NBA Finals 2016 - Notes

Here are some fairly informal notes that I took during last year's NBA Finals.
   
Game 1 NBA Finals 2016

      Q1 The Star Wars music is still oddly appropriate and humorous for the Cavaliers.  That was such a good pass by James.  Love is doing some nice work early on.  James is overpowering Barnes all over the court. Love has been playing really well so far.  Six consecutive final appearances for LeBron. Wow.  What a spin by James. Curry is so smooth.  Isolation Irving is not working, (surprise).  James actually attacked Iguodala.
      Q2 Warriors missed a handful of open cutters… Cleveland’s defense is deteriorating.  James is smothering Curry.  Well played 1st half overall, but there was some poor defense.  

      Q3 James complains about missed calls a lot, semi-rightfully so, but still, it doesn’t help him to get any more calls.  James needs to be able to take on Iguodala for this series to be competitive.  I like the double-teaming of Curry and the James’ bullet pass, Delly alley-oop to Thompson.  

      Q4 I really like Barbosa and Livingston’s games.  Too much hero ball by Cleveland…  Where is the cutting, and the movement?  20 point game.  It is not a coincidence that the movement has stopped and the lead has ballooned.  JVG is now noticing the lack of cutting as well.  There is a complete lack of energy, focus, and desire from Cleveland.  Very surprising given the circumstances.  Without Curry or Thompson showing much offense, the Warriors still handily defeated the Cavaliers… This is worrisome for the Cav’s chances. Thompson is such a good cutter. Meanwhile, Frye is not cutting. 17 to 29 assists lead for Golden State. Game, set, match.

Game 2

      Q1 Quick pace for Cleveland…  Odd given that the Warriors obviously thrive on that…  Giving James more rest early?  Cool.  That running stop by Curry was very impressive.  Wow.  Love rushes his shots fairly often. That was a nice play by Jefferson.  Offensive foul on James?  What?  Dishing James is better than the attacking James typically.  The cut by Shumpert allowed James the drop-step.  Movement creates space for attacking lanes, what a concept.  

      Q2 Cavs are playing pass first basketball, good to see.  The movement just died for Cleveland.  A lot of calls going the Warrior’s way.  JR Smith’s effort is lacking.  

      Q3 Jefferson has put in some key minutes for Cleveland.  Smith with an impressive spin cycle.  GS actually is not moving much either now.  Poor offense on both sides. 16 point spread.  Just go James and Jefferson P&R, what do you have to lose, Cleveland?  Frustration dunk by James after 2 iffy travel violation calls.  Curry barely even needed again… And the Cavs are getting buried.  
      Again the intensity is lacking from Cleveland - with the exception of Delly, he pretty much always seems to give good effort.  Cavs have lost their focus a number of times, they have let a number of passes go through their hands…  It’s the NBA Finals, against one of the best teams of all time and they’re either not focusing because of lack of desire or because of nerves.  Neither option really makes a lot of sense, given their history… Although Cleveland has never won a championship before, so there is that albatross, but still I think that would be a really lame excuse.

      Q4  Great passing by the Warriors.  Good to see one team playing team ball…  Going big now that they are down 27.  Okay. Good to try things, though, honestly I don’t think he has tried enough things yet…  Also, side note, Coach Donovan is a really good coach.  Put in LBJ?  Or just call it?  Now a 31 point lead.  Can every GS player shoot the three?  It’s amazing.  Dahntay Jones is putting some nice effort minutes in.  Iguodala looks slightly gimpy. Cavs have not always brought focus or decent movement for each quarter, much less every minute, or possession.  Each aspect of their game needs to change or similar results will happen in Cleveland.

Game 3

      Q1 Better ball pressure and cutting early on by Cleveland.  Thompson may be one of the best cutters in the NBA.  James just owned Iguodala.  More hand-checking by the Cavs off the ball.  Foul call on Curry is semi-bogus - Fry fouled at the same time.  Irving is attacking well.  Defense leads to offense?  What?  Who knew?        Q2 Barnes and Barbosa are carrying the Warriors.  Kyrie has a lot of energy today.  That passing by the Warriors that possession was amazing.  I concur, James’ jump stop is deadly.  Curry’s problems?  Not attacking, rushing shots, hand checking/holding by the Cavs, his eyes not flicking up, etc.  James with a cut? What?

      Q3 Cleveland back on defense quickly.  I concur, body language is often post-indicative.  James is fading too much.  Leadership if ahead, but splintering if behind.  Varejao has a right to his space.. He flopped, but I still think it’s a charge on James if any call.  Defensive players have just as much right to their space as offensive players. 

      Q4 Cavs being pretty aggressive right now.  Game 4 is key, I would say more important than any game except game 7.  LBJ quarterbacking.  I figured Cleveland would win this one, but not by this much certainly.  24 point spread.  Why is there such a swing?  50+ points in 3 days??  Crazy.  Refs different, and home court advantage, but still.  Cavs look focused.  Might as well pull the starters.. Or not.  Game 4 in two days, up 24, under 6 to go… 2 minutes later they get pulled.  Barbosa’s game is so nice.  Dahntay Jones is still putting in some nice minutes.  31 point lead.  63 point swing.  Wow.  + 20 for rebounds and +5 on TO’s for the Cavaliers. The defensive effort by Cleveland was the difference tonight, the other 3 aspects of the game were actually remarkably similar as the first two games.

Game 4

      Q1 Good job by Love being willing to come off the bench.  Smith is actually play good defense early, which is uncharacteristic for him.  Thompson has been helping the Cavs this series a lot.  Finally a higher scoring game?  Good seal by Love.  Hero ball from Irving… Curry should attack more often like that.  “That’s a push off, but that’s good offense…”  Yes and no…  Love is doing a little better so far.

      Q2 James trips quite a bit.  Good comment on the poor spacing by Cleveland.  The offense is relatively stagnant. LBJ is not attacking to score.  2 points for James through 17+ minutes is inexcusable.  FT shooting is ugly for Cleveland.  Why is James so passive right now?

      Q3 Curry is looking more like his usual self now.  Green is not confident in his shot.  Thompson with a dribble J.  What?  Splash bros are coming alive.  Good energy from Jefferson.  Warriors are on fire.  The Cavs are playing with way less energy.  This is a chippy game.  The cuts are destroying Cleveland.

      Q4 Has James been conserving energy up until this point?  Attack… Wow.  The Cavs are just standing right now.  Put in Jefferson, please.  6 point game, but there is no offense from Cleveland.  James just stood and watched Iguodala get the rebound.  No effort or energy right now.  It’s only game four of the NBA Finals, no big deal…  Jefferson in, spread is now eight.  Warriors not attacking either now.  Cav’s passing is dead.  How can you be a top five team in the NBA, and the best team in the East by miles and not know how to play team basketball?  This is very strange. Movement was back for a possession, a layup resulted in a strange coincidence…

      You are losing by 10 points, James… Keep your head in the game.  I haven’t necessarily noticed a lack of focus from the Cavs it’s just seemingly been a lack of energy and movement.  Which doesn’t make sense given the situation.  Game clincher by Curry - nice give and go play.  Why did Frye play so much at key points?  Odd coaching.  Why are the Cavs padding their stats right now…  Wow, the Warriors had more three pointers made than two pointers.  Also, Barbosa never played, which is strange given that I thought he had been playing pretty well.  Additionally, I’m pretty sure if Barbosa would be on the Cavs’ roster, then he would be playing a fair amount of minutes for them, just saying.

Game 5
      I am uncertain as to what happened to my notes for game 5, consequently no notes for this game.

Game 6

      Q1 Jump rope before game?  Interesting.  Iguodala is starting?  Haha.  New music is kind of needed for the NBA…  Good passing by the Cavs early.  Love out and Jefferson in, wow, things have started out well.  Look to score…  Oh my.  The teams have switched roles.  Good job by the Cavs putting James on Curry defensively.  I believe my stats have Jefferson as the MIP per minute (through 4 games statted).  Have the Cavs cracked the Warriors?  Why is Iguodala coming off of James so easily this game?  Cavs are coming together tonight.  Now they are going to James P&R continually?  What has happened to the Cavs’ coaching staff?  19 point lead in 10 minutes.  The Warriors are very disorganized.

      Q2 Curry’s offense is great.  I would continue to attack Curry.  No Love was good for Cleveland… How weird.  Love is out!  Irving is owning.  What did I say about Iguodala?  Much better P&P by the Cavs. Ball movement is still technically legal, Cavs…  Hands up, Kyrie.  370 consecutive games for Thompson?  Wow. Jones is a good 3 point shooter?  But earlier they said there was no spacing because of his poor shooting... Also said ‘surprising help from Dahntay Jones’...  

      Q3 Haha, Thompson ‘squares’ his shoulders.  I see the GS trainer everywhere. Decent passing.  That LBJ play was crazy good.  Cavs’ are not attacking, iso play now.  

      Q4 What is the point of scantily clad female cheerleaders?  How about scantily clad males?  Weird, huh? Double standard much?  Actually Curry whacked Irving with his arm, with that said, I actually think that a no call would have been good.  Iguodala is standing like a robot (bad back problems, I feel for him).

Game 7

      Q1 Barnes has largely been a liability this series, yet he is still starting... Very odd disconnect from one of the best coaches in the NBA, Steve Kerr.  Warriors don’t look very focused early on.  Good passing so far. Both teams are missing openish cutters.  Barnes is continuing to be a black hole on offense.  Iguodala is still very stiff.  Nice pin down by Varejao.  Lots of air balls for a game 7…

      Q2 Green is looking a lot more confident tonight.  Bad offense this game.  Love is dominating the boards. They finally hit the cutter… And Curry made a layup + 1, surprise.  Curry’s mindset is off.  They hit the cutter, then out to Barbosa for the nice three.  Coincidence?  I’m not certain if I am a tougher grader today or if each team has just been playing more poorly, both offensively and defensively, but so far the grading has been worse than the rest of the series on both sides of the ball, albeit not too significantly, but still certainly enough to be noticeable.  James is making highlight plays.  

      Q3 Urr, Ezeli more?  Why?  Curry runs into Smith and Smith gets called for the foul… To be fair, Curry was in LGP earlier and he was called for the foul also (personally I would say the offensive player is liable in each though, or a no call).  Irving is so gifted and skilled at layups.  The Warriors are too pass happy right now… Which is very hard to do.  
      Q4 Calls are oddly going towards the Cavs, given how the game is in Oakland - still it’s been a pretty well called game overall.  Kyrie’s crossover, wow.  Irving is carrying the team right now.  He can finish easily off of either foot or hand, it’s very impressive.  Good play by the Warriors out of the time out.  The crowd seems extra happy when Barnes scores (possibly because they are surprised).  It’s a wrap.  The Cleveland Cavaliers are the 2016 NBA champions.

Thanks for reading! God bless.