NBA Finals Game Thread (OKC vs MIA)

[BirdmanPresents]

I have a question for u Okc fans. Why does Durant barely get to score in the first half when Perkins, Ibaka and Sefolosha are in the starting lineup????? Is it because Brooks doesnt want him tired for the 4th or something?

It's because he doesn't force his game or shots. He just plays within the offense till he gets really hot or it's time to take over.

[Devilanche]

It's not about Perkins being good or bad, our starters are -22 in 27 minutes of game time. Every other lineup is +29 in 69 minutes. Do the math...

of course their +/- will be that bad since majority of them was part of that 18-2 run.
What's the top 5 plus lineup anyway?

[iamworthy]

Sup fellas? I come in peace. Truth be told I picked you guys in 6. Question, does OKC always start off games slow or is this something new?

[CKRT]

ever since the Perkins trade, Brooks will typically let the starting line up dig a hole, and then Harden/Collison come in to dig us back out. It hasn't been that big of a problem this season with practically everyone in the starting line up making strides (Thabo shooting ~50% from three/Ibaka shooting 46% from 16-18 ft/Durant and Westbrook progressing/etc), but now with Heat going small, and us not being able to punish them with our bigs offensively, we will start games off slow probably for the rest of the finals unless Brooks changes the starting lineup, or Westbrook/Durant start off hot.

[wizkid27]

Sup fellas? I come in peace. Truth be told I picked you guys in 6. Question, does OKC always start off games slow or is this something new?

I would say that in the playoffs it is more pronounced because the lineup has some flaws which can be picked up on via better scouting/practice and that in some series Perkins just doesn't have a place on the floor (guarding Battier on one end in this particular series he is over-matched and he is always useless on the other end). Against a team that has a low post scorer he really is worth his paycheck, but against teams that don't we'd be better off starting about 4 or 5 of our bench players (Harden, Collison, Cook, Fisher, maybe even others).

[slick_watts]

It's not about Perkins being good or bad, our starters are -22 in 27 minutes of game time. Every other lineup is +29 in 69 minutes. Do the math...

of course their +/- will be that bad since majority of them was part of that 18-2 run.
What's the top 5 plus lineup anyway?

Our current starters were -8 per 100 possessions last year's playoffs, -5 this year. Pretty bad.

[Shem]

They have no adjustments to make. Lebron on Durant? Westbrook goes off. Lebron on Westbrook? Durant goes off.

Battier can't handle KD, Wade can't handle Westbrook. Norris Cole is their best bet of keeping Westbrook in check and we all know how that would end.

Heat are officially done. Premature? Nah, book it. The only way we lose is if Durant suddenly goes cold. He hasn't been cold for weeks. He's everything Lebron isn't: A stonecold killer that can score any goddamn way he wants to.

It's a sweep. The Heat experiment has failed.

Why, oh why, do people think it's a good idea to be arrogant?

[Shem]

This has been a great series thus far and I hope that continues. This was the match up I wanted and I even wanted it last year as well. Just glad I'm getting to see it now. I'm not partial to any team, I just hope it is a long competitive series.

[CKRT]

I'm hearing rumors of Harden starting and Perkins being benched?

Can anyone confirm?

[Bravely Done]

I'm hearing rumors of Harden starting and Perkins being benched?

Can anyone confirm?

Not sure, but I hope so. Throughout the playoffs, when it was necessary, Brooks has made great adjustments. Hopefully the trend continues, because imo, tonight is a must win.

The longer this series drags on, the greater our chances are of winning. We have the younger, fresher legs and need to play that to our advantage. We need to get out and run, protect the ball, win the battle of the boards, and keep Miami off the line.

I'm borderline confident, borderline nervous. Hopefully they come out strong and steal this first game, because otherwise, things could get a little tough. I expect a strong showing after a close loss, and a win should they play to their strengths and not blow the first quarter for the 4th straight game.

[slick_watts]

I think we lose game three, take game four, lose game five then it's a race at home.

[Devilanche]

I'm hearing rumors of Harden starting and Perkins being benched?

Can anyone confirm?

Not sure, but I hope so. Throughout the playoffs, when it was necessary, Brooks has made great adjustments. Hopefully the trend continues, because imo, tonight is a must win.

The longer this series drags on, the greater our chances are of winning. We have the younger, fresher legs and need to play that to our advantage. We need to get out and run, protect the ball, win the battle of the boards, and keep Miami off the line.

I'm borderline confident, borderline nervous. Hopefully they come out strong and steal this first game, because otherwise, things could get a little tough. I expect a strong showing after a close loss, and a win should they play to their strengths and not blow the first quarter for the 4th straight game.

I mistakenly thought it would start at 9 local time when it was at 8. all this EST/PST thingy is making me confused sometimes.
Did we bench Perkins from the start?
edit: 19 out of 24 possible minutes.. nvm didn't seem he was bench

[Devilanche]

Our defence seems good so far.
edit: Thabo is a really bad dunker. I could be forgiven if i think he's a better 3 point shooter than dunker if i based things just off this series. and i only thought he's an average 3 point shooter at best not at the level S Jax /Battier has been shooting against us.

[Devilanche]

wow they call a foul like that?

[theman]

Terrible call. Turning this nonsense off.