Achilles1629 2017 NBA Playoffs Picks

1. This bs everybody calls revenge. Don't get me wrong it's definitely an angle but it works both ways. Obviously the dubs want theirs considering they handed a title over to the cavs last year. You can think it was legit; you can think it was f@xed....I have my opinion on it but it's in the past so who cares! I mean how can you not refer back to the finals last year and not think the dubs won't want that sweet revenge? Well.....there is a flip side to this revenge/motivation crap I keep reading about. The cavs lose one game in the playoffs, they are blowing teams out setting playoff records, lebron is in mvp form, yet as the defending champs....they are underdogs? They are told that last year was all luck and that there is no way it happens again? Hmmmmm. I know if I were in the cleveland locker room hearing about the 12-0 and KD wanting his first and the idea that the dubs are favored because of the revenge piece.....it would piss me off. Folks, if we are gonna talk about revenge as motivation, how bout we speak of pride and wanting to prove ones worth even as the defending champs too. Two way street here.

2. Lebron is chasing his legacy. No way he ever catches my boy Mike but in some ways I feel the media has hinted at the narrative in that we have seen bits and pieces being written right in front of our eyes. Currently, he sits as the nba playoff point leader. He has 3 finals mvps, one more and he reaches elite company. And most of all, he sits at 3-4 in the finals. This guy, not a top 3 finalist for league MVP? How is he doing in the playoffs so far? Lebron wont tell ya but he loves being overlooked. Its HIS motivation. Question? If this league is trying their hardest to paint lebron as MJs partner in the record books( to anyone with a brain that doesnt believe thats happening....wake up) does a sub .500 record in the finals do that justice? Think lebron and the league know this? Hmmmmm. Probably so. Another title this year against the "untouchables" in Golden state would cement his legacy forever. It's close but this year would put him at #2 or #3 all time in my eyes if he gets his 4th. Talk about motivation huh? I wonder if his team knows all this too? Probably. I know kyrie does.

3. KD pays NO DUES WHATSOEVER for screwing OKC over and he wins his first year in dubsville? People want to tell  me he bettered his life and this nonsense. That's funny. Bettered his life? He makes over 40 million a year with salary andendorsements. Bettered his life? How? Because he's in sunshine all day? Ok. KD winning his first year in Golden state....that would be unprecedented in that even lebron TWICE, had to pay his dues that first year in a new uniform. If the dubs win this year, what is the point on this league going forward unless every team in the NBA builds a super team? We have already approached clown show status with these contracts and these teams the cavs and dubs have? Are we to believe that this same cavs team will win another one against the dubs if they dont go back to back? No way folks. So many just think KD swoops in and grabs his first title....with ease. Even in the clown car league knlwn as the NBA, guys earn it. Taking the EASY WAY out and just going onto a 73-9 team your first year and winning it all? Really?! That's the message here?!

4. Lastly, nobody is talking about Mike Brown here. People will point to the sweep of the spurs but kawhi rolled over so it doesn't carry too much weight, the accomplishment that is. Mike Brown....in the finals....against a floor general in lebron who basically coaches that team anyways. Say what you want about lebron but he's a smart dude. Probably the smartest. You can't deny that of you know the game. Sorry .He knows the dubs. He knows what's coming his way. Dubs are 12-0....not much adversity or stress in having to fly on a plane after a loss, sit in a locker room and worry truly about what's beyond the present game. No stress in being able to sit KD a few games in the playoffs. Sign me up! I want to coach! But now, finals, lebron, going against a BETTER cavs team....Mike Brown is gonna coach his a $$ off here? A flip of the switch huh? Hmmmmmm. I mean if brown wins it this year with Kerr on the sidelines and KD getting his year one, what's the point next year? Even though this kerr sideshow is ridiculous, I wonder if people are giving it its due when talking about thos series? Nobody is really talking about this. We may....soon.

To end my dicitation, i say expect nothing and know anything can and will happen. The majority are and will be one step behind. Everything needs to be paid its attention. Those who do that will see the outcome probably before it even happens. Who knows....it could be in process as we speak  Ultimately, we could see a sweep for the dubs to give them their gift in return for last year....an unprecedented 16-0 title year. We could see 7 close games which I hope we do. We could see the cavs win a championship in front of their home crowd in game 6 or we could have a buzzer beater truly end the series. No idea how things will unfold as we approach the outcome. For me, ultimately, every game serves its own opportunity and unlike last year when I placed two futures on the cavs and took games 5, 6 and 7, this one may be a little more tricky. Notecards and bibliography available upon request. Can't wait to get this series started! 

I really like the Durant angle and you are one of the few that pointed that one out.  

GLMK 

I feel the line is just right. Dubs at home are very good and normally have the number around 10 or higher. With the Cavs being the defending champs and with lebron, 7 seems legit. Somebody said in another thread that the line should be higher? How? You have one side with the best player in the world, that same side is the defending champs and they're 11-1. The other side is 12-0 and they lost last year to the other team. Revenge factor should equal more points? Come on, really?!  Again, ANYTHING can happen in each game so looking purely at the line.....I see that as the trap. Maybe the points in every single game will be the way to go, regardless of how high or low people think the line is.....Dubs could win tonite and cover but I bet you the line is basically the same in game 2 if that's happens. Think about it. Now.....if the Cavs win tonite, the line goes down towards Cavs and maybe then, the dubs cover that lower number with real revenge setting in from losing game 1 of THIS YEAR. 

So far...the consensus in this forum is the revenge factor for the dubs. It kind of reminds me of the Super Bowl and the patriots winning all their superbowls by only 3. How did that turn out this year for the ones who SOLELY went off that stat in supporting the falcons? How about the Bama national champ game? People overlooked Kiffin getting bounced yet it was an issue late in the game when the play calling became stagnant? Could we compare that to the mike brown situation? Hmmmmmm. People pick and choose what they want to look at; they do this because it caters to their opinion of things. Gotta see ALL angles. 5 hours and counting and the soap opera begins. 

With such a glaring stat like this....I wonder why you only took the dubs ML? 

You sure do you like to put that pressure on, huh?!  Hopefully I can deliver amigo.

So here we are people! Finally....we get what we all knew was coming immediately after lebron hoisted the trophy last year in June. So many angles, so many superstars.....I'm excited. It's been a trip reading some of the insight in here the last week or so. We keep hearing about revenge, we keep hearing about KD, we keep hearing about the dubs mostly, right? Well.....there are the defending champs too that not many care to give a shot. Many doubters of lebron and the Cavs and many who think the dubs had this thing won the minute they lost 3 in a row. Well.....the dubs went out and bought KD. KD "bettered" his life as so many like to say by coming to dubsville yet in my eyes he pulled a lebron. Funny how not many call KD out for that though.....very interesting. Does the league give KD his ring year one when lebron had to wait twice on year ones to win in Miami and in Cleveland? Or does KD do what everybody else has done.....swallow the pride and wait a year? Lebrons legacy vs the revenge crew huh? Can't wait to see how it unfolds! 

I will start with a first quarter bet here and it will be against the grain. Cavs have to come out on the road playing defense and making their presence felt immediately. If not, it could be an uphill climb! Lebron stinks in game ones as well and I know he and everybody else is fully aware of that. First quarter has to be a good one for those Cavs.....starts with moving the ball and attacking the rim..... The "W" train had some time to rest and refuel but she is up and running full steam. Let's see if we can keep her moving in the right direction during the finals. 

Cavs +3 FIRST QUARTER

GL ALL

An offensive rebound away and we cash. Oh well. I'd bet that 100 times over. It was the correct bet. Moving on. We get it back on he next one. 

50-30 playoffs now