Nets - Cavs Game 5
You tell me.
I only saw a few minutes of this game. I had a prior engagement that, up until yesterday afternoon, I had thought was right before the game, only to realize it was during the game.
Instead of writing a half-assed column pretending I know everything about Game 5—though I could have told you the “Live and let Larry” defense is golden: 3-17 (!)—I’m opening up the floor to the precious few of you that watched it.
I did leave a message with Ryan about maybe subbing for me on short notice (after all, dude did write the book on LeBron). Even though he has a family and is knee deep in crab apple covered Kentucky bluegrass, he obliged (sort of) earlier this morning.
Here’s his take:
Jake left me a message last night to say that he was going to miss part of the Nets-Cavs game and ask if I could help with the game notes. Problem was, I didn’t get his message until this morning, and I missed part of the Nets-Cavs game, too. However, because Jake is my friend, and because we’re all in this together, I’m going to try to help.
Here’s what I got:
-The Eastern Conference is annoying.
-That was the single worst-played fourth quarter in the history of history.
-Reggie Miller & Dick Stockton are the NBA equivalent of Hoffman and Cruise in Rain Man. I’m not exactly sure how this analogy works, but trust me on it. It cannot be wrong.
-Sasha Pavlovic committing the exact same sort of unnecessarily hard, motivation-fueling foul on Mikki Moore that Mikki Moore committed on him 48 hours earlier is the best possible nutshell explanation of how flawed these two teams are.
-These two teams are really flawed.
-Saying Donyell Marshall did not shoot very well last night is roughly equivalent to saying the Bush administration has been somewhat politically divisive.
-When people talk about momentum killers, they usually imply something Team A does to kill Team B’s momentum. But not enough is said about players who kill their OWN team’s momentum. A prime example of this would be Eric Snow, whose inability to make a wide-open 15-foot jumper — or even come close to making this shot — is the sort of thing my grandkids will tell their grandkids about. Remarkable.
-LeBron’s knee is fine. LeBron will play better in Game 6. I think the Cavs will win Game 6. But I won’t be surprised if they don’t. -In the overall scope of these playoffs, this series will not matter at all.
-I have a lot of new friends in Kentucky.
Good day!
Thanks, Ryan. (After typing “Thanks Ryan”, I know now what Lang felt like for 7 years before Slamonline changed up.)
I should be at game 6 so rest easy fellow Eastern conference supporters.
Until then, add your comments below and anything particularly striking will be added to the post this evening in honor of your awesomeness.
42 Responses to “Nets - Cavs Game 5”
May.17 at 1:53 pm
ikemob22 says:
first
May.17 at 1:53 pm
teis says:
1st
May.17 at 1:54 pm
teis says:
arhh damn.. but the nex won so it’s okay;D
May.17 at 1:56 pm
teis says:
nets”
May.17 at 2:08 pm
neaorin says:
How the heck do you lose to an opponent that only scores six in the 4th quarter?… Jeez. The Cavs came into this game way too confident. I mean, anytime you let someone like Hughes take all the JUMPERS he wants it’s clear to me you aren’t trying very hard to win. If the Nets continue to clog the lane (and it’s likely they will), I hope coach Brown has the decency to at least put Boobie or DJones in there, even though they suck defensively. Just please no more Hughes Js. Anything but Hughes Js.
May.17 at 2:10 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Is it too late to just declare Bulls/Pistons the Eastern Conference Finals and be done with it? No way do I watch another game of this abortion of a series.
May.17 at 2:11 pm
Isaac says:
Be glad you missed most of it.
Call this the no-improvement series. None of the significant contributors on either teams has improved their jumper.
Lebron- still off-balance
Hughes - can’t hold onto the ball
Snow - still as bad as when Father Brown was teaching him
Z- regressed
Gooden - still battling the demons living in his vertebrae patch
Sideshow - perfecting his flagrant fouling, not much else
Kidd - how the dude can make a left-handed oop from half-court but not hit an open jumper is just strange
Carter - a beutiful jumper that rarely goes in
If all you do is play basketball, why do not get better??
May.17 at 2:30 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Thanks for linking to my column, Jake, but you should’ve linked to the amazon link for my book, too. You’ll pay for that oversight.
May.17 at 2:34 pm
Reggie Evans says:
Both teams were on fire on the defensive end.
May.17 at 2:56 pm
dez says:
I think I actually blacked out during that 4th quarter and woke up halfway into the 2nd quarter of Suns/Spurs. Thanks TNT!
May.17 at 3:00 pm
H to the izzo says:
I have a few question regarding this series:
With players starting lke LeBron,Kidd,Hughes,Carter and RJ why isn’t this series better?
Why does Lawerence Frank still have a job in basketball?
Why hasn’t anybody told LeBron that shots have a higher chance of going in when your not fadeing away?
Why hasn’t Lawerence Frank held up a red octaganal sign saying “STOP SHOOTING” on it in Vinces face?
Why are the Nets still in New Jersey?
Will LeBron just buy the Cavs?
Why hasn’t the NBA enforced a mercy rule for boredom and just end this series?
Why do the NBA allow teams from the Eastern Conference to play in the playoffs?
May.17 at 3:06 pm
Rod Strickland says:
That 4th quarter set back basketball 100 years. Larry Hughes couldn’t throw his headband into Lake Erie. Bron coasts too much. Vince is the most frustrating player to watch in NBA history. Oh Yeah, you can all admit it: the East SUCKS w/o Gilbert (and to a lesser extent that Dwyawyawne guy).
May.17 at 3:22 pm
Dennard says:
Neither one of these teams deserve to be allowed to play in the playoffs after this game. Damn, that game turned into the Knicks vs. Heat circa 1998.
May.17 at 3:29 pm
Tariq says:
abortion of a series?
May.17 at 3:31 pm
brad says:
Answers for Izzo:
1. Defense
2. He’s a great coach. How you could ask that after watching that game I don’t know.
3. Nobody tells Lebron anything.
4. Vince hardly shot the ball last night, shot a good % and had 10 dimes. Again, do you watch?
5. Cause they are the New Jersey Nets. Duh.
6. No. He doesn’t have to.
7. The Refs will try to tomorrow.
8. Does Spurs-Jazz sound good to you?
May.17 at 3:36 pm
Dennard says:
The defense in this series hasn’t been that great. I say it’s more of these team’s offensive ineptitude.
May.17 at 3:39 pm
brad says:
Ask Vince and Lebron how the D has been.
May.17 at 3:43 pm
H to the izzo says:
Brad these were questions for the series not just last nights game.
Number five should have read:Why aren’t the Nets in Brooklyn yet?
I just can’t let myself agree with you on number 2-that group of players(excluding the lesser twin tower) should be a much better team -the only reason for them not being a good team id Frank
On No.3:You’re damn right
On No.5:If he wants a team that can shoot and are capable of winning it all he’s probably going to have to pay for it himself.
On No.8 Does Pistons-Cavs sound much better?
May.17 at 3:51 pm
Nate says:
“Why do the NBA allow teams from the Eastern Conference to play in the playoffs?” Because they always win the championship?
May.17 at 3:58 pm
Dennard says:
@brad, we are just going to have to agree to disagree on this one, I have seen more open shots missed in this series, that haven’t had anything to do with defense. Not to take anything away from the players in this series, but the 4th qtr last night highlighted how bad the basketball has been in this series.
May.17 at 4:05 pm
brad says:
I’m thinking Nets-Pistons. And yes
May.17 at 4:09 pm
Eric says:
Lebron James is a fraud.
May.17 at 4:17 pm
Boing Dynasty says:
Anyone catch the press confence after the game? When asked if he was worried about losing the series now, he wend into some speil about how his family is more important than basketball. which is fine, if it wasnt a press confrence concerning the basketball game he just lost.
May.17 at 4:18 pm
Boing Dynasty says:
LBJ = he
May.17 at 4:58 pm
Toney Blare says:
I thought the same thing when I caught that press conference, then I heard his girlfriend was taken out on a stretcher.
May.17 at 4:58 pm
AB_40 says:
4-32 in one quarter man. kobe didn’t even do that and he is the most selfisth player in the leuage. I saw they’re gonna show suns-spurs on friday. I surely do nog hope so they don’t switch it with cavs nets:(
May.17 at 5:55 pm
SAKEPASSE says:
Slamonline Coverpage “Nex Top Model” Lebron Jane is more like a PAUPER instead of a KING. He needs to MAN UP and learn that when you have your opponent against the rope you finish the job a la Mike Tyson circa early 1990’s. That is why I am still not ready to place him before his peers D.Wade (Proven Heart of a Champion) and Melo (Superior offensive player and both are average or subpar defendaders at this point)!!! His comment after the game was very troubling in his leadership development process. He does not fully comprehend that his verbal and more importantly non-verbal communications will more than likely determine the outcome of of his team’s performance in these playoffs game. Take notes ASON KIDD even with no jumper nobody in present NBA possess (sp?) surpassed him in the “WILL YOUR TEAM” leadership attribute…LBJ take note and make that your summer school goal instead of conquering the world with your “GLOBAL ICON” goals while ignoring the plight of the people in Darfur….sorry I digress!!!!!
May.17 at 6:15 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Um, Carmelo hasn’t won an NBA playoff series in his life.
May.17 at 7:26 pm
SAKEPASSE says:
UM, LBJ won a playoff series against the Wizards w/out Caron and Gilbert, my bad Russ.
May.17 at 7:33 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Um, and the Cavs won a playoff series LAST season against the Wizards WITH Caron and Gilbert, and then gave the Pistons all they could handle. In case you forgot.
May.17 at 7:58 pm
SAKEPASSE says:
Um, exactly my point LBJ is supposed to taking the next step from last year’s performance. But so far his performance this year makes me wonder whether he will ever have that “IT” a prerequisite for all superstar champs. In this WEAK East this is the best oppurtunity for him to show and prove with both Melo and Wade hatin from the sideline….so far its a dud that is all….I see a career progression curve along VC more than MJ or even the Mamba.
May.17 at 8:14 pm
brad says:
It is written in the stars that the NBA championship will be decided in the final seconds of the third overtime of game 7 between…the Suns and Nets.
May.17 at 10:11 pm
8-Ball says:
mon this sucks ass that cavs didnt win that game, does jake appleman even get paid,some minimum wage crap,same went with sam rubenstein right,geez hopefully you they get paid, or their income is no better than working in a sweatshop,only difference is that you guys are in new york and the lowlifes,(and you got to admit they are)who make my nikes,live indonesia no offense to the people that pay the interns or the people in indonesia
May.17 at 10:13 pm
8-Ball says:
sry im saying that cuz sam used to be an intern,and ake the intern right now if im not mistaken,and no ones answered my question yet, does max airington work for you?!!!
May.17 at 10:14 pm
8-Ball says:
jake*
May.17 at 10:22 pm
2G40 says:
Russ, Plug Kobe in on either on of these teams and this series is over yesterday.
May.18 at 1:25 am
TC says:
easily one of the worst basketball game I have watched ever……and I only watched the 2nd half. I don’t know what happen to both teams, I remembered VC and LBJ had some great battles last year in the regular season but now I don’t even want to turn on the TV to catch their match-up…….
May.18 at 8:00 am
Drolfe says:
8-Ball seems like a weird dude.
May.18 at 9:51 am
K22C says:
I 2nd that.
May.18 at 1:46 pm
Ben Osborne says:
Jake is not an intern here and Max doesn’t work for us (though we love his comments).
May.19 at 1:22 am
New era says:
That was the worst series played in the history of sports. I rather see the celtics and knicks playing a 7 game series.
May.19 at 11:00 am
2G40 says:
Vince Carter Sucks!