re: The Cavs PnR Problem

quote:

---

They've played a variety of different units(not just "bench "units) attempting to counter and steamrolled. No one thinks they're going to put up 72% against the Warriors. But the fact they've been able to do that in over 10 games all against playoff teams shows it's a very, very legit unit.

---

Very, very legit is where I wholeheartedly disagree. It's a unit that's members caught a hot streak against subpar playoff competition, most lacking depth and hasn't been tested. Before the hot streak it was borderline terrible. 10 games doesn't erase all other context.

It's like looking at a week of rainfall in Southern California and proclaiming California is as wet as Seattle. You can't ignore the collective total of the information we have and just declare a unit is legit because of a small sample size like that. If more info supported this units capabilities I would be willing to buy in stronger, like for instance the large evidence we have about Love and Kyrie defensively, but I just look at individual matchups and likely lineups and don't see where CLE is given an advantage when contrasting with how GS will match. GS just has the stronger bench unit and they provide better versatility and supporting strength when mixed in or on their own IMO.

Lebron plays with the 2nd unit now.

I think the point 13 keeps making is that you keep talking about how bad the 2nd unit was, but it wasn't this 2nd unit.

quote:

---

You keep a body on Frye, and sag off Lebron to guard the paint and dare him to beat you with a jumpshot. Shumpert is basically like giving the Warriors the go ahead and defend 4 on 5 and on the other side of the field the Warriors can kill the Cavs in the PnR or attack Frye.

---

We are talking about Cavs second unit v Warriors second unit.

Shumpert is shooting 48% from the field, and 47% from 3 in the playoffs. You can't just give NBA players in the playoffs a free pass to get hot, not that I think Kerr would even do that game plan, Hawks tried playing 4 on 5 and it backfired, I think TOR tried in game 1 as well. We already know what he can do on defense.

The biggest issue with guarding Frye on the perimeter is his ability to shoot over anyone, coupled with a quick release. There is a ton of screen action involved with him to keep a body off of him, coupled with RJ going back door, Festus might have his hands full. Frye is slightly better with PnR defense than Love and he isnt soft in the post. He isn't afraid to let someone know he is in the post.

None of this is at all a big deal, the Warriors didn't win 73 games for nothing, Kerr will adjust his second unit IF they give him fits. The Cavs second unit probably wont be as much a deciding factor as Kyrie and Love's play will be. It's just awful for you to discount that units ability as a second unit because you have an opinion that their opponents were just terrible.

quote:

---

It's just awful for you to discount that units ability as a second unit because you have an opinion that their opponents were just terrible.

---

quote:

---

Have you watched that line up at all? You first need a body of contesting a 6-10 long Frye. Ezeli? Cool, there goes your rim protection. Sagging off LeBron doesn't work since he's playing off ball. Shumps biggest asset offensively is in transition. But he's hitting the 3 at a decent clip and moving the ball well. He's not fricking Robinson out there. Id bet JR gets some run in that spot as well.

PnR to death?? With who out of the Warriors 2nd unit?? Which goes back to my point about forcing some players to play some abnormal minutes. With fatigue and looming injuries that can be a factor.

Even then it's a very long active unit that's been forcing a lot of turnovers. We haven't even discussed transition points yet.

---

You were saying?

quote:

---

You were correct regarding the second team units; although, I thought Love played decent defense.

---

I was surprisingly fairly impressed with him. If he can keep that up maybe he can prove all the experts wrong and not get relegated to less then 20 minutes as this series goes on.

For as bad a match up as the warriors are for him on paper, I thought he did surprisingly well defensively.

quote:

---

For as bad a match up as the warriors are for him on paper, I thought he did surprisingly well defensively.

---

I think it was similar to our previous conversation regarding Waiters. Not a particularly good defender, BUT has enough ability that with maximum effort he can be serviceable. Hopefully he'll keep that up.

quote:

---

I'm not sure why Delly got more minutes than Frye.

---

Because Kerr countered him with Draymond like every time. Frye's largely unplayable in this series unless Kerr puts Mo Buckets on him. He's so bad defensively.

quote:

---

Because Kerr countered him with Draymond like every time. Frye's largely unplayable in this series unless Kerr puts Mo Buckets on him. He's so bad defensively.

---

Frye's defensive statistics have been pretty good since the trade. And at least he can something offensively to the table. Delly was -19 in 11 minutes tonight.