NBA Games Discussion Thread

[nate33]

I know it was to be expected, but I'm pretty deflated that Indy didn't knock out Miami. I'm actually wondering if I'll be watching any Finals games at all.

I was so proud of Indy for the way they fought against Miami. Man, it would have been glorious if they had won the series.

[Higga]

Another year where I'm probably not gonna bother watching much if any of the Finals.

Go Spurs though I guess...

[FAH1223]

Leonard isn't a slouch defensively...I thought George did an OK job for the most part but he doesn't have the lowpost strength Leonard has. I'd say George has better defensive instincts but Indy have Miami fits for most of the series because they could basically stay at home on the shooters. If Leonard can emulate some of what Indy did against LBJ it really should favor SAS.

IMO Danny green is a better defender then Lance and is quite deadly from 3 pt land, the amount they were slouching off Lance this series they cannot do against Green or Manu. Defending Wade is still relatively easy..just give him space and don't bite on pumpfakes.

Duncan is still a damn good defender and IMO has better positioning instincts then Hibbert. Also i think he is still a stronger player, Hibbert is great, no doubt...But Duncan doesn't get knocked to the floor quite as easily as hibbert does...same for Splitter (when he isn't flopping). Duncan is also a superior passer, something I thought Hibbert could have used when confronted with double teams. SAS offense will suffice somewhat as a defense as well, they will make Miami work.

I think it goes to 6...And I want to say Timmy gets his 5th and retires. Everybody wins. Except Wade. That roid sucking douche.

Good points.

I'm confident Duncan and Parker will show up. But Splitter, Leonard, Green, Ginobili, and Diaw have to be consistent... esp Manu who has struggled in the postseason. I don't know how the younger guys are going to react to all this time off either. I'm not expecting them to win Game 1 but against the Heat you must take advantage of any opportunities to steal a game.

Indiana was 2 secs away from winning that series in 6 games... got into overtime on a lucky 3 by George in Game 1 and should have stolen that game.

Spurs can't have a lapse like that any point.

[pancakes3]

Before the game, my friend said to me that Lebron was going to take 15 FT's easily. Sure enough, George fouled out, Hibbert picked up 5, and Gerald Green had 4 fouls in 11 minutes. As a team the Pacers only committed 6 more fouls yet Miami took 18 more free throws.

I just hope the refs really swallow the whistles in the finals and let these two teams rumble. I also hope Duncan just goes balls out and leaves it all out on the court. Vintage 30/20 Duncan.

[GhostsOfGil]

Before the game, my friend said to me that Lebron was going to take 15 FT's easily. Sure enough, George fouled out, Hibbert picked up 5, and Gerald Green had 4 fouls in 11 minutes. As a team the Pacers only committed 6 more fouls yet Miami took 18 more free throws.

I just hope the refs really swallow the whistles in the finals and let these two teams rumble. I also hope Duncan just goes balls out and leaves it all out on the court. Vintage 30/20 Duncan.

TBH i thought the officiating was going to be worse. Even if the officiating did favor the heat, I'm not sure how much it dictated the game, since the Heat's defense was absolutely suffocating during the 3rd quarter when they took over.

[Illuminaire]

The refs actually allowed a lot of contact down low. This worked against the Pacers, because the Heat were roughing up Hibbert and West every time they touched the ball in the post. Indiana never found a way to adjust.

In the end, the Heat did get some home cooking, but the Pacers didn't play well enough to win.

[pancakes3]

I agree that the Heat had a stranglehold on the game but just because the win/loss wasn't affected doesn't mean that it excuses the bias.

[FAH1223]

The refs actually allowed a lot of contact down low. This worked against the Pacers, because the Heat were roughing up Hibbert and West every time they touched the ball in the post. Indiana never found a way to adjust.

In the end, the Heat did get some home cooking, but the Pacers didn't play well enough to win.

Blitzing the pick and roll works against a team like Indiana. They doubled the post on the catch and the bigs couldn't pass out of it. The ball handlers got quickly trapped.

The Spurs are much better with passing out of those situations and will swing to the open shooters.

[Illuminaire]

Agree 100%, FAH. If the Spurs get back in transition and Tony/Tim stay healthy all series, they are going to give the Heat hell. San Antonio has a deep, balanced team, the best coach in the league, and enough talented young athletes to make life hard on Miami's best players.

@Pancakes, I hear you man. There's no excuse for the home team bias we see all the time. I was just more disappointed in Indy's play than the ref's calls.

[dobrojim]

IND's guards were pretty bad. Tony Parker is going to be handful for MIA.
And SAS will have more shooters to space the floor. And as someone else
already said, SAS figures to be better prepared or coached to adjust to
MIA's defensive schemes. At least it gives me and other right thinking Americans
hope.

[mohammed10]

Page 100...isn't it time for Part Deux?

Mods?

[Benjammin]

Perhaps this one goes to 101 rather than 100/11.

[Ruzious]

Perhaps this one goes to 101 rather than 100/11.

If that happens, it could cause the whole site to crash. I wouldn't want to be the one to cause a 101th page.

[Ruzious]

... and have something like that on my conscience.

[mohammed10]

... and have something like that on my conscience.

[verbal8]

let's turn this thread up to 11

[AFM]

In before nate33's wrath

[dobrojim]

the end times are near

[dobrojim]

they really are

[dobrojim]

I can feel it in my bones