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Post #121 » by **thanumba2clippersfan** » Mon Jun 6, 2011 3:49 am

The next game will determine the series. If the Heat go up 3-1 it's basically over and will be hard for the Mavs to come back. However I would like this series to go as long as it can so the Mavs need to win for my enjoyment

playaloc916 · Post #122 » by **playaloc916** » Mon Jun 6, 2011 4:05 am

Another game down to the last possession. This time, Dirk wasn't able to hit the shot to send the game to overtime. Both teams are winning on the road, so I don't really think home court is making much of a difference in this series.

Like you guys have said, if Miami wins the next game, then it's pretty much over. If Dallas wins, then it should be a 7 game series, with either team possibly taking it.

Hopefully Haywood can come back next game and make some sort of a difference.

Post #123 » by **mkwest** » Tue Jun 7, 2011 4:39 am

Golden State is making some moves. Mark Jackson has finally gotten his shot at a coaching gig and Ric Bucher (yeah, I know) is reporting that the Warriors and the Sixers are discussing an Ellis/Iguodala swap.

I'm not a fan of listening to Jackson on ESPN, so I'm happy about that. He was in the running for our coaching job last summer, so I'm a little interested in how it works out. I like the trade idea for Golden State. They can still run if they choose to, but improve on the defensive end. I think the overall value for both teams is fair. I'm not really sure if I like it for Philly though. I think they would be better off going for a big.

playaloc916 wrote:Hopefully Haywood can come back next game and make some sort of a difference.

They're going to need him back in the line-up and for they're players to step up. Terry, Peja, Barea haven't been giving Dirk much help. I think that they need consider switching things up. Brewer is not really an offensive guy, but could help on the defensive end. Right now, Wade is exploiting the match-ups and is killing them. They've defended LBJ well with Marion and then doubling him with a big, but they need to find a way to slow Wade down. Kidd is a good defender, but is pushing 40. Then there's Terry and Stevenson, and they simply aren't going to limit him all that much.

Post #124 » by **thanumba2clippersfan** » Tue Jun 7, 2011 4:03 pm

mkwest wrote:Golden State is making some moves. Mark Jackson has finally gotten his shot at a coaching gig and Ric Bucher (yeah, I know) is reporting that the Warriors and the Sixers are discussing an Ellis/Iguodala swap.

I'm not a fan of listening to Jackson on ESPN, so I'm happy about that. He was in the running for our coaching job last summer, so I'm a little interested in how it works out. I like the trade idea for Golden State. They can still run if they choose to, but improve on the defensive end. I think the overall value for both teams is fair. I'm not really sure if I like it for Philly though. I think they would be better off going for a big.

I'm also curious to see how Jackson will do. He's been interviewing for head coaching jobs the past few years and now he finally gets his chance. I do think Iguodala to the Warriors improves that team. Not sure how Ellis on the 6ers will work out though.

playaloc916 · Post #125 » by **playaloc916** » Tue Jun 7, 2011 8:25 pm

mkwest wrote:Golden State is making some moves. Mark Jackson has finally gotten his shot at a coaching gig and Ric Bucher (yeah, I know) is reporting that the Warriors and the Sixers are discussing an Ellis/Iguodala swap.

I'm not a fan of listening to Jackson on ESPN, so I'm happy about that. He was in the running for our coaching job last summer, so I'm a little interested in how it works out. I like the trade idea for Golden State. They can still run if they choose to, but improve on the defensive end. I think the overall value for both teams is fair. I'm not really sure if I like it for Philly though. I think they would be better off going for a big.

All I can say is, no more "Mama, there goes that man".

JVG must be sad now his partner is gone.

Seems like the Warriors are tired of being a lower echelon team and are making moves in both the front office, as well as the roster. I can totally see Igoudala working out with the Warriors. Not sure if Philly does the trade though.

mkwest wrote:They're going to need him back in the line-up and for they're players to step up. Terry, Peja, Barea haven't been giving Dirk much help. I think that they need consider switching things up. Brewer is not really an offensive guy, but could help on the defensive end. Right now, Wade is exploiting the match-ups and is killing them. They've defended LBJ well with Marion and then doubling him with a big, but they need to find a way to slow Wade down. Kidd is a good defender, but is pushing 40. Then there's Terry and Stevenson, and they simply aren't going to limit him all that much.

It seemed like Dallas was a team that was known for its depth. Now all of a sudden, it seems like that depth is gone. Dirk has been the only one to show up consistently in the finals for Dallas. Terry's as inconsistent as they come, the Heat seem to have figured out Barea, Marion's been doing alright, but Peja seems to have disappeared completely.

I hope they can make a comeback, because it may be the last chance for these guys to get a ring in the near future. I see Miami being a perennial contender as long as they continue to keep the egos in check.

Post #126 » by **mkwest** » Wed Jun 8, 2011 4:01 am

Wow! Another exciting finish is in the books. Dirk battled a 102-fever but came up huge when the game was on the line. LeBron made some great passes, but was otherwise invisible on the offensive side of the floor. I don't know what was up with him, but it didn't look like he wanted to play tonight. Wade was phenomenal for the majority of the game, but came up short when it mattered most (missed free-throw at 81-80 and bobbled ball on final possession). Dirk asked for some help and Stevenson both stepped up off the bench to add 28. Chandler was a beast on the boards. Miami got off to an early advantage in rebounds, but his effort closed the gap.

This series is still up for grabs. It will take its talents back to South Beach and game 6 will be necessary.

Palma Dutch · Post #127 » by **Palma Dutch** » Wed Jun 8, 2011 4:28 am

Both teams played sloopy. A lot of non-plays and lucky shots where exchanged by both teams. Dallas refused to grab any offensive rebounds in the first half, but started getting on the glass in the second half. Dallas needs to come out ready for an absolute dog fight next game, because I don't think Wade is only going to ignite in the clutch; he'll be helpful all game. DeShawn Stevenson was draining three after three after three. Some were defended pretty well, and he stil drained them. It was a really fast paced game, no one was really runny any advanced plays. Good win by Dallas for sure.

Post #128 » by **mkwest** » Wed Jun 8, 2011 4:32 am

playaloc916 wrote:All I can say is, no more "Mama, there goes that man". JVG must be sad now his partner is gone.

Seems like the Warriors are tired of being a lower echelon team and are making moves in both the front office, as well as the roster. I can totally see Igoudala working out with the Warriors. Not sure if Philly does the trade though.

Jackson is guaranteeing the playoffs. With West in the picture, I think that they'll be a team on the rise (as long as they don't Curry for the Vujacic TPE). I don't know if the Iggy trade would go down, but it would kind of sting to see him go to a division rival when he'd be a nice fit with us at our position of need.

playaloc916 wrote:It seemed like Dallas was a team that was known for its depth. Now all of a sudden, it seems like that depth is gone. Dirk has been the only one to show up consistently in the finals for Dallas. Terry's as inconsistent as they come, the Heat seem to have figured out Barea, Marion's been doing alright, but Peja seems to have disappeared completely.

I hope they can make a comeback, because it may be the last chance for these guys to get a ring in the near future. I see Miami being a perennial contender as long as they continue to keep the egos in check.

This will probably be the worst Heat team for a long while. I have hopes of a Griffin-led Clipper team taking them down though 8-)

I think Kidd is the player with the most on the line in terms of a time limit. Dirk is still only 32 years old. He has a few more years left. If they don't do it this season, he's definitely going to need another player to help carry the burden.

Post #129 » by **thanumba2clippersfan** » Wed Jun 8, 2011 4:36 am

Tonight's game wasn't the best played game, but it was exciting . Mavs came back again to win it. I'm surprised that LeBron disappeared tonight while Wade was unstoppable. The most important thing is the series is tied 2-2 and is up for grabs. I figured the series would go to 6 or 7 games.

madmaxmedia · Post #130 » by **madmaxmedia** » Wed Jun 8, 2011 11:06 pm

Tyson Chandler was the man last night.

The Mavs rallied in the 4th to squeak by (again), but had they made some wide open 3's near the end they could have won going away.

Next game is another must win for Dallas, it would be a good time for Dirk to have one of his monster games (i.e. 35 pts on 11 of 17 or something like that)- he hasn't really done that in the finals yet.

Post #131 » by **thanumba2clippersfan** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 4:12 am

Crazy finish to tonight's game. LeBron get's a triple double but disappears in the 4th again. Mavs hit a lot of big shots and other players finally stepped up. I have a feeling that the Heat will play much better on Sunday.

playaloc916 · Post #132 » by **playaloc916** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 5:43 am

This is definitely one of the best finals series I've seen in years. JVG said it too. And it was nice to see Dallas being up in the fourth quarter for a change, instead of always having to make a run from behind.

The Mavs were knocking down their 3's tonight. And Barea had a great game too. It was the same Barea from the Lakers series, maneuvering around the paint and going for layups.

And the whole LeBron disappearing in the 4th thing... I'm not sure if it's him disappearing, or him not wanting to step on Wade's toes so to speak. It could be that he wants Wade to still be "the man" in Miami, at least for now, so he's playing passive for that reason. But it seems like it's back-firing, and people are criticizing him even more because of this.

Post #133 » by **mkwest** » Sat Jun 11, 2011 12:07 am

I don't really know what's going on with the whole LeBron thing. I've heard some things, but it could be just people reading too much into the situation. I did hear Wade recently say that it was his team and that he was the leader of the Heat. I don't know what his and LeBron's situation is if there is one. LeBron is confusing right now. Some stuff he needs to keep his mouth shut on or just not give ammunition to his detractors. On the flip side, he's not doing what it takes to win games. How do you go from playing like he did against Chicago to shriveling up when it matters most?

Dallas finally played like the team that we saw earlier in the playoffs. Dirk was Dirk, but the supporting cast finally gave some actual support. Brian Cardinal is like the new Scalabrine. Game 5 was a must win for them and they took care of business. The momentum is fully in their favor right now. Sure, they have to win one on the road, but they have 2 chances to get their job done.

To echo playaloc, this is definitely one of the best finals in a good while. I think the whole playoffs have been exciting with a few old toothless lions bowing out early.

Post #134 » by **mkwest** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 3:16 am

Congrats to the Mavs and their fans. I'm really happy for Kidd and Dirk getting some gold to put on their fingers. I'm glad that Dirk is finally getting his props. He has been the best PF in the game for years imo, but was overlooked for some other individuals on teams with a richer franchise history. Cuban has done an amazing job as an owner and totally transformed that franchise. There are fans of 25+ teams that wish that he was the owner of their franchise. :sigh:

They did all of this without Caron Butler and Haywood sitting out due to injuries. That's impressive and I think they have a great shot to get back next year if they can keep the band together.

Miami did not show a great sense of urgency imo. They were terrible at hitting the boards, they played hot potato with the ball (nobody wanted to shoot), they didn't hit their foul shots and they mailed it on defense. That's not going to win a regular season game and it's definitely not going to win a game in the finals. Miami went further this year than I initially thought they would have last summer. This was going to be their worst team due to salary space. It's on them to make changes over the offseason. I think they need to be under a coach with an actual offense.

The NBA season is officially over and we have no idea when we're going to see some NBA basketball. Summer League has been cancelled, and the lockout looms. We'll have the draft to look forward to, but after that it is anybody's guess. I hope that guys were watching and really taking notes. The intensity in the playoffs goes to another level and you have to be really committed and locked in if you want to be able to compete. Defensively is where we need to improve. We have a couple of individuals that can hold their own, but we need the entire team in unison, communicating, rotating and pressuring. Hopefully, we're able to fill that SF void and start the next season with a purpose to win.

Post #135 » by **thanumba2clippersfan** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 3:28 am

I'm so happy that the Mavs one, I didn't want the Heat to win a championship with the way the constructed their team. The playoffs and the finals were exciting, I'm sad that the NBA season has ended. The draft is coming up but sadly we don't what will happen after that

playaloc916 · Post #136 » by **playaloc916** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 3:46 am

Finally, the Mavs have won. The game was slipping away from them for a bit, and the Heat made a big run right after the Mavs had their big run. But in the end, the Mavs support players stepped up right when it mattered the most. Congratulations to the whole team, and I'm especially glad that Kidd and Dirk got their rings.

I just wanted to note that Chalmers is starting to get on my nerves. He must be learning from the master, Eddie House. He goes and pushes Stevenson during that little scrum... And we're all familiar with his little incident with Blake. Just out of curiosity, I checked out where he's from. Instead of seeing a place with a tough reputation like a Detroit or a Chicago, I see Anchorage Alaska... wtf?

Anyways, it should be an interesting off-season. I hope there's no lockout, and we can sign or trade for a quality SF.

Post #137 » by **thanumba2clippersfan** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 3:48 am

This is what Mo Williams just posted on twitter

Dallas just healed my HEART........

http://twitter.com/#!/mogotti25/status/ ... 3327551488

Post #138 » by **mkwest** » Tue Jun 14, 2011 2:46 am

Howard: I want to stay, but I'm still becoming a free agent

"I want to win a championship," the All-Star center said. "I think the owners have to really know that. That's been my goal and my mission since I've been in the NBA -- to win a championship. I don't have side goals or agendas. My main goal is to win a championship. I want to have 14 other guys who feel the same way."

And if the Magic do not win the 2012 championship and the personality of the roster stays the same?

"Then things have to change," Howard told NBA.com.

"At the end of the day, as far as what I want to accomplish as a basketball player, to be one of the greats, you have to win championships," he said. "That's how I see it. I want to do that in Orlando, and hopefully we can get it done.... Everybody's asking me from the beginning of the season until today where am I playing in a year? Am I getting traded? I have no clue. As of right now, I want to be in Orlando."

Scott Howard-Cooper, NBA.com

The title of the article is a little misleading, but is pretty much a fair analysis of what Dwight has said. He wants to stay in Orlando, but he wants to win a championship above all else. He's not going to sign an extension until Orlando shows that it can produce a winner or a team capable of winning. Otis Smith and their Front Office are going to have pull a rabbit out of a hat for that team to significant enough changes. There is no clap flexibility. Hedo and Arenas are basically immovable contracts. Their most attractive assets are Nelson, Redick (expiring), Bass and potentially J-Rich if they re-sign or S&T him.

If he hits FA, then he may be gone. I wonder if they try to move him by the deadline if the situation hasn't improved.

Post #139 » by **mkwest** » Tue Jun 14, 2011 6:32 am

MJ just hired former Blazer GM, Rich Cho, as the new GM of the Bobcats. I think it's a good move for them.

Post #140 » by **mkwest** » Thu Jun 23, 2011 12:50 am

Y! Sources: Minnesota has decided to fire coach Kurt Rambis, but will wait until after NBA Draft to make it official.

Adrian Wojnarowski via Twitter

The Wolves are not going to make it easy on us to get a good pick from them next year. This is turrible.