0 comments by Sean Woodley on 6/13/2015
Golden State was let down mightily by its role players in the first three games of the NBA Finals. Harrison Barnes lost his shot, Draymond Green lost his confidence, and Marreese Speights even lost his dignity. With Cleveland successfully managing the might of the Splash Brothers, the drop-off from the Dubs’ typically-stupendous supporting cast was […]
0 comments by Matt Zemek
As a two-day break between Games 4 and 5 allows for at least a partial reset of the 2015 NBA Finals, a specific tension point has emerged for the Cleveland Cavaliers. At the very least, if this tension point existed in previous games, it seems even more urgent now. If Cleveland struggled with shot selection […]
0 comments by Matt Zemek
Best-of-seven becomes best-of-three for the NBA championship this Sunday evening in Oakland. The preliminaries are over: The Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers have probed, prodded and tested each other in four games and two cities. They’ve absorbed each other’s punches, though the Cavs have clearly thrown and landed many more of them. Now comes […]
0 comments by Matt Zemek
It could be that the volatile nature of both public and media opinion on the 2015 NBA Finals is a product of modernity, and more specifically, of the relentless nature of the sports-media news cycle. Each new year, it seems that the pressure to say something strong — and preferably before anyone else says it […]
the Detroit Pistons the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on March 10, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
0 comments by Joe Mags on 6/12/2015
Greg Monroe is 25 years old, which is surprising, considering it feels like 25 years since the Joe Dumars regime drafted him No. 7 overall out of Georgetown in the 2010 NBA Draft. After five frustrating, uneventful seasons in Detroit, it seems Monroe will finally get the chance to start fresh somewhere new when camp breaks […]
0 comments by Matt Zemek
The psychology of sports can so easily be overrated and overestimated, leading to simplistic conclusions that wind up being very unfair to coaches and players alike. Kobe Bryant suffered through a terrible Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals, but Pau Gasol and other Los Angeles Laker teammates bailed him out against the Boston Celtics. […]
0 comments by John Cannon
John Cannon chats with Bay Area radio and podcast host Matt Steinmetz about the NBA Finals. Matt lays out a pretty compelling route to victory for the Cavaliers, and John talks about how important the Warriors comeback was in game 3. https://soundcloud.com/crossover-chronicles/cc-the-podcast-john-cannon-with-matt-steinmetz
This guy is one of the foremost reasons why it’s hard to be too critical of David Blatt’s work as the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
0 comments by Joseph Nardone
Matthew Dellavedova has had a pretty wonderful NBA Finals through four games. The undrafted Saint Mary’s guard (in what is now a well-documented story…) has become a household name over the last handful of games because of his defense on Steph Curry. While the league MVP could certainly look inward and blame himself for part […]
0 comments by John Cannon
My favorite part of the 1984 movie “Top Secret” is when Val Kilmer’s character is being introduced to members of the French Resistance. Each of the men have names that are French phrases or foods, like “Escargot,” “Montage,” and “Avant Garde.” When he is introduced to a man named “Deja Vu,” the man squints at […]
0 comments by Matt Zemek on 6/11/2015
As the 2015 NBA Finals become a best-of-three series and move back to Oakland this upcoming Sunday, basketball lovers — who have not been treated to a particularly well-played series, but certainly an endlessly intriguing one — have so many questions to ponder. The next few days leading up to Game 5 will be crammed […]
0 comments by John Cannon
I’m a little surprised that there a new concept floating around in the NBA Finals coverage, and it’s the sudden discovery that the Cavs might be ahead 2 games to 1 because they have several players who’ve been to the Finals before, and one who has dominated it. I’m surprised because I thought everyone covering […]
CLEVELAND, OH – JUNE 09: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives against Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors in the first quarter during Game Three of the 2015 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 9, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
0 comments by John Cannon
Crossover Chronicles writer John Cannon interviews San Francisco Chronicle columnist Bruce Jenkins between Games 3 and 4 of the NBA Finals. Topics range widely, of course, but high points are LeBron, D-Lee, LeBron, Curry, Lebron, Iguodala, Dellavedova, LeBron… and LeBron. Also, why it’s time for the NBA to get rid of jump balls. https://soundcloud.com/crossover-chronicles/bruce-jenkins-6-10-15
Photo by Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
0 comments by Joseph Nardone
Very rarely are offseason transactions about anything other than basketball. Yet, because of their own promises to Dwyane Wade over the last few seasons, that is exactly where the Miami Heat find themselves. According to popular thought, Wade took a pay cut to stay with the Heat to bring LeBron James and crew into the fold. […]
0 comments by Matt Zemek
The Cleveland Cavaliers’ convincing performance in the 2015 NBA Finals is the latest manifestation of a very old story in sports: One team might be really great when playing at its best, but what if the team on the other bench is supremely skilled at preventing opponents from playing their best? Especially when Kyrie Irving […]
0 comments by Joseph Nardone
The offseason has already started for every NBA franchise, sans the two participating in the Finals. Free agency, the NBA draft, severing ties from some players and re-signing others, as well as the development of current inhabitants of their rosters are all part of the process. These are all huge cogs in the wheel, central components […]
