Comments on: Why the Denver Nuggets and Cleveland Cavaliers are the Only Real Title Contenders

By: Red

Red — Wed, 13 May 2009 05:09:05 +0000

Ryan, there is absolutely no way that most of Mo and Delonte’s points have come off the dribble. The vast majority have come from LeBron hitting them in set positions to shoot. Absolutely, positively, no way.

I think you do have to consider who these guys are playing, like Matt pointed out. At least, you have to think the Lakers are legit title contenders. There only issue is they don’t give a sh*t for parts of the games, or whole games at a time, so they’re bound to lose one or two games a series. Its just a matter of if it will doom them vs. the Nugs or Cavs.

Maybe it will, but it wouldn’t shock me if they win it all despite their ways.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Mon, 11 May 2009 14:31:48 +0000

Delonte was 3rd string point guard for the Sonics last season, so of course his production will improve. He’s getting a chance to not only play but play his natural position again.

Mo’s production has gone up only slightly over last season, but his overall shooting percentage is down and his assists are down because of LeBron. Last season with Milwaukee, he was the best 2pt shooter in the NBA. This year, that FG% is down because he is attempting so many 3′s per game. (And you have a point, he’s making 43% of them.)

Most of West and Williams’ points this year have come off the dribble. They are creating their own shots, and that’s the thing that makes the more valuable to the Cavs, not just the fact that they are connecting when LeBron gets them the ball.

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 11 May 2009 12:30:37 +0000

How does that prediction/assesment fit in with the quality of the teams that Denver and Cleveland are playing? Also how do last year’s celtics fit in that model? Because they didn’t look like the best team, but they raised banner 17 last year. They grew, learned and then won.

Matt

By: r.i.p_petrovic

r.i.p_petrovic — Mon, 11 May 2009 06:52:37 +0000

Andrew Bynum = Kwame Brown. No doubt. Feel’s like he’s racking up more errors than minutes.

Absolutely right, the Nuggets have the hunger and consistency to make the finals. I do think it will be a tall order to beat the Lakers, who are terribly struggling to put together a consistent stretch this postseason. Either way, I think either of those teams will give Cleveland a run for their money in the finals. I’m not anti-Lebron, it’s just that if Varejao ever wins a title, I’m throwing myself in front of a train.