant stamperoo and stick it on Game 5? I kept expecting to see him break out his Blackberry while other players were shooting free throws and start texting his friends things like, "What time is the Guts game in my hotel room tonight?" and "Are we hitting Atlantic City before Game 6?" If he doesn't slap up a 42-12-13 tonight in New Jersey, I give up. Show us you care, Bron-Bron. Give us a little taste.

(FOLLOW-UP NOTE: I never heard about LeBron's pregnant girlfriend fainting at halftime of Game 5 before writing the previous paragraph, which explains his seemingly curious performance in the second half ... although it doesn't cover the first half, or the way he played in Game 3. She turned out to be fine, but still, I would have written the previous paragraph differently before we posted it had I known. With that said, I still think he needs to slap up a 42-12-13.)

Bill Simmons

[consigliere]

Can't argue much with Simmons. Over the top some, but I think the basis of the point of Lebron needing to show some urgency for once rings home as 100% true.

We all thought after Lebron was snubbed from the NBA 1st Team he'd come out like gangbusters and throw up 38 or so points.....instead, since that announcement:

Game 3: 5-16, 18/6/12
Game 4: 9-16, 30/9/7
Game 5: 5-14, 20/9/5

So, in that 3-game stretch to shove it up the NBA's ass, he has shot 39% from the field and averaged 22.7 ppg, 8.0 rpg, and 8 apg.

The rebounds and assists production are great.....but the scoring and taking control of games is what we all want to see him do, which he has not done. Time to do that tonight, or we risk the nightmare of playing a Game 7 on Sunday.

[Guest]

Tony,
Have you ever really thought any Cleveland team would win?

[consigliere]

Tony,
Have you ever really thought any Cleveland team would win?

Just keepin it real.

When it comes to the Browns, Bucks, Cavs and Indians I am not afraid to predict a loss.

I just don't expect a win tonight. If they do, then that would be awesome. I ain't cheering any different. But, I see this thing going to Game 7 where I predicted we win (so it ain't all doom and gloom from this corner....although I reserve the right to change this opinion if we get shellacked tonight).

[swerb]

LeBron assertive early. FINALLY.

[consigliere]

LeBron assertive early. FINALLY.

Booyah. Good for us!

[consigliere]

Wow. 32-15 after one. Boys come out ready to play tonight. That is VERY nice to see. Hope they keep it up, still a long way to go.

[swerb]

That was one of the best quarters of Cavalier basketball I've ever seen in my lifetime. Passion, hustle, efficiency at both ends.

It's unthinkable that this is the same team that played like they just didn't care for the first three quarters Wednesday night.

[consigliere]

Wow. Yell unconscious.

[Guest]

When "Keeping It Real" goes terribly wrong.
Chapelle show

[consigliere]

It's called lowering yur expectations so if you do lose, ya don't blow a gasket. Plus, there is this thing called an anti-hex too.

[Guest]

You can say all you want
As long as you keep being wrong, I'm cool with it.

[StewieG]

Gotta keep it going in the second half. I've seen them come out flat way too often after a big first half, and a big lead evaporates in under 5 minutes. This is one time that can't happen.

[consigliere]

Ouch. 4th foul for LeBron. He is sitting the last 6+ minutes of the quarter and likely the beginning of the 4th. Huge 6-8 minutes stretch here for the Cavaliers. Can't let NJ back in!

[jfiling]

LeBron with 4 fouls now? I'm listening to Tait, and he sounds about like I do right now: WTF is LeBron doing picking up 3 fouls in one quarter?

The Cavs have to win this game, and end it now. I don't have a whole lot of confidence that they can step it up for a game 7.

[consigliere]

I am not watching the game, listening to Tait. I think Hughes has taken like 5 straight 20 foot junpshots, no? Can this guy drive to the hoop?

[consigliere]

When "Keeping It Real" goes terribly wrong.
Chapelle show

Way to kill the anti-hex.

[jfiling]

3 point game.

I'm about to throw up again.

[consigliere]

[consigliere]

Wow. This team would be up for a top 3 lottery pick without Lebron. Unreal.

[consigliere]

1 pt game.

26-8 run by Nets.

[jfiling]

I am not watching the game, listening to Tait. I think Hughes has taken like 5 straight 20 foot junpshots, no? Can this guy drive to the hoop?

The killer is that Hughes is apparently too stupid to realize that the expected value of just shooting the damn three pointer is way higher than that 20-footer he gets so excited to take. I'd rather he turn most of those 20-footers into 22-footers, so when they do fall they get the extra point.

And it's a damn one point game.

[consigliere]

Well, folks. We got ourselves a game.

Nice 8 point quarter there guys.

[jfiling]

I'm not sure which is more amazing: an 8 point quarter, or Drew Gooden currently leading all scorers.

[consigliere]

My God are these two teams awful offensively.

[consigliere]

Lebron has not scored since the 1st quarter when he made a backet and one to give us our 27, 28 and 29th points.

[furls]

The Cavs have suddenly reverted back to January form:

Eric Snow gets significant minutes,
Marshall is off the bench,
Hughes is jacking 20 footers,
LeBron appears disinterested.

so, I guess all I have to do now is figure out where I will watch game 7.

[jfiling]

Man, Boobie is going to end up the hero if the Cavs win, seeing as how he seems to be the sparkplug right now.

[consigliere]

If we win, Gibson is the hero.

[consigliere]

Man, Boobie is going to end up the hero if the Cavs win, seeing as how he seems to be the sparkplug right now.

Ha. We were both thinking the same thing.

[jfiling]

I really hope Hughes just stays on the bench the rest of the game. It seems to be quite obvious he doesn't give a damn right now.

[jfiling]

Man, Boobie is going to end up the hero if the Cavs win, seeing as how he seems to be the sparkplug right now.

Ha. We were both thinking the same thing.

Something about "great minds" pops into my head

[StewieG]

So will LeBron show up for more than one quarter in game 7?

[consigliere]

Frank with a bonehead move....sitting Kidd for the first time tonight and the Cavs score 6 unanswered points.

[StewieG]

Say what you will about Mike Brown, but bringing in Jones, Marshall and Gibson (our only 3-point threats) to face the zone has paid off. Would have liked to have seen them at some point in the 3rd quarter, but whatever.

[jfiling]

Nice to see Damon Jones enter the ball game and immediately give up three free throws, nicer to have Kidd miss two of them.

[swerb]

How about Donyell? Been a complete non factor all playoffs. Five threes tonight.

[swerb]

Say what you will about Mike Brown, but bringing in Jones, Marshall and Gibson (our only 3-point threats) to face the zone has paid off. Would have liked to have seen them at some point in the 3rd quarter, but whatever.

Yeah, I was very surprised he didn't do it in that disasterous 3rd quarter.

Sometimes Roker's a little slow ...

Keep missing those FTs Jersey.

[consigliere]

Two key plays of the game:

- When it was 62-60, Boobie drives and makes a key layup preventing the Nets from tying the game

- When it was 64-63, Boobie hits a three and since we have regrouped.

In their furious comeback, the Nets never were able to tie or take the lead.....Boobie's two key shots prevented that.

[StewieG]

Nets are very Cavalier-esque from the line.

[jfiling]

Marshall's production is a pleasant surprise. I might have to revise my Gibson prediction, because Marshall's three-point shooting is carrying the Cavs right now.

[consigliere]

Happy B-Day Donyell.

[StewieG]

I LOVE BOOBIE

[swerb]

Unbelievable production from Gibson and 'Yell off the bench.

Bring on the fucking Pistons.