We've got this thing in the bag! Charles Barkley picks the Cavs in 6.

[KamaAina]

http://www.sfgate.com/sports/ostler/article/Barkley-lauds-Curry-and-Co-but-picks-Cleveland-6302975.php

Several of us interrogators were eager to ask TNT’s star NBA analyst if he still clings to his long-held and loudly stated belief that the Warriors can’t win an NBA championship because they are a jump-shooting team.

Barkley has rankled many a Warriors fan. I’m not sure his words have made a dent on the psyche of the Warriors’ players. It would be embarrassing to admit you were motivated by a chatterbox on TV, but who knows?

One columnist on the call asked Barkley about the jump-shooting thing, if he is still doubtful that the Warriors can win the NBA title....

“That being said,” Barkley said, “I still like Cleveland to win the series in six.”

Let the parade begin!

[ProfessorGAC]

1. I Don't See It

I'm never good at this prediction stuff, but after watching the Cavs beat an overrated Hawks team, i didn't see greatness. I saw a pretty darned good team beat another that clearly overachieved by being boiling hot for the first 10 weeks of the season.

To me, it seems the Warriors are deeper, move the ball better, and play better perimeter defense.

Hard to bet against Lebron, but he's lost in the finals twice before, so his mere presence hasn't been a guarantee.

[JonLP24]

2. Hawks got to that record for a reason

They are fast-paced (For an Eastern Conference team) pass happy offense -- they were #2 in the league in assists -- behind Golden State, they were a very accurate shooting team but still behind Golden State (and LAC in Effective FG%. Golden State had both guards on top of the leader boards -- Atlanta had Kyle Korver who for most of the year was above them in all the categories (I think Curry moved ahead of him in FT% or I may be confusing with 3PG%). Highest 3pt% behind Golden State. They were also one of the best teams defensive -- they were a lot like Golden State but just not Golden State but no team was but Atlanta was probably the closest with guards Teague & Korver leading the offense but 7 footers on the other end plus Milsap & Horford aren't bad at all on the offensive end --

Ever since Cleveland lost in Phoenix and 6 in a row (19-20) they have only lost 13 games since -- I've watched as much as these teams as I could Atlanta & Cleveland, Golden State as well. Golden State @ Atlanta was a great game unfortunately national TV didn't get to see it, always loved seeing the Wizards. Anyways, what I was saying is once the kinks were worked out Cleveland was great at moving the ball around -- it was so flawless did it was pretty much unstoppable for Atlanta -- that series was a great showcase for this. Atlanta took a major, major hit with Kyle Korver with the season ender in game 2. Game 3 Atlanta fought back from a double digit deficit in the 4th to force overtime while Cleveland was banged up including Lebron himself (he was on his hands and knees when the final buzzer blew). Atlanta was playing very good D on Lebron too forcing him to miss his first 10 shots

Not saying I disagree with you're assessment of the finals but after seeing both teams (Atlanta & Cleveland) all year long -- both teams are great and Cleveland did play great with the hits they were taking with Irving missing two games and Lebron fighting through his injury to end up exhausted winning the game in OT & Atlanta fighting from 10 on the road in the 4th in game 3. And Atlanta came from defeating a very good team Washington which the final games of the series came down to the final buckets with Atlanta hitting big shots.

[ProfessorGAC]

5. Don't Agree on Hawks

They're way overrated in an underwhelming Eastern Conference. So underwhelming that it got my team's coach fired because losing the conference semi-finals is failure in the east.

The only must have guy on the Hawks is Horford. Talented, plays hard every minute and is smart. And in today's NBA it's nice to have a 6'5" shooter like Korver. But, he's not "must have". You have to have one like that, but not Korver himself.

[Jamaal510]

3. The Dubs

shouldn't have won tonight's game. They got lucky with those last 2 missed shots by Cleveland at the end of the 4th. They need to get off to better starts.

[Auggie]

4. I thought the same thing. But now, without Irving ...

it looks more promising for Golden State. I didn't want this playoff to be decided by injury, but now it looks like it will.